In an editorial in Mexico City daily El Universal, left-wing Mexican senator Alejandro Encinas has accused the Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) of initiating a process to dismantle the very programs and institutions which itself has set up over the years to protect the environment in Mexico.

Constructed in the 17th century, La Labor de Rivera – 45 kilometers west of Guadalajara and 3.3 kms southwest of Teuchitlan – was described by Antonio Flores in “Odisea de un Pueblo” as “one of the finest haciendas in the area, with excellent land, abundant water, plenty of pasture land and hard-working trabajadores,” He noted that they “produced fine mezcal and piloncillo (brown sugar) and reaped abundant harvests of wheat and garbanzo. They truly seemed blessed by God.”

This attractive area for hiking, bathing and gawking is located just above and east of Los Chorros de Tala, about 23 kilometers west of Guadalajara.

The spectacular Guachimontones, or circular pyramids, near Teuchitlan probably mark the “capital” of a sophisticated civilization that dominated western Mexico 2,000 years ago. 

Every night three foxes come to our porch to enjoy a delicious plate of fruit my wife Susy puts out for their benefit. 

Close to four years ago, archaeologist Rodrigo Esparza invited me to visit Presa de la Luz, a dam near the town of Arandas in Los Altos (the Highlands) of Jalisco. Here local rancheros had discovered a great many petroglyphs, some of them large and elaborate, along the shores of the reservoir.