While the North American cowboy was relegated to a series of cigarette ads at the end of the 20th century (usually shown on horseback navigating a swollen river), his Mexican counterpart, the charro, remains a celebrated national symbol. The charro horseman embodies a romantic ideal.

The Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation has announced its schedule of High Holiday services, which begin Friday, September 15 with Erev Rosh Hashanah and a potluck supper.  The holiday period runs through to Yom Kippur Day on September 25, when a morning service will be held at 10 a.m., followed by the Neilah concluding service in the afternoon.

They’re back!

On Saturday, August 5, eight members of the Ajijic Kayak Club dared to paddle seven miles across Lake Chapala to San Luis Soyotlán, the first such club adventure in nearly five years.

Do you see red if someone refers to you as a gringo or gringa? First of all, listen carefully to the way the word is said and the intention behind it. Maybe the person is not being hostile but only trying to be friendly.

New dates have been set for the 2023 Traditional Mariachi Festival (Encuentro Nacional de Mariachi Tradicional) that in the past has always preceded the main festival (see story left).

• The quince (Cydonia oblonga) is the fruit of a small deciduous tree native to the Caucasus region of southwest Asia and the Mediterranean. It belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae) and is a close relative to apples and pears.