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There are some spectaculasr homes on the southside.....


elevator

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Wading in from the boat to the beach can, at times, be a very difficult task. As a “newbie“, one may not know that the beach has occasionally been a mile out from where it is now, and the water is very, very shallow.

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I agree with the OP. The southside remains terra incognita for so many in the north shore communities. I would not recommend it for those who rely on expat facilities and social life. Those who prefer to live outside the expat community might fit in rather well. We settled here about 13 years ago and built a house on acreage and we love the privacy and views. We don't miss a thing. But it's not for the majority.

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Don't get a prop boat but rather a jet. Too shallow and lots of ugly things like posts and barbed wire. If you like the solitude, South is a good deal. As to the boat, assuming an uneventful crossing and landing, now what? Taxi, bus, or walk?

If you are a boater that is a one up. If not, get someone who is to show you the ropes. If you really like the idea find a place near where you will land to store a beater car for local transport.

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Wading in from the boat to the beach can, at times, be a very difficult task. As a “newbie“, one may not know that the beach has occasionally been a mile out from where it is now, and the water is very, very shallow..

On the Ajijic malecon and next to the defunct restaurant, there used to be a little boat going across to the Southside that took tourists on a regular basis. As the lake receded, access to the boat became next to impossible and finally, the boat left. Haven't seen it lately.

I agree with those who say the South side is an option for those who don't need the facilities on the North side on a regular basis.

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Had a 120 HP I/O and it took me forever to get across the Lake. Maybe if there was a Marina on both sides with gas pumps it might be more fun but carrying gas cans isn't. The depth was never a concern however you need to google earth the lake to see the trouble spots particularly between Chapala and Scorpion Island.

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Do they have internet service on the SS

That's the problem with the SS. Most of San Luis has DSL internet and so does Puerto Corona but the rest is dial-up or 3G and good luck getting a signal. In most places you need to be right on the lake to get a 3G signal. I think the signal comes from the NS.

It is easier and probably faster to shop in Guadalajara from the SS than driving to Ajijic.

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Elevator - There is a great blog written by a Canadian expat living on the south

side - she loves it. Here is the URL casalunademiel.worldpress.com If you contact her she will respond. If you do get a boat - I'll crew for you!!

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Elevator - There is a great blog written by a Canadian expat living on the south

side - she loves it. Here is the URL casalunademiel.worldpress.com If you contact her she will respond. If you do get a boat - I'll crew for you!!

http://casalunademiel.wordpress.com/ (wordpress)

Cruz Roja may come from the larger towns over there

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I don't live on the South Side, but I travel over there fairly often for various reasons.

I think the shopping would to be rather iffy, particularly for anyone who has a taste for imported goods. Also, it's a little thin on good restaurants and the sort of entertainment that attracts many gringos.

In case of serious health problems, the SS has Cruz Roja, but they are only going to stabilise and then send the person to one of the Guadalajara hospitals. Those hospitals are an hour further away than on the NS. For that matter, anything you might need in Guadalajara, including access to the airport, will be that much further away.

In addition, I imagine the need for a good command of Spanish would be greater on the SS. It is not remotely as expat-oriented as the NS communities. Keep in mind that Mexico is a young country, and very family oriented. People are often busy holding down two or more jobs and don't necessarily have a lot of time for socialising with foreigners (assuming you can even communicate with them). With few foreigners in the area, who are you going to connect with?

All that said, the SS is beautiful, quiet, and the Mexicans there are very friendly in my experience. Someone who has little need for socialising with other expats, speaks Spanish fairly well, and doesn't mind the isolation would probably enjoy it.

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