CASA DE LA RUSA, Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico
Vacation Rental Available Near Lake Chapala Mexico
The Historic Nature of this Wonderful Rental Property:In the 1920s the actress and ballet dancer, Zara Alexeyeva Kira St. Albans, weary of the world stage, found Ajijic, bought a little gold mine in the mountains, and built a dream home where she lived until 1987.
Zara, known as La Rusa, was a part of this community for 60 years - an eccentric and, in the end, tragic figure. Her memory lives on in the minds of those who knew her, in the dining room of the Nueva Posada, named in her honour, and in her house, which we fell in love with and bought in 1989.
Zara’s property originally extended all the way to the lake and included a kitchen out-building, a casita, gardens and stables. Most of it was sold off in lots in the1980s, so only her house remains at 26 Independencia, one block up from lake, in the second block west of the main street.
In the Mexican style, it is walled from the street, with an ornamental iron gate. Inside its adobe walls are large rooms, cool clay tile floors, high ceilings and light, happy colours.
There is one large bedroom with king-sized bed, fire-place and ensuite bathroom in the house. In the “casita” in the walled garden are two more bedrooms, one with a double bed and another with twin beds upstairs. Each has a three piece bath.
The house has a small, recently renovated kitchen, dining room with dramatic skylighting, and a living room opening to the garden with its fruit trees and fountain.
The house is completely equipped with all bedding, dishes, cookware, etc. It has a gas stove, electric refrigerator, microwave, toaster oven, StarChoice satellite TV, VCR, CD player, phone and fax. We take our laundry around the corner to a sweet local woman who carefully washes and folds it the same day for $3.
Our maid, Martha, is virtually part of the family and comes three times a week to clean, garden and keep our accommodations in order.
Charges for gas, electricity, StarChoice satellite TV, and maid service are included with your rent, as are phone charges for up to 100 local calls per month. Additional local calls, plus all long distance calls, are charged back at cost and deducted from your deposit. Because of delays in reciept of telephone bills, deposit returns can be up to three months after departure date.
Although there is no off-street parking, you could consult with our agents in Ajijic, Eager & Asociados, about alternatives.
When we can’t be in Ajijic we offer lodging at Casa De La Rusa for your enjoyment.
2004 Rates for rentals of: CASA DE LA RUSA, Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico
April 1 to May 1 Monthly $1125.Cdn. or $800.USA
Nov.1 to Dec.31 Monthly $1125.Cdn. or $800.USA
May 1 to Oct.31 Monthly $1000 Cdn. or $750 USA
Deposit of $800Cdn or $600USA will be required for security deposit & confirmation of rental dates.
