Ajijic on Lake Chapala - a Pretty Good Gig

Ajijic is a lovely mountain town in the state of Jalisco – just about 45 minutes from Guadalajara. There are easy flights from most places to the airport in Guadalajara, so like Puerta Vallarta, it is quick and easy to get to. The attraction here is the climate – perpetual spring like weather. Never too hot, never too cold. I think Stephane and I would find it a bit too cold in the winter, as it can go down to 10 degrees Celcius at night, but I must admit, sleeping at night is pretty nice here. No air conditioning needed. It has been going down to 17 at night, so we sleep with the doors and windows open (they are screened) and we even have blankets on our bed and can snuggle without Stephane getting too hot. In the morning I have to wear jeans and a hoodie, but by noon it is warm - highs of 25 Celcius.

The town itself is charming – there’s that word again…but it really is. Colourful buildings, neat shops, town square surrounded by cafes, cobbled streets, and a lovely malecon along the lake.

The area is mountainous, but lush, and there is a great variety of stores and restaurants.

I found a super delicatessen today and bought some nice cheeses and meats and a bottle of red wine for supper tonight. It is my birthday today, so I get to eat whatever I want – so charcuterie it is!

The home we are house sitting here is absolutely lovely. It sits on the side of the mountain, one block from the main street where there are shops and restaurants - and even a wine and cheese store, and it has lovely gardens and outdoor areas.

Our “casita” is a beautiful house in and of itself. No roughing it here. There is a maid and a gardener and a pool guy, so our sole job is to love and care for Annie, a delightful 1 year old standard poodle.

She is adorable, and we love her already. Our other job is to feed the hundreds of hummingbirds that hover around the four feeders like swarms of bees. Each day we are to make five litres of sugar water for them and keep the feeders full. Watching them is our biggest source of entertainment. They are amazing.Tomorrow we will move from the guest quarters into the big house for a month.