Judy and Morley Eager virtually put Ajijic on the map when they arrived here from Ontario, Canada over 30 years ago.

They took over management of La Posada (the Old Posada) and have been in La Nueva Posada for 20 years which they built from scratch with their son, Michael Eager, and daughter-in-law, Maria Elena Eager Hinojosa.

La Nueva Posada is an institution in Ajijic, Lake Chapala and still is the hub of many activities for the community of both Mexican and ex-pats.

The Air Force Association of Canada 904 Wing meets every 2nd Thursday of the month at 2:00 pm. Contact Mike Briscoe at 765-2434 for more information.

Ajijic Writers’ Group meets the 1st and 3rd Friday at 10:00 am which is a coffee meeting followed by a delightful lunch.

Amigos Internationales meet every Wednesday from 6:00-8:00 pm. This is an informal group that meets to make new friends. It is well attended and the group often stays to enjoy dinner in the beautiful garden overlooking Lake Chapala.

ASA – Ajijic Society for the Arts meets the 1st Monday of the month at 10:00 am.

There is a German meeting every 2nd Thursday at 1:00 pm and you can call Thea 765-2442 or Werner 763-5446 for more information.

Hash House Harriers meet every Saturday at 8:30 am and is a running/walking group.

Canadian Club of Lake Chapala meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month from September through April. Social Hour 3:00 pm, Program 4:00 pm Visit their website at (more…)

Tabarka is a new Spanish Mediterranean Cuisine Restaurant in Ajijic, Lake Chapala located on the Carratera Chapala-Jocotepec # 424 in Rancho del Oro. Their phone # is 766-1588. They are closed on Tuesdays and you can visit their web site at: www.tabarka.com.mx or send them an email at Ajijic@tabarka.com.mx

Tabarka offers fresh fish daily and their specialty is Monk Fish which is dubbed the “poor man’s lobster”.

Tabarka offers an interesting array of appetizers including Baby Endive with Blue Cheese and Pecan Dressing.

Their specialty is a choice of three different fish (such as Sea Bass, Swordfish, Scorpion Fish), with three different sauces (such as Green Sauce, Romesco Sauce, Fennel Sauce, Garlic Sauce) with three different sides (such as Roasted Red Peppers, Asparagus, Green Salad, Baby Potatoes) for two persons for $260.00 pesos.

Tabarka has other specials such as Scallops in Cauliflower Sauce, Prawns and a selection of delicious authentic Paellas.

There is, of course, always a fresh fish of the day.

The desserts are very good and the have a wonderful flan/bread pudding affair and also chocolate truffles with whipped cream to name a couple.

The cappuccino is hot and they have decaf and other specialty coffee selections.

An Amuse Bouche is served prior to your meal with a basket of warm bread and some spread which we were unable to recognize but was very tasty nonetheless.

The wine list is limited but we enjoyed a very nice Santa Alicia Chardonnay from Chile for $230.00 pesos.

Tabarka is in a very nice location with a view of Lake Chapala and the setting sun. The service is warm, friendly and efficient.

We went there to try the Monk Fish which they had run out of earlier in the day. I suggested, as it is their specialty, that they might consider ordering more. They were also out of Lobster. I suggest that you might wish to call ahead if you have your heart set of one of these delicacies.

We enjoyed our meal and the whole experience and is very nice to have a Fresh Fish restaurant among the, now 45, restaurants in the area.

Our waiter was Joshua and he certainly knew his onions or in this case his fish.

There are many worthwhile charities in Ajijic, Lake Chapala giving visitors and residents a chance to give back for the wonderful opportunity of living in our beautiful village in the sun.

One such charity is Los Nino de Chapala y Ajijic and their slogan is “Improving Lives Through Education”

Los Ninos de Chapala y Ajiic is a non-profit organization registered as a charity with the Mexican government.

Los Ninos files semi-annual financial statements with various Mexican government agencies.

There is a huge need for assistance as Mexican law requires that children attend school only through 9th grade. However, poor families are often forced to pull their children out of school after 4th or 5th grade because they cannot afford to pay for school uniforms, books, supplies and tuition,

How can you help?

The recommended minimum annual contributions for children in the program are shown below. These amounts though only cover about one-half of the expenses (more…)

Many of us hail from colder climates where the sun’s UV rays are not as strong or as dangerous as they are here in Ajijic, Lake Chapala.

Where we come from, Toronto, Canada, if we got two weeks of sun in the summer of any given year it was deemed a meteorological miracle and sun block was not always high on our list of vital personal care products.

When we holidayed in Mexico, of course, we loaded up on suitable sun screen products (30 SPF or higher) and diligently slathered ourselves from head to foot before we set a foot out the door.

We seem to be a little more lackadaisical about this necessary part of our daily rituals now that we live in, what is arguably, the best and sunniest climate in the world.

We think that if there is a cloud cover we are safe but this is actually not the case. You are still exposed to dangerous UV rays through the clouds and most fair skinned people will turn red in as little as 30 minutes in the sun even on a cloudy sky.

Also as we age it is vital to check yourself regularly for any changes in moles even if you have had them for years. You can go online to find out what you are looking for such (more…)

The rainy season (June 15 – October 15) brings many wonderful benefits to Ajijic, Lake Chapala and one of them is the waterfalls that are created above Ajijic and The Racquet Club in San Juan Cosala west of Ajijic towards Jocotepec.

These waterfalls can be accessed by going up the street beside the Ajijic Clinic and provide a beautiful opportunity to enjoy nature and the spectacular views of Lake Chapala and the surrounding area.

This outing is great hiking exercise for you, your dogs and children and you can take a picnic, enjoy a swim in the clear waters and marvel at the beauty from an elevated vantage point.

From San Juan Cosala you can proceed up the street between the church and the plaza through the trails and streets of The Racquet Club to the waterfalls that lie above The Racquet Club.

Another aspect of San Juan Cosala, that can be enjoyed year round, is the Thermal Mineral Waters which are good for your body and mind. The Balneario Motel has several (more…)

Well here we are already into August 2010. Christmas is only 4 short months away and starting next month the snow birds will start flocking into Ajijic, Lake Chapala.

If you are planning to list your property now is the time to start sprucing it up for the snow birds to view. There are many things one can do to make your property look presentable.

With the rainy season upon us the mountains are morphing into green velvet and gardens are growing rapidly. Having a well groomed and cared for garden is a huge asset so now would be the time to work with your gardener getting everything trimmed and manicured.
He will be able to help you as to what are good things to plant at this time to make your garden grow in gay profusion.

Look around your property to see that it is good repair and to see if a spot of paint here and there is needed.

Make sure your home is clean and welcoming and a wonderful product to make it smell nice is Febreze. Also plug in air fresheners are very good to keep your home sweet smelling. Most of us have pets and it is very important your home does not smell of the little darlings.

You can also make sure everything in your home is in good working order. Check all electric bulbs are working and your appliances are clean.

Having pretty pots of some of our lovely flowers on either side of your front door is a good idea as they not only look beautiful but the scents of these flowers such as (more…)

Many of us have dogs in Ajijic. We have dogs because we love animals and because we love their company, their unconditional love and their willingness to protect us.
Few of us, however, really know what our dogs need to live a happy and balanced life.
The other day as I was happily channel surfing I came upon “The Dog Whisperer” on the National Geographic Channel. I was immediately drawn in by Cesar Millan’s calm and assertive way of handling dogs without yelling at them but quietly letting them know with authority what was required of them.
I subsequently borrowed a book from my friend that she had bought in Canada and one of my daughter’s and myself set about learning everything we could from this wonderful man from Mexico who now lives in Los Angles.
He has as few basic rules. He rehabilitates dogs and he trains their owners. First you have to look at your dog as an animal, then a dog, then the breed and then the name. Every dog wants a pack leader to follow to be in a happy and balanced state but if no pack leader steps up they will fill this void although it does not make them or their owners happy.
The ideal state for a pack leader (which should be you) is calm/assertive and the ideal state for your dog should be calm/submissive. He teaches you how to attain this peaceful (more…)

Conner Collins House Sitter – 7664197

When planning retirement or moving to Ajijic, for many, it does not always happen in one fell swoop.

There are many reasons for this. A property still not sold up north, a job or business not quite finished, an ailing parent or relative, children finishing school and a host of other reasons make a clean break sometimes impossible.

Some who buy properties in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, will have their real estate companies manage the property for them with renters until they are able to make the permanent move.

Other times people will move here and either will have some unfinished business at home or may wish to continuing traveling.

Not everyone wishes to have the inflexibility of renters in their Mexican home so another option, particularly if you have pets, is to engage a house sitter to live in and look after your property and pets while you are away.

Some people pay for this service and others feel free rent is payment enough. It is, of course, up to you and how much you need your house sitter to take care of for you in your absence.

With a house sitter you have the flexibility of coming and going in and out of your home here on short notice and without the possible pitfalls of difficult renters who have a contract.

You can continue to engage your maid and gardener to look after your property, if you wish, but you will also have the piece of mind of knowing someone is living in your house (more…)

The economy seems to have a mind of its own and continues to fluctuate up and down depending on world situations and other nebulous events.

Here in Ajijic, Lake Chapala we do seem to be recovering slightly from the “recession”.

One of the sure fire gauges is that the Nueva Posada is busy again. The dining room and garden are full of happy eaters, the rooms and 4 villas are booked and they are catering many special events, weddings etc. Tour leaders are bringing interested parties back to Mexico and many activities are planned for the tourists along with meals, shopping and looking at properties in the area.

Houses are selling again which is good for both buyers and sellers and a feeling of impending optimism is permeating our magical village in the sun.

Of course, there are many other destinations for those looking to relocate or retire, but for many, Ajijic, Lake Chapala still offers the best weather, the lowest cost of living and the warmest people.

As I have said before Ajijic, Lake Chapala is not for everyone but some of things I have enjoyed over the last 16 years still hold true. It is a great place to raise your children – teaching them another language and giving them excellent values. You can be as busy with daily activities, year round golf, tennis, book clubs, card clubs, garden clubs, cooking clubs, learning Spanish, (more…)

One of the things that people planning on retiring or moving to Ajijic worry about is that they think they have to learn another language. In this case it would be Spanish.

We were concerned about this too when we moved here in 1994. Prior to making the move we had a tutor come to the house who was attending the University of Toronto from Vera Cruz and we tried to learn the basics.

Also we wanted out children then 10 and 12 to be able to enter school at grade level so we also got a tutor when we arrived here in June to get them up and running for entry into school in September.

We were successful and they did enter at grade level. I also wanted to sit in on the classes as I wanted to be able to help them with their homework. I also took lessons from a very nice lady in Upper Chula Vista for several months and used the book “Madrigal’s Key to Spanish” which was very easy and helpful.

The first three months in school was very stressful for the children even though they had English speaking friends to sit beside them and help. The school was supposed to be bilingual but was 90% Spanish.

They persevered and did eventually learn the language and by the time 6 months had passed they knew enough to be able to handle their school work with relative ease.

They are now fully bilingual and our daughter even thinks and dreams in Spanish and loves it because she says Spanish is a beautiful language and has (more…)