A day on the beach in Barra de Navidad

Big waves and GeoTubes

It seems the whole west coast is being pounded with big surf. Surfers love it here and in famous places like Puerto Escondido. The beach and vacationers ... not so much. Most of the many visiting Barra for Semana Santa favor the lagoon side of the Malecon because there are no waves. Much safer for weak swimmers and little kids.

I wasn't aware of the 5-6 new GeoTubes they have installed. 3 or 4 more parallel to the beach out several hundred feet and 2 perpendicular but on the beach. I believe the perpendicular ones were meant to stop sand moving down the beach toward Melaque but the one below has had unexpected consequences. It has channeled the waves directly at the built up beach behind and laid bare the stone "breakwater".

After spending too much time walking the beach and Malecon looking at the surf and the Semana crowd it was time for some shade, a beer and something to eat. Our usual place is Nacho's who have Estrella and Pacifico and a very nice shrimp brocheta which is nothing like Italian bruschetta. It's simply shrimp and veggies on a stick. I usually don't like most Mexican rice but theirs is dry and very tasty. Picked up a kilo of shrimp at the local seafood store and will enjoy over the next week unless neighbors find out I have them ;)

Turbulence behind the GeoTube

Rocks laid bare

From the Malecon - new GeoTube

Up to 10 surfers out at one point (sorry, no zoom)

Nacho's with waiter Paco

A brief stop in Jocotepec

Glen's GPS wanted us to take the along the Lake Chapala route rather than heading straight into Guadalajara on Lopez Mateos. We obediently obeyed without questioning why and will never know. Glen hadn't seen the new Jocotepec Malecon and I hadn't seen the newer work done there. It gave us a chance to stretch our legs and grab a beer.

The first thing we noticed was the lake level was way down. That tour boat that is usually tied up to the Malecon was a couple hundred yards away and the other little pier off to the left had a new extension.

They've added some nice touches to the park with much more grass, raised the level behind the walkway that used to flood, added a beach front walk, a kids playground to the far left and replaced all the water sculptures they removed for the Folklorico Festival they had a few years ago. Very nice job.

Tour boat

Pier extension

New fountain and bridge

Replaced water sculptures

Shoe's ashes on the Malecon

Shoe told Silvia to spread his ashes where he could watch people, at least that was her interpretation. Last week the family was here for this occasion and Pepe and family came along.

A tearful Silvia lead us out the malecon and beyond to the rocks at the end of the bay as she sprinkled Shoe's ashes all along. Manuel, Silvia's son, took the last bit of ashes out on the rocks to let the larger part of the Pacific Ocean have them.

The throwing of the wreath was the end of another short story of life here on earth about one of us.

Beginning of the walk

Out past the Malecon

Ashes in the Pacific

End of a short story

Ballet Folklorico Monumental Bicentenario

Ballet Folklorico Monumental Bicentenario en Jocotepec

The show started yesterday at 4-5ish on the Jocotepec malecon featuring ballet folklorico troupes from 13 communities in the lakeshore region. The finale at 7 p.m. had 650 couples and a live mariachi playing and dancing the El Tranchete, Las Alazanzas, El Son de la Negra and the ever popular Jarabe Tapatio, better known to gringos as the Mexican hat dance.

Organized by Jalisco’s Ministry of Culture in conjunction with the Independence bicentennial festivities, the massive ballet folokorico program brings together dance groups from the municipalities of Atotonilco el Alto, Ayotlan, Chapala, Degollado, Jamay, Jocotepec, La Barca, Octolan, Poncitlan, Tizapan el Alto, Tototlan, Tuxcueca and Zapotlan del Rey.

International Confederation of Motorcycle Acrobats

Motorcycle stunt riding, was invented in Mexico, by a Mexican. (according to their website)

The International Confederation of Motorcycle, Officers and Highway Police, AC was born in 1987. This followed the older tradition of the first Brotherhood of Bikers and acrobats in 1927, initially formed by the General Directorate of the Federal Transit and the Federal Highway Police.

A team was formed in 1933, with the support of the Mexican army general, Jesus de La Garza C. Gutierrez and Leobardo Ruiz Camarillo, then military industry director of war, along with the head of automotive mechanical workshop, Escalante Enrique Martinez. They formed a team of motorcycle stunt riders made up of mechanics, drivers and motorcyclists.

The maestro Enrique Martinez would emphasize his powers as acrobat, changing the ways of motorcycle stunt riding, which in those years was done in very large spaces, such as tennis courts, airfields or bull rings.

He also created a method of teaching handling and control of the motorcycle, and was considered a technician in that discipline.

1950 Mexico City

There is a large motorcycle rally and fiesta going on this weekend on the Jocotepec malecon and I went yesterday.   Never realized motorcycling was such a big thing in Mexico.  The Acrobacia's are from Mexico City and their show is about two hours long.  Single and group tricks, jumping over bodies, lots of engine revving, human pyramids and finally crashing thru a blazing enferno.   Takes a lot of skill and strength to handle those big Harley's

Confederación Internacional de Motociclistas Oficiales y Policias de Caminos

Back to the Jocotepec Malecon

It's just a pleasant place to relax, watch people and get away from town. I also see why people from Guadalajara come her - it's the country and the lake.

They removed the lirio from the harbor and the tour boat is back in action, I assume for the holidays which continue here in Joco through most of January. The boat ride just goes down to San Juan Cosala and back. 60 pesos for adults and 30 pesos for kids. Might have to do it one day.

What looks like a kids playground in the park is actually exercise equipment of a large variety and well built. A few kids were trying to make toys out of them without much luck. Then there's the neat sculptures, the long malecon and a walk on the pier.

Jocotepec Malecon, Jalisco Mexico

Chapala waterfront construction

Ron dropped by for a few days on his way from San Miguel to Melaque and Bill and I had to show him around. We spent a couple of hours in both Ajijic and Chapala.

The first foto is of an island they are building just off the Chapala Malecon. The process is amazing. Trucks dump rocks on the beach and one by one they are loaded onto a small barge that is then pulled out to the island by rope. The rumor is they will place a large statue of Jesus looking one way or the other ... but just a rumor.

The second is of the new skate board park which is quite large an fits in well with the malecon and park. Nicely done

Chapala Malecon, Jalisco Mexico

Jocotepec Malecon Weather

We got chased back to the car soon after from the weather/rain you can see across the lake. Another holiday day in Mexico and more people in the park than we imagined.

The green band along the shore is lirio (water hyacinth) that has been filling the lake lately. A few weeks ago there was none and the beaches were clean. I hear they opened a dam or two up the Lerma river and the lirio is washing down into Lake Chapala. Just off to the right in the little harbor sits the Lake Chapala tour boat that seems to be trapped by the floating green