Front page CBSNEWS.com

http://www.cbsnews.com/

"World's 10 best cities to retire on a budget

A new book on retiring overseas ranks the most affordable destinations for American retirees."

Wow, from IL no less. Haven't seen a word from them the past 12 months, or more, and then this? Wow.

Deserving, without a doubt.

Good catch RoofBob

Nice to see Lake Chapala rated in the #1 spot!!!!!

I couldn't find the story at the supplied link. Found it here.

George

That link didn't work for me either.

The link to the CBSNews page worked fine for me, but here is the link that will take you directly to the article.

http://www.cbsnews.com/media/worlds-10-best-cities-to-retire-on-a-budget/

Ran across another article from a couple of months ago touting Lake Chapala as the #1 spot in Mexico.

https://www.munknee.com/the-10-best-places-to-retire-in-mexico/

Pretty good description of the area, nice find Bob

juanrey wrote:Pretty good description of the area,

Except maybe for this quote,"In Lake Chapala violent crime is almost unheard of."

Here we go again with the same old BS like 2nd best weather. Never was able to access the CBS article but the Munknee article is definitely full of flaws and inconsistencies. How lucky can Johnny Punish be that he can write an article without even visiting the places he rates?

CheenaGringo wrote:  Never was able to access the CBS article

Actually it was a link to an International Living article,the same IL that gets trashed on a regular basis on this and other forums.

viajero wrote:

CheenaGringo wrote:  Never was able to access the CBS article

Actually it was a link to an International Living article,the same IL that gets trashed on a regular basis on this and other forums.

.....and deservedly so.

Johnny Punish and his family lived lakeside until maybe 10 years ago and since then lives, I understand, in Baja California. Some of those authors quoted have not been around, to the best of my knowledge for years.

The link Bob provided included this description of San Miguel de Allende. It makes me giggle.

3. San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

According to Rebecca Fass San Miguel de Allende is “the most wonderful place on the planet”. This place is probably the most well-to-do city in all of Mexico. With world-class arts, music, and amazing restaurants with the highest end people from all over the world, SMDA is the most exquisite classy place to live in Mexico. So if you’re looking to hob-nob with the rich, famous, artsy types, and people who really hold their own at the highest levels, SMDA is the place to be.

Are you excited by the opportunity "hobnob" with the "highest end people from all over the world....people who really hold their own at the highest level"? I know I am.

P.S. For the record....I actually like San Miguel de Allende as a place to visit. There are a lot of great things about it. But that lady and her ilk do it a disservice.

Whodaf calls it SNDA anyway. Pretty much says it all.

Rosa Venus wrote:The link Bob provided included this description of San Miguel de Allende. It makes me giggle.

3. San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

According to Rebecca Fass San Miguel de Allende is “the most wonderful place on the planet”. This place is probably the most well-to-do city in all of Mexico. With world-class arts, music, and amazing restaurants with the highest end people from all over the world, SMDA is the most exquisite classy place to live in Mexico. So if you’re looking to hob-nob with the rich, famous, artsy types, and people who really hold their own at the highest levels, SMDA is the place to be.

Are you excited by the opportunity "hobnob" with the "highest end people from all over the world....people who really hold their own at the highest level"? I know I am.

P.S. For the record....I actually like San Miguel de Allende as a place to visit. There are a lot of great things about it. But that lady and her ilk do it a disservice.

Knowing the author of the quote....it does not surprise me.     

OK let's get back to the list from Roof Bob's original post. This is the International Living let's-drive-up-the-price-of-real-estate-in-places-we'd-never-live machine in full flower:

10. Malaga, Spain: $950 they say for a 1BR place, all prices in Euros = your dollar is monopoly money, dreary winters, insular culture. Did I mention dinner is at 11 p.m. Not gonna make the Panino's crowd too happy.

9. Penang Malaysia: because we know your retirement dream is to sweat to death before the Tsunami comes.

8. Cuenca, Ecuador: for those who don't mind freezing to death while they save money, and who consider guinea pig on a spit gourmet cuisine.

7. Granada, Nicaragua: because dark rum and cheap cigars are more than sufficient compensation for zero infrastructure and culture.

6. Coronado, Panama: because beaches with no culture and 100% white people are nothing like home.

5. Boquette, Panama: Because we miss the constant rain in Seattle and want the same thing only warmer and whiter.

4. Atenas, Costa Rica: 60 inches of rain a year might sound boring, but the earthquakes make it exciting.

3. San Miguel de Allende: because paying U.S. + prices for bad food, breathing in air from the brick ovens and dodging traffic make it feel just like home.

2. Puerto Vallarta: because 90 degrees and 90% humidity for half the year make you appreciate the overpriced real estate and mediocre restaurants the other half.

Leaving #1, Lake Chapala. Podunk but not half bad   

Thank you, Coffee Guy, for bringing us the truth wrapped in a laugh.   

THAT WAS FUNNY, Cguy!!!

Great list Coffeeguy!!! Thanks for the perspective.

I hope it is obvious I'm mostly just poking fun at International Living. I would happily spend time in all of the places on their Top 10 list.

So would I!!!! Maybe not live in some of them though.......

Lake Chapala and Mexico in general have taken a huge hit since the 2008 financial meltdown and the on-going cartel activity so it is great to see that agencies are promoting it once again.

slainte39 wrote:My complaint about SMA from living there 30 years ago was that....
When I left home sober everywhere I went was uphill, and when I retruned home boracho, everything (mainly, my abode) was uphill.     
Used to eat in the mercado municipal up from the biblioteca...menudo, pozole, birria, etc., etc. was pretty cheap.  El restaurante Mama Mia was for the turistas.
For you latter day visitors....is Nancy Underwood still around? She used to have a little gift shop/restaurant called El Pegaso, a block or so, south of the Jardin.  I doubt it, as she is older than I am.
Nancy and her husband, who was an Anglican vicar, used to live here in Ajijic, and at one time operated the Old Posada, before the Eagers.  She was happy with her move to SMA.
In those days, Bruno Sclicizzi was flying high at his restaurant El Circo, plus a chinese retuarant he had in a hotel down on the Ancha. Then he did the reverse, by coming over here.
Enough of the "ancient history".

Sad news: Nancy (whose husband was a Vicar) was alive, seemingly well and planning a tour to the Far East when she was diagnosed with the most aggressive form of skin cancer. She died within the year, and was sorely missed by all who knew her. This was over seven years ago.

Thank you....yes, it is sad news, as she was wonderful lady and a dear friend who I had lost contact with. She always had a smile, even when I showed up with my brood of seven kids, and that wasn't easy.  RIP Nancy.