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

Goodbye to Jocotepec

Had to take a last minute walk around town yesterday for a few fotos and last minute shopping. Sadly my favorite tortas filled with queso and jalepeno were not there in the market.

I thought they were re-painting the central area for the 2010 celebration but they are still working on parts of it. The buildings used to be a rather dull two-tone brown ... and I like the new white and grey. There was some plaster repair around the plaza ... but the Mercado got a whole new facade. Really nice.

So I'm off to Melaque for the winter and probably beyond. Got this house project I've been working on for over 2 years now if you can believe it. See ya there !!

New face on the central mercado

New paint on the Municipio Building

Fiesta de Bautizo

Mi Bautizo (baptism) is what the card the neighborhood kids gave me because one of their moms would have a baby in a few days. At least that's what they used for an excuse for a fiesta. The card was actually from last May for another Bautizo at the church.

Why me? Because I have fruit for the pinata, maybe a gift and some money for globos (balloons). I let the kids in the yard to get some limones (limes) and guayabas then they noticed the ciruela (plum) tree. We had to place a ladder against the wall to get the ciruelas and nobody fell!! The ciruelas were just turning red so this is the first time I tried them. Very large pits.

They needed the balloons for decoration but also for the game of gallina where everyone ties a balloon around their ankle and take turns trying to stomp on the other persons balloon. Kinda like chicken fighting.

They also needed me for duct tape to make the pinata. Problem was it was so strong it wouldn't break so it was decided to throw the prizes off the a neighbor's roof. Not good for the fruit as they exploded on impact except for the limes. They did make a good cleanup crew using every broom in the neighborhood.

Neighborhood fiesta in Jocotepec, Jalisco Mexico

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.

Jocotepec - an overbuilt weekend getaway?

There's been lots of concern and controversy over the thousand plus houses and apartments being built just beyond Jocotepec in El Chante. Most of the concern has been about how the permits were issued and can the treatment plant handle that much sewage and keep the lake safe. Who knows?

They have thought of the traffic this will produce and have a nearly completed Jocotepec bypass road on the hillside north of town. They are also widening highway 15 from Joco out to highway 54 and the entrance to Guadalajara. This new road may end up being better than the existing road into Chapala and therefore adding even more traffic.

Since there is no major shopping in the Joco area I can't imagine what Bodega Aurrera and the centro market will be like weekends or vacations let alone in town driving. This is a large part of why I'll probably be moving back to the beach towards the end of the year. A tourist escape so close to a city the size of Guadalajara is not what I came here for.

Hill side of the highway some of the 1000

Lake side of the highway some of the 1000

A little further towards El Chante building more

And here is an apartment complex that could number another 1000

Mexican Census 2010

"The census was taken at our house this morning. The questions were non-intrusive, took very little time, and the young man from INEGI was wearing all the attributes of his uniform. When we were finished answering, he politely asked if he could put the CENSADO sticker on our door so that other census takers would not bother us. Very professional, very easy. There were no questions about immigration or citizenship status; this census focuses on housing (do you have electricity? internet? bathroom with running water? how many bedrooms?), health insurance (do you have any?) and education (ditto)--et cetera"

I've been reading about people being visited by census takers in other parts of Mexico but they must be out in force because they visited me here in Jocotepec yesterday. Just like stated above, very easy to answer questions and non-invasive.  That's my sticker that says I've been visited.

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

Grasshopper and Backdoor

Yesterday's big happenings in Jocotepec Mexico


Large grasshopper in my lime tree (limon)


My back door around sunset

Chris turns 5

My friends asked again if they could have a fiesta at my place since their place has no garden and not a lot of space. Yesterday was Chris's 5th birthday (cupleaños) so the fiesta was here. Small, not much of the family, just mom and sisters and 2 neices and a nephew.

Salad, nice cake and a beautiful gelatin (gelatina de mosaico) ... but now I get to ask ... why would you make a gelatin with no flavor or sugar. Is this a Mexican thing or a family thing.

Cleaning up in the morning I decided to wash off the kiddy pool and because we had water for a change, filled it. Of course the kids were not dressed for water play like kids might be at the beach ... so we decided to do it again today with bathing suits (trajes de baño). Marilyn brought over belated presents - two squirt guns that were prefect. This being the first week of a two week school vacation we decided to do it again tomorrow.

The party

Chris cuts the cake

Gelatin

Not dressed for the pool

So they came back today
Birthday party in Joctepec

Funeral Procession in Jocotepec

I've seen funeral processions in Mexico before but the cemetery is usually far enough from the central chuch that a car caravan is used. Here in Jocotepec the cemetery is only about 10 blocks away and at the end of a narrow dead-end street.

As I came around the plaza in front of the church I was greeted by a policeman, a decorated pickup truck with a casket and about 150 people beginning their walk. Since I live in the same direction as the cemetery all I could do was fall in behind with my emergency flashers blinking. Just one of the many small differences when living in Mexico.

Back road bike ride

Spring is here and I felt like a bike ride. Sun felt good, I needed the exercise and I wanted to see how the new Jocotepec bypass road is coming. My back road heads almost west from Joco to highway 15 and intersects where the new bypass road will begin. The new road has been cut thru all the way but still very rough for construction use only. I was hoping the road would be fairly flat to avoid the "jake brake" trucks from echoing across the valley ... but it looks like there will be a pretty good grade on either end.

So my back road is a nice ride. Gentle up slope away from town and a coast on the way back. Scenery and crops will change with the seasons and I'm sure it turns to mud in the rains. Just wish there was a little less garbage dumping which seems common for back roads in Mexico.

Cowboy on the road with cows


Cowboy in the field with cows


Old tree that looked better with no color


A new crop of corn next to the rasberry sheds

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!!

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