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The Lake Chapala Society is in a pickle.

I have been a member of LCS for more than half a century, seeing it go through ups and downs over those five decades. It has survived internal conflicts, public controversies, good and bad economic times, and deep troubles during the Covid pandemic. What is happening right now suggests LCS is facing its first potential existential crisis.

I’m in the shower on Tuesday afternoon on my third shampoo to wash gobs of flour out of my scalp and prevent my hair from drying out with a coat of engrudo, that homemade paste used to make anything out of papier-mâché.

¡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.