While we followed most of the COVID protocols, we did manage to venture out a
lot more than we did in 2020. In addition to a five-month RV excursion through
the US, we have expanded our outings a bit more here in Ajijic. We think
this may be our new normal!
This
screenshot shows the temp on our anniversary, December 28. This
weather link shows how pleasant the weather is here in
Ajijic. While the climate brought us here, the community, culture, cost
of living and its charm keeps bringing us back.
Friends Chuck and Jean returned to Ajijic after a two-year absence due to COVID.
This is the first of many get together to catch up on all that has been going
on in Ajijic and the US. From here we walked to LCS to take in a Concert
in the Park.
This Concerts in the Park
featured a tribute to Freddie Mercury. It was held on December 1, which is World
AIDS Day and used as a fundraiser for Ajijic Cares. It was 30 years since
Freddie died of AIDS at the age of 45.
Roy Gomez Cruz did an outstanding performance
singing the major hits that Freddie Mercury made popular in the 70s and 80s. In
all, he had five costume changes, which made this the best small stage
productions we have ever seen.
As a part of World AIDS Day, the
audience wrote the names of individuals they knew who had AIDS on glow sticks,
and place them in the points of these stars which were hoisted up in the
trees near the stage.
The
audience also wrote the names of individuals they knew who died of AIDS on these
paper bags, which were used to light the pathway as we left the concert.
In all, AIDS has accounted for over 37.7 million deaths.
While shopping in Tlaquepaque, we
saw this darling statue of a young girl peddling flowers and knew the exact
spot for it. We named her Maria.
Luis Pacheco is the new Executive
Director of the Lake Chapala Society and is in charge of the day-to-day work of 13
paid staff and about 300 volunteers.
Volunteers are the "Face of LCS"
and today was set aside to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of our
volunteer managers and volunteers who deal with everything from the library
to the upkeep of the gardens.
Mark and Lisa hosted a Holiday get
together for FoodBank Lakeside, which is a 100 percent volunteer group focused
on food
insecurity in the area. About 1/3 of the volunteers attended this fun get
together.
The last to leave were those who
played a key role in creating this humble organization that has grown to serve over
800 families along Lakeside. In March, FBL will be two years old and
going strong.
Like many of our Ajijic friends, Ross
and Carol skip last winter due to COVID. We learned Carol broke her leg, so we
delivered a home cooked meal of Lasagna and tossed salad and enjoy catching
up.
We met up with friends Chris and
Barbara on the shore of Lake Chapala, took in the sights of the Malecon,
including these men performing an ancient ritual call the Danz de Los
Voladores. From there, we had lunch at a nearby French restaurant.
The Holiday Concert in the Park at
the Lake Chapala Society featured Enrique de Allende who has performed mostly in
the US and Europe. He performed Christmas songs with his soft, yet powerful
voice.
It happened to be Enrique's
birthday, and unknown to him, the President of LCS brought in a Mariachi
Band to sing and play a melody of birthday songs.
Kids Kitchen in San
Pedro where five days a week these children
enjoy a noon meal.
The children are waiting patiently for the Posada to start. A Posada
is a Mexican tradition where children dress up as Mary and Joseph and walk
around the village knocking on doors to see if there is room for them to
spend the night. The Posada includes a party with food and a piñata.
Robyn, a volunteer with Foodbank Lakeside and
a person who has a "Heart of Gold" bought 500 pairs of shoes
for the children of San Pedro and other villages.
Friends David and Karen invited
us over to their home for dinner and we were amazed at the beautiful
landscaping they did. The sunset added to the charm.
On Monday mornings, Larry facilitates
a discussion group focused on 'everyday mindfulness'. They have maintained
the group on ZOOM ever since COVID began.
Chuck and Jean have the same
anniversary as ours (same day, same month, same year) and we have been
celebrating it together nearly every year since we met in 2007. An
awesome evening at Adelita's.
Chuck and Jean hosted a small New
Year's Eve party at their home and included a few of their dearest friends.
We left about 11:00, but the party went on until 1:00 am.
Wayne and Maureen are the only
family we have here in Ajijic and share many of the same friends. It
was nice to end 2021 with them. We shared meals and cards every week since
COVID hit Mexico.
Norm and Lil are friends we met when
we first moved to Ajijic. They met here and have since gotten married. It was at
their home where Larry took a tumble off a wall and broke his wrist--now fully
recovered.
December's web page includes December 1 through December 31.
