Where to live in Mexico for 4 months?
Replies: 41 - Last Post: Oct 9, 2012 6:46 PM Last Post By: hollyhunter
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I think you missed Duke's point. Those of us who have come from colder climates and have lived in some of the colder areas of Mexico understand the difference that heat in the home makes. While a place like San Cristobal will not get as cold as areas of Canada and the United States, not having heat and practically never being able to warm up make a huge difference. I have never felt as cold as I did when I lived in San Cristobal. The cold is persistent, always with you. I am certain that most Canadians are not used to that reality.31
I am headed back to the states next month to purchase a "Blue Flame" LPG ventless heater just for the cold months. My tolerance to cold is probably less than most other folks. The thing in Mexico is that once a person commits to an area and it's too cold, what do you do then? Even the smallest electric heater used at night to bring bedroom temps up from shiver to just chilly is going to use a lot of power. I have an electric blanket which helps and slippers (nothing wakes me up faster than feet on ice cold tile). The winter sun does not seem to add much heat to a concrete block house. My 2 cents worth.32
mich, most of the gas in Mexico is propane not LPG. There is a difference in the jets. Have you check with places like Home Depot on propane heaters or can you buy a propane heater in the US?33
About accommodatiion. Allmost all furnished apartments are marketed towards tourist. I think places that only cost 200 USD are probably not furnished or poorly furnished and will not include internet or TVThe apartments rented out to local people are not furnished and often dont have stofe and cabinets in the kitchen.Furnishing a house only makes sence if you stay a year or if you only need a bed, stofe and a fridge.
If I where you find a nice apartment that has every thing there. Prices would probably look more exspensive but often in the end are not that more expensive. Here in Tlaquepaque the prices are between 400 USD up to 900 USD but all at walking distance from the center. All the apartments have wireless internet and cable TV and everythinf is included so no gas bills, no electricity bills and no water bills etc..
Here in Tlaquepaque there are around 15 apartments rented out on monhtly base by 3 differnt persons that rent out apartments where I am one of them.
Other places where you can look for apartments are the normal rent websites like VRBO, Airbnb, ownerdirect etc.
Wouter
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There are several yoga studios, classes, groups in Oaxaca. You can easily avoid the dreaded expats/US tourists, even in museums, galleries, concerts, etc. They aren't usually all that friendly to tourists, so won't bother you. By far most of the tourists in Oaxaca are Mexicans.Lots of small neighborhoods all over the city, plus rural pueblos within 30 min. to an hour.
LaCandela is a popular salsa club. It's fun to watch Danzon Wednesday evenings in the zocalo. A throw back to the 50s for me, and fun and colorful to watch. It's a Mexican thing, not a tourist attraction. Same goes for other street happenings, parades, fireworks religious celebrations, But maytbe these don't fit within your parameters?
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geriande, I didn't know they have danzon in Oaxaca. I became fascinated with it in Veracruz in their zocalo. The dance came to Mexico from Cuba, the the gentlemen in Veracruz dress somewhat Cuban on dance evening. What they do now is a far cry from the original Veracruz danzon, which was banned in the city many decades ago as being too erotic.Buen viaje y buen baile! (Is that proper Spanish?)
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Yeah, I didn't know about danzon in Oaxaca either. LIke Aloysius I saw it in the Plaza del Constitucion in Veracruz where they have the Veracruz municpal orchestra set up play while the dancers, dressed in their finest, dance on the plaza. I recall it was on Wednesday nights. They even gave us dance lessons for free (but it will take a lot of practice to get any good at it). I even bought the CD of the municipal orchestra from my dance instructor (as a means of contributing I guess).Sort of a waltz mixed with a slow motion tango.
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Cascade Bob..good description of Danzon. A few fox trot steps also.The "dress" is what I love! Men wearing pink sport jackets to match their partner's pink dress. Or maybe he has a blue and white polka dot tie to match her blouse and hat band. Real dandies, they are! Independence week was spectacular with lavish red, green and white outfits! Ya gotta see it to appreciate it.
Salsa is fun to watch also...mostly a much younger set. Boy can Mexicans dance! I'm a spectator. Sign of my age????
So Danzon in Veracruz and Oaxaca. Anywhere else in Mexico? I'm talking about "public" dancing in the zocalo or parks.
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While they definitely dance in the zocalo in Oaxaca, I do not believe what I saw was danzon. Seemed a little too restrained for what I have heard danzon described as40
Bowenarrow, danzon as done in Mexico these days is a very dignified dance. The dancers dress up quite eloquently. Not the same erotic dance as done in Cuba, nor the same as what they did in Mexico many decades ago. It is what I would call restrained. Very polite. It is a memorized routine with everyone doing the exact same thing at the exact same time. I found it quite easy to learn the steps and patterns and join in, but I much prefer lead-follow dancing where the dancers can get creative.41
I love Guanajuato and it has all you requested, but December will be cold, otherwise perfect. Another choice is Puerto Vallarta as the tourists will not arrive until Xmas, warm, great salsa, tons and tons of yoga, great restaurant And bar scene.Enjoy!
