This shouldn't be happening

Around noon I heard water running off the rear of the house and saw this. I would have checked but it's nearly impossible to get up on the roof. I might get a picture of that when the repair guy comes. Anyway, a quick call to the landlord and he comes over, shows me where the shut-off is and says a repair person will be over this afternoon. Probably a broken copper pipe he says. I have a cupola with good sized windows but none of them open. The cupola route would be a safer way to access the roof.

With a ladder almost long enough the maintenance guy finds that one of the tubes of the solar water heater is broken. He's not sure if tubes can be replaced or if a whole new one is needed. Gonna be expensive so might get a gas heater instead.

Landlord just came over and I get a gas heater Saturday. A few birdbaths for me !!!

Feed a Cold, Starve a Fever?

Feed a Cold, Starve a Fever?

What to Eat When Sick with Colds and Fevers

According to doctors and other medical authorities, feeding a cold is fine, but starving a fever is a bad idea.

“Feed a cold, starve a fever” dates back to a sixteenth century dictionary maker who recommended fasting as a fever remedy. At that time, many people believed that colds were caused by cold temperatures, and thus required “fueling up,” whereas it was thought that fevers could be cooled down by depriving them of fuel. Given the state of medicine at the time, the majority of “cures” recommended during the 1500s are unlikely to be effective.

So we are thinking about this and thankful sitting in the sun dries us out a bit. Silvia says tea with limon and honey. I say chased with Tequila

La Gripa

Things that make her go hmmmmm ...

We went to the grande finale last night of the Señor Monte celebration in Jocotepec. Were waiting outside the church to see them bring out the Christ that would be paraded around town. These two were in close proximity to each other and right next to us. This does not look like approval

... except that at her age. Too funny!!

Retire Mexico on $150 a month

Retire Mexico on $150 a month - found in a 1958 copy of Desert Magazine

CASE HISTORY No. 1. Bob Thayer, whose address is simply, Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Jal., Mexico, has an absolute "natural" when it comes to excellent income with little expenditure of time or effort. Possibly you have seen his ads which he runs in the American magazines. These will differ slightly according to the magazine but here is a typical one:

RETIRE IN MEXICO ON $150 A MONTH

or less in a resort area, 365 days of sun a year; dry temperature. 68-80 degrees. Or maintain lux. villa; servants; ALL expenses $200-250 a mo. Am.-Eng. colony on lake 60 mi. long. 30 min. to city of 1/2 million, medical center. Schools, arts, sports. Few hours by air. Train, bus; PAVED roads all the way. Full time servants, maids, cooks, $7 to $15 a mo., filet mignon .45 lb., coffee .40, gas .17 gal. Gin, rum, brandy, .75-.90 fth. whiskey $2.50 qt. Houses $10 mo. up. No fog, smog, confusion, jitters. Serene living among world's most considerate people. For EXACTLY how Americans are living on $50-$90-$150-$250 a mo. Airmail $2.00 for COMPLETE current information, photos, prices, roads, hotels, hunting, fishing, vacationing and living conditions from A. viewpoint. (Pers. Chk. OK) to Bob Thayer, Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Jal. Mexico. (Allow 2 weeks for delivery—Money back Guarantee.)

Guadalajara Family - 1958

Playing up modernity just like the US was in the 1950's

Photographed by Willard C. Hahn. Another Hoefler production, focusing on an upper-class family, military school, garden parties, etc. They enjoy themselves and the rustic beauty at a pristine lake nearby, where father intends to build a development.

Well - I wonder what Lake and what development

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Sunshine on Laundry

This is what it looks like. After over two weeks of overcast and cold and nearly a week with not enough street water to fill the washing machine ... I will have clean clothes tomorrow.

A crazy rumor is that they have diverted the electricty from the Jocotepec water system to the Señor Monte celebration. I guess it's possible with all the carnival rides and concession stands around the plaza. The fiesta is over this Sunday and I have enough clothes to last

Gorditas Nata

I took a walk down to the plaza to see what was up with the festivities for Señor Monte, Jocotepec's two week festival. They were still setting the kiddie rides and had not closed all the streets last week. Today all done. I think people are out during the day (and Sunday) because it's pretty damned chilly here at night. Lots of people.


This is the first time I've seen Gorditas Nata and asked what they were and then to make sure - ordered three. A little sweet, kinda like pancakes but they don't rise. She flips them 4-5 times leaving just a sliver of uncooked dough in the middle. Moist and tasty!

Charales Fabrica in Chapala

I went down to my old landlord's today in Chapala to get a note about the date I moved from Melaque. I needed it for my upcoming FM3 renewal and we moved the date around to fit the 30 day requirement. 3-4 visits to Immigration to record a move and 2 months later do it again to renew did not make much sense.

His wife was home but he was around the corner doing the books for a business that cooked and sold Charales. He's an accountant known here as a Contador (Accountant/CPA). I was unsure if I'd had Charales before and certainly had not had fresh ones. His wife suggested we go meet him, look at the store and try some. It turned out they bought me a 1/2 kilo which the owner would not accept money for (from his accountant).

Charales are common in most of Mexico's highland lakes.

So anyway, they have spiced, plain and small pieces of a larger fish that looks like Chicharron when cooked. Buy in a fancy basket or by the kilo in a plastic bag. I asked if I could check out the processing plant so took the pictures below. I don't know how they fish these things in Lake Chapala but assume with a fine net similar to the bottom foto from Patzcuaro - but I've never seen anything similar here. Supposedly the fishing is done near Mezcala where the water is cleaner.

What ever you think about eating fish from the polluted lakes of Mexico ... I just thought they were the pure grease they were cooked in. Was suggested to place absorbant napkins at the bottom of a container and let them sit.

The Fancy Plate


Sorting the fish


The kitchen


What they might fish them with

Snow falls on the Nevado de Colima

GUADALAJARA, JAL., Jan. 2 .- The cold front number 21 brought the first snowfall to the higher peak Jalisco 2010. The Nevado de Colima woke up Sunday with two inches of snow, as confirmed by the director of the State Unit of Civil Protection and Fire, Trinidad López Rivas.

Information released by the daily Milenio Guadalajara, said that the snow appeared on the top of the mountains from three thousand feet above sea level, a site that is accessible to visitors. However, until this afternoon observers had not appeared, perhaps driven away by rain.

If it stops raining Sunday we'll be awaiting the arrival of visitors to witness the snowy landscape and the Civil Protection Unit is already prepared.

"It's suggested that those with the idea of going to the snow bring warm clothes because the temperature is 2 to 3 degrees Celsius," said Lopez Rivas.

University of Colima Volcano Cam

Universidad de Colima, a 32 km al sur del Volcan de Fuego

Colima Noticias Article

What's with the Rain

It's rained all day today and hard at times. The Chapala weather station say a little over a 1/4 inch but we've had more in Jocotepec. It's been overcast for almost a week with occasional showers ... and now it's January.

It's been raining more on the coast and friends are telling me my property in Melaque is becoming overgrown again and needs mowing. Mexicans there say this means a very wet coming summer. What do the weather gurus have to say?

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