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It is hard to get facts about Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest fresh water lake.  I see the lake as a living  entity. It can’t easily be measured because it won’t stand still long enough. I have read that it is 50 miles long by 10 miles wide and 415 sq. miles total. I have read that it is  70 miles long by 20 miles wide and it is 650 square miles total. As you can see by these so-called facts, the...

The Real de Chapala is located in Lower La Floresta, just a couple of blocks from my little casita. It is easy to find if you know about it. There is a sign pointing towards it to the left as you come in on the main road (Carretera) from Chapala towards Ajijic. I didn’t notice that sign.  I walked around this neighborhood for many months until I noticed the hotel. It is hidden among beautiful homes....

When I first moved to this area, I had a torn and twisted meniscus in my knee. I hate to go to doctors and in the States I had no medical insurance. I limped around on it for fourteen months. Finally, I couldn’t stand the pain any longer and I hobbled into Dr. Leon’s office on the carretera in Ajijic. I had heard many great stories about him from the Americans around the Lake Chapala Society. He looked...

Every town in Mexico has a patron saint. Chapala’s is St. Francis of Assisi. I don’t know much about the Saints. I am not a Catholic. From what I have heard about St. Francis of Assisi, he is my favorite because of his love for the poor people, nature and animals. There was a nine-day celebration in Chapala from September 26th through October 4th.  A carnival was set up near the Malecon and I heard...

I took these photos early one morning at the Chapala Plaza. It was before the streets became crowded. So, don’t be fooled by these photos. The Chapala Plaza is usually an extremely busy place. Holidays and weekends are the most crowded times. I will do another post on weekends in Chapala. It becomes like a different town when all the tourists flood in from Guadalajara and other surrounding areas. Some...

I live in Lower La Floresta. I have been living in this area for almost three years. I love it here so you aren't going to be getting an impartial view.  My heart is here. I looked up online the meaning of the word Floresta. It is a great site, www.SpanishDict.com.   They had three meanings for Floresta. 1. Forest, shrubbery, thicket.  2. A delightful, rural place. 3. A collection of fine things...

West Ajijic is one of my favorite areas near the lake.  I walk out there often. It has a quiet, country feeling. The further out you go, the less populated it becomes and then you run into gated communities and elegant two story homes beside corn fields.  You might see cows, donkeys or chickens in the fields. Sometimes they are in the road. Don’t worry. They won’t attack you.  If they get close,...