Breakfast Locally

Sam the Bagel guy owner

California Bistro in San Nicolas open at 8 AM

Closed on TUES and WED

Smell the coffee

Al Kafe in Chapala across from Bancomer

Black Coffee in San Antonio

Punto Verde next to Upscale

Gosha's in Ajijic

Joyful Expectations

We are always so thrilled to have friends and family visit us at Lake Chapala. There is truly many things to experience! We love the family oriented culture of Mexico and no matter what time of year people visit, you can count on bumping into a major fiesta! Even after living here for five years we still wonder what could they possibly be celebrating today? We ask our neighbors and they grin wide while they shake their head smiling "there is reason to celebrate everyday!" We have a list of places to take those who plan at least two days at Lakeside. We live less than a mile from Vista Del Lago Golf Club. Even if you do not golf, the restauant has an excellent view of the lake while we plan a day according to your likes. Around the corner form our casa is a Dude Ranch called Rancho San Francisco.

If you are an experienced caballero, you can take on the 7,000 foot mountain, or just canter around the stables. They provide exquisite tack for a comfortable saddle to tour our small pueblo.  Every weekend the malecon, or boardwalk at Lake Chapala is full of visitors from Guadalajara. Folks in Calif may drive to Lake Tahoe to get out of the crazy city traffic, here they come for the food and music. A frisbee golf park is in Chapala, a musical event at the old train station, or a concert in La Floresta? We have all flavors of cuisine from Italian, German, Chineses and of course Mexican. A trip to a Spa for a hot spring dip or a swim in the infinity pool with massage at the Coxala in San Juan. Great seafood is available at a number of lakeside places in Jocotopec. People love to stroll down Colon street in Ajijic and enjoy a margarita. Visiting a Tiangi in Ajijic or Chapala is a great cultural experience at our weekly outdoor markets. If you rent a car to map your own travel plans, the traffic in Guadalajara is a bit crazy and around the lake you can expect to bump along at a speed of 20 MPH due to the cobblestoned streets.  We do enjoy the slower pace of what we consider Mexico Country living. Living here is not for everybody, but people do love to visit and capture the essence of this culture of happy people. Click around the links provided on the side panel on this blog and view many personal pictures of our local experiences. VIVA MEXICO.

Explore Mexico

 

Explore Guadalaraja, Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa, Guerrero, Mx Beach ⛱ or something new.  This year my amazing husband and I will spend the first week of December in Zapopan which is one glitzy hood within Guad. Mike and I extend warm greetings to anyone who wants to get away for a few cultural thrills.  Since 2009 Barbara has been gifted with the zeal of NEW things in Mexico. In 2022 she met up with Jennette and Cheyl in Zihua which is situated in the center of Mexico’s Pacific coast. It offers an artistic downtown with artisan shops, easy access to 3 white-sand beaches surrounded by the towering Sierra Madre del Sur mountains. The old resort aspects of nearby Ixtapa offer golf and tennis for the snowbirds who have been flocking here for decades, while other unique experiences like sea turtle releases, tobacco plantations, coconut farms, paddle-boarding, and surfing are beginning to draw visitors to this picturesque cove that is best enjoyed between November and April for dry, sunny, and not too humid days.  Need a week's break from your routine? Come join us and after a few days at Lakeside, we depart by car at 9 AM and enjoy lunch at the beach in Manzanillo, Colima. 

In April of 2022 Barb flew from Mexico City to Ixtapa and discovered a delightful boutique hotel right on the beach. Zihua is the city where the escaped convict ran to from that great movie? One can fly direct from the USA to Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa, Mexico or to Guadalaraja. 

From our casa it is a 10 hour drive to Mazatlan and a 8 hour drive to Puerto Vallarta, and a 4 hour drive to Manzanillo in Colima, Mexico. To get to Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa fly to Mexico City, then to Ixtapa. Explore Mazatlan by taking a luxury bus, UBER to the Estrella Del Mar Resort and enjoy the finest accommodation on the beach in Mazatlan.  Golfers or those who just want to be spoiled, CLICK  Estrella Del Mar Mazatlan

We have flown to LaPaz to enjoy a village that hugs the ocean with the added bonus of great food and a wonderful malecon. We have bused to PV with various groups from church and have enjoyed the short drive to Manzanillo and Barra de Navidad through stunning landscapes.  To the beach? Pick one, pack light and just go. The quickest, safest trail to the ocean from Lakeside is Manzanillo. A new mall, a theatre, Starbucks, a blizzard at DQ,  and La Comer - all worthy of repeat visits. 

Barcelo Manzanillo

The Barcelo Karmina is a 5 star Hotel that is ALL inclusive  which means three meals a day are provided. There are 6 pools, a private beach, A/C and on site entertainment. Luxurious sheets, divine shower, comfortable beds! This Mexican Resort is situated around a private beach with kayaks, jet skis, adult spa, and dining by reservation only under the giant palapa. Hotel provides wash cloths, hand towels, huge bath towels, a safe, blow dryer, air, fridge and in premium suites a private jacuzzi that overlooks the ocean. In March the weather is cool in the morning and evening, but you can count on a great sun glow in the afternoon. The landscaping is fantastic and the buffet of food allows you to stay on whatever diet you may be on. Be sure and visit LaComer which is located alongside the Las Hadas golf course. Premiere grocery shopping which will easily exceed your shopping delight! The Hotel is located about  5 blocks up from Starbucks.  A great get away from the blossoming Jacaranda in March. Zero humidity in Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar as the ocean breeze in the morning makes your coffee all that more enjoyable.  You can participate or not in pool jazzercise, kayaking, jet skiing, or enjoy a workout at the stealthy GYM. There are SPA treatments on the property too. One can easily walk 2 miles per day just around the lovely property and swim. ***When driving in Manzanillo, remember you must be on the frontage road lane (FAR RIGHT to make a LEFT turn.) off the fast paced main carretera.  Watch out for visiting drivers who may not know the RULE of how to turn around.

ADDRESS: Avenida Vista Hermosa, 13 - Manzanillo, COL 28867  Mexico +523143311300 - USE their WEB PAGE to see more pictures. In Colima, Mexico. Barcelo Karmina Hotel 

CALL HOTEL +523143311300

MY BARCELO PRICE 3400 MXN per person for one nite

HOTELS.COM PRICE 3730 MXN per person for one nite

Mike and I enjoyed several nites in this all inclusive hotel.  The resort offers special nights of dining for themed dinner parties that you must sign up for during your stay. Ask the front desk.  One was an Italian night, and the best was the Mexican night. You must make reservations to dine under the huge palapa that sits on the edge of the rocks over looking the private beach, and Las Hadas.  You get what you pay for in accommodations around the globe. All inclusive means, all meals included, water sports, kayaks, exercise in the gym, or take an aerobics class daily at noon at the main pool.  There are adult pools and kid pools.

La Paz

Ahhhh La Paz, translated into Peace! Why wouldn't anyone want to enter peace?  La Paz is a marina town and it is a short domestic flight direct from Guadalajara. There are eco adventures including kayaking, diving, ATV thrilling, golf courses, sail boarding, zip lining or just walking the malecon and sampling the shops and cafes. Like all other ports in Mexico, La Paz is prepared to astonish visitors. It has everything that Cabo San Lucas, Loreto or Cancun offers - plus more. FLY DIRECT from Guadalajara on Volaris.  A neat little airport that makes it convenient to get to your hotel. Just pick up your luggage and a TAXI person will approach. Purchase a TAXI ticket to HBlue Hotel for 200 pesos. We always use Hotels.com to book all hotels when we travel. We enjoy staying at Boutique hotels because they are much more quiet. Hotel HBlue ADDRESS:  Aquiles Serdán #2042 e/ A - Rosales e I. Allende - La Paz, BCS 23000 - Mexico - PHONE +526121232583

The rooms are huge and the bed comfort and fine linens at Hotel HBlue make it a worthy place to stay. The location is also superb as it is far enough away from any celebrations along the marina or malecon. It has a swimming pool and a grand view from the rooftop restaurant.  LaPaz has a Home Depot, and a huge shopping mall. With a short walk to the malecon you will see the marina, coffee shops, Applebees, and Sears! Any Mexico bank including Bancomer can be found at the end of the malecon, up from the gazebo.  Inquire locally at anyone of the tourist shops about a whale watching tour, or kayaking, or biking along the malecon. Be sure and have the address to your hotel to show to your taxi driver while wondering about the city.  As we live in Mexico, it is always refreshing to explore other areas to shop and enjoy all the many beach communities.  We can drive to Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo and we avoid Cancun or Cabo as they are swamped with tourists. This small beach town is a joy to visit. We love exploring Mexico and the one hour flight to LaPaz makes it desirable to visit again and again. CLICK this LINK to see HOTEL pic:  Our LaPaz 2019 for Christmas was fantastic even though we had to layer up as a freak storm blew in.

Loreto, Baja - California

It is cold in December in Loreto, Baja. Bring jackets if you visit in Nov-Dec as the wind off the Sea of Cortez keeps you cool. Loreto, Baja, a Pueblo Magico. The abundant sunshine bakes atop the desert terrain, and the Sea helps to elevate the humidity. With a moderate temp of 76 °F from Nov thru March, we have visited this colorful city on five separate occasions during these best months. Easter and Christmas have always been fun because of all the local events. According to the National Meteorological Service, Loreto’s highest temp recorded was on July 2, 2006 at 112 °F. Loreto’s lowest temp recorded was recorded on Dec 15, 1987 at 32 °F. Loreto was the first Spanish colonial settlement of the Viceroy of New Spain on the Baja coast. The town was founded in 1697 by a Jesuit Order. This missionary order of the Catholic Church was founded by Ignatius of Loyola. The Jesuits discovered a steady spring of fresh water which helped them which lies to the west. The Sea of Cortez is beautiful and filled with sea life. From Guadalajara there are NO direct flights for now so to get there from mainland Mexico, we fly Volaris direct to LaPaz, stay a couple of nights then fly 15 minutes on Calafia AIrlines to Loreto. This resort is just outside of the city limits of Loreto. This resort is only 5 minutes from the local Marina. 400 pesos to airport. 300 pesos from Resort to Loreto town Center. ❤ We look forward to exploring this new area.  Loreto Golf Club

Las Hadas by Brisas Condo

All inclusive hotels are great when you have a tribe of people going with you to the beach. No cooking, all meals included, food and alcohol available 24/7. According to our preference, we enjoy going out to eat occasionally, cooking healthy at home, and joining a tribe at will. Therefore, my research for beach accommodations include rooms without all the food.  The price is always less, but if you eat out a lot, all inclusive hotels like the Barcelo, or the Las Hadas Resort in Manzanillo are best. For our Christmas gift to ourselves, this year we elected a condo on the Las Hadas Resort property. This gives us access to all their restaurants, the pools, and their private sandy beach. The condo's have their own small pool.  The water is always warmer along the coast so we are looking forward to a few days in the sun. Read reviews on Trip Advisor for updates on any hotel.  Las Hadas is where Bo Derek was in the movie "10" with Dudley Moore.  When booking we advise requesting a room on the lower level of the mountain top so that you will not need to call a golf cart to pick you up and bring you to the restaurant, pool, beach. We saw, we enjoyed twice, but we like the Barcelo way more. 

Enter from main drag thru Manzanillo.  One things about Las Hadas that we did not like was the location straight up the mountain away from all other venues of entertainment. Drive past Barcelo, drive past Tesoro Hotel, follow signs, up windy road to Las Hadas Resort.  The Barcelo hotel uses the Las Hadas golf course and tennis courts.  ENJOY the air conditioned LA MARINA MALL in town with a theatre, food court, and of course shopping. We have stayed at over 15 different hotels in Manzanillo to get away from the noise during Mardi Gras around Lake Chapala.