First of all we had to find out our blood type 😮 It was supposed to be a simple finger prick and get the result right away. We have been busier than anticipated the past two weeks and found a laboratory that was enroute to an evening event that just gave us enough time to get it done and to pick up the very last two tickets that they were holding for us till the last possible moment.
Details of that event will be included in the next post ( I hope ).
So with limited time Colin carefully inserted the address into his iPhone on Didi. Somehow the actual building number never made it into that insert. We ended up almost to the Golden Zone when the driver stopped and let us out. Turns out it was a blood lab but it closed at 2PM, not the one we wanted. So we walked down to another lab and they couldn’t help us. Between our two phones we found a lab that was still open. Got there in time.
However and this was very upsetting to me – plus we only found out when Colin went into the cubicle first. This particular lab only did this blood type test by withdrawing blood from your vein. I HATE having my blood taken and I always ( have had to since I was a child – despite being an RN – this is true stuff ) had to lie down to have blood taken. Well that was not happening here. I refused. Colin said that I had to. I ouched a lot and very loudly. And we had already paid, plus we were getting very close to not getting our tickets for the event that night.
I did not faint but I was certainly an upset weak female. The fellow actually did a pretty good job and if I really had to, I would see him again. So as I came out of my swoon my eyes latched onto the tube of very red blood. Aha I thought. I would pay the additional charge to get a full blood analysis done. Cost for the blood type was 120 MXN each and my full blood analysis was an additional 180 MXN. A total of $29.00CAD/ 20.00USD. So great news everyone – my bloodwork is totally normal. I knew that I just needed to sleep the past few months. Nothing wrong with my bloodwork 😎
I am A+ and Colin is B-. So we were good to go for the next thing on our to do list. Colin had meanwhile kept getting all the paperwork that we required including applying for a CURP certificate and with this blood type certificate we were ready to go.
We had heard that it could be a full day or even a two day application. But Colin was certain that we had all the documents required. However based on the advice of nearby friends we went with their facilitator. We did not require the translator that they suggested. The price was high but to be honest looking at all the lines of people that we passed by it was worth every singe peso. Plus we admitted that we did not think we could have dealt with all the various departments required. We also noticed that many many others were paying a price to get their paperwork into the system. We just somehow got to the head of the line.
So people lined up around the block and then had a few rows of chairs to sit in before they went inside and stood in a long line before seeing an official. This was just one of the stations everyone had to go thru.
Once we arrived and met our facilitator, Victor, we were asked to sit at this table. He ( fellow on the right ) took all of our documents and went and made copies, he returned and began filling out forms. We signed our names only once. He left again to get more copies and then brought us into a building via the backdoor where we sat ( there were 4 chairs for those paid )in front of some officials. Within 20 minutes we had each had our photo and a finger print taken. Money changed hands. And out that backdoor we went….
It only took a total of 90 minutes from when we got out of our taxi ( Didi ) on arrival and until we got back into another taxi with our new piece of ID to return to the Playa Sur Embarcadero and home. Amazing. So sorry my dear friend in Merida – it took her days plus lots of blood sweat and tears. Seriously we were away from the RV for only a full two hours. Amazing.
So what did we get. A Mexican drivers license for each of us.
Hard to see but I love my hair. Best official photo ever.
Stunning Mazatlan sunset tonight. Thank you Mary – Ann Knight for sharing.
I put my foot down tonight. I can’t see a proper sunset ( as I have done since 2009 ) and I am insisting that my view be restored. Since we moved here, road work has occurred which has stolen my sunsets from me ( and others ). So nice to have good friends in special places 😎 Gracias Mary-Ann.
Fecha de vencimiento de la licencia de manejar es 2 años…la licencia es activa por 2 años solamente ? That’s strange, ours in the States is good for 5 years.
No choice but to get two years until we become permanente but then it might only be for four years at a time.
👍 👍 it makes sense!
Congrats!
(But cover up your id number-for your security)
Gracias. Id # covered up.
Is there a reason you didn’t opt for the 5 year license? Just saves time as you don’t have to think about it – 2 years rolls around quickly and you have to jump through hoops again to renew.
Don’t post your CURP online. That’s like your Social Security (U.S.) # and you shouldn’t share it like this. Too, never take a color photo of Mexican ID. It’s illegal.
And the photo…um….sorry, I was sure you’d be wildly upset about it.
Dean
Well I really like my photo – nothing I can do about my face but love the hair part. The DL comes colored like this. As we are only temporal ( by choice because of the freedom of going back and forth with the RV ) you can only get a DL for two years at a time until you have permanente. Apparently renewing the license is not as big a deal. Thank you re the advice re the CURP number.
Hooray for perfect blood results!! It is great to have that confirmation.
Glad getting the DL went so smoothly. Kudoos to Victor!
They certainly are amazing sunsets, I’m happy to share. xo
I think that is great that the Drivers License has your blood type information. We should have that in Canada. Having a Mexican License might be beneficial to open new accounts where ID is required. Congrats.