AJIJIC VILLAGE HOMES
AJIJIC VILLAGE HOMES
No doubt about it - the weather! After a lifetime of organizing around the weather and the environment, when living Lakeside you wake up in a year-round paradise.
Nestled high in the Sierra Madre mountains, the area around Lake Chapala (Mexico's largest inland lake) has one of the finest climates in the world. Although mornings and evenings are cool between December and February, the days are delightfully temperate, averaging about 75 degrees Fahrenheit (23 Celsius). We reach our hot peak during the months of April and May where temperatures might reach into the mid to high 80s. But take a walk on the shady side of the street and you will feel refreshed by the drop in temperature. Living here during the months of April and May, you'll soon understand why the long-standing tradition of an afternoon siesta makes perfect sense. People from all over the world have chosen to retire here and enjoy the warm days, cool nights. Rainy season runs from mid-June to mid/late October. The refreshing rains turn the surrounding mountains a verdant green. Truly a sight to behold! Even during the dry season - mid-October to early June - there is an abundance of color in the flowers that flourish year-round.
Living is easy in this popular retirement community. The carefree lifestyle
that you find Lakeside allows more time to enjoy the retirement you have
worked so hard for! The temperate climate allows you to live and entertain
outside every day of the year. A friend of mine once commented that he has
never had to cancel a golf game due to the weather!
The Lakeside community has a well-established infrastructure of services in place. You have the advantage of enjoying life in a small community while having quick and convenient access to the big city.
Guadalajara is just 50 minutes away where you will find major shopping malls,
opera, theatre, an international airport.
Trudie took her friends Joan and Deb
into Guadalajara recently on a shopping expedition. They visited a wonderful
custom upholstery showroom called "Sofas y Sillones". They could have been in
New York or Toronto! The showroom was full of amazing custom furniture... great
styles with a beautiful range of imported European and US fabrics. Very
affordable and speedy delivery. Just part of a fun day with friends in
Guadalajara.
When Trudie was working full time in Toronto, she never had time
to socialize
with her friends. Now while still working in Ajijic, Trudie finds there is more
time to relax and develop close friends. Trudie invites you to visit the home
of Jackie Hodges ... one of her closest friends.
Simon Chang (right with Trudie), one of the world's top fashion designers, met with Trudie on her recent trip to Toronto Canada. Chang's designs regularly appear in women's fashion magazines. Women across Canada eagerly await the changing seasons, as a new Simon Chang collection hits the racks.
"Wearable clothes for real women, but there has to be a WOW! factor." says Simon Chang.
Enjoy your retirement through unlimited activities. You'll find
a wide diversity of social, recreational and community services.
There's English-language media, choirs and a thriving little theatre. Enjoy live
entertainment and dancing nightly under the stars. The list of things to do on
the lakeside is endless.
Los Cantantes del Lago is a community choir based in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico. We offer anyone who loves music an opportunity to sing and improve their vocal skills in an encouraging and friendly environment.
There is open enrollment before the start of each season (September and
January) for all vocal parts during which newcomers are welcome to join the
choir. We close enrollment the first day of rehearsals to ensure that the choir
will be fully prepared for the concert.
While there are no formal auditions new members are encouraged to be able to
read music and rhythms. At the start of each season, there are 30 minutes prior
to the first rehearsal available for those interested in joining to arrive,
register, meet the director, and be assigned to a section.
If you would like to join us for our next season, please contact our Musical Director, Timothy G. Ruff Welch or send an email to Los Cantantes del Lago.
Because we are located in central Mexico, other interesting travel destinations are only hours away. World-class coastal resorts - Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta; colonial cities - San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Zamora; historic sites - Aztec and Mayan ruins, pyramids.
It is fun to visit the coastal resorts of Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Ixtapa, Cancun but the weather is much hotter and more humid. The lifestyle is very different since these resort areas cater to tourists who visit for a short while and then return home. But we live in the 'real' Mexico where people live year-round and become a part of the community.
We welcome the chance to visit the incredible colonial cities that we've all read about - San Miguel de Allende, Morelia, Guanajuato. However, we find these areas more congested and temperatures are much colder during the winter months and hotter during the summer months since they do not have Lake Chapala moderating the temperatures.
Maestros who attended last year and our Feria volunteers (click on image for larger view)
The 7th Annual Feria Maestros del Arte will run from November 7-9, 2008: 10 am to 4 pm at Club de Yates de Chapala. Not just another art show, Feria Maestros del Arte is completely nonprofit. Organized by an army of volunteers, artists pay no fee or percentage of sales. They are housed with local families, fed two meals a day, and assisted with transportation, if needed. Their participation in the fair is a unique community event. Every year, extraordinary cross-cultural bonds are forged between families of diverse backgrounds. For many artists, it is their first contact with the outside world.
The goal of Maestros del Arte is to keep Mexican folk art alive. As
Mexico changes,
many
artists are being forced to give up their art to make a living in the
cities. Without the kind of intervention Feria Maestros del Arte provides,
the world’s most creative culture will lose its exceptional heritage.
Gerardo (Presidente of Chapala) and his brother, Javier produce wonderful pre-Hispanic ceramics. This is a "Chapala" Tree of Life.
Felipe Benitez Miranda, a Náhuatl Indian painter
Ad
mission
fees are small so that everyone can afford to take home a treasure Expect to
find the finest Mexican folk and indigenous art directly from the artists –
without middleman or gallery prices.
For more information on Feria Maestros del Arte visit their website at www.mexicoetc.com/maestros.html
Margarita Fick, the only woman in Mexico still producing hand-cut papel picados (paper cutwork).
Mexico offers a high-quality lifestyle that you may not have considered. .
Other than the excellent climate, one of the main reasons many North Americans make the move to Mexico is a more affordable cost of living. We list a random sampling of prices on our Cost of Living page.
There are several excellent medical clinics located on the Lakeside, along with a number of private doctors. Many of the local facilities have bilingual staff, providing 24-hour care, ambulance service, emergency service and medical air evacuation to the United States and Canada. Medical insurance is available from several insurance companies in Mexico. If you have medical insurance from outside Mexico, chances are that you can submit expenses to your insurance provider. There are several reputable nursing and convalescent homes with private and semi-private accommodations in the area. You will find that a visit to the doctor or dentist is quite affordable.
Staying in Mexico for a short period of time or an extended stay is not difficult. A Tourist Visa (FM-T) allows a visitor to stay in Mexico for up to six months. If you are contemplating a longer stay in Mexico, immigration specialists on the Lakeside can assist you in obtaining an FM3 or FM2 visas. Or visit the INM (Imigracion Nacional de Mexico) office in Chapala City Hall every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to get your papers set up or renewed.
It's Easy! We can send you detailed road instructions on how to arrive in Ajijic and what is required to legally bring your car into Mexico. You will require the following documentation:
- Ownership/registration in the driver's name
- Major credit card, in the same name of the vehicle registration
- Current's driver's license
- Current FM-T or FM-3 visa
Both the U.S. and Canadian Consulate offices are located in Guadalajara.
|
U.S. Consulate General |
Canadian Consulate General Hotel Fiesta Americana Guadalajara 01 (333) 615-6215 |
As well as Catholic churches in the community giving mass in Spanish, there are a number of churches offering services in English. Religious denominations include Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Fellowship/Evangelical, New Apostolic, Seven-Day Adventists, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Unitarian, Jewish Community, New Dimensions and the Little Chapel by the Lake, which is non-denominational.
Keeping in touch with people is not a problem. The Lake Chapala area has a modern fiber-optic phone system, satellite and cable TV and internet providers offering both high-speed and dial-up connections. There are several English-language newspapers on the Lakeside to keep you abreast of what's happening both locally and worldwide.
You'll quickly discover that the absolute
best part is - The People! Mexicans are kind,
family-oriented, cooperative, honest, hard-working people. They love to laugh and
have a good time. It won't be long before you find out just how helpful they
are. Try to talk to them as you go about your daily tasks. Say 'Hola' to
everyone you meet and see the quick response and smile came back to you.
Although learning Spanish does enhance living here, it is not necessary. You will find many of the locals speak English and will help you in your attempts to learn Spanish. Just try out a few easy phrases to see how soon the people smile at you in encouragement.
The expats who come to enjoy this paradise are by and large well-traveled
and very adventurous. They have come to enjoy life, but also want to experience
the culture and history laid out before them in this wonderful place we call home. Many people who live in
Mexico will tell you that the weather and cost of living may be the reasons they
came, but the wonderful Mexican people are the reason they stay.
More leisure time to enjoy life!