Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

jennifer rose

Aug 14, 2003, 10:50 AM

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Why Ajijic and Lake Chapala?

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How did you first learn of Ajijic, Lake Chapala and its surrounding area? What made you decide upon that area as the spot to land? Did you investigate other areas of Mexico before making that decision? What other areas of Mexico would be your second choices?

Musicman

Aug 14, 2003, 11:28 AM

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Re: [jennifer rose] Why Ajijic and Lake Chapala?

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When I left Arizona two years ago, the plan was to go to Zihuatanejo however, I met an ederly couple in San Carlos who boasted about Ajijic and the wonderful climate. The day after that conversation, I continued south toward my original destination but by the time I arrived in Mazatlan the humidity and heat were so intense that all I could think about was the comments of the couple in San Carlos. Well, I turned toward Ajijic and have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. In November, I am moving to a coastal town, at least for a few months, perhaps south of Puerto Vallarta. Next summer, trust me, I'm coming back to Ajijic. Last summer I visited Morelia and Patzcuaro. They were both quite nice but too cold for this desert rat. Finally, I must admit, anywhere in Mexico is better than the fast pace of Phoenix.

skwala

Aug 14, 2003, 11:38 AM

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Re: [jennifer rose] Why Ajijic and Lake Chapala?

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While we haven't yet landed there, we are in the approach pattern and maybe on the downwind leg, we have looked long and hard at the Lakeside area. Can't remember just how we learned of it -- kind of a process of Mexicosmosis, I think. Our primary attractant is the presence of the expatriate community which we feel would help us make the transition to living in Mexico. We would really like to live in the country, learn the language and integrate into the society as much as possible. We know that the tranistion can be difficult, so are looking for some assistance in that regard. We have also looked at and enjoyed Michoacan, with its mountains and lakes. Morelia is a fine city, with a cosmopolitan air which one of us likes a bit more than the other. My reservation is that it's a bit large a city for my taste.

esperanza

Aug 14, 2003, 11:42 AM

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Re: [jennifer rose] Why Ajijic and Lake Chapala?

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I first heard of Ajijic and the Lake Chapala area more than 20 years ago, when I was initially living in Mexico~in Tijuana, a completely different part of Mexico. I couldn't understand why I would want to live at Lakeside and sneered at the idea for years. What would be the point of living where there are so many foreigners if what I wanted was to live in Mexico?

After I returned to the States due to medical necessity, I pined to live again in the beauty that I had come to know, in Tijuana (yes, beauty in Tijuana) as well as in the interior. For years I lived in the States and visited numerous friends in the numerous places in the interior of Mexico as often as possible, sometimes several times a year. For years I said I would *never* live at Lakeside. I now understand this attitude as contempt prior to investigation.

When the time came to research where to live in Mexico, my companion and I drove 6,000 miles, from Ciudad Juárez to Oaxaca, from Tampico to Mazatlán. We saw many, many beautiful towns...none of which suited her needs.

And then we traveled to Ajijic by accident. Leaving Morelia late one afternoon for Guadalajara, my companion and I were stuck in traffic on the highway into Tonalá. Dusk was pushing us, the traffic was pushing us, and we had no idea where in Guadalajara we were heading. I saw the sign for the turnoff to Chapala. "Let's go down there and stay the night; it's a small town and we can regroup tomorrow and go to Guadalajara during the day." Five days later we reluctantly dragged ourselves out of the Hotel Nido in Chapala and left for home. We never saw Guadalajara that trip.

The rest is history. My companion (a native Spanish-speaker) fell in love with Ajijic, and I realized that the only criterion for my dream of living in Mexico had been to live in Mexico~I never specified WHERE or that I did not want to live near Lake Chapala. So I compromised.

She went back to the States after two years; it turned out that she wasn't as in love with life here as she had thought she'd be. I stay on, for wonderful friends and neighbors and a house I love and a settled way of life. But there are still times when I consider where I might rather live: Pátzcuaro and Zacatecas are numbers one and two on my short list. Neither of those places has a foreign community of any size; fortunately I am fluent in Spanish and don't have a tremendous need to use English. However, having good friends with similar cultural references is handy when the conversation turns to Leave it to Beaver, or burning leaves in the Fall, or life in the United States during the late 1960s.

There are times when I get sick and tired of the foreign community at Lakeside, with all its infighting and snarling about this and that, with its all-too-frequent racism and prejudice directed at the Mexicans, with its misconceptions and misunderstandings and general lack of interest in the culture it lives in. There are times when I am ready to call the movers. But as I have said a zillion times, no place is perfect. So Ajijic is home.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

(This post was edited by esperanza on Aug 14, 2003, 11:45 AM)

Jerry@Ajijic

Aug 14, 2003, 9:49 PM

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Re: [esperanza] Why Ajijic and Lake Chapala?

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we visited Mexico 4 times. We drove around central Mexico before decideing on lakeside. We are from Florida and so did not consider the coastal areas (been there, done that). We like particularly like the weather here and the flat (more or less) land. San M de A was another possibility but the mountains really turned us flatlanders off. We were also impressed by the LCS library, cable TV and the local internet ISP that was going to be available (and is now.

deputy dog

Aug 16, 2003, 11:28 AM

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Re: [Musicman] Why Ajijic and Lake Chapala?

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About 20 years ago there was a Canadian fellow who lived there and wrote a book about living in Mexico for a few dollars a day. He got on USA television and made it seem indeed live paradise. So I flew down and stayed tor two weeks in Chapala. I fell in love not only with the weather (I was living in MN at the time & anything in Feb is better than MN in Feb) but most of all the people (not the gringos). I was last there 12 years ago and am going back in Oct for out 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Although we now live in a beautiful part of Arizona (Prescott) we are considering moving to Mexico. As for the gringo community it isn't much different now than it was 20 years ago, just more of them. Some people will complain no matter where they are. Hope you have luck in finding your little piece of paradise.

cristalhombre

Aug 16, 2003, 9:26 PM

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Re: [jennifer rose] Why Ajijic and Lake Chapala?

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Another story....why Ajijic.

I have traveled throughout Mexico for the past 20 years. Mostly the tourist centers on the Pacific Coast for a week or two each season. Generally a vacation journey from the "fast pace" here in the Pacific Northwest. I love the ocean!

Last year my wife thought that we should spend some time away from our suburban Portland hacienda and assist our adopted 10 year old hispanic daughter with a better understanding of her culture. We all enrolled in a Spanish immersion program in Oaxaca for 6 weeks. Well all I can say is that this was the most enjoyable time I have ever had! EVER!!!! EVER!!!! EVER!!!! Been all over the globe but the real Mexico, which I don't feel I had ever experienced, seemed so inviting......... Not to mention that my daughter "blossomed" in the home stay. That's what sold me to be honest!

It was in Oaxaca that I decided that Mexico would become an alternate site for the family to live, grow and learn. They flew home in January and I took a bus trip to Morelia and San Miguel. SMA was amazing and beautiful, but too many Texans for this Democrat...... Morelia, wonderful, but a bit too remote. Oaxaca too damn far, unfortunately.

I must mention that I was looking for a place to come to on short notice and for short durations during the year. We are in our 40's so this was not a "retirement move", rather a quality of life alteration.

With all of the "books" about MX. some by Luboff and others I decided to make a trip to Lake Chapala in March and to visit a friend in Manzanillo....still looking of course. I immediately liked Ajijic. It's size, the pace, the climate, the hiking trails above the village, neat folks and seemed to be quite affordable. Also the potential for my daughter to attend the Roosevelt School, if we were stay for a year. Ajijic quickly moved to 1st position on my list of possibilities. Spent about 5 days in a research mode checking out the area and real estate. I must have walked and hiked about 10 miles each day. I greeted the sunrise from the chapel above the village each morning. It was grand!

Returned home to tell the girls that I found a great place! Two weeks later both Mexicana and Alaska Airlines announced air service from Portland to Guadalajara. Mexicana is direct 3 days each week (4 1/2 hour flight) That sealed the deal. Since that time the realtor called with the perfect house and without much hesitation I said......"sure I'll buy it"..... life is an adventure right and this is just another interesting twist in the road.

Now I realize that I am in violation of the "test drive the area" rule that so many of you suggest. I don't have a good excuse and I don't feel like I need one. It just simply feels right! I did fly down to inspect the house in July. My wife came too. Our only concern is likely most everyone elses....."el lago".

So there is my tale. I'm going to come down in September for the real estate transaction and not sure what will happen after that. But that's how I like to live.

I doubt that Ajijic will ever become a primary residence for us. We really love our situation in the Portland area and the summers are sooooo perfect! Hiked near Mt Hood yesterday.....splendid day!

But a visit now and then to "casa del sol" could be the correct Rx for myself and friends who need a break from life in the city. This fall 3 different couples have already asked to borrow the place and that is exactly what it's there for.........mental health sabbaticals.

Someday our little Ellenita might choose to live there and meet her Prince.....Who knows.....

Best regards to all of you!

"NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST...."