Friends Quinton and Rose hosted their annual New Year’s Day get together at their home. For those trying to lose weight, most broke their New Year’s resolution with all the great food that was served.	One Saturday afternoon, Lake Chapala Society hosted the Lakeside’s First Annual International Mariachi Festival with a band from Guadalajara and one from San Diego, CA. This genre of music has its roots here in the state of Jalisco.
Ajijic made its 8th Ajijic Lip Sync the largest and longest running Lip Sync in history. There is nothing much like watching a bunch of seniors dressing up and lip syncing to some of the greatest music hits of all times.	Larry partook in this year’s annual Trivia Pursuit. The team dressed up as characters from the game CLUE, and was among some 310 participants. In addition to having a lot of fun, this event raised over 100,000 pesos ($5,300 USD) for area handicapped youth.
Throughout January, we continued our reservations for eight at Adelita’s Bar and Grill for great conversation, food and music. This evening Norm, Lil, Ramon, Susana and Gladys and her daughter, Vanessa, from Edmonton Canada joined in on the fun.	The Career Awareness Project Glorine created hosted a “Choices” seminar at a local junior high school. The goal was to help students understand that staying in school is a choice and the longer they stay in school the more choices they will have later on in life. Students ranked the seminar a success.
Dr. David Truly, a rocker who helped us ring in the New Year is also a professor and expert in migration patterns of retirees throughout the world. His topic was on senior living and the growing number of senior housing projects planned for the area.	For Larry’s birthday, we took in the production of “Good People” at Lakeside Little Theater. Friends Ken and Diane had just arrived on a delayed flight from Minnesota and got in on time to watch these seniors play roles of much younger characters.
We took in some hydrotherapy treatments at the Thermal Spa and were immerse in hot baths filled with magnesium, sodium, aromatherapy, and Jamaica flowers. We even applied mud and soaked in a vapor cave.	A short drive from the spa, we took in happy hour at VIVA MEXICO, our favorite restaurant in San Juan Cosala. Here we treated ourselves to these enormous glasses of blended Margaritas. Just perfect!
This glass was so large that as we were leaving the restaurant, Ken asked for a to-go glass. But instead, he got a “to-go-bag.” It was too cool; we had to memorialize the moment.	We introduced Ken and Diane to Adelita’s, where they got to meet Blue Jay Slim, an inductee into the Blues Hall of Fame. Blue Jay spends his winters here in Ajijic, playing a few nights a month here and joins up with his band in concert in the USA.
We took a road trip with Ken and Diane to the state of Guanajuato. Here is a giant statue of Jesus erected by the Catholic Church on this 8,900 foot mountain near Leon. It marks the geographic center of Mexico.	Guanajuato, the capital of Guanajuato state, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a charming colonial-era city situated in a picturesque valley surrounded by the Sierra de Guanajuato Mountains.
Guanajuato is the birthplace of Diego Rivera, undoubtedly one of the most universal known Mexican artists. Here we toured Museo Casa Diego Rivera, which was once his boyhood home. He was married to Frida Kahlo another great Mexican artists.	Guanajuato had one of the richest and most productive silver mines in the world. This silver smelter is a remnant of the wealth silver mining brought to Guanajuato. Today, both the city of Guanajuato and its adjacent mines are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The San Cayetano Church was built at the opening of the La Valenciana mine, the site of the largest vein of silver found in Mexico. Built by the mine's owners to give thanks for the riches of the mine. What is most impressive are the finely-carved, elaborate altars covered in gold leaf.	On a hill overlooking Guanajuato is this 90 foot Monument of El Pipila, which is the nickname to a local miner who became a legendary hero for his act of bravery in Mexico’s war of independence against the Spaniards.
Our next stop was the city of Dolores Hidalgo. Famous for being one of the main producers of tiles in the typical colonial decorated style of Mexico. These vases, pots and jars, and other pieces of ceramics are still made and decorated by hand.	This is the Sanctuary of Atotonilco just outside of San Miguel de Allende, which was the site of the first gathering of insurgents, led by Father Hidalgo, in their historic march that set in motion Mexico's revolution of 1810.
While plain on the outside the Sanctuary of Atotonilco is called the "Sistine Chapel of Mexico". It was built by a wealthy priest who had the entire interior covered with paintings of Bible stories. The church is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.	We arrived in San Miguel de Allende in time to watch the sunset against the pink granite parish called Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel. The marvelous structure is said to look like an ornate candy sculpture at the center of the city.
We helped celebrate the birthday of a hero of the war for Mexican independence: Ignacio Allende, the city's namesake and one of the Founding Fathers of Mexico. Here he is being adorned as he rides his horse wearing his famous blue uniform.	The following day, we watched the largest parade we had ever seen in Mexico—all in honor of General Allende. The parade was mostly military and school bands, but we caught this little girl all dressed up as a princess. She was a cutie.
Our tour of San Miguel de Allende included its rich history that dates back to the 1500s. It is about 140,000 in population, but easy to explore its cuisine, culture, eclectic shop and beautiful places on foot.	This former textile factory is now the ‘La Aurora Cultural Arts and Design Center’ which consist of 50+ studios filled with canvases, sculptures and artisanal craftworks run by renowned artists from Mexico and around the world.
After a long drive back to Ajijic, we relaxed a bit in the hot tub before joining up with friends for a Friday night social at Just Chillin’. Ken and Diane got to meet some more of our friends and take in the music of Noe, Paco and Jimmy.	Ken and Larry lit up a couple mild Cuban Cigars and enjoyed our last evening together on the Mirador. It was a bit cool, but a lot better than the weather they will be enduring back in Minnesota in about 24 hours. It was great to have them.
Larry volunteered to be a driver for the Ajijic Behind the Wall Home Tour. While all the homes were beautiful with views to die for, this nicely designed bedroom with a huge closet behind the bed caught his fancy	During the last week end in January, we spend three days on a bus tour of the state of Colima. One of the things that made the trip great was witnessing this 12,600 foot volcano erupt several times during our visit. Kind of like old faithful, but not as predicable.
We first saw these dancing dogs in the center of a large round about as we entered Colima. In ancient days people believed that if these dogs were buried with their owner, God helped the dead make their journey to the afterlife.	Our first stop was the “over-the-top” Hacienda de San Antonio, an exclusive 25 room boutique-hotel tied into a 5,000-acre working ranch, organic farm and a coffee plantation, all set in an awe-inspiring backdrop of the Colima volcano.
Included with the tour was a seven course meal we had at lunch that was fit for a king or queen. Rooms go for $1,000 USD per night, which pays for a 60 person staff to cater to your every whim.	On the way to our hotel we toured the magic town of Comala, which is nicknamed the White Village, because all the buildings are painted white. While walking the town, we saw another eruption of the volcano.
In honor of Miquel Hidalgo, leader of the movement of Mexican Independence and pastor of Colima in 1791, construction began in 1873 on what has become one of the most beautiful theaters in Mexico.	The State Capitol highlights this mural that depicts the pride Mexicans feel in the Independence and Revolutionary movement, including General Ignacio Allende and the other men considered to be the Founding Fathers of Mexico.
Colima is one of the smallest of the 31 states that make up Mexico. It produces about half of Mexico’s lime crop, and is second in the production of coconut meat and tuna. They are also big into corn, rice, melons, chili peppers and coffee.	Part of our tour included Manzanillo, Mexico's busiest seaport along the Pacific Ocean. It is known as the "Sailfish Capital of the World” and has become one of the country's most important tourist resorts with exceptional hotels and restaurants.
We also toured the childhood home of Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo, a famous Mexican artist best known for his series of Christmas cards produced for UNICEF in the 1960s. His collections are now in a museum and research center with the University.	In route back to Ajijic we stopped at Pinar del Chayan, a restaurant in the mountains and found these impressive urinals—artistic and very functional.
We spotted this iguana from the window of the restaurant and decided to take a closer look. This one was about two feet long and loving the attention.	We made it back to Ajijic in time to join friends help Brian celebrate his 70th birthday. We met him way back when he was 61. Wow, how time flies!

January's web page includes January 1 through January 31.