lasha
12/28/2016 13:26 EST
Hello all
I would like some advice on kid friendly neighborhoods around Antigua.
I lived in Antigua for a year, 16 years ago and just have a calling to go back for a while and raise by daughter who is now 4.
I just want a simpler life where I am not planning playdates and everything is so formal here in the States. I remember in Guatemala, we would just pop in to people's houses and have conversations and just feel at home. I understand I may be romanticizing living there and maybe oblivious to the harsh reality of the daily grind. I was single and lived out of a backpack then. This time, we will be doing it as a family with considerably more belongings!
I still want to give it a try though.
So anyway, my question is - where is a good place to look for housing where kids can play with neighbors and there is a sense of community.
My sense is central Antigua is not a good fit but I don't know where else?
Also, we would be looking for elementary schools so I would love some suggestions there too.
Thanks!!
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ladulce
1/3/2017 02:23 EST
Hi. I can't necessarily tell you anything about areas that are good for kids, since we aren't there yet...
However, I did want to say that I am moving to Jocotenango- where it touches Antigua. You can't tell where Antigua ends and Jocotenango begins and the area that we are going to be in is full of other families, though I don't think there are many other white American families. There is a gated community that is full of them nearby.
From what we have heard, that area is very safe and friendly. We are on a road with only a few other houses- all of whom know one another. We have family in Guatemala and Antigua, and they have given this area a thumbs up.
While our children are of very different ages, if you want to contact me, perhaps we can assist one another with information on the move. I am coming from Southern Wisconsin with my spouse and our 4 kids; 16 & 12 year old girls and our sons, 13 years & 17 months.
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bb205
1/3/2017 15:20 EST
I live in San Pedro Las Huertes and just up the road is a gated community called San Pedro
El Alto. El Alto has a community feel and just about every house has a yard with grass (which is rare in the city) once our lease is up here, we plan on looking for a house there. good luck!
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kgriff
1/3/2017 15:53 EST
San Pedro El Alto is a beautiful gated community within San Pedro Las Huertas but the internet is limited there. In fact, the internet is extremely limited in all of San Pedro Las Huertas. Claro is the main provider in the area and has not upgraded their infrastructure in a long time; their boxes are usually full and they will not guarantee to be able to make a new connection. They require at least a 1-year contract and usually require a down payment if you're not a local with a DPI. They often sell plans of 5 mbps or more yet are unable to provide more than 2 mbps consistently (they were charging us for 5 and almost every day for a month the speed was less than even 1).
The other provider is Conexión and is available in San Pedro El Alto if there is a direct line of sight to the dish up on Volcan Agua, but not only do you have to pay for the equipment and the installation, the monthly fee is over $100. If good, reliable internet is important to you, this is the way to go although you have to weigh the pros and cons of the cost vs. reliability with this service. I teach English online and for me, Conexión was not cost-effective.
The other main internet provider is TigoSTAR. Although it has its own problems, they are far less than with Claro and TigoSTAR doesn't require a contract. If you're lucky enough to live in a community where it's available, it's really (in my opinion) the service to use. I will never go back to having Claro because I don't feel as if Claro is an honest company.
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kgriff
1/3/2017 15:55 EST
I should've said TigoSTAR's internet is not available in San Pedro Las Huertas or El Alto. You can get TigoSTAR cable TV, though.
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lasha
1/5/2017 02:34 EST
Yes, I know jocotenango well, and I should add that we are not white :) rather a mix of Black/Indian..
It looks like gated communities are the way to go then? Are the gated communities mostly gringos or do they also include local guatemalans..
It would be a bit dissapointing if it was gringo only as I would like my family to mix with the local families as well as expat families..
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lasha
1/5/2017 02:36 EST
Thanks kgriff, yes internet is very important as my work is all online. Thanks for the tips on claro vs tigostar
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essencensoul
1/5/2017 08:43 EST
Greetings,
I am on this forum due to looking for locations as well. I find it interesting and very disheartening that multiple individuals assume that everyone on this expat community page or expats in general are from a specific ethnic background (white). There are multitudes of expats who live globally who are from all ethnic backgrounds (Black/Asian/Hispanic/Indian etc etc). People have been migrating all over the world for ages now. I am Black, Haitian, American and have traveled extensively since childhood. As an adult I travel and have lived in Asia and Europe of years on end and have met many who are also non white and make these locations their homes and are a part of the expat community. Perhaps, people will open their minds to the fact that not only one type of ethnic group migrates by choice or has the perceived resources (high socioeconomic status, flexibility etc) to transition into an "expat" lifestyle in a country, any country. Again, this has been happening for ages now.
Many Blessings
ES
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lasha
1/5/2017 16:08 EST
People just assume based on what they have seen and the norm is and comment. I was the only "expat of color" who lived in Antigua at that time and yes I too would assume that any one looking to expat in Guatemala is automatically white. So, no need to hijack the thread here.
Coming back to the original topic which I guess should be changed to this wish - list
- great internet connection!
- kid friendly neighborhood ie kids playing and visiting neighbors houses
- diverse - mix of local guatemalans, centro americans and gringos.
- safe but do wish it was not a gated exclusive type of community
- walkable - joco wins here I think as its super close to Antigua..
What about ciudad vieja? I hear it has a new international school too
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kgriff
1/5/2017 18:18 EST
A cool place to live is San Juan del Obispo. It is up on Volcan Agua, has a good mix of expats and locals, is relatively safe, and has TigoSTAR Internet, Jajaja! It is a 10-minute ride south of Antigua. They have relatively safe chicken buses for q1.50 one-way into Antigua. I lived there during my first year and a half in Guatemala.
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ladulce
1/6/2017 01:48 EST
Essence- really, relax. My comment wasn't a hate crime, merely a way of describing the typical American expat. I didn't mean so much 'white' as I did our Western culture. Though, we don't really have a word for that. I am well aware of people living in different countries- even people of different races and ethnicities. I am so aware- I married one! And, in our travels, the vast majority of English- speaking expats from the US that I have seen, have, in fact been white. I have but one person that I met of color in Cuenca, Ecuador. Aside from that, all of the expats I have met from US were white. I apologize if you take offense at the comment. It was my attempt at differentiating that we are on a street, with locals vs. the gated community (which we have been told often has issues with water) that is located beside us.
lasha- I chose Jocotenango because I need to be able to walk- not drive- to wherever I want to go. We looked at some of the gated communities nearby- and some are beautiful and even pretentious, but, I am not in Guatemala to be in a gated community. I want to be able to walk out my front door and know that I am 5 blocks from the market. I need to be able to be street level and hear the music and parades and all of it.
Now I am worried about the internet! My kids will be attending school online and I also will need access nearly constantly.
Best wishes!
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ddeubel
1/6/2017 04:18 EST
I'd recommend Santa Rosa. Near Santa Domingo on the way in from the city. Safe community, lots of room for kids to play and other kids. Playground. I lived there when first moved to Antigua. Out the back gate, only 4-5 blocks walk to Parque Central. Oscar doesn't speak English but most realtors will show you a place there. Semi detached townhouses. APARTAMENTOS SANTA ROSA
OSCAR FLORES
administrador
calle de los duelos No. 20 Antigua Guatemala
tel. 7832-1558 fax 7832-1671 cel 5514-9657
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zaqwsx
1/12/2017 17:52 EST
I lived in the gated community, Guavelas, but I found it too artificial. I have lived in the community of Panorama for the last 5 years and have found it to be a very enjoyable and safe place to live. The streets are quite and most afternoons there are kids playing ball on the street, The older kids play football or basketball at the park on the corner. I have never seen or heard of any crime. 2 x presidents live here and the National Police have over 200 police stationed and many housed here. There are 2 bilingual private schools here with a lot of expat students. This is the most diverse neighborhood I have ever lived in, the neighbor at the end of the block has a jet-prop helicopter to commute to work and a family across the street live in a tin shack with 9 kids and no water or electricity. The children all play together. The best way to find a house is to talk to the local grocery stores. Those woman know everything that is going on. If your Spanish is not good enough get a Spanish teacher to walk around with you. Try Antonio 5574 7939 he does this for several Canadians. You can get something in Panorama for just about any rent you want to pay.
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