Ajijic Vacation Rental

27/08/2015

August 2015

So I took a few years off from blogging. But I'm back, and happy to be. We have owned this piece of paradise now for 10 years, and counting. We still love it as much as ever. Through life's changes it remains a place to look forward to, to dream about. We have spent many happy moments in this tranquil house in the sweet little town that is Ajijic.

We have a new manager as of January 2015. She is Veronica Martinez of Roma Property Management in Ajijic. Vero is the consummate professional according to our guests. That has been our experience with her as well. We have posted new pictures on our VRBO site ( #231381). Check us out. Come visit.

Hasta pronto,

Mimi JJ

02/08/2012

6/25/2012 BLOG
Hola mis amigos,

Our time is growing short so this will be my last blog from Ajijic for this trip. I don't want to leave. But then, I'm never ready to go -- until I get home and remember that I love my home and my country as well.

About the $10 teeth cleaning: do it. My North American friends have now chastised me for spending more than 150 pesos on this particular service. LOL. The franchise called Dental Express does a lot of cosmetic dental work and one of their offices is located at the bottom of the hill at the intersection of Rio Nazas and the careterra. If you need more extensive dental work, consider scheduling it here. The work is first class. The prices unbeatable.

The sound system: mission accomplished. The speakers are now separated on the terrazas. You can buy the most wonderful cds (I only buy la musica de Mexico) at the Tianguis for a few pesos. Pour a little vino, light a candle, listen to Vicente Fernandez. Paraiso.

Los gatos: OK, I knew better than to feed these feral creatures -- and certainly not our last can of tuna. But they were too sweet, too innocent, too precioso. So, a cat family now lives at Rio Nazas #34: the mama (a teenager) and 3 ninos, little balls of white & black fur. I am arranging to have the mama spayed. Juan, our gardener, will feed them. Enjoy los gatitos but please don't let them in the house. They are plotting that daily.

Coffee: I'm leaving you some. And if you run out, I recommend the coffee vendor whose truck is always in front of Lloyd's. If you're bringing your own coffee grinder with you, you can buy the beans. If not, the guy will grind it for you right there. It is the best coffee ever.

Nos vemos,
Mimi JJ

02/08/2012

6/23/2012 BLOG
Hi again,

Yesterday I had my teeth cleaned, by a dentist. The cost was 450 pesos or about $32 USD. I could have spent as little as 150 pesos for this service. But, I can't really bring myself to go that low. LOL. Later in the day, I had a 2 hour massage, manicure, pedicure and facial. I tell you this to remind you to pamper yourselves for pennies while you are here. When will you have the opportunity again?

Hasta pronto,
Mimi JJ

02/08/2012

6/9/2012 BLOG PHOTO
Juan's begonia tree.

02/08/2012

6/9/2012 BLOG PHOTO
Oswaldo in the tree!

02/08/2012

6/9/2012 BLOG PHOTO
Francisco and the palm.

02/08/2012

BLOG 6/9/2012
Hola,

Jake and I are really enjoying the big screen TV. He is watching Track & Field right now so those of you who know him know that he has died and gone to heaven. I saw the women's final at the French Open -- it was a rout -- but tomorrow is the big match: Djokovich vs. Nadal. Can't wait.

On that subject, we have upgraded the satellite programming to bring in just about everything -- except the Golf and Tennis Channels which I sorely miss. Apparently, those channels are not available in Mexico -- at least through the Dish Network. We now have four TVs in the house: one in each of the master suites, one in the living room and the fourth on the upper terraza. That one is not hooked up yet but we're working on that. Also, because we invested in a "splitter," you can watch different shows on different TVs. Great for two couples sharing the house -- and a necessity for Jake and I. LOL.

Audiovisually speaking, we're also getting the exterior speakers separated so that you can play the radio or cd's on the front or back terrazas without having to have the music on both terrazas at the same time. Jake has made this his mission it seems. Will report back about that mas tardes

Yesterday it rained in Ajijic for about 15 minutes. That night we had dinner in San Antonio and I commented on the rain to the waiter who said that there was no rain in San Antonio -- about 3 miles from our house! So the coming of the rainy season seems to depend on one's exact location during the month of June. I have to devote an entire email to the restaurant referred to here -- Hole in One. More to come on that.

Today Francisco and his sons came to trim the palms. It was an all day affair. Francisco, the father, is the guy who's posing for the camera in the white shirt and sombrero. The guy up in the tree is son, Oswaldo. The others are Chuy, Chilo, Pedro and I forget. They worked like dogs under Francisco's direction. I think that's how apprenticeships go down here. Anyway, they did a wonderful job and, most importantly, our gardener, Juan, is happy.

The last picture is the begonia tree (that's right, I said tree) near the kitchen door. Juan has been training it for a while. Tonight Jake and I are going to dinner at the home of former guests, Bill and Jerry of Palm Springs. And they are not the only former guests who have succumbed to the charms of Ajijic and moved here permanently. We all understand why, verdad?

Hasta Luego,
Mimi JJ

30/06/2012

Blog from Rio Nazas #34
June 6, 2012

Hello LOAs (Lovers of Ajijic)

We are here for a few weeks and, as always, happy to be. It's hot right now, so a daily swim is definitely in order. I have been leaving the pool cover off in the evenings so that the water is cool when I first get in it. But there is a breeze, so the heat is not stiffling -- and the beer is cold as are the margueritas. And of course, it is cool and breezy in the evenings.

The "rain birds" (insects) are heralding the coming of the rainy season -- my favorite time of the year. A plumber that I was talking to at the local Ferreteria (hardware store) told me that the rain would arrive on the 14th of June. He seemed quite confident about this, and who am I to argue with a local? I'll let you know if he's right.

Jake & I have been lazing around the place, doing much of nothing since we arrived on Monday. But, that will change soon and I'll update you on the new restaurants, etc. since our visit 8 months ago. We bought a 40" flat screen for the living room today and we're pretty stoked about that. I imagine you are too. Also, we brought down a "bird spotter" with a zoom lens. As some of you know, we get wonderful varieties of birds in the yard during the winter months especially. The other pictures are pretty self explanatory. Juan's garden is magnificent as always.

Hasta pronto,
Mimi JJ

16/05/2012

Our former guests, Bill & Jerry, took these great shots of the interior and exterior of Rio Nazas #34 in the summer of 2010. I Just found them and couldn't wait to share them with you.

Disfrute,
Mimi JJ
http://www1.snapfish.com/snapfish/fbshareredirect/p=153111334201531768/l=6796056012/g=86403079/redirectURL=share/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBFB/AlbumID=2526705023/a=86403079_1327193023/usercomments=I_xqd%20like%20to%20share%20my%20Snapfish%20photos%20with%20you.%20Once%20you%20have%20checked%20out%20my%20photos%20you%20can%20order%20prints%20and%20upload%20your%20own%20photos%20to%20share./counttext=58%20photos/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

04/01/2012

Hola LOAs (Lovers of Ajijic),

Feliz ano (no tilde) nuevo. Our departing guest gave me permission to cut & paste her recent email to me. So, here it is for your enjoyment.

MJJ

This has been a magical 3 weeks...as we speak I am sitting on the terrace (with mart in hand) enoying and relishing the descending sun. Juan has just left and somebody (I know not who, delivered a bottle of vino rojo to the kitchen island).
You have been the consummate landlord (lady)and I am a convert to the charms of Lakeside.....
As you know we are leaving Jan 4th and I am loathe to leave......
Another cocktail party tonight and another gourmet meal.....oh woe is me!!!
Muchisimo gracias
Barbara

29/12/2011

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ajijic is a town about 3 miles from, and a part of, the municipality of Chapala, in the State of Jalisco, Mexico. Situated on the north shore of Lake Chapala, surrounded by mountains, Ajijic enjoys a moderate climate year round. The population is around 15,000.
Geography
Ajijic is located (at 20°18"N, 103°15"W) 5046 feet above sea level in the vast central Mexican plateau that is home to the Sierra Madre mountain range.
The Chapala Lake basin has a year round average temperature of about 72 degrees. Due to Ajijic's tropical latitude, the sun is warm year round; due to its relatively high elevation, it is seldom unpleasantly hot or humid. The rainy season begins in June and lasts until October with an average rainfall of approximately 34 inches. Even during the rainy season, precipitation generally occurs during the evening or at night.
December and January are the coolest months and May is the hottest, just before the onset of the rainy season. Overall, there is very little temperature variation year round: daytime highs in January are around 75 degrees; daytime highs in July are around 80 to 90 degrees.
History
Up until the arrival of the Spanish, the region was occupied by nomadic Indian tribes, probably the Cocas tribe that settled the northern shore. There seem to be many explanations, and meanings for the names Chapala and Ajijic, all of which are Indian place names, probably derived from Nahuatl, the native language of the area.
The Chapala region, especially Ajijic, has become a destination for Americans and Canadians.
Popular culture
American writer Dane Chandos settled in Ajijic before World War II and wrote two books about life there: Village in the Sun (1945, G.P. Putnam's Sons), which concerns his efforts to build a house on the edge of the lake, and House in the Sun (1949), which concerns his operation of a small inn in the house. They were written when the main road was unpaved, ice was delivered by bus from Guadalajara, and electricity was just being installed.
Source
Description above from the Wikipedia article Ajijic, licensed under CC-BY-SA full list of contributors here. Community Pages are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, anyone associated with the topic.

14/11/2011