The State of Lake Chapala 2020 by Kristina Morgan Despite widespread and persistent myths and misconceptions, Lake Chapala is healthier than most people realize. So says expat and civil engineer, Todd Stong, PhD, in a recent interview. Dr Stong is well-known in our area for 17 years of involvement in studies and projects related to…
Papel Picado I remember when we were young, we would take colored construction paper and fold it in half as many times as we could, then we would cut out triangular, circular or square pieces on the folds. I’d carefully unfold the sheet to find spectacular designs, all different depending on the cuts. Mom would…
Mexico’s Underground Railroad By Kristina Morgan Mexico doesn’t usually come up when speaking of slavery, but the truth is that the underground railroad ran north and south. There were many slaves in Mexico who dreamed of freedom but Canada seemed a lifetime away. Fortunately for them, slavery was also illegal in Mexico. Mexico became…
MEXICAN OPALS One cannot deny the beauty of the Mexican Fire Opal also known as the Mexican Diamond. The Aztec’s called them Vitzitziltecpa which means hummingbird stone and rightly so, the bright iridescent colors of the bird’s plumage mimicked the colors of the brilliant fire opal. According to historians, Aztec’s as early as in the…
MEXICAN AMBER Amber´s beautiful hue is eye candy for any amber connoisseur; just knowing how these gemstones are formed brings a new appreciation to the wonder of nature. Imagine, resin being produced from the core of a tree and expelled through the bark to a broken branch, a surge of insects or a threatening fungus….
Obsidian’s Edge In the Sierra de las Navajas (Razor or Knife mountains), about two hours outside of Lake Chapala, is a modern mine that recently crossed paths with pre-Hispanic tunnels used to quarry obsidian by the Aztecs. Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed into a kind of rock by the rapid cooling of…
A beautiful harbinger of the tropical spring has arrived Lakeside – The explosive floral blossoms of the Jacaranda, Primavera and Plumeria trees. Offset by the stark brown contrast of the Sierra Madre Mountains, this vivid, floral explosion precedes the arrival of the seasonal rains. The flowering Jacaranda (pronounced Hackaranda) is a tropical beauty with clusters…
Mexico’s Amazing Monarch Migration “Butterflies can’t see their wings. They can’t see how truly beautiful they are, but everyone else can. People are like that as well.” ― Naya Rivera The Monarch butterflies fly as much as 100 miles a day on their 3000 mile + journey south to migrate from the US and Canada every…
A Capirotada is a Mexican grandmother’s culinary equivalent of a warm hug during Lent, which is mostly known for abstaining from such pleasures. This Mexican bread pudding served over the Easter season combines crusty bolillos (like French bread), spices, fruit, nuts and aged cheese creating a savory note that balances the sweetness of the piloncillo (unrefined…
Or “Pointed Setters” as my 3-year old daughter used to call them! There is no other plant synonymous with Christmas as the poinsettia. What a delightful addition to every home to brighten up a dark and dreary winter day during the holidays! Here in Mexico, however, discovering that poinsettias grow with wild abandon practically everywhere,…
Owning a home is a keystone of wealth… both financial affluence and emotional security.