Saturday, June 30, 2007

Traveler's Revenge: Ooops I Gota to Go


I bet most of you were concerned about contracting traveler's revenge when you first came to Mexico. During the past 17 years I've spoken with approximately 8,000 visitors to Mexico. Of those people, how many do you suppose suffered through a bout of Mexico's famed "Moctezuma's Revenge"?

I bet it would surprise you to know that no more than twenty of those folks ever suffered the pangs of stomach upset. I did the math, that's only .2% ?Not 2% but two-tenths of ONE per cent!

Some of those folks have gone to ridiculous lengths to avoid becoming sick in Mexico. One woman was so terrified of a serious bout of dysentery that she started taking the antibiotic Cipro several days before she flew into Guadalajara. During her one week's trip, she ate almost nothing except the snacks she'd packed. She stayed on the antibiotics for another week after returning home.

One couple arrived with three large heavy bags. Their clothing for the ten-day trip filled one bag. The other suitcases were chock-full of bottles of water and ready-to-eat canned and dehydrated food items produced for hikers. When I met up with them on the first morning of their tour, they were staring longingly at enormous trays of beautiful fresh fruits, part of a complimentary buffet for the tour group guests. Even after we assured them of the safety of the foods and after they watched their fellow travelers fill plates with freshly baked pastries and fruit, our friends returned to their room to eat the food they had packed.

The vast majority of visitors come to Mexico and leave again without every feeling the least bit ill. In fact, that lady who took Cipro during her entire trip has lived at Lake Chapala now for almost five years. She not only has survived, she now eats the same foods she did at home and still has never had a trace of a problem.

How do people do it without becoming ill? They use common sense.

Most of those 2 out of every 1,000 travelers who do become ill have simple food poisoning ? the same malady our mothers tried to prevent by prohibiting items from our lunch boxes. Others have a reaction to the hard work of travel, and to the higher altitude here. Simple common sense will keep you well here, just like it does at home.

Here are some common sense tips to help you stay well and having fun on your holiday:


  • Get as much rest as possible before your trip. Too many tourists are exhausted before they leave home.

  • Lake Chapala is at 5,200 feet above sea level, don?t overdo until you acclimate. Walk more slowly, take it easy on stairs. It takes time to adapt.

  • Limit exercise and exposure to sun. Always use sunscreen here and wear a hat, be sure to walk in the shade. Higher altitude will cause you to sunburn more easily.

  • Drink extra water to avoid dehydration.

  • Until you adjust to the altitude, limit your consumption of alcohol - it will hit you harder.

  • The altitude can cause blood pressure problems. Take your meds, have your blood pressure checked if you are feeling dizzy or odd.

  • Avoid extreme changes in diet?especially watch your consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. They taste so good you may want to eat too much, causing a stomach upset from the excess fiber and vitamins.

  • Try to maintain your normal routine, as much as possible. Don't try to walk all over the village on your first day at Lakeside.

  • Avoid those foods your mother worried about - egg salad, mayonnaise, potato salad, luncheon meats, sauces, salad dressings and condiments that have not be kept under refrigeration.

  • We know you are excited, but get into the Mexican custom of taking a siesta and getting a little more rest.

  • Use common sense when selecting restaurants, follow the criteria you use back home ? if the café is clean and the staff is clean. If there are locals (foreigners or Mexicans) eating in the café, if the food is being prepared fresh and hot for each order, you will be taking no more chances than you would at home.

  • If you have violent diarrhea and/or vomiting four to eight hours after eating, you probably have developed food poisoning. If it continues more than a few hours, see a doctor immediately.

  • Doctors will make house calls, even to hotels to treat you. Don't immediately take Imodium or other remedies to stop the diarrhea. You'll trap the bacteria or infection in your system where it can reproduce, making you sicker.

  • If you do become ill, see a doctor here, at Lakeside. Don't wait until you return home. Doctors here know how to treat your symptoms and can identify your ills quickly and easily.


Use common sense and stay well on your holiday, but most of all have fun and don't worry!

Life is Good at Lake Chapala

Labels: , ,


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 3:34 PM | 0 comments  

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Living at Lake Chapala—July 2007


Our Living at Lake Chapala writers are putting the final touches on a wonderful slate of articles for our July issue of Living at Lake Chapala.


Volunteer work continues year round at Lake Chapala. In our July Out and About article, Blue has been visiting area libraries with computers, classes and books especially for the smaller set. This article, along with the Community piece, will be special for those of you who are thinking of moving to Lakeside and worry that perhaps there won't be enough here to keep you busy.Our new Community article tells how one of our Living at Lake Chapala readers has moved to Mexico and established his home, his new lifestyle and his new neighbors, and how, after just about 18 months, he is now teaching English to 60 of his new neighbors in San Luis Soyatlan and Tuxcueca on Lake Chapala's south shore. Be sure to read about Charlie's "Life on the Flip Side."


We field a number of questions about life on the south shore, and for our July issue, Jim Tipton is heading out to give you a guided tour to the villages around the lake. Don't miss this up-close view in our Feature Article column.


Former Living at Lake Chapala writer Barbara Madren has a story of her own to tell. Sandy Jeronimo will help Barbara tell the story of her recent illness, hospitalization and recovery in the next Health and Safety column.


Jay White has written another story for us, in the July Soul of Mexico column. This time our storyteller is telling us about Uncle Rudi's experiences toward the end of his service with Pancho Villa's troops and how he came to live in El Paso. This story combines the history of the time of the Mexican Revolution with some of today's immigration issues.


For the current June issue Diane Goldstein wrote the Part One of her Getting Here story. When we left her, Diane, her partner Ellen and their five furry kids were spending the night in a Sacramento, California, hotel before continuing their trip. You'll enjoy hearing about some of their other experiences in part two of "Taking the Plunge: Moving to Mexico".


Then our Lake Chapala Price Maven is back on the job, checking prices on laundry detergents, bleach, pre-treating solutions and fabric softeners. Where can you shop to get the best buys? Which products are the least expensive? What size containers are best? You'll want to read all about it in the Cost of Living story.


We're taking a fun look at Mexican nicknames?want a new term of endearment for your sweetie? We have a choice list in Facts and Figures. Next up, you can learn how to make refreshing Mexican fruit drinks in the Mexican Kitchen, review the processes involved in closing a house deal in Homes and Lodging and check out the shopping opportunities on the other side of the lake in Markets and More.


This dynamite issue will be available for you July 1 at our Living at Lake Chapala website: http://www.mexico-insights.com/ Stop by and read it there.


Life is good at Lake Chapala!

Labels: ,


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 11:56 AM | 0 comments  

Monday, June 25, 2007

What's Around the Next Corner? A Pink Limo!

Our ordinary daily life in Mexico often feels surreal to those of us who have made a new life at Lake Chapala. In fact, sometimes we see sights so unusual, they make us stop and stare.

Since we can never predict "What's Around the Next Corner," we'll occasionally post some of of the fun sights we've captured to get you warmed up and ready to find your own special scenes. These "Kodak moments" happen so frequently that we always have a camera with us; we don't want to ever miss another chance to get a shot of the old man riding the burro while talking on his cell phone.

Who would have thought there would be a hot pink, Rolls Royce stretch limo anywhere in the world? We saw this one in the parking lot at Guadalajara's Miguel Hidalgo airport.

We thought about hanging around to see who would get into this fantastic car; our first thought was Dolly Parton. Then, when we realized that Dolly probably wasn't in town and we wouldn't recognize most of Mexico's movie stars or musicians, we came on home.

Who do you suppose ordered this unusual ride?

Labels: , ,


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 10:54 AM | 0 comments  

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Money for a Lakeside vacation

Most travelers don't want to carry enough cash to bank roll a two or three-week vacation. In years past, the answer was to bring along a set of traveler's checks.

These days traveler's checks are becoming harder to cash each year. You'll find that your hotel and area restaurants don't want to accept them, banks won't exchange them, and that leaves you hunting for a casa de cambio (an exchange house). There are four of these exchange houses in Ajijic and more in Chapala, but it can be inconvenient to make it to them during their regular business hours if you have other more fun things to do with your time.

If you are coming from Canada, please be aware that most businesses will not accept Canadian traveler's checks and even Canadian cash is very difficult to exchange.

So, what do you do to have a good time in Mexico's cash in hand society where most places look at a credit card with amazement and distain?

Here's an easy, quick, inexpensive three-part plan to easily obtain all the cash you need for your entire Mexican vacation.

  • First, when you book your room, ask your B&B or hotel contact if they accept credit cards, and if they offer a discount for cash payment. At some local inns, that discount is a full 10%.
  • Second, exchange at least $100 U.S. before you leave home, or at the airport before your depart. This will be enough to cover your cab fare from the airport to your B&B or hotel (about $30 from the airport to Chapala or Ajijic) and food and incidentals for the first day or two.
  • Three, bring your ATM card and plan to get the rest of the money you need for your trip from the local machines. There are several in Ajijic and more in Chapala, at the airport and in Jocotepec. You'll get the best exchange rate from the ATMs, you don't have to carry large amounts of cash or struggle to exchange traveler's checks.
  • Here's an additional fourth point if you are coming to purchase a home or secure a rental. Bring your U.S. checkbook. You'll need it to write a check for the "good faith money" money for the purchase of a home, or to pay the first and last month's rent and the deposit (usually equal to a month's rent) that will be required when you sign a lease on a home. Some rental companies may require that part of this money be paid in cash. If so, you can draw as much from local ATMs per day as your bank back home allows. Give them a call; ask them to increase your daily limit.


When you are using the machine, the pre-set amounts on local machines only show up to $2,000 or $3,000 pesos (about $200 or $300 U.S.). You'll need to click on the words "otra cantidad" (other quantity to type in the amount you want to withdraw (in pesos).

ATMs are the ticket to a carefree vacation or life here at Lake Chapala. If you decide Lakeside is the place for you, managing your finances will be your easiest task. Leave your money where it is and draw money as you need it (in $3000 to $5000 pesos increments to avoid paying excessive fees) from the nearest ATM.

Labels: , , , ,


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 1:35 PM | 0 comments  

Thursday, June 21, 2007

San Juan Cosala's Mid-Summer Celebration


Several Saint's days festivals are feted around Lake Chapala each year in June. The most traditional and devout of these north shore novenas is in honor of the patron saint of San Juan Cosalá, San Juan Bautista.

The novena begins on June 16 when the faithful residents of San Juan gather with fireworks, the town band and indigenous dancers early each morning and again in the evening to walk in a pilgrimage to the church to honor their patron St. John the Baptist.

According to Bible history, John was the son of the Virgin Mary's elderly cousin Ana, and Zachary, a priest of the temple in Jerusalem. Because John lived as a hermit in the desert for many years, statues and paintings usually portray him with a lamb (representing Jesus), wearing animal hides and carrying a staff topped with a small cross.

The church calendar records the date on which the saints died as their feast day. John the Baptist, like his cousin Jesus Christ is feted both on the date of his death and his birth. That the births of these cousins are celebrated during the summer and winter solstices is more than coincidence. Long before Christianity and the commemoration of these holy figures, all around the world long-established festivals and celebrations were customary on the solstices and equinoxes.

Mid-summer was a joyous time for pagan peoples; celebrated for the abundance of food and medicinal stuffs. By June the early crops were harvested, other crops were growing well and flowers and food were plentiful. June was the preferred time for weddings; in fact the first full moon in June was designated as "the honey moon" as newlyweds were fed dishes made with freshly harvested honey for the first month of their married lives.

The ancient Celts, Chinese, Romans, Scandinavians. Germanic and Slavic tribes all had special ceremonies for the June 24th one of the longest days of the year. Midsummers Day was once a celebration of trees, water, earth, fire, fertility and agriculture. All over the world, long awaited fiestas filled the magical short night with altars of thanksgiving, feasting, prayer, predictions and good luck charms.

By the middle ages and renaissance, even the dew on St. John's day was believed to have healing properties. Other highly venerated plants were ferns which were said to flower only once a year in the dark of Midsummer's Eve, along with grasses, clovers and the yellow star-shaped flowers of St. John's Wort. Even Native Americans got into the act with Hopi dancing to spirits for rain and fertility, sending messages between humanity and the Gods.

Precisely at sunset on St. John's Eve, men named John set chains of midsummer bonfires along the crests of hills, at the edges of rivers and lakes, and near graveyards all across Europe. It was believed the harvest would be better when the widest possible area of fields were illuminated by the fire, so a wooden wheel was soaked in tar or pitch and attached to a pole on the highest hill before being set afire.

The bonfires were blessed with Holy Water and therefore believed to exorcise the demons and keep the fairies away. Coals from the bonfires were carried to new homes to kindle the first fires and include the homes in the blessings. The bonfires were carefully tended until the dawn when the singing and dancing finally ended. The ashes from the fires were gathered and spread on the fields as a blessing and purification.

The enormous solemn final procession of the fiesta on the afternoon of the June 24 feast day of San Juan Bautista is the most awe-inspiring of any in this region of Mexico. The procession begins and ends at the church and the mass of faithful pilgrims stretches for blocks and grows as it moves through the village to the closing Mass of the nine-day celebration.

Several groups of indigenous dancers are interspersed with three or four bands, and thousands of people?from newborn babes to the most elderly members of the community walk together in the pilgrimage to honor their patron saint and in thanksgiving for their answered prayers to St. John the Baptist.

Many of the young girls wear their white First Communion or confirmation dresses for the procession. The great-grandmothers lean on the arms of their teenaged progeny. Blindfolded parish member and others with bare feet are guided along the harsh cobblestones as they fulfill a promise made while asking San Juan's intercession to bring their prayers to God's attention.

The tiny boys of the community are dressed to resemble John the Baptist as the Bible pictures him living in the wilderness. You'll see these animal skin-clad tots as the central focus of home ofrendas (altars) along the procession route and carried in their parents' arms for the long walk.

The thousand or so people are interspaced with carros alegóricos (elaborate floats with Biblical themes). Mounted on trucks these scenes are amazingly effective and created with great imagination and artistic touches. You'll often spot Moses being rescued from the rushes, Jesus baptized by his cousin St. John, Mary's visit to her Cousin Ana, or the child Jesus preaching to the elders in the temple.

While most Lakeside villages are places the emphasis more and more on the carnival, musical entertainment, drinking and dancing, the focus in San Juan Cosalá is still on the church and the religious aspects of old Mexican patron feast day traditions.

Want to attend? Be sure to attend the final procession in San Juan Cosalá. The late afternoon pilgrimage leaves the church about 6 p.m., moving to the west edge of town where it turns right onto the highway and proceeds east to San Juan's main street, Porfirio Díaz and back to the church. The participants include hundreds of villagers, several bands, pilgrims, elaborate floats and dancing indigenous groups all jostling for space in the narrow streets. Traffic through the village is stopped during the procession, so arrive early and don?t park on the procession route.

Labels: , ,


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 7:10 PM | 0 comments  

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Real Estate Reveals Cultural Differences


There are significant cultural differences between North Americans and Mexicans. Doubt that statement? Real estate situations will create examples faster than you can analyze them.

For Sale
It begins when the sign goes up on a property. John calls to ask "How many bedrooms and baths are in that house? How's the kitchen? If he even thinks to ask about the lot, he will ask if there is a "nice yard."

When John's Mexican counterpart Juan calls about the same sign, his first, and often only question is, "How many meters of land are in the property." He may never ask any questions about the house. When he does ask about the house, it will be only to inquire about the size—the number of meters of construction.

Finding Properties for Sale by Owner
Newcomers are even more frustrated when they try to find fixer-upper properties and lots in Lakeside villages. It's then they realize that most Mexican property owners don't deal with strangers, have little experience with real estate companies, don't want to pay a sales agent's commission, and often won't share information they may have about neighborhood houses for sale.

A gringo viewing property asks, "How much is that lot?" When told that piece of land is Mexican owned and not on the market, our gringo buddy winks and nudges us and says, "Well, we both know everything is for sale, it's always just a matter of money." It's as hard to get him to understand that many Mexican houses or lots will never be for sale, for any amount of money, as it is to talk a Mexican into selling land they want to hold.

Buying Mexican Owned Property
North of the border, couples purchase a starter home. Once they establish equity, they sell it and buy a larger house. In Mexico's cash market, young couples can seldom afford to buy a house. If they can buy a second house, they keep and rent the first.

Mexicans in small villages don't sell their houses unless they must. Even when in severe financial trouble, families keep properties as long as possible. For many years, Mexicans have had little faith in their own currency and choose to buy land, the most stable of investments, instead of putting money into bank accounts. Their view of property ownership is more like that of the Native Americans. They don't believe in owning land; they are only allowed to hold it in sacred trust for the next generation.

Mexican extended families still live in very small geographical areas within their villages. Originally the people in Lakeside towns had tiny farms—really small acreages—near the center of town. The towns have grown to surround the little farms, which were sometimes only one or two city blocks. As time passed, family members built houses around the edges of the property.

Today some north shore heirs to these homes have sold their properties, giving foreigners and other Mexicans opportunities to purchase and remodel houses on "normal" size lots in town. In many of the south shore villages, families still own most of their property. The villages are made up of larger lots and there are more farm crops and livestock right in the center of the villages, and fewer remodeled homes for sale.

Private Sale Closings
A North American buyer expects his good faith money—that initial payment will be held in an escrow account, or at least by a third party. A Mexican seller plans to have that 10% in his hand, on the day it's received. He may need it to pay off family members who own a small portion of the property or to pay off liens he's incurred.

When you get in to the world of buying property privately from a Mexican national, it's not unusual to discover that the person you are dealing with does not have a deed for the property in his name. He may have claim to a major portion of the property, or he may represent a large group of family members.

Remember those acreages we were talking about? All too often when he grandparents died, they left the property in equal parts to their six or eight children. Some of those heirs have often died, and left their portion to their three or four children. Unfortunately even some of that third generation of heir's portions may have passed to their children.

Your contact may need to round up from 30 to 75 or 80 valid partial owners to agree to sign in front of the notary before the property can close, free and clear. If just one heir refuses to sign the paperwork, your deal is over, and your contact may no longer have your good faith money to return to you.

If you think that sounds like a nightmare, you are exactly right. We are nervous during the escrow period. Anxious that it all fall into place and that all the Ts are crossed and Is are dotted.

Remember that sales between Mexicans are different, often face to face deals between relatives or neighbors. The seller and buyer meet at the notary's office, where the good faith payment is turned over to the seller and a contract to sell is signed and witnessed. The remainder of the money (often in cash) changes hands often months later, when the notary has all the paperwork in order and the new deed has been prepared—sometimes years later.

You can avoid these closing nightmares and most of the other cultural barriers by using an honorable real estate company and agent to broker your deal. They won't allow you to get involved in purchasing a property without a current, registered deed.

Here's probably the most important cultural difference—save looking for "For Sale by Owner" homes for when you are North of the border.

Labels: ,


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 5:12 PM | 0 comments  

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Do You Like It Here?


It happened to me again today. I was washing my hands in a ladies' room here in Ajijic and when a woman came out of the stall she said to me, "Where are you from?"

I explained that I'd been born and raised in Iowa, had lived seven years in California, and that I've been living here in Ajijic for nearly 17 years.

She opened her eyes, wide, and asked my least favorite question of all, "Do you like it?"

I know folks who are here checking the area for retirement are anxious to discover how the rest of us live. I suppose they have real concerns about liking to live here. Still, they must realize that none of us were transferred here for our jobs, we weren't born here or living here out of habit. Most of us don't have extended family here that needs us to care for them?we came by choice and we remain by choice.

As a matter of fact, Mexico is not for everyone and not everyone likes it well enough to stay for five or ten years. There are some foreigners who move back North of the border every year.

There are times I have to bite back a variety of snippy or sarcastic responses to the question, "Oh you've been here 17 years, do you like it?

Thankfully I slept well last night, the day was going well and I was in a good mood. I was able to say, "Yes," and just smile and bite back all the smart remarks that came to mind at moments like that.

Just in case you think you might ever ask someone if they like living here, please print page and carry it in your pocket or purse. Then instead of asking the question you can read the responses they would like to give:



  • Actually, I hate it here, but I believe I am a bad person and maybe when I've punished myself enough, I'll go somewhere nice.
  • No, I don't like it, but I'm saving my money and when I have $80 U.S. I'll buy a bus ticket to Texas.
  • Oh, didn't you know? They don't let us go back. Once you cross the border you are here to stay, like it or not.
  • I'm being held hostage.
  • I'm doing a special project. I'm recording silly questions. Thanks for your contribution ? now that I've met my quota, I can leave.


But we knew you weren't the type to ask those questions any way, right?

P.S. How do I really feel?
Just in case you are still wondering...I love it here, and I'm staying. In fact, you couldn't get me out of here with a crowbar.

Neill James, a travel writer who came to Ajijic in the 1940s to recover from an accident and died here some 50 years later said, "Once the dust of Mexico gets on your heart, you can never go home again."

That dust has been on my heart since 1990 and I'm here to stay.

Live is Good at Lake Chapala!

Labels:


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 9:11 AM | 0 comments  

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Remembering Fathers at Lakeside


Every year we watch with amazement (and some small amount of yearning) as our Mexican neighbors pause to give homage to mothers on May 10. From flower sellers who line the plaza to the various musical groups and village brass bands that serenade moms from midnight until dawn to the packed restaurants at comida time it seems like everyone and everything is focused on Mother's Day.

Now, barely a month later, what's in store for Mexico's macho dads on Father's Day? Not much. No flowers, no bands, no school programs, no comida in restaurants. Oh, there are some greeting cards, small gifts and a special dinner at home. Compared to the day honoring Mom, Father's Day is a sleeper in Mexico, just like it was back North of the Border.

Last year local writer Teresa Kendrick helped a stranger come to terms with her father's death. Her story became the basis for this salute to the foreign fathers who lie in area cemeteries, far from families and friends. Teresa searched several days for information in response to the plaintive emailed plea she received from a U.S. woman, "Please help me find the burial site of my father."

When Teresa came to the realization that local officials don't have readily available maps of the cemeteries or logs of those buried there, she wasn't sure she would be able to help the woman find her dad. Eventually Teresa found the person with the answers, Florence Michaloski.

Just a few years ago, members of the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter took on the daunting task of mapping area cemeteries to find and identify the graves of foreigners, and especially the graves of U.S. veterans. That DAR list now includes 101 U.S. and Mexican veteran's graves as well as the resting spots of many other foreigners. From the list, Teresa was able to find the grave for which she was searching, giving the U.S. daughter peace and closure.

When I talked to Florence about the DAR mapping project, she shared with me a poem she had discovered while combing the Chapala cemetary. The words are painted into hand-made tiles, and the words are a headstone tribute to a grandfather who was buried in 1982.

If someone asks me this day
What my grandpa means to me
I wouldn't hesitate to say
You're the best one that there could be

When I was small you took the
Time to show me nature's way
We went on walks through firs and pines
On bright and sunny days
I learned the names of mountains
Flowers and birds that flew through the air
The flowers grew because of showers
And I grew because you were there

I want to tell you that I care
To say a grateful thanks
For all the times we have shared
And to say I love you gramps

Would that all Fathers be remembered with as much love.
Happy Father's Day with love and memories to all of our Fathers and Grandfathers.

Labels: , ,


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 12:02 PM | 0 comments  

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Top 10 Tips for Buyers at Lake Chapala



Even newcomers who have bought many homes in other parts of the world eventually realize that purchasing real estate here is a whole new ballgame. Almost all local real estate deals are for cash. There are precious few opportunities for financing of any kind.

Dealing in a cash market puts a new spin on the whole process. Here are ten points for you to consider before you buy a Lakeside home.

1. Don't rush. Spend enough time at Lake Chapala to know the neighborhoods and developments, how much monthly fees cost in different areas and other pertinent facts. Come and rent while you get to know the area and really decide which area is right for you.

2. Get the inventory before you make an offer. Customs are different here. The light fixtures, telephone line and water heater may not be included in the sales price.

3. Do your homework. Learn how real estate sales are done here. Don't be taken in by folks who say, "That's the way we do it in Mexico."

4. Trust your instincts. If you get "feelings" in the pit of your stomach, listen to them. Take a break from looking at houses, come back with a fresh head and lots of common sense. Don't be afraid to look "silly" to your agent, it is your money and your life.

5. Ask questions. Don't make assumptions and don't be afraid to ask lots and lots of questions. Keep a list as questions for your agent as they come up. A good agent will welcome your questions and wants to calm your concerns.

6. Know all the problems. Agents and owners are not bound by "disclosure laws." You need to find out all you can about the problems in a property, development or neighborhood. Insist on an inspection by an independent inspector. Don't have a potential contractors do the inspection. If he thinks he has a big job coming he now has a vested interest in you purchasing this property.

7. Check it out yourself. Go back without your agent to talk to the people living in the neighborhood or development. Ask neighbors who have lived there a while about noise, water problems, sewer problems, and fault lines. Would they buy on this street again? Check out the developer's earlier projects. Were all homes sold quickly? What are the problems? How much did the monthly fees go up when the developer signed off?

7. Watch out for drama and promises. This is now a much slower market; some agents are anxious to make a sale. The house you love will probably not sell tonight or anytime soon. AND it probably will not double in value in the next few months. Be extra cautious of any agent who uses these tactics to get your signature on the dotted line. Remember that old saying, "if the deal is too good to be true?it probably is."

8. Location, Location, Location. Nearly every buyer here says they are buying the last house of their lives. Most sell those houses in a few years. Some want to build, some buy bigger or smaller houses, some leave the area and some rent. In this market, it can take months or years to sell your home, especially if you spent too much for it. Buy a house with resale in mind; be sure to have adequate parking, minimal stairs, is in a good location and widely desirable floor plan and amenities.

9. Don't leave your brains at the border. If a property doesn't have a clear deed or adequate water supply at the time of your offer, don't buy it. When you purchase a property without a deed or water, you own a property with little value and a lot of worry, stress, and continuing legal and logistical problems.

10. Trust or Deed? Your personal situation, family, age, marital status, health, and intentions can all affect the cost and viability of the two legal methods of owning property here. Don't accept a global recommendation from your agent. If you have any doubts or want clarification, demand an appointment with your Notary.

Remember that when you pay cash for a house at closing, you aren't building equity or creating a tax advantage. You are taking a big chunk from your retirement portfolio and you are probably making the largest cash purchase of your lifetime. Take your time. Rent first until you know the lay of the land here at Lake Chapala.

You'll find more information about purchasing real estate at Lake Chapala and about renting here at Lakeside in the archived issues of Living at Lake Chapala at http://www.mexico-insights.com/. and at the weekly Living at Lake Chapala seminars held every Thursday at 10 a.m. in the bar of La Nueva Posada in Ajijic.

Labels: ,


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 12:16 PM | 0 comments  

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Stay Healthy and Enjoy Mexico's Fruits and Vegetables



Our last blog answered concerns about drinking the water and consuming ice in Mexico. While those are two large concerns for newcomers, there are other new processes to learn when you move to Mexico or come for a visit that will help you stay healthy and happy.

In the pages of Living at Lake Chapala at http://www.mexico-insights.com/, our writers have written a dozen or more articles about shopping for the beautiful fruits and vegetables sold in area tianguis (street markets) and in the grocery stores and central market places. The bell peppers, green onions, radishes, lettuce, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, apples, peaches, grapes, pears and other fruits and vegetables are perfect and beautiful they are not yet ready to eat.

In Mexico, because our tap water may not be absolutely pure, and because we are never sure where and how our fruits and vegetables have been grown and picked, we take an extra step to be certain that all of the bacteria has been washed off of the produce we are going to eat without peeling or cooking.

Local grocery stores and pharmacies sell special drops with which you can purify water and vegetables and fruits. When I get back from the market I just put all of the produce in a large dish pan, fill the pan with tap water and then I add five drops of the purification solution (silver colloid) to the water. According to the directions on the package, I let the produce soak in the treated water for 15 minutes, then let it all air dry. Do Not Rinse the fruits and veggies with tap water!

While you may be well advised to avoid eating raw fruits and vegetables that are not cooked or peeled in restaurants in other areas of the country, you don't have to worry about salads and fruits here.

Lakeside restaurants have been catering to Mexican and foreign tourists for many years and they know keeping diners healthy is vital to staying in business. Ajijic and Chapala restaurants serve only purified water, use purified ice and the fruits and vegetables they serve have been disinfected, so you can eat everything without fear of illness.

It's interesting to note that much of the produce we purchase here is exported to the U.S. where customers don't take any special efforts to purify it. We bet that those of you who are north of the border are familiar with the Driscoll brand of strawberries, red raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Those raspberries and some of the other berries are raised right here at Lake Chapala in a large farming operation near Jocotepec.

Life is Good at Lake Chapala

Labels: , ,


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 7:36 PM | 0 comments  

Don't Drink the Water!

Don't drink the water. Is there a traveler to Mexico who hasn't heard that warning multiple times as they planned their holiday south of the border?

That warning must be heeded in most hotels and homes all over the Republic of Mexico. All residents of Mexico (yes, even Mexicans) are accustomed to always using bottled or purified water for brushing teeth, making coffee and tea, making ice cubes and drinking.

Here at Lake Chapala the water that comes into our homes is pumped from deep wells scattered across the area. The water pumped from those wells is pure and clean. We assume that as the water travels through underground pipes to our homes or in our home water storage tanks, it may have become contaminated. We choose to err on the side of safety, as do our Mexican neighbors and drink purified water.

Most of us use purified water that is delivered to our homes in five-gallon plastic jugs, similar to those you've seen back home. The only difference is the price . We currently pay about $2 U.S. per five-gallon garafon. I use a little more than one bottle per week.

When the water delivery truck passes my house every day or two, the driver cries, "AGUA." The driver carries the bottle into my house, wipes off the top of the bottle with a cloth, and puts the full garafon upside down in my ceramic dispenser. I pay him $22 pesos plus a one or two peso tip. That's all it takes to maintain my supply of drinking water.

If you are staying in a B&B or hotel, the management will provide you with a bottle of purified water a day. Some inns have a garafon of water in a public area so you can refill your bottle; others have installed water purification systems to provide pure water to the cold water faucet in your room. Always ask to be certain that the water in the sink is purified before you drink it or use it to brush your teeth.

Water Purification Systems
Some of my friends and many of the newcomers at Lake Chapala have installed water treatment systems in their homes. These electrified wonders filter the water and then pass it through a reverse osmosis system before subjecting the water to ultraviolet light to kill any remaining bacteria or parasites.

The systems aren't cheap?they run $350 to $750 US for installation plus another $150 per year for maintenance (replacing the filters and ultraviolet light bulb). It isn't the cost that keeps me from installing a purification system, it's the chances folks take that depend on their system to provide their pure water. Over the years, you wouldn't believe the stories we've heard. I know of a dozen or more homes where the systems were improperly installed, and the water didn't pass through the system to the cold water faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms.

The members of one household couldn't understand why they were having recurring stomach problems until they discovered that the ultraviolet light bulb in their system wasn't turned on. Other folks forget that when there is a power outage, the system is not on, and therefore not purifying the water that is traveling through the pipes during the time, creating a potentially troublesome problem.

There's nothing wrong with the systems or the science of purifying water this way. If you move into a house with a system, have it double checked to be certain it is properly installed, avoid using the water from the tap during a power outage or for several hours after one, clean and change your filters as instructed and check the light bulb daily.

Ordering Water in a Restaurant
If you order a glass of water in a Lakeside restaurant, let me assure you that you will be served purified water. The servers have never used water from the faucets; they have used boiled water or water from garafones from childhood. If you specify ?bottled? or ?purified water,? the cost of the bottle will usually be added to your bill (usually a bit over one dollar). When I'm traveling in other areas of Mexico, I am far more careful about drinking water; in more remote areas, I only drink water from sealed bottles.

Of Course You Can Have Ice in Your Drink
Far too many visitors and tourists think that they will become sick if they use ice in their soft drinks or water while they are in Mexico.

While that may once have been true, today you can safely enjoy ice cold limonada (limeade) or Coca Cola, just as you do at home. Mexico has instituted laws governing the production of ice, and now consumers can tell at a glance if the ice is safe.

All cylinder-shaped pieces of ice with a hole in the middle and other regularly shaped pieces of ice must, by Mexican law, be made with purified water. Those cylinders are the most commonly used ice pieces. They are manufactured in the same plants where purified water is bottled.

Always avoid using ice that is being chipped or shaved from a large ice block. While most of those blocks are safely manufactured, it is impossible to discern the difference. Be sure, if you are at a party or event, to not pick up an irregularly shaped piece of ice from the cooler that is filled with bottles of beer or sodas. Those pieces are tempting, but leave them alone.

It's Not Just the Water!
Keep these simple rules in mind and you'll not have a problem with drinking the water in Mexico. There are other food items that require special handling. Our next blog takes a look at how to prepare the fruits and vegetables.



Life is Good at Lake Chapala

Labels: , ,


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 6:57 PM | 0 comments  

Where Are We? Mexican Maps




Many folks find it easier to get to know an area once they've familiarized themselves with a map. Maps of Mexico are not easy to find and you'll never find maps for most small to medium towns. So, what do you do when you enter a new Mexican community and want to head for the center of town to find an ATM, cab, restaurant or other services?

Look for the church spires! The large, old churches in most towns and cities are either next to or very close to the community's main plaza. Recent changes in Mexico's laws now allow other buildings to be taller than the church steeples, but the old, distinctive towers are usually visible from vantage points all around town.

Interactive Maps
We recently rediscovered a good map that not only shows the location of Lakeside's towns and villages, it shows you the relationship to Guadalajara. With this map you can trace the free highways and the cuotas (toll roads) back to the border, down to the beach at Manzanillo or Puerto Vallarta or pretend you are taking a trip east to Patzcuaro in Michoacán, San Miguel de Allende in the state of Leon or travel on to Mexico City.

You'll get a good understanding of how to get to the airport and to the city of Guadalajara, where San Juan Cosalá is compared to Ajijic and Jocotepec, the distance around the lake and the location of the islands in Lake Chapala. Have you spotted a house in an internet ad that is Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos or Agua Escondido? You'll find those areas here, too. Even after you play with this one for an hour or two, you'll want to bookmark this website so you can come back again later: http://encarta.msn.com/map_701513910/Chapala_Lake.html

Interactive Map of Guadalajara
Guía Roji, the country's premier map maker, has launched an internet site which will allow viewers to find nearly any address or landmark in Guadalajara or the i the metropolitan suburban cities of Zapopan, Tlaquepaque, Tonalá, Tlajomulco and El Salto.

The website can be searched by street address, colonia (neighborhood), postal code, or landmarks. Once the searched address is located, you can zoom in for a close look at other streets or you can zoom back out to get a good overview of the location, and then you can even print out the helpful page. The website is written in Spanish, but we think you'll be able to figure it out.

To find a specific address, just type in the address in the space provided on the first page.

I really enjoyed exploring the city's landmarks. To find the list of landmarks, click on the map of Guadalajara, then select "Sitios de Interés" (Sites of Interest) You'll be shown a list of interesting sites around the city. When you click on any of them, a map pops up with that landmark's specific location.

I've sure bookmarked this page. The next time someone asks me how to get to a doctor's office or to a particular fabric shop in Guadalajara, I'll be able to come up with a great answer, fast! Better yet, you can bookmark the site, too. Then you'll be able to find the information yourself!

The Guadalajara website is http://www.guiaroji.com.mx/

Getting Interactive at Lakeside
To get to know the streets in the Lakeside's villages take a look at the interactive street map available at http://www.chapala.com/maps/ajijic.html. There you'll find street maps and short bits of information about the history of Chapala, San Antonio Tlayacapan, Ajijic, San Juan Cosalá and Jocotepec.

Road Maps of Mexico
You won't find a road map in Pemex gas stations anywhere in the country, and unless you are in a border city, the only map of Mexico you'll find in the United States will be the back page of your U.S. Atlas, and trust me when I tell you that doesn't have anywhere near enough information for Mexican driving trips.

Guia Roji publishes the best maps of Mexico. When you are at Lakeside, you can purchase these great maps in several Lakeside locations including: Superlake (the grocery store) on the highway in San Antonio Tlayacapan, Libros and Revistas, a local book store with two branches. The original store is on Francisco Madero, the boulevard through the center of Chapala, near the main intersection with the stoplights. The second Libros and Revistas location is located near the parking lot entrance of Plaza Bugambilias in Ajijic. You'll spot Plaza Bugambilias on the highway when you see the movie theater marquee out front.

Life is Good at Lake Chapala!

Labels: , ,


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 1:41 PM | 0 comments  

Sunday, June 10, 2007

A First Hand Look At The First Rain

A couple of years ago, when the first early rains fell on the Lake Chapala area in late May, Bill Haslbauer wrote the following vivid description to the members of a then active email group of folks interested in moving to Lakeside. We thought you'd enjoy his description of that first unexpected storm.

"It began far off in the distance. Little flashes of light every so often that they surprised me and woke me from a sound sleep. "It's nothing but my imagination" I thought in my half awake state. Suddenly, the crash of thunder brought me wide-awake and sitting straight up in bed. It was 2:30 in the morning after a typical late spring day in Ajijic. With the suddenness that usually accompanies the rains here, there was more thunder and lightning. Who could go back to sleep with this light and sound show going on?

"After a couple years here, I didn't expect this storm in May. But then the rain began; the first sudden down pour quickly slowed to a gentle rainfall. As the thunder and lightning abated and the rain continued, we were curious to see how our new house was weathering the storm. When the lights came back on, first we checked the covered terrazzo and saw droplets of water everywhere. We switched into rescue mode, trying to save our new furniture and everything else that could be damaged by water. For several minutes we were scurrying about bringing in pillows, chairs, papers from the table, and everything else we could lay our hands on.

"When the rain started falling in sheets, the droplets became puddles and the lightening increased to light show frequency. Our surprise at this early storm turned to shock, when we heard hail hitting the roof glass over the stairs. Hail is very rare here, and thankfully the stones were not large and didn't last long, but it certainly got our attention. When the long rolls of thunder and the brief wind subsided, we went back to bed. With distant thunder still rumbling, we drifted slowly back to sleep, listening to the soft, steady patter of the slowing rain.

"With the dawning of another beautiful cool morning, we discovered a very wet and dirty terrazzo. The garage roof, which we expected to leak, did so with profusion. Actually I was amazed that there were no more leaks than we had. Between our tile roof and the totally different construction here, I would have expected more problems.

"Thanks to tile floors, our clean up took only a few minutes, by mid-morning everything was back to normal. This is just one more chapter in living in a new land. We'll begin some mundane work on the roof Monday, but I think I'll also address what can be done about the leaky terrazzo roof. I'm sure there is a fix to it, after all, these Mexican craftsmen can do almost anything.
"Mexico...ya gotta love it!"

Thanks Bill and Neva...we enjoyed your report. If you want more details about the rainy season at Lake Chapala, check out the June 2007 "From the Editor" column in Living at Lake Chapala at http://www.mexico-insights.com/.

"Life is Good at Lake Chapala"

Labels: , ,


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 10:26 PM | 0 comments  

The First Rains of The Season



YIPPEE!! The Rainy season is starting. We had rain at Lakeside this week--twice, in fact!

I know that isn't an earth-shaking event in many places, but we've not had measurable rain here in Ajijic since last November, and the start of the rainy season signals a number of delightful changes for Lake Chapala residents.

Each year between June and October, the Lake Chapala area receives around 39" of rain. One of our subscribers has become our personal weatherman. Marv Armendinger who lives in the village of El Limon at the west edge of San Juan Cosala reports in periodically with the rain fall amounts.

This week he revealed that on May 29 (the first measurable rain of this spring, he received 1/10 of an inch. Our next welcome rain fall was on Tuesday, June 5, when he reported 3/10 and his friend who checks rainfall in San Antonio Tlayacapan (these two reporters live less than 10 miles apart) reported 1/4 of an inch. That same night, it rained over an inch in the city of Chapala (about five miles east of San Antonio). It's always like that, each area can receive vastly different amounts of precipitation in the same time span.

The first big rain came Friday, June 8, Marv reported an even inch in his gauge and his San Antonio friend found a hefty inch and a half from the overnight storm.

Shhhh. Don't tell too many people, but most of the folks who live at Lakeside say that the summer rainy season is their favorite time of the year. Here are some of the reasons why:

  • The daily high afternoon temperatures drop from the low to mid-90s to very comfortable days in the low to mid 80s.
  • The overnight low temperature drops from the 70 degree mark to the upper 50s.
  • The breezes that accompany the frequent rains cool our homes.
  • The frequent rains wash our world clean - everything is fresh and beautiful.
  • The rain-washed air carries far less dust and pollen and that relieves those who suffer from allergies.
  • We no longer need to water our plants and lawns every day.
  • The rains bring moderate humidity to relieve our dried out skin and noses (the humidity in April and May is usually in the 17 to 30% levels and that's drier than the Sahara Desert!)
  • The clouds of dust that have been rolling into the house for the past six weeks is quieted. We can see our tabletops again!
  • The plants in our gardens seem to grow by spurts overnight.
  • The trees and bushes covering the mountains around Lake Chapala begin to grow, and in just a few weeks our Mexican mountains are as green and lush as those in Hawaii.
  • The rains which normally occur at night create perfect sleeping conditions. Cool breezes flutter our curtains; we snuggle deeper into our blankets and drift off to sleep listening to the rumble of distant thunder and the welcome pitter patter of raindrops.


The weather patterns that create Lake Chapala's legendary "Second Best Climate in the World" also protect our area from damaging winds and hail. These tropical inversion systems gather clouds during the late afternoons and ensure that almost all of the annual 39 inches of rain falls on our area at night.

Here, however is our disclaimer: Contrary to what you may have read in some other overly optimistic internet sites, it does occasionally rain in the daytime. These few grey, cloudy and drizzly days each year are always the byproduct of a tropical storm traveling up Mexico's Pacific coast or a developing hurricane skimming north along the Atlantic.

There's another misconception that we'd like to clarify. Folks are shocked to discover that we do have days when temperatures reach the mid-90s in April and May and dip down into the 40s in January. They've read that the annual mean temperature here is 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and in scanning the information, they slipped over the words "annual mean temperature". If we average all of the daytime highs and lows, for an entire year, I'm sure we'd find that the current annual mean temperature is still 72 degrees, give or take a tiny fraction of a degree.

If you want to know more about the weather at Lake Chapala, take a look at the information in the "From the Editor" column in the June 2007 issue of Living at Lake Chapala at http://www.mexico-insights.com/.

That "From the Editor" column is alwyas available to all readers, if you have a subscription or not. The June 2007 issue features a chart with the average high and low for each month of the year as well as a 2006 monthly tally of rainfall amounts from our friend, El Limon resident Marvin Armendinger.

Come back to the blog soon. Our next column will feature how a view of the first rainfall written a couple of years ago by then new residents Bill and Neva Haslbauer. Experience the thrill of the beginning of the rainy season through their eyes.

Life is Good at Lake Chapala

Labels: , ,


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 12:05 PM | 0 comments  

Saturday, June 9, 2007

What does it Really Cost to Live at Lake Chapala?


Unfortunately not all information about Lake Chapala on the internet, or in print publications is accurate. A CBS evening news feature last year and articles in several publications, including Time, Forbes and AARP, The Magazine have focused on the low cost of living at Lake Chapala. Even the
article titles: "Living the Vida Cheapo" and "No Money, No Problem" have given folks the false impression that they can live here on impossibly low amounts of money.

What's the real scoop?
How much it costs to live anywhere depends on our individual lifestyles. There are a lot of personal choices and variables:

  • How much do you shop - do you stay out of boutiques or are you a shopaholic?
  • How much do you drink - do you have a glass of wine on special occasions or several drinks before and after dinner?
  • How often do you eat out - once a month for breakfast or do you eat out two or more times a day?
  • What do you eat at home - fresh salmon or canned tuna?
  • How much do you entertain - do you have folks over for dominos and brownies for do they come for steak?
  • Do you have a car - how much do you drive?

The only way we know to give you an indication of the real costs at Lakeside is to print actual costs. Each January issue of our Living at Lake Chapala webzine at www.mexico-insights.com, we poll six households and record what they really spend in a typical month.

Over the last six years, our three singles' monthly costs average between $1200 and $1800 U.S. per month. Our three couples are spending from $1800 to $3,000 U.S. per month. All of these folks are living the lifestyle they want, and are enjoying the things they like to do.

This is not a scientific study, but the figures include prorated car and heath insurance costs, rent or property taxes, prorated amounts for renewing immigration papers, and all living expenses. We asked our participants not to include any foreign travel or their longer trips within Mexico.

All of these participants have a part-time housekeeper and a part- time gardener, and all live in very nice homes - not mansions, not estates, not castles - but attractive, comfortable homes with from two to four bedrooms. One participating couple has a pool, another has adopted five large dogs and several cats, most attend performances at the Lakeside Little Theater and classical concerts at the auditorium.

I know a single woman who says she spends $5,000 a month. I'm sure she does, but I'm not sure on what. Then too, few of us worry about how much we can spend, we think a lot more about how to keep within our budget.

I've also known foreigners who live here for far less than our participants, but they've made some concessions to keep to their budgets. They've rented a room in a boarding house or rooming house, or found a tiny place that needs work to keep their rent low. They eat a lot more tacos and tamales than steaks. They don't keep a car, and don't shop or go out much - still they can live on very low incomes or military pensions in a real clean safe place. It isn't as much fun and it isn't easy, but it can be done.

Keep in mind that the Mexican government requires those of us who live here full time prove that we have an income of about $1,000 U.S.dollars per month for the head of household and about $500 for each dependent.

Every January we update this monthly costs feature in the Cost of Living column of Living at Lake Chapala at http://www.mexico-insights.com/. All othere months we we report current prices of various items in that column.

The June 2007 issue includes the costs of computers and various accessories, supplies and add-ons. The July 2007 issue will take a look at the cost of laundry products and appliances. In other months we've reviewed groceries, vet charges, haircuts and shaves for gentlemen and haircuts, manicures and pedicures for the ladies.

You name it, we'll get you the prices. We know it helps you plan for your new life here.

Life is Good at Lake Chapala!

Labels: , ,


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 11:56 AM | 0 comments  

Friday, June 8, 2007

The Fiesta of San Antonio de Padua in San Antonio Tlayacapan

Every Mexican village, town, state, craft guild, union and organization has a patron saint to watch over their daily lives and work.

As the Franciscans were moving from village to village, they selected a Patron Saint for each new congregation and then added the Saint's name to the original Indian name. Thus Cosalá became San Juan Cosalá and Ajijic was known as San Andrés Ajijic. Tlayacapan, the settlement between San Francisco Chapala and Ajijic was assigned a favorite Franciscan saint, St. Anthony of Padua, and the name of San Antonio Tlayacapan.

In each community the indigenous quickly formed a common bond with their special protector, as each lakeside village was given a Biblical hero or Franciscan saint associated with boats, fishermen and bodies of water.

Because the little fishing settlements were established so near to one another along the shore of Lake Chapala. The clever padres also were consulting the church calendar and positioning the saints so that the celebration of each saint's day would not cause competition with a neighboring village and their fiesta.

The Feast day of San Antonio is celebrated on June 13, the date of his death in 1231. Beginning on June 1, the villagers fill each of the first 13 days of June with religious processions, Masses, sky rockets and devotion.

Each day of the fiesta begins with skyrockets to awaken the villagers at dawn for the pilgrimage to "Las Mañanitas" an early morning service of music, prayer and adoration. A 7 p.m. evening Mass follows the second procession of each day. Some of the evening processions feature groups reenacting dances of the indigenous people who lived at Lakeside before the arrival of the Spanish. You'll want to be sure to get some photos of the village children, both boys and girls who don brown Franciscan robes to be come "Tonitos and Tonitas" (small Anthonys and Antonias).

After Mass each night, the plaza in San Antonio Tlayacapan bursts with activity as the local townspeople and visitors from other villages and afar come to enjoy the carnival rides and games, meeting and greeting friends and neighbors, an occasional drink from a plaza terrace and the pleasant late spring evening. Sometime between 10 p.m. and Midnight, a set fireworks piece, called here in Mexico a castillo (castle) will be set off.

The excitement, size of the processions, numbers of flowers adorning the church and volume of the late night bands and fireworks all increase as the days of the fiesta continue, building to a climax on the last two or three nights.

The last night, June 13th, in San Antonio will feature huge crowds, a very large carnival and wonderful fireworks. Unfortunately a few fights also break out in San Antonio. Because the crowds there are so dense and hemmed in by the carnival, it can be hard to escape the melee. You might want to consider attending the fiesta earlier in the week to give San Antonio your best wishes-especially if you've recently lost a precious belonging or an important paper.

While San Antonio is revered as the patron against shipwrecks and starvation and the patron of Italy, boatmen, domestic animals, mariners, sailors and travelers, he is possibly best known for his ability to find lost trinkets and even husbands for hopeless spinsters.

A story recounting the loss and return of Antonio's precious book of psalms has prompted thousands of Catholics all around the word to ask him to intercede with God to return things lost or stolen.

"Saint Anthony, Saint Anthony please come around
Something is lost and needs to be found."

In some Mexican churches, statues of Saint Anthony are banked with candles left with prayers and petitions on small pieces of paper on Tuesdays, Anthony's special day. These petitions ask for assistance in finding employment, safely delivering a new baby, safe passage on a trip, finding a lost item, the reconciliation with a family member, and more.

The statues of San Antonio are easy to identify. He is an attractive, friendly young man, wearing the brown Franciscan robes and often the Christ child, frequently with a lily or the Bible to represent his devotion to Jesus, his purity, and his knowledge of the scriptures.

Some very old prayer cards and images show Anthony preaching to the fish at Rimini, recalling the legend of a day the heretics there refused to listen until they noticed the fish rise from the water in order to hear Anthony's words. Another popular story recounts Antonio's experience with a starving mule/horse. The hungry animal refused hay/oats until it had knelt to honor the Holy Sacrament when Antonio held both the grain and the host in the animal's view. In some of the older images, Antonio is shown in a blue robe as was the custom of the Spanish Franciscans until 1897.

From these and other miracles and legends, San Antonio is known as the patron saint of lost things, lonely spinsters, fish, mules, other animals, trees, and harvests. His travel and his own shipwreck makes him a favorite protector of fishermen, boatmen, sailors and shipwrecks.

In Mexico there are more than 60 communities hosting fiestas to honor San Antonio each June. At Lake Chapala, local legend assures us that the annual rains will surely begin by the Day of San Antonio, June 13, if not before.

Labels: , ,


Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 3:02 PM | 0 comments  

Welcome to My World at Lake Chapala

Hi There -- Welcome to my little corner of the world. I'm Judy King, a 62-year-old woman, and I live in the centuries-old village of Ajijic on the north shore of Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest natural lake.

I've been here since 1990, and you couldn't budge me out of here with a crowbar. In fact, I publish an online magazine called Living at Lake Chapala, to help other folks find accurate, current information about this area.

The world's largest colony of North American ex-pats lives right here in this string of small fishing villages - Chapala, San Antonio Tlayacapan, Ajijic, San Juan Cosala, Jocotepec - nestled between the mountains that ring the lake and the irregular shoreline.

Life is good at Lake Chapala!

Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.

posted by Judy King at 10:45 AM | 0 comments