Open Circle
Randy Brutsche presents “An Illegal Gringo in Old Mexico, The Story and the Publication Process,” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, November 20, 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Chapala Society. This is the true-life story of an American tourist seeking a retirement lifestyle as an expatriate in Mexico.
While traveling via bus to see the countryside, Brutsche had seen many instances of immigration agents entering the bus to randomly check a few passengers for proper travel documents. When it finally happened to him, he quickly found out he did not have what was required. As an illegal alien without a visa or tourist visitation form, he was taken off the bus, his luggage pulled out, and the bus drove away. What followed was a hair-raising ordeal thrown at him in a language he did not speak that included being imprisoned for six days in an immigration detention facility in Acayucan, Veracruz.
It ended when he was accompanied by two Mexican immigration agents and deported to Houston, Texas.
World Cup viewing
American Legion Post 7 Chapala will host World Cup Qatar 2022 games featuring the teams from Mexico, the United States and Canada on their TVs beginning with the USA vs Wales game Monday, November 21, 1 p.m. Tuesday, November 22: Mexico vs Poland at 10 a.m., Wednesday, November 23: Canada vs Belgium, 1 p.m., Friday, November 25: USA vs England, 1 p.m., Saturday, November 26: Mexico vs Argentina, 1 p.m., Sunday, November 27: Canada vs Croatia, 10 a.m., Tuesday, November 29: USA vs Iran, 1 p.m., Wednesday, November 30: Mexico vs Saudi Arabia, 1 p.m., Thursday, December 1: Canada vs Morocco, 9 a.m.
They will also host the round of 16 with games December 3-6, the quarterfinals on December 9 and 10, the semifinals on December 13 and 14, the third place match on December 17 and the World Cup final on December 18.
There will be some game day food specials offered during most of these games.
Chapala Birders
Friday, November 25, the Lake Chapala Birders will meet at 8 a.m. at the Sculpture in La Floresta, leaving immediately for the Rosa Amarilla Loop (a-60-minute drive). Expect to see a variety of grassland birds and possibly a white-tailed hawk. Bring refreshments for the morning and sandwiches for the 12:30 p.m. lunch stop. The group returns about 3 p.m. You must reserve via email with club leader John Keeling at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at least two days ahead indicating if you can bring a vehicle and can take others, or you would like to be a passenger.
Rock for rights
Guadalajara-based rock cover band The Black Lions will play a free concert Saturday, November 26, 3 p.m. on the Chapala Malecon, in conjunction with a cultural and educational fair promoting human rights in Jalisco sponsored by the Comision Iberoamericana de Derechos Humanos.
Boxing classes
Men and women’s boxing classes help reduce in stress reduction, cardio, coordination and balance. Pad and bag boxing only. No gloves needed for first two classes. Minimum of three per class. Top floor of Plaza Bugambilias. A free introductory class will be given Monday, November 28. Women from 1 to 2 p.m. and men from 2 to 3 p.m. After the intro, the women’s class will be Mondays and Wednesdays from 1 to 2 p.m. and men’s classes on the same days from 2 to 3 p.m. Cost is 400 pesos per week.
WhatsApp text only to Manny to reserve: 001-236-881-1418.
Bingo
• Bingo Lago is held every Wednesday, 1 p.m. at El Sombrero Restaurant in Ajijic to benefit the Have Hammer … Will Travel woodworking and industrial arts instruction program.
• Gringo Bingo is on at the Iron Horse Saloon every Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. and benefits the Lucky Dog Rescue and Adoption Center.
Christmas for Jaltepec
The Centro Educativo Jaltepec and Restaurant La Bodega will hold a dinner event, Thursday, December 1, 6 p.m., and a luncheon event, Friday, December 2, noon. Students from Mexico’s only Technical University of Hotel and Hospitality will serve hors d’oeuvres, and a roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings, Music by DJ Wait, plus a no-host bar. A donation of 950 pesos per person will benefit the students.
RSVP before Thursday, November 24 to Linda Buckthorp, 333-407-81923 or email 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..
Holiday home tour
The Raquet Club is holding a Holiday Home Tour and Art Show Saturday, December 10, from 2 to 5 p.m. Ten beautiful homes will be open for viewing. Each home owner will guide people through their homes. Refreshments will be served on the terrace, where there will be an art show from 1 to 6 p.m. Tickets, 300 pesos, are available at the Raquet Club office, where maps to the homes to be toured will be available. Tickets also available at It’s Kinda Bazar, Gosha’s, Trinity Real Estate, Fenix Realty, Mi Casa Real Estate, and Hernandez Realty Group.
Bon Voyage volunteer
The Bon Voyage Dog Rescue organization is in need of adoption coordinators. If you are detail oriented, computer savvy and would like to offer four to six hours a week of your time, contact 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..
Paella fest
The second annual paella fest held last Saturday at the Fraccionamiento Residencial Constanza in the hills above the Raquet Club attracted 150 guests and about 30 cooks and vendors. This event is organized by La Arrocería del Lago, initiated by Paco Romero, an “architect by profession and cook by vocation,” who on a trip to Spain fell in love with paella and learned to cook it.
“I am going to come to live at Lake Chapala, so this festival is my welcome to the lake and the lake to me,” he said.
Nine teams of culinary challengers gathered to test their cooking wares and passions. This year’s teams were Huerto Café (2nd place), Casa Albufera, Paella Valeriana , Sazon de San Juan ,Gastronomo Callejero, La Paella de Pedro, La Cocina Española, Paella Mimendi and Paella Don Alfonso. In the paella pans glistened the ingredients of various versions of the dish: yellow, red and orange bell peppers, onions, clams, mussels, squid, snap beans, shrimp, crab, scallops, sausages, bacon, asparagus, chicken, rabbit, pork, green beans, zucchini , paprika, habaneros … and the sacred saffron.
An Andalusian gazpacho was also served along with a patata tortilla. Pancho’s Market provided appetizer plates of select cheeses and cold meats, including a special appetizer plate of Iberian ham.
Dessert consisted of pay de coco, a recipe created by Tania Romero, owner of Pay de Co.
As diners enjoyed their desserts they also cast their votes for their favorite paellas. The winning paella was Paella Valeriana followed by Huerto Café’s seafood creation. The Cocina Española took third place.
The next paella fest will be held in May 2023.