Forums > Areas > Central Highlands

debartiste

Feb 10, 2010, 9:44 AM

Post #1 of 1 (7292 views)

Shortcut

My trip to SMA - Hola, back in Chicago

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hi all,
I just wanted to say that I was really pleased that I finally made my first trip to SMA a few weeks ago. I stayed for 2 weeks, and had a wonderful time. I met up with some people I had met on this board, and some other friends of friends. The woman I rented the casa from gave me friends of hers to contact, which I did, and we had great times together. I also met a woman who was there doing the same thing I was, taking a look around to see if she would want to live there....at the ATM machine:-) We are staying in touch. You just never know who you'll meet and how.

My location in centro was perfect. It was cold when I got there (Jan 11), but really only at night. The house had 2 gas fireplaces that did the job well. During the day I managed just fine with my fall trench coat - even sandals, while a lot of people who live there full time were in winter coats and UGGS:-) But it was in the 60's during the day, which was just fine with me being from the frozen north in Chicago.

Favorite things there off the top of my head - Tio Lucas restaurant, Berlin Bar, $11 USD lamb chops, $2 USD taxi rides, Fabrica Aurora (where I met new artist friends), Cafe de la Parroquia (where I had breakfast every day, figuring it's good to play "local" and get to know people, plus it was a wonderful atmosphere to start the day with. Loved walking around in the courtyard behind the Sautto Hotel, (love the parrots), and inside the courtyard of the Belles Artes. Relaxing with the people gathering in the Jardin, overhearing conversations like "where are you from - how long have you lived here"....etc:-))

So now I'm back in Chicago. We had a bad snowstorm with more to come, and an EARTHQUAKE this morning. The second one I can remember here in my lifetime. It woke me up, shook the house for a bit, and I thought I was dreaming until I saw it on the news:-) It didn't shake the snow away. I'm procrastinating right now, have to go out and try to unbury my car.
Of course this is nothing compared to what I've heard about the recent rains in SMA. I hope everyone is ok. I guess my timing was awfully good.

My plans are to head back down this summer to experience SMA in another season, and to venture out to some other areas while I'm there this time. I'll look at some apartment rentals. Meanwhile I bought Carol, Norma and Rolly's new book about HOW to move to Mexico, that will keep me busy for a bit.

Thanks to everyone here, especially to Gringal and pathall, for all the great advice. Thanks to Carol and Norma for the wonderful information in the first book, and in general, to everyone in SMA, thanks for the wonderful hospitality!
Debbie

P.S. I found the "SMA cocktail combat sandals" that I wanted. The store didn't have the color I wanted in my size. But, with some sign language and my tiny bit of pigeon spanish, - a phone call was made and a guy came running down the street from another store with the right shoes in my size. Amazing!!:-)) Try finding THAT customer service in Chicago, ha.