As before, Sunday morning commences with three birria tacos
garnished with cilantro, onions, guacamole salsa, chile salsa and lime washed
down with a cup of birria consume. All consumed while looking onto Yelapa Bay
from the upper deck of Shambhala. Generally, that’s an adequate food intake to
last well into the early evening. Think back to the last moment/place where you
felt mellow and satisfied. Now double it; that’s the sensation which surrounds
you. Put that on your list of must do’s when you arrive here—Sunday birria @
Shambhala. Revisit several of my earlier posts to grasp a fuller picture of my affection/affliction
for Shambhala. (or visit TripAdvisor)
Tips/Tipping
Visitors frequently ask “When do I tip, or how much should I
tip?” Those who travel know that some countries calculate a gratuity and
include it on the tab. As long as you are aware the calculation exists, then it
becomes a no-brainer; you pay the largest amount on the bill. Mexico is not one
of those countries. Tipping guidelines are similar to those in the States (e.g.
10%-15%). Unlike in the States however; casual workers do not receive any type
of minimum wage. Here in Yelapa, tips are the ONLY earnings received by
waiters, luggage handlers, guides and helper bees in general. So my solution to
the “how much” issue is driven by what was the value to me of the service performed. Would I pay someone 10 pesos for
carrying a 5 gallon bottle of water up two flights of steps? You bet! Would I
pay a baggage handler 50 pesos for pushing suitcases uphill in a wheelbarrow?
In a heartbeat! Would I tip a waiter 20% of the bill for an excellent meal with
excellent service? Done deal! This approach mirrors what I would pay stateside.
Where confusion and awkward moments can arise is when you pay
for a specific service (e.g. fishing trip, horseback riding, a guide for a
specific period of time/destination) and the agreed upon service at the agreed
upon price is completed; are you then expected to offer a tip? This should be totally
discretionary on your part. If the level of service provided was excellent,
then certainly any tip you feel appropriate will be appreciated. Keep in mind
that you may wish to return to this particular vendor and, rest assured, they
will remember the parting moments of the prior transaction.
A word of caution. Problems can occur innocently (or
ignorantly) when the traveler is not familiar with the
appearance/denomination/value of the foreign currency they are holding. We’ve
all joked at how another country’s currency reminds us of Monopoly money only
to experience at the end of the day that the $500 US dollars we just exchanged has
evaporated from our wallet. Currency in Mexico is a distinct color and size for each
denomination (20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000). Learn the denominations and
appearances of the various bills in advance. Certainly the adage of “time is
money” is apropos. Spend some time with yours, you’ll enjoy it longer.
Commercial Break
The sun rises 8-ish, the sea is calm, the weather is superb.
Why are you waiting? Fly, hike, swim or water taxi down to the Playita and
catch up with Memo today. For the best in kayak equipment and service, Memo is
your man.
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