Gracias, Guanajuato, y adios!

[donblanco]

So we came through GTO last week. Had 3 nights booked in an AirBnB. We walked, we visited a few restaurants, we pursued a connection from a friend for apartments. They were beautiful with great views. They were also more expensive than our current apartment in Ajijic.

In the end, we cut our visit short and left a day early. The layout and visuals and 'feel' of the city, plus the massive tourist crowds and traffic -- it all added up and we decided Guanajuato was not for us. Those of you worried about gentrification may see this as a positive. :)

Any way we also rejected Aguascalientes for mostly big city reasons. In the end, we were drawn to Zacatecas. It reminded us a lot of San Cristobal. A drier, higher version of it. Less indigenous population, and we saw maybe 10 gringos max. Spanish required. Strangely both we and our friend found accommodations there in just two days. One was through our AirBnB host (his sister had an apartment 2 doors dowon). Our friend's connection may have been through AirBnB as well, now that I think about it. In any case, our 3rd floor studio in Zaca represents a 65% price decrease over Ajijic! The rooftop terrace w/ a view is just one flight up.

Thank you for your assistance, and let us know if you visit Zacatecas. We'll show you around. :)

[jesm]

I cannot resist.
“This isn’t an airport. Departure notices not required.”

[roberb7]

I can't resist this, either.
"I hope the WiFi on the bus works."

[DonJuane]

I can't resist this either ....

Not sure why so many feel compelled to be nasty, the city and also Mexico speak for themselves. Cumulatively or in parts, it's not for everyone. Still I'd vote to allow everyone to express themselves online. GTO and other cities affect different people different ways. I know in my case my own leg muscles have taken over my entire body and I now ask them where I am going for dinner instead of other cities I've spent time in where they humbly ask me.

I have been traveling trough Mexico for some time now and have found almost everywhere has a list of shortcomings that will build over time. In the US all you can complain about is the weather and water because outside of the weather and if there is a body of fresh or salt water around, there is nothing different to be discovered or discussed anywhere - all the houses look exactly alike, are all the same color, tan to beige and every mall has the same set of stores and every city has the same restaurants and every building is made out of the same cheap construction materials via the same methods. You will notice a little difference in accents in the US but blindfold someone and drop them in any city and they have no idea where they are because outside of these 3-4 things, no city in the US is different than the other.

At least it's a bit of a different situation in Mexico. Now while Zacatecas will have bowls of birria and a few rodeos, it will also have some of the most harsh and cold weather that you will soon be suffering through here in Mexico. The US northers will blow through to make you cold to the bone and if you are not, you'll be so soaked with rain so often that you will be tapping on your knees to see if they are frozen. And just like good old GTO once the new wears off you'll be wondering if you made the right decision or not, because as much as we like to believe we are converts, you can take a Gringo out of the US but you can't take the US out of a Gringo (double wink and spoken by a Gringo). If you've invested in property here there or anywhere, you'll start combing the forums and FB groups to attempt to squash those who bring up the shortcomings of your new home and investment opportunities as well, because the money may not be coming in like you had hoped, after all every shack seems online for rent these days.

Still with all there is to discover out there, I'll have to agree that leaving Ajijic was a great start. Or maybe you'll end up like me and won't be able to stop searching for the perfect stop. Regardless, I do hope that we all one day "find the eternal spring"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKV_HTHFjZY

[pianoheat]

Actually He was pretty polite about it and in the end we all see things through our own eyes

[DonJuane]

But love or hate GTO, this has to be one of the most unique group of expats to be found online. (Just check around.) There is sort of an overhanging cloud of tongue in cheek, less than heart-felt willingness to help or advise with a slight twist of pseudo intellectual, authoritatively expressed, self-anointed wisdom dripped on an overall condescending tone. Still you've got to love it. (And why we keep coming back I suppose.)

[donblanco]

Since I had been posting on the forums on the presumption that we would be moving here, I guess I felt compelled to say farewell and perhaps explain a bit, once we had changed our minds.

Now while Zacatecas will have bowls of birria and a few rodeos, it will also have some of the most harsh and cold weather that you will soon be suffering through here in Mexico. The US northers will blow through to make you cold to the bone and if you are not, you'll be so soaked with rain so often that you will be tapping on your knees to see if they are frozen.

This makes me wonder if you've actually lived there. The winter of 2017-18 was unusually cold, but even then the rainy season ends in October so I'm not sure where you got this description/perception...?

We have now lived in San Cristobal de las Casas for 1.5 years and Lake Chapala for a cumulative almost 3 years. Our initial lease in Zacatecas is 6 months, during which we will check out San Luis Potosi and Patzcuaro as alternatives. Renewing our lease through the winter is a decision we won't make lightly, but with a small enough studio, heating becomes much less expensive, at least with propane.

Anyhoo, in the end, we will see...

[DonJuane]

I make all this stuff up ;-). The time I was there, around two months cumulatively was enough to realize how unpleasant the place can be. But that's me speaking. Apparently you enjoy it so continue to enjoy. I don't like the winters here or San Cristobal, where I have spent about 2 years cumulatively and again just long enough to know I wouldn't want to live there due to the cold winters.