Waking up in the upstairs master bedroom of the aptly-named Sunrise House is a delight, beginning with layers upon layers of bird song preceding the sun peeking over the mountains. I'm not an early riser at home but I loved hearing the village waking up while watching the lake and the mountains gradually emerge into view. The bedroom also has a lovely palm-tree shaded patio and a high-domed ceiling with attractive recessed lighting and a strong fan to keep us cool. Even though it was late May we were never uncomfortable or too hot inside the house.
Our overnight flight from Sacramento got us into Ajijic at 5:45 am. Our host, Leo, had emailed directions to the house; in English for us and in Spanish for the cab driver. Leo had also emailed us careful instructions for retrieving the keys from a combination lock box outside the gate.
When we let ourselves in we found that he had also kindly stocked the refrigerator with eggs, milk, bread, butter, jam and coffee so we could rest up from our flight and have a light breakfast before we ventured out into the village to get our bearings and buy our own supplies. A bottle of wine and two glasses also awaited us on the kitchen counter. I've never seen a kitchen in a rental property so well-stocked with every utensil and appliance you could need, including a full gas stove. The rest of the house was equally lovely and well-stocked for all our needs.
Any time we had questions we knew we could just pick up the phone, but I found that if I emailed Leo, a response was always forthcoming within mere minutes. He was always on hand to help us find our way around the property or the village. The property was well-secured, clean and safe-feeling, with beautiful gardens and artistic local indoor furnishings and gorgeous stained glass. The WiFi was excellent, and the property even included a phone with direct dial to the U.S.
Leo provided us with a comprehensive list of restaurants, and the mediterranean-themed Pale was just excellent and a short walk away. If you enjoy outdoor restaurants try Yves down the highway, with its outdoor fountain and browsing white burros, or the Peacock Garden in the heart of the village.
I'll be raving about The sunrise House to my friends, as it was a terrific value for the price and a beautiful property. We're looking forward to coming back and hope this property is available.