Ajijic - Finding a home

Back in Dallas, Texas, we decided we needed temporary living quarters while we searched for our casa in Ajijic.  We put on our creative hats and concluded the best way to secure temporary living was to house sit somewhere in the area.  We joined www.housecarers.com, www.housesitmexico.com, www.luxuryhousesitting.com, and monitored  www.trustedhousesitters.com.  Luxury Housesitting did not offer much, but to our surprise, we had a response from housesitmexico.com. 

A Canadian couple from Chapala had planned a six week vacation to Canada and Europe and needed someone to care for their two dogs.  Chapala is about six miles (10km) from Ajijic.  Six weeks could give us plenty of time to investigate every rental in Ajijic and find the "perfect casa".



The view from the Chapala casa

The home was a lovely home with 4 bedrooms and 5 baths (7300 sq ft).  We had one problem or I should say we were the problem.  The house sit started on August 27 and we wanted to leave Dallas on August 2nd.  We were ready to go.  So, we accepted the offer to house sit and decided to find temporary housing while we waited for our temporary house sit.  Before leaving Dallas, we booked a suite for two nights at the Mis Amore Hotel (breakfast included) in Central Ajijic.

Determined to get out of town, we departed on August 2 for Austin, Texas, spent one night there, drove to Laredo, Texas, spent one night there, drove to Matehuala, Mexico, spent one night, and arrived in Ajijic on August 5.  Mission accomplished.

The next morning after breakfast at the hotel, three doors down we walked into the Laguna Real Estate office.  There we met the owner, Beverly Hunt, an expatriate who has lived in Ajijic for the last 50 years.  Wow, does she have stories to tell.

In about three hours, we had temporary housing till the 27th in a fully furnished apartment two blocks from the Plaza.

The courtyard outside of our apartment

Outside our door was a tree loaded with limes.  All we needed was a glass of ice, triple-sec, and tequila.  All of these items are within a block of our Temp-Apt.  Now we were ready to spend the next nine weeks on a search for the "perfect casa"... more later.

Somewhere in Mexico

Interesting place "Ajijic".  I heard a song by the TallBoys Band  (yes, that's how they spell TallBoys).  As I look around the Plaza, I see a variety of folks that might fit the song.  Hey, I might even be one of them.

Ajijic Plaza

A local group "The TallBoys Band made their video here in Ajijic and Puerto Vallarta called "Somewhere in Mexico".

Sunday at the Plaza

If you want to listen:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV4xh4g5WJQ
or just read the lyrics.

Somewhere in Mexico

Strangers gather like jigsaw pieces,
Looking for a place to fit.
Trading tales over margaritas,
Cautious not to let too much slip.
Some are lost, some are found.
Most are just waiting on wings.

Somewhere in Mexico,
There's a field of dreams.
Somewhere in Mexico,
Hiding from my troubles,
Hiding from my sorrows,
Hiding from the rest of the world.

Magna cum laude's and Johnny come lately's
Gather in the afternoon sun.
Stumblin' down the cobblestones with secretive grins,
Makes you wonder what they have done.
Some come to preach, some to confess,
Most just couldn't care less.

Arriving at our new home abroad

Current location:  Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico

We  arrived in Ajijic on August 7, 2013.  Two expatriates from the USA living aboard in Mexico.  What brought us here?  Probably a number of things, but certainly the weather was one (National Geographic Magazine listed the Lake Chapala Area as the 2nd best climate in the world).  Another was a desire to live on a small retirement budget and still be able to maintain a reasonable standard of living, including a maid and gardener, a comfortable home with all its services, money left over for entertainment and travel, and enjoy an active lifestyle with 50,000 other expatriates from the US, Canada, Europe and other international countries.




A view of Lake Chapala from Hacienda Chapala



  
The Plaza in central Ajijic.  The Plaza is a favorite gathering place for people watching, enjoying lunch in one of the restaurants bordering the Plaza, or just catching a few rays of the sun.

Walking along the malecon on the North Shore of Lake Chapala.  Lake Chapala is the largest fresh water lake in Mexico.  Two blocks from the Plaza is the North Shore of the lake.  There are miles of walking trails along the lake.








We arrived late in the afternoon and settled into our room at the Mis Amore Hotel on Hildalgo Pte.  It was this hotel that I received my official title "Lord Herbert" (more about that later).  Weary from the 1100 mile (1790 km) drive from Dallas, Texas, we ate a light dinner and retired to our room.  Tomorrow we start our search for our new home......