Regatta de Globos!

 

The Globos is an annual event that the community looks forward to each year!  Teams of men and children make these tissue paper hot air balloons and send them up into the sky.  This event is held at a local soccer field in Ajijic.  What an event to be part of - the entire community came together to enjoy the afternoon.  Many of these flying creatures don't make it - they catch on fire while being sent into the air.  The pic below will give you an idea of the amount of people attending, fun was had by all - Mexicanas & Gringos alike.

 

 

 

 

 The whole village turned out for the Regatta de Globos, what a great time. Sept 8, 2012

Jocotepec (ho-ko-te-pec)

A short drive along the lake from our little town is a beautiful place called Jocotepec!  This is a picture of Joco and Lake Chapala with Mount Garcia in the background.  Joco is a large town (city) at the end of our lake to the West.  The government recently updated the malicon here for the past Pan Am Games and it is now a must see when friends and family members come to visit.  There is a cute water park area for the kiddies and the views from the docks are spectacular!  Joco malicon has the very best ice cream cones around!  We frequently head there when we want to feel the magic of the lake and take time to sit and people watch.  The parkland area that surrounds is peaceful and beautiful.  Here are a few more pics.

Aerial view of Jocotepec


Jocotepec Plaza


Jocotepec Church on Plaza

Joco Updated Malicon

Pumpkin Soap & Shoe Wax

Shoe shine stands are one of the most common forms of street vending furniture that may be seen in towns and cities across Mexico.
There are various types, although the most often seen are larger, more permanent, fixtures featuring a canvas roof, an upholstered seat and metal footrests. The seat is set up quite high on the stand and requires a small climb to settle into. As a result of this, customers need to cast off any inhibitions they may have about being perched for all passers-by to see.
The people attending to customers at these stands are always men, usually older men, who tend to their craft day-in, day-out, six days a week. If you live in Mexico, you’ll come to recognize them as regulars of the local neighborhoods.
The customers who use this service are most often men, too. Mexican women do not, as a rule, patronize these officers of footwear maintenance, although from time to time you might see female foreign tourists (usually younger women who also combine the event with a picture-shoot to record the experience) taking part in this very long-standing street scene and commercial ritual.
Just below the foot rests is situated the attendant’s tools and materials box, featuring an assortment of brushes as well as pots and other vessels storing an ample selection of paints, waxes and the shoe shiner’s detergent of choice – a tub of pumpkin soap: every ritual begins with a shoe wash, which is undertaken using this mild, natural, detergent. With the street dust dispatched, the attendant begins upon the next stage of the ritual; a carefully orchestrated sequence of waxing, painting and polishing routines, concluding with a brisk brush-over and the final touch: a hand polish using a leather cloth tightly drawn across and around each shoe.
The entire ritual takes only a few minutes and the precise fee is discretionary, although fifteen to twenty pesos is reasonable - $1.50!  Greg recently used this service to dust off and polish his leather sandals!  Not many Mexican men polish their sandals  but what the heck - we're gringos!

The Colour Green

Green, Lush and Beautiful

This picture will give you an idea of how lush and green everything is here now.  The rainy season will soon be over and the lush jungle like landscape will slowly return to it's dry state.  It has been a very healthy rainy season this year.  We have the rains at night with clashing thunder and torrential down pouring accompanied with bright lightening.  Rainy season officially ends October 1st!

Labour Day

Labour Day In Mexico - is May 1st!

While researching Labor Day in Mexico I ran across some interesting facts that I didn’t know as to the origin of this holiday. In Canada we celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday of September. What I discovered most interesting is that May 1st, Labor Day origination was heavily influenced by two things. The first was the passing of a resolution at the Organized Trades and Labor Unions for Canada as well as the United States and that basically set forth the 8 hour work day.

The second event was the Haymarket riot on May 4th 1886 in Chicago. This riot was between the working and business class and to this day, the cause is still disputed. While researching in Wkipidepia Internet encyclopedia they refer to this event as having been an important factor in creating International May Day. There was a peaceful rally of 3000 held in Chicago until late in the evening while during the process of the police trying to disburse the crowd someone threw a bomb killing several policeman immediately. At this point the police began shooting and many workers, innocents and police were injured.
Members of Mexican workers unions burn an effigy representing politicians during a protest march in Mexico City, May 1, 2006.
Mexico has had its share of protest on this day such as last year May 1st thousands thronged to the Zócalo (town center) of Mexico City to protest labor laws and reminded the President that  the unions are still here and they are angry. More than 90,000 workers showed up lead by many union leaders to express their dissatisfaction.
Very few Mexicans are even aware why they have the day off. Some of the locals I asked here thought  it might have something to do with the workers but very few even tried to guess as to what the history of the holiday was for but were of course ready to take the day of rest which really translates to fiesta. The history of May 1st being a workers holiday did not originate in Mexico, the origin came from the US.

We think about our past Labor Day weekends spent at our cottage on Black Lake.  Reflecting and remembering all the years of "that final summer weekend".  Sitting down by the lake looking at the long dock and boat that we know should come out now.  The kids use to say - Ahh Dad but it's still feels like summer.  Greg would hum and say, "Yeah today it does but next week, who knows!"
So, out the dock and boat would come (usually) and the preparations would begin for fall. 

This Labor Day we will spend the afternoon at a neighborhood BBQ enjoying our new friends and no heavy Labor will be involved!

Happy Long Weekend Everybody Back Home, Happy Fall!

xoxo

Mexico Celebrates...............

September 2012: Happy Birthday Mexico

 

September here in Mexico is an important month.  There are many celebrations to enjoy - the first on September 16th is Mexico's Independence Day -the 202nd anniversary of achieving their independence from Spain. -( called independencia dia).   Lakeside in mid-September will be full of annual events. From charro (horsemanship and rodeo competitions) , mariachis, strolling style shows of beautifully worn rebozos (ladies' shawls), parades, dances and a huge hot air balloon regatta -(called Globos) will feature air-worthy homemade hot air balloons  made from tissue paper, the action goes on for days!  This is something to see!  Many of these crafts float about the sky, some not so lucky end up in flames.  This year Greg and I are working at a charity hot dog stand for the day.  It should be alot of fun watching these crafts and selling (and maybe eating a few) hotdogs!  The Mexican community look forward to the month of September and come out in droves for these fun filled events.

The children here go back to school the third week in August.  We recently learned how the school system works here.  The Mexican government supplies the school buildings and teachers.  Every other necessity must be supplied by the parents of each child attending school.  One of our Mexican friends outlined for us these costs.  Each child requires a school uniform complete with two pairs of shoes.  The parents are given a list of items  - the usual things like pencils, pens and notebooks which you would expect - same as at home.  Then there is toilet paper, soap,  each child's share of the electricity that will be used to run the school over the year.  It is expensive for parents here to send their children to school - average per child is about $250 for the year!  The children look so cute marching together down the cobblestone streets heading happily to school................

There are many century old  traditions that happen here  in September — they're a huge part of the Fiestas Patrias (patriotic celebrations). A very big traditional dish is the molcajete - (mo-ka-het-teh)   the lava stone bowl that is filled with pork, chicken or shrimp  and cheese in a flavourful broth  and is baked in a hot oven.  The Molcajete is served to you bubbling hot and is absolutely delicious!  This traditional dish has been enjoyed for centuries!  When my sister Sandy visited in April, she enjoyed her first Molcajete - I think Sandy will return simply to have this wonderful dish again.  Hurry back San!

 

Home Security!

Too good not to post!  Love this................