Old-Time Sunday
Supporters of Ajijic’s passion play (see story page 12) are finalizing plans for their other popular annual event, the old-time reenactment of the delightful Sunday evening fiesta in the plaza that was popular 120 years ago.
The Verbena Jamaica del Pasado on Sunday, March 29, 4-10 p.m. will feature old-fashioned games, traditional foods and snacks, and décor that includes palm fronds, hand-made tissue paper flowers and papel picado (decorated, perforated tissue paper).
Just like in the old days, there will be no electricity, gas or plastic in this event. A good deal of the charming décor will come from the lighting of the kerosene lamps, torches, lanterns and candles at 9 p.m. All of the food will be cooked on wood or charcoal fires and served on traditional Mexican clay dishes.
All five barrios in Ajijic are participating in the planning and execution of the evening. Volunteers are going house to house to collect donations of rice, tomatoes, meat, flour, oil and lard, and other ingredients for the food that will be cooked and sold. This group effort is designed to raise funds to replace costumes and sets for the Passion Play, but to also keep alive the traditions of old Ajijic.
The volunteer vendors will be selling tamales with atole, enchiladas, pozole, tacos dorados, sopes, tostadas, ponche, tepache, pulque, arroz con leche, and more. During the afternoon and evening there will be old games to play, including loteria (the Mexican form of bingo), as well as unamplified music and a ambiance of good old-fashioned healthy fun. To end the evening there will be another Ajijic tradition – the papaqui or war of cascarones (confetti-filled egg shells).
Lakeside Toastmasters
During the Monday, March 16 meeting of the Bilingual Lake Chapala Toastmasters, President Guy Jobidon and the club celebrated the group’s third anniversary. He congratulated Marissa Urrutia, who was recently elected as a director for this area, and Tim Schubert, who received the Advanced Communicator Gold Award.
Winners in the lively table topics led by Arturo Gutierrez included: Basic: 1 Patricia Guy, 2 Sofia Gainza and 3 Juan Magalon. Advanced winners were: 1 Beatrice Gallagher, 2 Eduardo Guzman and 3 Carmen Guzman.
The Monday, March 30 meeting, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Lake Chapala Society (LSC) Sala, will be held in Spanish. For English information call Guy (376) 766-5181 or Marissa (33) 1600-5937.
LCS Seminars
The Tuesday, March 31, noon seminar available for LCS members will be chaired by Reba Mayo. Via video will feature global population specialist Hans Rosling talking about, “How not to be ignorant about the world.”
Rosling, with his famous charts of population, health and income data, reveals that there’s a high statistical chance that you are quite wrong about what you think you know. Play along with his audience quiz and then hear from his son, Ola, about four ways to quickly become less ignorant.
The Tuesday, March 31 Neill James lecture by Phillip Rylett is titled “The Illusion of Free Will.” The 2 p.m. p.m. talk in the LCS Sala is open to the public.
Rylett asks, “Do you think you have complete free will, or are your decisions and actions dictated by your mental/psychological back-up and previous experiences?” Use your illusion of free will to come to this fascinating lecture.
LCS General Meeting
During the LCS General Meeting earlier this month, the 2015 board of directors was elected. Ben White, president of the board, commented on the 60-year history of the LCS and discussed future plans.
White pointed out that when the first meeting was convened 60 years ago, the agenda included concerns about a cemetery and a mosquito control plan.
Sixty years later, LCS still strives to be relevant to the needs and concerns of the growing community, just as that first meeting did. He added that thanks to the hundreds of volunteers and members who help LCS thrive, today’s needs are more resonant than cemeteries and mosquitoes.
Golf Date Rescheduled
Due to the unseasonable rain in mid-March, the Lake Chapala Shrine Club Invitational Golf Tournament – originally set for Friday March 20 – has been rescheduled for Friday, April 3, according to event chairman Perry King.
Tee off time at the Ayamonte Club de Golf in Zapopan will be 11 a.m., with the awards banquet set for 4 p.m. The tournament entry fee is 1,000 pesos and all proceeds go to support the transportation fund to send Mexican children to the Shrine Hospital in Mexico City, where they receive free medical treatment.
Round-trip tickets for travel to the tournament on the “Bloody Mary” Party Bus may be purchased for 200 pesos at the O&A Investment office across the street from Walmart in San Antonio.
For additional information, contact King (at 376) 763-5126 or Brandon Jackson at (33) 1789-5937.
Mexican Cooking
Another series of the classes teaching authentic Mexican cooking co-sponsored by AbueLinda’s and LCS continues in April at Constitución 3 in Ajijic. Classes require one to four days advance sign-up in the LCS office. They focus on favorite fare representing various regions of Mexico.
Tianguis to Table on Wednesday, April 1 continues to be one of the favorite classes in the series. Class members meet at Salvador’s Restaurant to search the outdoor market for exciting vegetables and learn about Mexico’s many chiles, herbs and seeds. Availability will spur the day’s menu – perhaps chilled “Sangrita” soup to start. Among the cheeses, fresh meats and fish something is sure to excite the palates.
Mexican Soups, Stews, Salads and Salsas Class on Thursday, April 2, from 4-6 p.m. will feature pasta Poblano and pico de gallo. Mexicans love soups, and that category will even include pastas and rice. This hands-on class features a refreshing unique pico de gallo with jicama and shrimp, followed by creamy and tangy pasta Poblano garnished with fresh local cheeses. Mangos are in season and will be used in the agua fresca.
Mexican Specialty Class is pescado a la Veracruzana on Tuesday, April 7, from 4-6 p.m. This traditional fish dish from Veracruz is sautéed in a rich garlicky tomato sauce, and simmered with macerated raisins, olives and capers. A salad of avocado and golden Mexican rice will be added. Fresh fruit agua fresca is always served.
Tianguis to Table on Wednesday, April 8 will see class members meeting at Salvador’s Restaurant at 10 a.m. to explore the weekly market for surprise ingredients. Sometimes it is a fruit, other times a veggie, chiles, herbs or seeds. Along the way, students will decide the class menu: perhaps with so many veggies, a simple crema de setas or oyster mushrooms and some fish tacos – Baja California style – with salsa martajeada?
Mexican Soups, Stews, Salads and Salsas on Thursday, April 9, from 4-6 p.m. explores mole poblano and mole verde. Moles are Mexico’s elixir to the gods. Some are so complex and some are so simple. This class compares the popular poblano from the state of Puebla, and a simple mole verde, based on the humble pumpkin seed.
British Club
Sharon Sibson has been invited to speak at the Saturday, April 4, 1 p.m. meeting of the British Club about her 29 years as a dog breeder.
During those years she specialized in mini-toy and toy poodles and long- and short-haired Chihuahuas. She finished over 40 champions in the show ring and was well-known for the quality of her puppies. Sibson recently retired and moved to Lake Chapala. She’s happy to answer any doggie questions.
The British Club meets at Manix Restaurant on Ocampo. Call Alicia at (376) 765-4786 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reserve your menu choice. Entrée meals include soup or salad, dessert and tip for 120 pesos. Choose from chicken cordon bleu with baked potato and vegetables or grilled mahi mahi with vegetables.
The large salad option is 80 pesos, including dessert and tip. Dessert for both meals is carrot cake.
Canadian Club
The social hour of the Wednesday, April 8 meeting of the Canadian Club of Lake Chapala begins at La Nueva Posada in Ajijic at 3 p.m.
The program follows at 4 p.m., when Tom Thompson, owner of Barbara’s Bazaar, will regale the audience with anecdotes and stories of his 30 years in Mexico. Thompson will share details and describe some of the treasures involved in the antiquing side of his business.
The annual general meeting will include the nomination and election of the group’s 2015-2016 executive board of directors and executive committee.
Attendees of all nationalities are encouraged to participate in Canadian Club events. There is a 50-peso charge for non-members.
Open Circle
The Open Circle meeting on Sunday, March 29 highlights poets and their poems from the Silver Age of Russian Poetry and features a premier Russian chanteuse, Olga Kaplounenko.
“The Russians Are Back” program begins at 10 a.m.
Mark Sconce has previously entertained at Open Circle with recitations and commentary on various poets and their poems. He has won poem of the year in three of the past five years, and is a regular contributor to El Ojo del Lago.
Rene Welter is an architect by profession with a lifelong interest in music. After working 35 years outside of Canada, he returned to Montreal to become a musicology lecturer at McGill University. Welter selected the Russian music theme.
Born in Moscow, Kaplounenko worked in Russia, Sweden and the United States as an electrical engineer while singing soprano in various choirs. She now sings with Los Cantantes del Lago and appears on stage at the Lakeside Little Theatre.
Russian classical music will set the mood for many of the poems.
Presbyterian Church
The congregation of Lakeside Presbyterian Church (LPC) will celebrate Palm Sunday in their new home in Riberas del Pilas, at San Jorge 250, two blocks south of Mom’s Deli. The worship service begins at 10 a.m. and this week recognizes the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem prior to Holy Week.
Pastor Ross Arnold’s sermon is entitled “The Triumphal Entry.” Arnold says, “It’s especially appropriate that Palm Sunday will be the first day for LPC to conduct regular worship in our new church building. It is our hope and prayer that as we begin this new phase of our church’s life in this wonderful place, we will always reflect the great Good News of Jesus, which he revealed in that first Holy Week some 2,000 years ago.”
The congregation is invited to meet for refreshments and fellowship following worship.
LPC continues the church tradition of meeting on Thursday of Holy Week (Maunday Thursday) to share in Holy Communion, in recognition of the event of the Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples. The service will be held on Thursday, April 2, 10 a.m.
To acknowledge the day in which Jesus suffered and died, LPC will observe a Good Friday Tenebrae – or Service of Darkness – on Friday, April 3, 5 p.m. This service is very somber, as is appropriate to the occasion, and involves the slow extinguishing of lights in the sanctuary, followed by everyone leaving the building in silence.
The Little Chapel
Fifth Sunday services at The Little Chapel by the Lake are conducted by lay members of the interdenominational congregation. This week’s service will be conducted by Ed Hughes, who will deliver a message he calls “The Question,” based on the 12th chapter of John.
As usual, members of the congregation will move from the church to a local restaurant for more fellowship and food.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is an interdenominational congregation meeting just east of the golf course in Chula Vista. More information can be found on Facebook at LCBTL.
St. Andrew’s
Holy Week observances at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church begin at 10 a.m. on Palm Sunday, March 29, with the traditional procession from the garden into the church, followed by the dramatic reading of St. Mark’s Passion and Fr. Winston Welty’s sermon, “Costly Grace.”
The Maundy Thursday, April 2 service at 5 p.m. includes a sermon – “A Cross for a Doorpost” – connecting Passover and the Last Supper, and ends with the stripping of the altar and the account of Jesus’ arrest.
The Good Friday Liturgy on Friday, April 3, 3 p.m. will include “The Adopted,” a meditation on the third Word of Christ from the Cross. The full St. Andrew’s church choir leads the music at all Holy Week services.
The men’s monthly luncheon takes place on Tuesday, March 31, noon at Just Chillin’ in West Ajijic.
The final session of the Lenten Bible Study – “Easter People” – will focus on Saul of Tarsus, known to us as St. Paul. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 11 a.m. at the church.
St. Andrew’s Anglican Church is at Calle San Lucas 19, a block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Spring blooms
After March’s unusual rains, normality has returned to the lakeside area, with spring blooms now appearing in all their majesty, such as this delightful Primavera tree. Now, of course, we have to brace for the coming heatwave!
San Andrés English
During the 9 a.m. Palm Sunday English Mass celebrated by Fr. Basil G. Royston D.Min, the blessing of the palms will be conducted. Those attending are invited to bring palms from home or to purchase palms from the vendors in front of the church property. The Mass will feature the reading of the Holy Week gospels.
The final Lenten midweek Mass will be held at noon on Wednesday, April 1, followed by the Bible study group.
The Good Friday Solemn Liturgy will be held on Friday, April 3, 3 p.m. in the Chapel of the Virgin of the Rosary on the north side of the Ajijic plaza.
Christ Church
The Palm Sunday service on Sunday, March 29, 9:30 a.m. at Christ Church Lakeside will feature a sermon by Fr. Danny Borkowski entitled, “Truly, This Man Was God’s Son.” The service will also feature the Holy Eucharist with the reading of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
The Maundy Thursday Service on Thursday, April 2 begins at 4:30 p.m. with a service of Holy Eucharist commemorating the institution of the Holy Eucharist with the ceremony of the washing of the feet.
The Good Friday Liturgy on Friday, April 3, noon commemorates the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ, with the reading of the Passion of Christ according to John.
Christ Church Lakeside meets at the Little Chapel by the Lake near the entrance of Chula Vista.
Unitarian Universalist
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets on Sunday, March 29, 10:30 a.m. at Plaza de la Ribera, Rio Bravo 10A. The topic of the service will be “A Curmudgeon in Paradise,” with Bob Koches talking about being true to yourself while living in a community with others.
Unitarian Universalists search for truth along many paths. They gather around common moral values that include the inherent worth and dignity of every person. They are a caring, liberal, open-minded community that encourages others to seek their own spiritual path where it leads. For further information, visit www.uuflc.org.
Buddhist Community
The Heart of Awareness Buddhist Community meeting on Wednesday, April 1, 4:30 p.m. will include the dharma film “The Three Points of Faith.” This groups meets each Wednesday for meditation and dharma teachings. Each meeting begins with 30 minutes of sitting meditation followed by a 10-minute walking meditation and another 10 minutes of sitting.
The sangha location is in Plaza San Juan at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. Heart of Awareness is a non-sectarian Buddhist practice community grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition. Membership in Heart of Awareness is open to those with Zen, Tibetan or Shambhala backgrounds, as well as people with no previous meditation experience. For further information on the sangha, call Janet Reichert at (376) 766-6069.
Tape-A-Bike-Save-a-Life
The Axixic Masonic Lodge 31 is on the road again with their “Tape-A-Bike-Save-a-Life” program to ensure bicycles are in roadworthy condition and marked with reflective tape to be visible in the dark. Saturday, March 21, the men set up shop on the plaza of San Nicolas de Ibarra, east of Chapala near Vista del Lago. In three and a half hours, the masons repaired bikes, fixed flats, aired tires and added safety tape. In all they serviced 65 bikes and received as many smiles in return. In this revolving annual program, the masons next stop will be the village of Santa Cruz de la Soledad.