The Guadalajara Reporter
Guadalajara's Largest English Newspaper
¡Vamos a los toros! That is an enthusiastic refrain likely to be heard these days as local Carnaval festivities are unwinding.
While expat residents may get a kick out of being bystanders at the seasonal street parades, many don’t quite grasp that the most popular and exciting action going on these days will be happening at local bullrings.
Foreigners who have lived in our community for a while should recognize the name Alejandro Aguirre. That is the short version of the name of the incumbent Chapala mayor. His full name is Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel. And if you go full tilt with his titles, it’s quite a mouthful: Presidente Municipal Licienciado Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel.
The Ciclovía is an auxiliary corridor to the highway that connects the north shore municipalities of Chapala and Jocotepec. It was designed with two lanes for the safe transit of cyclists, protected with low-level cement dividers, and enhanced with green area planters and night-time lighting fixtures. It is a value-added space for local mobility, sporting activity and tourism.
Lakeside is a great place to live and visit for people who enjoy dining out. There are literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from and a huge variety of menu options. But it seems it has been a tough year in a usually strong commercial sector.
‘Tis the season to be jolly, and there should be plenty of that going around at lakeside over the next couple of weeks. Pack away your cares and worries to get into the local spirit of Navidad and Año Nuevo.
It has been an extraordinary week for my cherished amigos Tony and Gwen Burton, visiting lakeside from their home in Canada for the first time in quite a few years. They have been welcomed here with open arms and warm hearts by long-time friends and strangers alike, experiencing multiple triumphs and one major heartbreak during their stay.
As Día de Muertos approaches, I reflect on how the holiday’s customs have evolved from generation to generation. Until a few decades ago, there were no public festivals to commemorate the occasion—no Altar de Muertos exhibitions, contest or Catrina figurines lining the streets. No painted faces, costume parades, or song and dance festivities.
