Introduction to the forum - Tell us about yourself

[TundraGreen]

Originally Posted by jmb5323

Hi,

We are considering moving to Queretero, Mexico. Presently we live in Panama and unfortunately believed all the hype we read about this place before relocating here from the States.

We met a lovely couple who are working for the Peace Corps in Quetero and they said only nice things about Queretero.

If there are any people who would like to comment about it, we would greatly appreciate hearing what they have to say.

Best regards

Queretaro is a very nice place. However, I suggest spending some time there before you think about a permanent relocation, but maybe that is not the implication of your post.

[jmb5323]

Originally Posted by TundraGreen

Queretaro is a very nice place. However, I suggest spending some time there before you think about a permanent relocation, but maybe that is not the implication of your post.

Thanks for your reply.

Actually we will probably visit there for a while in January when our lease is up in Panama.

I wonder what it is like living at such a high altitude. We were living in a place called Volcan in the Chiriqui highlands in Western Panama and that was 4,688 feet above sea level. Unfortunately, it was very cold and damp there and not at all enjoyable. That is definitely a concern.

I have heard that Guadalajara is a very pretty place and I visited it as a child. Our concern is safety in Mexico and the couple we met said that Queretero was very safe and clean. But again, if you can't breathe it is a drawback, although they didn't mention that.

Again, many thanks for your reply and please say what you will, I am not a particularly sensitive correspondent, and I do appreciate candid facts that will make my decision a little easier.

Joseph

[TundraGreen]

Queretaro is at 1800 m (6000 ft). I don't think the thinness of the air bothers people much at that altitude unless you have impaired respiration. It is a mild climate. In the winter it can be cold, particularly since most houses are not sealed or heated. Friends complained one winter of being cold for weeks on end, but that is not typical.

Guadalajara is at 1550 m (5000 ft). The climate is a little warmer because of that elevation difference. There is one month when it can be hot, at the beginning of the summer before the rains start. It is as safe as Queretaro, but not as clean. Queretaro has money enough to pay women to sweep the streets in centro, something I have not seen in other Mexican cities.

Visiting Queretaro in January is probably a good idea if you are worried about the cold. One nice thing about the weather patterns of central Mexico is that it is never cold and wet at the same time. The rains come in the summer when it is warmer.

Originally Posted by jmb5323

Thanks for your reply.

Actually we will probably visit there for a while in January when our lease is up in Panama.

I wonder what it is like living at such a high altitude. We were living in a place called Volcan in the Chiriqui highlands in Western Panama and that was 4,688 feet above sea level. Unfortunately, it was very cold and damp there and not at all enjoyable. That is definitely a concern.

I have heard that Guadalajara is a very pretty place and I visited it as a child. Our concern is safety in Mexico and the couple we met said that Queretero was very safe and clean. But again, if you can't breathe it is a drawback, although they didn't mention that.

Again, many thanks for your reply and please say what you will, I am not a particularly sensitive correspondent, and I do appreciate candid facts that will make my decision a little easier.

Joseph

[conklinwh]

We live about 45min from Queretaro at about 7500ft. We think weather great here even though 5-10 degrees cooler than Queretaro. We go to Queretaro at least twice a month for shopping(Costco, Home Depot, Superama, etc.) as well as the restaurants. We actually plan comida tomorrow at a seafood restaurant out over the reservoir in Juriquilla, a suburb of Queretaro.
Queretaro is a reasonably large city of about 1 million that has been growing rapidly due to industry and a lot of 2nd homes for people from Mexico City.
I would not be worried about either the altitude or the temperatures although gets a little warm for us in May/June before the winds shift.
Queretaro has a great historical center and always activity which would be my choice but a lot of people like the suburbs of Jurica & Juriquilla. In any case, it is always a good idea to rent for awhile.
BTW, if I were looking for another alternative I would certainly look at San Miguel(45min from Queretaro) rather than Lakeside although I know this site has a heavy Lakeside presence.

[terrybahena]

Originally Posted by conklinwh

We live about 45min from Queretaro at about 7500ft. We think weather great here even though 5-10 degrees cooler than Queretaro. We go to Queretaro at least twice a month for shopping(Costco, Home Depot, Superama, etc.) as well as the restaurants. We actually plan comida tomorrow at a seafood restaurant out over the reservoir in Juriquilla, a suburb of Queretaro.
Queretaro is a reasonably large city of about 1 million that has been growing rapidly due to industry and a lot of 2nd homes for people from Mexico City.
I would not be worried about either the altitude or the temperatures although gets a little warm for us in May/June before the winds shift.
Queretaro has a great historical center and always activity which would be my choice but a lot of people like the suburbs of Jurica & Juriquilla. In any case, it is always a good idea to rent for awhile.
BTW, if I were looking for another alternative I would certainly look at San Miguel(45min from Queretaro) rather than Lakeside although I know this site has a heavy Lakeside presence.

A couple of years ago I spent 3 weeks in San Miguel Allende and I don't know the elevation but breathing was not a problem at all, and I have a terrible time in Denver & Colorado Springs. San Miguel is clean and pretty; I was there in Oct/Nov and it was nice every day, shorts but no too hot (nothing like where we live now in Playa Ventura where is soooo hot all day & nite). There are alot of English speakers in San Miguel is that's what you are looking for, but not drowning in them- i was there for Spanish immersion school & so did not want to be with English speakers...

[jmb5323]

Originally Posted by TundraGreen

Queretaro is at 1800 m (6000 ft). I don't think the thinness of the air bothers people much at that altitude unless you have impaired respiration. It is a mild climate. In the winter it can be cold, particularly since most houses are not sealed or heated. Friends complained one winter of being cold for weeks on end, but that is not typical.

Guadalajara is at 1550 m (5000 ft). The climate is a little warmer because of that elevation difference. There is one month when it can be hot, at the beginning of the summer before the rains start. It is as safe as Queretaro, but not as clean. Queretaro has money enough to pay women to sweep the streets in centro, something I have not seen in other Mexican cities.

Visiting Queretaro in January is probably a good idea if you are worried about the cold. One nice thing about the weather patterns of central Mexico is that it is never cold and wet at the same time. The rains come in the summer when it is warmer.

Will,

Not to belabor the point, but thanks again for your input.

We will be leaving Panama in January and I have spoken to a cousin who lives in Cuernavaca who says that Guadalajara is very beautiful, that we have relatives there but that Queretero might be a more manageable city, but that we should visit each one to get a feeling for hte places. My mother used to work for the Mexican Government in New York city and was going to settle in Guadalajara but had a change of mind for some reason.

In any event we will see which suits us and make a decision at that time.

Joseph

[AmberL27]

Hello Everyone!

I am a brand new expat living in San Pedro Cholula. I will be teaching 5th and 6th grade English at a private school in Puebla, and since my school has very strict rules against working from home (first time I have EVER heard of that) I am hoping I will be able to find some new friends to pass the time with here

[Thelmdatter]

Originally Posted by AmberL27

Hello Everyone!

I am a brand new expat living in San Pedro Cholula. I will be teaching 5th and 6th grade English at a private school in Puebla, and since my school has very strict rules against working from home (first time I have EVER heard of that) I am hoping I will be able to find some new friends to pass the time with here

Saludos! Im not far from you in Mexico City. Never heard of the no work from home rule either. Cholula is very interesting. My husband and I visited it once, taking some pictures for Wikipedia but there are a LOT of interesting small churches worth taking pictures of!

[Ken Wood]

Originally Posted by jmb5323

Hi,

We are considering moving to Queretero, Mexico. Presently we live in Panama and unfortunately believed all the hype we read about this place before relocating here from the States.

We met a lovely couple who are working for the Peace Corps in Quetero and they said only nice things about Queretero.

If there are any people who would like to comment about it, we would greatly appreciate hearing what they have to say.

Best regards

I currently live in Querétaro while we build a house in nearby Celaya. The climate and the elevation are not problematic at all. We have very few winter days approaching 0 deg C, and the hot months, ~ May & June, are followed by evening showers in July & August to cool things down nicely. As stated above, the city has a lovely centro, lots of history, the most amazing aquaduct, and enough night life to satisfy just about anyone. Also, as stated above, the city is an industrial/manufacturing center and is growing rapidly. Traffic gridlock is common at the peak times, and real estate is quite expensive, enough to provide you with "sticker shock", so be prepared. Certainly, you should come in and rent long enough to learn the lay of the land prior to plunking down money on a love at first sight place.

If you have any specific questions, I'll be happy to respond.

[AmberL27]

Mexico City is high on my list of place to visit....as soon as I figure out Cholula and Puebla that is So far I love it, but there is still a lot to discover. Glad to hear that I made a good choice though! Thanks!

Originally Posted by Thelmdatter

Saludos! Im not far from you in Mexico City. Never heard of the no work from home rule either. Cholula is very interesting. My husband and I visited it once, taking some pictures for Wikipedia but there are a LOT of interesting small churches worth taking pictures of!