GaryTx
10/20/2015 22:40 EST
My question is: Where do the gringos hang out in the Chapala and Ajijic area. I will visit there next month and would like to visit with some English speaking residents. I've read that the Lake Chapala Society is a good place to start but can someone give me some additiional suggestions?
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tessie
10/21/2015 09:17 EST
In Chapala the American Legion always has something going on and is open to the public. Drop in and introduce yourself...friendly bunch of people.
Calle Morelos # 114-see you there!
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Iproteus
10/21/2015 09:47 EST
In November you can't throw a rock without hitting a gringo in Ajijic. You're not going to have any problems finding English speaking people there.
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kittvincent
10/21/2015 11:19 EST
What do you like to do? Do you like live music, dancing, people watching, or shopping? Are you able to walk distances? Chatting with expats won't be a problem. They are very friendly and love talking about their piece of paradise. Some go to PV during the week of Thanksgiving. LCS has lovely gardens and a coffee bar. They offer services, classes and have people that can answer questions. The malecon in Chapala is very nice for restaurants and people watching. They have lots of little shops to check out. You can kayak on the lake if you are able. There is karaoke and dancing. So let me know what you want so I can give you some ideas. Kitt Vincent
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Cozumeldeb
7/16/2016 16:33 EST
Hello Kitt: I've noticed you posting on this site before..We live in Cozumel, but am looking to spend a month in Lake Chapla/Ajijic mid Feb-mid March..Looked on Airbnb and VRBO, slim pickings, probably should have looked earlier..plus seems expensive too can you direct me to a trustworthy rental site/agent? Thanks Deb Shepherd
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tsblackmore
7/16/2016 16:49 EST
A group of expats called Los Amigos meets at La Nueva Posada, a hotel and restaurant, on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 on the back patio area of the restaurant. They socialize and have a drink or two and then many head out to an area restaurant for dinner.
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JohnPS
7/16/2016 17:23 EST
Gringos all over the place - more so than in California, LOL. Plaza in Ajijic is a great meeting place, very busy on the weekend. You'll also find lots of gringos in restaurants like Tango, Roberto's, Adelita's Bar&Grill, and even the food court at Centro Laguna
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MsAlex
7/18/2016 10:10 EST
What is particularly true of the Lakeside area is that there are enough English speaking people here, that you can find "YOUR people". Put another way: there is enough of a population that you can find a niche or a sliver of a niche that matches anything from your political views, to your ethnic background, nationality, level of eduction, or desire to engage in a given activity (from yoga and to cooking classes to computer clubs and charitable groups). So, if "there are enough people here that you can find YOUR PEOPLE", it helps to know more about you, to help guide you.
What's your motivation to learn about this area? Retirement soon? What's your age range? Are you single? Male? Female? What do you like to do?
I think our gringo population can be categorized by age, home country, and whether they are year round residents or winter-only "snowbirds". Each of these have a very general tendency to socialize with one another. (Not exclusively, but at least a tendency given human nature.)
If I may have license to make some very, very general personal observations : Besides those young gringos who have moved here, some with children in the private schools, there are there are those who I'd describe as being on the young side of retirement (roughly 50 - 68), those a little older but still very active (68 - 80 more or less), and our senior-senior population (whom you see less of simply because they stay home more). From what I've seen, these "age strata" also (very generally and not exclusively) "tend" to socialize together.
While the Lake Chapala Society is a great place to start, it doesn't sum up what it's like to live here. A subjective generalization might be to say that many of its services trend towards serving the older portion of gringo residents, especially with organized trips that provide transportation. My impression is that their "special interest clubs" could be something you might look at. In the past I or my husband have participated in Spanish conversation groups, movie watching groups, and their technology club, for example. (We're age 62 and 68.)
I truly don't think I've ever heard anyone say that they were bored, or couldn't find anything to do here. Actually quite the opposite. I more frequently here that people get so involved that they have to cut back on their commitments.
What is often said is that socializing takes up MUCH more of our time than it has at any other time in our lives. In our working years, we had less time to socialize. Now we have tons more friends and much more of a social calendar, just because it fits within our lives.
I'd suggest that you think about what you might like to do here and share that information. If you're a "horse person" for example, by saying so you might get referred to other "horse people" or ways to meet them. If you are really into cooking, you might take in the monthly meeting of CASA (the Culinary Arts Association of Ajijc). If you are a devoted pet owner, there are certainly a lot of your kindred spirits here too, particularly involved in animal-related charities. You ought to provide some "clues" to help us point you toward finding "your people".
:)
Alex
The Chapala.com web board (forum) likewise may be of some value, but it has the reputation of having a few constantly-posting unpleasant participants on it.
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kittvincent
7/18/2016 10:47 EST
Great summary Alex. I know why we haven't met, we run in different circles. The arts are alive and flourishing in the Lake Chapala area. There is live music everywhere. There are 3 theaters that put on plays and musicals. I have no talent for that but I run lights and sound at the Bravo theater for their productions. There is a community choir. I sing karaoke twice a week at Mama's bar in San Antonio. Great group of people, mostly expats. They close early so you can make plans to go elsewhere after. There are painters, photographers, writers, quilters, jewelers, sculptors and other media artists. Those people who say there is nothing to do, haven't left their houses to see what is out there. Alex is so correct about your calendar filling up quickly and the need to be selective in picking what you want to do. Let us know what it is you are looking for so we can direct you in the right direction. Kitt Vincent
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RVGRINGO
From: Mexico
7/20/2016 12:39 EST
Just wander about the plazas and malecons, striking up a conversation with folks. It is easy, folks are friendly and glad to chat. Enjoy! We met some of our best friends that way.
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