Introduction

[vagamundo]

Hello forum readers,

I just joined the forum today and would like to introduce myself. I am from Colorado and will be driving into Mexico shortly after Xmas in order to visit the Baja and La Paz for several weeks. After this visit, I plan to fly to to GDL, leaving my car with a friend in La Paz, and visit Ajiijic for a few days before making my way to GTO by bus.

I would like to spend a month in GTO and, as such, will be looking for decent furnished accommodations during this time. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

As for me, I just turned 65 in November and, as such, I am also looking at potential retirement destinations. For the past two years, I lived and worked in Cusco, Peru but found the high altitude of 11k and somewhat chilly and rainy weather to be daunting. I returned to Colorado this summer to work on Plan B, which is Mexico.

If anyone is considering a trip to Peru and Mach Picchu, I am more than happy to provide travel information.

[Izzenhood]

Greetings and welcome Vagamundo

I'm not a regular at this board or in GTO but I do love the city, having spent a month there in 2006.

I was in Cusco for a couple of days and found it very interesting, but I could see where it would be hard to settle in. Ajiijic seemed to me to have too many expats, and maybe too hot, although quite a few folks like to live in the villages to the south, such as Jocotopec. I was 55 when I was in GTO and thought that there might not be enough to do, but now at 62 I am reconsidering. My wife and I were wondering about La Paz. I believe there you could ATV, hike, and jeep in the desert plus have the beach, although I'd rather have the mountains than beach.

I'm looking forward to hearing your comparison of Ajijjic, La Paz, and GTO as places to settle. I may end up in GTO myself. Good luck to you. By the way, were you in Cusco as a geologist?

Izzenhood
Grand Junction, Colorado

[peddler665]

No beach right in La Paz but excellent ones both North & South of the City. Do keep in mind that ATV's are mostly banned from Mexican beaches although this is often violated sadly as they destroy so much. Please stick to the desert areas & be gentle even there Por Favor!

[vagamundo]

Hi,

I wanted to check out a few diverse geographical and cultural areas for a retirement destination and as I am an active person, I chose La Paz, GTO, and Ajiijic for my visit. I have three months for this venture as I rented my house in Denver fir this time frame. I am a little concerned that I will find the Ajiijic community a little boring though its proximity to GDL might make it more interesting.

I have no interest in ATV's and my sporting interest for the Baja are more oriented towards sea Kayaking, paddle boarding, and biking. I have friends there too, both Mexican citizens and American ex-pats, though they both tell me that it can be phenomenally hot during the summer and fall months.

GTO seems to offer many cultural choices and I like the fact that owning a car is not a necessity and, in fact, could be a negative. It also seems that the universities and students there may give the town a certain vitality missing in Ajiijic.

[jesm]

We can offer some comparative information that might be useful in your quest. We are fully retired and enjoy two Mexican homes. One is on the eastern coast of the Sea of Cortez in San Carlos,Sonora,the other here in the La Presa area of Guanajuato. We love them both and divide our year roughly 1/3 coast, mostly winter months, and the rest in GTO. If you are drawn to the ocean and want to take advantage of its bounty and recreational opportunities the coast,any coast, of Mexico is hard to beat. However, both Baja California and Sonora present really hot and quite humid summers! Our place on the coast becomes truly oppressive mid-july thru mid-October and that is when we relish our place here. Other thoughts, we must stress that if variety in life is important then Guanajuato offers a far greater variety of cuisine, recreation, and almost every other item, except of course fresh seafoods and water sports and views. Costs seem about equal, including real estate and construction. Access to the states are close ,but if you go to La Paz you will likely want to fly as the trans-peninsular highway goes on and on and...
Glad to see you are considering Mexico, we would not live anywhere else primarily due to the warmth of the hearts and the always ready smiles we find everywhere here.
If we can be of further help, just ask. But no matter where, Come on down!

[vagamundo]

Hello,

Thanks for the narrative on how you spend your year in Mexico. I have been exploring (at least in my head) the feasibility of living the winter months in LaPaz or southern Baja and spending the rest of the year in GTO or Ajiijic or traveling around Mexico and CA. It appears you have accomplished both! Also, the time period split you note mirrors exactly what my Baja friends say about the months not to be situated in the Baja (July-October).

I am not sure if I want to buy a house right away or rent in both places while I try them on for size but probably the latter option is more prudent. I own a house in Denver, which will be no problem to sell at a good price once I decide where I am going. The sale represents my 'grubstake' when I settle on my destination. Do you own a house in both locations? Is this practical or do you rent in one location and own in the other?

Thanks again for your encouraging report...