Trick or Treat in Mexico

I just got done feeding (candy I know) to about 20 Trick or Treaters thru my front gate. About 4-5 had costumes and masks which I didn't expect. Earlier today some neighborhood kids were putting white cement (grout) on their faces pretending to be ghosts and asked it I had candy (wish I'd had my camera). I said not now but maybe later.

Rather than going downtown to buy bags of mixed candies, I went to the local store and bought 30 pesos of 1 peso candies, mostly suckers. Didn't really expect them to come back because I've never experienced Trick or Treat in Mexico.

About 7:30 the 20 showed up all yelling whatever it is (give me candy now - probably) and I was ready. Even had a mom with them and I had to hand her one. They must have been scouring the neighborhood but this is Mexico and Día de los Muertos is not here yet. Is this a local phenomenon ... and what do they 'cry out'. I'll ask some moms tomorrow.

Talpa from above

After picking up my new passport in Vallarta last year I drove up highway 70 thru Mascota intending to overnight in Autlan. I came to the Talpa turn off to the south and had to take a look but after a mile or two was presented with this site. Overlooks or viewpoints on Mexican highways are rare but here was a good one.

Anyway it looked too far to just visit and just turn around so I headed back to highway 70 to continue. What I would like to know is if there is only one entrance to Talpa ... or is there another from highway 80.

Talpa Jalisco off highway 70

A lizard's life

We had a birthday party here yesterday with about 15 people and all day I saw this guy hanging on the wall just outside my front door. Of course all the people left him alone, the dog can't see that well and the cats were hiding from the crowd.

This morning he was still there so I went to check if he was just nailed to the wall or what. I touched his tail and he didn't move - what more can you do. About an hour later one of the cats noticed him and just could not resist. On the 5th try and a good jump the cat got a paw on him and they both came down knocking over a bucket and a broom - distracting the cat and off went the lizard.

Very few iguanas up here is the lake Chapala area and lots of lizards. Sad to say the cats have killed a few and try to bring them in to show me.

Jocotepec Lizard on my wall

Link to Birthday Party fotos and story

Jocotepec and Lake Chapala

They are building a bypass highway around Jocotepec on the side of the mountain. It looks like there will be a lot of stop and go as there is no sign of recent work right above town. In the meantime it's a great little hike with access in a few places. In fact a number of locals have adopted it as their jogging path.

Marilyn and I walked up the other day to see progress and the view ... and it's worth the effort (not that much really). I caught this foto as the sun was going down across Jocotepec with the lake and Mt Garcia in the background

Jocotepec with lake Chapala and Mt Garcia behind

Jocotepec, Jalisco Mexico

Daylight Saving Time Mexico

Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 a.m. local time on the first Sunday in April. On the last Sunday in October areas on Daylight Saving Time fall back to Standard Time at 2:00 a.m. The names in each time zone change along with Daylight Saving Time. Central Standard Time (CST) becomes Central Daylight Time (CDT), and so forth. The state of Sonora does not observe Daylight Saving Time.

As opposed to the US from 2 a.m. on the Second Sunday in March to 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November.

That would be the 25th this year in Mexico so if you have schedules to keep. This time of year you'll only be early but I've missed a flight in April