It’s pretty much summertime year-round in Agua Caliente Nueva, with the exception of December, apparently, when the locals feel a temporary relief from the scorching sun and the countless insects that buzz around the home. I’ve managed to survive without an air conditioner for a month now, with average temperatures in the high 80s, often reaching 90s!
I can’t say that I’m enjoying feeling a thin layer of sweat and dust on my body pretty much all the time, including minutes after I take a shower…but I’m pretty used to the heat now. As I type, I’m sitting one foot away from my standing fan while my ceiling fan is running at top speed, and my skin is feeling sticky with the insect repellent I use so liberally day by day. Update guys: the repellent bracelets do NOT work for me!
So how do I stay cool in Agua Caliente? The answer is, I don’t, really. 😦 This town is in a dry tropical region, which experiences very few rains throughout the year (pretty much only during late July through September) unless there’s a hurricane that hits the southwest coast of Mexico.
- Sitting on the roof of my house–so much more of a breeze!
- I’m using two fans whenever I’m in my room and have my windows propped open (thankfully with a mosquitero to keep insects out–but there’s a darn mosquito that’s lurking in the shadows and always taking a meal when I’m not paying attention 😦 )
- I’m lucky to have running water to be able to shower multiple times a day (who likes cold showers?!) to rinse off the mix of sweat, dirt, dust, sunscreen, and insect repellent on my skin.
- I cut my hair just below shoulder length prior to Mexico, but even keeping it down is unbearable so I have it tied up all the time.
- Some parts of Mexico are more conservative, but here I’m able to wear shorts above my knees and tank tops to let my skin breaaaathe in this humid air. I did pack three loose-fitting slacks but although they’re breathable while standing, it sticks to your skin when you’re sitting down (what kind of bogus is that?). I also packed a pair of jeans which has been a lifesaver when I know I’ll be outdoors for extended periods of time, because those pesky mosquitoes can’t suck my blood through the denim, yay!
- Drink LOOOOTS of water! I bought a 36oz stainless steel insulated bottle for only $10 at Marshalls (did I mention I love Marshalls and they have great deals?!
The average recommended water intake for someone of average height (aka not me) is 8 8oz glasses of water per day, and I’m drinking about 72oz or more. It’s totally necessary to drink this much so you don’t faint from the heat or suffer a heat stroke. I’m pretty sensitive to heat as of last year and so I want to avoid headaches caused by excessive heat as much as possible. I even downloaded an app to send reminders throughout the day to drink water, and I can input my water intake as well to see how close I am to reaching my daily goal 🙂
A Healthy Blueprint 