Focus On Mexico - Your Guide to Moving and Retiring to Mexico's Lake Chapala

Is Mexico Dangerous?

While visiting family and friends in the U.S. when the topic of life in Mexico comes up I still constantly get asked the question, "But isn't it dangerous?" While it would be naive to say that there is no danger anywhere in Mexico, it is safe to say that anyone visiting or living in Mexico need only take the normal precautions that anyone would take living or traveling most places in the world. Late night partying and overindulging, for example, can be hazardous in any country, but for the most part, the streets of Mexico are perfectly safe even in the late night hours. At Lakeside, there … [Read more...]

Moving to Mexico – Relocation as a Rite of Passage

An interview with author/coach Sydney Metrick Dr. Sydney Metrick, a Focus on Mexico alumni, Lakeside resident and author of four previous books has just released her newest work, "Moving to Mexico - Relocation as a Rite of Passage." Her previous publications include The Art of Ritual : Creating and Performing Ceremonies for Growth and Change (with Renee Beck), I Do: A Guide to Creating Your Own Unique Wedding Ceremony, and Crossing the Bridge: Creating Ceremonies for Grieving and Healing from Life's Losses (all currently published by Apocryphile Press). As a co-author, she was invited to … [Read more...]

Where to Stay While Exploring Lakeside

When considering a move to Lakeside, one of the best methods to check out the area is to attend one of our week-long fast track learning seminars where you can make contacts, see various neighborhoods and learn in detail what it takes to make the move. We recommend that if possible you stay in the area for a longer period of time either before or after the seminar to get a better feel for what location might best suit your lifestyle. Here are a few suggestions of centrally located places to stay: A tried and true Ajijic favorite is La Nueva Posada owned by a long-term expat and his … [Read more...]

Focus on Pátzcuaro

The month of May in Lakeside is hot (this year with temperatures often climbing to over 90F/32C). So we opted to explore the refreshingly cool high altitude city of Pátzcuaro, Michoacan, located about four hours south of Lakeside. At 7,000 feet altitude Pátzcuaro has all the charm of a high mountain town surrounded with forests, a beautiful plaza and many coffee shops from which to choose. With a population of ~80,000, Pátzcuaro is much quieter than nearby Morelia with its bustling population of ~800,000. One plus of both Morelia and Pátzcuaro as compared to Lakeside are the flat city … [Read more...]

In Case of Emergency Will You Make It On Time – Part II

Over a year ago we reported on the construction of two new hospitals in the Lakeside area, a first for Lakeside, where in the past all hospitalization cases were referred to Guadalajara, a 45 minute to one hour journey, depending on traffic. The new private Hospital San Antonio del Lago de Chapala officially opened for business on April 26, 2019 and one of our recent FOCUS alumni became its 4th admitted patient after a sudden health emergency. He has graciously agreed to share his story with us for the benefit of other expats wondering about the quality of medical care in Mexico. Expat … [Read more...]