Here We Go Again!

To say that Jon and I have wanderlust is an understatement.  We are never happier than when we are exploring someplace new, and the more exotic the better.  So many advice columns advise you of things to discuss with your partner before you make a go of it, and not one ever said, "Ask if they enjoy sacrificing just about anything in order to satiate your desire for travel." Don't get me wrong, Jon and I don't have to sacrifice much.  We lead a full life with friends, family, and creature comforts.  But our souls' desire is to trek all over this planet of ours, and we prioritize it above all else. 

From December 20th - February 10th and 22nd respectively for myself and Jon, we will be calling a beautiful property in Ajijic, Mexico, home. To see the listing for our home, click here: Ajijic Rental Home.  The property is designed hacienda style which means all rooms have their own entrances off of the outdoor area.  Therefore, you MUST go outside in order to get to the kitchen, the office, the living room, etc.  It's fabulous.  The pictures on the listing are accurate, but you have to see it to believe it.  And let me say, YOU ARE ALL INVITED TO SEE IT! We have ample space, and you'll have tons of privacy in your room.  Book your ticket and come for a visit.


Every home in Mexico has help.  It is a cultural obligation to the economy.  We have Josefina who cleans, Jorge who landscapes (which is a massive undertaking), and a pool company of rotating staff who maintain the pool.  They are all wonderful.  They speak absolutely no English, which makes my beginner Spanish very obvious; but forces me to work on it.

We do not have a car here in Ajijic.  There is a public bus system much like the NYC subway that gets you everywhere you want to go.  In every way it is exactly like the subway.  It comes regularly every 5 - 10 minutes.  It's packed with people going to and from work, recreational pursuits, and errands. 

There are larger buses that get you into Guadalajara, and from there more buses to take you all over Mexico.  The local town buses are small and more often than not, you end up standing, but these are short trips. The excursion buses are awesome! They recline almost fully, with foot rests, wifi, and movie screens in the headrests.  And here comes the kicker, the local bus runs around 7 pesos per trip.  The bus to Guadalajara 25 pesos for the hour ride.  Exchange rate? 15:1.  Incredible!

Which brings us to the other mind blowing aspect of our time here in Mexico - cheap, cheap, cheapity cheap, with absolutely no compromise on quality.  Mexican people are very proud of the food they offer, the services, the stone, steel, and woodwork - everything! (While writing this Josefina asks which sheets I prefer on the bed - who cares?? I prefer sheets. But she wants to make sure she does exactly what I prefer.)

Because it is so inexpensive here, we eat 2 out of 3 meals a day out.  It costs less than grocery shopping.  Like any newbies, we were initially concerned about hitting tourist traps with sub par food vs. local Mexican gems with authentic culinary delights.  Everything here is a delight! The street food rivals any restaurant.  Telling you the prices on things is going to be a recurring theme in this blog, because it never ceases to amaze us.  Lunch will run you 50 pesos for a chicken sandwich on fresh baked bread, with fresh onion, lettuce and tomato, a Corona, and fries at a Lonchera which is a small family owned lunch counter.  That's about $3.50 US.  It's double that for that same thing if you eat in a restaurant.  A whopping $7.  Dinners out with 2 rounds of drinks, appetizers, meal and tip, on average runs us about $35 US -at a high end restaurant. It's a foodie paradise!!

That gives you a little peek at our life here in Mexico.  Much more to come...

  Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness,

and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.

Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired

by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.
- Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain