Much of the promotion of Mexico focuses on its many coastal tourist resorts, such as Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, and Cancun. But Mexico has many other interesting areas not often promoted. Towns such as San Miguel d’Allende, Cuernavaca and Ajijic attract thousands of people who want to visit or live full time or part-time in a warm climate in a historically and culturally-rich environment. They want to...
Mexican National Chili Cook-Off The Mexican National Chili Cook Off has become a community tradition – 40 years strong and continuing to grow year after year. The event kicks off when a parade of floats and bands leaves from the Ajijic malecon and makes its way along the carretera, ending their journey at the entrance to Tobolandia waterpark and the Mexican National Chili Cook Off. The main food...
Feria Maestros de Artes – Masters of Arts Fair The Feria is an annual 3-day event produced by the Feria Exposición Maestros del Arte, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting indigenous handcrafts and folk art. Artists are invited from all over Mexico and must meet strict criteria to attend. The organization invites artists based on their criteria, for example: The art must be...
Globos Regata -Hot Air Balloon Regatta This colourful festival comes at the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the festival season at Lakeside. A fun -filled day for all ages, the festival also falls at the time of Mexican Independence Day celebrations. The field is filled with balloons of all colours, shapes and sizes. They are made with tissue paper and glue, some of which look more like...
Wines of Mexico Mexico may not be the first country that comes to mind when contemplating the world of fine wines. That could soon change as Mexican wines are being recognized serious contenders in the world market. You may think of Tequila as the drink Mexico is best known for but we could soon be thinking of Mexican wines as an equally important beverage. Many Mexican wines have won...
Ajijic: Town of Murals Murals have been around since the beginning of mankind and may be seen in every part of the world. From the earliest form of storytelling, using symbols on cave walls to giant paintings depicting historical events, murals have educated and delighted through the ages, even if the observer is unschooled in any language. In these modern days, murals are becoming increasingly popular...
Ajijic: Mexico’s expat paradise on the lake The city of San Miguel Allende sucks all the air out of the room when the conversation turns to expatriate life in Mexico. While San Miguel Allende has been garnering lots of awards for its quality of life and general wonderfulness, the tiny town of Ajijic (pronounced Ah-HEE-hic) is developing into another expat paradise for citizens from the U.S. and...
The town of the eternal spring It seems like an unassuming, fairly typical, small Mexican town (with a population of 10,000 plus). A 45-minute drive south of Guadalajara, its unique climate at 1,538 metres above sea level and nestled on the shores of the largest freshwater lake in the country, Ajijic has become a permanent home or annual snowbird sanctuary for hundreds of Canadians. This exodus has...
Nine things you probably didn't know about Mexico's flag Friday, February 24 is Flag Day in Mexico and ceremonies will be held in villages, towns and cities throughout the country. Here are some interesting facts about the tricolor, as Mexico three-colored flag is often referred to 1. The concept of fixing a special date to honor the flag arose in early 1930s at the suggestion of a Mexican army...
The Mexican Town You Never Knew You Wanted to Visit You probably haven't heard of it, but Ajijic should be on your radar. Tucked within the striking Sierra Madre Mountain range on Lake Chapala, the town of Ajijic is at once charmingly reminiscent of decades past and quickly becoming a sought-after vacation getaway. Between the beautiful mountain peaks, the clear waters of Lake Chapala, and the mild...