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.

March for Tenacatita in Guadalajara

March for Tenacatita in Guadalajara

Around 1,000 people march on the state palace in Guadalajara to protest the land takeover at the Tenacatita beach by a wealthy businessman.

More Blog posts on current situation at Tenacatita

A Beach in the Balance--Mexican Riot Police Attack


La Huerta apoyará a comuneros de Tenacatita


“La posesión de los ejidatarios era ilegítima”


Al menos 800 habitantes de Tenacatita siguen cercados por la Policía Estatal


Tenacatita: ganó la violencia


Tenacatita - No Mas! Aug 2010

Tenacatita evictions over land dispute

State police evict homeowners in beach community of Tenacatita
From the Guadalajara Reporter

Villalobos has been trying the get the low-income families evicted from the land for two decades, ever since he purchased 42 hectares of Tenacatita beachfront land from the wife of a former state governor in 1991. (He apparently obtained the federal beach concession rights in 1993.) Many of the businesses on the undeveloped beach are palapa seafood restaurants that have been serving tourists and locals for more than 40 years.

Francisco Martinez Flores, the ejido (local land commune) commissioner for El Rebalsito, said the ejiditarios own the 42 hectares and have the land titles to prove it.

La Huerta Mayor Carlos Ramirez Nuñez called the eviction "unfair" and said municipal authorities would do all in their power to help the families return to their homes.

But if they get ever back to their homes and businesses, there may be nothing left of them. After the families left in pick-up trucks with their belongings – some making as many as 10 trips to and from the highway – police brought in heavy machinery, presumably to demolish the palapa huts and homes, and blocked the only road leading to the beach. None one was allowed in without an "official" escort. Both the La Huerta municipal secretary and a Puerto Vallarta-based Jalisco Human Rights Commission observer had to give up their cellphones and cameras to police before they were allowed to enter the area, according to reports from Spanish-language daily Milenio. La Huerta municipal cops who turned up to provide "additional security" were also barred from entering. The area resembled "a war zone," commented one foreign resident at the scene.

Guadalajara Reporter article

Read personal accounts from people that live in the area here

Mexican sun oxidized your headlights?

Been watching my headlights deteriorate over the last few years but didn't think much about it because I don't often drive at night. Not only do they look bad if severely oxidized but can refract the beam enough to reduce your night vision on the road. After one experience a few months ago of abnormal vision coming home from Chapala I decided it was not only old age but also my fogged headlights.

I read the procedures on the Internet but my first attempt was only with rubbing compound and it did not even begin to remove the rough plastic. Yesterday I stopped by a ferreteria (hardware store) and picked up a sheet of the recommended 1500 grit wet/dry sand paper (lija).

Rather than mask the surrounding paint I just cut the sandpaper into small pieces and was careful. I figured I could remove any paint dulling with the rubbing compound. About a 1/2 hour of sanding both with water and compound on each light ... then about 15 minutes with a plastic sponge and rubbing compound. A little cheating at the end with Armor All.

I've had the car wash guys in the Walmart parking lot offer to fix my lights but they would have been at it all day as bad as they were.

Left light (in foto) getting there

Light after previous try with rubbing compound

Light after sandpaper and compound - could go further

How To Be Alone