Lomas de Marfil

[Colibri]

Hi, everyone

Need info and opinions. Some friends are thinking of renting in Lomas de Marfil for six months or so. They haven't been to Guanajuato before. I don't know much about that area. Any of you live there or know someone who does? My friends speak a little Spanish. Thanks!

[DonJuane]

If you are not reasonably close to the city center, then I'd think that almost anywhere would do. If I were to move to a suburb of a Mexican city that had a central historica that was attractive at near, more or less than that of Guanajuato then the actual charm of the city is pretty much lost or at least so over time as the distance disconnect pretty much leaves you up to living in your own domain in a sea of mostly houses. In that situation I'd say one looking at Mexican suburbia might instead look also to other areas of high elevation for good climate and try to find a spot that provides support for our interests or hobbies. GTO other than it's scenic backdrop could be considered by some as not having area attractions other mountainous cities enjoy. Of course there's Leon but it's also high desert and dry and although it has almost everything one could imagine shopping wise, it's a good hour and a half away. If interests include water sports, of course look closer to the ocean, or say shopping facilities are the drive then maybe Puebla, Oaxaca, Guadalajara, or Morelia (and I leave Leon out because the charm here outside of shopping and industry is a little on the short side). If hiking and exploring is the thing, then maybe the states of Michoacan or Chiapas (dodging the indigenous anti-government/tourist and cartel camps of course). Coffee country (Veracruz, Cordoba, Colima) is also interesting, green and beautiful for outdoor activities but those areas too near the gulf side see the temperatures in the mountains a little more of a radical swing and the gulf of course is the least desirable of all Mexican coasts. The area of the gulf seems to me a little too muggy as well.

So to take a full turn-about, you'd have to know someone pretty well to figure out exactly what they are looking for. If their rental doesn't look like the travel brochure with the Pipila planted in the backdrop, they're probably going to be a little more than disappointed.