Lake Chapalla / Mexico

[sparks]

If you's give us an idea how far you want to go or particular areas you're interested in - we might be able to help. Not sure if you've seen Jocotepec which is very Mexican and just beyond Ajijic at the end of the lake. Tapalpa and Mazamitla are up around 7k feet. Sayula is in the valley to the east.

The very small towns may lack facilities and may be impossible to get DSL internet or cable TV ... sewer, water

My Mexico Web
Sparks Mexico

[RVGRINGO]

The title of the thread is what has lead him astray; not his fault if he isn't familiar with Lake Chapala:

"Lake Chapalla / Mexico" is how it reads in the header.

[miendo]

If you are looking in the Ajijic area, I would recomment Roma Management. We have our rental through them. email Victor and he will contact you.
http://www.romawebsite.com/business/segall.htm

This is our rental

There is also a very comprehensive 5 day relocation seminar that I would highly recommend. Ajijic - Lake Chapala area of Mexico

[J. Miller]

I am still living in Canada but probably only until the summer when I hope to retire. Two years ago we bought a house in Roca Azul, which is about thirty minutes walking distance from Jocotepc. Our house is currently rented and will be until at least June but we did manage a two week vacation there before it was occupied. We have so many, many questions about Mexico and Lake Chapala in particular but one thing that our brief stay in Roca helped with was to dispel the cautions of friends regarding living living so far away from Ajijic (about thirty minutes driving). We were so taken with the charm and the peace of our little village and there must be many more small villages that are quiet havens, a little less expensive in terms of housing and still close enough to shopping areas etc to make them both practical and desirable.

We walked into Jocotepec several times to do some shopping and also took buses into Ajijic on many occasions. Despite our absolutely appalling lack of Spanish, we managed easily with the aid of many local shop keepers, taxi and bus drivers. When we finally get settled there for good, our first priority is to learn Spanish but until we are proficient we feel quite certain that the local people will continue to be helpful and we are so looking forward to meeting more of our neighbors who are decidedly a mixture of Mexicans and NOB expats. Jen

[miendo]

Originally Posted by J. Miller

I am still living in Canada but probably only until the summer when I hope to retire. Two years ago we bought a house in Roca Azul, which is about thirty minutes walking distance from Jocotepc. Our house is currently rented and will be until at least June but we did manage a two week vacation there before it was occupied. We have so many, many questions about Mexico and Lake Chapala in particular but one thing that our brief stay in Roca helped with was to dispel the cautions of friends regarding living living so far away from Ajijic (about thirty minutes driving). We were so taken with the charm and the peace of our little village and there must be many more small villages that are quiet havens, a little less expensive in terms of housing and still close enough to shopping areas etc to make them both practical and desirable.

We walked into Jocotepec several times to do some shopping and also took buses into Ajijic on many occasions. Despite our absolutely appalling lack of Spanish, we managed easily with the aid of many local shop keepers, taxi and bus drivers. When we finally get settled there for good, our first priority is to learn Spanish but until we are proficient we feel quite certain that the local people will continue to be helpful and we are so looking forward to meeting more of our neighbors who are decidedly a mixture of Mexicans and NOB expats. Jen

Jocotepec is supposed to be an up and coming town as people get tired of the expense and traffic Ajijic. I think you made a good investment.

As it is a mexican town, you should pick up the language easily and you aren't too far away from things. Did I hear they were building a Walmart there or did they only decide on one in Ajijic.

[J. Miller]

The Walmart has opened in Jocotepec. I think that it opened in October of 07 but it was after I was last there so I haven't seen it. I'm not sure how I feel about it; I don't really understand the local commerce well enough to comment but I do admit to mixed feelings.

I am a small business owner and I know what it is like to compete with "big business" and yet if a Walmart offers employment to the local area I must be enthusiastic. It will inevitably change the overall "flavor" of a small community I just hope that in the long term some of the small shops and family businesses will continue to thrive.

In any case I am looking forward to my move into the area and I think that you are right about people looking seriously at that end of the lake to escape some of the more expensive areas in the region and I really hope that you are right about my learning the language via concentrated exposure! Jen

[RVGRINGO]

It isn't a WalMart but a Bodega Aurrera which is a smaller version tailored for Mexico. Yes, WalMart owns that chain too. It is on the eastern edge of Jocotopec and is extremely popular with the local shoppers and those who have found employment there.

[J. Miller]

I did know that it is a Bodega Aurrera because friends in Roca have told me this. My only vision of a Mexican Walmart is a huge one that we visited in Guadalajara so until I actually see the one in Jocotopec, I can't really visualize but I'm glad if it is having a positive influence.

It's funny. When we first bought the house in Roca the folks that we bought it from were telling me that a subway was going to be built in Lake Chapala. For the life of me I couldn't see why the area would go to the expense of a subway when they had a perfectly adequate bus service (as far as I could tell). Imagine my chagrin when eight months later we went back to Lake Chapala and as we entered the area one of the first business we happened to see was a "Subway Sandwich Shop"! Jen

[RVGRINGO]

They pulled your chain and rang your bell!

[J. Miller]

Ha! They sure did! Jen