The place isnt idyllic, but its also home to me. It can be difficult to complete a simple errand in a hurry because lines are long and multiple trips are required. Yes, its quite safe here and there are many single women living here. As a result, the lakes ecosystem has been hampered. If you have a medical emergency or a serious medical problem, you might want to make Guadalajara your first stop. The average wage in Ajijic for a Mexican is much higher than in other parts of (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Falling in love with this romantic place and then finding out about the current murders and fabrication of information, really has taken the wind out of our retirement plans. J. You feel safe in places like New York, Baltimore, Detroit, St. Louisor, for that matter, church or the movie theater. We glance at the goings on from abroad and shake our head. Although this is not paradise, life is rich here and you may find that the advantages of Lakeside living far outweigh the disadvantages. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-98154842', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Vallarta. William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. It took us at least a month to realize this is our life now. I like (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Foreigners are there for the picking and my Vietnamese wife wont let me buy anything except in the larger supermarkets. It seems that there is also an increase in petty crime and household robbery Lakeside, a fact of life in almost all of Latin America. We saw some of the bad sides of Mexico, but we were fortunate enough to experience the people and culture. Joshua Wood, LPC joined Expat Exchange in 2000 and serves as one of its Co-Presidents. I have gone through all the photos I have of Baja Sur and the ones on the Focus on Mexico site and I cant see garbage in the streets. Lets review them one by one: 1. Get every new post on this blog delivered to your Inbox. $25 a month electric bills are too high, and youd rather spend hundreds of dollars a month to heat and air-condition your house. It is illegal, but they get away with it anyway. Mexicos healthcare and medical services are comparable to or better than those in the United States. 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. (We northerners could learn something about what it means to be discreet, which has a slightly different meaning in Spanish, roughly translating into not saying everything thats on your mind, and wrapping every discourse in courtesy regardless of how angry or justified you may think you are.). Wow Im really interested in this perspective. Mansions and top-notch restaurants are available, as are plenty of fine dining options. Why would anyone want to retire in Mexico anywayespecially the area around Lake Chapala. People saying "buenas dias" and "buenos tarde" when passing on the street. 2. The one with half of his face missing los huertas. There is an unofficial tax called the Gringo Tax. You like arguing about politics all of the time. Expats flock to Lake Chapala, particularly when visiting Mexico, which is one of the most popular destinations in the country. You see, the Lake Chapala region is our little secret. Deep wells were drilled many decades ago to provide water for homes. Could you please share with me an approximate average cost of living for a reasonable rental for a single person? The Jalisco travel warning remains at Level 2 exercise increased caution due to crime Some areas have increased risk. 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. Enjoy life in Paradise!! Not a day passes that I dont reflect back to our many expat and Mexican friends. First, if all depends on where you are coming from and what is important to you. Utilities, including water, electricity, and internet, can cost an additional $100-200 per month. It has made my idea of living in Mexico a bit easier. We rented a house in Chapala Country Club from August 17 thru February 2018. 100% Safe Payment. So, how safe is Lake Chapala Mexico? Despite the fact that mile-high altitudes provide relief from the heat and humidity of coastal towns, people with heart and respiratory problems may find it difficult. Roslyn intensifies to category 4 hurricane;heavy rains expected in these states, VIDEO: THIS IS THE MEXICAN NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED THE COOLEST IN THE WORLD, Jalisco students arrested and imprisoned for planting trees, Veracruz and Jalisco, the livestock giants in Mexico, A private clinic exclusively for the LGBT community opens in Puerto Vallarta. Its our health and safety we have to be concerned with. R. Canada. Reports of a Canadian murdered in San Antonio Tlayacapan "Lake Chapala" February 3, 2019 3384 Canadian Global Affairs confirms death of Canadian citizen in Mexico. Two were killed. When in Panajachel, he dated a woman named Ruth, and tried for 2-3 years to marry her . Your email address will not be published. Local authorities confirmed the incident in a press release today. Lake Chapala is an excellent place to retire. After eating my last meal of the day, I walk to the lake to sit and watch the water lap on the shore, as birds fly low overhead. Still have good memories. Sometimes, this is endearing, other times you really wonder. Opportunistic thievery and denial. At one point, Joseph Angelo A. pulled out a firearm with which he allegedly shot his companion, who was fatally wounded. If too many Gringos and Canadians come down here, they might spoil it for the rest of us. Lake Chapala has a climate that is second to none in the world, trailing only Nairobi. If you are really saying that you traveled all over Mexico and the streets were spotless, well thats like saying youve never seen a cloud. Safety not so sure, crepy people and dark streets at night Who knows, but I travel a lot and I am not Canadian, so no clue how they think or such. 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? Its not fair though to lure more and more people into, what looks like a good deal, but in reality isnt. Crime in Mexico varies widely by location with the worst crime reported in the states that border the United States and the south of Mexico, mostly because of drug cartel activity, according to the U.S. Department of State. Clearly, there are facts to back up my feeling. You can also stay updated on travel warnings and safety information at this U.S. Department of State website. The lake is a popular tourist destination for both Mexicans and foreigners. They were going hard for two guys i think the rest got caught on the cross fire, if you watch the video you will see who the sicarios were going after. Mexico is a wonderful country with a lot of great places to live, but in places the water is badly. Peoples lives depend upon this new posture. Former Dallas Police Officer, Sid Grosvenor, gives his opinion of the crime in the Lake Chapala Ajijic area of Mexico. Medical services are a joke and heaven help you if you get hurt. . I still enjoy parts of Baja also. I have lived in Ajijic for two years full time and adore it. If you want to maintain a full active lifestyle, you can expect to pay around $1,500 per month. 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" (. Im a big fan of smoothies made with raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, bananas, fresh yoghurt, milk, and honey. By using this form, you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. During our brief stay we met and enjoyed the company of many expats, Americans and Canadians. 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 international living magazines and blogs tout the climate and cost of living as two of the prime reasons to move to Mexico, but warm weather and low cost of living are not enough on which to base a life. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Expat Charged with Murder in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico enacts a ban on smoking in public spaces, More and more Americans are flocking to Mexico in 2023, The Three Kings are part of an old tradition for Latin, 4,221 vehicles were stolen in Sinaloa in 2019, University students in California prefer to study in Mexico. Michael Sapp, a man who lived in Panajachel, Guatemala on Lake Atitlan for maybe 5 years. Last updated on Sep 17, 2022 Summary: Pros and Cons of Living in Lake Chapala, Mexico. We returned to the US shortly thereafter. The weather is perfect and the scenery is beautiful. Taking part in local events throughout the day for free is an excellent way to enjoy the community. There are some good Mexicans there but as always, there are a lot of bad ones too. 21 years no problems, one petty crime. The end result for us might have been better if wed done it in our 60s instead of in our 70s. Many writers come here to find Lawrences ghost stirring among the trees. Many international visitors, including American and Canadian expats, have relocated to the Lake Chapala area because of the gentle arches and hand-painted tiles in the homes, as well as the variety of gardens that bloom throughout the year. Worldwide Delivery. Always feel safe but use common sense too. Is the dirt, garbage..noise (especially with eventos on Saturday nights) the endless government requirements to be legal..the water and some food., all concerns YES.. but it was never viewed as something that would make us leave. Its time to discard the dream and eliminate the illusion. 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. Some forums can only be seen by registered members. Start from scratch. What the hell do we do now? In addition, the home invasions and petty crime are on the rise. The questions have now become: How will Mexico respond to this mayhem? Earlier in the month, a 78 year old Canadian expat was shot to death walking home in Ajijic, and four men were arrested in Chapala for aggravated robbery. Used to ride horses. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-98137350', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Mexico, but I will scratch this area off my lists. My wife needed emergency medical/hospital care in January, and because of our inability after much effort to buy Mexican medical insurance, our out of pocket expense was just under $20K US. position: relative; Huertas family is very known in joco and surroundings to bad q ya se estan acavando https://www.yahoo.com/news/3-siblings-killed-mexican-cartel-180508607.html, Dude is pouring up a drink to a job well done, Damn lake chapala usual peaceful, lots of American retirees, Theres been a ton of unreported crime and murders going on now since 2016 in Chapala, Ajijic and Joco, Lake Chapala american retirees will be leaving. This website or its third-party tools use cookies which are necessary to its functioning and required to improve your experience. After living here a few months their analysis was that Mexico is lawless, chaotic, messy, noisy, dirty and dangerous. "Fresh food--veggies, fruit everywhere. Ajijic has one disadvantage, which is that getting around is difficult. Mexico is still plagued with the issue of stray dogs. There is no doubt that the lake will continue to dry up, but misinformation about this is not uncommon. Prices for basic necessities such as groceries and other items are also reasonable. Food costs are also relatively low, and a meal at a local restaurant can cost around $5-10. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-98182370', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');San Antonio. 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