Puerto Vallarta

Thanksgiving at the beach! Puerto Vallarta is the destination of many ETN bus loads to stay at all inclusive hotels. In November 2014 we traveled by luxury bus for six hours with many great friends from Lakeside to PV and we stayed at the all inclusive RIU Hotel Resort.  At the RIU we body surfed, rented jet skis and strolled a half mile down the beach to receive a great massage for half the price that the RIU spa offered.  In October 2014 Mike arrived as a permanent resident in Mexico, we bought a new car in Guadalajara and drove to PV for Mikes Bday. We stayed at the 5 star rated Garza which is NOT an all inclusive.  Too much food and too many people crowd the pools at all inclusive hotels. It is perfect for a family reunion, or whenever you want to focus on the FUN and not the FOOD.  At the Garza we enjoyed a suite that overlooked the ocean.  The infinity poolside service and food was marvelous.  The Garza is located up the hill from the downtown PV Centro in the midst of a forest.

If you travel by bus or fly into PV, the all inclusive RIU HOTEL would offer you the luxury of not renting a car to go to in town restaurants.  As we don't drink all the free liquor offered at all inclusives, we prefer the quieter five star hotels that offer luxury accommodations with less population.  Driving uphill from Garza is a best western hotel with a private beach that rents jet skis.  Puerto Vallarta is best visited in December - February due to the high humidity and heat. Both hotels are on tripadvisor.  Happy travels.

Villa 1927 Chapala

Mike and I stayed at this boutique hotel for July 4, 2019. We had an upper room facing the lake with air conditioning. This hotel is great for visitors for their first night in Chapala.  View and book a room using Hotel.com and transport from Airport is included. Villa 1927 Chapala Hotel

Arrive, check into your room, take a swim, enjoy a glass of wine at the lakeside elegant bar, then stroll the malecon and wind your way across the bridge out to the Fisherman Jesus. Walk out on the pier, hail a boat ride out to Scorpion Island, or just enjoy people watching. Every weekend Chapala fills with people from Guad as there is always something to do. There are many wonderful restaurants at the end of the malecon. "Al Kafe" or the "Beer Garden" for the bomb sunset!

Depending on when you arrive, it tends to be noisy on the weekends on the malecon. Villa 1927 is great because of the LOCATION for visitors. Enjoy the charm of this 800 year old fishing village. This hotel used to be a grand hacienda that took the owner took 2 years to restore.  The rooms have quality sheets and the location is excellent for a night. Miguel and his parents arrived Dec 22, 2022. Hooray!

The splendor of an era. History + Luxury + Style

Click for Reservations www.villa1927.com

Tel. (52) 376 765 5571

Tour Mazamitla

When it gets too balmy hot in Chapala, Mike and I circle to the other side of Lake Chapala, up the mountain into the tall, tall pine tree forest of Mazamitla. It is a refreshing change of scenery which reminds us of California trips up highway 88 to Silverlake and Lake Tahoe. This small Mexican jewel is visited by Mexicans who work in the humidity of Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, and Guadalajara. The draw is the cooler weather, and the landscape and vistas from atop the mountain. Mazamitla has lots of folk art and it is highly maintained as a Pueblo Magico. A simple day trip around the lake by car and up the hill takes about 2.5 hours one way. You can always expect that Mazamitla will be at least 10 degrees cooler so depending on the month you visit, just toss a sweater in your overnight bag.  Visit the waterfalls, go wine tasting, ride an ATV or just browse the quaint shops. . In the plaza you will bump into tour guides that will sign you up for an interesting tours of the waterfalls, the historical sites, the wine makers and the zip lines. Inquire and discover that you have many options from various vendors. If you enjoy shopping at the Farmers market, Mazamitla hosts theirs on Mondays. Zip lining fans have

a blast and the lines are safe as you swing very low across the deep valley.  We have stayed at Sierra Vista Cabins, and at the Monteverde Cabins. Our favorite, easy to find location for an overnight stay is at the Best Western Lodge which has the Quinta Bosque Restaurant on site. When you stay at the BW you can walk to town. Right around the corner is the new "Ribba" which is famous for their steak and selection of wines. This BW hotel has quaint cabins that include fireplaces. We like going to Mazamitla from October to March because the temp is perfect "Sweater Weather".  Mike loves Tex Mex food and we enjoyed this unique Tex Mex flavor at a famous local La Troje. You can walk there from the hotel too. In October 2019 Luis Amado García a pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels and Héctor Neris of the Philadelphia Phillies visited the famous Tex Mex Restaurante La Troje, in Mazamitla. Mikey will spend his #67 birthday enjoying his wish for Tex Mex food in Mexico. A baseball fan 😎 dream come true. We book all our stays on Hotels.com so that we can rack up points for a FREE stay somewhere on our next adventure. The ATV riding facility is on your way in or out of town.  It does not require an appointment, just stop in, pay the guy and crank up your guts to climb up and over the small hills along the track. The Best Western Sierra Mazamitla phone is 331-378-9200 #6 Mazamitla Hotel. The address for your GPS: Vicente Guerrero 100

Fracc. Pueblo Bonito

Mazamitla, JAL 49500

Lakeside, Jalisco

The artistic center of Guadalajara is known as Tlaquepaque. Female Mariachis serenade through this unique village. Excellent art shopping and fine dining. The old Train Station in Chapala below is now a place for musical events. Click pic to enlarge.

Lakeside is where the Tapatios (locals from Guad) come on the weekends to get away from the heat, traffic and congestion of Guadalajara. We are privileged to live in the place where people come from around the globe to rest and relax.

The cobblestones make it seem like authentic "old" Mexico and the small villages around this side of the lake include: San Nicolas de Ibarra, Santa Cruz, Chapala, Riberas del Pilar, San Antonio Tlayacapan, La Floresta, Ajijic, Jocotopec, San Juan Cosala. One can also drive around the lake up the mountain to Mazamitla to cool off. Lake Chapala is the main attraction and it is fun to take a boat ride out to Scorpion Island, or just circle the shore up to Riberas. During our summer months May, June, July, Aug, Sept it mostly rains at night with temps during the day of 85 F with humidity. Our fall weather begins in October with temps of 75 F without rain and less humidity. The best time to travel to any beach PV, Manzanillo, or Mazatlan is during November - February. This picture was taken on the Chapala malecon in the month of February when the purple blooms come out. Our favorite English speaking Taxi driver's name is Miguel cell phone: 045-333-808-8038 - unless you have international ability on your cell phone, it will be difficult to make calls. People at your chosen hotel can easily assist you. At Lakeside, I have many choice places ready to recommend on older posts on this blog. Villa de Angel is awesome or you can rely on Air B n B link on the side.

La Vita Bella

 

A very special place to stay that offers thermal spas, massage, a gourmet restaurant, a lake view, and luxury linens. La Vita Bella is located in San Juan Cosala, Jalisco, Mexico. Instead of driving 4 hours to the beach, we are blessed to arrive in less than an hour from our casa.  Check in at 3:00PM.  Book a  Jr Suite overlooking the lake, and enjoy a massage, and lunch on the terrace.  Stay overnight and explore all equiste new eateries just in front of the Grand Cosala Hotel.  Italian, Sushi, Mexican, Seafood - all brand new in 2022.

www.lavitabellasoulspa.com

+52-387-761-1145

Address: Rafael Ozuna 250

Raquet Club San Juan

Cosala C.P. 45820 Jalisco

CELL 331-704-3999

VISIT the WEBSITE to view the restaurant and menu.

EMAIL: lavitabella@live.com.mx

Private Hot Tub for Two

Get grounded and walk across the lawn

To reserve a room via email or on the website

you pay one night up front by credit card.

Reservation La Vita Bella

Read the comments

RESERVATIONS VIA TELEPHONE

NO ENGLISH SPOKEN

​

387 761 1145

WhatsApp 331 704 3999

Thrill the World 2016, Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico

Mike and Barb practiced the Thriller dance routine for a month before this event. We represented the oldest group of dancers who perform annually, globally! Mike and I are in the back line of ghouls.

HEAVEN for HORSES

Have you ever wanted to stay at a dude ranch, ride a horse, go on a hayride, breath in mountain air, enjoy breath taking views or just kick up your boots around an outdoor firepit? Well there is an affordable lovely place to do all that and more in San Nicolas de Ibarra. It is about 5 miles from Chapala to Rancho San Francisco. Stephanie Decker has created a whimsical wonderland full of delights for all your senses. There is a petting zoo filled with rescued creatures that just want to be loved and admired by you! The chicken coop looks like the brick house mentioned in the fairytale about the three pigs!  A happy hog wonders around in the mornings as the radiant roosters whistle and crow.  A few feathery friends that just might

remind you of the famous "Puddleduck" featured in the classic movie "Miss Beatrice Potter" A major part of the enchantment of Rancho San Francisco is the extreme love for all the animals. It is a forever home for horses, all birds of a feather, ducks, rabbits, a giant turkey, and a pet squirrel that has his very own cabin. Stephanie has created a safe haven for all. She also built a comfy casita that she rents out. Spending a few days here will reignite your sense that "all is well within my soul".  Keeping in

step with God, all those who enter the gates of this Rancho will absolutely marvel at how God has provided Stephanie with the gift of hospitality.  She has lovingly and creatively landscaped a 40 acre parcel in order to share her passion for taking pleasure in the great outdoors! You may think of it as a unique "Dude Ranch" where you can let your hair down and take a deep breath of ahhhh --- or a beautiful "Secret Garden" where friendships blossom, illnesses fade away and sorrows flee!  This special retreat from the world allows you to rediscover how simple "caring" has made a world of difference in the life of a horse, pig, squirrel, duck, donkey...and YOU.  Carefully crafted comfort in a humble casita that awaits you with a splendid "Come as you are" welcome to all that God has created just for you. EMAIL: motherdecker@gmail.com or CALL: 331-466-7753 for reservation to ride.

Casita has a kitchen, large porch, swim pool and a VIEW

Begin by stepping up to a Pinto