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What happened to my brother-in-law Pepe is usually referred to as “the old mustard scam” in The Guadalajara Reporter. That’s what I called it too, until last week when Pepe fell for it hook, line and sinker.

For two nights at the end of August, Casa-Cem’s modest “conversation salon” was filled beyond capacity by Tapatios anxious to see photos and videos of the dramatic discovery of the oldest human skeleton ever found on the American continent.

This hike takes you through beautiful landscapes and fascinating rock formations located less than an hour from Guadalajara. It’s one of those walks even small children can do and the site, unlike so many places I’ve described, can be reached by any sort of vehicle. Can you ask for anything more?

For years I’ve been searching for the perfect mirador from which to view the city of Guadalajara. To my great vergüenza (shame), it never occurred to me to check out the most obvious choice, the highest point in the city, which happens to be Cerro del Cuatro, an extinct scoria volcano 1,870 meters above sea level, located in the municipality of Tlaquepaque. Somehow, I had always imagined this hill smothered with small houses and alleyways: not exactly the great outdoors. Then along came Franky Alvarez.

In 2006, Salvador Rodríguez of Granada, Spain decided to visit the world by bicycle. Since then, he has covered 135,150 kilometers on two wheels, fixed 258 flat tires and written two fascinating books on what he has learned. Recently he gave a talk on his adventures at Estación Bici, a popular R&R center for cyclists, located inside the Primavera Forest.

Years ago my friend Roy Sánchez told me about a wonderful place to camp and hike, hidden away deep in the misty mountains of San Sebastián del Oeste. “It’s called “Potrero de Mulas,” he said, “and the only hangup is that you have to cross 20 rivers to get there.”