Turismo

The program will be an hour long and feature a broad  traditional repertoire including  Diana and Acteon, Giselle, Frescos, Carmen, and neoclassical and contemporary dances 

Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic (JAL). The Joven Ballet HH will perform once again in Lakeside only the dancers will charm audiences outside at the Chapinaya Jardín de Eventos in West Ajijic instead of its usual indoor stage at the currently unfinished Auditorio in Ajijic. The performance is scheduled for the afternoon of December 12.

According to Laura Elena Fernández Dávalos,  Managing  Director of Pirouetteando of the Isaac y Esteban Hernández Classical Dance Training and Promotion Center, the program will be an hour long and feature a broad  traditional repertoire including  Diana and Acteon, Giselle, Frescos, Carmen, and neoclassical and contemporary dances,  some with classic Mexican music like Llorona, Huapango de Moncayo, and La Bikina.

Dancers from the Joven Company are 10 to 18 years old, but  group of  young dancers 4 to 6 years old from Lakeside will open the performance, all under the direction of Artistic Director Professor Héctor Hernández, father and trainer of Isaac and Esteban Hernández, professional ballet dancers at English national Ballet and San Francisco Ballet and namesakes of the Center.

The Joven Ballet HH, based in Zapopan, normally trains and performs part time in the Auditorio in Ajijic as part of its mission to travel the state of Jalisco, taking ballet to places where there are no ballet schools or performances. The Isaac y Esteban Hernández Classical Dance Training and Promotion Center is a non-profit association that trains professional classical ballet dancers and promotes ballet as an option for all children.

The Joven Ballet performance will be December 12 at the Chapinaya Jardín de Eventos.  Doors open at 4:30, performance begins at 5 pm.  Tickets are 400 pesos, which includes one drink. A o-host bar will be available. Funds raised by the performance will be used for a new floor in their training venue in Guadalajara used by dancers from the Center’s free classes for poor children. Local sponsors of the performance are Lago Travel and Pancho’s Deli  Market in Riberas.

Tickets are available by calling 33 108 2456.

La creatividad y el colorido siempre han sido parte de los desfiles de la diversidad LGBTQ+. 

Arturo Ortega. – Por segundo año consecutivo no hubo desfile de la Revolución Mexicana, pero sí hubo desfile de la diversidad. Creatividad, colorido y mucha pasión fue lo que los participantes del Chapala Pride 2021 mostraron a la comunidad a través de sus vestuarios y carro alegórico que circuló por las principales calles de la cabecera municipal el 20 de noviembre. 

Leilany Zoe, es la reina gay que representa al Pueblo Mágico de Ajijic.

A través de una serie de imágenes tomadas por Jazmín Stengel te mostramos los pormenores del desfile

Los preparativos del desfile se realizaron frente al parque de la Cristianía, en la avenida Jesús González Gallo.

La Gorda Espejo, conocida trans mexicana, acompaña a la comunidad LGBTQ+ de Chapala, en su marcha

El paso del carro alegórico llevó consigo algunos representantes de la comunidad LGBTQ+

El desfile culminó en el auditorio al aire libre con presentaciones artísticas, imitaciones y números folclóricos.

El desfile logró reunir organizaciones civiles en defensa de los derechos de la comunidad LGBTQ+

Las banderas arcoíris se preparaban para ondear en todo su esplendor durante el desfile.

Durante la tarde noche del 22 de noviembre, tanto feligreses como músicos se reunieron para recorrer en procesión las calles de San Juan Cosalá. Foto: Héctor Ruíz.

D. Arturo Ortega. – La tradicional celebración a Santa Cecilia, patrona de los músicos en la delegación de San Juan Cosalá logró reunir tanto a feligreses como a músicos de la localidad quienes celebraron la fiesta de una manera religiosa a través de las calles de la población y su templo, así como con música en la plaza y convivio.

Te compartimos una serie de imágenes tomadas por Héctor Ruíz, en las que se refleja la manera de celebrar esta fiesta de los músicos, al estilo cosalense.

Durante la tarde los músicos se reunieron en la plaza para tocar algunas piezas musicales, donde también compartieron alimentos y bebidas.

Previo al inicio de la procesión, los acólitos se preparan en formación con sus cirios y Cruz Alta.

Cuatro mariacheros descansan en una banca en la plaza de la delegación de San Juan Cosalá, municipio de Jocotepec.

Los danzantes, como en cada procesión no pudieron faltar a la conmemoración de la patrona de los músicos, Santa Cecilia.

Luego de una misa celebrada en la Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís, los músicos llevan en un recorrido a la imagen de Santa Cecilia por el malecón de Chapala. Foto: Jazmín Stengel.

D. Arturo Ortega. – Con fe, tradición y música se vivió el 22 de noviembre, Día del Músico en Chapala, lugar donde desde muy temprano, por la mañana grupos de norteño, mariachis, tríos y solistas que laboran en los lugares más visitados de la cabecera municipal, se dieron cita en la Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís y el extremo oriente del malecón para celebrar a la patrona, Santa Cecilia.

A través de una serie de imágenes tomadas por Jazmín Stengel, te compartimos cómo la fe y la devoción se manifestó durante este día tan significativo para el gremio de la música:

Una vez en la zona restaurantera, los músicos interpretaban canciones a petición de los lugareños de cada restaurante. 

Los años de experiencia de algunos músicos son notables cuando interpretan las canciones de su repertorio.

Luego de un considerable recorrido, un saxofonista de una agrupación de norteño, tomó un descanso para continuar su recorrido interpretando canciones para celebrar a Santa Cecilia.

Músicos de todas las edades acudieron a aportar un poco de su talento para conmemorar a Santa Cecilia.

Las agrupaciones musicales que conviven en las zonas turísticas de Chapala no sólo son nativos del municipio, sino también de poblaciones circunvecinas.

La imagen de Santa Cecilia recorrió cada restaurante antes de regresar a su capillita, ubicada en el extremo oriente del malecón de Chapala.

San Juan Cosalá’s boardwalk baths 

Héctor Ruiz Mejía – Jocotepec( JAL). – Semanario Laguna toured the boardwalks of Jocotepec municipality and found many of the bathrooms in bad condition. Some of the restrooms, such as the ones on the San Juan Cosalá boardwalk, have irregular and unreliable schedules; there are times when they are open until 5:00 p.m., but only for a short time, and other times when they are not even open at all.

In the case of Chantepec, the bathrooms are not even in operation, since they are in terrible condition. Carlos Monreal Macías, in charge of the Jocotepec City Hall, assured that changes are already being considered. «We have already received a report on the situation of the restrooms in Chantepec, and the truth is that they are in very bad condition. We are even contemplating the installation of stall dividers, since they don’t even have the basics,» he said.

Regarding the irregular and unreliable schedules, reported regularly by citizens, and Seminario Laguna, he said that he was unaware of the situation, but announced that measures will be taken. He added that constant vandalism has made it difficult to maintain the facilities in good condition. He mentioned the example of Chantepec, where the benches and grills have been vandalized, as well as the constant graffiti. In August alone, eight of the barbecue grills in the western zone of the malecón del Chante, had to be repaired due to vandalism.

Finally, he pointed out that due to the high prices of scrap metal, copper theft is still a problem. It’s a constant battle to keep electricity working in good condition as the wiring is a perpetual target for thieves. Municipal presidentHector Nanuel Haro Perez of Jocotepec urged everyone to report any theft that they see.

Juan Martin Santana, Director of Public Services, asked everyone to help maintain and respect all public areas, «I want to ask people to help take care of our public spaces, they are for everyone to enjoy. In these times it is very important to have these spaces, to be able to live together.» The number for the Jocotepec Police is 387 763 0006.

Translated by Amy Esperanto

Photo: St. Andrew Catholic Church. 

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)- With no fields to sow and no cows to herd in Ajijic, the farmers’ guild, once one of the strongest of the nine guilds, is now one of the hardest hit in the Ajijic’s patron saint festivities.

The festivities in honor of San Andrés Apóstol are held from November 22 to 30 In the Parish of San Andrés Apóstol, where the patron saint of Ajijic is located. 

Semanario Laguna spoke with one of the members (of the guild. Ramona Díaz, receiving the media outside her house hiding her hands to protect herself from the cold, nostalgically commented that her membership in the guild is because she inherited it from her father, who inherited it from her grandfather. Senora Diaz acknowledged that the guild is one of those that has been fading the most with time.

«It used to be a robust day because there was a lot of farming and ranching, but the guild members have been doing less and less. Today there are fewer than 25 of us who cooperate, and there is no longer anywhere to plant or have livestock, that is why the festivities have been lost,» she mentioned while raising her voice a little to be able to stand out among the noise of trucks and cars passing by outside her home.

She went on to say that the only thing left is the name, because only memories of this trade remain, and they will probably be those of this last generation. «I don’t think I will pass it on to my children, because they are no longer committed to the faith or to the profession. Not only my children, many young people no longer approach religion today.»

She said that another important factor in the lack of participation not only in her guild, but in all the guilds,is the diminished  the day of the youth which  is a colorful day with a lot of celebration in other areas, but here it is different, because they have been leaving aside religion and customs, they only see the celebration.»

Looking to the side, she recalls a tradition that is basically lost, in which the guild on the following day, made a small procession with lanterns to get to the last mass of the day which represented that they were receiving their day. They called this the «entrada.» «It would be nice if those of us who participate in the guilds could agree to wear a shawl and wear our tresses, so we could show more of our traditions and roots.»

Finally, she called on the community of Ajijic, adults, youth and children, to get more involved in the traditions that remain since, with pride, she says it is part of what makes Ajijic magical. «Another one I remember is the battle of the roses -men giving roses to women during the dances in the plaza. It was nice and fun. It should be done again and we could motivate them, for example, by giving a prize to the one with the most roses. Let’s not let the traditions that made us what we are die.»

Translated by Sydney Metrick

Mariana Macías, originally from San Antonio Tlayacapan. 

Laguna staff. Mariana Macias, originally from San Antonio Tlayacapan, set foot on Thai soil to begin her quest for Miss Grand International. On Sunday night the winner of the «Miss Grand Mexico 2021» beauty pageant landed at Phuket International Airport to represent Mexico in the ninth edition of Miss Grand International 2021, on December 4.

Officials painting the fencing along the boardwalk. Photo: Santiago Baeza

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)- Officials of the current PAN administration of Chapala, gave a facelift to the Ajijic boardwalk, painting area blue which previously were orange. 

«We haven’t been able to address it as much as we would like, but we’ve already started. We are going to continue throughout the park and the boardwalk, renewing the paint of the dining areas and library, and at the beginning of the year we will start to renovate the aging grills» said Ajijic Delegado or town administrator Maximiliano «Max» Macias Arceo, who promised that the boardwalk and the beaches of Ajijic will continue to be beautified.

Painted and clean, this is how the dining areas and grills look. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

The Delegado said that a search has already begun for a new water pump to irrigate the green areas. He emphasized that the line will not be connected to the Municipal Potable Water and Sewage System (SIMAPA), but will take water from the lake, to improve the distribution of water to the neighbors of the boardwalk.

The green benches without back supports that were removed from the Ajijic plaza due to popular complaint will also be repaired and then relocated back to the boardwalk.

«We are looking to designate one day a week to clean up the boardwalk, remove the “lirio” or floating seaweed, and provide maintenance. We still don’t know if there will be new projects for these areas, but for the time being, they will be maintained and cleaned,» concluded the interviewee. 

Translated by Kerry Watson

Traffic lights in Walmart intersection. Photo: Semanario Laguna. 

Honey, can you tell if the light on the Carretera is red yet?

I can’t see it.  I think the green light is broken, or at least so dim it is invisible.  But I have to practically lean out of the window to see it and I can’t do that in this blouse. Can you see the other light?

There is no other light, hon, that is why I need to know about the lights on the Carretera.

Why didn’t they put a light on the other side of the highway?

I don’t know, honey.  Maybe the same reason they don’t fix the lights when they burn out or get damaged. Just look at this one next to us – it looks like a truck killed it and it is not quite ready to die.  Hold it, this delivery van wants to turn into the street  here so I have to back up so he can get in. 

I think we just got a green – the car facing us is starting into the intersection. Try your left turn now. They have a light on this side they can see.

As soon as this truck lets me move, hon.  Damn…the light just went red again. Now we have to wait through another cycle.  What idiot designed this intersection?

You know who – the same so-called Federal  engineer who designed the Walmart intersection. Why don’t you just turn right and then make a u-turn?

Yes! Hold on, hon…I made it. U-Turn at Pemex coming up.

Nicely done, dear.  Driving in this town is like playing a video game.

Opinion by Patrick O’Heffernan

Hon, video games are easier- everything generally works and there is a help desk.  Would you look at the signal at Juarez, just hanging down like that. If this is a Federal highway, the Mexican government should be embarrassed.

If the Administration is not embarrassed by the Maya Tren fiasco and the abandoned airport and the collapsing metro in Mexico City,  the lack of traffic lights in Ajijic won’t phase them.

Hon, you are so right. Now, tell me why is it that the Federal highway workers can shut down the Carretera  in rush hour to resurface the road which they could have done at night much faster, but they can’t manage to fix the broken traffic lights? Can’t Chapala do anything?

They tried, but it is a Federal highway.  Remember when the Chapala Director of Mobility got so frustrated with no-shows from the Feds he went out and synchronized the lights himself.

I do. One of my Mexican  beer buddies  suggested dumping truckloads of horse manure in front of the Federal Transportation office in Guadalajara until they get the message that their roads are not fit for cars.

I don’t think it would help, dear.  They don’t care and they have so much horse pucky of their own that they shovel at us, they probably wouldn’t even notice.

So true.  Wait, did the light just turn green?

(Watch for a follow up on Laguna’s survey of broken traffic lights)

The Queen Live Band will perform onstage at LCS at 3:30. Photo: Semanario Laguna. 

Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic.  Roy Gomez Cruz will return to the Concerts in the Park at LCS once again in the person of Freddie Mercury in two December 1 concerts that include a full Queen Live Band performance and a live and visual presentation of the “I Want It All :The Freddie Mercury Story”.

The Queen Live Band will perform onstage at LCS at 3:30. The band that dazzles audiences in the Palm Cabaret Club in Puerto Vallarta will bring its excitement to the LCS Park stage with favorites like We Will Rock You, We are Champions, Radio Ga Ga and Another One Bites the Dust.

At 6 pm Gomez returns in Mercury persona with   “I Want It All: The Freddie Mercury Story”, a high energy, visual and emotional journey through the songs and life events of the legendary Freddie Mercury. Gomez, who has a Master’s Degree  and is currently a PhD Candidate in Performance Studies at Northwestern University, immerses himself in the role of Freddie Mercury and amazes audiences with his detailed, authentic portrayal of the rocker. Palm Cabaret Entertainment Director Mark Rome, formally of the Spotlight in Ajijic, says, “I have never seen audiences embrace and enjoy a performance like this before,” of Gomez’s “I Want It All: The Freddie Mercury Story.

Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara in 1946 and died in 1991) was a British singer, songwriter, record producer, and lead vocalist of the rock band Queen who is regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music. Known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range, Mercury defined  and redefined the conventions of a rock front man.

Advanced ticket purchase recommended. Tickets can be purchased at LCS office or online at https://lakechapalasociety.com. General Admission tickets (seats arranged in rows): $350 MXN.

VIP table tickets: $500 MXN