GOOD BREEDING in Mexico

We are so thrilled to learn more about the Mexican culture, and how they perceive gringos who fail to greet strangers on the street with "Buenas Dias" (BD) .  Gringos are considered cold and rude if we fail to greet with a smile and a simple BD. It is also considered GOOD BREEDING while honoring your mother to say "Buen Provecho" to a table of strangers sitting next to you in a restaurant.  In a cafe the culture of Mexico will NEVER bring your tab to the table PRIOR

to your asking for the check.  To bring the check before you ask is like asking you to leave the restaurant. So do not be dismayed, simply ASK with a smile "La Cuenta, por favor." Also when gringos meetup with friends, people you see every week, hug them and say "Buenas Dias, Como Estas?" You greeted with a question "Good morning, how are you?" Their response will be "Bien gracias" or "Bien, Bien". When you depart as friends it is proper to say "Adios, Hasta Luego"

Which means "God be with you, see you later". In Mexico men and men, or men and women, or women and women greet each other with a hug and a kiss on the cheek .  Mexican men and women do NOT get jealous when you hug their mates, but they do think you unfriendly if you do not! ALSO the Mexican tradition of celebrating the dead has become somewhat Americanized.  Do not be alarmed by the "Katrina dolls" that line the malecon in Chapala during the last week of October.  The day of the dead Skeleton dolls are festively adorned to cause smiles while remembering loved ones that have died.  Passing out candy and wearing scary costumes is not the Mexican tradition. SHOP COURTEOUS: If you are in Guadalajara or in Chapala shopping and a clerk approaches say "Solamente estoy viendo, gracias"  You are politely saying "I am just looking, thank you".  If they speak in their native speed, which is often too fast for gringo comprehension, simply say "Despacio por favor, no hablo espanol muy bien"  You have asked graciously "Slowly please, I don't speak Spanish very well". It is wise to join LCS in Ajijic. Find LCS on corner of Septimbre and Cologne in Ajijic.The Lake Chapala Society of Expats offers great bus trips and Spanish classes. WELCOME to MEXICO! 

Pueblo Magico

Merry Christmas 2015!  What a gift of God's favor it is to have our fair city of Chapala being primed for induction into the hall of fame of Mexico! We have been the happy recipients of many street improvements over the last year in Chapala. Our city has spent three million pesos to improve the image of

Chapala. In the month of December 2015, Avenida Ignacio Madero is enjoying a major facelift that includes new plants along the median and curbs painted in the Pueblo Magico offical colors. A catalog of buildings that make up Chapala's architectural heritage is underway.  The principal aim of local public works is to enhance the appearance of the towns historic center. Juicy

funding for each PM will be 400 million pesos in 2016 to spend on improving Tourism and 4 billion pesos in 2018. To gain recognition for PM status, Chapala City Hall has been restored and a new Centro Mercardo has been replenished with new benches for our Taxi service. Our new Mayor Javier Degollado is determined to get Chapala incorporated into the Pueblos Magicos (PM) program. There are a total of 111 towns in Mexico that now boast of the Pueblo Magico brand. In the

state of Jalisco PM towns include Tequilla, Moreno, Talpa de Allende, Tpalpa, Mascota, Mazamitla and hopefully Chapala. The PM scheme will be applied as one enters Chapala, and

within the City limits it will focus on the grand water front homes and the historic Railway Station that was built in 1920.  The street that runs in front of the Train Station and in front of Christiana Park and Cruz Roja is just down the street from our casa....it has been re-cobbled with a walkway and rest benches down the median, which is our new foot route to the malecon. 

A TUS ORDENES

A TUS ORDENES...My pleasure to serve you, I am all yours! Notaria Publica in Ajijic, municipio de Chapala, Jalisco was done on 12/30/09 by attorney Luis Enrique Ramos Bustillos for a fee of $200.00 USD. Senor Bustillos opened his office especially to notarize my Power of Attorney required for an absentee owner to close my real estate transaction. Senor Bustillos can be contacted toll free at 713-429-4719. Email: leagua@gmail.com. The state of Jalisco offer's an annual discount on preparing a Mexican will in September for a fee of $100 USD. Kristina Morgan from FOM welcomed me into Jalisco by immersing me into the warmth of her family on Christmas day. My dream has always been to have a view of mountains and access to a lake with mild temps that include a season of cool breezes that lead me to cuddle by a fire. My focus on Mexico, has brought me peace knowing that where I shall retire will be among such beautiful people. Like minded, and interesting folks from around the globe share my enthusiasm for Lake Chapala. Gracia-Alicia Bake will move into her new casa in Ajijic from Toronto in February 2010. Grace worked in Mexico City as a journalist who once interviewed Juan Carlos, the future King of Spain in 1967. Her daughter Michelle works in radio in Toronto and will marry her soul mate Chris Murphy in May at the church in Ajijic. Grace, Michelle and I created a NEW BEGINNING together singing Feliz Anyo Nueva while dancing with the best Mariachi band in all of Lake Chapala. Knowing that Chapala is my final nesting destination is like finding a pot of gold at the rainbow's end! With a forest nearby and a daily spin about the lake, living within a culture of people who are where they want to be, I will enjoy being active in LOVE IN ACTION. An orphnage where 60 kids aged birth to 17 are loved and taught English, dance, painting, arts, crafts. Boys in their teens go to Hope House in Ixtlahuacan where Kristina's family lives. Another special group home called Villa Infantil de Nuestra Senorea de Guadalupe y San Jose is located on the south shore within the boundaries of Jocotepec. Madre Maria de Jesus Mendez is the woman who heads up this facility with a purpose of building faith, hope and love in the children of Lake Chapala. In a relaxed village, with good friends enjoying pot lucks at LA CASA DE LA LUZ -- I will help others while enjoying maids, gardeners, and a host of delightful local Mavericks! Don and Linda Wright wait to serve you out of their office located directly next to Wal-Mart as you enter town. With a team you can trust, the Hernandez Realty Group also provides property management services. Contact Don and Linda toll free at 877-807-4934. Regardless of my immigration status, I now have title to a beautiful casa, and beginning in 2011, I will invite family and friends to visit. I took this photo of a small corner shop in San Antonio. Larger grocery stores exist in most lakeside towns with a full sized Soriana supermarket in Chapala. Fresh vegetables can be purchased at a lower cost at the street market every Wednesday in Ajijic at the corner of Constitucion and Revolution. Monday in Chapala, and Thursday in Jocotepec. Guadalajara has very large food stores such as Sam's, Costco, Wal-Mart and many large Mexican chain supermarkets. SOCIAL ACTIVITIES - There are daily luncheons, cocktail parties and fiestas in private homes attuned to a Jimmy Buffet, Tall Boys, SALSA y RAGGAE beat. LIFE in MEXICO, just hours to any number of white sandy beaches including a secret jungle beach that I visited on February 14th 2007! Cathy Roberts and I will revisit this sacred Shangri-La together in my retired future! BEACHES - From Guadalajara, a 4 hour drive in a luxury ETN bus to PV or Manzanillo. TRAVEL link click ETN. It is a 10 hour drive to Mazatlán or many other smaller beaches. RESTAURANTS: Lakeside eateries range from fine restaurants to cozy small sidewalk cafes. Nice dinners are about $10-15 US and up. My favorites in Ajijic is Ninette, Number Four (jazz piano) located on Donato Guerra near the lake side grace of La Nueva Posada for the best steak! Los Telares in the center of Ajijic on Morelos offers a fantastic all you can eat buffet that I enjoyed with a group of lively expats on Wednesday. Only $6.00 USD! ENTERTAINMENT - Salsa dance lessons are each Wed in Ajijic near the weekly market at La Bodega. There is good live music most nights of the week: music from 40's and 50's, rock 'n roll, karaoke, jazz, country, and dancing. Also at Lakeside there is a three-screen movie theater showing the latest popular movies; usually 2 of the 3 movies are in English. In Guadalajara there are state and city bands and orchestras, choral groups, ballet and theater groups, sports stadiums, as well as movie theaters. Lake Chapala also is the home of the famous Tall Boys and PsychQstasia. Top-flight local music and dance groups can be booked for your private parties. Click on any photo in any post to enlarge.Pictured here is Kristina Morgan, her husband Joel of the Tall Boys (youtube) and her brother David of Psychqstasia (youtube)and her best friend Tyler who house sits. Check links on the LEFT and enjoy your visit to LAKE CHAPALA.

Jalisco Governor Visits

In 2013 Aristoteles Sandoval was elected as the Governor of the State of Jalisco.  The current Mexico constitution indicates a term of 6 years in length, so his term will end in 2019.  To qualify to become governor one must be a Mexican citizen by birth, be at least 30 years of age, and a resident of Jalisco for at least 5 years prior to election.  On January 22, 2016 Chapala made history as

the Governor of Jalisco came to speak to the people.  The air was electric with anticpation and hundreds of citzens flanked the newly renovated town square.  Governor Sandoval was very impressed with the grand improvements that City Hall and the Cultural Historical Society had made.  In the early 1900's Chapala was a resort that the President of Mexico favored.  VIVA

Governor with Gloria Perales Jan 22, 2016

Chapala was at a fever pitch as the Governor spoke.  The Mariachi band was playing Jalisco while the Governor cut up a huge cake donated by the American Legion Post #7.  Baloons of gratitude were released into the heavens as the new artistic sign

CHAPALA glistened in the sun.  The Mayor of Chapala, Javier Degollado is a friend of the Governor and the citizens of Chapala will continue to be blessed by their honorable relationship.  Recently the State of Jalisco announced that it has

Governor and Mayor - Jan 22, 2016

budgeted funds to clean up the Liria in the Lake and City Council passed an ordinance to stop the practice of handing out flyers at traffic intersections.  Beginning January 18, 2016 posting flyers on garage doors, railings or private

homes or businesses is no longer lawful.  Fines range from 97-194 pesos for each illegal flyer distributed. This clean up ordinance will be enforced as a necessary step for Chapala to recieve the designation and funding as a Pueblo Magico. In October 2015 the Mayor appointed Gloria Perales as the new bilingual liason for local expats in Chapala.  She can be reached for an appointment through the City Hall switch board or by her business email: gloriaperales----.gp@gmail.com.  Her energetic personality is

perfect for public relations between the increasing flock of snow birds arriving from the USA and Canada.  Marcos Castellanos, the artist who designed the new "Fishermen Fountain" now works for the City of Chapala.  Marcos personally translated the Governor's message for me.  Governor

Sandoval promised to procure the necessary State funds to finish the work Chapala needs to be approved as a Pueblo Magico.  It may take until 2018 to remove the excessive sinage along Ignacio Madera, place electrical wiring underground, relocate the vendors, and complete some needed road work.  The Gonzalez Gallo Cultural Center, the old Gran

Hotel, the Hotel Nido and the Braniff House all contribute to the rich historical significance of Chapala. Good news after great news!  Kathy Kristof is an award-winning financial journalist and the author of "Investing 101".  She is also the host of Money Watch on CBS in America.  On April 9, 2014 Kathy aired on CBS NEWS that Chapala was ranked #1 among the top 10 cities WORLDWIDE to retire on a budget.  Along with the City's efforts to attract more visitors, this news has certainly added to the influx of foreign traffic in Chapala.

LOVING LIFE in MEXICO

Our first anniversary trip to Loreto, Baja to visit my brother Ben at Casa Benito was fabulous!  Just one hour prior to picking Mike and I up at the airport, Ben and Eric had just returned ALIVE and SAFE from six days at Sea!  A solo swim from mainland Mexico to Loreto was attempted when the Sea of Cortez suddenly raged with 25 foot waves that nearly capsized the Alleycat!  Captain Benito returned to the Sea the following day to take Mike and I and the professional photographer Scott to Honeymoon Cove to snorkel. Mike snorkeled for the first time and cruised around with Ben in the dingy.  Saturday night we attended a fund raiser that benefits the youth of Loreto.  A grand five star hotel called La Mision is just two blocks from Casa Benito.  We dined with the crew of the solo swimmer and celebrated life with good food, fantastic music and dancing! Mike and I walked the stretch of the Sea on the new malecon and watched the sunrise and sunset on the Sea.  We laughed much and ate well with surpirse guests.  Norma and Ajay, Dena and Dale, Steven the Chaplain and Medic from San Francisco.  We will arrive in Chapala on Jan 1, 2014! 

Habla Espanol?

Taking beginner Spanish lessons at the Lake Chapala Society using the Warren Hardy (WH) method is for English majors, or teachers in general.  For Mike and I, the foundation course by Warren Hardy proved to be too difficult to grasp.  My FAITH in God makes my task of learning a new language after the age of 60 entirely possible!  The right teacher and the right

method are critical to our success! In our initial six week class using the WH method, the course began with ten students, five of which were there to repeat the beginning course for the second and third time. Our goal

remains to speak Spanish conversationally with the service staff at the cafe, the gas station attendant and with our maid.  We have found that if we SMILE while speaking what vocabulary we do know, our audience is most gracious, and they never try and correct our

grammar, they simply smile and nod with respect as they are thankful that we are trying. One Spanish teacher from the states reminded us to consider how we all learned English as a baby?

We mimicked our parents and siblings.  We learned a few words like ball, water, milk, etc. before we ever learned how to speak sentences properly. So the overwhelming amount of vocabulary

and advanced use of verbs and nouns will come later.  So what words are most useful?  LEARN these: Por favor, muchas gracias, Adios, Buenas Dias, como esta, quanto questa, and la quenta por favor. TRANSLATION: Please, thank you, good-bye, good morning, how are you, how much is it, check please!  READ COMMENTS below for more important vocabulary.

ASK for FAVOR

Ask for WISDOM, FAVOR and ANNOINTING.  Our reverence, our enraptured AWE, our distilled awareness of His power ~ "being still, and knowing that Jesus is God" is how we experience His favor. Christmas time at Lakeside is magical!  My weak knees buckle and fall to the ground as I honor WHO God is, and His lavish favor for selecting Chapala, Jalisco Mexico as the place He wanted me to live as I continue to work for Him!   Seek God with ALL your heart, and with eager anticipation, expect His favor to delight you in surprising ways.   Having enthusiasm or dwelling in another word, ENTHEOS, is to be in the presence of God ~ Feel His silent, invisible holy presence and smile wide! Where can we go were He is not?  Go to the place WHERE God Almighty, Yaweh, Yashua, the rock of ages hangs out....in your very midst, His Holy Spirit dwells right where you are.  Our Father Who art in heaven, holy is Thy Name, that Your kingdom is within, and that You take great pleasure in filling Your chosen beloved with FAVOR ~ HALLELUIA!  GO ahead and shout AMEN and give Him praise for His plan for those who actually ask ~ RECEIVE! ~ WHY? Because God is blessed by our consistent pursuit of His words, will and ways! Wisdom is supremely satisfying and our response to the call He placed on our souls, is His blessing, wisdom, and His annointing! Because of our passion for more of Christ, greater wisdom and certain understanding is poured into us. When we CLAIM the most prized treasure in the universe, we receive our reward in that instant! Holy insights, a word of knowledge, and pure revelation of His holy character keeps Him on the rightful throne of our hearts. Our God gives unmerited, unwarranted and unfathomable FAVOR to those who seek Him. SO SEEK and ASK and HE WILL DELIVER as He expands your capacity to receive all that He has planned to bless you with! AMEN ~

Mazatlan Beach Hotel

For special occasions we will return to this PGA grand Hotel on the beach of Mazatlan, five minutes from the airport. The drive to Mazatlan is on a brand new highway with 3 lanes going each direction.  No dangerous curves like the drive to Puerto Vallarta. This luxury hotel is situated in the middle of the golf course and it has its own private beach.  On the grounds you can ride a golf cart over to the turtle sanctuary. Each room has granite in the bathrooms and you can drink the water off the tap because the hotel employs USA standards. We stayed here in May 2015 and it was not hot...and a very short drive to downtown Mazatlan. Departing from the state of Jalisco, it is about a six hour drive to the state of Sinaloa where Mazatlan is located.  Book your reservation through HOTEL.COM for the best rate and earn points towards a FREE night at the Estrella del Mar Hotel.  GPS ADDRESS: Camino Isla de la Piedra KM 10, 82043 - Isla de la Piedra, Sinaloa

Gorgeous Guaymas

On the shores of Sonora, Mexico you can find much sun and fun!  Trek the hills, scuba, kayak, fish the sea, or ride a horse along the sandy beaches! The cool weather months of Nov thru March is when the gray whale arrives!  Come

witness the majesty while enjoying cooler temps! The whales get so close to the boats that people can almost touch them. These mammals attract worldwide news, it is a reoccuring natural event of great significance for the study of how to preserve this species.  Sonora Dolphinarium is a first class spectacle which allows interactive Dolphin touching. This unique activity helps kids with Down syndrome, Brain paralysis and other disabilities.  San Francisco Beach is one of the most visited and extensive areas, its gentle waves are perfect for

families to enjoy the water with boat trips, snorkeling and kayaking.  San Pedro Nolasco Island is located 45 minutes from the bay. It is considered a grand sanctuary for California sea lions and thousands of birds. The brown bobo and the pelican mingle with the scuba divers and snorkelers. The Tetakawi hill: is an emblem of San

Carlos. It is here that the Yaquis and Seri Indians survived.  Nuevo Guaymas is located 120 kilometers from Hermosillo and 390 kilometers from the border of the United States.  San Carlos is full of contrasts with beautiful landscapes that create a desire to linger, explore, and do some fishing or simply indulge in water and mountain sports. Ahhh, the healing powers of nature! BOOK online thru HOTELS.COM and get best deal.  American Express accepted.  View hotel: San Carlos Plaza Hotel GPS ADDRESS: Paseo Mar Bermejo Norte No4 | Los Algodones, San Carlos 85506, Mexico 

BUY car in Mexico

After much research on the COST to keep cars from the USA, we chose to sell cars in USA and then buy new car here at Lakeside.  We are happy with the car we chose and the service that we got from Spencer. He drove us into Guad and took us to various auto dealers. Spencer has been in business for over 15 years and his reputation is fantastic.  We wired money from the states and our banker at Bancomer has Spencer on speed dial. S & S Auto is located on the Carretera in Riberas.  Call  Spencer for appointment (331) 765-4800. 

Best B & B in Chapala

Oh my, oh my! Mucho gusto! Many of our local dog walking friends directed us to the "Q" a boutique hotel right off the malecon in central Chapala.  Officially named "Quintzalcoati" the "Q" offers glorious interior grounds with a cooling pool, lush tropical gardens and private balconies.  The peso cost per night for a couple is 800 pesos, and at our current exchange rate that is only $58.00 USA per night.  If you reserve a room for more than 8 days you receive a 10% discount.

Mike and I were given a tender private tour by the lovely Senora Margarita. Each room is mucho romantica.  The room we were shown has a walk in closet, and a small fridge for storing food items for longer stays. It is right off Zaragoza, right around the corner from the Hotel San Francisco, where a continental breakfast is served in a garden setting for only 55 pesos.  The "Q" a Deluxe Bed and Breakfast in Chapala

is only a short 8 block walk to our casa in Chapala. To plan a visit in the month of November, before Thanksgiving, you will enjoy not only our best weather, but many local events. Delight yourself in a stroll through the best Tiange (a private street fair of the very best artisans from Guad, Tonala, and surrounding villages). This major annual ART show is held at the Yacht Club. Also enjoy the colorful costumes and parade for the annual Fiesta for the Mexican Revolution!  Click links provided! Buen Provecho! "Feria Maestros del Arte" with Senora Donna.