Mexico is still plagued with the issue of stray dogs. New York. }. The lake is a popular tourist destination for both Mexicans and foreigners. No razor wire either nor paranoia! Ajijic is a great place for a relaxing vacation if youre looking for something to do. Goodness knows that being an Expat there (Lake Chapala) brings with it risks that are not present elsewhere in Mexico. U.S. State Departments Mexico Travel Warnings, Mexico - A Growing Global Crisis of Confidence - Bill Dahl, Lake Chapala: State of the Lake 2019 - Bill Dahl, Americanaries Observing Canaries from their Nest in the West, The Americonundrum Democracy in Decline, La Vista de Queretaro Our Bed and Breakfast Your Accommodations to Explore Gorgeous Colonial Central Mexico, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The dust of Mexico settles slowly. Frankly weather has gotten chilly here for me, and might be time for me to change life. On Tuesday, an expat storeowner was the victim of an attempted carjacking - and injured. Guadalajara is home to some of the best hospitals in the world. If too many Gringos and Canadians come down here, they might spoil it for the rest of us. Anecdotal, but one friend had his truck stolen in Chapala last year, and another, her home burglarized early this year. Besides, being Spanish my first language I was able to understand Mexico a lot better than those who do not know Spanish. Its our health and safety we have to be concerned with. R. Canada. Youll be getting enough from Social Security and your retirement plans to live in the lap of luxury for the rest of your life. I love (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? An elderly man, tentatively identified as a U.S. citizen in his 70s, was found dead in his Chapala home on Sunday, August 22, the apparent victim of homicide. Francisco de los Santos, a member of the coca community of Mezcala and a kidney recipient, believes that such forums are necessary. Another pro is that there are a lot of activities to do in Chapala such as fishing, swimming, and boating. Im also well aware of an elderly woman being physically assaulted and beat up in her face in her home and then robbed and a male expat being shot at who was walking down the street. There are many restaurants, but few that I would regard as excellent. What the hell do we do now? Contribute Did we learn to speak. The forum is full of helpful information and is a great resource for anyone considering a move to Mexico. If you have a medical emergency or a serious medical problem, you might want to make Guadalajara your first stop. (He might want to revisit this purported strategy). Read the entire Travel Advisory -Violent crime, such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery, is widespread. The questions have now become: How will Mexico respond to this mayhem? .video-container iframe { Just got back from my first visit to the area. So much more open and joyous, and far less regimented, than the US is. Her travel writing has earned her numerous awards, most notably from Lake Chapala English magazine, El Ojo del Lago. And given we live outside San Diego, on acreage with a great house and views, that says something about the beauty of the Mexican culture, and the heart warming charm and sense of peace and fulfillment that is to be found there. By Bette Brazel, Focus on Mexico Content Manager. 2023 Tour By Mexico. The water in the lake is clean and safe to drink. Its sort of amusing and sort of not amusing to hear expats brag about what a great deal they got on some purchase, blissfully unaware that they paid way more than the usual price. One popular web board is said to have banned discussion of crime because a real estate company owns it. Regards, Bette, Are there many single retirees lakeside ? For less than four hundred dollars per year, you can get fully insured Mexican Health Insurance. When a gringo buys something, the stores automatically tax you more. Why dont the government take care of Lake Chapala? William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. With Babbel, you can learn Spanish and deepen your understanding of Mexico. Foreigners are there for the picking and my Vietnamese wife wont let me buy anything except in the larger supermarkets. There is no doubt that the lake will continue to dry up, but misinformation about this is not uncommon. Beautiful board and care homes with 24-hour care can cost as little as $1200 per month. But there will not be the degree of hatred and the culturally and legally approved prosecution of anyone who does not fall into the approved category. Lake Chapala is the largest freshwater lake in Mexico and the second largest in North America. The U.S. government has advised its personnel to use the Federal toll road 15D for travel to Mexico City, but stops in La Barca or Ocotlan are not permitted. Far more important, speaking Spanish could save your life in a situation where medical attention or emergency services are required. name is at the very beginning of the article dawg. Many times I fell when riding my biicycle. You might say they are more accepting or fatalistic depending on your point of view, but there is a general feeling that things will work out somehow without excessive planning or control. Enjoy life in Paradise!! I still feel safer in Mexico than I ever would in the USAschool shootings? Create a new government, new institutions, bring in new laws. padding-bottom: 56.25%; Food costs are also relatively low, and a meal at a local restaurant can cost around $5-10. I think you are asking about the cost of a rental, and I would say for a single person most rentals would fall between $700 $1,200/month. My friends who live in Ajijic are now planning a move back to the USA. The events occurred on October 7, at approximately 8:30 p.m., when said individual was in the company of another male, inside a house located on lvaro Obregn street, in Ajijic. Allow law abiding citizens to arm themselves legally. Traffic is ridiculous as there is only one rule of the road the larger vehicle has the right of way even if it is a bus driving down the wrong side of the road into oncoming scooter traffic. Rip currents and crocodiles have killed foreign tourists in a number of Mexican lakes. Wearing expensive jewelry or Rolex watches to show off your wealth is counterproductive; instead, keep your personal information to a minimum. Mexicos popularity among expats, snowbirds, digital nomads, and retirees is expected to rise in 2022. And by that, I mean waking to sunshine and beautiful weather, greeting our neighbors, walking or riding our bikes into Ajijic or the other Lakeside towns, buying fresh groceries, eating healthier (no fast food is a big plus), dining out at mom and pop restaurants, as well as restaurants that rival or exceed the restaurants back home, enjoying the different holidays and fiestas in the plaza (including laughing at the cojetes and rolling over and going back to sleep). At Lakeside, there is petty crime but by being observant and using common sense, it seems pretty safe! What are some ways to learn Spanish while also getting along with the Mexicans? This lake, Spanish Lago de Chapala, is located in the west-central part of Mexico. For the Chapala area, selling the dream is the mantra that has attracted U.S. and Canadian tourists for decades. bloody mary morning another big yuck, He was the main guy well known. Business affairs will be taken care of eventually, but probably not in the time frame expected by a typical U.S. or Canadian citizen. After living here a few months their analysis was that Mexico is lawless, chaotic, messy, noisy, dirty and dangerous. Lake Chapala is the ideal location for a snowbirds paradise because it is surrounded by a large expat community. A two-bedroom, two-bath house with a backyard and garden area, a modern kitchen with wood cabinets, modern bathrooms, and a carport with parking for two cars costs $95,000 I discovered that a basic house in Chapala, needing only minor renovations, could be purchased for $45,000. This is less expensive than living in Canada or the United States, where you would spend up to a third of your income. In the Guadalajara metropolitan area, members of the Jalisco Nueva Generacin Cartel (CJNG) and the Nueva Plaza Cartel (CNP) are competing for control. "Fresh food--veggies, fruit everywhere. If youre on a tight budget, its also relatively inexpensive. There are nasty people filtering thru much of the mainland from Central America to Arizona and California. Our time in Mexico was the best time in our lives. It is an appealing place to live because of its proximity to perfect weather, low costs, and a relatively peaceful lifestyle. Where will the financial resources come from? Comments are moderated, refer to policy for more information.Enva fotos, vdeos, notas, enlaces o informacin Todo 100% Annimo;borderlandbeat@gmail.com, Investigators believe that the attack could be due to a "settling of scores" (. On my way to Los Cabos very soon, first time. Solar energy is also available, thanks to the sun and the installation of our new solar hot water system. Taking part in local events throughout the day for free is an excellent way to enjoy the community. Mexico is a wonderful country with a lot of great. Its not fair though to lure more and more people into, what looks like a good deal, but in reality isnt. Who knows, but I travel a lot and I am not Canadian, so no clue how they think or such. This is all happening so fast. The craftsmen and women, who still make items as their parents and parents before them did, and the fact that chicken wire has so many uses," The crime occurred at a downtown address on Calle Jurez. The perpetrators were four men disguised as police officers. Dangerous In addition to the lawlessness covered in point 1 above, the roads are generally full of potholes and topes (speed bumps) which are usually unmarked and often in the most unlikely of places. Maids and gardeners earn an average of $3 to $6 per hour, according to Payscale. height: 100%; The bottom version of the photo is much more clear and there is no logohmm , Look into the CJNG tobacco Monopoly they have going on I their areas of influence. It seems that most retirees there are married.. position: absolute; One of the highlights for me was to sound TAPS for the Memorial Day observance at the American Legion Post in Chapala. https://english.elpais.com/usa/2021-02-23/mexicos-guadalajara-gripped-by-gang-violence-and-impunity.html, Your email address will not be published. All the best and let us know if Focus can help you further. "Narco cartels and the resulting territorial violence is more than challenging--it's scary when it gets close. Between 1980 and 2002, thousands of farmers built over 500 dams on the Rio Lerma. And while busses are much better than here in the US, I found I really needed a car. In the past the cities received 10 million pesos from this government program.. I have to admit I do not live in Ajijic proper nor Chapala and prefer it that way and likely would not be a vacation place for me! And is that after the four violent events of the last week, where four people lost their lives and five were injured, according to updated information by the press, has been forced to resign this week the director of Public Safety of Chapala, Amador Baena Pinzn. explained one expat living in Ajijic. The cost of liveing there is also higher. The highway between Guadalajara and Ajijic is often traversed by stray cows or dogs that appear out of nowhere, and all traffic laws are merely a suggestion. After two trips to Ajijic, the second one for 3 months, I agree with your vision entirely. How will the expats, residents and those with vested interests in the tourism and real estate industry in the Lakeside area become involved in advocating for essential solutions? I also always felt safe sending my daughter to school in Mexico and wasnt worried she would get shot. Seven men were shot to death as part of a gangland war. Its a pleasure to visit the Mexican people, who are friendly and welcoming, and the countrys culture is still alive and thriving. Welcome to the area is known as Lakeside and la ribera to Mexicans. Im not impressed with the place nor the people, the only thing I like so far is the weather. The lake is a popular tourist destination for both Mexicans and foreigners. Detergents and agriculture chemicals have contributed to the destruction of Lake Chapala by producing phosphorus and nitrogen, two of the fertilizers primary ingredients. This strategy must include resources dedicated to enhancing crime prevention, crime reporting, and the responsiveness/effectiveness of law enforcement. You should also keep the sidewalk in front of your house clean. Lake Michigans capacity fell to just 15% between 2001 and 2003. Weve been here ten years, will answer any questions you have, boswelltb@yahoo.com terry and Barb Also you can go to chapala.com it is a webboard to people here, Your email address will not be published. Due to the lakes decline, housing costs have risen, and people are unable to enjoy its natural resources as much as they used to. We have actually heard someone complain that there were a lot of Mexicans on the streets in Ajijc (well, duh) and they didnt like seeing them. So, to make them feel better, Ive compiled a list of the top 20 reasons NOT to retire to Lake Chapala (in no particular order): So dont believe all those books about the wonderful life here, or the promotional websites all the realtors produce to entice you to buy a house. $ 1200 per month are now planning murders in lake chapala mexico move back to the area U.S. or citizen... Plans to live in Ajijic are now planning a move to Mexico expensive than living in Canada the! 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