We took Sid’s preferred route which took us through the scenic mountains along the curving mostly two lane roads that meandered through many little picturesque villages along the 198 mile stretch of what seemed like endless mountains separated by short stretches of flat roads.  It took a little extra time, but the scenery was well worth the little extra just like he said it would be.

Sid also recommended that if at all possible we should try to spend at least one extra day seeing the beautiful, historical city of Zacatecus.  In our case, that wasn’t possible, but I at least wanted to drive down into the historical district of the city.  Ted was less enthusiastic about that than I was, but agreed to do it “just for me.”

What an experience!  The word lost doesn’t even begin to describe what we were.  After finally fighting our way through even crazier traffic than we experienced in Saltillo, we finally gave up on seeing the historic district and started looking for a sign that said Guadalajara, which we knew would lead us to the small town, Jerez, ten miles outside of Zacatecas.  “If you don’t stay overnight in Zacatecas, Sid said in his article, “another option is to continue on to Jarez to spend the night there.”

“There the Guadalajara sign!” I cried pointing toward the sign that I caught a brief glimpse of as we flew by.  “Guadalajara!” “Which way?” Ted frantically asked. “That way!” I said.  He took a quick look at the direction my finger was still pointing and drove like a madman through the intersection.

“Wait a minute!  Where did the street go?” It had simply disappeared right before our eyes and before we knew it, we were wandering around in a Mexican neighborhood where faces peered curiously out windows at the van from Texas slowly moving down their street. We decided we should try and find our way back to the intersection with the Guadalajara sign and start over.

Every street we took was narrower than the one before. We wound our way down one tiny cobblestone street after another having absolutely no idea where we were.  Just about the time we thought things were looking promising, we came to an abrupt stop.

The street was completely blocked by a car parked right in the middle of the street.  We sat there, trying to figure out how we were going to get out of this mess when a lady emerged from out of nowhere and waved to us as she headed for the offending car and drove it up on the sidewalk to make room for us to pass.

Just ahead we saw a glorious sight—an opening between the buildings and houses—not very wide, but big enough for us to maneuver a turn around. Thank you, Lord.  Now, all we had to do was find another Guadalajara sign.

Zacatecas (pictured above) appears to be a giant gringo maize at first.
Back we went, in hopes that this time we’d triumph over the maze of intersecting streets. Before we knew it, we were back in the very same neighborhood where we’d just been with the same curious faces peeping out the same little windows.  We were going in circles! There was no other choice but to return from whence we’d come. This time, we made it back to the daunting intersection without getting lost.

There we were again, sitting at the very same stoplight looking for the elusive Guadalajara sign. As we sat at the stoplight, I happened to turn around in my seat and looked behind us.  “Oh, my gosh! There’s the sign—it’s behind us!”

I don’t remember how we managed to do it, but miraculously we found ourselves headed in the opposite direction, which we felt confident was the highway to Guadalajara. The traffic sped past us as we tried to keep from getting run over and prayed to see another sign.

“HOOOOONK!   One car careened past us on one side.  HOOOONK! Another car did the same on the other side. Man, that was close—very close. We’d better get ourselves off this highway to who-knows-where and hope we can find someone to help us, we thought.

Thankfully, the next exit wasn’t far.  We pulled into a Pemex  (One of the government gas stations).  While Ted calmed his nerves with a much needed cigarette, I went inside to see if I could find anyone who spoke English.  I smiled at the lady behind the counter and asked my standard question,”Hable usted Ingles?”

She relied with the standard answer, “No.” I scanned the store for a friendly face and saw two college-aged students.  Maybe they could speak English.  The girl was a negative, but she pointed to the young man.  I asked him the same question and he said, “Si—poquito.”

Praise, God!  I told him we were lost and pointed to the freeway just outside the widow, and asked, “Is that the right way to Guadalajara?” “Oh, no, Senora,” he said, “It is the other way.” (…the way we’d just come!)  He made a valiant effort to explain how we should get back on the same highway, go under the next overpass (or was it over) and then exit before the next overpass (or was it the one after that?)

“I did the best I could,” I told Ted as we got back in the car and hoped I’d understood enough to get us out of this labyrinth of a city.

I don’t know how we did it, but we did.  We were finally on the right road to Jerez, which was only 10 miles away. The rest should be a piece of cake, we thought. Sid had recommended the Hotel Leon, an excellent hotel in Jerez with a first-rate restaurant.  Even better, he said it would be easy to see from the highway.  With hope in our hearts and hunger pains in our tummies, we headed to home base.

Well, Most of us feel almost as if we’re on vacation every day, but the Pacific Ocean beaches are just a half day drive away…. And, if you’re not a “
beach peson” or just want to find another perhaps more historic place to visit you could do no better in my opinion that to go to the “Shinning City on a Hill”.

A short half day drive from Lake Chapala – Ajijic  is an almost fairyland adult Disney Land – like shining city of on a hill.

The name of this magical place is Guanajuato which is located in the Mexican State of the same name and just a half day pleasant drive from Lake Chapala Ajijic.

The altitude is a bit higher than here at Lake Chapala which is 5,000 ft. above sea level while Guanajuato is 6,550 ft. above sea level.

BY the way, Guanajuato, the town and adjacent mines are a World Heritage Site.

Dating from 1554 It’s located in one of the richest silver mining areas of Mexico, and is well known for its fine colonial era Spanish architecture.

Plaza de la Paz and the Basílica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato (2004)

The city was originally built over the Guanajuato River, which flowed through tunnels underneath the city. However, after years of raising buildings to accommodate repeated flooding, in the mid-twentieth century, engineers built a dam and redirected the river into underground caverns.

The tunnels were paved with cobblestones for automobile traffic, and this underground road network carries the majority of cars driving through the city today.

So, Guanajuato is both a shining city on a hill and a city in part underground and this aspect is one of the most notable features of the city.

To the west of the city is a famous cemetery noted for the natural mummies produced by unknown means. About 1 in 100 bodies buried here experience natural mummification.

Here’s how the museum came to be: In the late 1800s the town instituted a “burial tax” for the families of the deceased.

When some of the poorest families were unable to pay the tax, their relatives were dug up and placed on public view in what became the current museum.

The ‘Guanajuato Mummy Museum’ still adds bodies to this day. The museum holds 111 mummified bodies resting on velvet pillows.

Guanajuato is more than history, interesting architecture, silver shops and museums however.

Guanajuato also hosts a number of events each year which are visited by people from all over the world.

One of the more popular events held each Octrober is the Festival Internacional Cervantino, an international festival of the arts named after Miguel de Cervantes. The festival is especially popular for students from across central Mexico, but attracts participants and spectators from around the world.

Now, here’s some practical tips if for visiting.

From Guadalajara you take Highway 80 East and follow the signs for San Juan de los Lagos (St. John of the Lakes), Leon, and Guanajuato.

Easiest to take the toll roads which will take you through 5 toll booths with the total tolls coming to 354 pesos each way as of April 2009 which at the current exchange rate comes out to about $26 USD.

If you like anything made of leather a stop in Leon along the way going or coming is a good idea.

There’s an outlet strip mall on the main highway on the North side of the highway through the center of Leon which sells all kinds of shoes and other leather items at very good discounts off retail.

I bought a very stylish pair of side zip Florsheim half boots made in Mexico with leather lining for just $52 USD.

I would estimate the cost would have been three times this or more if I had bought the same boots in the USA.

The busiest and most prolific leather shopping area is a few blocks North of the msin highway through downtown all around the Central Bus Station. Street parking is almost impossible so I recommend you use one of the large parking garages and walk the area

In Guanajuato  we stayed two nights and three days at the very old and very nice Hotel de Minas.

It once was probably the nicest hotel in town as there were plaques on the wall depicting the times when the movie star Robert Mitchum and others stayed there during the filming of one of their movies years ago.

Our room was very comfortable with good firm beds, plenty of hot water, and a balcony with a view of the city. An on site cyber café, gift shops and upscale restaurant on site rounded out the hotels amenities.

Our room included a complete breakfast for two in the hotel dining room. All this for just $74 USD including taxes.

Rather than navigate the twisting streets and tunnels we opted just to keep the car safely parked in the hotel parking garage and take a taxi to the downtown area ($2.23 USD for 2 persons) .

One day we took an escorted tour of the museums and points of interest of the city we would have missed if we had just stumbled around on our own. The cost of the tour was just $7.44 USD per person plus the small entrance fees at the various museums.

We did not need an escorted tour however to wander around the central core of the city and enjoy the great free entertainment at the bandstand in the center of  downtown, to sit and have a two for one Pina Colada at a sidewalk café, or to have a very inexpensive tasty meal at one of the numerous out door restaurants.

Surprisingly I only saw a total of about 6 pr 7 gringos in the three days we were in the area so some Spanish ability will be very helpful.

The city was vibrant with lots of visitors, but not oppressive with pushing crowds and getting a table at a restaurant was not difficult at all.

Given the beauty of the city, its many amenities like the free concerts in the park, and the very friendly and helpful residents, I can think of no better few days away from our own little slice of paradise here at Lake Chapala than a a short escape to the Shining City on the Hill, Guanajuato, Gto.

Not many gringos visit the South side of Lake Chapala… but more of us should.

One very good reason is the dolls of San Cristóbal, Just who or what are these dolls.

Are they gorgeous ladies affectionately referred to as “dolls” or are they some type of dolls for little girls to practice playing Mommy or are the something else entirely?

Ok, here’s the inside dope on the Dolls of San Cristobal. These dolls are the authentic handmade corn husk dolls made from yes, “Corn husks”

Yes, cornhusks are used for something besides wrapping  scrumptious tamales in for steaming to perfection.

A great place to find an amazing array of the dolls priced very reasonable is at the at the basket (canasta in Spanish)) and corn husk doll (muñeca) cooperative.

Zaragosa #33 A

387-763-2167

How do you find this out of the way, off the beaten treasure trove of native art?

Drive into the town of San Cristobal and watch for thesmall green sign on the highway

with an arrow pointing towards the lake (North) and- turn down this  paved and proceed down toward the Lake about a mile.

Look to the right side for a large soccer field. Just past the soccer field you should find the cooperative.

The name come from the fact that thirty artists from San Cristibal have banded together and formed a cooperative to produce and sell the pretty palm leaf baskets and artistic corn husk handmade traditional dolls.

While you may not have heard of the cooperative before they’ve been around for  13 years so they have a good track record.

Take a look at these beautiful one of a kind authentic handmade items.

The front show room.

Baskets!

Dolls.

More baskets!

More dolls!

María Florentina Osorio Rito with flower bouquet.

Behind Maria are the bundles of raw palm spines used in the baskets.

María is the woman in charge and is very knowledgeable,

friendly, and helpful.

The dolls are all exquisitely different, and range in size from about 6 inches to about a foot and a half for the Virgin de Guadalupe.

Most dolls are about a foot high.

Prices for the dolls go from $12 pesos (about 90 cents US)

to $75 pesos for the ‘foot high’ size (about $5.75 US)

The most impressive doll of all is fittingly, the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Here she is.

The Virgin of Guadalupe

Large:  100 pesos (about $7.70 US) Small:  25 pesos ( about $1.90 US)

The artist and her daughter.

The dolls are all made by hand and entirely of corn husks.

It is a long and arduous process.

The first step is selecting and sorting the best dried corn husks.

Then the husks are painted and allowed to dry.

Following that, they wet them and shape them into the design.

Next they are dried.

Finally, any added touches are put on and the doll is ready.

Here is a catalog of basket shapes:

Why not go for a nice ride to the South Side of Lake Chapala to San Cristobal and see the Dolls of San Cristobal for yourself.

Talk about unique pieces to decorate your home, give as gofts or to start a collection… and at the same time help

Support the artisans of San Cristobal.

The first time we got lost was when we crossed the border at Piedras Negras, Mexico just on the other side of Eagle Pass, Texas.  We found the bridge that spanned the two countries—America and Mexico—no problem.  We waited in line to pull through the toll booth where we paid $85.00 pesos to enter the country. 

“We made it!” we beamed to each other.  Next stop, the customs station where you get your VISA, car registration and necessary documentation to be a legal visitor to Mexico.

We drove through the toll booth and chose the lane marked Nothing to Declare as we thought we would declare the tobacco, two bottles of alcohol and meds when we went through customs and this stop was only for those coming into Mexico for the day.  We drove into the city expecting to see the customs station not far beyond the port of entry.  We just kept going and going and going with no sign of an official customs building.

We were now out in the middle of nowhere and the only sign of humanity we saw was a factory of some kind we passed several miles out of the city where Mexican workers were lounging around waiting for the bus to take them back to PN.  The sun was fading and it was getting later and later and later.

We’d been warned about driving in Mexico after dark in every book and website we’d read, so we decided that we’d better turn around  and go back to Eagle Pass, find a room, and call it a day.  The disappointment we felt at not being on the other side of the border was s appeased by a comfortable room where our doggie was welcomed and we had a wonderful meal in the restaurant next to the hotel.

The next morning, we repeated yesterday’s routine; we crossed the bridge and paid our toll fee. Yeah! We were on our way again!  This time, we thought perhaps we should take the lane where you declare what you’re taking into Mexico. A uniformed officer waved us to pull into a lane for inspection of our van.  Feeling confident that I had all our paperwork in perfect order, efficiently stored in a file box, I was prepared for anything, or so I thought.

My files were well-organized and filed neatly into categories, i.e., the Health section contained folders labeled Doctor’s Health Statements (letters from our doctors stating we were in good health and had no communicable diseases), the RX file which held prescriptions for all the meds we were taking into the country and another file  was for our dog, Bitzy.

Bitzy had to have a statement of good heath, too, as well as a record of her vaccinations.  But we weren’t asked to produce any of the documentation in my painstakingly organized file box.  The only thing the inspector found to be of interest was the loose tobacco that my husband brought with him from the states. Even after my husband showed the inspector the cigarette roller and papers for rolling his own cigarettes, he wanted to see inside the roof top carrier on top of our van.  With only a quick look inside, the inspector apparently determined we were not smugglers and gave us approval to proceed. Fortunately, he could speak some English and was able to answer our most pressing question:  Where is the customs station? “35 kilometers,” he answered.  We had to get out our calculator to figure out that was 22 miles.

No wonder we didn’t find it yesterday!  We were looking for it far before we left the city limits—wherever that was. And that information wasn’t in any of the books we’d read. We learned later that this stretch of highway is referred to as “No Man’s Land.” You’re driving down a highway in Mexico, but you’re still not legal.

Our well-thought out plan for the first day in Mexico was to drive to Saltillo, which was 257 miles from Piedras Negras, find a room and spend the night. Easy, right?  WRONG!  We arrived in Saltillo at 5 pm and drove right into rush hour traffic. Cars, busses, trucks, taxis, and scooters flew past us at breakneck speed as we carefully made our way through the wild and crazy traffic looking for a place to spend the night.

Once again, we played like we were the “Energizer Bunny” and just kept going and going and going. And, once again, it was getting later and later and later.  With the city now behind us, I was starting to feel a little frantic.  “We have to go back,” I said to my husband.  We began to look for a place to turn around and then it appeared—a sign that said Hotel with an arrow pointing straight ahead.  No distance was given.  And to add to our relief, beside that sign was another sign with no words—just the universal sign that indicated there was also food ahead.  Hot dog—or, in this case, Hot tamale!  Our sinking hearts recovered as we headed toward our unknown destination.

I kept my eyes peeled for another sign that would direct us to the “Promised Land”while my husband drove down Highway 15 into the fading daylight.  “There it is!” I exclaimed as I spotted a nondescript, hand-painted sign up high with that the same reassuring word, Hotel. With hope in our hearts, we felt certain we were close. Ever vigilantly, I strained to see the hotel with no name in the little daylight that remained, but to no avail.

We drove on; still we saw no hotel.  “Look, another sign!” This time there was an arrow below the word Hotel pointing left.  At the next intersection, we turned left fully expecting the hotel to appear right before our tired eyes.  Instead, we saw construction.  “So, this is it?” I asked as my heart sank, “an unfinished hotel?” But wait—there’s another sign—Hotel with an arrow pointing straight ahead. “Straight ahead?”

But straight ahead all we saw was concrete blocks and cement. Nevertheless, we took the narrow road that curved past the construction and there— hidden behind the construction—was a beautiful Mediterranean-style hotel.  We thought we’d died and gone to heaven!

The next challenge was to inquire about the availability of a room, which I felt sure needed to be in Spanish. Using my Spanish dictionary, I had prepared a list of questions I thought were necessary to get us a room for one night and had rehearsed them repeatedly.  I was ready to get down on my hands and knees and beg if I had to.

We saw the sign saying Oficna, parked the van, stepped out into a lovely evening and then into an exquisitely appointed reception room.  No one was there.  But that’s another story—and you’ll read about it in the next article in Living the Dream here at ChapalaClub.com

P.S. Stay tuned as this is just the first episode of our Journey of Discovery..

Twenty kilometers from Chapala Centro, adjacent to Lake Chapala’s northeastern shore, lies the authentic Aztec Nahuatl village of Mexcala de la Asuncion in the municipality of Poncitlan. Its residents struggle to maintain their indigenous customs and beliefs, while the outside world tugs at their fabric, urging them toward modern ways. Three miles off shore, lies Mexcala Island.  Exposing its secrets and encouraging visits to the ruins left by pre-Hispanic and colonial inhabitants come with inevitable consequences.

Born in Mexcala, Exciquio Santiago Cruz, a Nahuatl-speaking Aztec descendant has dedicated his life’s work to chronicle the history of Mexcala Island, while practicing and preserving indigenous, oral and cultural customs for future generations. He remains the town’s curandero, a native healer using herbs and sobrador, a magical masseur using traditional massage methods taught by his mother. He founded the Mexcala Museum, facing the plaza, where recovered pre-Hispanic and conquistador artifacts await visitor amazement. Hoping to stimulate tourism, national interest and financial backing toward reconstruction, Exciquio, as local historian, educates local and expatriate audiences with talks and a video, depicting historical facts.

Of Exciquio´s eleven children, he passes the Nahuatl folklore and knowledge on to his two oldest children. Daniel, age 21, runs boat excursions to Mexcala Island and guides a tour of the fortress used by the Indians to repel the Spaniards’ attack from 1809 until 1813.  They built a fence around the island, snagging the Spanish galleons and warded off invasion by throwing rocks and spears at the enemy-filled ships from the fortress’s high ground. The Indians never relinquished control of the island. Only later, with most areas under Spanish control, did the inhabitants voluntarily concede the land peacefully. Later, the Spanish turned the Indian citadel into a prison and erected a lighthouse atop the fortification as a beacon for water craft using Lake Chapala.

Current activity on the island centers on efforts to reconstruct the fortress to reflect its early19^th century usage, with an optimistic goal of completion by 2010 in time for the 200^th anniversary celebration of the founding of Mexcala.  Possibly more realistic would be completion by 2011 to coincide with the Pan American Games being held in Guadalajara.

Regardless of the future plans for Mexcala Island, it remains one of the secrets of Lake Chapala, whose historical significance should interest foreign or native residents alike.  Engage yourself in the history of the area.  Head out to Mexcala on a sunny, Sunday afternoon. Smell the crackling chicharones, sizzling in metal caldrons that line the market surrounding the church plaza; visit the museum fronting the square; marvel at the array of artifacts and prehistoric fossils found both in the town and on the island; talk with the master historian, Exciquio and watch his eyes dance as he speaks of his culture, his native customs and the importance of the island. Then hire Daniel for the twenty minute, 250 pesos boat ride to the island, a bargain if six or eight friends come along for the ride.

Explore the island; walk along the footpath of the Nahuatls; observe the reconstruction project; climb the stone steps, embrace the panoramic view of Lake Chapala and Mexcala and stand in wonderment and respect as to how these incredible, indigenous peoples managed to withstand the onslaught of the mighty Spanish.

To prearrange a boat tour, call Daniel Santiago de la Cruz @ cell 333-1780-062; to make sure that the museum is open and Exciquio is available, call Exciquio Santiago Cruz @ cell 333-1740-796. The museum is located opposite the steps to the church plaza at Hidalgo No. 326, Mexcala de la Asuncion, Municipio de Poncitlan, Jalisco, Mexico.

A version of this article originally appeared in Lake Chapala Review

Photos courtesy Ernie Sowers

In this article I’m going to focus less directly about just how great Lake Chapala Ajijic is in and of itself.

Today, I’m going to tell you about a pretty much overlooked aspect of living here. Not only is it very easy to get here from almost anywhere in the world and especially easy to get here by air from North America with many direct flights from gateway cities, but it’s also a great place from which to see the world.

But, before you see the rest of the world… Start with Mexico.

Our international airport and the increasingly modern highway system into and out of our area will take to some of the most romantic, beautiful and interesting places on the planet.

But, don’t take my word for it. Seeing is believing!

Take a break and watch the video and see if if you don’t agree with me. Then make a  comment below to share your thoughts about travel in Mexico…or whatever else is on your mind.

Let me know when I can help at Sid@ChapalaCLub.com or Toll Free at 1 – 877 514 1396

A short half day drive from Lake Chapala – Ajijic  is an almost fairyland adult Disney Land – like shining city of on a hill.

The name of this magical place is Guanajuato (place of Frogs) which is located in the Mexican State of the same name and just a half day pleasant drive from Lake Chapala Ajijic.

The altitude is a bit higher than here at Lake Chapala which is 5,000 ft. above sea level while Guanajuato is 6,550\ ft. above sea level.

By the way, Guanajuato, the town and adjacent mines are a World Heritage Site.

Dating from 1554 It’s located in one of the richest silver mining areas of Mexico, and is well known for its fine colonial era Spanish architecture.

The city was originally built over the Guanajuato River, which flowed through tunnels underneath the city. However, after years of raising buildings to accommodate repeated flooding, in the mid-twentieth century, engineers built a dam and redirected the river into underground caverns.

The tunnels were paved with cobblestones for automobile traffic, and this underground road network carries the majority of cars driving through the city today.

So, Guanajuato is both a shining city on a hill and a city in part underground and this aspect is one of the most notable features of the city.

To the west of the city is a famous cemetery noted for the natural mummies produced by unknown means. About 1 in 100 bodies buried here experience natural mummification.

Here’s how the museum came to be: In the late 1800s the town instituted a “burial tax” for the families of the deceased.

When some of the poorest families were unable to pay the tax, their relatives were dug up and placed on public view in what became the current museum.

The ‘Guanajuato Mummy Museum’ still adds bodies to this day. The museum holds 111 mummified bodies resting on velvet pillows.

Guanajuato is more than history, interesting architecture, silver shops and museums however.

Guanajuato also hosts a number of events each year which are visited by people from all over the world.

One of the more popular events held each Octrober is the Festival Internacional Cervantino, an international festival of the arts named after Miguel de Cervantes. The festival is especially popular for students from across central Mexico, but attracts participants and spectators from around the world.

Now, here’s some practical tips if for visiting.

From Guadalajara you take Highway 80 East and follow the signs for San Juan de los Lagos (St. John of the Lakes), Leon, and Guanajuato.

Easiest to take the toll roads which will take you through 5 toll booths with the total tolls coming to 354 pesos each way as of April 2009 which at the current exchange rate comes out to about $26 USD.

If you like anything made of leather a stop in Leon along the way going or coming is a good idea.

There’s an outlet strip mall on the main highway on the North side of the highway through the center of Leon which sells all kinds of shoes and other leather items at very good discounts off retail.

I bought a very stylish pair of side zip Florsheim half boots made in Mexico with leather lining for just $52 USD.

I would estimate the cost would have been three times this or more if I had bought the same boots in the USA.

The busiest and most prolific leather shopping area is a few blocks North of the main highway in the mioddle of the downtown area all around the Central Bus Station. Street parking is almost impossible so I recommend you use one of the large parking garages and walk the area.

Arriving at Guanajuato  we stayed two nights and three days at the very old and very nice Hotel Real de Minas.

It once was probably the nicest hotel in town as there were plaques on the wall depicting the times when the movie star Robert Mitchum and others stayed there during the filming of one of their movies years ago.

Our room was very comfortable with good firm beds, plenty of hot water, and a balcony with a view of the city. An on site cybercafe, gift shops and upscale restaurant on site rounded out the hotels amenities.

Our room included a complete breakfast for two in the hotel dining room. All this for just $74 USD including taxes.

Rather than navigate the twisting streets and tunnels we opted just to keep the car safely parked in the hotel parking garage and take a taxi to the downtown area ($2.23 USD for 2 persons) .

This is the entrance to an old mine which I descended step by step about a third of a mile at about a 45 degree angle. The more difficult part was of course ascending.

One day we took an escorted tour of the museums and points of interest of the city we would have missed if we had just stumbled around on our own. The cost of the tour was just $7.44 USD per person plus the small entrance fees at the various museums.

We did not need an escorted tour however to wander around the central core of the city and enjoy the great free entertainment at the bandstand in the center of  downtown, to sit and have a two for one Pina Colada at a sidewalk café, or to have a very inexpensive tasty meal at one of the numerous out door restaurants.

Surprisingly I only saw a total of about 6 pr 7 gringos in the three days we were in the area so some Spanish ability will be very helpful.

The city was vibrant with lots of visitors, but not oppressive with pushing crowds and getting a table at a restaurant was not difficult at all.

Given the beauty of the city, its many amenities like the free concerts in the park, and the very friendly and helpful residents, I can think of no better few days away from our own little slice of paradise here at Lake Chapala than a a short escape to the Shining City on the Hill, Guanajuato, Gto.

First let me put your mind at rest. Many people here do not have a car at all, let alone four of them.

They get along just fine by walking, using the bus or an occasional taxi… both of which are plentiful and inexpensive.

But, it’s nice to have a car even if you don’t need to use it a lot.

But I confess,  It’s true, I have four Ford Explorers. I’ve always liked Fords. My first car was a 1940 Ford and it was a great car. I probably chose it as our family car had also been a 1940 Ford.

But for you Chevy fans out there I’ve also owned a few Chevy’s too, and a long string of Cadillacs including a 1967  powder blue Convertible; and at least two Jaguar sport cars one of which I still own, not to mention 3 Toyotas, 3 Hondas, and even a Fiat Roaster.

Before moving to Lake Chapala I had to sell 10 of the eleven cars I had accumulated over the years.

I also have owned a total of 5 VW bugs and a VW Transporter(bus) and other assorted cars and trucks too numerous to mention here.

So, you get the idea right. I love cars. Yes, ladies I’ve heard the saying, “The difference between men and boys are  the price of their toys.”.

You know what we all do, but don’t like to admit. We buy on emotion and then justify with logic to convince ourselves we’ve made the right decision.

OK, so here’s my rationalization for just why I have 4 Ford Explorers.

Why Ford Explorers. First, they are really a Ford Truck with a car body which means they can take a licking and keep on ticking on the cobblestone streets I’m on most days and sometimes all day helping clients to find the perfect home for them at just the right price.

I also have to drive on the back roads at times showing ranch properties or development land so I need a vehicle that can handle the rough country roads and wade through shallow streams while keeping my feet dry.

And, even with the best mechanics it’s nice to have dealership parts available when needed and there are at least seven Ford Dealers in nearby Guadalajara for parts.

Why four Explorers? Well, my sweetheart wife brought one of them into our marriage and I had driven one here from Texas loaded to the gills with all my must have stuff.

Then, after we married and began to live at Lake Chapala I saw the need for “back up” vehicles. Why would we need two back ups you ask.

The answer is simple: We each must have a separate back up because she takes clients on day tours all around the Lake Chapala area and if her primary Explorer ( a very nice Eddie Bauer 6 passenger luxury version) is in the shop, she doesn’t have to disappoint her clients because the car had to have repairs.

And, since I also help visitors by giving local tours of homes, villages, and North shore towns I also need a back up so I don’t disappoint my clients.

Fortunately we have a large protected parking area behind our tall walls and so we have room for all four Explorers.

So, there you have it my justification for having four Ford Explorers.

Now, let me recommend that you come down to Explore our wonderful area for yourself…. With a little help from your friends:

Sid, “The Lake Chapala Information Guy” and Exclusive Buyer’s Only Realtor looking out for your best interests.  Get a free area tour and rolling seminar, but book a time early because I don’t want you to miss out on all the cool tings I have in store for you…

And, “Arcelia  (R Say Lee ah) The Guide Lady” with day tours to all the hot spots in and near Guadalajara, Tlaquepaque, Tonala and much more. Personalized tours and shopping trips at prices too low to print here for up to 6 people for the price of one.

We’ll keep the light on for you… and the car warmed up.

Patzcuaro is only a half day drive from the Lake Chapala Ajjic area and it makes a very interesting discovery trip for a day or more.

During the last decade, an increasing number of foreign visitors have become enchanted with the town’s charm and ambiance and are returning there to discover even more.

The central area of Patzcuaro and its immediate surroundings are the most attractive with colonial buildings, mansions and courtyards built around the elegant Plaza.

The most popular tourist site is the Casa de los Once Patios (House of eleven courtyards) just a couple of blocks southeast of the main square.

It was originally a convent, although today it’s the location of quality art and craft outlets, some of which have workshops where you can see the artists at work.

About two miles north Patzcuara is Lake Patzcuaro  with it’s island called “Isla Janitzio.”

The island itself is a tourist destination where you can browse markets and buy directly from local artisans.

Food stalls abound and some  sell Charales, the small fish caught in the lake and deep fried and eaten whole as a snack food just like at Lake Chapala.

Now to give you as glimpse of the indigenous flavor of the area here’s a video filmed on the plaza in Ajijic of a dance from the Isle de Janitzlo called the “Dance of the Old Men”

Ajiic, Mexico is a village inside the County of Chapala just a few miles from the County Seat in the City of Chapala.

It’s a delightful village and has become very popular especially over the last 10 years.

It’s popularity has  driven the price of homes in the area up as compared to other areas at Lake Chapala, but to many the extra expense is money well spent.

Ajijic is especially popular with writers, artists, and those aspiring to be.

The popularity and the relatively higher number of visitors who spend time in Ajijic has lured a number of upscale restaurants, jewelry stores, clothing shops, and various other fascinating shops to set up business.

And, of course there are a number of art galleries, ceramic shops and other similar shops,  selling an amazing array of handmade objects de art clustered around the central plaza.

You can even watch native women making hand woven rugs on small looms and choose from a glorious range of hues, sizes, and designs all at very reasonable prices.

It’s easy to spend all day just wandering around the village center.

The picturesque churches on the central plaza give one the feel of stepping back in time to a different era, but not far away are Starbuck-like coffee bars and the Plaza is a WiFi friendly,  blending the old world, with the new.

Currently on the plaza, are two massive wood carving projects underway,  which take advantage of the natural shape of two very large tree trunks which are coming back to life as beautiful works of art.

Don’t miss the murals on the walls of the police station and the elementary school  which  turn these otherwise regular structures into works of art themselves  harmoniously blending in with the colors of the ever present flowers in the central garden.

Now, enjoy the below videos of Ajijic to savor the sights, sounds and colors of Ajjic, Mexico.

Then plan a trip  to visit us in person. You may just fall in love with Ajijic too… or if you’ve visited before, plan a return trip to renew your love affair.