Mexico Connect
Forums  > Areas > Central Highlands

Blackjack Davie

Jan 21, 2006, 6:50 AM

Post #1 of 12 (4138 views)

Shortcut

San Luis de la Paz

 Can't Post | Private Reply
I don't recall seeing a single post about San Luis de la Paz during my several years on this forum. I stopped there for gas back in 2000 and drove through the center of town. It was on a Saturday, maybe a market day, as the place was really alive. They have an official website that is professionally done, including some info about Pozos. The stated population of SLdelaP is 40,000. So what do you good folks know about this small city?

Anonimo

Jan 21, 2006, 7:48 AM

Post #2 of 12 (4124 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Blackjack Davie] San Luis de la Paz

 Can't Post | Private Reply
I know nothing about it, other than it seems fairly high elevation. But we did stop and eat at a barbacoa restaurant that was quite good. http://www.pbase.com/panos/image/49358807


More photos in the same web gallery.
Check out their flashy, snazzy webite: http://www.sanluisdelapaz.com/

Saludos,
Anonimo

(This post was edited by Anonimo on Jan 21, 2006, 8:00 AM)

ronau

Jan 23, 2006, 6:00 PM

Post #3 of 12 (4053 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Blackjack Davie] San Luis de la Paz

 Can't Post | Private Reply
I have been visiting there for about 15 years or so. We still go 3-4 times a year and have been building a house there which should be finished later this summer and eventually we will move there. It is a very lively town with some fiesta or another almost every week. To us it has all the cultural advantages of larger towns but still maintains a very friendly small town atmosphere, maybe not as "polished" as some other towns but for us that just adds to its character. We are still an oddity there and there is very little English spoken (when we want to hear English we drive over to Pozos). We originally visited because of a friend who lived there but now we know a lot of the local people and always enjoy our visits. We traveled around a good bit of Mexico looking for a home site but we always ended up back in San Luis. It probably is not ideal for everyone but it seems to be what we were looking for. I could go on and on about what I find attractive (and not) and I would be happy to give more info to anyone who is interested.

Blackjack Davie

Jan 24, 2006, 5:31 PM

Post #4 of 12 (4005 views)

Shortcut

Re: [ronau] San Luis de la Paz

 Can't Post | Private Reply
Anonimo, thank you for the very enjoyable slide show regarding your culinary experiences. I did find San Luis to be a curious and seemingly enjoyable place and I hope the opportunity arises to visit again. That being the case, I will certainly visit El Paisano for their barbecue treats.

Ronau, your post is very informative and I certainly thought that there was a fiesta going on when I drove through. I've thought of this lively city since my visit several years ago and if you have more to share, I would like to hear it. What is the distance/time to Pozos? Most folks describe it as terribly isolated and entirely devoid of most services but it looks really close to San Luis on the map. What most attracts you to this place? I do note that it is not that far from San Miguel or Dolores Hidalgo or even Queretaro. Thanks for responding to my post. I would like to hear more from you and, of course, others are encouraged if they have something to share. David

ronau

Jan 24, 2006, 9:49 PM

Post #5 of 12 (3984 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Blackjack Davie] San Luis de la Paz

 Can't Post | Private Reply
San Luis is only about 7 kilometers from Pozos. It always suprises me that the people I meet in Pozos (outside of the permanent residents) have no idea that there is a large town nearby. San Luis is actually the "county seat" and oversees services to Pozos and the majority of folks I know in San Luis are always amazed that anyone has the slightest interest in Pozos. San Luis is full of doctors, bankers, notarios, and the like. The markets are wonderful and there is cable and internet. My friends in Pozos use San Luis as a service center for the needs that they cannot get met in Pozos and as you noted Queretaro is only an hour away. It's not the services issue that caused me to forego Pozos but the fact that as a city person I like the hustle and bustle of San Luis and I will go to Pozos to chill out now and then.

For me San Luis has several things going for it besides the fact that I have good friends there. I have been to sitar concerts performed by classically trained Indian musicians, attended symphony ochestra performances, seen German theatrical groups, etc. This is in addition to the many fiestas, religious pageants, and such. Yet the town seems much smaller and more intimate than the 40,000 population. I always see someone I know when I go to el centro. It has a strong colonial history of its own (founded in the 1500's) and it also makes a good jumping off point to the many other wonderful places in central Mexico. I am also very excited that in a couple of months I will have a great house overlooking the town and entire valley for much less than I could have built it for in the U.S. and built to very high standards.

Of course its not perfect. It is very loud (but I actually enjoy that) and its relatively dirty. It can be very dusty in the dry season and there is always talk of possible water shortages (though there is a huge dam almost completed outside of town). Like many small towns there is in-fighting and gossip at times. There is a night life but fairly subdued and the streets are deserted by 10pm during the week. Very few people speak English if that is important to you and the restaurant scene leaves much to be desired. I guess it really does depend on what you are looking for but as I said San Luis seems to have a great blend of features that really meets our needs for now.

Blackjack Davie

Jan 26, 2006, 4:28 PM

Post #6 of 12 (3948 views)

Shortcut

Re: [ronau] San Luis de la Paz

 Can't Post | Private Reply
Ronau, thanks again for an excellent response to my questions. As stated before, I was attracted to this town/city on my visit of a few years ago. With the information you have provided, I do think I would like to visit again. I don't know that I can leave my home in the little corporate colony of the U.S. (West Virginia) but I certainly want to spend two or three months a year in Mexico. My wife has one year until retirement and we are looking at several possibilities including Guanajuato, San Miguel, Dolores Hidalgo and now, San Luis. I wonder if you have information regarding availability of house/apartment rentals or, perhaps, mid-range hotels? Do you have information regarding expenses/general cost of living, etc. as compared to the three other places mentiond?

I do have a trip planned for late Spring and would be flying into Leon/ Gto airport and am considering some bus travel between the four cities. Is this practical? I will be in Gto. for three weeks and I would like to spend, at least, a day and a night at the other locations. Can you recommend a hotel for a one night stay?

Congratulations on the construction of your new home. I wish you the very best as you embark on this new chapter of your life. David

ronau

Jan 26, 2006, 9:16 PM

Post #7 of 12 (3917 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Blackjack Davie] San Luis de la Paz

 Can't Post | Private Reply
It is very doable to travel among those four cities by bus and we have often done it, although now we usually just rent a car at the Leon airport (Thrifty always has the best prices and gives you a discount if you prepay when you make the reservation through their 800 number).
San Luis is somewhat lacking in hotels. There are some motels out on the main highway that are decent and very reasonable but the town itself is about 5 kilometers in from the main highway. We have stayed in Parra's Hotel, the one advertised on the San Luis website (which is maintained by the owner of the hotel by the way). It is a good basic hotel in a good location, clean and reasonably priced (about $35US/night). The rooms on the third floor facing the street seemed best to us, and there is little traffic on the street after 9 or 10pm. That's about it for hotels in San Luis (a couple of others but definitely not recommended). If its more of a US style (with US prices) you would be comfortable with then Pozos would be the place to stay, three beautiful hotels there catering to tourists (average room I think about $100US/night).
We too considered all the cities you mentioned. Cost of living would depend on how you want to live, but there is only so much to spend money on in San Luis, while we seem to be able to spend a great deal of money easily in Guanajuato or especially San Miguel. Dolores is comparable to San Luis in my opinion. Because San Luis is not set up for tourists there is very little in the way of an organized rental or real estate business but if you know people it is easy to find places. I have seen very basic houses for rent under $100US/mo and let me stress the basic part. My best friend of many years returned there 2 years ago to take care of family business. His son still lives with us so he can finish school in Dallas, so I talk to my friend quite often and stay with him when in San Luis until I finish my own house. If you need a contact there I can send you his info privately and you could look him up. He would be happy to tell you all about San Luis from a native's perspective. If you have any specific questions let me know, its not often I get to talk about San Luis in detail and I would be glad to share any info that I have.

dolores57

Feb 6, 2006, 3:55 PM

Post #8 of 12 (3856 views)

Shortcut

Re: [ronau] San Luis de la Paz

 Can't Post | Private Reply
Yes I have questions if you are still available. d

Blackjack Davie

Feb 7, 2006, 3:10 AM

Post #9 of 12 (3821 views)

Shortcut

Re: [dolores57] San Luis de la Paz

 Can't Post | Private Reply
Ronau, I have been away for several days thus this late response to your fine post. I really do appreciate your help and if you would send the private information mentioned, I promise to keep it entirely for my own use. A couple of additional questions; are there ATM machines in San Luis (preferably the swipeable type) and is there bus transportation to Pozos? Thanks again for your generous assistance.

Blackjack Davie

Feb 15, 2006, 5:24 PM

Post #10 of 12 (3752 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Blackjack Davie] San Luis de la Paz

 Can't Post | Private Reply
Ron, I really do appreciate your help, and if things go as planned, I should be in Guanajuato around the middle of March and in San Luis the following week. This is a new venture for me. On prior trips, I have only attended classes, spending little time on the streets. My plan this time is to spend one week in conversation only classes and then to get on the bus and move about the area. I have a mild trepidation about this experience but I really want to do it. Most concerns are about language but I think I will be alright. I speak fairly well on a basic level but if it gets too involved, I can get lost. I have been in Dolores Hidalgo on two prior occasions, so it is not a big concern, but San Luis is another matter. With the information you have provided I feel pretty confident that I can handle it. I will definitely contact your friend and I am sure it will make a big difference. Do you, by chance, know the name of his store and its location?

Anybody else have advice or suggestion for me? Ron, I will contact you before leaving just to be sure that I have correct information. Muchas gracias. Muy amable. david

ronau

Feb 15, 2006, 6:04 PM

Post #11 of 12 (3743 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Blackjack Davie] San Luis de la Paz

 Can't Post | Private Reply
David, I sent you a private reply regarding my friend's info but I also wanted to post this picture of San Luis. It is one of my favorites and I keep it at work to remind me of why I am working so hard. I haven't posted a picture before so I hope this works.

Ron
Attachments: San Luis August 04 150 resize2.jpg (62.6 KB)

Blackjack Davie

Feb 17, 2006, 7:31 PM

Post #12 of 12 (3689 views)

Shortcut

Re: [ronau] San Luis de la Paz

 Can't Post | Private Reply
Ron, your photo worked to perfection. I am excited to see it in person. I will be leaving our little corporate colony (West Virginia) for Guanajuato on the 17th of March and will be in Mexico for three weeks. I see myself in San Luis sometime during the week of the 27th. I'm very excited. You have been a tremendous help and I will keep you posted as events unfold. David
 
 
Search for (advanced search) Powered by Gossamer Forum v.1.2.4