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Les Amitiés Francophone is a social group for people who speak French.
They have met once a month for 20 years for an amicable social hour, usually on a Saturday afternoon, preferably as a pot luck at someone’s home or at a large restaurant garden where all can mingle and converse together and perhaps play petanque, a game with small steel balls, much like bowling.
There is no membership fee. The only prerequisite is that you speak French fluently enough to have a social conversation. Non-French speaking spouses, guests and significant others may also attend.
The group consists of about 100 members: French, French Canadians, Mexicans and Americans. Normally between 20 and 40 people attend.
There is also a new members-only Facebook page to post photos, share information of French products, books, videos or films (or links to them) or share rides to malls or concerts in Guadalajara. Information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Open Circle
Potter Productions, a not-for-profit organization, presents a preview of its upcoming five staged readings at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, July 29, 10:30 a.m., on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society.
Rosann Balbontin, founder and producer, taught drama for 20 years in California before retiring to pursue acting and directing full time. She appeared in several productions in California and wrote three plays and a screenplay. Balbontin has been active in the Ajijic theater community for three years.
Local actors Don Beaudreault, Maryanne Gibbard, Graham Miller, Kathleen Morris, and Michael Warren will appear in scenes from “The Sisters Rosensweig” by Wendy Wasserstein (August 12 and 19); “Spoon River Anthology” by Edgar Lee Masters, adapted by Charles Aidman (October 14 and 21); “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” by Joe Landry, adapted from the Frank Capra film (December 9 and 16); “The Diary of Adam and Eve” by Mark Twain (February 4 and 11); and “Chapatti” by Christian O’Reilly (March 10 and 17).
Information: opencircleajijic.org.
Blood pressure
Blood pressure screenings are available to the public, Monday, July 23 and 30, 10 a.m. to noon at the Lake Chapala Society.
LCS TED Talks
“Three myths about the future of work (and why they’re not true)” is the topic of the next TED Talk, Tuesday, July 31, noon to 1:15 p.m., at the Lake Chapala Society Sala.
Economist Daniel Susskind, Ph.D., discusses the topic, “Will machines replace humans?” This question is on the mind of anyone with a job to lose. Daniel Susskind confronts this question and three misconceptions we have about our automated future, suggesting we ask something else: How will we distribute wealth in a world when there will be less – or even no – work?
Yoga
One-hour yoga classes by certified instructor Delia, featuring both chair and mat techniques, are held Wednesdays, 9 a.m., at American Legion Post 7 in Chapala. To sign up or for information, call 331-222-0438.
Exploring Spanish
LCS members can take advantage of a free Spanish class, Wednesdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Lake Chapala Society Sala.
Tech classes
Lake Chapala Society members can take technology classes that resume in August. Classes are Thursdays, 10-11:30 a.m., in the LCS sala.
Thursday, August 2: Cellphones in Mexico. How to call and get calls; Mexican cellphones, Mexican land-line phones, U.S. and Canadian cellphones, will be covered.
Thursday, August 16: Google Photos. Learn the basics of Google Photos. Store all your photos for free, create albums, share photos, enhance pictures, backup your smartphone photos automatically.
Thursday August 23: iPhone Q&A. Bring your iPhone questions for clarification.
Thursday August 31: Android Q&A. Bring your Android questions for clarification.
British Society
The Lakeside British Society holds its monthly luncheon Saturday, August 4, 12:45 p.m., at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic.
The speaker will be British Consul Rita Felton, visiting from Mexico City.
Menu choices begin with a small salad or cream of carrot soup; choice of club sandwich and fries or a cheese and onion quiche with fries or grilled fish and fries. Dessert is lemon tart. Cost is 150 pesos plus tip.
Contact Sue at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Sue Morris, (376) 766-0847, to confirm your attendance and menu choice.
LCS bus trips
The Lake Chapala Society is headed to Tlaquepaque, Forum Mall and Home Depot, Wednesday, August 8. The bus departs 10 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta. Cost is 370 pesos for members and 470 pesos for non-members.
For newcomers to lakeside
“Introduction to Lakeside” is available to LCS members only. Topics include: banking, shopping, medical services, transportation, housing, utilities, maid and gardening services, social protocols, fiestas, holidays and religious observations.
Thursday, August 9, 9 a.m.; cost is 250 pesos. Register in the office or on the Web site. Membership must be current for the duration of the class.
Imbibing Mexican style
Lake Chapala Society members can partake of a Prueba Mexico class in Mexican hot cocktails with instructor Carlos Yañez, Tuesday, September 11, 3-5 p.m. Learn how to prepare a vampirito, a sangrita, a casuela, a traditional margarita and a michelada, just in time to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. Sign up through September 6 at the LCS office.
Insight Meditation
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community offers multiple opportunities each week for silent meditation: Sundays, 9-10 a.m., Wednesdays at 4-4:45 p.m. and Thursdays, 11 a.m.-noon.
Wednesday, August 1, the meditation period will be followed by a video talk by Lewis Richmond, a Zen Buddhist priest and author who founded the Zen Buddhist meditation community in Mill Valley/Tiburon, California. His topic is “Aging as a Spiritual Practice.” You are welcome to come for just the meditation or the program and discussion or both. The session ends at 6 p.m.
A yoga class is offered at The Heart of Awareness on Thursdays from 9-10:45 a.m.
A new practice and study group will meet for two hours on Tuesdays, beginning August 7, using Richmond’s book “Aging as a Spiritual Practice” for its text. Time of the meeting will be determined by those who sign up to participate. E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or put your contact information on the sign-up sheet in the meditation hall.
The meditation center is at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Ajijic. Information: heartofawareness.org.
Bravo to chapala sailing champ
Chapala home girl Elena Oetling Ramirez (center) captured a gold medal in the sailing competition at the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games now under way in Barranquilla, Colombia. The 25-year-old sailor stepped into the top spot on the winners’ podium Wednesday, July 25, after vanquishing Daniela Rivera of Venezuela (silver) and Isabella Maegli of Guatemala (bronze) during nine regattas in the Laser Radial category. Team Mexico is leading in the standings with a count of 72 gold, 61 silver and 45 bronze medals awarded so far. The games continue through August 3. Oetling heads off for Denmark this weekend to test her mettle in the 2018 Hempel Sailing World Championships.
Chapala showcases Oaxaca crafts
Look for a selection of products from the state of Oaxaca at the itinerant sales exhibit set to run through Thursday, August 2, at the Chapala plaza, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visitors will find a wide array of typical clothing and textiles, jewelry and craft items and culinary treats such as the bottled firewater mezcal, several varieties of mole paste and chocolate de mesa. A free cultural program is scheduled for Sunday, July 29, 8 p.m.