Although Roman Catholic Church leaders urge their flocks to treat Easter as a time for reflection and abstention from excesses, few people in this country take heed. In fact, Easter is the time when most Mexicans let their hair down and head off for a week or two of hard partying at the beach. Many winter foreign residents of coastal towns such as Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Barra de Navidad and Mazatlan have headed north prior to the Easter invasion. Hotels have been booked for months, and many families who arrive without reservations simply pitch a tent on the beach.

Easter, for many, conjures up images of spring outfits, sumptuous feats, brightly colored eggs, baskets brimming with candy and days at the beach.  For Christians, however, Easter is a time of renewal of natural and human life and a time of spiritual regeneration. English-speaking churches in Guadalajara have planned special services for Easter, which falls on Sunday, March 31 the year.

A story I have retold many times is of my client who told me her keyboard needed to have one more key, a large wide key big enough to be labeled “Whoops, I didn’t mean to do that.”  She was pleasantly surprised to learn that her keyboard already had such a key, albeit not labeled exactly as she had suggested.

St. Patrick’s Day is very special in Mexico because it is a time when Mexicans remember their the San Patricios, or the Battalion of St. Patrick.  One of the least-known stories of the Irish who came to America in the 1840s is that of this Irish battalion that fought on the Mexican side in the U.S.-Mexico War of 1846-1848. They came to Mexico and died, some gloriously in combat, others ignominiously on the gallows. United under a green banner, they participated in all the major battles of the war and were cited for bravery by General López de Santa Anna, the Mexican commander in chief and president.

Aristoteles Sandoval, Jalisco’s youthful new governor, looks to have much going for him as he embarks on a six-year term of office.   With the National Action Party (PAN) in total disarray and the nascent Citizens’ Movement trying to develop state-wide base support, the lack of a demanding opposition should make his early months smooth sailing.  The backing of the powerful and authoritarian overlords of the University of Guadalajara (UdG) will be a huge plus. Rector-elect Tonatuih Padilla has predicted the relationship will be a profitable one and that he does not foresee any student demonstrations or protests against state government policy.  Whether the usually “brain-washed” students are so completely enamored with the 39-year-old Sandoval – an ex UdG alumni – is another matter: they had the courage to boo him during one of his first public appearances at the Guadalajara International Film Festival last weekend.  However, he has promised to give them free transportation within his first 100 days in office – an enticing carrot. 

In the midst of the glut of Guadalajara’s coffee chains, it is pleasant to find one that is full of character and that you probably never knew existed.