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Has anyone got tips for long term rentals in Ensenada city? We don't want a modern place that reminds of of home. We would like something more "colonial" if possible.

1) are there many?
2) can a 2 bed be rented for under $600?

Thanks
Wendy

Wendy:
Over the years on this and other forums I have set up people like you with a name and phone number of a person that owns 7 apartment building and several houses in Ensenada.

Even made appointments on a day and time to meet him.......... None of them have ever followed through with any part of it.

When you are 100% ready to make the move.
When you are 100% ready to put down a deposit, if you want to contact me I will give you a name and number to contact.

None of these rentals are in Gringo enclaves / neighborhoods.

All of them are in middle class Mexican neighborhoods.

All of them can be rented for less than $600 per month.

I'm reminded of an admonition made by our friend and long-time area resident Dennis, about the potential isolation that gringos may experience living in the heart of an all-Mexican neighborhood.

Thanks Gruñón I will take you up on that. Our daughter Lori lives in San Diego and she said she would look in Ensenada for us (they don't want us to move to Merida or Mazatlan). We will be there in January so maybe we should just wait and look around when we get there. I'll contact you before we depart. I just want to be sure that we can afford to live there and that there is some choice as to where to live for a low cost ($500-600 or less if suitable). I am convinced we can live more comfortably in Mexico than Toronto even on a pension but my husband is somewhat wary although willing.

Bajahowodd: we will be starting spanish lessons this month but you might be offering words of wisdom as to feeling isolated. I guess we'll have to get a feel for the neighborhoods when we get there. We don't want to be in a neighborhood that's isolated from the real Mexico either.

There's quite a difference between living in a mixed area that has considerable gringo presence versus being in some walled enclave. Even fluency in Spanish will only go so far in an all- Mexican neighborhood.

Wendy:
Keep a few things in mind.

#1 - In every 100% Mexican neighborhood there will be several [many] that speak at least some English.

#2- Comments & advise by those that have never lived in a Mexican neighborhood is useless information and pure opinion with no facts involved.

I have lived as the only gringo in the neighborhood for 10 years.
It did take me a while to learn my way around but that is true in any new area.

Your degree of isolation will depend solely on you.

Said all I am going to say..

If you want to contact me privately use the PM system on the forum.

What Grunon said!!!

Living in Baja is a totally different experience than a vacation here. IMO, residents look for totally different amenities & lifestyle than short-term tourists do. Knowledge & experience of long-time residents wins hands down over hearsay & I "heard it through the grapevine" tales of occasional vacationers.

In my case, what I gravitated toward for my vacation spot "must-have" list turned out to be totally opposite of my "must-have" list for a permanent home. I'm not on vacation....I LIVE here....this is my home & while it's wonderful & I wouldn't trade it for anywhere else on earth, it can't even remotely be compared to being on vacation!

Since it sounds like hubby isn't totally gung-ho, more like he's begrudgingly going along with the plan, I'd suggest you each sitting down....SEPARATELY....and each write out your own individual "must-haves", "would be nice" & absolute "turnoffs". Live with your list for a week or so, mull it over, revise, refine, then swap lists & discuss the inevitable differences.

How important is it to you to be close to quality medical care? How important to have an International airport & within what distance? What are your eating habits? Will the foods you're used to be available & affordable? Do you care about arts? Entertainment? No matter what your intentions & expectations, your lifestyle will change, if by nothing other than the fact you'll be living in a different culture, different climate.

I sincerely believe the best advice I could give you is to leave your gringo/canuck standards & expectations at the border! Moving SOB is definitely not for the faint of heart, it takes a strongly-ingrained pioneer spirit, you need to be willing & open to change, a sense of adventure, tenacity & spontaneity really help! It's definitely not for everyone, but it can be awesome for those with the ability to adapt & thrive!

My personal acclimation time....having come from the Pacific Northwest....was all of....oh say, about 60 seconds! Absolutely no regrets!

Originally Posted by Gruñón

Your degree of isolation will depend solely on you.

Amen! I live in a Mexican neighborhood in town, though not in Ensenada. There are a couple of foreigners, but they're part-timers, and I didn't meet them until months after my arrival. I moved here with just a few words of Spanish, and only one Mexican neighbor speaks a little English, but they all just talked to me anyhow once they saw I was willing to communicate. They and the workers who remodeled my house are responsible for most of the Spanish I know now.

My neighbors were welcoming and helpful. They offered me beers, invited me to see their homes, taught me when to put out the trash, where to pay the water bill, where to catch the bus, and when the city water was likely to come on. Some gave me their phone numbers in case I had "problems". I've since been invited to join them at the beach, Christmas dinner, family barbecue at the rancho, wedding, etc. I often go, and it's been fun. I try to remember their birthdays, inquire about ailing relatives, share my baked goods and mandarina crop and water if theirs runs out (a couple have large families and no cisterna).

Barrio living isn't for everyone. It can be noisy and at times intrusive ... kids, especially, don't hesitate to ring the doorbell if they need or want something. I've had to ask that neighbor X turn down the music volume and have had to listen to neighbor Y's rants about neighbor Z when I'd just as soon be doing something else. OTOH, they put up with my construction mess for many months, and they don't yell if my dog barks or my alarm system goes off by mistake. Bottom line is that my neighbors are pretty good folks, I've learned a fair amount of Spanish, and I don't feel at all isolated, despite living alone and being a foreigner.

Hell Kate... that sounds like my neighbors to the north...

Hello,
Know your post is a little old, but I am very interested in the type of rental you describe. I ahould be down on Aur21 give or take a day. Please let me now how to procceed with looking at some rentals...Thank You...Marta...mpj2382@yahoo.com

Funny, until Jan of this year I lived in a small Mexican town, San Jose de Gracia for 3 years, I was the only Gringo, with my Mexican wife, got along just fine, most would bring there kids over for me to speak english to. The owner of the small but big grocery store went out of his way to find American products for me to buy. My wife talks to them all of the time, she is from the area and they always say move back to your home. To tell you the truth in 6 years in Mexico I speak very little Spanish. I am understanding, it is who you are as a person that matters, the language thing will work itself out in the end. I in my life, all over the world a big smile, a firm handshake, and listen will make it all better.

Originally Posted by prorader

To tell you the truth in 6 years in Mexico I speak very little Spanish. I am understanding, it is who you are as a person that matters, the language thing will work itself out in the end. I in my life, all over the world a big smile, a firm handshake, and listen will make it all better.

Pure selfserving nonsense, but I know you believe what you say. You try to qualify your reasons for not speaking the language of the country which you've chosen to accept you, but you haven't fullfilled the agreement. You don't want to talk with them or communicate past a point of pointing......or using high volume English.

Six years you've been here, and you don't speak Spanish? Why not? You've had the time to learn......and you've had the reason....or, perhaps not.
Your wife made it easy for you to ignore your obligation. Didn't she. She speaks the lingo, so why shoud you?


WHY SHOULD YOU????


I'll tell you why. It's a matter of self respect....pure and simple. Why would you want to live among people who have no idea what your loud English means........and don't want to know.

I've seen your "type" before...too many times, amigo. You came down here to be taken care of.

Good luck....and goodbye.

Yes just like all of the Mexicans, in the US who don't speak English. I can take you to an area in New York where almost no body speaks English, San Antonio, Tx 85% Spanish all public signs are now in English and Spanish, Lake Chapala, Mexico almost all Mexicans speak English. Mexico has a new policy where all Doctors in public hospitals have to learn English. Go away your annoying

Personally I think it should be incumbent on any foreigner choosing to live in another country to learn the language, culture and history of the place they choose to call home.

But that's just me...

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

Personally I think it should be incumbent on any foreigner choosing to live in another country to learn the language, culture and history of the place they choose to call home.

But that's just me...

Oh, and don't forget living LEGALLY......with an FM-3 or an FM-2.........FMM's don't cut it for people who LIVE in Baja.

Originally Posted by Teniente

Oh, and don't forget living LEGALLY......with an FM-3 or an FM-2.........FMM's don't cut it for people who LIVE in Baja.

True!!!

Although I have met many down here who don't even bother with the FMM...

My wife of 3 years is Mexican, my level at that time is about the same as it is today, her level of English was about the same. Today her English is as good as me. I may be wrong but I see that more Mexicans are interested in learning English more so than the Americans which is older and learn less, like me.There are those not Mexican but feed off of these boards, yes not Mexican, they can't pay for the internet and could care less but you guys are bottom feeders, Mustard Bandits, cons, maids, gardeners, there is those here that Jump on a new member like a right of passage. Give us a break we are humans, no matter where we come from. This is Mexico a free country, we are guests, maybe some are members. I am married to a Mexican Lady, a real Lady so I have an interest in Mexico. My country is the USA, my live ways the US Army, my money comes from that. but my live and love is Mexico. This is where I live and where I will die.

incumbent? I don't know that translates to Mexicano? I am lazy and old, and I do speak Spanish and understand more than I speak. I am free in Mexico the same as the US to speak what I want, to live where I want, to do what I want under the law. You don't get it Mexico is free as the US is, there are area's in the US where almost nobody speaks english, NY, PA, try outing the lights? This is a bad subject, the same in the US that say's you most speak english? Wrong, if you are free and you follow the law where ever you live, you are FREE Respect for Mexico? You live here, you live within the laws of the country, You are respectfull, you do not get involved in politics. It is common for a person to speak there native language, that being said I find that most Mexicans are more interested in learning english, than we as Americans are in learning Spanish, for me it is muy difficult. This doesn't mean I don't respect my Mexican wife and our country.

Seeing this revived I am wondering how that worked out for Wendy and Ross.

Originally Posted by soulpatch

Seeing this revived I am wondering how that worked out for Wendy and Ross.

Didn't I see them post somewhere that they were down in Baja now???