The Bad & The Ugly at Lake Chapala
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- čas přidán 4. 08. 2024
- May is a bummer for several reasons at Lake Chapala. Complete honesty with no bias or desire to make money, I'm not going to sugar-coat that this month is difficult for those of us who live here. April was not great, but May is downright unhealthy and ugly. Before you tell me to just move if I don't like it, this is my home. In comparison to any place else I've lived, it has very few shortcomings. So watch and understand why May is a month to be endured....or plan travels elsewhere to enjoy Spring where it is actually lovely.
Tamara, thanks for sharing; it's really important information to know. I've been watching videos on Chapala/Ajijic for over a year and this is the first I've heard about farmers burning their fields, the dust, water issues in Riberas etc. It's really unfortunate that so many people on YT gloss over things like this and how can people (like me) make informed choices when we only get a portion of the whole story. I have Ajijic on my weather app and I've been very curious when I see the poor air quality. Now I know why !! You're doing a great job "reporting". Water quality will be at the top of my list when it comes to housing. I'm glad you have some great home improvement projects to focus on to get you through the month of May !
It is well known that the area is marked by a dry and a rainy season. Look it up on the internet. When it rains in the summer sometimes there are mud slides from the sierra madres. People get double water filtration systems to their home. No secret that water quality in Mexico is an issue, but there are different ways that it is addressed. Disappointment that is is not the same as the USA can be attributed to faulty expectations. Also anyone looking at Lake Chapala knows that Riberas has lower housing prices due to it's water problems being left unaddressed. So much of what is so shocking is due to lack of research before moving.
Why do so many people adore Chapala? Do these problems spread to Guadalajara?
@@dovygoodguy1296 10 months of the year it is wonderful here! There aren't many places on the planet you can say that. Certainly no place I have ever lived!
I SOOOO appreciate your honesty about this! Great information!
It is interesting to see the difference between this video, and those provided by Lake Chapala realtors. Your honesty will help a lot of people.
What she describes here does not contradict what the realtors say. Do your research on the climate and public services like water and electricity. No reason to expect it to be the same as the USA or Canada but with a better climate. Summer is the rainy season and most of the rest of the year is dry. The information is out there. And one reason Riberas has lower housing prices than other surrounding communities is because it's water problems are well known. Research any community before moving into it. Know that Electricity is a monopoly in Mexico and water heaters are on demand and only heat the water when turned on. It is a different system.
@@sue3745 it’s not what the realtors say, it’s what they don’t say on CZcams videos.
Thanks! When I was researching moving here, I scoured CZcams for any video I could find about this area....in addition to visiting. I certainly never saw anything about this, and still have never seen anything this explicit about what April and May are like here. I love it here 10 months of the year, which is more than I can say for any place I lived in the U.S.!!
@@anythingispossiblenow talk to people who live there. Ask real estate agents in person. Real estate ads are to sell homes, not provide endless detail information . For that some offer classes that can be taken. No one can really know a place before living there.
Rela estate agents create ads to sell homes not provide detailed public information. Talk to people who live there to learn more. Wait until rainy season hits. I was there and got good information from agents that showed me around.
Thank you for sharing.
Hi Tamara, I wanted to tell you how much I've enjoyed your videos. My husband and I moved to Mexico in 2020 from Medford Oregon. We too were tired of the fires every summer and the long dreary winters. We first tried out Puerto Vallarta which we loved, but found 6 months of the year too hot for us, so next, we moved to Queretaro, a lovely city, but traffic is crazy there. So our latest move was here to Lake Chapala last month. Imagine our surprise to find out about the fires and smoke in the area when we moved here haha! We had never heard about this. That being said, we still think this area is great! We may do as you suggest and plan to visit family in the US next year during this time😁 Hope you find your move to your new place better, and enjoy your life there with your furbabies!
Thanks for watching! Yes, I agree! I am very happy here, but was surprised by the smoke and dust. It sounds like you've had to try a few different places to find something that works. No place is perfect, but we all will have to do a happy dance when the rains start!!
I'll be visiting the Lake Chapala area in the fall. I grew up in the Catholic church and have lived in New Jersey for the past 25 years. So none of the drawbacks you mention are a deal breaker for me. Having to worry about two houses is what they call a "First World problem." Maybe you should reassess whether Mexico is right for you. No disrespect, I enjoyed your video and wish you all the best.
I really have never considered moving back to the U.S.. Mexico is home now. 10 months of the year it is really lovely here. My videos are just a dose of reality for people researching moving here because, quite honestly, nobody else seems to talk about this stuff. I have no financial gain from glossing over what life is like, so I just put this out there so people won't be surprised. I still recommend planning travels elsewhere during April and May. Rains usually start mid-June and things quickly spring to life again.
Good morning Tamara! I to have lung problems and would not be able to live in conditions such as you were showing in your video. I really enjoy your videos and you are so honest in your opinions. Thankfully you have your new house to keep you busy. Stay strong and I look forward to seeing your new place next week.❤
It really is just April and May....mostly May. The rest of the time the air is very clear and it is beautiful here. It is 5,000 ft. elevation, so some people with lung problems seem to have a bit of trouble with the altitude. I'm just hoping to travel North to the U.S. in May....or someplace else....in the future.
Honesty is the best policy. Thanks for your video. I'm envious of your new place. It looks very nice. I look forward to your updates of progress.
Do your research before moving. The climate is great, but not perfect. The utilities are not operated the same way they are in the USA. It would pay to familiarize yourself with how it works wherever you move. No reason to expect it to be a replication of the USA and then be shocked when it is not. It is a different culture and country. Electricity is a monopoly in Mexico and Mexico can get hot and dry as it has since it began. Many homes install a double water filtration system.
Also in January and February, when you it is cooler, you can see people wearing parkas when it's 50 degrees out. Lake Chapala area is marked by a dry season for Winter and Spring and a rainy season in the summer. None of this should be a shock. You can get information on the internet.
Thank you! I'm excited about the new place!!
Actually CFE is a federal government agency, not a monopoly. Water is a municipal agency. I cover all the utilities in previous videos on my channel so people can prepare themselves for the differences they will encounter. Frankly, I tried to learn all I could before I came here, but my videos cover the things that I honestly found no information about ahead of time and I spell out what life is like here. I'd rather scare some people off than have so many people come here and find out the culture shock is too much to handle. I read somewhere that the average time people stay here is 5 years or less.
@@anythingispossiblenow I have lived in ajijic 3 years. If CFE is not a monopoly, what is I s competition? If you researched it, why are you shocked at the climate being dry for months of the year? What doc you expect it meant? You didn’t know a double water filtration system with UV is needed. I have a uv filtration system and still get bottled water. Why do you think the bottle water delivery trucks are everywhere and routine. Mexico has a lot of holidays we don’t and is well known for loud celebrations. It would seem that none of that translated to what daily life experiences are. You seem shocked at the obvious. There are also more dogs on the streets and dog crap. It’s not the USA
@@anythingispossiblenow it’s a monopoly that is government owned ! There is no competition for electricity services. Being government owned does not mean it’s not a monopoly! And yes they can be hard to work with. Good grief
Not a bummer. Honest. We just arrived Lakeside on May 6th. Our first day we went up on our new mirador and saw the fires.
I did so much research on CZcams and Facebook about the area. 6 months worth, and I never remember anyone mentioning the fires.
That explains why I mop the floors and see a layer of dust on the tile within hours.
That explains our sinus headaches.
But, all that said and done, we’re loving it so far.
Especially after 40 years in south Florida with heat, humidity and hurricanes.
And mosquitoes were our state bird.
No place is Utopia, but Lakeside is pretty close I think.
Thanks. I'm sorry it has been a surprise. That is why I post most of my videos; not because I'm complaining or don't love it here, just there seems to be a lack of information. I did a year of research also and have friends here. They just said, yes, there is a bit of smoke when the farmers burn their fields....and no mention of the dust. Oh well! Brace yourself for the mosquitoes. They will be arriving with the rains and come out with a vengeance at dusk.
This is my 4th Spring now, if you were in a house with grass and green around you, and if the water system was less terrible, but mainly, if the geo engineering (spraying just before dawn)was not occurring regularly- Apr and May are not so bad. AMLO says it is banned over Mexico but I see it on the ajijic weather Lake Cam. It’s been bad in CA too… we’ll just have to see..On the clear blue sky days my lungs clear right up. Still SO GLAD I moved here.👍
Absolutely glad I moved here!
Thank you. Ive watched a few “con” videos and thought they were wining about stupid things. Then i found your video which gave me useful information i hadnt thought of asking. The smoke and other airborne things, invasive dust, and filthy/unreliable water are not things i can or will tolerate since i have both asthma and allergies. I was going back and forth on the area and this is information made this area a solid NO for me. Thank you for saving me a lot of time and money checking further into this area.
I'm sorry this was discouraging, but it is the honest truth. I try not to whine, but I know many people who just go away during this hot, dry period. I have never lived any place that is idyllic 12 months of the year, but 10 months of the year is quite tolerable to me, especially if I can just go someplace else for 2 months. By the time the rains start in late June, we are quite appreciative of cooler temps and the lovely dampness that brings things back to life again. I'm glad this helped you decide.
I really appreciate this video. Nothing wrong with reality. I haven’t seen any videos discussing these issues. Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently, if anything?
I know a person who masks as well. Btw, flu like symptoms and GI issues can also be Covid symptoms. (I know most think it’s over but it is still lurking, refusing to go away.)
Keep sharing your adventures with us!
I really appreciate your insights . Thank you .
Thank you!! And thanks for watching.
Thanks for the info that isnt being said on other channels. New subbie here!
Thanks for sharing this ❤
We left Oregon, too, and entered Mexico in our little RV early in November 2022. We drove and stayed in different places all the way down the west coast of Mexico and took our time but by the time we made it to Michoacan the weather was so hot and humid we about melted...roads were pretty sketchy in that area too.
We we headed up to Jocotepec in April and have been here about 3 weeks and yeah, the weather has been a bit oppressive but we can cope with our AC in the afternoons and we went from 90+ degree weather and 70+ percent humidity to this so a bit of a shock for our bodies. Noses so dry...and now all this smoke!
But saving grace is that we are parked at Club Roca Azul and the place is huge with very well maintained, green, shady landscaping, swimming pools, a mineral soaking pool and showers and even an herbal steam room on the weekends.
So dust has not been bad here and biting bugs not too bad...we plan to be here for the rainy season but since it's $8000 pesos a month here might be a better idea to find covered storage for the RV and rent a house...
We have some blog posts and photos up on our website if you are interested in our journey: blue butterfly travels dot com
There are areas that are extremely hot and humid in summer!! And many places get extremely cold and flooded in winter!! Overall, it is hard to beat Lake Chapala. I think you'll find it hard to find a place to rent for less than $8,000 pesos a month unless you are happy with a small condo. Roca Azul is very nice and it sounds like it is well-maintained.
I just found your channel and the information you share couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ll be moving Lakeside in a couple of weeks from the Pacific Northwest and appreciate you sharing your experiences and impressions. I use to live in California’s Central Valley, where rice farmers burned their fields every summer and my lungs were permanently affected. Knowing ahead of time that the same thing goes on there helps enormously. (No wonder so many people have housekeepers!)
Hola Susan. We moved here from Sequim WA almost 2 years ago. Yes, April and May are as she describes but it is tolerable if you stay in after noon and have AC….it goes by fast and then the wonderful rainy season starts, everyones favorite time of year. We live in San Antonio next to Riberas and our water system is much more reliable and we have good filtration in our home. All these issues except weather and smoke can be dealt with and actually her idea of traveling during those times is a good one. We are very happy we moved here and plan on being here the rest of our lives.
I’m heading down from Sequim, too! It really is a small world, isn’t it?
Wow…from Sequim no less 😄 yes, small world. We too lived in central Ca for a while…Santa Maria. Loved it there. I was born and raised in San Jose CA. Are you making a complete move down here? Household goods and all? We are starting to make those arrangements because we want some of our things here. Hope you have a successful move. 👍😃
We still have our home in Sequim (cedars at dungeness golf course area) but will be selling and moving things here next spring.
Thank you for this post. Valuable lived experience! Are you moving out of Mexico?
Oh no....not moving out of Mexico! I love it here!
@@anythingispossiblenow So you are moving within Mexico ? the dust got me worried.
Good informative for sure!
my concerns about the recent changes occurring in Chapala, my mother's hometown. While we appreciate the interest in our community, we feel strongly that the town's beauty and charm are inherent to its original character and culture.
We respectfully request that newcomers to Chapala make an effort to understand and respect our way of life. The imposition of outside influences is not welcomed, and it is important to us that the integrity of our community is preserved.
We hope you understand our perspective and cooperate in maintaining the traditions and lifestyle that make Chapala unique.
This is how it has always been and this is how it should remain now we hope you can find something better like in Europe with your people or in America?
Hola 👋, what week would you say you noticed does it start to clear up? This is great info to have if you are planning a move or a visit. We would be mindful of a possibility of needing to travel at that time if we moved there but we are planning a visit so we would want to go after this clears up (or a good part of it has) is it better by the first week of June ? Thank you very much !
It varies so much. Last year, it was the end of June before we got any rain at all. This year, it is El Nino, so things are kind of wacky. Generally, rain starts some time in June, but when during that month is very unpredictable. This website has very detailed info on the weather history....and this link is to June 2023. weatherspark.com/h/m/3878/2023/6/Historical-Weather-in-June-2023-in-Chapala-Mexico#Figures-Temperature
@@anythingispossiblenowthank you so much for responding! I wonder if there’s a time period farmers are usually done burning also, or are they correlated to be done by the time when more rain begins? Either way we have to trust that we’ll get there if we are meant to be there , besides the bad parts as every place has I’m so happy for people who were brave enough to make the move to a better place for themselves like yourself 😊
I started this video, and Twinkle was sitting in my lap. When you started talking, her head swiveled around and zeroed in on you. She still remembers you. Cute hair cut BTW. There is a lot of shale in Mexico, and they probably use it in road construction.
Awww. They never forget their first Mom. I cut my own hair....thanks!
i appreciate your frankness.
Nice video. Do you cook on gas stove or electric? I remember when I visited my grandmother when I was young. I thought it was strange that her stop working it was connected those big tanks.
Actually, I mostly use an induction burner that I brought down with me. I do have a gas stove and use the oven for baking.
Ttuethful
Wow, i just found your channel.... there are big wildfires now in Alberta...do you have a website? I love to hear from a person who doesn't paint everything as paradise or even partial paradise. Do you escape to Guadalajara or Queretaro in the hot months?
The fires here are nothing like they are in forested areas of the U.S. and it is pretty much confined to April and May, the dry months. I do not have a website, but I will be doing a video soon on how climate change is affecting this area.
@@anythingispossiblenow Interesting. I am one of those folks who thinks the climate hysteria is too extremist and is destroying society. Everything should be in moderation. Cleaning up pollution is just as important and can be done easier than affecting the climate by 2035, which won't have much effect. Just my two cents.
Thanks for the reality check. Hope you get some relief soon.
It is already better and we're getting a little bit of rain!!
Some times they shut the .water lines when they are making repairs not even in the US do I drink the water without a filter system, people come to Mexico and expect first world infrastructure In issmall second world towns there is a reason why you are able to live cheaper in Mexico than the US
Hi Tamara…this is Sherrie, Rons wife. Was this your latest video? I cant find anything newer searching anything possible. I have watched all your videos. We moved here to San Antonio a year ago and can relate to everything you are experiencing. Would love to meet you sometime for coffee or lunch? We are similar personalities and i too have worked a lot volunteering in animal shelters. We have rescued many cats and dogs over the years 🐶😻 Love your candidness 👍
Yes. I have been super busy with moving and other complications, so this is my latest video. I'm going to try to do a new one very soon just to do a life update. Once I get settled I'll be available for more social life....LOL! Thanks for watching!
@@anythingispossiblenow ok, glad everything is ok 👍 I have an excellent pet sitter for you when you’re ready…..we have 2 cats. See you when you get settled 😊
Ya I’m coming from Eugene and I also h are about the fires and with climate change it may increase. I’m mostly leaving here because sure of the annual fire season here - hearing to that sewer overflows at times in the streets
I have never seen sewers backing up in the streets. It is fire season from March through June when the rain starts. We had a bad fire here in the hills this past week thar caused quite a lot of smoke, but nothing like the fires in Oregon and California. There aren't forests here, so they are brush fires with some trees. There will always be something! The lake is super low and will get much lower this year. I'm just hanging in there until mid-June and will be overjoyed to see rain again.
We miss you!! How is your move going? ❤👍
Finally sitting down to edit the next video. This week was the final push to get into my new place. SOON!!
Pretty good video something besides the butterflies and unicorns type videos.
Glad you enjoyed!
Did you move? If so, where did you move to?
No. I'm still here! I do not plan to move again!!
May is the hottest driest month around Lake Chapala. People wait for the rainy season to start to end the drought. But the cold wet north of the great lakes in the USA are not heaven either. In Riberas there is known to be poor sewer system as well. None of this is a secret. In June the rain will have all the flowers blooming. do you live near construction sites? I lived in the village in May and the dust was rough, but we had construction across the street. The next year I lived in West Ajijic and it is dry, but dust was no wear near as bad as you describe. Some communities have their own wells. Knowing the specifics of different neighborhoods might help you reduce many of the problems you are listing.
There is a reason housing prices in Riberas tend to be lower than other surrounding areas. We have a double filtration system with a UV system and the filter is changed once a year.
Like any country or region you have to learn how to live. You cannot expect it to be a replication of where you are from. Water heating is an demand system and the hotwater does not get hot until you put it on and it needs electricity to pump it. You can research this on the internet before anyone moves there.
No construction around here....just a really poorly maintained dirt road. There is no sewer. I have a tank in the ground that supposedly breaks down all the sewage. I'm so glad it isn't a replication of where I'm from!! I moved to get away from that and one or two months of dust and smoke is nothing in comparison to the months of wildfires in summer or cold dreary winters I was so tired of.
@@anythingispossiblenow your complaints sound like just another disappointed gringo , shocked about it not being the USA. Food in Mexico is also less processed and it’s hard to find canned beans. How much detail do you expect from real estate agents selling houses ?? Even in the USA you have to checkout the community you move into. We have rural areas with no grocery stores. Some cities have higher taxes .
@@anythingispossiblenow here is another hit tip. Mexican queen size beds are not as big as American ones. Side walked are not uniform etc when rainy season starts done be shocked at some flooding in the streets , how ever temporary, and the mountains will turn from
Brown to green . Sometimes there are mud slides .
@@anythingispossiblenow in June rainy season starts and there will be some flooding in the streets. I hope that isn’t a shock to you or looked upon as somehow the responsibility of real estate agents to prepare us. Their job is to sell houses as the chamber of commerce is to promote its community.
And yes, it's pretty noisy in a lot of places in Mexico. But we knew this.
It’s a good heads up. That’s Mexico 😂😂😂🎉💥💥💥🙏🤙🤙🥰🇵🇷
Different place. 5 de Mayo is not Independence Day
The rest is a matter of different cultures.
CZcams has been 'suggesting' your site on my feed for about one month because I'm looking at different places to retire to. I stopped at 5 mins and I haven't watched the others because of their titles. You seem to be very good at complaining and focusing on the negative. I suppose that it suits your followers. I thought that the one with the black eye suited you well. Why don't you leave if it's so bad or do you happen to feed off the negative. One thing that I know for sure: no matter where you live, you will still be you.
I think you should give my videos more than 5 minutes and you will realize that I love it here. I'm one of the few channels that actually gives a real perspective on life here.
@michele wow... what an ugly comment.
The realtors will convince you that the half million dollar home in a dirt and stone road neighborhood is the best for you to live in a 3rd world countryside.......
Perhaps you chose a place that was not acceptable to you. You might have made the wrong choice.
I love it here!!
Wow lady! You obviously didn't do much research before moving to Mexico! I have lived in the Yucatan 10 years, it's the same everywhere in Mexico. It's not a first world country. Maybe the US is the best place for you.
You mean bad water and air pollution? How do Mexicans make it if it's so terrible since necivotis such a huge country?
It's not a third world country either. I have lived on the northside of Lake Chapala for 4 years. I am now a Permanente Residente of this lovely country. My biggest disappointment is the huge number of gringos here who complain that Mexico is not the US. Thank God. I definitely feel safer in Mexico.
BTW, most people (and all the local Mexicans I know) do NOT use water filters. BUY your water. Period. "scare the people into going to church"..............................what nonsense. BTW, this IS a Catholic country. You didn't research anything at all, did you? Please, please DO go back to Oregon or anywhere outside of Mexico. Reality is subjective. In fact, it IS paradise. Filth? I listened to you once and I see that many comments above are buying your baloney.
I don't have enough time left in my life to waste it listening to you. Have a nice life.
I researched for a year and have several friends living here. There is just a real lack of information, so this is why I put out a lot of my videos. This is not a deal breaker for me, but I think people need to be made aware of not just the fluffy nice stuff about living here. May is dusty and smoky here and I think people need to be aware of the realities.
Perhaps you chose a place that was not acceptable to you. You might have made the wrong choice.