ABC’s of Our Mexican Travels

My efforts to learn Spanish led me to the ABC’s…

A=Ajijic, of course. Why? We were ready for a change. Mexico is close. Numerous recommendations. 5000′ elevation. Lake (Chapala) surrounded by mountains (Sierra Madres) with temperate weather. Rainy seasons bring brief showers that clear the air leaving everything fresh & green. Village people mingle with gringos. Lower cost of living in general-though gringo arrivals are driving rental/sale prices up quickly. “The place where the water springs forth.”

B=Barrio/neighborhood.  Bodega/storefront

C=Cobblestone streets & uneven sidewalks=rough walking. But it is an excellent use of local stones & allows a lot of the rain water to soak into the street rather than flooding it. Holes are eventually repaired with the little piles of stones (or crushed brick) you often see by the walkways.

D=Donas Donuts. Favorite local hangout/meeting place for local hikers & weekenders from Guadalajara.

E=Electricity is expensive. HVAC systems are rare. Fans, small heaters & AC window units are used only when necesito-like in May, the hottest month.

F=Fruta (fruit) of nearly every kind is plentiful. Berries are grown in huge greenhouses across the lake in Jocotepec for Dole, Driscoll, etc. The “dregs”-which are gorgeous-are sold here on the streets & in the markets. $7 will get you 3 quarts.

G=Guadalajara International Aeropuerto is about 40 min. away. Known for world class cultural events & skirted by Tlaquepaque & Tonala art/craft communities, Guadalajara is Mexico’s 2nd largest city @ around 4.5 million.

H=There are a few small hospitals in the Lake area & more being built. Gringos sometimes have smaller procedures done here & go to the states (if on Medicare) for things like hip/knee replacements. I’m told hospital care here is excellent. There are assisted living & nursing home facilities also.  Most have good reputations in terms of care & cost. Mexican people in general are strongly family oriented & faithful caregivers. No hospice per se. Hospice care takes place at home. Humidity averages 20% lower than in Hillsborough. Housekeeper=$2.50/hr + benefits.

I-Infinito posibilidades of discovery in this new culture! J=Ajijic & Guadalajara are in the state of Jalisco (J is pronounced H).

K=My knees are better but still healing. Went out twice yesterday & feel worn out today (8-10-18)

L=Lake Chapala is the largest inland body of water in Mexico. It is 7.8-13 miles across by 50 miles long  & 15-34′ deep. It provides water for the surrounding area including Guadalajara.

M=Markets or tianguis. The largest one in the area is in Chapala on Mondays. Small organic market on Tuesdays. Large gringo-targeted market on Wednesdays. (This one prompted me to learn numbers 1-1000 before this trip. Too embarrassing to have the vendor call out the # & not have a clue what it means. Uno-mil…) There is also a small market in the central plaza on Fridays. Big bag of fresh veggies might cost you $3! Who needs a grocery store???

N=Check the corner near the Farmacia Guadalajara for a fresh squeezed vaso (glass) de jugo de naranja (OJ). Noise! Count on it. Dogs barking, people talking, radios, horns blowing, vehicles banging over cobblestones, children squealing with laughter…but the craziest thing is trucks that drive the streets with loud speakers making recorded announcements. Gas, politics, repairs, etc. Wait for it…

O=Jose Clemente Orozco. Importante Mexican political muralist with prominent work in Guadalajara.

P=Parajos. Birds! So many colors & songs. A pair of swallows have a nest inside our terrace. If I talk softly to Mama Parajo when I step outside, she looks at me & settles back down. She is so attentive. Hope to see babies soon!

Q=Queso-Cheese! In many different forms.  Fresh at the markets. Everything is not slathered with melted cheese here. THAT is the US version of Mexican.

R=Restaurantes. There are many. From Chinese to Mediterranean to Thai to Italian to Spanish to vegetarian to, of course, Mexican (in all shapes & forms), to burgers & fries. Our 2 favorites so far are indeed Mexican-Teocintle (ancient grains) & Chili Verde. Pricey & not so pricey. Ask for the bill (La cuenta, por favor). Mexicans want you to sit & savor.

S=Safety. The #1 thing folks ask us when we say we’re moving to Mexico is-Is it safe??? Yes. There are places you don’t go in Mexico just like in the US. There is petty crime & there are gringos who flaunt their wealth & invite trouble. I guess the big difference is I’m told that you cannot trust the police. While the police in Hillsborough will, on request, patrol your street & even get out & walk around if you’re away, the police here, well, just don’t announce your departure. If they stop you to issue a traffic ticket, say “Thank you. I know where to pay it.” & drive on. Not my favorite part of being here. Street food is super cheap but you also have to be super careful. Some say only go to the ones where people gather. Some say only go if you see the person handling the food wear gloves to handle the money. Some say-Forget about it!

T=Transportacion. You can get around quite well here without a car if you’re willing to walk on cobblestone streets. Lots of gringos decide to live in El Centro (center of the village) to be able to do just that. Leave a small footprint. There are, however, lots of cars here, even though gas is quite expensive. ($4/G?) We’ve used private drivers to take us to the airport & to little outlying villages like Mazamitla & Tapalpa. There are also public buses (autobuses publico) that run frequently from one end of the Lake to the other. 9 pesos or about 45 cents. And no, they are not the rickety “chicken buses” full of people & animales that we associate with Mexico & Latin America.

U=Universidad de Guadalajara has a state of the art medical school. Many of the doctors in the Lake area trained there.

W=Water. Do NOT drink from the tap in Mexico unless you know for sure there is a good water purification system. Why? Because the pipes are often old & contaminated.  5 gallon jugs of water can be delivered for cooking & drinking. It’s OK to brush your teeth with tap water. Just don’t swallow it.

X=xero means dry? Y=Yema (de huevo) is egg yolk. 2 letters that aren’t used much.

Z=Zanahorias-carrots! Some of the best you’ve ever tasted. Beautiful & plentiful.  Zapatos. Shoes. Wear good ones! Walking on cobblestones & uneven sidewalks is not easy & you need good support. San Miguel is sometimes called “the city of fallen ladies” because of women who insist on style (I’m sometimes guilty:() & end up with broken feet or ankles. I would say “ditto” for Ajijic.