Job Discussion Forums

Paul in Saudi · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 404 Location: Doha, Qatar

Yes, I know, this is an ESL board, not a vacation one. Still, I am an ELT in Saudi Arabia and want to scope out retirement sites at the lake.

While I am in the greater Guadalajara, any recommendations of places to see and stuff? Presently the only things I have on my list is to buy a hard Rock Cafe shirt and to sit in the local Masonic Lodge.

(Well, that and tease some real estate agents.)

What else?

emilysarah · Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 5 Location: Jalisco, Mexico

If you want to get out of the city and see some cool stuff you could go to the volcan de colima but it is about 2 hours away. I dont know how much you are into the nature thing but it is an impressive park and volcano. Take a bus or drive to Ciudad Guzman and then a local bus or drive to Fresnito. If you leave early, you could make it a day trip but it would take a few days to make it to the top if you are hiking.

Paul in Saudi · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 404 Location: Doha, Qatar

Me hike? I think not. I would like to see some of the area south of the lake. The maps of the area look promising in terms of undiscovered retirement places.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Trust me, there are no "undiscovered" retirement places in the area you are looking at. It's overrun by gringos, some of whom are anti-Mexican and have polarized most of the communities because of their behavior.

Paul in Saudi · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 404 Location: Doha, Qatar

Well, I do trust you, but there is something to seeing the place my ownself.

Although I speak Spanish (with an accent that makes little girls giggle) and although I have lived in Panama for many years, I am and guess I will always be a Gringo. In one way I am looking for a Gringo community of 'just' the right size.

In any case, I am eager to get the heck out of here for a while.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Have you considered the US? That's a gringo community. Fairly big one, though--might not be the right size.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

There's that sweet Moonraven that we all know and love. Very Happy

Paul in Saudi · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 404 Location: Doha, Qatar

Well, all the ESL boards have their own Holier-than-thous.

No the US is out. I lived overseas too long to go back there. Too many Gringos.

scott wilhelm · Joined: 09 Feb 2004 Posts: 63 Location: st louis, mo

Paul,
I have never lived in the area you are talking about but I have spent a total of about 4 weeks in the Guadalajara area. From what I saw, it should be a fine area to retire to. The fact that there are a lot of Americans and Canadians in the area didnt strike me as being a good thing or a bad thing. It certainly wouldn't put me off of living in an area with great scenery, good food and a near perfect climate.
I never actually went to the south shore of Lake Chapala. The north shore struck me as very nice. Chalapa is an OK town. But I thought that a nearby town, Ajicic', was much nicer. I don't know if you have ever been there or not, and I haven't been there since '96, but at that time it was really a neat little town. I'll always remember how colorful the houses were along the cobble stoned streets. The town has a little bit of a Carribean look. Very friendly people. At that time, I didn't see any signs of hostility between the Americans and Canadians living there and the Mexicans. It looked like people got along well enough.
Guadalajara itself is a very nice city. Bigger than I would prefer, but not overwhelming. I like the old European look that the central part of the city has. It seemed like a fair # of Americans living in Guadalajara lived in gated communities resembling subdivisions that you see in southern California. Some Mexicans may be offended by that, others not. Other American retirees live in regular Mexican dominated neighborhoods and say they like it. I did get the impression that a handful of Americans living in the gated communities felt that Guadalajara was much more dangerous than it really is.
Another town/city that isn't quite in the area you're talking about but is only about 3 hours away and that you may want to take a look at is Guanajuato. Really a beautiful place. In fact, among the 3 prettiest towns I have visited in Mexico. Very hilly and lots of spectacular architecture. There is a fairly small contingent of Americans there. Nothing even resembling the American community around Lake Chapala. If you're going to be visiting Guadalajara anyway, well worth the bus fare to Guanajuato.
Good luck with your vacation and your retirement plans.