Blake and Deborah in Mexico: Chapala

As I've mentioned in a previous post, the village of Ajijic (ah-hee-HEEK) is the center of the gringo universe on the north shore of Lake Chapala. For us it's just a short bus ride from our apartment in the town of Chapala. Chuck, the homeowner from whom we are renting, jokes that Spanish is a second language in Ajijic. It's not quite that bad, but the gringos are well in evidence there and so is their English language. It's easy to see why Ajijic has become so popular with expats, and why it is flush with artists and writers. Apart from the great climate (highs in the 70s and 80s all year with low humidity) and the beautiful lake and mountain scenery, the village boasts a picturesque blend of cobblestone streets, artfully painted buildings, a lakeshore promenade, and a leafy plaza. Of course, this is Mexico, so the town also has its share of crumbling sidewalks and crooked telephone poles, but overall the vibe is fairly prosperous. We visited here about six years ago and we've both noticed improvement.

If we end up relocating here at some point – a definite possibility – we'll feel like kids again as the vast majority of our fellow expats are well into their retirement years. They're an active lot though, with dozens of social organizations and charitable causes to benefit the local community. Not that all the gringos are so charitably inclined. A fair number lock themselves away in gated communities, play golf and drink margaritas all day, learn no Spanish, and go out of their way to avoid interacting with any Mexican who isn't a gardener or a maid. Fortunately, a good many expats are more adventurous and actually enjoy immersing themselves in a new country and a new community. If we do make the move here we'll do our best to be one of the latter group.