The village has about 8,000 year-round residents and swells to 15,000 when the snow-birds return. Ajijic is located in the highlands of Mexico (elevation approx. 5,000 feet), about 20 minutes south of Guadalajura on Lake Chapala, the largest inland body of water in Mexico.
The village is ablaze with color. We walk everywhere, although the cobbled streets and sidewalks can be challenging!
We have rented a cute little house, three blocks from the lake and six blocks from the center of the village. We awake to the sound of birds and the inevitable Mexican roosters, who have absolutely no sense of time!
Lunch on the back patio and ....
dinner on the front patio.
We have joined the Lake Chapala Society (LCS), a club for retired ex-pats, established some 5o years ago. There are over 2,700 members, mainly from the US and Canada, with some 27 countries represented. There are well-stocked book and DVD libraries and an endless list of activities.
We joined the LCS exercise group which meets three mornings a week in the gazebo. Some of the exercises are seated and performed to the gentle rhythms of Frank Sinatra. Although Lindy has broken a sweat once or twice, Ben has ditched the class in favor of a more rigorous work-out at the local gym!
One of our favorite activities is the weekly market held just a block from our house. The farmers bring in their fresh produce and our weekly fruit and veg bill generally amounts to a whopping $12!
Ben has become a consummate "selector of strawberries".
The fish we buy at the weekly market is brought in from the coast (about 3 hours away) and is quite delicious!
No King Soopers or Safeway here, although there is the inevitable Walmart, which we avoid at all cost. We try to support the local tiendas (small family run shops) which are often less expensive.
Yum, freshly squeezed orange juice - our favorite treat at the market.
We have met some extraordinary people and made some wonderful friends. Ben is golfing and we are both taking intensive Spanish lessons. We exercise nearly every day and volunteer in the community. All and all life in Ajijic (aaa-hee-hick) is pretty darned good! Come visit - you are always welcome, although we must warn you, you may not want to go home! 