Central Highlands Info? (house, to live, prices)

[PioneerWoman]

Could anyone give me information about the central highlands of Mexico? I've been researching a few places that I might like to live: Amealco, Queretaro; Tulancingo, Hidalgo; and Cerritos/Progreso, San Luis Potosi. I would be interested in climate differences, political differences, security differences, etc., between these areas.

I am thinking in terms of whether I could build an "off grid" house that would rely on rainwater collection and solar heat. Also, I would like to grow citrus, avocadoes, and other things that would need sufficient water and warmer winter temperatures.

[recycled]

I've been to Queretaro and San Luis Potosi. Both places seem arid, not much in the way of rainfall to collect. SLP can be pretty cold in winter due to elevation.

You can get a first class bus ticket to any large city in central Mexico from Nuevo Laredo. Leave your car in TX and let the buses take you where you want to go, it's inexpensive, safe and fairly comfortable if you stick to the first class bus lines. Since you sound pretty serious about this, might be worth a week or more to take a quick visit and see if it might be feasible for you. PioneerWoman, you sound like someone with a little adventure in your veins, so good luck to you.

Side note: I like Michoacan area more than the areas you mentioned, it has more abundant rainfall and vegetation.

[raveonpragha]

I specially recomend u ETN and Primera Plus these are the two firts class most known bus line for travel inside mexico. And i recomend you Guanajuato, Eastern Jalisco or Western Michoacan, considering the best wheather for grow that plants.

[PioneerWoman]

Yes, I've taken bus trips around Mexico. Aren't the buses wonderful down there? I used to go from Laredo to Mexico City before Laredo got so weird (and Mexico City, too, for that matter). The great thing is that you can get a bus from any wide spot in the road.

I would like to run all around the Mexico countryside checking out every little village, but who has the time or money for that? It seems best to do as much research as humanly possible and narrow down to a few places. I'll add Michoacan to the list of "must see". Do you know about land prices there? ...out in the rural areas, that is.