Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

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bronco

Jul 17, 2012, 5:28 PM

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How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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it was a good discussion. why dont we open a new topic? we do not have to focus on crime/violence, but it can be covered. ajijic has changed drastically. this was way way before the roadblock kidnap murder fiesta. for me the line of de-markcation was 2005. there are many factors involved, industrialization vs. agriculture, morgages for mexico (u.s.a. banks), grand highway between mexico& canada, nafta, etc. "papayalover" said something to the effect that it is a slow decline or destruction of a culture. (this is not a direct quote). also he said it was "sad" (i agree). lets discuss how ajijic has changed in like 15 years? 10 yrs? "musicman" had not been here in 20 yrs, & that was a different place. are you allowed to cut & paste this comment on the "new" topic?

(This post was edited by tonyburton on Jul 17, 2012, 5:40 PM)

johanson

Jul 17, 2012, 8:35 PM

Post #2 of 40 (3222 views)

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Re: [bronco] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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There have been so many changes from the lake level to arrival of the internet 15 years ago last May when Rod Collins first brought dialup internet to the lake via a single dedicated synchronous 64 k single line. Today even the slowest connection a single person has at Telmex was faster than the total connectivity for all of the folks lakeside on dialup.

We could talk about why we had large water storage tanks, because of the many water outages, why we had ham radios and not cell phones, and why one needed a generator to ensure that one had power. Everything is so much more reliable today.

bronco

Jul 17, 2012, 9:57 PM

Post #3 of 40 (3205 views)

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Re: [johanson] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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peter this is a continuation of "chapala shut down" -should have included that in post. re read my topic, its about globalization social shifts degeneration of society migrations corporate influence banking mergers, & how this affects quality of life.

(This post was edited by bronco on Jul 17, 2012, 10:01 PM)

Musicman

Jul 18, 2012, 5:20 AM

Post #4 of 40 (3186 views)

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Re: [bronco] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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Correction, Bronco. I lived in Ajijic from June 22, 2001 until May 6, 2004, so it has only been 8 years. However, 8 years is a long time and I can tell by Google Earth street view the landscape has changed. Hola, Walmart. Still, even with the negative publicity, I would live in Ajijic again and I would feel no less secure than I do here in Arizona. Someone once said, I think on this board, that once your heart has been dusted with Mexico, you will always feel an attachment, or something along those lines. It is true; at least I do.

stevebrtx

Jul 18, 2012, 9:02 AM

Post #5 of 40 (3140 views)

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Re: [Musicman] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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I visited in '06, moved in Oct '07 and there has been a lot of change even in that short time. I'm sure when/if I return home this place will always be with me, the good, the bad and the ugly, but then I've been banking memories of many places I've lived over the years for playback in my dotage.
http://www.chapalaweather.net

papayalover

Jul 18, 2012, 9:34 AM

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Re: [stevebrtx] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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I was snowbird for 2 years, before I moved here full time 8 1/2 years ago.

Much has changed and it's not simply the narco violence. The level of drug usage among kids and young adults here has become dramatically high in a very short timeframe. This stems from the downturn in the US economy, which sent many Mexicans who had gone to the US to work, back here. Unfortunately many picked up some bad habits in the US and peer pressure being what it is, young Mexicans view these "US vets" as role models, and the drug use has increased to levels that result in robbery and property crime all too often.

Frankly, living here isn't much different than living in the US, and that's the main reason I am in the process of moving from Ajijic. I will NEVER return to the US; my future is in Mexico, but simply not here. This used to be a friendly, laid-back place, but now all the expats talk about is security security security. Razor wire. Electrified fences. 24 hour manned gates. Trained attack dogs.

Like I said, I could live like that in the US, or, I can move to parts of Mexico where the drug use is not so high, where people are out and about nightly in bars, restaurants. It is like we are on lockdown here after the sunsets.

I'm too young (laugh if you want, but I think 62 IS young!), to live like this...there are many many other places in Mexico that are still authentic Mexican. Ajijic was; is no longer. If all you want is to come to a place and hang out at the local American Legion or (god forbid) the Lake Chapala Society with a bunch of other gringas babbling in English, be my guest. But you could do the same in any retirment community in the US.

Better to open your horizons to living in the REAL Mexico, it still exists! Do some research, take some vacations, learn some Spanish and enjoy what the REAL Mexico has to offer.

bronco

Jul 18, 2012, 10:05 AM

Post #7 of 40 (3110 views)

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Re: [Musicman] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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"musicman", yes you lived here between '01-04. it was decent then. IF you compare to arizona & other similar places now, it is a toss up. i myself are from another part of the US, so my comparisons are not the same. (these SW border places are so out of my experience, remember the USA is a huge place). i dont feel this is mexico, just some sprawling suburb. but if you are happy, thats great. "papayalover" & i feel the same. theres little quality of life.

bronco

Jul 18, 2012, 10:15 AM

Post #8 of 40 (3104 views)

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Re: [papayalover] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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"papayalover" said it perfectly. this is not a traditional mexican town any more. apples & oranges. chapala is #3 in corruption. juarez being #1, i forget #2. if they didnt cut a deal w/the cartel (or who ever), it would have been full scale 24/7 violence. this deal has nothing to do w/expats. moving on: the level of service has changed dramatically in 15 years. we all experience things differently. we come from different socio economic levels.

(This post was edited by bronco on Jul 18, 2012, 1:43 PM)

bournemouth

Jul 18, 2012, 10:35 AM

Post #9 of 40 (3091 views)

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Re: [bronco] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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"Chapala is #3 in corruption" - do you have definitive information to back this statement up please.

bronco

Jul 18, 2012, 1:38 PM

Post #10 of 40 (3024 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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chapala #3 in corruption: found it either in guad reporter, or a link in one of the forums. i believe this was w/in the last 1 1/2 or 2 years. sorry, but i dont bookmark or save. but this did not surprise me.

don pedro

Jul 18, 2012, 2:15 PM

Post #11 of 40 (3012 views)

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Re: [bronco] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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what a crock! you have no proof and if it came from one of these forums it's total bs. i'm sure not from this one or mine. i have worked with the past 2 governments[PRI and PAN] of chapala as an honorifico canadiense[4 years going on 5]. what's your problem? -SNORK!
http://chapalamexicoinfo.createforumhosting.com
naivete is a chronIc disease and by its very nature;the afflicted never know they have it.-SNORK!

bronco

Jul 18, 2012, 5:22 PM

Post #12 of 40 (2930 views)

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Re: [don pedro] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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re: "chapala # 3 for corruption". info reported around the time the of the shooting, near the main square. i believe a policeman was shot. (or someone in the force). was that last september? (mr. pedro, why do you care so much about this? many people hate my home town. i say, that they either go to the wrong places. or dont fit in. why do you give a xxxx)? mostly everything is archived in forums, or newspapers. i honesty cant remember if the link was to a mex newspaper, or reporter, or an american paper. (prorader, your leaving, be happy. you get too upset. both of you will get this thread locked, stay on topic).

prorader

Jul 18, 2012, 5:26 PM

Post #13 of 40 (2926 views)

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Re: [bronco] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

Adios. I have been on this board since 2006 good bye Bronco you have been cool see you on the dark side

(This post was edited by prorader on Jul 18, 2012, 5:29 PM)

bronco

Jul 18, 2012, 5:28 PM

Post #14 of 40 (2922 views)

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Re: [don pedro] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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mr.pedro, the chapala corruption did not come from this forum. i have no idea who are, & know nothing of your "board". & maybe just maybe, chapala govt is somewhat corrupt.

prorader

Jul 18, 2012, 5:33 PM

Post #15 of 40 (2920 views)

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Re: [bronco] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

I guess my post was deleted, Don Pedros? BB gets maybe 1 post a month

Vichil

Jul 18, 2012, 5:47 PM

Post #16 of 40 (2914 views)

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Re: [bronco] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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Bronco you are right, I read the statistics too and the article I saw was in a Spanish paper. I do not remember which one but I gave it to a friend of mine so you did not dream it. Chapala was number 3 in Jalisco.
Pedro cares because he does not want to be seen as one of the bad foreigners.....

bronco

Jul 18, 2012, 6:03 PM

Post #17 of 40 (2910 views)

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Re: [Vichil] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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vichil, thank you. i have a steel trap mind, remember all that is important. i believe my date is correct as well. (& this report was after the shoot out). what exactly is a "bad foreigner"? is that someone who thinks for themselves? someone who is not obedient? someone who knows history, politics, does research outside of mainstream media, alternative & academic. someone who has high standards, values? someone who is not afraid to be controversial? someone who will never ever worship the 3rd world, & someone who is not an EX pat. i am a "bad foreigner". (& that is a new topic in itself).

Vichil

Jul 18, 2012, 7:44 PM

Post #18 of 40 (2884 views)

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Re: [bronco] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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A bad foreigner uses John´s list, lives in Ajijic instead of Chapala , does not speak Spanish and disagrees with Mr.Pedro I think that sums it up !

bronco

Jul 18, 2012, 8:47 PM

Post #19 of 40 (2867 views)

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Re: [Vichil] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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vichil: i live in ajijic, use johns "list", do not speak spanish. never was mainstream americana, i wont start now. what a relief, ive kept that "edge"! once a cool person always a cool person. that "cult of mexico"......... the almost religious other worldly possession....... never knew this existed untill i came here. sounds like a white person thing. you know, first it was india, then it was......then again, what do i know? i use "johns list"- lets see where were we? oh yes killing of police/political figures in chapala, in broad daylight. oh sorry, bad foreigner.

johninajijic

Jul 19, 2012, 7:34 AM

Post #20 of 40 (2816 views)

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Re: [don pedro] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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That means nothing. Yo're still a Canadian and you keep reminding us of that all the time while you trash America and Americans.

johninajijic

Jul 19, 2012, 7:44 AM

Post #21 of 40 (2813 views)

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Re: [Vichil] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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vichil quote - "A bad foreigner uses John´s list, lives in Ajijic instead of Chapala , does not speak Spanish and disagrees with Mr.Pedro I think that sums it up !"

You are totally clueless. I guess evereyone who uses my list is a bad foreigner. You are a joke. I know about 20 + people who use this list because the contractors are "high quality" people. I would never use some of the inferior people you use, only to call them back over and over again. If you agree with Pedro, what does that make you?

Where does it say that I'm required to speak Spanish? Huh, tell me. I choose to live in Ajijic as do most all foreigners.

Pedro has NO FRIENDS at Lakeside. He has alienated EVERYONE with his insults and vulgar language on his forum. He gets no visitors on his forum, so now he's here spewing his crap.

Vichil

Jul 19, 2012, 8:08 AM

Post #22 of 40 (2803 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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Hello Johny, talking about clueless...I was making fun of Pedro not your list.

I said I use some of the people on your list, some are good some not great, I do not go by the list, I have been here as long as you have and do not really need the list. I speak Spanish so I have no problem communicating with workers and having tem do what I need done, if they do not show up they are gone, pretty simple really.
I live in Ajijic and do not agree with Pedro so that maks me a bad foreignr and ask me if I care.

don pedro

Jul 19, 2012, 8:54 AM

Post #23 of 40 (2795 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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Pedro has NO FRIENDS at Lakeside. He has alienated EVERYONE with his insults and vulgar language on his forum. He gets no visitors on his forum, so now he's here spewing his crap.

instead they[real friends] visit my house with the beautiful paint job.
http://chapalamexicoinfo.createforumhosting.com
naivete is a chronIc disease and by its very nature;the afflicted never know they have it.-SNORK!

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Rolly

Jul 19, 2012, 9:17 AM

Post #24 of 40 (2776 views)

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Re: How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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Enough of the name calling and petty bickering. Let's get back to the original subject.

Rolly Pirate

bronco

Jul 20, 2012, 8:24 PM

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Re: [Rolly] How has Ajijic changed in the past 15 years?

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thank you rolly. (who cares who has friends, or no friends. pedro has not added any additional insights on how ajijic has changed). we should respect each others lifestyles, taste levels. what ever happened to "do your own thing"? guess if one does that, they become a bad foreigner. back to topic: i would not reconize many areas of ajijic if i had been away 15yrs. i have no problem w/some of the nice developments, especially when they build in mexican style. its the commercial industrial main street that is a horror, the filth, the noise the toxic air, loud bars, heaping piles of trash, the criminal element. i would rather have agriculture. that has a hell of a lot more class. the quality of life here has decended. one has to live in a gated place, or somewhere on 16 sept.

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