Campanaria race
The sixth annual Campanaria Mountain Race, under the direction of Club Salvajes, will take place in Ajijic Saturday, August 24.
Several aspects of the race have been modified due to time and economic restraints. The 43-kilometer El Tecuán Ultra Trail route has been canceled for this year. Two remaining components, the 14-km. Campanaría route and 9.1-km. Copal Chino route will proceed as usual, starting out at the Ajijic Malecón at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. respectively.
The first 100 registered runners will receive stretchy head and neck buffs. Medals will be handed out to all contestants crossing the finish line back at the Ajijic Malecón. Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded for first to third place in each category.
The field will be limited to 300 competitors, with the sign-up fee set at 300 pesos. Registrations are accepted at Club Salvajes leader Daniel Urzúa’s Ajijic home, Calle Javier Mina 22, through the Ultra Trail Campanaria Facebook page or at Deportes Hábit and Verimania sporting goods shops in Guadalajara.
Herbalism course
Discover the great power of medicinal plants with instructor Maria Enriquez. Learn how to create herbal extracts, oils, ointments and medicinal syrups. Create your own medicinal family kit and design a medicinal garden. Saturday, August 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. at La Cochera Cultural, Javier Mina 49 in Ajijic. Cost is 1,000 pesos.)One tincture included.
Open Circle
Olga Kaplounenko will perform at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, August 25, 10:30 a.m. to noon, on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
Our favorite Russian chanteuse will enchant Open Circle attendees with nine romantic songs from different countries sung in Russian, Italian, English and Spanish.
Olga is a Muscovite who earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering as well as a degree in music and jazz vocals from the Moscow Jazz College. She was a guest researcher in Denmark, Sweden, and later in Silicon Valley, where she worked for 16 years. While in the U.S., she sang solo and in different choirs. When her husband (recently deceased) was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011, they moved to Lakeside where she’s been involved with Los Cantantes del Lago and has participated in the Lakeside Little Theatre productions “Drowsy Chaperone” and “Tickle Your Fancy.” She also plays piano and guitar, but singing is her passion.
Information: opencircleajijic.org.
Genealogy Forum
The next meeting of the Genealogy Forum is Monday, August 26, 1 to 3 p.m. at the Latter Day Saints Church in Riberas del Pilar. Genealogists with varying experience will be there to help you plan your research, give ideas of where and how to search, and celebrate your successes. There are experts on records from the United Kingdom, Ireland, other European countries, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. You can explore Jewish origins, as well as DNA test results.
Everyone is welcome, regardless of level of experience. There are no dues.
The church is located diagonally from Mom’s Restaurant. The Forum’s next meeting is. Information: Phyl at 376-766-2722.
TED Talks
Economist and physician Jim Wong Kim presents “Doesn’t Everyone Deserve a Chance at a Good Life?” at the next Ted Talk, Tuesday, August 27, noon to 1:15 p.m. in the Lake Chapala Society Sala. Open to LCS members only.
Aspirations are rising as never before across the world, thanks in large part to smartphones and the internet — will they be met with opportunity or frustration? Kim shares how the World Bank Group is working to improve the health and financial futures of people in the poorest countries by boosting investment and de-risking development.
Hosted by Susan Weeks.
Canadian Club
Recently posted Canadian Consul of Canada in Guadalajara, Lewis Coughlin, will speak about the upcoming Canadian election, NAFTA 2.0 and support to Canadians in the region at the next meeting of the Canaidan Club of Lake Chapala, Wednesday, August 28, at La Nueva Posada. The social hour begins 3 p.m. and the program, 4 p.m.
LCS courses
LCS members can take advantage of a variety of courses and seminars.
• Take a class to obtain a driver’s license on Monday, August 26, 10 to 11:30 a.m., in the South Campus Board Room. Then go to Guadalajara to obtain your new or renewal license on Tuesday, August 27, 7 a.m. with the class.
• Learn about Street Spanish, Wednesday, August 28, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Introduction to Lakeside. Topics include: banking, shopping, medical services, transportation, housing, utilities, maid and gardening services, social protocols, fiestas, holidays, and religious observations. Thursday, September 12, 9 a.m.
Check the LCS office or website for costs and to sign up.
Flight simulator
A custom-made trailer that folds open into a double-component flight simulator will be on exhibit and available for test rides when it rolls into Chapala on the last weekend of this month.
The high tech mobile platform is equipped with two modules, a moving capsule that simulates the experience of flying an airplane and a stationary one that operates like a helicopter. It is scheduled to arrive, Friday August 30, for setup in the vicinity of the waterfront Malecón. Practice “flights” will be offered to the public free of charge from 4 p.m. Saturday, August 31, through Sunday, September 1.
It will be the first time the simulator will be displayed in a public setting. It will be brought in by special arrangement of Ajijic’s Centro Universitario Octavio Paz as a stimulus for local students who may be interested in pursuing careers as pilots or flight attendants.
Free Spay and Neuter
A free spay and neuter clinic for dogs and cats limited to owners with scarce resources, will be held Saturday and Sunday, August 31 and September 1 at the Delegacion Office of San Nicolas in front of the main plaza, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. See facebook/GobiernoDe Chapala for details.
Warren Hardy Spanish
Registration is now open for LCS’s popular Warren Hardy Spanish classes designed for adult students, which are held September 2 to October 22. Stop into LCS office or register online at LCS Spanish Classes.
Lake Chapala Birders
Wednesay August 28, the Lake Chapala Birders meet 8 a.m. at Donas Donuts to carpool to the Cajititlan Marsh (a 30-minute drive). Expect to see a variety of marsh and lake birds, such as black-necked stilt, snowy egret and wood stork. At about 10:15 a.m. they will head to Delicia’s restaurant for breakfast and to complete the bird list. Lake Chapala Birders is an informal group of bird observers led by John and Rosemary Keeling. If you plan on going, email John at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at least 48 hours ahead of time, indicating if you can provide a car for the carpool. Information: chapalabirders.org.
LCS bus trip
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) takes a bus trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond in Plaza Patria, Zapopan, Thursday, September 5. Check the LCS office or website to sign up and learn the departure times and cost of the trips. Registration and payment can now be made online at lakechapalasociety.com/public/bustrip_form.php.
Fiesta Mexicana
Helping you gear up for Mexican Independence month activities, the Lake Chapala Society will hold a traditional Mexican fiesta Friday, September 6, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Highlights will be a great Mexican show with mariachi bands, a children’s ballet folklorico and stick horse skirmish, lasso rope tricks and a charro show. Chow down on a home-made Mexican food buffet. A cash bar is available. Tickets are 250 pesos at the LCS office or website, and Yoli’s beauty salon in Ajijic.
Carpentry classes
Adult woodworking classes begin September 9 at Have Hammer School of Carpentry. Two different levels will be offered over eight weeks. Beginners will attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays and intermediates attend on Mondays and Wednesdays, both levels meet 8 to 9:30 a.m. Cost is 250 pesos per class, which includes instruction and the use of all tools and materials.
Proceeds from the adult classes provide scholarships so Mexican children can learn a life skill in either carpentry or carving. Hammer is also seeking experienced woodworkers to volunteer to help with classes.
Call or email Parke Sprag for more information and reservations at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 001-941-276-3233. Leave a voice message if there is no answer.
Have Hammer School of Carpentry is located next to S&S Auto at Carretera Chapala-Jocotepec 231-A, Riberas del Pilar.
Insight Meditation
The Heart of Awareness meditation center is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101 and all meditation sessions are open to the general public regardless of experience or affiliation. Periods for silent meditation are on Sunday at 9 a.m., Wednesday at 4 p.m. and Thursday at 11 a.m.
The movie matinee series Monday, August 26, 3 p.m. is “Radical Compassion” a conversation with Sharon Salzberg and Robert Thurman. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is quoted saying, “Compassion is the radicalism of our time.” Salzberg and Thurman explore radical compassion as a form of personal agency from which we can engage critical wisdom and mindfulness in the most challenging times of our lives. (63 minutes.) Admission is free.
Wednesday, August 28, the meditation period will be followed by reading and time for reflection and dialogue. The selection is from Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings on the importance and practice of community.
A yoga class is offered at The Heart of Awareness on Thursdays from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Mats and blocks are provided.
Registration is now open for a two-night residential meditation retreat September 17-19, at Santa Maria del Lago retreat center, 11 kilometers east of Chapala. DaeJa Napier will be the teacher in residence and will conduct the silent retreat.
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..