Activities

Yesterday, I went with three friends for a day trip to see the Pelicans in the small fishing village of Petatan which is on the south side of Lake Chapala.  It was a beautiful sunny day, as usual.  We read about it in the Guadalajara Reporter newspaper. That is often a source of interesting short trips.  It takes just a little over an hour to get there through picturesque scenery, small towns and farm...

I went with my friend Valerie on a boat ride across the lake to San Luis Soyaltan. It was exciting. I love to be out on the water. This boat can be found at the pier in Ajijic. Right now, it only runs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It stays in San Luis Soyaltan and is only at the Ajijic dock a little while before they take off again for San Luis Soyaltan.  I found out about it through friends at the...

Recently, I took a bus trip to the beach town of San Blas. When I told my friends in Ajijic that I was going to San Blas, most of them did not know of the place. When I was in San Blas and told people I was from Ajijic, most of them had never heard of it. It only takes about five hours to drive to San Blas and seven hours by bus. It is an easy bus ride. Man Walking on Borrego Beach The way I did it...

Every year the Lake Chapala Society puts on an art and craft fair in their back garden area. This year it was on Saturday, November 5th, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  I went when the gate opened and stayed until almost the end. It was well attended and there were so many interesting things to see that I kept on hanging out. I ran into many friends. I ate some delicious food. It was great fun. Entrance...

The Day of the Dead is one of the biggest holidays in Mexico, especially in Ajijic and Chapala. It lasts for several days with lots of firecrackers going off day and night, parties, food, parades, and decorations. It is a time when Mexican families get together and communicate with their deceased loved ones. The cemeteries are cleaned up. Each family takes on the responsibility of sweeping and cleaning the...

September 16th, Mexican Independence Day is one of the biggest holidays of the year here. The festivities started a few days before the 16th.  There was so much going on that it was impossible to see it all. Little Girl with Confetti in Her Hair There were festivities at the plaza, parades, and celebrations in the local restaurants, horse events, the shawl parade, private parties and many more...

Mazamitla is a mountain town about an hour and a half outside of Jocotepec . It is approximately 77 miles from Guadalajara in the Southeast region of the state. It is about the same distance as Sayula except further east. The scenery on the way is beautiful in the rainy season. Everything was green. Wild flowers were in the fields. The sky was blue with billowy white clouds. Church in...

The hot air balloon race is always held on the Saturday before Independence Day, which is September 16th.   It is held at the soccer field on Calle Revolucion. It is half a block down from El Torito grocery store and the movie theater in Ajijic. This event is the beginning of the Fiesta Season that lasts until after Easter. Life is very exciting at the Lakeside area during this time of the year....

Barbara’s Bazaar is a fascinating store. It is the perfect place to while away an afternoon. The owner, Tom Thompson, said that is what happens on most Sunday afternoons when the people from Guadalajara arrive for a weekend of fun. It is his busiest day. Front of Barbara's Bazaar Tom bought Barbara’s Bazaar in 1993 from Barbara Weston. She opened it in 1985 a few doors down from where...

There are many interesting places to visit around the Lakeside area. Some of them are close enough for a day trip and others require an overnight stay in order to have enough time to see everything that is of interest. Along the Road to Sayula Sayula is approximately sixty miles south of Ajijic. It can easily be reached by car in about an hour and a half. You can go by bus but you have to go to...