May is an exciting month in Guadalajara and its surrounding areas wine and beer festivals and a homage to Star Wars A post shared by Asado Fest | Festival (@asadofestmexico) Barbeque lovers, this event is just for you! Bringing together some of the best grills in town the Asado Fest will also feature a craft beer exhibition and tasting and a wide selection of barbeque ingredients and accessories a children’s area and a pet-friendly space A post shared by Festival de Mayo (@festivaldemayo) Every year since 1998, Guadalajara hosts the Jalisco May Cultural Festival, a celebration sponsored by the state’s Ministry of Culture to promote cultural activities. From music to visual arts expositions, plays, lectures and more, the festival will host 44 events across the city with Canadian acts like circus group Vague de Cirque and Montreal funk band The Brooks taking the festival’s stages One of the festival’s highlights will be a live performance by the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra (OFJ) at the Teatro Degollado celebrating the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel’s birth A post shared by Akamba presentado por Cuervo Tradicional (@akambamx) Picture the wrapping sounds of electronic music at the heart of the agave landscape in Tequila, Jalisco. That’s Akamba, the music festival organized by Cuervo Tradicional This year’s edition promises an immersive experience that fuses music with contemporary art and signature cuisine Attendees can arrive at the venue onboard the Akamba Express a passenger train that departs Guadalajara exclusive cocktails and panoramic views of the agave landscape A post shared by Camerata Opus 11™ (@camerataopus11) If you’re a Star Wars fan, you won’t want to miss the live orchestra performance of the movie soundtrack. Attendees can expect to listen to John Williams’ iconic music performed by more than 70 musicians on stage Feel free to go dressed as your favorite character Una publicación compartida por La Mirilla ® (@lamirilla) If you’re looking to buy products from local artists and entrepreneurs, La Mirilla bazaar is for you attendees will be able to buy everything from shoes to jewelry Expect food stalls with delicious pastries and food as well as live music and a pet-friendly area Guadalajara is set to host Latin America’s largest Artisanal Beer Exhibition bringing together more than 100 craft beer producers and distributors from the Western and Bajío regions in Mexico The event seeks to connect brewers with restaurant chains department stores and specialty shops to boost the industry A post shared by VinArt Ajijic (@vinartajijic) Wine lovers will get the chance to sample Mexican wines in a natural setting with stunning views of Lake Chapala at Vinart Ajijic. Featuring live music, guided pairings and an after party attendees will spend a weekend learning about wine The event is exclusively for individuals aged 18 and older and is not pet friendly who voiced Ernesto de la Cruz in Disney’s “Coco,” performs live in Guadalajara as part of his world tour “Closer to You.” With a career spanning four decades and multiple Latin Grammy awards Solís remains one of the most beloved artists in Mexico and Latin America Attendees can expect a spectacular show featuring iconic hit songs like “Si No Te Hubieras Ido,” “El Perdedor” and “¿A dónde vamos a parar?” The Museo Cabañas will screen “Samsara,” a 2023 film directed by Lois Patiño that tells the story of a Laotian woman’s death and rebirth and the Buddhist boy who reads to her from the Bardo Thödol, a guide to the journey between death and reincarnation. The Museo Cabañas is located in the Hospicio Cabañas a massive colonial-era orphanage and hospital complex designated a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997 The Jalisco Ballet is back with the family-friendly production “El Gato con Botas.” The production is inspired Charles Perrault’s original fairy tale that tells the story of a clever cat who helps his master trick a king and an ogre to become rich ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC Casa Chapala and Community Gardens have combined efforts to open Chapala Fiestas & Grill on Aug 1 in the former Heroes Bar and Restaurant space “We’re super excited that the Casa Chapala family is coming here to Community Gardens and will offer a level of experience that we haven’t been able to offer before,” said co-owner Autumn Pyka in a video posted to social media A popular eatery in Bastrop, Casa Chapala serves authentic Mexican food derived from the Barragan family’s roots in the Central and Coastal Mexican states of Zacatecas and Jalisco Chapala Fiestas & Grill will offer similar food “We feel sorry that so many times we have to tell our customers [at Casa Chapala] we are packed,’ and now we are thankful to have more space,” Casa Chapala owner Sylvia Barragan said in the video.Heroes Bar and Restaurant closed on June 30 Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL Magazine Free Daily E-Letter Video Our Experts Testimonials FAQsTopics Juna Jinsei has lived in eight countries over the last 45 years After securing a home base and investments in Mexico Even if your house is paid off when you retire… after a decade you might be slapped with double the car insurance bill just because you’ve reached the age of 70 I was determined to have a plan for my retirement Too many people I knew had been forced to sell their homes and move into small trailers—sustaining themselves on hot dogs and canned apple sauce I’d lived in Florida for the past 30 years I decided it was time to retire soon—and knew that doing so would be difficult with Florida’s increasing costs So I researched, traveled to destinations on five continents, and took a leap, landing in Chapala, Mexico Why Chapala? That’s easy. On the north shore of Lake Chapala Chapala enjoys a consistent comfortable climate (no natural disasters!) Another big draw to the Lake Chapala area is the international mix of people and resorts have English-speaking staff members to attend to your every whim This is one reason foreigners flock to this area But the biggest reason I chose Chapala: the cost of living is less than half of what I was paying in the United States $350,000 would cover a permanent resident visa What I wasn’t expecting—but also found—was a peaceful town full of fun activities all year round There are ongoing cultural events that offer captivating musical and performing art; organic markets; art galleries; and great restaurants with a wide selection of international cuisine there’s the ease of getting a permanent resident visa and the fact that it’s less than a day’s travel to visit family in the US Chapala presents a great property investment opportunity… Learn more about Mexico and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you a free special report – Mexico: The Perfect Close-to-Home Retirement Haven We got through all of them and revisited my favorites within 10 days and the realtors took care of all the paperwork and legal notary to get everything done within 45 days I was impressed… and we became great friends 1,820-sq-ft home in Florida for $400,000… and with half the money bought a newly renovated 4,585-sq-ft home with an exquisite view of the lake and mountains Instead of paying $4,874 annually for property taxes My electric bill went from $480 per month to $50 every two months The water and garbage pickup went from $175 down to $45 per month The lower cost of living gave me peace of mind while working but I’d need to secure my financial future—or a source of steady income after retirement The Lake Chapala area is growing with expats every year—other people seeking lower costs and a stimulating social life continue to pour into the area Six months after purchasing my Chapala home I took a portion of the money from my US house sale and began looking for an investment property I found many great deals between $100,000–$200,000 in a variety of towns around the lake I fell in love with places I’d personally love to live in… but weren’t good rental properties three- or four-bedroom homes with multiple bathrooms and a nice yard I found the place that fit all the necessary criteria for a Lake Chapala rental… and in a great spot for any non-Spanish speaking expat in the San Antonio neighborhood between Chapala and Ajijic each home comes with designated parking spots and the use of a casita for friends and family Across the street is a mall with a six-auditorium movie theater Most of the homes in the neighborhood have long-term renters; a few have been renting for over 12 years one-bath home with a rooftop patio view of the lake rented immediately to a lovely couple from Canada Now I’m looking for another rental property while renovating my house to create a separate apartment I’ll have money to travel—financial security—and a constant extra income to continue to enjoy paradise If you decide to retire in the Lake Chapala area and investment properties are the thing for you there are several factors you need to consider Most single expats and retirees want a sense of security They look for small furnished homes in gated communities with security cameras and a community space for neighborly get-togethers Smaller communities where everyone speaks English brings people and neighbors frequent local establishments with live music to hang out I’ve found that single individuals and couples respect the property more than families with children so I recommend properties no larger than two bedrooms Since most of the renters I’ve met didn’t speak Spanish gated communities and fully furnished homes with security and groundskeepers that kept the exotic gardens and community areas in pristine condition A notary in Mexico is a specialized licensed property lawyer They ensure there aren’t any liens against the home or past due debts from the previous owner That could include six months’ wages owed to a housekeeper are considered part of the property at the time of purchase and get passed on to the new owner The notary will discover any existing debts before your purchase so you don’t have any unwanted surprises all the paperwork required for the purchase and exchange of monies is handled by his office An excellent consortium of legal counselors is Notaría Pública 2; they can be contacted at +52 (376) 766-0190 They can also handle your will and testament so the property goes to your selected beneficiaries without any problems in the future These documents must be in Spanish to establish a legal record but for a small fee you can also receive them in translated in English for you and your loved ones’ records a property administration service that takes care of everything that concerns my property They charge 80% of the first month’s rent for finding longterm renters and 10% monthly to manage it—the same as the percentages charged in the United States and worth it for a relatively trouble-free cash cow Cosala Homes manages both individual properties and large HOAs. They can be contacted at cosalahomes@gmail.com or by calling Sergio Gómez at +52 (332) 343-3206 my personal rule is to save the first 12 months of rent collected for any future repairs and upgrades—after that Sign up for IL's postcards and get the latest research on the best places in the world to retire Including boots-on-the-ground insights on real estate and rental trends Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you a FREE report - The World's Best Places to Buy Real Estate is a local favorite for their Pan de Muerto.MONTEBELLO a family-owned bakery that has been handed down over several generations is renowned for their mouthwatering pan de muerto a traditional Mexican sweet bread enjoyed especially during the Day of the Dead While the bakery produces pan de muerto year-round their output significantly increases in the weeks leading up to the holiday as families and friends gather to honor their loved ones "Around October and November we definitely get a big demand," said Daniella De la Torre "The different versions that we sell are the ones that have just sugar or the ones that have sesame seeds on them." April in Guadalajara and Chapala is loaded with musical events From rock concerts to Mexican regional music shows and a beer festival featuring local bands April promises an exciting agenda for music lovers Guadalajara will host Mexico’s largest technology event as well as two events that celebrate Japanese and anime culture Let’s dive in to see the exciting events that await you in Guadalajara and around Lake Chapala this April A post shared by Bar americas (@baramericas) Bar Américas in the Colonia Americana — named the world’s coolest neighborhood by Time Out magazine in 2022 — will host English musician John Digweed on April 3 Digweed’s sound is almost exclusively electronic He has frequently ranked as one of the world’s greatest DJs by a variety of publications Then you can’t miss the chance to see Garbage one of the legendary bands of alternative rock Expect to hear hits like “Only Happy When It Rains,” “Stupid Girl” and “I Think I’m Paranoid.” A post shared by Otaku Fest Mex (@otakufestmex) The event will see everything from screenings to exhibitions professional K-pop tournaments and lookalike contests It will also host two special guests: Gerardo Reyero and Alan Velázquez who have provided voices for various anime characters including western characters like Hellboy and Han Solo Fans of animation will be excited to know that Studio Ghibli’s 2004 classic “Howl’s Moving Castle” will be screened with a live orchestra in Guadalajara With music composed by Joe Hisaishi and performed live by an orchestra Hayao Miyazaki’s film promises an enchanting experience for kids and adults alike A post shared by Guadalajara Beer Festival (@gdlbeerfest) Calling all brew lovers: the Guadalajara Beer Festival is back for its fifth edition. This year, the event will feature 50 craft breweries from across Mexico presenting over 200 labels and pairings. A gastronomic area will see food stalls from different restaurants, offering everything from burgers to traditional esquites Three stages will see live performances by local bands The world-famous Candlelight concert musicians will perform classical versions of songs made famous by Luis Miguel, one of Mexico’s best-known stars around the world From romantic ballads like “La Incondicional,” and “Hasta Que Me Olvides,” to pop singles like “Cuando Calienta El Sol” and “Ahora Te Puedes Marchar,” attendees will enjoy an hour of music by candlelight Organized by Artists of Lake Chapala, the Art Market takes place on select Saturdays in a picturesque setting on the Chapala Ribera. In April, the market highlights the work of Ricardo Sánchez Corona known for his watercolor technique that captures the essence of Mexico The art market draws everyone from art collectors to enthusiasts and this month’s edition will be the last until September of this year an event that brings together leaders in technology is back in Guadalajara for its eighth edition the event will open its doors to a higher age group — primarily millennials between 28 and 40 years old — who need to update their skills Keynote speakers include technology entrepreneur Oso Trava Shark Tank’s Mexico Investor Marcus Dantus and founder of MoureDev Brais Moure The iconic norteño musical group Grupo Intocable will perform live in Guadalajara as part of their 30th anniversary tour The Texas-based Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning group fuses norteño sounds with rock “Fuerte No soy” and “Eres mi droga,” this concert promises to deliver an authentic regional Mexican music experience If you’re looking to unwind and relax, the Limitless in Power & in Peace retreat awaits you in Ajijic Miranda Macpherson promises a “journey into a new depth of peace and spiritual potency.” As an interfaith minister Macpherson will teach attendees to live beyond the “constraints of ego agitation.” Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog, Dunas y Palmeras In addition to the indoor dining area where Heroes was located Chapala Fiesta will also offer an outdoor patio space near the front and a beer garden toward the back of the property Casa Chapala and Community Gardens are partnering to open Chapala Fiesta in the former Heroes Bar and Restaurant space “We’re super excited that the Casa Chapala family is coming here to Community Gardens and will offer a level of experience that we haven’t been able to offer before,” said co-owner Autumn Pyka in a video posted to social media A popular eatery in Bastrop, Casa Chapala serves authentic Mexican food derived from the Barragan family’s roots in the Central and Coastal Mexican states of Zacatecas and Jalisco, according to the website. Chapala Fiesta will encompass the indoor area where Heroes was located, as well as an outdoor patio space near the front, and a beer garden toward the back of the property. “We feel sorry that so many times we have to tell our customers, ‘I’m sorry, it’s full, we are packed,’ and now we are thankful to have more space,” owner Sylvia Barragan said in the video. This ecosystem is what you find if you enter Mexico through Mexicali or Ciudad Juarez dry habitat of the Gila monster and the jumping cholla cactus How is it possible that this same ecosystem is today the chosen home of thousands of Canadian and U.S It’s not so surprising. The northern extreme of Mexico’s arid and semi-arid scrubland includes the Sonoran Desert, where a temperature of 52 C (126 F) was recorded last June But at the southern end of the system we find Mexico’s largest lake on whose shores the average temperature is about 21 C (70 F) which aligns with the standard comfortable room temperature in most parts of the world Few of the 20,000 expats living on the shores of Lake Chapala would describe their neighborhood as ”semi-arid scrubland,” despite what the geography books say realtors in the area have long and loudly stated that Chapala has the second best climate in the world according to National Geographic backed up by an AI search conducted by Copilot International Living lists Mexico’s climate as third-best in the world… but neglects even a mention of Lake Chapala Let us turn instead to local resident and historian Jim Cook for a description of the climate “Lake Chapala has three seasons,” Cook writes with average daily temperatures in the mid-70s to mid-80s F Although we get some dramatic thunderstorms during the rainy season “Winter begins in November and runs through March and temperatures can rise into the low 90s it is nothing like the baking-hot summers of Texas or the thickly damp and humid heat of Louisiana.” “Every morning,” says Chapala resident Susan Street “I join a friend for a stroll along the Malecón (waterfront promenade) The view of the lake is always magnificent and there are waterbirds everywhere: herons the magnificently beautiful American white pelicans that come all the way from Canada to spend the winter with us.” When it comes to entertainment and cultural attractions residents of La Ribera enjoy never-ending musical Folks with an itch for travel and adventure have a range of attractions that few places in the world could surpass you can access several other ecosystems within a few hours an opportunity available to very few communities around the world In a matter of minutes, you can head into the hills above the lake, enter the temperate forest ecosystem and wander through silent woods of stately pine and oak trees that look suspiciously Canadian Or they can travel 50 kilometers north into the grasslands ecosystem and spend the day picking magic mushrooms they have only to drive a few hours south to the Pacific coast and two tropical ecosystems and photograph crocodiles up close and personal hop over to the hills at the west end of the lake to San José de los Pozos and beyond it the desert-like salt flats of Sayula This clifftop is one of the world’s best launch points for hang-gliding “and we soar off into the distance exactly like a hawk or a seagull then gently floating to a new position where a thermal lifts us higher and higher This is surely the very maximum for a bird; the quintessence of flying and it is effortless it is pure freedom and it is pure joy.” You can experience this joy by signing up at Kordich Air Sports for a tandem flight where you and an expert are strapped to a hang glider and towed into the air by a motorized glider known as a trike This is the best way to see the salt flats and the semi-arid ecosystem and at the same time to experience “pura libertad,” unbounded freedom less risky attractions in the Lake Chapala area Viñedos El Tejón is just one of several wineries and vineyards on the south shore of Lake Chapala. Here you can taste a locally grown syrah, chardonnay or pinot noir offered to you in a ranch house by Lupita said to be known throughout Napa Valley as one of the great experts in grafting grapevines Also known as La Maltaraña this old casona — with 365 doors and windows — stands at the east end of Lake Chapala just waiting for visitors to admire its beauty and dive into its history Basalt molcajetes and sculptures, burnished pottery, horsehair and cane creations, and the finest hand-made ropes in Mexico: you can see artisans working on all of these only 13 kilometers north of Chapala Late every workday afternoon, thousands of American pelicans gather at this town at the southeast end of Lake Chapala to enjoy huge quantities of fish scraps The sights and sounds make for a unique and unforgettable experience As you stand there taking in the sight of ten thousand lovely pelicans hovering above a gorgeous lake please bear in mind that you really are in semi-arid scrubland— but Mexican style John Pint has lived near Guadalajara, Jalisco, for more than 30 years and is the author of “A Guide to West Mexico’s Guachimontones and Surrounding Area” and co-author of “Outdoors in Western Mexico.” More of his writing can be found on his website We’re entering the third month of the year and spring is almost here pleasant temperatures and blossoming flowers The city’s perfect weather in March is perhaps the reason why there are so many outdoor events what’s on in Guadalajara in March for you to enjoy the highlight of the month seems to be music as the city is hosting more than the usual dose of musical events Whichever event you choose to welcome spring La Mirilla is one of the city’s most popular bazaars you can find everything — from fashionable jewelry to interior decor arts and crafts stations and live music on the Mirilla Sounds stage Carnaval season is here and with it, bullfighting festivals. Organized by Jalisco’s Charros Association, the event will see charreadas (cowboy shows), becerreadas (calf and cowboy shows) and escaramuzas (female equestrian shows) The festival will also see bullfighting shows and live music here to perform Tchaikovsky’s epic Swan Lake The group is fresh from a successful season of touring in Spain and promise to bring all the glamor and glory of Russian aristocracy with them a young woman turned into a swan by the spell of the evil von Rothbart and Odile This event is recommended for the whole family from children from one year and up The Viña a la Copa festival brings together wine producers from all over the world the festival will feature over 600 exhibitors Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about wine from expert sommeliers and chefs The new season of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra has begun The ensemble will be directed by different conductors every time Just a two-hour drive south from Guadalajara is the Magic Town of Sayula (not to be confused with Sayulita) which will host its first-ever air balloon festival but various activities will take place throughout the day including the launch of three thousand paper lanterns The 12th edition of the International Festival of Art and Independent Cinema will take place in the Chapala Riviera this year The public and the committee organizer will vote on the best films if you’ve ever fancied yourself as a film critic now’s your chance to live your dreams Awarded films will receive a diploma of recognition and a mention as the best film in its specific category A post shared by Centro para la Cultura y las Artes de la Ribera (@culturayartesribera) Rumors of the Lake is a workshop consisting of monthly four sessions March’s edition will be hosted by Guadalajaran poet Laura Solórzano To book your spot, send an email to [email protected] Guadalajara is about to dive into the world of coffee during the Expo Café and Gourmet The event will showcase not only the absolute best of the coffee world but also some of the best street food in Jalisco Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily You can follow her lifestyle blog Dunas y Palmeras November is not all about the Day of the Dead The event calendar in Guadalajara and Lake Chapala Ribera for November is wide and varied to satisfy every craving — from wine festivals to book fairs To help you stay entertained in the run up to the holiday season we’ve selected the most exciting events in Guadalaja and Ajijic (and Tequila) to keep everyone in the family entertained The Autonomous University of Guadalajara (UAG) will celebrate Mexico’s Day of the Dead with a festival featuring music and sensory activities inspired by Mictlán the souls of the dead had to travel four years and overcome a series of obstacles before entering Mictlán where they were welcomed to the afterlife by the god and goddess of death Tickets? Free of charge Bosque Los Colomos, Guadalajara’s largest urban park will host four whimsical night tours for the whole family in celebration of the Day of the Dead Picture the wood’s pathways aglow with flickering candles the aromatic smell of copal incense and glowing cempasúchil flowers all around the Cardboard and Toy Fair brings together some 300 small businesses and artisans in a traditional tianguis (open-air market) setting you’ll find everything from cardboard figures to sugar skulls papel picado (engraved paper) clay figures and a wide variety of decorative items related to the Day of the Dead Grupo Frontera, Mexico’s musical group ensemble of the moment, will offer a concert in Guadalajara as part of its Jugando a Que No Pasa Nada (Let’s Pretend Nothing Is Happening) international tour. The band grew in popularity thanks to its cumbias norteñas, a subgenre of norteño music within the broader category of Mexican regional music genre Tickets? Here the town of Tequila (58 km west of Guadalajara) will host a Day of the Dead festival Dubbed Tequilero Hasta Los Huesos (Tequila Lover to the Bones) The event will also exhibit tequila brands that offer Day of the Dead editions so does Guadalajara’s traditional Fiestas de Octubre DJ Steve Aoki is set to perform at the Auditorio Benito Juárez The palenque is an intimate arena known for its lively concert ambiance It’s a staple of the festival and a must-visit attraction for anyone looking for an authentic concert experience in Mexico General admission to the Fiestas de Octubre includes free entry to the show from the stands Access may be limited if the auditorium reaches full capacity Tickets? Here the Art Masters Fair brings together artisans from across the country to exhibit and promote their work features classic to contemporary pieces that range from fine jewelry to wood visitors can also attend one of the many artists’ presentations More information: Here A post shared by VinArt Ajijic (@vinartajijic) Picture yourself surrounded by lush greenery sipping wine and savoring gourmet food as you gaze out over Lake Chapala That’s the setting at the Vinart Ajijic wine festival and an impressive array of wines from 40 prestigious wineries a complimentary drink and a ticket to the after party Nimue Marina Residence & Hotel Boutique Tickets? Here the world’s first theme park inspired by Day of the Dead With colorful and immersive attractions that mesmerize kids and adults alike live music and a wide variety of food stalls the park aims to educate visitors about the importance of the celebration Tickets? Here Most towns in Mexico have a patron saint or a virgin who is celebrated every year with an elaborate multi-day festival Ajijic hosts a nine-day-long festival filled with music and shows The fiesta patronal (patron’s party) features daily processions through Ajijic’s colorful streets Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer various events to celebrate one of the most anticipated seasons of the year But not everything is Christmas-themed in December’s calendar From the largest book fair in the Hispanic world to sporting events and a classical music concert here are the best things to do in December in Guadalajara and the surrounding areas Founded 38 years ago, FIL Guadalajara is the largest literary event in the Hispanic world Welcoming professionals in the publishing industry as well as the general public the event features workshops and activities for the whole family Attendees will also discover new publications Tickets: Here you’ll want to see the Charros de Jalisco in action during the Arco Mexican Pacific League While baseball is generally less popular in Mexico than in the United States the Charros de Jalisco have generated significant interest in their home state and built a large following Tickets? Here. Mexican orchestra director Alondra de la Parra the first Mexican woman to conduct in New York City is coming to Guadalajara to showcase her latest production: Gershwin whose compositions spanned popular jazz and classical genres evoking the musical scene of the 1920s and 1930s in New York and Paris Tickets? Here. A new ballet staging from the Ballet Cámara Jalisco will premiere this Christmas season under the direction of Lucy Arce dubbed El Espíritu de Navidad (Christmas Spirit) It features 100 dancers and aims to capture the spirit of the holiday through music and ballet Tickets: Here The Moscow State Ballet from Russia is returning to Guadalajara to perform The Nutcracker a beloved ballet composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and based on E.T.A Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King a young girl who receives a magical nutcracker doll from her godfather Tickets: Here Navidalia offers a Christmas experience for the whole family The park is divided into four pavilions that represent a region of the world and its Christmas traditions Tickets: Here The Run Santa Run race is back in Guadalajara The event promises surprises along the route and a meet-and-greet area with Santa Claus and the Grinch Participants are expected to run wearing a Christmas-themed disguise Santa Claus Kits for adults will be sold at 380 pesos while Elf Kits for kids younger than 12 years of age Deadline to register: Dec. 5 here The Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra will perform the last concert of its third season at Degollado Theater in Guadalajara’s Historic Center The Orchestra is currently directed by Spanish Director José Luis Castillo Tickets: Here featuring relaxing rhythms by national and international artists That’s Sonidos del Lago (Sounds from the Lake) a festival that invites attendees to connect with themselves and nature so make sure to buy your tickets soon before they’re sold out Tickets: Here. Barbeque lovers are invited to the Barbeque Festival in Guadalajara which will feature over 150 exhibitors specializing in grilling The drink menu will offer a selection of beer the event will see live music including mariachi and a kids’ club the MND Where to Live in Mexico 2024 Guide: Jalisco We’ve covered Mexico living in some diverse settings — both peninsulas (Baja and the Yucatan) along with cultural and coastal Oaxaca This brings the total of Mexican states reviewed to five so far It seems natural now to highlight Jalisco State a cultural wellspring that has done more to define “Mexicanidad” than anywhere else It’s also the place I’ve called home since 2015 exposing me to the State’s truths and myths when it comes to living here Our ratings highlight three very viable places to live — the quintessential beach vacation resort of Puerto Vallarta fast-paced and forward leaning Guadalajara and the de facto “birthplace” villages for overseas living for foreigners that are Lake Chapala Having these three eclectic choices (not to mention twelve Pueblos Mágicos and three UNESCO World Heritage Sites) positions Jalisco as a kingpin for folks seriously seeking a viable place to live or retire in Mexico Jalisco’s relevance stems from attributes no other state can match First up are iconic cultural traditions innately associated with Mexico’s national image: tequila it’s really a place) and Mexico’s joyous and sorrowful musical gift to the world are both a part of living here The Jalisco economy is a powerhouse in technology cinema (Hollywood auteur Guillermo del Toro hails from here) and there is a sense of political independence from the rest of Mexico its highland plateau offers spring-like year round living The seasonally pleasant seacoast meanwhile affords some residents a “seagull” existence with winters spent on the coast and the rest of the year in the mountains! socially conservative identity even permeates the temperament of big city Guadalajara Less-than-welcome realities are narco violence and an embrace of “machismo” in some societal and familial settings There are nagging social ills (teen pregnancy gun violence and drinking water contamination) to consider Unbridled growth across all three of our featured places is also impacting quality of life for both Mexicans and expats alike But no one should bet against Jalisco’s future — economically or socially Put down roots here and you’ll have a front row seat to both the hyper-local (municipal government ups and downs) and big picture of Jalisco’s unbridled future Let’s start where millions of Americans embrace Jalisco many having a natural vacation connection that stretches back decades it’s the place that comes closest to being all things to all vacationers in all of Mexico PV lost its fishing village virginity decades ago But it’s still Mexico’s most picturesque coastal city Living here comes with a snappy urban resort pace mixed with pockets of residential and neighborhood community connections. It’s Mexico’s most LGBTQ-accepting destination and has a lively performing arts/live entertainment scene. An hour south is Jalisco’s emerging Costalegre, some of Pacific Mexico’s most beautiful, undeveloped coast Guadalajara…” so goes the popular mariachi song this is Mexico’s second largest urban area with some 1,500 named neighborhoods It stretches across a sloped plain that’s truncated in the north by a gapping gorge Guadalajara is a contradiction when it comes to understanding its personality and stridently original in the visual and performing arts It’s got more skyscrapers under construction than any city in Mexico Guadalajara’s universities attract hundreds of foreign medical students there are surprisingly few museums to frequent Traffic snarls are part of everyday living but so is an eclectic dining and bar scene an American Society of Jalisco to help you get settled and more live music than you could possibly take in Mobility challenges can be mitigated by using bike lanes or the city’s excellent 18 station crossing the city from northwest to southeast 45 minutes south is one of Mexico’s most iconic and original expatriate hang-outs If lakeside village living is your calling Lake Chapala might be your village in the sun Lake Chapala living is clustered along the lake’s northwest shore no one really knows how many foreign-born residents call this place home exacerbating some automobile traffic challenges These growth concerns come with village and small-town settings (Chapala Jocotepec) inhabited by retirees from over 40 countries The demographic is certainly “older,” but that doesn’t necessitate a nap on the hammock of things to keep you busy Mexico’s longest standing weekly English lecture series and dozens of non-profit volunteer opportunities are relished in Mexico’s best year-round climate) Residents feel very safe being out at all hours The first pioneering foreigners living here started coming in the 1940’s Lake Chapala boasts a very hybrid Mexico-a-la-Expat lifestyle Foreigners and Mexicans live here in mostly symbiotic ways with gentrification offset by a balanced commitment to helping the area thrive If you want to embrace a social improvement cause there’s a community of like-minded folk to connect with the lake itself is facing ecological challenges But few living here connect with the lake beyond gazing at its majesty backed by verdant mountains rising three thousand feet above the lake-facing towns Will growth continue to eat away Lake Chapala’s mountainscape and drain over-taxed water wells It’s pretty unbeatable for just about any overseas living aspiration Or combine all three and show your friends and family up north a Mexico living reality they can barely imagine A full breakdown of our rating system can be found here You can see more of our Where to Live in Mexico 2024 series here, including ratings for Yucatán, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo and the Baja California peninsula Author Greg Custer lives in Mexico. He’s worked for over 40 years in international tourism, educating travel advisors around the world about Mexico and other Latin American destinations. He helps folks explore Mexico for living at www.mexicoforliving.com. http://www.legion.org/fodpal/photos/230151/american-legion-post-7-lake-c... The American Legion National Headquarters: Subscribe to The American Legion's e-newsletters to receive important updates and special offers tailored for veterans and their families ShareSaveMoney RetirementWhat So Many Americans Find So Appealing About Retiring To Ajijic / Lake Chapala, MexicoByChuck Bolotin Jet Metier and Chuck Bolotin at Lake Chapala garden (Short interlude for the geographical and etymological purists among us: Ajijic-- pronounced “Ah-hee-heek”-- is a little town on the shores of Lake Chapala with lots of expat Americans and Canadians While there are several other towns around the lake where expats live for sake of simplicity and because Ajijic is the best known we’ll just refer to the whole area as Ajijic Virtually everything about Ajijic is moderate and pleasant Chuck Bolotin walking dogs on Ajijic malecon Ajijic has about the same latitude as Puerto Vallarta or the Western Sahara so if it were at sea level and all other factors being equal But Ajijic is not at sea level—it’s located in the Mexican Highlands at about a mile elevation (the same as Denver) Ajijic is on Lake Chapala (the largest lake in Mexico) which moderates the temperatures even further It’s virtually never too hot or too cold in the Ajijic area with average highs in the 70s and sometimes 80s and lows in the 50s which is why the hills get so green and the waterfalls form during this time of year almost always at night and virtually never for more than a few hours Average total yearly rainfall is about 36 inches Jet Metier at Chinese restaurant in Ajijic giving you lots of opportunities to interact with people from other cultures Lots (but not all) the people in Ajijic will speak English in some form or another The result: if you are still in the very early “Learning Spanish Phase,” you’ll get along just fine with just the right amount of pressure and incentive to learn and experience something new at a pace which is almost entirely within your control Neither of the two main characters in Green Acres would be completely satisfied with Ajijic If you’re like the Eva Gabor character and prefer to live in a big city like New York or Chicago if you prefer to live way out in the country like the Eddie Albert character if you were to add up all the towns along Lake Chapala in the Ajijic area from Chapala to Jocotepec you would probably find about 120,000 people with no one town having more than about 20,000 The Ajijic area has two small golf courses less than an hour away from Ajijic is Guadalajara you will find several high-end shopping centers complete with enough Gucci Louis Vuitton and other luxury shopping to invigorate Ms There’s also the Guadalajara international airport which is less than 45 minutes away from Ajijic you’ll also find Home Depot and Costco; all this not in Ajijic you’ll find huge stretches of agricultural land where little farms intersperse with huge corporate facilities from Dole and others amongst gently rolling In addition to these and other moderate characteristics Ajijic has a few that aren’t moderate at all Ajijic exists on a relatively narrow finger of land sandwiched between impressive mountains and a large lake Those fortunate enough to have a home with some elevation on the mountains are treated daily to spectacular views of the lake and of the volcano on the far shore The weather and geography in Ajijic combine in just the right proportions to give Ajijic a lush but without the oppressive heat that normally accompanies such places While in the dry season the hills are mostly brown glistening and with the aroma of fresh rain in the jungle You can hike all year round in the Ajijic area Unless you’ve lived in the Ajijic area and been able firsthand to do a rough “apples to apples” comparison to the US it’s a bit difficult to fully appreciate how inexpensive it is to live in Ajijic when compared with other areas in the real world beautiful places with a low cost of living Children living beside Mexico’s Lake Chapala are getting sick Locals and environmentalists blame it on the water “When I was pregnant I drank water from the tap and we didn’t know the water wasn’t good for drinking,” Lake Chapala resident Catalina Gonzalez said Heavy metals and toxic substances from industries operating nearby have entered the lake through the Lerma River, according to the Global Nature Fund Researchers have found that water quality in the lake varies from a low water quality index of 32 to a high of 80 According to the U.N., a water quality index of 0-44 is considered poor, while a WQI of 95-100 is considered excellent Scientists say that people should not use the water in Lake Chapala for drinking but people still consume it on a daily basis It’s also hard for local doctors to get the community to change their practices “Trying to interfere in the community’s health is sometimes to prohibit what they have done for so long To arrive and tell them not to drink the Chapala water If it’s what I have always done?” Chapala Medical Center physician Napoleon Sanchez said Chemicals like mercury also enter fish in the lake Fish sampled in Lake Chapala are below the Mexican national standard of 1 parts per million (ppm) total mercury and scientists say people can eat carp from the lake on a restricted basis But if U.S. standards were applied people would be told to avoid eating fish from the lake all together The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency encourages people to avoid fish with mercury greater than .46 ppm Scientists have found mercury in Lake Chapala fish to range from .17 to .7 ppm depending on how close the area tested was the Lerma River Children have also tested positive for chemicals in their system so they can check the baby properly,” Chapala resident Catherine Perez said One University of Guadalajara study has linked environmental problems at the lake to an epidemic of kidney disease But the government has not responded to CGTN’s repeated requests for comment So far nothing has been done to stop the water pollution and local authorities do not acknowledge that water pollution is to blame As doctors keep urging people to change their ways Cesar Ochoa thought he was finished with owning restaurants he opened Chapala Mexican Restaurant and Bar on N replacing the three-year-old Agave Tequila Bar and an adjoining space that was used for a catering operation Ochoa says he was talked into the venture by an old friend Kouza’s family owns much of the block between Ann and Catherine including the Heidelberg restaurant to the north; Chapala; cigar bar Siris to the south; and the Main Party Shoppe at Ann “I told him I have a love-hate relationship with him now,” Ochoa laughs “I love what I’m doing,” he says but he’s also discovered just how difficult it is to open a new restaurant during a pandemic Finding enough front of house staff has been a particular challenge Ochoa says he’s been dividing his time between managing the restaurant and doing chores like washing dishes and busing tables seven cooks who worked in his Livonia restaurant have now joined him in Ann Arbor and says he’s excited to serve “what Mexicans eat when they go out.” He says he focused on keeping prices reasonable because he thinks many downtown restaurants are “way too expensive and overpriced The average person going out doesn’t feel comfortable,” he says “Who wants to spend a couple hundred dollars every time you go out for a meal?” and a filet of tilapia with sauteed vegetables as well as familiar Mexican favorites such as tacos tables out front have been filling up with daytime and evening diners under floodlit blue walls and a colorful sign “It’s a very relaxed vibe,” Ochoa says “We want people to have a good time.” and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" © 2025 Ann Arbor Observer. Michigan web development by Boxcar Studio when the coronavirus has made us all a little wary of taking public buses or airplanes You’ll see it featured in most travel sites these days as a viable option for getting away and staying safe I thought I would try it out myself when I was presented recently with a weekend trip opportunity to Lake Chapala The great thing about a road trip when you have time is to linger and to make pit stops at roadside cafes Our first stop on the way out of the city had to be La Marquesa an over 4,000-acre national park in México state outside the city limits The park has lots of beautiful nature and horseback riding Lots of little stands line the highway as you pass through They are all similar in what they offer and charge so it’s just a matter of choosing which place looks most appealing We drank steaming hot bowls of oyster mushroom soup ate buttery tacos de barbacoa and had quesadillas with tinga de pollo (shredded chicken) inside It was what we needed to set off with real determination on the six-hour road trip ahead While the hearty breakfast kept us from needing to stop for lunch stopping to take photos of the burnt orange- and deep amber-covered valleys of Michocán Michoacán is one of the largest flower-growing states in the country providing tons of tercipelo rojo and cempasúchil flowers that are so common during the Day of the Dead holiday I could already imagine the trucks overflowing with these holiday flowers in the market in a few days We also stopped for a look at Laguna de Cuetzao the country’s second-largest freshwater lake (Lake Chapala being the first) Bright white egrets stalked for fish at its marshy edges and herds of cattle waded into the water’s edge to cool off in the midday heat We made a mental note to come back soon to explore the lake in greater detail we just missed the final rays of sunset over the lake but the back deck of our Airbnb did provide an excellent view if a little heavily religious in the decor and for US $125 a night we had four bedrooms We also had a large dining and living room and great views of Mexico’s biggest lake from the two large patios – one off the main dining room and the other a private deck connected to the master bedroom We were about a 10-minute walk from the shoreline of the lake and so decided that the following day we would explore what the town had to offer we headed out to the town’s popular malecón (boardwalk) which The water’s edge here doesn’t exactly make you want to take a swim but there is something distinctly vacation-y about a cool breeze off the water and palm trees lining the sidewalk We took a stroll through the town’s market (that borders the malecón) also calmer and more enjoyable than when we returned the next day (Saturday) for a last-minute purchase The market is famous for its outrageous micheladas (beer combined with various different mixers and condiments) and cocktails that arrive at the table with an outrageous myriad of garnishes and overall “flair.” The group ordered a cecina michelada with about a half-pound of dried beef sticking out of the top a piña colada complete with blue gummy candies and slices of pineapple a pink panther (the same as a piña colada but with some kind of pink mixer in it) and a regular michelada which includes your weight in cucumbers and carrots covered with chile and salt There are a handful of moderately priced seafood joints at one end of the malecón and we chose El Quetzal only for its lower music volume as some of the others were eardrum-popping loud It turned out to be the right choice – spicy grilled octopus El Quetzal has a pool in the center of its outdoor patio if you want to take a dip With average temps almost never dropping below 20 C year-round There are plenty of al fresco activities in and around Chapala – bike rentals, boat rides, hot springs – but we decided kayaks would give us the greatest sense of the lake and after a little bit of research we found a place that would rent us kayaks but not force us to take a guide – Hotel Tahawi just a few minutes outside Chapala All their equipment was in good condition — lifejackets included — and an hour rowing around was a super steal The lake has a respectable windiness to it, but nothing too difficult to handle, and we paddled up the coastline a few miles, ducking marsh grass and greeting the fishermen out for lobina and tilapia in their john boats. While it’s no Laguna de Bacalar in terms of beauty and I personally would have been happy to spend a few more hours exploring it The next day we headed a little further down the road to the Jocotepec malecón which was another world entirely from Chapala’s helter-skelter market stalls and kiddie rides galore Jocotepec is much more like a coastal park lots of grassy knolls and an eerily beautiful collection of bare-limbed trees stuck midway in the water and also one that advertised a spa but wasn’t open when we were there but they are all constructed with a similar wooden-shack design and have much more space to spread out around them Plus there were no hawkers of micheladas waving menus in your face and pleading with you to sit down at their locale That night, we stayed in San Juan Cosala at the chic La Vita Bella boutique hotel and spa We had heard about the great hot springs in San Juan Cosala accessible in various local balnearios and resort hotels but weren’t sure we were ready to face all those folks maskless We opted instead for the more intimate setting at La Vita Bella their three thermal swimming pools and tiny spa are open only to hotel guests so we ended up being completely alone for our couples’ massage and a long dip non-guests can purchase a day pass for about $15 that gives you access to the pools and the rest of the hotel facilities as well as a day-spa pass which includes a massage For an even greater variety of pools and experiences, you can head up the road to La Vita Bella’s sister hotel Monte Coxala There are all kinds of options for relaxing — the sauna and thermal pool inside a massive Olmec head a sauna inside a glass-roofed pyramid and several pools nestled away in the greenery of their property; there’s an infinity pool that looks out over the lake and its companion mountain behind it That night we decided to skip the Sunday crowds at most of the lakeside dining spots and opt instead for the Brew House in Ajijic Owned and operated by craft beer brand Corazón de Malta it was the balm to our quarantined souls – flights of three or six different craft beers above-average bar food and a handful of customers nicely spread out We ended up buying an assorted case of 12 beers to take home and they were easily drunk by the time the sun set The hotel has a Grecian whitewashed facade and 12 simple but elegant suites It’s high on a hill away from most noise of the surrounding towns A musical cricket was our only companion as we ended the evening out on our balcony enjoying the fresh air – free from Mexico City smog We took in breakfast with a view the next morning in La Vita Bella’s open air dining room and took one last long look at the lake before heading back to the city We would hit the hottest part of the drive earlier than on the trip to Chapala and so we decided to break it up by stopping at La Piedad a town in Michoacán renowned for their carnitas (honestly the whole state is famous for them) On the suggestion of a friend, we stopped at Carnitas Simitrio family-run restaurant right near the Lerma Rver They sold truly some of the best carnitas I had ever tasted – tender So much so that we brought a kilo and a half back with us to eat later The remaining four-plus hours of the drive seemed neverending but we made it back to the city knowing we had beer and carnitas in tow and felt a little less sad about leaving vacation behind Lydia Carey is a regular contributor to Mexico News Daily Metrics details This research presents an analysis of the frequencies and vibration modes of the structure of the superficial seiches of Lake Chapala using mathematical modelling and measurements The HAMSOM model was run with wind fields from coastal meteorological stations and for different lake storage levels The lake water level measurements were carried out in two campaigns in 2003 An analysis of the surface seiches in the lake was performed using the fast Fourier transform method A spectral analysis of lake water level measurements reveals seiches with periods close to 5.9 A comparison with the periods calculated by the HAMSOM model indicates that these periods correspond to superficial seiches of the fundamental longitudinal mode of the lake and the subsequent three modes The lake has undergone important changes in its storage level over time we modelled it with storage levels from the isobaths 90 to 95 m and found that surface seiche periods decreased to 5.2 h stronger atmospheric disturbances usually generate larger seiche oscillations that are part of a broad frequency interval in which the response of the water body is included such as its free modes in combination with oscillations produced by forced disturbances but which are not resonant at other frequencies allowing the natural oscillations to persist longer and the findings showed powerful atmospheric disturbances do not always generate perceptible seiche oscillations these studies presented novel experimental methods and measurements and showed that water level variations are also caused by the radiation stress balance near the coast their results do not allow for generalization because they were only obtained for one sampling point and contributions to the formation of extreme variations in lake levels Although seiches represent the most common type of level oscillation in Lake Chapala sufficient information is not available on these phenomena The purpose of this research was to investigate the main harmonic mode periods of free oscillations (seiches) in Lake Chapala Periods and amplitudes of the seiches have been estimated via an analysis of the in situ time series of water levels To identify detailed characteristics of the space-time structure of the seiches mathematical modelling is applied using the HAMSOM model The modelling is based on the application of the HAMSOM 2D model which uses the data from the wind field formed by 7 meteorological stations placed at strategic points all over the lake lake-level variability data obtained during three measurement campaigns in 2003 were used comparisons of measured seiches with numerical simulations were made the value of the level curves are reported according to the local “Bench Mark” (isobaths) scale where the maximum storage water capacity equal to 7,897 Mm3 (corresponding to isobaths 97.8 m that is 1523.80 m above sea level) The weather vane represents the distribution and average frequency of the wind direction from the network of the weather stations and measuring sites: (a) northeast measurements were recorded with a sampling interval of 15 min to encompass the free oscillations The submerged sensor has a water-level accuracy of 0.05 percent of full scale (about 0.005-m water depth) and water-level resolution of 0.002-m water depth Later in June, the second campaign was carried out, during which a Hobo water level sensor was installed in the western area of the lake (Fig. 1) at a depth of 1.1 m and a sampling interval of 10 min A high-pass cosine-Lanczos filter was used to filter the low-frequency signals from the lake-level series The wind data were obtained from 7 weather stations interconnected and distributed over the surface of water body (Fig. 1); records were taken for the dates of the two campaigns shallow-water model for simulating water levels and current velocities Water levels are predicted by solving the generalized wave continuity equation based on the vertically integrated continuity equation: Where $U$ and $V$ are the depth-averaged velocities of the horizontal coordinates x and y respectively; $\zeta $ is water surface elevation The vertically integrated momentum equations may be written as follows: ${A}_{h}$ is the horizontal eddy viscosity coefficient ${\nabla }_{h}^{2}$ is the horizontal Laplacian operator ${\tau }_{s}^{(x),(y)}$ is the wind stress and ${\tau }_{b}^{(x),(y)}$ is the bottom stress friction Those equations are subject to the kinematic and dynamic boundary conditions kinematic boundary conditions for the free-surface $\zeta =\zeta (x,y,t)$ and bottom z = −H(x the water surface elevation $\zeta $ is given and the change in the velocity component normal to the boundary vanishes; thus where ${u}_{n}$ and ${x}_{n}$ are the velocity component and coordinate normal to the boundary The dynamic boundary conditions for the air-water interface (tangential wind stress) and the bottom stress friction are as follows: where $\lambda {}_{W}=3.2\times {10}^{-6}$ is a proportionality constant and $r(u,v)=1.5\times {10}^{-3}$ is the friction bottom coefficient where ${\rm{\Delta }}t$ is a time step and ${\rm{\Delta }}L$ is space step The model was implemented with the bathymetry and direction data obtained from meterorological stations for the days of the campaigns according to the Courant-Friedrich-Lewy condition the ideal time step was determined for use in the simulations and the discretization of the mesh was ${\rm{\Delta }}x={\rm{\Delta }}y=300$ m The model began with conditions of wind forcing for 28 days The wind then stopped and allowed for free oscillations to be generated it was validated by focusing on the longer-term evolution of the simulated series in order to determine whether undesired trends or other undesired effects were present A comparison of the total daily averaged water level long time series was then performed In the meantime, the period of the k-th lake mode according to approximation of Wilson37 is as follows: High-frequency variability in the time series was extracted from the data and smoothed by a 60-min moving average The time series were analysed in a time-frequency domain and filtered by high-pass cosine-Lanczos filter The number of degrees of freedom df was determined as follows: $df=2\alpha (2F+1)$ where $\alpha $ is the number of independent segments of realization in which the spectral estimates were averaged and F is the half-width of the filter used to average the periodograms Oscillations of the water level in the lake at sites in the (a) northeast (b) east and (c) west for the two sampling campaigns Frequency spectra of water level fluctuations in the lake at sites in the (a) northeast and (c) west for the two sampling campaigns Arabic numerals show the period of the main peaks in the spectrum The vertical line shows the 90% confidence interval with 10 degrees of freedom The main peaks in the spectrum of the lake water level that are significant at or above the 90% confidence interval corresponding to the periods of 5.9 and 1.3 h for campaign measurements collected in the northeast is observed that for band the spectral falloff rate with frequency ω tends to ω−3 Level oscillations that have a period of 5.9 probably represent the seiches that propagate from west to east and this direction corresponds to the direction of the major axis the seiches that propagate from north to south (minor axis) belong to the other mode of oscillation Modelling of surface water elevations at the measurement sites (a) northeast Figure 5 shows the normalized spectrum of the high-frequency signals, and it indicates that there are free seiches with periods of 5.2, 2.7, 1.9 and 1.5 h in the lake, which are within the established confidence level. The highest energetic peaks are those of the first node seiches in the longitudinal direction due to the higher frictional resistance in the shallow water. Frequency spectra of the modelled water level fluctuations in the lake at sites in the (a) northeast Arabic numerals show the periods of the main peaks in the spectrum The spatial structure of the high-frequency seiches with periods of less than 1.5 h is very complicated due to the strong effect of the small-scale features of the basin geometry and bottom topography which explains why level oscillations are not identical for the complete lake Level surfaces of seiche modes with the periods of (a) T = 5.2 h and (b) T = 2.7 h modelled for the west site Cumulative probabilities of (a) measurements water level (dots black) (b) results of the free oscillations obtained by the HAMSOM model (dots black) The line (blue) is the theoretical prediction and the dashed lines (red) are the 90% confidence limits The periods of the first five modes are consistent what was observed and modelled in the northeastern lake area The seiche modes measured on the east and west shores of the lake are consistent with the first and fourth oscillation modes (Merian’s formula) the other mode measurements do not fit with their respective theoretical calculations which is likely due to the irregularities in bathymetry because a rectangular lake with a constant depth of 6 m is assumed for these calculations the estimations from Wilson’s approximation for a parabolic-shaped basin showed that lake oscillations match for all measurements modes measuring level oscillations in different areas of the lake is appropriate for analysing the periods in specific areas discrete regularities are inherent even in waves with small periods Oscillations are often observed in the central part and on the east and west coasts of the lake the oscillations of high-frequency seiches can be considered to occur throughout the lake the periods of seiches can vary (increasing or decreasing) The model was adapted to six different storage levels of the lake from the 90 m isobath (corresponding to an average depth of 1 m) to the 95 m isobath (corresponding to an average depth of 8 m) The model was run with the same considerations detailed in the methodology Frequency spectra of the modelled water level fluctuations in the lake at the west site from the different water storage levels (from isobaths 90 to 95 m) the red line showed an inclination of spectral density of ω−2 for the isobath of 91 m it is due to the fact that the data-register point is near the coast and the signal is contaminated with low frequency noise The periods recorded for the first oscillation mode in the different isobaths were adjusted using the minimum squares method The fitting equation is defined as follows: where ${T}_{1}$ is the first oscillation mode period (in hours) and ${L}_{c}$ is the isobath value (in meters) Figure 9 shows the adjustment curve for the first mode seiche periods. The correlation coefficient between the curve and the periods of the first mode (the isobaths as a function of period) is 0.93. Points refer to the first mode seiche periods obtained from modelling using the different storage isobaths for the lake, and the solid line is the fitting curve obtained by Eq. 13 The modes calculated from Wilson’s approximation for a parabolic-shaped basin matched the measurements almost exactly The oscillations in lake water levels measured in the lake for the first five seiche modes were characterized by periods of 5.9 whereas the modelled water level presented periods of 5.2 as has been observed in other water bodies the friction produced by the bottom is an important factor that controls the dissipation of energy allowing oscillations to cease in less or more time if a lake presents a topography with soft unevennesses allowing the oscillations to remain for a longer time if forced disturbances are made at the resonance frequency the oscillations can be significant and will manifest for several hours The difference presented between the model and the measurements for the first mode is of less than one hour this is because the model used phases-averaged and does not include all these sources or sink of energy and momentum the periods of the seiches obtained from the measurements and modelling exhibit high correspondence The lake-level water elevations generated by the model showed two transverse nodal lines for the first mode with maximum heights along the east and west coasts reaching 17 and 14 mm The second mode corresponding to the 2.7 h period displayed two nodal lines in the central part of the lake (transverse and longitudinal) The first completely crosses the lake from north to south while the second is located in a smaller south-central area of the lake we can conclude that the HAMSOM model is a useful approximation for studying seiches in Lake Chapala the presented results allowed us to evaluate the seiches’ modes at different levels of storage that could be present in Lake Chapala it has been shown that the periods of the first seiche modes decrease as the lake (isobath) storage level decreases The difference in period between the 90 to 95 m isobath of the first seiche mode has reached 5.2 h This paper provides the first limnological approach to understanding free periodic oscillations in Mexican lakes Theoretical calculations of the seiches in the lake require experimental calibration which the authors plan to perform in the near future It is also necessary to carry out a study with a three-dimensional model that allows for the inclusion of several layers The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request Longo, S., Petti, M. & Losada, I. 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Journal of Fluid Mechanics 778, 534–551, https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2015.405 (2015) Download references The authors thank to the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Mexico) for their financial support of projects 33667-T and 41667 Department of Civil Engineering and Topography Pedro Limón Covarrubias & José Roberto Galaviz González and oversaw all aspects of manuscript preparation and submission contributed to writing the methods and supporting information and contributed to the development of research ideas and interpretations of findings All authors reviewed and revised the manuscript The authors declare no competing interests Publisher’s note: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Reprints and permissions Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-48319-6 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Anthropocene newsletter — what matters in anthropocene research Jimmy-Buffett–inspired 55-plus housing brand Latitude Margaritaville is expanding south of the U.S A new Latitude Margaritaville community is now coming together in Lake Chapala about an hour’s drive south of Guadalajara Guadalajara-based real estate development group Levy Holding is developing the new community Latitude Margaritaville International Lake Chapala ranging from 430-square-foot studio apartments to one-story homes spanning nearly 1,300 square feet The first units are slated to open sometime in 2024 The Lake Chapala community is slated to include an island-like feel and resort-style amenities Prices for the homes start at around $233,000 with the opportunity to buy one starting this summer “We know that consumers and travelers alike have come to love all things Margaritaville so we’re excited to offer this different residential opportunity to our clients,” Jim Wiseman President of Development at Margaritaville “With a leading developer and spectacular location we believe there will be incredible demand.” The market near Guadalajara is home to a number of expats and that will be a target demographic for the first Margaritaville project in Mexico Lake Chapala, located on the border of the states of Jalisco and Michoacan, is Mexico’s largest freshwater lake and, as of 2017, was home to as many as 30,000 expats in its numerous towns and villages “Lake Chapala has one of the largest existing concentrations of expats in the world so we are expecting demand to come mostly from non-Mexican residents moving there,” Wiseman said.,” . Latitude Margaritaville partnered with Minto Communities But Minto is not involved with the project in Mexico The announcement comes about one year after Minto Communities – which launched the brand in 2017 in partnership with global brand Margaritaville Holdings – announced the active adult brand’s first foray into the state of Texas while projects in Texas are making progress Latitude Margaritaville, Levy Holdings, MArgaritaville You can often find him at the local watering hole reading a book or listening to a podcast Senior Housing News (SHN) is the leading source for news and information covering the senior housing industry. SHN is part of the Aging Media Network in Worthington, is expected to open in January, pending renovations and the results of the Nov 2 general election pertaining to the establishment acquiring a liquor permit Munoz said he is working to acquire its necessary permits from the health department and other organizations that are needed to open a restaurant and he still needs to complete renovations He said necessary renovations include work on the indoor bar and we’re ready to start with the renovations in the following weeks,” Munoz said. But whether the restaurant obtains its liquor option in November’s election is going to be critical though he still plans to open the restaurant if it is not approved Despite Chapala recently being added to Worthington’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area the address is in a dry precinct and needed to petition to get on the November ballot so residents can vote on whether to grant Chapala a liquor option Munoz said Chapala needs to obtain 50% plus-one votes The Worthington Partnership has posted about the matter on social media. “Nobody knew that was a dry district,” Worthington Partnership executive director Annina Parini said “It was kind of totally last minute they found out they were in this bind so then there was a real scramble in the community to help them get the signatures they needed.” Munoz said the restaurant needed about 375 signatures to appear on the ballot, and it collected around 500 signatures before submitting the petition to the board of elections in August He said he's confident the measure will pass in November. "We are very positive that people in Worthington are going to support us," Munoz said "Our goal is to become a part of this great community and offer great food and great family atmosphere to our customers." Munoz said the 2,400-square-foot restaurant likely would employ 12 full-time staffers and several part-time staffers Munoz said the menu would feature traditional Mexican food and incorporate vegetarian dishes. it’s going to be classic authentic Mexican food,” he said. Chapala Mexican Grill is joins Dewey’s Pizza House Wine and others in the district On Sept. 13, the DORA's parameters were expanded by Worthington City Council, allowing patrons to carry and consume alcoholic beverages at any time from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the week within the designated boundaries. Chapala Tex-Mex in Burtonsville has announced it will be ceasing operations on February 16th who told us that they purchased the neighboring building that was home to Seibel’s for 82 years at 15540 Old Columbia Pike (Seibel’s closed permanently on November 28th) He told us that they would be keeping the Chapala building and that they would not be leaving Burtonsville Chapala Tex-Mex makes mention that they will be bringing new concepts to the spaces they have in the area (the current Chapala building and the newly purchased Seibel’s space) What that will consist of will be made more clear in the coming weeks and months While more and more foreigners are flocking to Lake Chapala’s north shore, the south side of the lake has caught the fancy of grape growers. Seven vineyards have appeared on the lake’s southern shore over the last few years started thanks to the expertise and enthusiasm of just one man: Serapio Ruiz Rivera Don Serapio started trying to grow grapes here 25 years ago when many claimed it was impossible I recently found myself on the south shore, headed for what may be the most curious place on the whole lake: Igloo Kokolo an environmental education center that looks more like a Smurf village than anything else While passing through the little town of San Luís Soyatlán located 11 kilometers directly south of Ajijic my friends and I decided to try making a Mexican-style surprise visit to Don Serapio and his wife Lupita at the El Tejón vineyard Just finding El Tejón turned out to be an adventure We expected Google Maps to take us right there; what we didn’t expect was to suddenly find ourselves on a lonely we were in front of a gate with a sign reading Viñedos el Tejón very healthy-looking grapevines stretched off as far as the eye could see Don Serapio was somewhere among those grapevines but we were welcomed into the cool patio of his home by his wife María Guadalupe Amescuader de Ruíz She immediately poured us a cup of their white wine “This is a malvasia with chardonnay,” said Lupita All of our wines are as close to natural as you can get So the bottom of this bottle is cloudy because we haven’t filtered it we clarify it with ice in the form of frozen jugs of water which we put into the vat.” Lupita told us that her husband fell in love with grapes during the 45 years he spent working in California’s Napa Valley “Many people in the wine industry know my husband’s name,” she told us they all know Don Serapio and his talent for grafting grapevines we brought small vines here to see how they might do at the lakeside.” “We brought more than 20 varieties of grapes,” Lupita said we only found two or three varieties that didn’t do well because they need a colder climate.” I took advantage to ask him how he got involved with growing grapes for wine-making “When I first went to California,” he told me and the people I was with invited me to Napa to pick pears.” Thinking about where they could raise their children in the U.S. they were attracted by the peace and safety Napa offered in comparison to other California cities Don Serapio began working in grapevine grafting in Napa where he and his family lived for 46 years Don Serapio also told us the story of how he became the owner of Rancho El Tejón (Badger Ranch) a name that he says goes back at least 100 years: Would you mind coming to graft some trees for me?’ let me tie up my mule.’ So I went into her house and said we have to put the scions in water so the grafts will take Tomorrow I’ll come to see how they look and then you can tell me where to put the grafts.’” One of her brothers was calling to ask if the deal to sell El Tejón would really be going through ‘You’re selling El Tejón?’” Don Serapio recalled He asked to speak to her brother and paid the asking price without trying to talk the seller out of a single peso which happened to lie right next to land he already owned bringing his property up to a total of about 26 hectares “Plenty of space to experiment with new varieties,” he said in Mexico the word tejón is applied to both the real North American badger which is mainly nocturnal and quite aggressive said to look like a cross between a raccoon “We’ve got both kinds here on our property,” says Don Serapio who that says both populations are rather numerous More than half of the world’s large lakes and two-thirds of its rivers are drying up Mexico is no exception: Millions of people in Mexico are at risk of losing water supply as the country’s largest bodies of water continue to dry up at a rapid rate Lake Chapala (bordering the states of Jalisco and Michoacán) Lake Zumpango (in México state) and the Colorado River in northern Mexico are all facing extinction according to a report by the news site Sin Embargo The Guadalajara metropolitan area depends on Lake Chapala for its potable water but authorities have been unable to devise a plan to address the crisis A study in February indicated that Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest freshwater lake, is at just 45% of capacity as a result of an extended drought as well as poor water management more than 500 dams were built on the Lerma River causing lake levels to drop dramatically lake levels were at a staggering 15% of capacity the federal government designated Lake Chapala a protected lake and forced farmers to allow more water through their dams to maintain the lake at 60% capacity drought and uneven rainfall has seen lake levels drop registering below 50% capacity for the past two years Last month, we reported that Lake Cuitzeo, the country’s second-largest freshwater lake, has lost 70% of its water over the past 25 years Nearby cities and towns depended on the lake for drinking water The economies of the lake-side towns relied heavily on fishing as both a food supply and by way of fishing charters Zumpango — a regulating reservoir north of Mexico City — is not only threatened by drought but also by the construction of the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) directly next to the protected wetland Drought and high temperatures have caused a significant amount of water loss in the area such that the wetland is no longer a tourist attraction and many of the 200 bird species that frequented the lake are no longer arriving The lack of tourists to the lagoon and a rise in disease traceable to the increase in effluence in the lake (up to 30% of the lake is made up of wastewater) have prompted residents to close down shops and move to look for work elsewhere The National Water Commission (Conagua) has been attending to the Colorado River crisis since 2022 when it declared an emergency in four northern states after large sections of the river dried up completely More than 40 million people depend on the Colorado River which extends from the United States into Baja California. By treaty, Mexico is to receive 1.5 million acre-feet of water annually, but climate change and drought has seen that figure drop in recent years Mexico received 7% less than that agreed to with the U.S Farmers and city managers in northern Mexico have been meeting with Conagua to devise conservation plans but they are a work in progress have also been enforcing new conservation rules while officials in seven U.S states are also learning how to get by with less water With reports from Sin Embargo and El Informador Northwest Health is welcoming Vijaya Chapala the hospital system’s multispecialty physician group She previously treated patients at Northwest Medical Group’s Portage location from 2016 to 2020 a board-certified Internal Medicine physician is now accepting new patients at Northwest Medical Group – Primary Care The office is located at the northwest corner of East Ridge Road and Rt Chapala continued her research career in the Department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University Her attention was then directed to a patient-centered field prompting her pursuit of a medical degree at the Ross University School of Medicine Chapala completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the Allegheny University Hospitals in Philadelphia and continued as an attending physician at the VA Hospital in Asheville After more than a decade caring for our veterans she continues to incorporate integrative and preventive medicine and nutrition to individualize each patient’s treatment plan With personal experience caring for elderly parents Chapala understands elderly patients need support from their medical team in addition to their families and community to achieve their personal quality of life Chapala call 219-947-7880 or visit NWMedicalGroup.com Share Good News Contact Us Meet Our Team Fans of Mexican cuisine have many options in central Ohio but their choices in Worthington have been limited. That will change with the opening of Chapala Mexican Grill at 530 High St. in Worthington – the site of a former Bruegger’s Bagels that closed in 2020 The other comparable Mexican dining option in the city before Chapala is Tomatillos Authentic Mexican at 2285 W who owns Chapala with his sister said they are anticipating opening the new restaurant the first week of February Previous story: Chapala Mexican Grill plans January opening on High Street in Worthington “Something we are planning is trying to be part of the community and stay open for a long time because it’s a great community,” Luis Munoz said “We are so excited to be here,” Ramona Munoz said “The community is very friendly; everybody is so happy 'I’m so excited (for the restaurant to open).' And I’m excited the interior remodeling and underlying building systems were completed and the only other major checkbox left was to acquire the necessary inspections from the city “We’ve pretty much got everything ready,” he said “Just the small details (are left).” Luis Munoz said he and his sister anticipate a staff of eight to 10 full-time workers and three to four part-time workers would be sufficient to run the 2,400-square-foot restaurant Chapala’s menu features a variety of Mexican dishes spanning such appetizers as queso fundido con chorizo – grilled Mexican pork sausage with melted cheese – steak- fajitas and specialty dishes that include chimichangas Vegetarian options include tacos with black beans and a fajita burrito. “I think we can do something nice for the people and serve the right food,” Luis Munoz said Chapala also will feature a large selection of cocktails including such margaritas as blackberry mint and spicy jalapeño as well as other creations like the Chapala Special Local voters granted the restaurant a liquor permit in the November general election with more than 90% supporting a weekday liquor permit and Sunday sales according to results from the Franklin County Board of Elections The liquor permit coincides with Chapala’s addition to Worthington's Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area The DORA allows patrons to carry an open container of alcohol within its boundaries if the beverage was purchased from a participating business; it is in effect from 11 a.m Chapala was added to the DORA when Worthington adopted updated rules, including the extended hours, in June Related story: Worthington expands DORA schedule, participants “We’re thrilled to welcome (Chapala) to the Worthington community,” Worthington Partnership executive director Annina Parini said “We’re excited to have a Mexican restaurant in the historic district.” Luis Munoz also co-owns Plaza Mexican Grill at 1644 N in Columbus’ University District with his brother He said Chapala’s opening will be good for both businesses whereas Chapala is a little more “upscale,” with a better menu “Our campus restaurant is a little different because we have seats that are kind of busy and seats that are kind of slow,” he said and I think our (businesses) can help each other, and at the same time we can be a little more upscale (at Chapala) and have a better menu." When interviewed by ThisWeek last fall, Luis Munoz estimated the restaurant would open in January “It took a little longer than we thought to open," he said "But we think it’s the right thing to do which formed into a rare but powerful Category 4 cyclone in the Arabian Sea with winds at one time estimated at 155 mph by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) back on the 30th of October made its initial landfall along the south coast of Yemen this morning west of the port city of Mukulla at around 09:00 UTC as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds estimated at 75 mph by JTWC making it the first Category 1 cyclone on record to strike Yemen The last cyclone to strike the Arabian peninsula was Cyclone Phet Chapala is expected to bring heavy rains and flooding to a country that is predominantly dry desert Although on average the western highlands receive between 10 and 15 inches of rain per year much of eastern Yemen receives less and 5 inches per year with coastal areas often getting less than 2 inches per year The Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM or IMERG is used to make estimates of precipitation from a combination of passive microwave sensors including the GMI microwave sensor on board the GPM satellite This image shows IMERG rainfall estimates for the period 18:00 UTC 28 October to 08:30 UTC 3 November 2015 for Yemen the Gulf of Aden and the surrounding region in association with Cyclone Chapala IMERG shows rainfall amounts on the order of 5 to 15 inches (shown in yellow and dark red respectively) over south central Yemen and along the coast to the right of where Chapala made landfall as indicated by the storm track (shown in white) while significant areas of eastern Yemen appear to have received at least 3 inches of rain (shown in green) The highest total over Yemen was 398 mm (~16 inches) Most of these totals are the equivalent of a year's worth or precipitation or more So far at least 3 persons are reported to have died and 200 injured as a result of the storm on the island of Socotra located about 150 miles east of the Horn of Africa IMERG rainfall totals for Socotra are between 12 (dark red) and 20 (shown in purple) inches of rain Oenophiles in Mexico — and even people who just like a big ol’ glass of hearty red with their mole poblano — are already hip to wine regions in Baja California and Querétaro But now there’s a new up-and-coming wine destination in Mexico: La Ribera de Chapala a cluster of small wineries on the southern shore of Lake Chapala in the state of Jalisco a 2014 study by Mexico’s National Institute of Forestry Agricultural and Livestock Research (Inifap) determined that this area of Jalisco would be ideal for wine production — and that’s just when a lot of grapevines in the new region began taking root between cornfields and greenhouses growing berries Reforma reported that the pioneer of the burgeoning area is Don Serapio, a 60-year-old who spent four decades in the Napa Valley before returning to his home of San Luis Soyatlán on the southern shore of Lake Chapala. (San Luis Soyatlán prides itself as the home of the vampirito orange and lime juices and the soda Squirt or “Badger Vineyards” — inspired others to start producing wine in the region “sheltered” by Lake Chapala My teacher is nature,” Serapio said in Reforma While that particular “cab” experiment didn’t turn out well, the winery currently has 6,000 plants spread out over three hectares, with grapes such as sauvignon blanc, shiraz, malbec, garnacha blanca, tempranillo and malvasía El Tejón has scheduled a harvest festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, August 6, with Serapio himself welcoming visitors and giving tours. There will also be a four-course meal orchestrated by catering chef Gabriel Gómez of El Grill de Catamarca. The cost of 1,500 pesos (US $72) will include food, wine pairings and a tour. Reservations are required at (331) 845-6649, or visit @eltejonvinedos on Instagram Other wineries in the region include Crotalus Finca La Estramancia and Ritualista (all in San Luis Soyatlán) and Post Data (in El Tepehuaje) La Estramancia is open for private or group visits and Post Data is not accepting visitors at the moment Public access to the other wineries was not made apparent which refers to a rattlesnake native to the area Other grapes in the region not already mentioned include macabeo “The soil [in this region] has an organic layer with a lot of stone and everything is almost of volcanic origin which gives the wines a mineral flavor,” said Rafael Vargas “The results have had good acidity and color the plant evolves and improves its quality.” which reached the vineyards by crossing Lake Chapala in a boat Xavier Orendáin de Obeso touted the emerging area and suggested that one day there could be public boat tours there from Chapala and Ajijic on the other side of the lake “We will promote the development of wine tourism in an orderly and sustainable manner,” emphasized Orendáin de Obeso, who coordinates economic growth and development for Jalisco, according to the newspaper Laguna. “We can have a united industry and we come to ask for a vote of confidence Opening these new opportunities for development is what moves us.” With reports from Reforma Chapala Grill owner Pedro Mendez learned at a young age from his parents how to fix foods from the family’s native Michoacan along with some coastal dishes from Colima and Jalisco Creativity and imagination are used by the cooks and staff to create new flavor blends to offer as specials on Instagram and Facebook try the new food and let Pedro know what they think Some are so popular they sometimes become permanent fixtures on the menu such as “Manuel’s fish tacos” of grilled fish pico di gallo and creamy habanero dressing or “Filete Manuel” grilled sea bass and shrimp Both are creations of restaurant manager Manuel Guizar a long-time employee who’s been with the Mendez family 28 years Pedro stays up with trends in the food industry and adapts by offering newly-popular molcajete stew and avocado ceviche Bacon-wrapped shrimp is a best-seller – it’s shrimp and cheese wrapped in bacon grilled and served with spicy hot “a la diabla” sauce for $13.95 Chicken fajitas and chicken breast with cilantro and avocado sauce are also brisk sellers and you get a little of everything ocean with filete relleno made of sea bass Expect a crowd at Chapala Grill on Saturdays from 6 p.m to midnight when tacos are $1.50 and beer is $2.50 Pedro believes customer service is a key to a successful business He takes time out to introduce himself to the diners and almost as a reflection the visitors themselves greet others – especially on Saturdays when family groups fill the 127-seat restaurant and inevitably one diner will know another and there’s a chain reaction of cross-table conversations among family and friends Pedro has owned Chapala Grill for 13 years but his family history in restaurants goes back 40 years ago to when his parents Pedro Mendez Sr They moved to Visalia and started Colima’s on East Main Street in 1989 followed by a second Colima’s on West Noble Avenue then had Chapala restaurant on West Caldwell Avenue until 2 ½ years ago when it sold The parental influence is so strong that 90 percent of the dishes at Chapala Grill are based on recipes Pedro got from his mother handled customer services in those early years The many skills Pedro learned would serve him well later when the 2008 recession hit and caused many restaurants to close by 2012 so the rest of us can enjoy the rich Mendez family legacy A full bar is available with happy hour from 3 p.m The northern shore of Lake Chapala has been called a paradise because of its ideal climate and beautiful environment but for those of its inhabitants who enjoy hiking walk a few blocks uphill and there you are at a trail head which takes you straight into a network of footpaths both easy and difficult eventually leading to peaks offering spectacular views of the lake that those on the shoreline never see Many kilometers of those trails have been laboriously traced, described and mapped by a nonprofit organization called Senderos de Mexico (Trails of Mexico) which is dedicated not only to cataloguing Mexico’s hiking trails but also to signposting and maintaining them Senderos de Mexico has published the 144-page book This guide comes in both a Spanish and an English edition and contains 100 color photos as well as 26 maps featuring contour lines hiking time estimates and levels of difficulty Loose versions of all the maps are also included in a pocket inside the book The Trail Guide measures 12 by 17 centimeters (less than 5 by7 inches) and weighs only 142 grams small enough to slip into your back pocket yet packed with useful features like how to find the trail head as well as a detailed description of the trail and where to make crucial turns and this opinion was confirmed when I showed it to experienced lakeside hiker Kriss Gang and this is La Christina and…” he began Here’s a trail I’ve never been on I received my own copy of this extraordinary little book from Jose Luis Cortés I’m going on one of the hikes described in our book even though I already knew that Cortés is one of those people who automatically rise at 5 a.m I was lucky enough to be able to sleep until 5:45 a.m. When Cortés parked along a dirt road not far from the Tecnológico de Chapala I knew exactly which trail we would be following “I’ve only done this hike once,” I told him “but it instantly became one of my very favorites.” In the Trail Guide this is route number 23: “El Caracol to the Mesa Del Ocote.” Thirteen years ago You start off walking for a long time through what feels just like a tunnel through a jungle one of them will be the melodious warble of the clarín jilguero (brown-backed solitaire) which to me resembles three flutes being played all at once you brush past wild sage and maidenhair ferns and when you come to an occasional gap in this gallery of green you may catch a glimpse of a huge fig tree towering overhead you seem to enter a new ecosystem presenting you with new plants Then at 2,418 meters comes the big surprise it seems you have left Mexico and entered Canada You are now in an oak forest with a canopy of leaves overhead and a carpet of leaves underfoot but not a plant or bush to be seen in between Passing through this stark but enticing woods that offers a gorgeous view of Lake Chapala a view those couch potatoes down at the shore have never seen It’s one of those special moments when you experience the joy of hiking For me this 3.7-km trail symbolizes the inclusion of Mexico’s five ecosystems within what I call “The Magic Circle” around the city of Guadalajara The Senderos de Mexico Chapala Trail Guide is available at Diane Pearl Gallery in Riberas del Pilar, Jalisco, and via the Senderos de Mexico Facebook page Money received from book sales goes for trail signs trail maintenance and programs that Senderos carries out in indigenous communities training people in everything from how to fix a bicycle to how to become a trail guide — the live kind The writer has lived near Guadalajara, Jalisco, since 1985. His most recent book is Outdoors in Western Mexico, Volume Three. More of his writing can be found on his blog This unique community is designed to meet the highest standards of living for adults 55 and better looking for a relaxed and vibrant lifestyle in Mexico The design of Latitude Margaritaville International Lake Chapala is a testament to the fusion of modern and traditional charm each home embraces the spirit of Margaritaville while incorporating elements of local culture the traditional design elements and details seamlessly blend with Margaritaville to create a unique experience for future residents As the only residential community in the region with a rooftop bar residents can enjoy breathtaking 360° views of Lake Chapala and the surrounding mountains The community will also offer a variety of amenities Residents will be able to partake in various activities such as pool volleyball is a global lifestyle brand inspired by Jimmy Buffett whose songs evoke a passion for escape and relaxation Margaritaville features over 40 lodging locations and over 20 additional projects in the pipeline positioned across a variety of full-service and boutique hotel and resort brands all complemented by an extensive suite of food and beverage concepts and LandShark Bar & Grill. Ranked #1 in Guest Satisfaction among Upper Upscale Hotel Brands in the J.D Power 2023 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study, Margaritaville's inspired hotel brands with high-quality partners include Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts part of the Island Reserve Inclusive Collection Margaritaville's branded real estate includes Latitude Margaritaville "55 and better" active adult brand; Latitude Margaritaville International; Margaritaville Cottages Villas and Residences; One Particular Harbour Margaritaville; and Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham The newest brand additions to Margaritaville's properties includes the rapidly-growing Camp Margaritaville RV Resorts and Margaritaville at Sea which debuted in 2022 with its first ship, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise consumers can escape every day through a collection of lifestyle products including apparel About Levy Holding Levy Holding is an integral and autonomous business group focused on real estate development, seeking to innovate and offer great quality in all projects, always considering sustainability and the human factor behind them. For more information, please visit www.levyholding.com MargaritavilleFinn Partners, [email protected] Levy HoldingSantiago Saracho, [email protected]Brenda Ramirez, [email protected] Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts is celebrating back-to-back wins Real Estate Hotels and Resorts Travel Residential Real Estate Do not sell or share my personal information: which frequently lives in estuaries and can grow to a length of over five meters Biologist Paulino Ponce is an independent researcher specializing in crocodiles and human-croc conflicts A graduate of the University of Guadalajara he currently heads up a task force dedicated to the tricky business of finding and relocating misplaced crocodiles in Mexico’s biggest inland body of water “How did you get interested in crocodiles?” I asked Ponce I’ve always been fascinated by reptiles,” he replied but — you may not believe it — when I grew up I started out studying music at Guadalajara’s Instituto Cabañas and Ponce ended up at the Herpetarium of the Guadalajara Zoo “Here I worked with some of the most poisonous snakes in the world,” he said but eventually it came time to do my thesis and I wanted to write something really useful that would benefit whatever species I was studying — and also benefit the environment which at that time was red-listed as being endangered.” This led Ponce to the Los Tuxtlas Tropical Biological Station in Los Tuxtlas “I took a crocodilian training course with herpetologist Dr [Gustavo] Casas Andreu of the National Autonomous University of Mexico let’s go have a beer!’ but I was so fascinated by what I was learning that all I wanted to do was read more about crocodiles “Then we went out to do fieldwork at a farm in Laguna Catemaco and one of the course professors was Gonzalo Pérez-Higareda demonstrating the problems and techniques for capturing a croc who wants to go out and catch one right now?’ I jumped right up and grabbed the rope and said Me!’ And then there was this total silence in the room I asked Ponce about the problem of crocodile attacks in Mexico the Mexican government organized a meeting about crocodile attacks that were taking place in Puerto Vallarta where a child had supposedly died,” Ponce explained “there were meetings and meetings and meetings about crocodile problems Let’s go take care of the problem!'” Ponce began to take a personal hand in dealing with Jalisco’s crocodile situation when a crocodile three meters long attacked a six-year-old girl in Puerto Vallarta two crocs were captured and released elsewhere a 4.68-meter croc killed a five-year-old boy in the estuary of the Tomatlán River in Jalisco The culprit was captured and sent to an enclosure And then there is the story of the crocodile discovered in 2009 in Bosque la Primavera the huge forest located just west of Guadalajara swimming around in a pond known as El Carrizo Ponce led a team of volunteer crocodile wranglers there for nighttime crocodile hunting observing its movements and favorite haunts The reptile appeared nearly two meters long and had probably been feeding on turtles and tilapia for some time United States Peace Corps volunteer Marc Trinks was a member of the team and he describes the first night they floated into the middle of the pond to confront the crocodile: “We had a long pole with a noose at the end kill the motor and coast up to him so Paulino could get him around the neck with the noose We tried that three times that night until he got scared and wouldn’t let us get close to him anymore and the croc went back in the creek where the pond starts laying out snare traps baited with pieces of fresh fish Crocodiles trip these snares when they eat the bait and pull on it causing the snare to close around the animal’s neck or body “the croc fell into the trap and we got him.” The crocodile turned out to be 1.74 meters long and “in good shape but a bit thin possibly due to a scarcity of food in the area,” Trinks said Team member Karina Aguilar lamented the fact that the croc had apparently been placed there deliberately by “someone ignorant of how much damage such an action could cause not only to the animal but also to the equilibrium of the local ecosystem.” Ponce took a sample of the crocodile’s DNA for his biogenetic database and the Primavera croc was eventually returned to its natural habitat on the Pacific coast I kept hearing rumors that people had seen crocodiles in the lake,” Ponce told me they invited animal rescuer Andrés González and me to the town of Tizapán on the south shore of Lake Chapala to get a crocodile that local police had captured I saw that it was a Crocodylus moreletii [Morelet’s crocodile] — a native of the Gulf of Mexico the Tizapán police said there was another one in an arroyo [stream] that they had been unable to capture.” “it was human beings who brought them here a number of crocs escaped from a house in Michoacán all of whom headed straight for the Lerma River [which connects Michoacán and Jalisco and eventually empties into Lake Chapala] is how the crocodiles made their way to Lake Chapala.” there have been many records of croc sightings around Lake Chapala Ponce has organized a team to do just this but now we need a bigger one for moving around on the lake.” and Ponce is looking for support from lakeside organizations “We need to monitor the whole lake,” he said We have registers from sites all around the lake Jamay … and some of them measure more than three meters!” Lake Chapala is about 80 kilometers long and 20 kilometers wide “There are all kinds of places where aquatic plants abound and crocodiles can hide,” Ponce said “Although there are few chances to be caught by a croc People should especially be watchful of their children and their pets All of them are ‘bite size’ as far as crocodiles are concerned We know that a crocodile can surprise and catch a fast animal like a cheetah more than 70% of the people bitten by crocs in Mexico were fishermen,” he said To report a croc sighting on Lake Chapala (in English or Spanish), call Paulino Ponce at his WhatsApp phone number: 331-574-9417. You can also send a message to [email protected] Note the location and time of your sighting and the approximate size of the crocodile October 19, 2015JPEG November 4, 2015JPEG November 3 - 4, 2015PNG For the first time since records were started in the 1940s When Cyclone Chapala struck the desert nation on November 3 it was just the third time in six decades that any cyclone made landfall on the Arabian Peninsula the rainfall from Chapala posed a dire threat Information flow from the war-torn region has been inconsistent but the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that as many as one million people could have been affected by the storm The Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 captured false-color images of flooded regions of eastern Yemen following the landfall of Cyclone Chapala 2015; the second was acquired on November 4 Turn on the image comparison tool to see the differences Both images use a combination of visible light and infrared (Landsat bands 3, 5, and 7, or green and shortwave infrared) that makes it easier to see flood water on the landscape shades of blue and green reveal areas with standing or flowing water; reds often indicate vegetation Much of the region is marked by ephemeral river beds A line of green dots—likely pooled water—trails south and west from the Wadi toward the coast several kilometers of land are inundated with water perhaps from the rainfall or from a storm surge The map shows a satellite-based estimate of rainfall in Yemen from 3 p.m local time (12:00 Universal Time) on November 3 to 3 p.m so totals reported by ground stations can be significantly higher or lower The brightest colors on the map represent rainfall approaching 180 millimeters (7 inches) over the course of the day most of Yemen sees no more than 100 millimeters of rain in a year; coastal areas receive less than 50 millimeters The rainfall data come from the Integrated Multi-Satellite Retrievals for GPM, or IMERG, a product of the Global Precipitation Measurement mission IMERG pulls together precipitation estimates from passive microwave and infrared sensors on several satellites as well as monthly surface precipitation gauge data to provide precipitation estimates between 60 degrees North and South latitude GPM is part of a partnership between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency along with other national science agencies NASA Earth Observatory images by Joshua Stevens, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey and IMERG data provided courtesy of the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) Science Team's Precipitation Processing System (PPS) View this area in EO Explorer Satellites capture several views of the cyclone’s impact on the desert nation of Yemen Cyclone Chapala headed for the Arabian Peninsula Western India and Burma (Myanmar) suffered through dramatic flooding and landslides in early August 2019 Hurricane Maria delivered a tremendous amount of rain in a short period of time yet the weather system has wreaked havoc in the Americas you likely have a passing interest in what it’s like to live in Mexico Foreign-born residents likely live in all 32 of Mexico’s states But some places come closer to satisfying the needs of aging baby boomers than others My happy place is in Jalisco state, home to many of Mexico’s emblematic destinations, attractions and cultural touchstones. It’s the place that gave the world tequila, mariachis, Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Jalisco also launched the Mexico-for-overseas-living movement and is home to the iconic Lake Chapala Chapala is both a town and the name of Mexico’s largest lake Tucked between shoreline and sierra (mountains) is a string of colorful colonial-era villages A ribbon of lake-facing settlements and gated real estate communities has been hosting foreign-born residents for nearly 100 years while also drawing throngs of weekend visitors from Mexico’s second-largest metropolitan area The folks living here (a culturally diverse bunch from over 30 countries) will immediately point to the splendid weather (comfortable year-round temperatures and very low humidity) proximity to an international airport and a bonanza of ways for active baby boomers to embrace the one question to seriously consider when moving to a foreign country: how will I spend my time The region is a fascinating laboratory of multiculturalism — home to thousands of foreign-born year-round residents who fall into one of two groups: the baby boomer “do-gooders,” who stay active by volunteering interfacing as best they can with their Mexican neighbors and frequenting spaces like the Lake Chapala Society’s downtown Ajijic “campus,” weekly markets Another group lives here primarily for the good weather (homes here do not generally need air conditioning nor heating) and affordability and the opportunity to casually connect with their Mexico surroundings The epicenter of staying busy is Ajijic This number doesn’t include the estimated 4,000 foreign-born year-round residents and thousands more seasonal visitors Founded in 1531 and wedged between steep mountains and the Lake Ajijic’s kilometer-long lakeside malecón (pier) is a delight at all hours mostly resulting from pressures upstream and the Rio Lerma watershed but rarely do humans disrupt its calm surface or explore its shallow depth Ajijic’s prosperous central plaza is dominated by a gazebo adorned with lake-inspired cement motifs Its murals are a legacy with ties to a children’s art program launched by American Neill James in the 1950s and still in operation today James arrived in Ajijic in 1943 and stayed for 50 years opening the first Spanish-language library sponsoring silkworm looms that employed village women and spearheading various philanthropic initiatives Calle Colón bisects the villages from north to south and connects the plaza with the lakefront Colón is lined with art galleries displaying works by Mexican and foreign-born artists real estate offices and clothing boutiques There are surprisingly few museums or colonial-era structures here reflecting the village’s historic isolation (the first roads connecting the village to the outside world came as late as the early 1950s) and fishing village heritage There are hiking trails crisscrossing the lake-facing mountains a 30-kilometer protected bike path and morning kayaking from the Ajijic waterfront Thermal swimming pools (balnearios) are just a short drive west of Ajijic Many of us living here enjoy the three live theater companies in addition to the numerous secular and religious cultural traditions you won’t find any sprawling resorts or large hotels here in Ajijic Visitors typically stay in Airbnb rentals or small inns sprinkled along central Ajijic’s crumbling cobblestone streets Gated communities and dozens of residential developments mix foreign buyers with affluent tapatíos (people from Jalisco) who generally occupy their homes on weekends and holidays The foreign “invasion” is not without impact Gentrification has brought changes in ways good and bad Rising prices for real estate and rentals weigh heavily across the entire northwest Lakeshore region Residential water wells are being tapped out; traffic congestion through Ajijic and into Chapala is worsening A partial positive counterweight is the economic impact of foreign spending that goes into the hands of residents and business owners animal rescues and educational efforts strive to mitigate some of these externalities offering residents volunteer opportunities that are having positive impacts Take in the world’s best weather and international intermingling in the town of Chapala and the villages of San Antonio Tlayacapan All this and more begins a short 30-minute drive from the Guadalajara International Airport Of all the “happy places” you may consider parachuting into I’ve found mine along the northwest shore of Mexico’s largest natural lake Greg Custer has lived lakeside since 2015, operates Ajijic Walking Tours and consults with folks exploring Mexico for overseas living He is a regular contributor reporting on the Lake Chapala/Ajijic region for Mexico News Daily 2 November 2015 - A rare powerful tropical cyclone Chapala in the Indian Ocean is heading towards Arabian Peninsula southern costs of Oman and Yemen It is expected to make a land fall on eastern provinces of Hadramout and Shabwa in war-torn Yemen early Tuesday The storm reached category 4 during the weekend the cyclone killed at least two people in Socotra island of Yemen located in the Indian Ocean 340 km from Yemen Dozens of homes were also damaged and destroyed on the island The US Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) reports that Chapala is expected to make landfall at about 06:00 GMT on Tuesday morning The JTWC reported that the storm system was tracking a path that would take it close to the Yemeni port city of Mukalla which has a population of about 300,000 people The sea was very rough with maximum wave height of 10 metres heavy rains and very strong wind up to 170 km/hr latest satellite images indicate that the Tropical Storm Chapala is centered about 450 km away from the coastal areas of Omani governorate of Dhofar The surface wind speed around the center has decreased to 83-93 knots (150 to168 Km/h) The Omani and Yemini governments have issued warnings and urged residents to evacuate coastal areas as cyclone Chapala approaches The Public Authority for Civil Aviation in Oman has advised the public to take necessary precaution and to stay away from low lying areas and to avoiding crossing wadis The Authority also advised the fishermen and other sea-users to avoid putting to sea and to follow latest and updated bulletins from the National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre of Oman Chapala originated in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday and rapidly intensified during the following days reaching category 4 becoming the strongest tropical cyclone of the Indian Ocean The storm had the potential to bring three or four times the average yearly rain in just a day or two over parts of eastern Yemen and southwest Oman Tropical cyclones in this part of the world are extremely rare and only a few have hit the Arabian Peninsula since reliable records started The last cyclonic storm to strike the coastlines of Oman and Yemen was Keila in 2011 which resulted in widespread floods and 14 fatalities a rare tropical cyclone brought devastating flooding to Yemen and killed at least 100 people 20,000 others were displaced in the south of the country and over 50% of the total population in the affected areas had their livelihoods destroyed or significantly affected cyclone Gonu inflicted more than 50 deaths on Oman Thank you. If you have 2 minutes, we would benefit from additional feedback (link opens in a new window) questions like these have popped up every now and then on expat social media groups around Lake Chapala: “Does anyone know where to buy Sandy & Daniel tequila?” “Are Sandy & Daniel still selling their tequila?” To understand why it’s so hard these days to find this tequila that’s a favorite of the foreign population around Lake Chapala you have to take into account the wider forces in the tequila market you may have noticed that in Mexican supermarkets and liquor stores there is almost no real tequila on the shelves — and what real tequila exists is locked up in special cases The worldwide thirst for tequila has priced many Mexicans out of their signature drink It also has put severe pressure on small producers like the Sandy & Daniel brand let’s talk about the brand’s creation which was a bit of an accident: Robert (Sandy) Estrada and Daniel Ruiz’s partnership came through a chance meeting Los Angeles-born Estrada was staying in the Chapala area with a friend with Estrada as best man at Ruiz’s wedding and godfather to subsequent children when Ruiz’s grandfather needed to sell his farmland in the late 2000s making him a partner in the family’s blue agave-growing business making the crop — seven years in the making — worthless Estrada suggested that they harvest anyway contracting with a distillery in Tequila to make That 20 tons of agave turned into far more cases than they could ever drink so the business partners looked for ways to sell it in the local area The two had experienced one end of the wild boom-and-bust cycle of tequila agave production Despite the liquor’s huge popularity there are still problems with farmers planting agave because of currently-high prices versus making educated guesses about the markets six to seven years later as well as opportunities to cash in on boom markets The ever-growing popularity of tequila lengthens this cycle but does not eliminate it The need to time planting and harvesting has become even more critical not only because of federal and state tax issues but also the fact that growing harvesting and selling is heavily regulated by the tequila regulation council Estrada and Ruiz found that they had a market for their product among the large and interconnected foreign population around Lake Chapala as well as the story of a partnership between a local farming family and an expat Sandy & Daniel had a very strong regional market and had even gained recognition in Jalisco and California But the pandemic and the steady rise in agave prices took their toll Sandy & Daniel lost their main source of sales through tasting events to COVID restrictions blue agave prices went from near-zero to as much as 35 pesos today Predictions since 2018 of gradual decreases have not materialized and most distillers are not holding their breath The prices for agave are a result of demand something made with “useless” agave growing wild Its ever-growing worldwide popularity has made it a specialty taking it out of its traditional markets into silver-decorated bottles named and promoted by celebrities The worldwide demand for agave means that major distillers are now eschewing traditional techniques in favor of large industrial machines and even chemicals that allow them to use agave plants before they mature They have also bought land for growing their own agave to help mediate price fluctuations it is almost now impossible to stay in the tequila business without exporting over 80% of Mexico’s tequila is sold outside the country Estrada and Ruiz did consider exporting and began the process but they found the upfront costs and risks too high They also decided that they did not want to go the more modern production route Both have had serious effects on the business Despite having a relatively affluent foreign community on their doorstep the two have diversified their business activities into other areas such as real estate they are back to where they started over a decade ago They have expanded their fields and now focus on producing agave to “…sell to the big boys…” the family’s original business plan Agave farms have been experiencing consolidation there were about 25,000 growers in the permitted areas for blue agave the number of cultivators is less than 10% of that Sandy and Daniel are still tied to the idea of producing tequila even though none is currently being made under their label They built a tequila tasting room on top of a hill overlooking Lake Chapala But the future of Sandy & Daniel tequila is murky at best Due to a longstanding relationship with Chapala’s famous Feria de Maestros de Arte the two will be selling from the last of the cases they have both to support the organization behind the handcrafts fair and to celebrate the winding down of the pandemic It is likely your last opportunity to buy the product for a very long time Leigh Thelmadatter arrived in Mexico 18 years ago and fell in love with the land and the culture in particular its handcrafts and art. She is the author of Mexican Cartonería: Paper, Paste and Fiesta (Schiffer 2019) Her culture column appears regularly on Mexico News Daily Up to 1.1 million people affected by Cyclone Chapala in Socotra Island More than 36,000 people are reported displaced and housed in public buildings or with host families and high energy biscuits have been pre-positioned or are on their way to most affected areas An airlift is being prepared to reach Socotra Island the most powerful storm Yemen had seen in decades Cyclone Chapala has brought hurricane-force winds torrential rain and huge waves to the south Yemen coastline some areas had received 610 millimetres (24 inches) of rain seven times more than the annual average in just 48 hours the cyclone has reduced to a tropical storm with a maximum wind speed of 118 km and is expected to further weaken UNOSAT satellite imagery and precipitation projections estimate that heavy rainfall is expected to continue over the next five days Shabwah and Hadramaut governorates are forecasted to receive between 20 to 80 millimetres (1-3 inches) of additional precipitation It is also likely that another weather system will form behind Chapala that may prolong the inclement weather among those impacted by Chapala are many families who had previously fled conflict in Aden and Abyan in search of safety Media and local NGOs report that large areas across Hadramout and Shabwah remain flooded and that displaced people lack drinking water Humanitarian action is hindered by insecurity related to the on-going conflict and because much of the affected area is in territory controlled by Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.