I must admit that my expectations for the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics were not very high considering the Beijing opening and closing ceremonies.

However, I was soon filled with pride as I watched all the aboriginal groups of Canada walk into the stadium. Every aboriginal group was represented from coast to coast to coast and proceeded to do ceremonial dances for over an hour in full native dress as they welcomed the athletes from 82 countries parade in front of over 60,000 cheering fans.

My family and my excitement was further heightened by the stunning visual (more…)

One of the many wonderful benefits in living in Ajijic, Lake Chapala is the year round golf at the many wonderful courses in the area.

Right in Ajijic there is a beautiful executive 9-hole course called Chula Vista Country Club. This is a very challenging course, well kept, with several holes having exceptional views of Lake Chapala. Tournaments are often held here and there is a very nice lunch facility and also a facility for private parties. This is a very pretty course and caddies are available but no carts.

There is the Chapala Country Club in San Nicolas on the other side of Chapala. This is a full size course with a very nice clubhouse for lunch or dinner. Carts and caddies are available.

Atlas is a golf club between Ajijic and the airport on the way to Guadalajara. This course (more…)

The British Open Golf Tournament (as it is more familiarly called) is underway in Turnberry, Ayrshire, Scotland.

There are 2 interesting stories this year. First is Tom Watson, who is 59 years old, is at the top of the leaderboard. Tom has won this event 5 times in the past and is very much an adopted son in the old sod.

Secondly, and perhaps even more surprising is that Tiger Woods missed the cut on Friday by one shot finishing 5 over par. Tiger who has also won the British Open in the past has only missed one other major cut in his career and that was the 2006 U.S. Open.

Phil Michelson did not attend this year’s Open Championship as both his wife and mother are battling breast cancer.

Retief Goosen is the only other usual suspect in the mix.

The first day the conditions were marvelous with very good weather but today the conditions are cold and windy not at all unusual for Scotland. The course at Turnberry is very beautiful and the (more…)

The Wimbledon Grand Slam tennis tournament for 2009 is underway in London, England. Unfortunately, we will not be watching it on TV due to the last round of the U.S. Open Golf which is being played today.

The U.S.Open has been fraught with bad weather but they are coming down the finishing stretch now with the favorite, Phil Mikelson 1 back of the leader Lucas Glover.

Roger Federer is looking for his 15th major title at Wimbledon this year and a return to the #1 player in the world status. He is currently #2 behind Rafael Nadal. Nadal had to withdraw from Wimbledon due to his knee tendonitis so Roger has a very good chance to realize both of these dreams.

The birth of Federer and his wife, Mirka’s, first child is imminent but he had refused (more…)

Many people enjoy the many tennis facilities in Ajijic, Lake Chapala.

They also enjoy tennis on TV and right now we are coming to the close of the clay court season which once again the world’s #1 Rafael Nadal has dominated.

We are coming up to the end of the first week of the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris, France the second of the 4 majors of the year.

Rafa won the first major which was the Australian Open in January.

The question now is can he win the French Open for the 5th time. He has only suffered (more…)

Many people in Ajijic, Lake Chapala enjoy playing tennis at the many courts available in the area.

I also played tennis for years here until my knee gave out. I still happily play golf but I do miss tennis.

Fortunately, because of the great reception we receive here in Ajijic, Lake Chapala including cable, Direct TV, Star Choice and various other satellite options, I am still able to watch tennis on TV.

My favorite player is Rafael Nadal who was able to wrest the #l title from Roger Federer in 2008 winning for the 4th time The French Open, Wimbledon and of, course the Olympic Gold in singles among many other titles on hard courts and clay.

I have been watching the Australian Open on Star Choice happily and the semi-final match between Nadal, a left-hander from Spain, and Fernando Verdasco also a left- hander from Spain aired at 3:30 am this morning. I toyed with the idea of staying up to watch this match but decided the result on my computer later this morning would get the job done nicely. (more…)

Roosters… Not just a wake-up call any more

Let me start out by apologizing for the up coming pun….sorry.
I recently went to the cock fights in Ajijic.
I am a bit “chicken” to write about it because I know for Gringos it is a rather controversial subject.

I am not a vegetarian but I do think of myself as an animal lover. Michael Vick is a right bugger and he deserves to be in jail. Having said that, I need to confess I have no deep affection for poultry.
We grow them in a box, kill them and sell them to a military guy from Kentucky in a white suit and bolo tie. That’s pretty much a chicken’s life. (more…)

A lot of newcomers to Ajijic, Lake Chapala wonder about tennis and golf facilities. Today we are going to talk about tennis.

Years ago when we arrived my son and I were looking for a group to play tennis with. At a cocktail party a lovely woman mentioned to me about the round robins that were in place at the Racquet Club in San Juan Cosala Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Off we went rackets in hand to look for this group. We were very pleasantly surprised at the wonderful facilities which boasted 10 newly refurbished courts, a swimming pool, hot tub and fresh juices and other tasty snacks on hand served to you courtside. (more…)

Native born Lorena Ochoa has brought a great deal of pride and excitement to Mexico as she has achieved the # 1 ranking for female golfer in the world.

This past week-end she hosted the Lorena Ochoa Invitational tournament, and she was one of the few LPGA players ever to be honored with a tournament named after her, at the Guadalajara Country Club in Guadalajara.

Perhaps the pressure of the spotlight and the tournament being played on the golf course she grew up on she was only able to tie for 14th with a -4 score. Annika Sorenstam, who Lorena overtook as #1 last year, tied for second with a -12 and the winner was Angela Stanford with -13 for the 4 day event. (more…)

One of the activities that seem to attract many people to the Ajijic/Lake Chapala area is golf.

Here in Ajijic we have a beautiful 9 hole executive golf course, Chula Vista Country Club. This a well-kept course with mangficient views of Lake Chapala.

Just outside Chapala is Vista del Lago Country Club in San Nicholas. This is a full length course with carts available. There is also a social element to this club with a full dining room. (more…)