Lake Chapala has become our winter home for three years now. Our first two were in the village of Ajijic and this year we live on the edge of Ajijic in the village of San Antonio Tlayacapan (tay-lock-ah-pan). Here is a little history of the village.

Long before the Spaniards arrived, the indigenous people known as Cazcanes and Cocas lived and worked in this area as farmers and hunters. In 1523, Cortez sent his soldiers in to control the area. By 1539, both tribes surrendered to the Spaniards, who were then enslaved to build monasteries for the Franciscan order of the Catholic Church, making it the first church on Lake Chapala. All that remains of this church is the tower, preserved in the patio of a primary school, the rest having been destroyed by time. A newer church was built and is still in use today. The Mexicans who live here today are typical of most Mexicans living along the lake--pure Spaniards, indigenous people and through marriage, a mix of both, with Spanish being the predominant language.

In 1925, Ajijic, with its placid ambience and mild weather, was discovered by European artists and intellectuals. Later, it became a refuge of those fleeing political persecution. Today it has one of the largest populations of expatriate communities in Mexico, made up of about 30,000 Canadians, Americans and a smaller population from other countries, with English being the predominant language. With the growth of the expat community, large tracts of land have been developed in most of the communities along the north shore of Lake Chapala on both sides of Ajijic, including San Antonio Tlayacapan. The look and feel of this village is much more primitive than Ajijic, although Wal-Mart and resort developments like El Parke are located on or near the main highway running through San Antonio Tlayacapan. This is more information than you needed, but it's nice to get a glimpse into its past.

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