Columns

While many Lakeside expats will be busy dressing up in glamorous duds to welcome in 2018 at New Year’s Eve galas, your Mexican neighbors may be more preoccupied with what underwear to sport while stocking up on firewood, fireworks and ammunition for their firearms.

In childhood memories, the Christmas tree was always the centerpiece of our family holiday festivities.

Technically speaking winter doesn’t even start until next week.  Tell that to the shivering folks feeling betrayed by Mother Nature of late.

I was lucky to get a front row seat for a trip down memory lane with Michael Eager, guest speaker at the November 15 meeting of the Lake Chapala Garden Club.

Ajijic’s fiestas patronales come into all their glory on November 30, the Feast of Saint Andrew. In keeping with local custom, the last day of the nine-day celebration is sponsored by los hijos ausentes, the village’s absent sons and daughters who have settled in other parts of Mexico and beyond its borders.

It’s fiesta time in Ajijic. If you’re new around here, brace yourself for a total transformation of the quaint and peaceful village pitched by your realtor and websites spieling expertise on retirement abroad.