| December was another exciting month filled with both routine and new things to see and do. Here is an example of us trying a new item on the menu at a local restaurant. It is packed with chicken, steak, bacon, shrimp, cheeses and lots of hot sauce, cooked in this dish called a Molcajete (mole-cah-hay-tay). This dish is made from volcanic rock and dates back 1000+ years to the Aztec, an indigenous tribe who lived in what is now Mexico. Our dish was so huge, we shared it with others sitting with us and no one left hungry.
What are you up to??? Keep us informed by clicking on our email link Larry and Glorine.
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| One of the nice things about living at lake side is the entertainment. Every night of the week there are many choices of live music for listening, dancing or both. Here is a local band made up of family members from the area that focuses mostly on Cuban music. What a treat! |
Another exciting thing about living here is all the volunteering one can do. Here Glorine and friend Jean are working at the largest yard sales in the area. It is made up of donated items from mostly expatriates living here and sold to both ex pats and Mexicans alike. Great quality at bargain prices and all of the money goes to charity. |
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| We met Jerry and Gloria three years ago at Open Circle, a Sunday morning gathering of about 100 people listening to speakers on a wide range of topics. One of the traditions there is for "new" folk to introduce themselves and tell where they were from--Portland, Oregon, Jerry said. Having once lived there, Glorine went over to say hi and we have been getting together each winter since then. Here is a view off their Mirador (roof top overlook). |
Now that Jerry and Gloria are retired, they started wintering here in Ajijic for about four months and, like us, spend time in the states with family and friends. They are renting a beautiful home right in the heart of Ajijic, with an indoor water fountain next to the dining room. Don't see many of those around. |
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| Great weather means that most things grow year 'round. Here we are helping friends pick tangerines from a tree in their back yard. Once picked, we made nearly a gallon of juice. |
Here is the "Hole in the Wall," at least that is what the Gringos call it. It is a restaurant (without a name) that serves great Mexican food and drinks for unbelievably low prices. Glorine hugged a couple of kids helping out. Here we are with a group of friend enjoying a great food, served in true humble Mexican style. |
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| How many Gringos can you get in the back of a VW. We kid about the many Mexicans who ride in the back of pickup trucks. I bet they were laughing at us as we and our friends left one of the many gatherings we attend. |
The festival of Our Lady of Guadeloupe has become a routine event for us each winter. It is a 10 day celebration that attracts thousands of people. The Church is adorned with flowers. Here workers are erecting a castillo (cah-stee-yoh), which is a tower of twirling fireworks. The kids especially enjoyed running under it as the fireworks went off. Here is a link to a video clip of a castillo going off here in Ajijic. |
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| Glorine's brother-in-law, Wayne, formerly known by family members as Howard, had a great birthday party at the community center in El Parque, where they own a villa and we rent one. About 100 people showed up to dance, swim and enjoy a warm Sunday afternoon. Here Wayne is sharing the birthday moment with friends who also had a December birthday. |
Near the Malecón (mel-ay-cone) in Chapala, the city built this island with a statue called Jesus--The Fisherman. It was still under construction when this picture was taken and is the newest tourist attractions in this area. |
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| One of Larry's goals this winter is to get better at golfing. (Time will tell.) With the Chula Vista Country Club three blocks from El Parque, he strapped his golf clubs on his back and road a bike to the golf course. While he golf's every week, this biking experience was a one time event. |
Here is one of the many Christmas gatherings we attended. Friends, Phil and Mary hosted this one while their children were down visiting from the states. Mary is a great cook. As these candid picture show, it was a great way to enjoy the Christmas holidays. |
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| Time for another Sunday get together. Following Open Circle, about 20 of us enjoyed a nice, relaxing brunch at a restaurant next to Lake Chapala. From there we all attended a theater production at the Naked Stage. |
It is called the Naked Stage because it does not have any curtains or back drops--it's naked. It also happens to be in someone's back yard that holds about 50+ people. Here are the actors taking a final non-curtain call. It was called "X-Mass, Turkey with Ham" and included a series of hilarious comedy skits about the Christmas Holidays. |
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| This picture was taken on one of our friend's Mirador. In the foreground is the main Catholic Church of Ajijic and up in the mountain is a little Catholic shrine. To get there is a very popular trail that many people walk each day and along the trail are the 14 Stations of the Cross. |
Glorine and friend Marilyn were in a festive and charitable mood one day. So they spent a couple of hours cooking burritos, beans, and Mexican rice. Once done, we drove over to a poor neighborhood in Chapala and gifted the food to these family members who lived there. The gratitude and joy they showed made all the work worthwhile. This, we think, is what Christmas is all about. |
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| Another ritual that we have become accustomed to is at least one day at the Spa--sometime two or three times over the course of the winter. Here we are with friends spending a nice warm day relaxing in about a dozen different hot tubs filled with herbs, caffeine, and other substances that can cure about anything. And of course there is the MUD, which is always lots of fun. It is unbelievable how great one feels after a day at the Spa. |
Another Christmas dinner, this one hosted by friends Marilyn and Brian. We started the evening in their commons area overlooking the lake and the mountains. When the sun went down, it got a bit chilly. That turkey (sitting on the table) was cooked and carved by Brian. It and all the trimmings were great. We capped off the evening with a game called Mexico Train. Another wonderful evening! |
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| Forty-one years and counting. Yep, we celebrated our wedding anniversary on the 28th at a great restaurant overlooking Lake Chapala. We met when Glorine was still in high school and Larry was still trying to get out of it and here we are enjoying the fruits of our labor of love together. |
We were joined by Marilyn, Brian, Jerry and Gloria and two "new" people from California, just dipping their toe in the Ajijic experience for a few days. This was their last day here so it was also a going away party. |
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| Another New Year's celebration at a night club called Manix. The girls got all decked out and Ricardo and his singing companion provided some great dancing music. We all had a great five course meal. The four Amigos indulged in a bit of beer, wine, Margaritas, Champaign and of course some Tequila. And it would not be New Years Eve in Ajijic without fireworks--and what a display it was. |
From the two of us who are still loving our Roaming through Retirement, we want to wish peace, health and happiness to each one of you who check in on us through our web site. Best wishes for 2010! |
