Terry L. Turrell's Blog: Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico, page 7

SAYULITA, MEXICO RESTAURANTS: 10 More Favorites We Discovered this Year

WE ARE NOW DISCOVERING NEW FAVORITES IN SAYULITA Sunset From Alas Blancas, Still A Favorite Restaurant     Now that we have lived in Sayulita for over a year, we have discovered another 10 restaurants to add to our list of favorites. In 2015 I wrote an article about ten of our favorites when we were still visitors in this pueblo. You can view that list by clicking  HERE  
     We find that some of the restaurants on this year's list of additional favorites are new enough that they haven't received a lot of attention on tripadvisor yet, but we think they deserve to have a higher rating on that traveler's guide. Here is our list, not in order of our preference. We love all of them, each for a different reason!
El Metro TortariaEl Metro Tortaria: Delicious tortas (Mexican sandwiches) made to order with fresh ingredients. Remember, this isn't a fast-food restaurant, so your sandwich may take a little time to prepare. Enjoy drinking a refreshing agua fresca and people watching while you wait. This is one of Jon's favorite lunch places! Located at Calle Jose Mariscal # 2 in downtown Sayulita. [image error] Los Corazones--One of Our Favorite Dinner RestaurantsLos Corazones--When we are hungry for filet mignon, we head to Los Corazones. This is fine dining in Sayulita, the food prepared and presented beautifully, the service excellent, and the wine selection and drink list to our liking.  The sweet potato chips are so good, we have to force ourselves not to have a second serving! Located at Calle Jose Mariscal #15, downtown Sayulita. Rosticeria La Pechuga for Roasted ChickenRosticería La Pechuga--We often pick up a whole rotisserie-roasted chicken (Pollo rostisado), golden brown and juicy, and take it home for lunch. Complete with rice, salsa, a roasted jalapeno, and corn tortillas for 115 peso (currently a little over $5 US), it is enough for a hearty lunch for Jon and me plus enough left over to put in the freezer for a future meal. Located at Avenida Revolución 6b, near the corner of Calle Miramar. El Itacate Steak TacosEl Itacate--the rib eye steak burrito wrapped in fried cheese is amazing and filling. Jon and I split one and were very satisfied. Currently near the top of 109 restaurants rated on tripadvisor. On Calle Jose Mariscal next to another of our favorite lunch places, Yeikame. Yeikame Traditional Mexican RestaurantYeikame--Excellent traditional Mexican food. We are hooked on their large, cheesy chicken quesadillas made with blue corn tortillas (we order them with less salt). Very good aguas frescas. Currently in the top 5 of 109 restaurants on tripadvisor. At Calle Jose Mariscal # 10, downtown Sayulita. Tierra Viva Restaurant and TerrazaTierra Viva and Terraza (Upstairs Terrace)--The main restaurant downstairs has been a favorite dinner spot of ours for some time, with well-prepared meals, wonderful salads, and a good wine selection. We enjoy it also for it's more quiet, off-the-beaten-path location. The new upstairs terrace has a separate menu, also very good, and a sport's bar atmosphere. Located at Calle Marlin #10 on the corner of Calle Manuel Navarrete. Sharing a Salad & Meal at Don Juan's is a Treat!
Don Juan's RestaurantDon Juan's--Don Juan's is not a restaurant you will stumble upon while walking around downtown Sayulita. You can either hike the half-mile from downtown, out Calle Pelicanos to the Punta de Mita Hwy, as we do, or take a taxi. It is worth the walk down dusty Calle Pelicanos! We always start by sharing a unique and refreshing Don Juan Salad; it's a generous portion, plenty for two. Then we share one meal, trying something different every time, and every dish we've tried has been wonderful. The prices are reasonable and the margaritas are our favorite in Sayulita. Located at Punta de Mita Hwy #9 on the outskirts of town. Mariscos Purillo's for Fish & Shrimp TacosMariscos Purillo's--This is one of two of our favorite places to go for fish tacos at lunchtime. We like their fried fish tacos and fried shrimp tacos so well that that's all we ever order there, along with a refreshing agua jamaica. Prices are low and quality high. Located on Avenida Revolution, across the bridge from downtown, kiddy corner from El Corte. Barracuda is on this Street, Calle DelfinesBarracuda Fish Tacos: This is the second of our two favorite places to have fish tacos for lunch. We have to alternate between this one and Purillo's because we can't decide which has the best tacos. Again, we always order one battered fried fish taco and one battered fried shrimp taco each. Are we stuck in a rut? Well, this combo is so good, why change? This is also where I had my first Michelada (Clamato juice with Corona and chili salt on the rim of the glass--yum!) and it is still my favorite place to have one, just the right amount of spiciness. Located on Calle Delfines just off the beach in downtown Sayulita. Barracuda also have a restaurant in San Pancho (San Francisco) about 5 miles north of Sayulita. Wanda's Burgers & RibsWanda's Burgers & Ribs: Fairly new in Sayulita, but doing a good business. Upstairs overlooking the plaza, it's a good place to people watch. With at least 5 TV's, but not noisy, it's a pleasant place to watch football and other sports. The ribs are our favorites in town. We also like the Mexican-style potato skins. Wanda's is located next door to the church with a stairway up from the side of the building (use caution on their steps up, they aren't all a uniform height and even though we know that, we still trip as we round the turn half-way up).  Villa Amor's Sign at the Property EntranceMy plan was to include only 10 more of our favorite restaurants in Sayulita, but I had to mention these three; they just can't be left out. O Restaurant at Villa Amor: The setting is exceptional, romantic and peaceful. It is at the far south end of the beach, overlooking the rocks and ocean. The wave sound is pleasant background music while dining. Prices are on the high end, so we like to save "O Restaurant" for a special occasion. Mamma Mia: Italiano fantastico! Rated #8 of #109 restaurants on tripadvisor at this time, food and service have always been good when we go there. The wine selection has recently been expanded. Prices are reasonable. Located at Calle Mariscal in downtown Sayulita. Mary's: Authentic Mexican food at non-tourist town prices. This restaurant's food is such a value that we usually have to wait for a table, especially during a holiday week. Good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Tripadvisor rating today: #1 of 109 restaurants in Sayulita. Located Avenida Revolution in downtown across from the two-story yellow Sayulita Ejido building.My Newest eBook Available on Amazon Worldwide    If you haven't checked out my newest eBook, "Retirement Before the Age of 59: Healthy Living in Mexico #2", please take a look by clicking: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NCMWMJL. Here is one of the positive reviews on Amazon:  By KerryWTH on January 18, 2017 [image error]

WHEN WE RETIRED IN MEXICO, IT WAS PARADISE, BUT NOW...

EVERYTHING ISN'T WONDERFUL And Watch Out for Chickens and Iguanas in the Road, Too!     I usually focus on the positive aspects of our retirement in Mexico in my writing. But I'm feeling grumpy today and I want to tell you that it does not always feel like paradise once you've lived in Mexico for a while. It has been a little over a year since we moved into our cute little casita. The adventure has worn off and the reality of living in a Mexican neighborhood in a small town has set in. This life is not for everyone! Hauling Our Laundry and Groceries with our Golf Cart is a Thing of the Past!1. No More Golf Carts! There will be no more golf cart usage since the police came in and ticketed anyone driving one, then impounded the cart. We have to walk, ride our bikes, take a taxi, or take the bus to get anywhere. Our golf cart wasn't one of the unlucky ones that got loaded onto a giant tow truck and hauled away, fortunately. But unlicensed golf carts are no longer considered street-legal in the state of Nayarit, and there is no system for licensing them. So ours will just sit and rust away, I guess, along with the two sitting across the way that our Mexican neighbors own, and hundreds of others in the state. We have learned to expect the Mexican government to change the rules without notice.
To continue reading the entire blog article, click on this link: Retirement Before the Age of 59: WHEN WE RETIRED IN MEXICO, IT WAS PARADISE, BUT NOW...

Available at: amazon.com/Healthy-Living-Traveling-Mexico-Sunshine-ebook/dp/B00R6NTBKO
After you read the book "Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico", you're ready for the next adventure , "Retirement Before the Age of 59: Healthy Living in Mexico #2". You can now find the eBook on Amazon. com at this link:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NCMWMJL
"Retirement Before the Age of 59: Healthy Living in Mexico #2" eBook

12 LESSONS WE ARE LEARNING FROM THE LOCALS WHILE LIVING IN MEXICO

 When in México, Do as the Mexicans Do How to Cross the Street Like a Local     By now, we have lived in México long enough that we have learned some important lessons from the locals about how to live here in harmony with their way of life. We don’t always get it right, but with a little more practice, we hope our behavior will help us blend in with the Mexican culture. The primary thing we try to keep in mind at all times is to remain calm, unhurried, tranquilo, as the Mexicans say. We have learned so much from the Mexicans about living a simpler, more peaceful life. Some things we have learned do not translate to the way things are done in the United States and seemed humorous or silly to us at first, until we slowly began to understand the Mexican way of thinking. Some foreigners say you will never truly understand the Mexican way of thinking. It’s best to simply accept the way things are in México, not to try to understand the reason. Trying to figure it out would only frustrate a person raised north of the border.

1. How to cross a busy street like a local, and never quicken your steps: This takes a lot of practice and a lot of guts. Do this at your own risk!

First of all, many Mexicans cross in the middle of the block, not at the corner. Sounds crazy, but think about how much more traffic is coming at you from every direction when you cross at the corner, especially on Hwy 200 in Bucerías or Puerto Vallarta where the far right-hand lane makes a long left-hand turn, or U-turn, across up to seven lanes of traffic! So, crossing eight lanes of Hwy 200 in the middle of the block where you can find safety on an island every two lanes is the preferred method.Secondly, to cross like a Mexican, as you step into the street, keep your head faced forward, using your peripheral vision to note any vehicles barreling down on you and use your brain to calculate whether they will miss you if you continue walking at the same steady pace. Mexicans do not normally quicken their steps, even if a vehicle gets very close. Timing is everything; and always remain calm! A well-practiced crossing will have the pedestrian lifting his second foot onto the curb just as the car or truck rushes past behind him.Mexicans never show worry or fear that the car, bus, or truck may hit them. If a Mexican must increase the rate of crossing, they subtly quicken their steps so that it does not appear they are rushing, and they never run. This is a skill to be learned by first trying it on a two lane road in a quiet village. But even there, beware of bicyclists and motorcyclists darting out of nowhere! Listening to the sounds approaching must be as important as watching for movement. Behind a Slow Sugar Cane Truck in the RV--Someone will Pass Us NOW!2. How to drive on a two lane highway like a local, where the road may be marked as having two lanes but the drivers use it as three lanes, with or without oncoming traffic: As mellow as the Mexican people are, their personalities often become aggressive when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Be prepared to understand and blend with the proper ebb and flow of fast-moving traffic on a two-lane road.When driving on a busy two-lane road, you may suddenly see a vehicle coming fast and straight toward you, in your lane. Remain calm! It’s most likely a Mexican driver, and he’s determined to pass a vehicle in his lane. Don’t make the mistake of thinking he will hit his brakes and return to his spot behind the vehicle he is passing—he most likely will not .Don’t make the other mistake of assuming the driver being passed will slow down to give the passing vehicle extra room and time to slip in ahead. This may or may not happen, but probably won’t if the driver being passed is also Mexican.The proper ebb and flow in this alarming situation is to firmly grasp your steering wheel and calmly and steadily move your car to the right (hopefully there is a small strip of road shoulder), leaving one-half of a car-width plus a few inches to your left, in the center of the road. The driver being passed will do the same. The car that is passing will whiz by, straight down the center of the two-lane highway, with an inch or two to spare on each side of his car and calmly slide in front of the car he passed, never changing his speed. No problema! The two other cars calmly move back into their lanes as though nothing unusual has happened. And no one honks. The road may be marked as having two lanes, but always be prepared to use it as three. It is especially important to practice this maneuver ahead of time if driving a motorhome. Also, be prepared to replace your side view mirror in case of a miscalculation when a truck is passing. Relaxing at Dinner--2 to 3 Hours Before We Ask for the Check      3. How to ask for the check, or the bill, after a meal in a restaurant like a local, and then wait patiently until it is brought by the waiter: Waiters in Mexico will never bring your bill (la cuenta) until you ask for it. It would be considered rude for the waiter to lay the bill on the table, as they do in the U.S., while you are still finishing your meal or sipping the last of your drink. The waiter in a Mexican restaurant will return to your table repeatedly to ask if you want to order anything else, but he will not offer to bring the bill, as this would be considered rushing the customer. You may be simply sitting for a bit while you chat with your dinner guest—you can sit for hours after finishing your meal and the bill will still not arrive. The proper time to ask for the bill in México is only when you have finished eating and drinking everything and are ready to leave. Then it may take a few minutes for the bill to be delivered to the table, but do not become impatient and go looking for your waiter, thinking he has forgotten about you. This will earn you the label of “a typical gringo”, always in a hurry. Wait calmly, knowing that the Mexican way of thinking is that you may sit and relax at your table as long as you like after your meal. Or, who knows, you may decide to order dessert and another drink by the time the waiter returns. There is no rushing in México; learn the enjoyment of sitting and doing nothing but relaxing. Waiting in Line at WaKiKa Ice Cream Stand Takes Patience!     4. How to wait in line at the grocery store or WaKiKa ice cream stand in Sayulita like a local, patiently, without showing any annoyance about the long wait. Even better, wait calmly without feeling annoyance. The line may not even resemble a line, but rather a gathering of people around the cashier’s counter, but your turn will come eventually, when someone motions you forward. Delays may include a story that the cashier is telling a customer, a customer who leaves the line to go pick up another item or two in the store while the cashier is halfway finished ringing his order, a vendor who is delivering a tote of tortillas to the store and gives it to the busy cashier, or a bunch of kids who just popped in to buy their bags of chips and drinks after school and pushed to the front of the “line” to pay. No one says a word, sighs in exasperation, grumbles under their breath, or shows a sign of irritation on their face. Everyone is calm and patient, silently waiting their turn to pay for their groceries or ice cream order. What a peaceful way to go through the day. How They Sit on the Truck in the Parade is Their Business!     5. How to mind your own business like a local, even while watching a gringo make a scene: This was a challenge for Jon and me to learn. We are often embarrassed by the rude and demanding way we sometimes see Americans, Canadians, or other foreigners treat Mexican people, especially waiters and other service people. During one of our early visits to México, we saw an American return his margarita to the bartender and demand a new drink, free of charge, because a fly had flown into it when he was half-way finished drinking it. Of course, in America, the customer is always right and he would expect to get a new, fresh drink, compliments of the bar. So he expected the same thing here in México and he was politely given one. But, the Mexican people make so little money to begin with, how can they afford to give anything away for free? And it isn’t the bar’s responsibility to keep flies out of the customers’ drinks. We were so outraged that this arrogant American would expect that he was due a free drink in this outdoor restaurant/bar where flies are part of the scene—this is one of the attitudes we detest in the United States. In México, you are responsible for yourself, which includes placing a napkin over your glass or bottle if you don’t want flies in your drink. I reacted to my anger, marched up to that American and told him he should be ashamed of himself, that he was the kind of person who made me embarrassed to be from the United States! I have since realized that I made more of a scene than he did. The proper Mexican way to react to another person making a scene is to look away or walk away, stay calm, and avoid conflict. When everyone minds their own business, as Mexicans tend to do, the result is a peaceful society.
     I hope you have enjoyed this excerpt from my eBook "Retirement Before the Age of 59: Healthy Living in Mexico #2". To continue reading the "12 Lessons We are Learning from the Locals While Living in Mexico", please purchase or borrow my book, available from Amazon worldwide. Here is the link on Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Retirement-Before-Age-59-Healthy-ebook/dp/B01NCMWMJL. My Newest eBook Now Available from Amazon Worldwide!

A CHALLENGE OF LIVING IN MEXICO: The FIRST UPS Delivery to Our Home

BUT NOT BY THE UPS MAN! My Package From the United States Was Delivered!Not everything is easy, living in Mexico. Receiving mail, or not, while living in Mexico causes me to have mixed feelings. The mailman just doesn't come to our house in Sayulita, though I have seen a "Correos" (national mail service) delivery guy sitting on his motorcycle at the corner, shuffling through a stack of Telmex bills. The only reason we received our Telmex internet bill on that unusual day was that we happened to be walking by at the time and asked him for it. We do get our CFE (electric bill) every two months, on schedule, because a CFE employee walks to every house in town to deliver the bills. He wedges our bill in a slot of our gate or between the meter and the wall. Our house number is spray-painted above the meter, but it's hidden behind a tree and no one sees it but the CFE meter-reader.
What do we do if we want to order something from the United States to be shipped to our home? We have seen the UPS truck and the DHL van in Sayulita, so we know they deliver here. But, would they ever find our home, tucked away in the barrio, a Mexican neighborhood? The home addressing system in Mexico is hodge-podge.... read more at:Retirement Before the Age of 59: A CHALLENGE OF LIVING IN MEXICO: The FIRST UPS Delivery to Our Home:

Kindle Countdown Year-End DISCOUNT PRICE Starts 12/26 at 99 cents! Details Below:

"HEALTHY LIVING AND TRAVELING IN MEXICO:A Search for Sunshine, Sassy Exercise, Savory Food, and a Simpler Life" "Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico" eBook
     The Kindle Countdown DISCOUNT PRICING for this eBook will only last a few days! The sooner you purchase it, the better price you will receive! Here is how it works:
     December 26, 2016:     99 cents!   December 28, 2016:         $1.99   December 29, 2016:         $2.99   December 31, 2016:         $3.99
     Take a look at the eBook "Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico" on Amazon.com by clicking HERE .This eBook price will resume at $4.99 on January 2, 2017.
     Don't forget to take a look at my newest eBook "RETIREMENT BEFORE THE AGE OF 59: Healthy Living in Mexico #2". Take at look on Amazon.com by clicking HERE "Retirement Before the Age of 59" eBook
     

The eBook, "Retirement Before the Age of 59": Healthy Living in Mexico #2" on Amazon

"Retirement Before the Age of 59: Healthy Living in Mexico #2"
The eBook is Now Available on Amazon.com!

      My new eBook is now available on Amazon. Click this link to take a "Look Inside": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NCMWMJL.
      It is also available to borrow for free on Kindle Unlimited. 

Here is a brief description of the book. I hope you enjoy it!

     Terry and Jon found a way to escape the rat race, retire early, and to make their money go farther. This story will inspire others to quit their jobs, retire earlier rather than later, and begin living a healthier life, while having more fun and doing what they enjoy. Why wait?     Making the decision to retire early was the easy part. Deciding where to retire took more travel in their motorhome and lots of thought. The process of selling and giving away their excess possessions so they could begin living a simplified, healthier life was a journey in itself.     Terry and Jon’s adventures while traveling in their motorhome are enough to entice one to go RV shopping immediately. Their decision to move to México may seem radical to some, but others may soon consider doing the same thing! The story of where they settled in México, and why, will make you wonder how soon you, too, will begin planning a similar escape from the chaos in the world to find your own piece of paradise in the sun.

    Don't forget about the first book in the series, also available on Amazon.com at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Living-Traveling-Mexico-Sunshine-ebook/dp/B00R6NTBKO
Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico:
A Search for Sunshine, Sassy Exercise, Savory Food, and a Simpler Life

After Years of Fun Zumba Classes, I'm Going to Be a Zumba Instructor!

Join The Party! It's Exercise in Disguise! I have written my Zumba Mexico blog since January 2014, almost three years! I can hardly believe it! That's when I fell in love with Zumba as "Exercise in Disguise" and came up with the wild idea of traveling around Mexico in our motorhome, attending Zumba classes in each town we visited. My husband, Jon, being the good sport that he is, agreed to this crazy, fun adventure. 
     We met so many great people throughout Mexico, including Zumba Instructors and other Zumba students, as enthusiastic about Zumba as I am. I learned many fun Latin dances, even managing to get my hips to move. That's a real challenge for a gringa!
I Am Proud of my Official Zumba Instructor Certificate!     I will soon be teaching Zumba classes in Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico. There will be no problem with me reaching my 10,000 steps per day now, getting healthier every day in Mexico! Check the www.Zumba.com website for my class schedule, beginning soon. To read more, click the link below: ZUMBA MEXICO! Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico: After Years of Fun Zumba Classes, I'm Going to Be a Zumba Instructor!

“Winter Blues”, SAD, Clinical Depression, Bi-Polar? Leave the Gray Skies Behind...

...And Go Find Sunshine! Sunshine at Mar Rosa RV Park, Mazatlan     “Winter Blues”, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is “a mood disorder subset in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms at the same time each year, most commonly in winter”, according to Wikipedia. SAD is an accepted medical diagnosis, with symptoms of depression and anxiety that recur annually, usually during the short, dark winter months. The prevalence increases in more northerly areas with Florida having an incidence of about 2% and Alaska having an incidence of about 10%. A major contributing factor is low sunlight exposure due to dark winter skies, shortened daylight hours, and too much time spent indoors. My conclusion is that living south of Florida may likely decrease the incidence of SAD to near zero.
Preparing to Leave the Gray Skies of Oregon Behind     To read more, click on this link: Retirement Before the Age of 59: “Winter Blues”, SAD, Clinical Depression, Bi-Polar...: .
     Check out my eBook on Amazon.com "Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico" by clicking  HERE
"Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico" eBook on Amazon.com

INEXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN SAYULITA, MEXICO? TAKE A LOOK AT OUR BUDGET

Living Simply, Life is Inexpensive & Healthy in Sayulita A Simple Mexican House & a Comfy Porch Swing: Contentment
     We have found that significantly simplifying our lives and moving to Mexico has increased our personal happiness. We gave up working in the rat race in the United States and life slowed down. We gave up the focus on owning a nicer, newer home every three years, a new high-tech car, our handsome Stickley furniture, and most of our stuff. We sold all but a few necessities and mementos. What a release! What a relief to let it all go! Then we moved to Sayulita, Mexico! We Don't Need a 4X4 Pick-Up Truck in Sayulita!     It was time to find out if we could really live off of our meager savings. I retired before the age of 59, before I could collect Social Security or access my IRA funds without having to pay high amounts of taxes and penalties. Jon opted to start drawing Social Security early at the age of 62 at the lowest rate and quit working completely at 65. The economic downturn of 2008 had hit us hard financially. We had sold all of our investment real estate to pay the bills, banked the small amount that was left, and began to look forward to our new life. We envisioned a life in Mexico where life is slow and peaceful, the sun is always shining, flowers are always blooming, the ocean is three blocks away, and we were pretty sure it would be cheaper to live there. We were happily surprised to discover how much cheaper! 
     To read more, click  HERE .             Add caption
     Take a look at my eBook, "Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico" available on Amazon.com worldwide by clicking HERE. (Free with kindleunlimited!)

Retirement in San Miguel de Allende? Maybe Jocotepec on Lake Chapa?

Evaluating Two More of Our Favorite Cities in Mexico La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel in the Background San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato     For years we traveled around Mexico and never imagined we would consider retiring in San Miguel de Allende. We had the mistaken belief that it had been overrun by foreigners, that the charm of the once small town had been ruined. Some even liken it to Disneyland, just another tourist attraction, painted and enhanced until it is picture-perfect. We wanted to live in real Mexico.     Then, we visited San Miguel de Allende and fell in love with it like so many North Americans have. Though the town has grown since Tony Cohan described it in his book, “On Mexican Time”, published in 2000, the Spanish colonial architecture of the central town has been well-preserved. The majestic cathedrals, the attractive, colorful centuries-old homes and hotels along narrow cobblestone roads, the beautifully landscaped parks, and the lively festivals are just a few of the things that make this city special.      We began to envision ourselves living in San Miguel de Allende. No one was more surprised than we were that we would even think about living in this tourist town. We started listing our “Pros and Cons” of moving to this amazingly gorgeous city.
Here are some of the things we like about San Miguel de Allende:1.      We are drawn to the Spanish colonial architecture. We could spend hours each day walking down cobblestone roads exploring the town, fascinated with the old world beauty. This city is even more beautiful than Old Town Mazatlán, another of our favorite historic areas in Mexico.2. Plenty of great restaurants.... To Read more, click on this link:  Retirement Before the Age of 59: Retirement in San Miguel de Allende? Maybe Jocotepec on Lake Chapala?

Jocotepec, Jalisco on Lake Chapala
Pretty Zócalo in Jocotepec
     Jocotepec is one of three cities along the shores of Lake Chapala that are popular retirement homes for expats from the United States and Canada. The towns of Chapala and Ajijic have a larger percentage of gringos living there than Jocotepec. We chose to stay in Jocotepec when we were living and traveling in our motorhome, simply because it was the only town on the lake with an RV Park. Roca Azul is more than just an RV Park—it is also a sports park with a wonderful swimming pool, a mineral pool, a tennis court, volleyball courts, an event center, 24 hour security, and more. With the nearly perfect weather, the view of the lake and surrounding mountains, walking trails, bird watching, close proximity to downtown, and the friendly people, we could see why there were quite a few expats from the U.S. and Canada who live at Roca Azul year around.
      Jocotepec is a very Mexican town with a pretty Zócalo, a traditional central plaza with an ornate gazebo, benches for social gatherings, and well-maintained landscaping. When we dined at one of the restaurants on the perimeter of the Zócalo, we could watch the activity at the two churches, the couples strolling through, and the children playing. We noticed a few gringos in the plaza, people watching like we were, but most of the people in this town are Mexican. This would be a place to immerse ourselves in Mexican life, learning Spanish more quickly since few residents here speak English.     Jocotepec is an old city, founded in the year 1529. Most of the buildings in centro (the downtown area) were constructed of adobe and many have been resurfaced with stucco and paint to freshen the appearance. Some buildings have old, peeling plaster and paint, revealing the original adobe brick and mortar underneath, giving the town a somewhat worn look. Jocotepec is not a tourist town so it is less polished than San Miguel de Allende, but just as clean. It was obvious to us that the residents here take pride in their town.
Here are some of the things we like about Jocotepec:       1.   Jocotepec is a very Mexican town, where the people are friendly and relaxed. It is a small city with a population of about 38,000, so it felt more peaceful with less hustle and bustle of a large city such as Mazatlán. We considered living at Roca Azul in our motorhome or maybe a fifth wheel with a bit more space. The property is large, overlooking Lake Chapala and the mountains, with plenty of sports activities to keep us from getting too lazy.      2.  The mixture of people who lived at and visited Roca Azul was unique and pleasant, unlike any other place we had lived during our travels in Mexico. Our neighbors were friendly and enjoyable. The park is large and spread out with plenty of elbow room for everyone. To read more click this link: http://retirementbeforetheageof59.blogspot.mx/2016/06/retirement-in-san-miguel-de-allende.html