Our time in Mexico was the best time in our lives. You like spending thousands of dollars for a tiny apartment in New York, Boston, or San Francisco. Many times I fell when riding my biicycle. There is a lot to do in this area, and it is also reasonably priced. Another man was murdered in Chapala in November. At one point, Joseph Angelo A. pulled out a firearm with which he allegedly shot his companion, who was fatally wounded. Maids and gardeners earn an average of $3 to $6 per hour, according to Payscale. On average, it is 69F (20.5C) in the summer and 57F (19.4C) in the winter. The water in the lake is clean and safe to drink. The events occurred on October 7, at approximately 8:30 p.m., when said individual was in the company of another male, inside a house located on lvaro Obregn street, in Ajijic. Wow Im really interested in this perspective. 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. We are all different. For the Chapala area, selling the dream is the mantra that has attracted U.S. and Canadian tourists for decades. However, there are many back in the states who would never think of taking even the first step. The three victims are hospitalized in stable to serious condition. The unbelievably loud firecrackers and rockets set off anywhere for the slightest pretense of a fiesta, and boomboxes. In October, Chapalas Police Chief Amador Baena Pinzon declared he was increasing security in the area. What I love most are the people, most are genuinely happy and didnt see too much of that up north. In contrast to the United States, operations in this country can be more affordable. There are nasty people filtering thru much of the mainland from Central America to Arizona and California. Dirty See 3 above. My friends in the states: none have suffered from such crimes in decades. This is impunity at its worst. If too many Gringos and Canadians come down here, they might spoil it for the rest of us. It is a great place to live because it has close proximity to perfect weather, low costs, and a great lifestyle. Spanish..Yeswe embraced all that was there to enjoy our retirement. The lake is also home to a number of resorts and hotels. Mexicos healthcare and medical services are comparable to or better than those in the United States. Outrageous costs considering the quality you get on eg food, groceries, drinks and biggest joke of all rent or home purchase is outrageous There are many pros and cons of living in Lake Chapala. The lake is also a popular destination for bird watching. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Lake Chapala, Mexico nestled in a mountain valley just 50 minutes south of Guadalajara and 25 minutes from the international airport, is the largest inland body of water in Mexico. Impunity refers to the failure or inability to penalize criminals. According to an, Tourism is BIG business. Glad you are in a better place there. For decades, American and Canadian expats have flocked to the shores of Chapala, seeking refuge in the spring-like climate of Mexico's largest natural lake, where English author D.H. Lawrence once . In addition, the State Prosecutors Office of Jalisco (FE) announced that on Monday, February 18, in a surprise review of the barracks of the Amphibious Squadron (located in the Cristiania Park of the municipal seat), elements in the possession of illegal substances, so seven police officers assigned to the Ministry of Public Security were arrested. https://english.elpais.com/usa/2021-02-23/mexicos-guadalajara-gripped-by-gang-violence-and-impunity.html, Your email address will not be published. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). And to top it off, the municipality has run out of resources for the strengthening of public security, as it was announced in the Official Gazette of the Federation, on February 15, that Chapala, like five other municipalities in the State of Jalisco, has remained outside the financial support of FORTASEG. I guess I must be blind. A cobblestone is the cause of any number of accidents. Despite the fact that this isnt for everyone, there are a large number of people who fall in love with this place at first sight. You may fit that category - here snowbirding and checking out the Lake Chapala area. Mexico is a wonderful country with a lot of great places to live, but in places the water is badly. Sometimes there even is crime or a shooting that is pretty much everywhere. In addition to golf courses, there are numerous other activities nearby. And a lot safer than living in NYC was! Utilities, including water, electricity, and internet, can cost an additional $100-200 per month. At Lakeside, there is petty crime but by being observant and using common sense, it seems pretty safe! Michael Sapp, a man who lived in Panajachel, Guatemala on Lake Atitlan for maybe 5 years. We get disgruntled with the fire workslitter, pot holes, butyou all make choices-no where is Eden-. Besides, being Spanish my first language I was able to understand Mexico a lot better than those who do not know Spanish. swim in the pool and read. According to researchers, the quality of the lake varies greatly, from a low of 32 to a high of 80. Five of them were killed and two more were wounded. 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. Menchas are pure scum. They are not all retirees, although an estimated one-third of expats living there are no longer working. Global Affairs Canada said on Saturday that it is aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in Mexico and is providing consular services to the family. Lake Chapala is also a very affordable place to get healthcare. After living here a few months their analysis was that Mexico is lawless, chaotic, messy, noisy, dirty and dangerous. The most common crimes were home burglaries and auto theft. You get the picture and the story line, but something essential is missing when you are unable to communicate freely with the Spanish speaking community. Prices for basic necessities such as groceries and other items are also reasonable. An email from an Ajijic resident February 5, 2020: I live in Ajijic the next town over from Chapala where most of the expats live and I was mugged recently after going to an ATM right on a residential street. You like paying $60-$100 an hour for house cleaners and gardeners. It is an appealing place to live because of its proximity to perfect weather, low costs, and a relatively peaceful lifestyle. Solar energy is also available, thanks to the sun and the installation of our new solar hot water system. For less than four hundred dollars per year, you can get fully insured Mexican Health Insurance. The weather is perfect and the scenery is beautiful. On Valentines Day February 14, 2019 Chapala Mayor Moises Alejandro Anaya publicly declared the urgent necessity for assistance from state and federal authorities to increase security for residents of the municipality of Chapala. Read More. MondayFriday: 9:00AM5:00PM When a gringo buys something, the stores automatically tax you more. New York. Smdh. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=garbage+in+streets+saigon&t=ffab&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images. To each his own. I had an apartment in the Mexican side of town and it was pretty reasonable. Hi Patricia, Frankly weather has gotten chilly here for me, and might be time for me to change life. I know things have changed in these, but damn it, I miss Mexico. But for me there are two more important facts to add to the list; the weather from late April to early June is unbearably hot, both day and night. They need to hit the restart button on MX. Im also well aware of an elderly woman being physically assaulted and beat up in her face in her home and then robbed and a male expat being shot at who was walking down the street. Recently, 3 bodies were found murdered (shot) in San Antonio in the last three weeks, I lived in Chapala Centro for three months. I think people show go for a month and try it out..or rent first and soak it all in. Then moved to Lake Chapala, Mexico maybe 3 years ago, roughly 2018. Many Mexicans are relocating to Guadalajara as home prices rise in the city. Given the steady stream of drug cartel violence presented on TV, reinforced by US State Department advisories and the increasingly hysterical concerns expressed by friends and family, we started to lose confidence in our own research and decision to leave for Lake Chapala, Mexico. No desire to go to the tourists spots in Yucatan, but I understand the draw. Its sort of amusing and sort of not amusing to hear expats brag about what a great deal they got on some purchase, blissfully unaware that they paid way more than the usual price. Opportunistic thievery and denial. Who knows, but I travel a lot and I am not Canadian, so no clue how they think or such. Many countries are in the process of building new assisted living facilities in order to meet the needs of the elderly expat population. Guadalajara, Mexicos second largest city, is one of the worlds most beautiful cities. However, Municipal services are not that great, but when you factor in the average tax rate on a home, which is between $100 and $300 USD per year, you can expect a fair amount. Crime rates in Chapala, Mexico. Although the city is still dangerous, keep an eye out for trouble. Although the Lake Chapala communities are considered quite safe, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security (OSAC) has reported multiple homicides, assaults, robberies and car thefts in Guadalajara, just 45 minutes to the north. Ive been in ajjic for 6 days now and Im not very impressed Help others in Mexico by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Mexico. The warning is broken out by Mexican states with the highest danger classification in some northern border and pacific states, but many expats who live here travel freely to some of the places on the list, particularly Michoacan and Zacatecas. It is possible for a home to be robbed because there is insufficient security in place. Thank you for publishing a most honest narrative of what some view as living in Chapala. Regards, Bette, Are there many single retirees lakeside ? The lake here is a shame.. largest lake in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Lake Chapala Mexico real estate offers a wide variety of options for those looking for a place to live. I still feel safer in Mexico than I ever would in the USAschool shootings? Creative Commons Non-derivative license is registered. A small apartment in Chapala rents for 6,000 pesos per month on average from a local. No one was arrested for the crimes. I've explored most of the country by car now and love it. Now on to your next adventure. NOTE: This article was originally published February 14, 2019. Weve been here ten years, will answer any questions you have, boswelltb@yahoo.com terry and Barb Also you can go to chapala.com it is a webboard to people here, Your email address will not be published. Some 10,000 foreigners, most of them Americans and Canadians, live in lakeside communities in Mexico. And by that, I mean waking to sunshine and beautiful weather, greeting our neighbors, walking or riding our bikes into Ajijic or the other Lakeside towns, buying fresh groceries, eating healthier (no fast food is a big plus), dining out at mom and pop restaurants, as well as restaurants that rival or exceed the restaurants back home, enjoying the different holidays and fiestas in the plaza (including laughing at the cojetes and rolling over and going back to sleep). You hate looking at beautiful flowers blooming all year long. Expat senior murdered in Chapala. Well, our disgruntled expats (likely in the grip of culture shock which is real and can cast a pallor over the first months of living in a new country) somehow couldnt see the warmth and generosity of the Mexican people, the sense of community in the village where every Sunday afternoon is a spontaneous gathering with the park benches full and children of all ages playing in the plaza. Buyer beware! Joshua has a BA from Syracuse and a Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. We are not in a position to accurately provide an opinion on Asian countries. Did we learn to speak. The shoreline retreated from the lakeside villages over a mile away. You can either order a maid to cook for you or have food delivered to your home. Why dont the government take care of Lake Chapala? Copyright 2023 More about Lake Chapala | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. Dangerous In addition to the lawlessness covered in point 1 above, the roads are generally full of potholes and topes (speed bumps) which are usually unmarked and often in the most unlikely of places. Princz reportedly drank five sangrias at the Lake Hopatcong restaurant Chapala Grill before speeding 30 mph over the speed limit and losing control of his BMW around a Route 181 curve, the New . We returned to the United State due to age and health concerns but think almost every day about our lives while living there. As a result of these changes, lake levels have dropped significantly. Chapala Crime. Dirty run down buildings, dirty lake, street surfaces can barley walk on them We are here for medicaland we get it free in Canadabut hereturn over is not the main goal.Spending $40.00 to spend 30-45 minutes with a specialist is worth it. The study also reveals that insecurity, unemployment, impunity and corruption remain the top concerns of Mexican citizens. Its not fair though to lure more and more people into, what looks like a good deal, but in reality isnt. Second, the traffic is just terrible, (too many Gringos) and even getting from just outside town to just the other side, turned what should have been a 7 minute drive to up to 40 minutes. I have lived in Ajijic for two years full time and adore it. It is 90 km long and 20 km wide and is situated on the border between the states of Jalisco and Michoacan and approximately a 3 hour drive from the Pacific ocean. In the nearby Jalisco cities of San Juan Cosal and Jocotepec there were several widely reported cases of kidnappings for extortion and drug related murders in 2017, and it is common knowledge that Guadalajara is the money laundering capital of Mexico. The article on living on lakeside appears to be accurate. There are so many reasons to move to Lake Chapala and Mexico, here's a top 10 list for you. The adolescent attitude of the people who are well beyond adolescence in years. Yes, as everyone stated, there are things that are not like the U.S. For us, that makes every day an adventure as we learn how to navigate our way. While the murder investigation is underway, official statistics indicate a recent spike in the lakeside areas crime index. Its beyond heartbreaking. We have been here 8 yrs-on and offbut live here full timelast 4 yrs.Yesstreets are messypower goes out frequently in rainy seasoncrime is concerningbut it is anywhere. } Forget burned out gas stations, warring drug lords, and American tourists being targeted for crime. Only blindness could account for it. This is a huge plus for those who dont like the heat and want to avoid it as much as possible. The cons of living in Chapala are that it is a very small town and there is not much to do in terms of nightlife or shopping. During our brief stay we met and enjoyed the company of many expats, Americans and Canadians. You like living at a lower standing of living than you are used to. And given we live outside San Diego, on acreage with a great house and views, that says something about the beauty of the Mexican culture, and the heart warming charm and sense of peace and fulfillment that is to be found there. I lived in Ajijic for eighteen months. 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