Blog

Mexico has more than it’s share of unwanted dogs and cats. Fortunately for the animals in the lakeside area, there are many hard working and devoted people associated with the Animal Shelter, doing their best to help alleviate this problem. Cat Shelter and Store Many towns in Mexico have mangy and starving animals wandering the streets. Because of the tireless work of the animal loving people...

If you are over 60, you are eligible for the DIF and INAPAM cards in Mexico. These are Mexico’s senior discount cards and they can help you save a lot of money. DIF is the State card. Each State in Mexico has slightly different requirements and sometimes the requirements change from one visit to the next. DIF stands for Plan Venerable a Los Adultos Mayores. In English that translates to: Venerable Plan...

Friday the 25th of February I went to a Pork Roast Barbecue fundraiser with some friends for AMSIF. It was from 4 to 7:30 p.m. I didn’t get to stay until the end but I managed to take some photos and gather information. AMSIF stands for Asociacion Mexicana para la Superacion Integral de la Familia. In English that means: Mexican Association for the growth of family union. Pool at the Raquet Club...

I have lived in this area over three years. During that time I had heard many things about the Northern Lights Music Festival but I never went. I don’t like to go out alone at night and the tickets cost more than I was willing to pay. What a mistake. My friend offered me her ticket to the gala opening on February 19th. I went with another friend and we had a ride there and back. It was a real eye opener...

The Chili Cook-off is the largest fund raising event of the year in Lake Chapala. It was started 33 years ago with just six participants, a banjo and a barbeque grill. It has grown since then. Now the expected paid attendance is 7,000 people with more than 100 vendors, scores of entertainers, and 30 cooks competing for awards. This year was the largest parade in cook-off history, and over 250 volunteers...

Wednesday morning I was standing at the bus stop, on my way to the outdoor market when my friends Ilona and Casey came along. They stopped and asked if I would like to go to Chapala to the Art Exposition with them. Of course, I am always up for a little adventure. What would life be like if we weren’t flexible? I have to admit that sometimes I get stuck in ruts and I do the same things everyday. I know...

I took a walk along the Carretera the other day.  It was interesting for me to explore the different shops. There are many restaurants. I had lunch at an Egyptian restaurant. It is very small. It is on the mountainside of the Carretera. The owner is from Egypt. He works from early in the morning until late in the evening. I figured it was about 12 hours a day. He didn’t seem to mind those long hours. He...

Mirasol (in Riberas del Pilar) is on the lakeside of the Carretera between Chapala (also San Antonio Tlayacapan)  and Ajijic.  Chula Vista is a little west of Mirasol and on the mountainside of the Carretera. Mirasol is a conglomeration of a pristine planned community and older homes next to empty lots. Mirasol Entrance I had never ventured to this part of the lakeside area before now. Every area...

It feels like I don’t do much until I go back and look at all the photos I have taken throughout the week. I guess if I were a bee I would have pollinated a lot of flowers with all my travels from one place to another. Since I don’t write on the Access blog every day, I sometimes forget all the things I have done. Fortunately I always have my camera with me and have a photographic record of the week. I...

I have lived here for almost four years and have only been around the lake once. It wasn’t much fun because in the first town the bus wasn’t coming for four hours. I had to pay a local person to drive me to the next town in order to get another bus. It was a long, exhausting trip. It took all day. So I had no desire to try it again until my friend suggested that we visit with her friend in San Luis...