I believe that one of the many reasons we moved to Ajijic, Lake Chapala over 15 years ago was that it was getting very difficult to find a place that one could smoke in Toronto.

On arrival to Ajijic, Lake Chapala there were no such restrictions in place and one could smoke freely anywhere as it were. Of course, you might run into the odd rabid anti-smoker but that was to be expected.

Now it would seem that last week-end federal officials closed several restaurants and bars in Guadalajara for not adhering to the General Law for Tobacco Control.

Many of these establishments in Jalisco still allow their patrons to smoke ever though the law states they must have separate smoking areas.

Although the details are still sketchy, a team from the Federal Sanitation Protection Commission ( Cofepris) is thought to have visited approximately 40 restaurants in the city.

To reopen, owners of the closed restaurants need to make their establishments 80% smoke-free with outdoor or (more…)

We had an occasion to take a visiting relative from Canada to Dr. Carlos Garcia at Clinic Maskaras.

To being with we were able to get an appointment in 15 minutes – the same day!

Next, on arrival the patient was weighed and vital signs duly noted and within minutes we were in the doctor’s office and the consultation had begun. As this was a new patient he asked tons of questions compiling a very comprehensive dossier going back almost to birth. How many doctors have asked you if you have had dengue fever now or when you were three?

After a brief but thorough examination some tests were ordered. These immediately took place at the clinic and at the lab next door. Results will be ready on Tuesday and a follow up consultation will take place free of charge to ascertain the problem and subsequent course of treatment.

All of this was painless, pleasant and extremely efficient.

Now had we been in Canada a doctor’s appointment could have taken weeks to set up.
Any necessary tests would have scheduled for sometime in the distant future. (more…)

I think most of us have faced weight issues over the years and keeping slim certainly does not get any easier as we get older.

I was at an ideal weight when I first came to Mexico 15 years ago but soon put on 40 pounds. That’s right I said 40 pounds.

I was golfing and playing tennis and finally got it off using the, then very popular, Cabbage Soup Diet.

Over the years it slowly came back even though I was walking five times a week. I have tried all the diets from Fit for Life to Atkins and, although, they did work in the short term these diets were hard to maintain over time.

The last five years or so I have been very unhappy with my weight but seemed unable to find the motivation to do anything long lasting about it.

When we move to Mexico from the frozen north, in particular, it is like living in endless summer and some of us let ourselves go as if we were on permanent vacation. By the time we realize (more…)

I consider myself very lucky that I do not have to worry about US health care insurance and the ongoing reform debate. Hopefully, a solution will be reached that will effect bipartisan agreement.

Coming from Canada we enjoy wonderful health care and even though I know things have changed a little in 15 years getting timely and appropriate care is still the norm.
When my mother was sick we had 2 – 8 hour shifts of caring homecare workers coming to the house to help us care for her at home. All visits from doctors and nurses were paid for along with all equipment, supplies and drugs. We also had emotional support from our hospital (Sunnybrook in Toronto) that, in fact, put us in touch with all the services available at no cost to us.

My sister also had wonderful care at Sunnybrook for her lung and subsequent brain cancer and I am happy to report is still alive 20 years later. I, too had very positive experiences with Sunnybrook and have an association with them to this day.

We hear comments that the US is heading towards Canadian Health Care and for the life (more…)

Although 36 cases of H1N1 (swine flu) have now been reported in Jalisco the symptoms are still reported as no worse that the seasonal flu and those with suspected cases or who have come in contact with a person having H1N1 flu are given Tamiflu immediately.

If there is a positive to this outbreak it is the cost of flying to Mexico on many airlines has been reduced by up to 50%.

For those of you considering buying property in Ajijic, Lake Chapala or looking into retiring here this would be a very good time to come and see if this is the place for you.

Although we have been affected by the global economic crisis we (more…)

This amazing retreat is located about half way up the Raquet Club in San Juan Cosala. Even many of the locals and Ajijic Real Estate agents are unfamiliar with this hidden gem. Approximately 20 years ago, a local doctor had a vision. His dream was to recreate what our prehispanic ancestors had created many years ago, including pyramids, Mayan symbols, snakes, spirals, thermal waters, and by using quartz and obsidian throughout the grounds. What he created was a magical place to relax, appreciate the nature we are so fortunate to have here, and many take advantage of the tranquil atmosphere to meditate and regroup.

For many years Monte Coxala was left untouched, uncompleted. It wasn’t until about 6 years ago that the grounds were finished and turned into a spa. Monte Coxala is now fulfilling its purpose as a spa, where you have several different kinds of massages to choose from, various outdoor, (more…)

One of the reasons we moved here in 1994 was that the company of my international distribution business was opening in Mexico. This was a secondary business I have had in Canada since 1991and I knew I could not live with their excellent products.

Pharmanex a division of this company distributes Lifepak which is the #1 selling vitamin supplement in the world. You can go to Supplement Watch, which is an independent web site, and it will show that Lifepak is # 1 while Usana, for example, is #8.

There is a reason why Lifepak is #1. In addition to the finest anti-oxidant vitamins and minerals our product includes comprehensive phytonutrients such as: Green Tea Extract, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Grape Seed Extract, Citrus Bioflavonoids, Quercetin, Soy Isoflavones, Lycopene, Luetin and Tocotrienls. (more…)

We recently know of a medical experience we would like to share with our readers.

A young woman went to a doctor in Chapala and had a sonogram which showed a large cyst on her ovary.

As she had IMSS she contacted them that day, a Wednesday, and was told to go to the Chapala IMSS office to get the proper paperwork at 6:00 am Thursday morning. She did but it took another day to get everything into place and she was to meet the IMSS person on the following Monday. When she met the person on that following Monday she was told they would call her with an appointment asap for Clinic 89 in Guadalajara. The doctor in Chapala had told her that there was a risk of rupture or torsion so speed was of the essence as the ability for her to have children in the future could be at stake which she had told IMSS from the outset. (more…)

The Tlatelolco Massacre, a.k.a. The Night of Tlatelolco happened on October 2nd, 1968 in the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in the Tlatelolco section of Mexico City, ten days before the 1968 Summer Olympics celebrations in Mexico City, when the military and men with guns shot student demonstrators. The death toll remains controversial. Some estimates place the number of deaths in the thousands, but most sources report between 200 and 300 deaths. The exact number of people who were arrested is also controversial.
(more…)

Many people worry about leaving home and moving to another country because of medical considerations. Let me assure you that here in Ajijic/Lake Chapala we have world class medical care available.

The Lake Chapala Society in Ajijic offers many free services such as blood pressure testing, diabetes testing, eye exams, hearing testing, skin cancer testing, osteoporosis testing etc.  They also invite insurance companies to come and present to lakeside residents the benefits of their specific coverage.

Clinica Maskaras on the carretera between Ajijic and Chapala, headed by Dr. Carlos Garcia, has doctors from Guadalajara covering all disciplines coming regularly to lakeside. Clinica Maskaras offers unlimited visits and discounts on lab and radiology for a very reasonable flat fee of approx. $250.00US. There is also an excellent dentist, Dr. Don Olivera, on site. Of course, English is spoken. (more…)