Standing proudly on the Ajijic malecon, the creative Ajijic sign with the stunning backdrop of Lake Chapala and Mount Garcia, skillfully depicts the various facets of life in this area. The flora, the architecture, food, art, the lake and the ever-present music are all part of the ambiance that makes Ajijic an enchanting place to…
Church bells have been the timekeepers of towns and villages for centuries, as most people didn’t have clocks or watches for many years. Almost every town in Mexico, regardless of size, has the church as its centre so everyone can hear the bells. Large cities may have several churches in close proximity in the centre…
The textiles of Mexico represent the cultural diversity of the country. Cloth fragments discovered and dated from as early as 1800 BC, were made from chichicaste – a plant we know as stinging nettle, which grows easily and yields a great deal of linen-like fibre. All fibres were originally of a vegetable source such as…
La Posada A most important tradition at Christmas time in Mexico is that of the posada (Inn) – a re-enactment of the journey of Joseph and Mary on their way to Bethlehem and their search for a place to lay their heads. Presented to Mexico by Spanish missionaries as a part of their plan to…
I suspect one of the most frequently discussed topics by ex-pats is that of the unfamiliar and often loud noises to be experienced here at Lakeside. Of all the noises – barking dogs, crowing roosters, exploding cohetes, mariachi music, roving loudspeakers and church bells, it seems the cohetes (rockets) are the most bothersome- to Mexicans…
So you’ve decided to take a dive into the world of Mexican cheese or queso (KAY-SO) and not sure where to begin. Stick around and learn of the different types and what they may compare to north of the border cheeses, but first here’s a few interesting facts about Mexican cheese. Dairy products were almost non-existent…
Dia de Muertos – Day of the Dead, has its origins with the Aztec civilization, more than 3,000 years ago. The Aztecs believed the passing of a loved one should not be cause for grief, rather should be a time to celebrate that person’s life. When the Spanish missionaries arrived in the 16th century, they attempted to quash…
Food plays an important part of the activities especially those that were a favourite of the deceased. There are some traditional foods associated with Day of the Dead, found in Mexico only between late September and early November, the most common being Pan de Muertos. Pan de Muertos Literally translated as Bread of the Dead,…
The Ajijic annual event of Zombie Thriller Dancer is part of the Thrill the World global event where people in many cities, in many countries come together to celebrate the dance, their community and raise money for their local charities. Thousands of zombies dance to Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ with exactly the same music with exactly…
The wrought iron window grilles or Rejas seen around the villages of Lake Chapala and throughout Mexico are both decorative and protective and likely introduced into Mexico by the Spanish. It has been said they were a means of a bachelor being able to see and court the young women in the house without the…
