As if there wasn’t enough to do in Ajijic every day, February features the Mexican National Chili Cookoff, a local Tradition.

Every year amateur and professional chefs compete for the much coveted People’s Choice  Award, given in both the Chili and Salsa categories in a festival filled with fun, prizes, music and lots of good food.  Sponsored by local and international vendors for the benefit of local charities,  The Cookoff is located in the Tobolandia Water Park.  Locals and visitors from all over can spend the three days sampling chilis,browsing at the myriad of booths where everything from Golf Carts to Silver Mexican Jewelry is on offer.  From Friday through Sunday you can admire the work of local artisans and dance to a variety of bands while having a Corona or three with your friends. And of course there’s chili, chili, and more chili to sample and judge. Chili not your thing? Don’t worry…a wide variety of restaurants have booths there, too.

Need more activities where you can bring your visitors and make new friends in February? Here are just a few of the special events you can find in Lakeside.

*  The School for the Deaf Tour of Homes
* Presbyterian Church — Bazaar
* Villa Infantil Orphanage — Tour of “Green” homes
* Love in Action Center — Garden Party
* Music Appreciation Society — Play reading
* Niños Incapacitados — Dinner Dance
* Lake Chapala Shriners — Ribfest Party
* American Legion Ladies Auxiliary — Valentine’s Dinner
* ACA Eco — Bus trips to Abastos, weekly Eco Talks
* Red Cross Bus Trips — Shopping at Gallerias and Tlaquepaque
* 32nd Annual Chili Cookoff — Proceeds divided by eight local charities

Dixie - Elliott - Linda Absolut Fenix Dixie Chics

This year  Saucy Fossi Picaddily Chili won Third Place!

Be sure to visit the official

Chili Cookoff Homepage

Enjoy and buen provecho!

A few of our visitors and readers have let us know there is a problem with the Registration and Login links on the site. In order to streamline leaving feedback or if you want to contact directly, please use the Contact & Comments tab at the top of the site.  There is no need to register or login to this site. Thanks!

Last Minute Christmas Shopping?

Feeling Holiday Hectic and having to run over to the Costco and the Mall for those hard to find items just before Christmas? But wait! I’m living in Mexico…how can I get back to Tyson’s or the Mall of America? No need to panic, the Costco’s and Malls such as Liverpool and Galleria in Guadalajara have everything you would expect, ant it’s all within an hour’s drive or bus ride from Lakeside.

,,,,,,Is Mexico limited to simple shops and outdoor  …...markets?

………………………………………………………………………….

The year-round markets and local specialty shops feature the best of everything in Lakeside. Finding the freshest meats, poultry, vegetables and fruits is always fun at the market or inside the local Walmart or Super Lakes.……………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………You will also find all of the handmade pottery, leatherwork, crafts and artwork Mexico is famous for right here in Lakeside.  Bargaining for items goes with the territory but it is all very friendly.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

The Mega in Guadalajara located across the parking lot from the new Costco also features a stunning array of food, beverage, delicatessen itmes along with general house and garden merchandise.

…………………………The Gualajara Costco Stores carry name brand electronics, computers, furniture, home and garden, and of course all the usual bulk items including foods, pharmacy, optical, photo, snacks and beverages that you can fit into your trunk.

Hi, I’m Elliott!   YOU  must have lots of questions about living in Ajijic Lake Chapala, just like I did before moving to Mexico.

Call me toll-free at 1-866-306-9353 or send me a   contact  message so we   can chat about it!

About Elliott Joachim:

A working realtor in Ajijic, Mexico for over three years, Elliott was previously a top producer at Keller Williams Realty in Northern Virginia, just outside Washington DC.  Her recent affiliation with Absolut Fenix, one of the best and most highly respected brokerages in the Lake Chapala area, brings an abundance of new opportunities and services for her clients. A former ballroom dance instructor and competition winner, Elliott brings a lifetime of interpersonal skills to her expertise in real estate. In Washington DC, Elliott worked as a telecom consultant for many years, but opted in to the new lifestyle in Mexico when she and her husband came to visit a few years ago.

Be sure to browse all of the properties available in the Lakeside area here, using the Free MLS Listings search…a copy of each listing you select will be sent to your email inbox for further review.

Absolut Fenix is a full-service real estate office located next to the Super Lakes parking lot on the  Carretera in San Antonio,  on the north shore of Lake Chapala.

As a dual agency that represents both sellers and buyers equally, Absolut Fenix guarantees that our professionals display loyalty to both sides of the bargaining table. We are proud of our exemplary standard of professional conduct on behalf of every one of our clients, be they buyers or sellers.

LUXURY LAKESIDE LIVING AT AFFORDABLE PRICES – PUNTA MONTANA

The developers are L&L Desarrollos, who have a well established reputation for building high end mixed use high rises in Guadalajara, and are bringing their contemporary luxury finishes to residential homes. The prices, which include off street parking infinity edge dipping pools, and terraces with lake view, are $259,000 and $269,000, depending on the model. Delivery time is seven to eight months. There are three elegant models to choose from… CLICK TO VIEW THE COMPLETE BROCHURE

Numerous  clinics and private doctors’ offices in the Ajijic  Lake Chapala area  offer excellent medical services at approximately $25 US  per visit.  Typical lab and blood work runs from $25 – $75 and is also available at several convenient local labs.

The Clinica Maskeras conveniently located in Riberas on the Carattera is a full service medical facility with full MD and nursing staff. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, includes on-site emergency care with transport access to major Guadalajara Hospitals.

These out of pocket costs are typical for routine care and check-ups, much less than co-pays for many US providers, and you do not need insurance in order to have complete care.

Lakeside has the added advantage of close proximity to Guadalajara, which boasts some of the best Medical facilities and hospitals in Mexico.

Contrary to popular belief, most doctors are bi-lingual and extensively experienced in their fields of specialty.  In addition,  the major hospitals in Guadalajara utilize the latest high-tech treatments and  equipment.

It’s interesting to note that many US trained and certified MD’s actually decided to return or move to Lakeside and the Guadalajara area, rather than continuing to practice in the US. Can you blame them?

There are also many alternative medicine practitioners who offer services locally. You can choose from licensed holistic practioners, massage therapists and chiropractic specialists as well.

There are a number of medical insurance options to choose from. IMSS is the Mexican government’s universal health care program. It costs about $300 USD per year and gives you a lot in return. It provides excellent catastrophic coverage and is available to foreign residents.

Dental costs also are a fraction of what you would expect to pay  in the US and Canada. Nursing care, assisted living and nursing home care is excellent as well, and much less expensive.

Retirees with US plans such as Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Champus, Metropolitan, Golden Rule, Cigna and others, can use their coverage in Mexico. In addition, a number of organizations such as the American Legion and the Lake Chapala Society have local health insurance plans.

US citizens with Medicaid and Medicare often carry a medical evacuation provision in the case of life-threatening illness. These policies provide coverage that allows them to be transported by air ambulance to the US for treatment.

“Ive heard that I can get any type of drugs in Mexico without a prescription. Is that true?”

Most Prescription Medicines are available over the counter at Guad Farmacia branches. There are also several high quality discount Farmacias in the Lakeside area.

No, you still need a prescription from a licensed MD in Mexico to purchase narcotic prescriptions.  However, without the rigors and stress of US based insurance regulations and associated high costs, you can walk into any local Farmacia and purchase most name brand and generic drugs for a fraction of the cost in the US, without a prescription.

Note: As an insulin-dependant diabetic, I find that a bottle of insulin (Lantus and Humalog) costs out of pocket the same as the copay alone was in the US (about $45 US).  Having qualified now for the IMSS drug coverage, my next appointment will reveal whether I actually receive insulin and other meds free of cost. Check in for the results with next month’s Vidalago.com update.

Be sure to browse all of the properties available in the Lakeside area here, using the Free MLS Listings search…a copy of each listing you select will be sent to your email inbox for further review.

This month’s featured listing presents a totally SOLAR POWERED home with spectacular lake views. The complete solar system is brand new, built to current demanding U.S. standards, and comes with a   25 Year Transferable Warranty.

Roof mounted Solar Panels.

Unsurpassed Million-Dollar Views -

Panoramic Lake Views

from every bedroom, all terraces, and the sprawling, perfectly manicured grounds! This home, built only 10 years ago, is totally “green” – featuring brand new SOLAR ELECTRIC and HOT WATER SYSTEMS! Electric bill is $4 a MONTH!! This exquisite 3-bedroom, 3.5 -bathroom home, is move-in ready. Completely furnished – including a full satellite system, remote gate w/camera, purification and pressure systems, underground utilities, mature fruit trees, working aqueduct, butler’s pantry off the fully-equipped kitchen, tons of storage, covered two-car parking, magnificent stone retaining walls, and so much more. There is not a better value! This price is a bargain.  Listed by Linda Fossi.

State Of The Art  Solar System…Brand New Installation using the Latest Green Technology…Engineered and Installed by Guadalajara based ALTA ENERGIA – RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Hidden from view…

Nine Solar Photovoltaic Panels are mounted on the roof of the Casita.

The panels produce DC Current, which is routed to the Power Centre. Since most modern appliances and devices are powered by AC Current, the high end Inverter System converts the stored DC Current to AC which powers the appliances, computers, televisions and microwave. Producing perfect 120 Volt AC Current, the system actually “sells back” excess power to CFE, the local power grid through the use of a high-tech digital meter dedicated to this home exclusively.

The resulting power savings reduces the monthly bill from CFE to virtually pennies.

Although the home uses the free power from CFE at night, the back up batteries store enough independent power to run the home for three days continuosly.

With our system and the new CFE "sell back" meter on the right, the cost for power was reduced from $1,500 pesos per month to just $50 pesos per month.

In addition, a secondary smaller system provides all of the hot water for the entire house. The entire Solar System is easier to maintain than a standard swimming pool, and carries a 25 YEAR COMPLETE TRANSFERABLE WARRANTY. The engineering company that recently installed this system to the highest US standards is located in Guadalajara and California, so any service or homeowner questions are easily answered locally.

The second smaller unit is dedicated to providing ample hot water supply for the entire home.

The converter system produces exactly 120 volts AC Current

Nine integrated panels provide more than enough power for the entire home.

…

An Important Question from a Vidalago.com Reader:

“One question I have is that we are not totally retired yet but our business is mostly done by phone and internet – is the service there reliable enough to run a business? Will it cost us a fortune to get the type of phone service/internet service we need to have people able to call in and us call out on a regular basis (Maybe an 800 #)?”

Answer: If you are reading this right now, you are looking at our Vidalago.com website that I set up on my home-office PC here in the Lakeside Village of San Antonio Tlayacapan with local Mexico Prodigy internet service, and the site server is somewhere in California furnished by a US web hosting service. When not working feverishly at real estate, marketing and writing we watch our favorite evening shows on the 42″ flat screen TV I purchased here at Home Depot Guadalajara (tip of the hat to Stu Browne for finding that great deal!). We have a TV satellite on the roof with a PVR dual channel receiver furnished by a provider in Ajijic, and get all the same channel packages here that are available in the US along with the local New York and national news. I set up a Vonage account before we moved, which retained our local phone (703) 349-5021 and then added a toll free number after the move (866) 306-9353.  That way Elliott can keep in touch with her clients 24/7 -while I make local calls to friends who are jealous that I am playing golf every morning.

Click on the picture for more info.

The service providers pictured are all located on or near the main road in Ajijic – Riberas.  They provide reliable installation, and usually accept credit cards for online billing.

Here are a few examples of communications services in Mexico, based on my personal experience and information…

Desktop PC’s and laptops

Fulltime residents usually bring their computers with them when moving to Lakeside.  All systems and peripherals are compatible with the DSL and cable internet services.  Mexico does not run on European electrical home service, so you can just plug in your electronics and boot them up right away.  Part-time residents can bring a laptop with them for the time they spend in Lakeside, getting wireless access at various points in the area. There are also several cyber cafes located in the town plaza’s, where you can get online for a few pesos an hour.

Computers and laptops are sold at retail outlets like the local Ajijic Walmart, and at electronics and department stores in Guadalajara. Telmex in Ajijic also sells PC and laptop systems. The only caveat being that hardware in Mexico uses Spanish language operating systems and keyboards; but if you need a new printer and supplies, for example, it is not a problem to add on to your existing system.

Internet Service Providers

Telmex – Provides high speed DSL on the local phone line utilizing Prodigy Infinitum. The service is very reliable, and does not interefere with your phone service. DSL modem and software is provided when you sign up for service at the Telmex office in Ajijic, where the customer service folks speak English and are happy to explain everything in detail. The monthly charge for unlimited DSL – which is on 24/7 – and local phone service is approx. 650 pesos ($42 US). For peso to dollar conversion, at current rate divide pesos by 14 per dollar.

Telecable

With this service you can opt for 9 different TV channel packages with the initial 72 channel package at 235 pesos per month ($16.78 US). The monthly subrsciber line charge is 99 pesos with automatic debit, or 199 if you go to the office and pay cash pesos. Adding internet to your cable package ranges from 149 pesos for 512kbps to 449 pesos for 6mbps.  In summary, basic 72 channel cable TV plus 3mbps broadband bills at 633 pesos ($45.21 US).

Cellphones at Telcel

The modern Telcel offices with glittering arrays of the latest cell phones and accessories can be found in several locations in Lakeside as well as in the Guadalajara shopping centers. Prices for cell phones and minutes are comparable to those in the US. You can subscribe monthly or pay as you go with phone cards as well. We like the Amigo free phone to phone feature, since we use them as “intercoms” around Lakeside or if we travel. The service is excellent just about anywhere in the country, and you can make international calls on your cell too. This really comes in handy if you are meeting someone at the airport, and they can’t figure out where the Starbucks is to meet you outside the international arrivals area.

Be sure to leave a comment or more questions about Internet in Mexico or anything else you can think of….

Question: “I’ve heard that golfing in Mexico is very expensive. Is that how it is in the Lake Chapala and Guadalajara area?”

Answer: “Yes, and No. But like most things Mexican, there is a work-around…”

For expert and casual golfers alike, the Guadalajara Mexico area offers a number of outstanding championship golf courses. The beautiful weather provides for a year-round golfing season in Lakeside and Guadalajara. Many  of the the championship 18-hole courses in Guadalajara – Guadalajara Country Club, El Palomar, Atlas, Santa Anita, Las Canadas – are either Members Only or Resort Courses. Read on to find out about the work-around if you don’t want to stay in a resort hotel in order to play the golf courses…

In Lakeside, we have Chula Vista Country Club,  a charming 9-hole Executive course, which is short on yardage but long on challenges for golfers of all skill levels. Nestled in a hillside overlooking Lake Chapala

Chula Vista Golf

(“Chula Vista” means “Beautiful View”), you will find some exceptionally long par 3’s and short par 4’s that gobble up golf balls belonging to many seasoned golf afficianados. Chula Vista features extremely affordable year-round membership rates, or a daily greens fee of 400 pesos (less than $40 US). There are no carts, but lots of friendly and skilled caddies if you don’t want to lug your own bag up and down the hills. I recently signed up for annual greens fee membership with another golfer, for a cost of 10,300 pesos (around $1000. US) which covers unlimited play 7 days a week.  Finish off your round with a drink or lunch with friends at the terrace restaurant and you have a nearly clublike experience for very few dollars.

Chula Vista Golf Club Rates updated January, 2009

# of months                1 person (Pesos/DollarsUS)            2 person (Pesos/DollarsUS)

1                                    4000 / 308                                       8000 / 616

3                                  10500 / 808                                    18000 / 1385

6                                  13000 / 1000                                  23000 / 1769

12                                18000 / 1385                                   27000 / 2077

Monthly memberships include unlimited play, caddies required weekends and holidays. This is a hilly walking course with lots of trees and hazards. Pullcarts permitted, no riding carts.

Single play 18 holes       350 / 26.93

Caddy fee                       150 / 11.54

“OK, OK, but what if I want to play a regular 18-hole championship course?”  Oh yes, now for the work-around: You don’t have to be a member or resort guest in Guadalajara to play those great courses. Instead, say hello to the friendly pro at Chula Vista, tell him you would like to play at one of the courses in nearby Guadalajara, and he will call their pro shop to give you an introduction.  You will find 18-hole greens fees with carts and caddy there to be anywhere between $80 – $150 US.

Another local course is Chapala Country Club a full-sized 9-hole course, also with breathtaking views and private homes surrounding the golf course. Contact the club directly for membership information and rates.

The Atlas Country Club, with a championship 18-hole layout, also features a state of the art clubhouse with banguet and convention facilities, tennis, swimming and many other amenities. Atlas is located just past Guadaljara Airport, about a thirty minute drive from Lakeside.

Currently Atlas is offering full memberships starting as low as $5,500. US.

For serious club golfers, Atlas offers the best value in the Guadalajara area. The course and clubhouse facilities rival any top-shelf golf club anywhere in the world. For more information about golf in Lake Chapala and Guadalajara, be sure to contact us.

Bruno is an avid golfer and would enjoy playing a five-peso (fifty-cent) skins game with you when you come to visit Lakeside, or if you just need a break from house hunting with Elliott!  (more…)

In today’s challenging economic times, an increasing number of baby boomers are considering full or part-time living in Lake Chapala Mexico as a way to budget and conserve their nest eggs.

Living in the Lake Chapala region, with the nearby international city of Guadalajara, has been steadily gaining in appeal to to many of the estimated 70 million North Americans who are in or approaching retirement age. Here at Vidalago.com we strive to give you a personal, honest insight into the daunting question of making a major move, not just down the street or to another city or state, but to Mexico! For this article, we have compiled a few of the more frequent questions that many people ask about lifestyle, finances, and health concerns as they make decisions about their future:

Question: Is the cost of living in Lake Chapala really that much of a difference?

Answer: Depending on your needs, everyone from single retired folks to families with children are discovering that Lake Chapala living is very affordable, without sacrificing quality of lifestyle.

For basic monthly expenses, living in Lake Chapala is inexpensive by most North American comparisons.

Heating and air conditioning are a thing of the past, because of the temperate year-round climate in Lakeside. Most people find that using an extra blanket in the winter, and turning on their ceiling fans in the summer is all that they need for comfort.

The homes in Lakeside are constructed from non-flammable materials like brick, mortar, cement and tile, which renders the need for homeowner’s insurance unnecessary. Frequently, an open floor plan to a patio or pool provides plenty of ventilation and adds to ease of living.

Be sure to visit the free MLS Listings page at Vidalago.com!

These homes and others are more affordable than you may think!

Question: If I move to Lakeside, can I still get a home with a modern kitchen?

Answer: Most of the available homes and condos in Lakeside are either recently constructed or may have updated kitchens and facilities if the homes are somewhat older.

Many people prefer gas for cooking and hot water, which is readily available through numerous suppliers of propane delivered on a schedule to hour home.

Stone masonry and tile work is a centuries-old craft here in Mexico.

Real marble countertops, rather than Corian  and Formica abound!

Question: “I don’t want to learn Spanish. Will I have trouble communicating with people and being understood?”

Answer: Most of the locals you will talk to in your day to day activities actually prefer to speak English.

There is a very high level of English education amongst the Mexican population in the Lake Chapala area. Some learn in school, while others have actually lived in the states on visas for long periods of time before returning or choosing to live in Lakeside. You find many friendly and helpful men and women working in the service and medical community who are bilingual. After a while many of us “Gringos” actually like the idea of learning a bit of Spanish ourselves, and the locals put up with our attempts to practice our words and phrases in the stores and restaurants.

One of the resources available online is a free translation website, which comes in handy if you need to get across a more complex idea.  You can type in your english sentences, then print out the translation to take with you:

“Excuse me, I am looking for Elliott Joachim at Absolut Fenix Realty. Do you know where the office is?”

“Perdone, busco Elliott Joachim en Bienes raíces de Absolut Fenix. ¿Sabe usted donde la oficina es? ”

Add your questions below for next month’s article!