Check out the new things on the Chapala Malecon

Lake Chapala is the largest of ‪lakes and one of the favorite places for the people of Jalisco. Come and meet the new facilities in the boardwalk of ‪Chapala and pass the weekend in the company of family.

Feria Maestros del Arte this weekend

14th Annual
Feria Maestros del Arte

November 13-15, 2015
10 am to 5 pm

LOCATION:
Club de Yates de Chapala 
(Chapala Yacht Club)
Paseo Ramón Corona
Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico

This weekend

Website with all the info

Get ready for the Feria Maestros del Arte in Chapala

The XIII Feria Maestros del Arte will be held from 14 to 16 November in the town of Chapala, involving 80 recognized artisans in 16 states of the Mexican Republic.

Diane Ayala Vazquez, representative of the organizing committee, said it aims to preserve and promote the Mexican folk art, bringing together artisans with national and international acclaim and whose work will be on sale.

"We can see pieces in textiles, wood, ceramics, printmaking, among others, made by craftsmen originating in Chiapas, Oaxaca, Michoacan, Puebla and Jalisco, this activity is also a cultural exchange as artisans staying in the homes of people in Chapala so it is a rich coexistence, "he said.

He noted that since 2008 this festival became a civil partnership, allowing greater participation of artisans and the presence of more domestic buyers and collectors in order to promote best performing folk art.

"This time, we will have on display a sculpture of a monumental alebrije developed by Alejandro Camacho, who is an artist of Xochimilco; Michicihualli piece is called, is the Goddess of Lake Chapala and participated in the Seventh Parade WoodCarvings Monuments Museum of Popular Art in Mexico City. "

He stressed that the XIII Feria Maestros del Arte will be held at the Yacht Club, located on Ramon Corona in Chapala, open from 10:00 to 17:00 hours and entrance fee of 50 pesos.

Prepárate para la Feria Maestros del Arte en Chapala

Chapala's 'La Estacion's' 94th Anniversary celebration

Schedule of EVENTS  - 94th 'La Estacion' Anniversary commemorative celebration. Chapala's 'La Estacion' 94th year birthday is on 8 April 2014.  The following is the celebratory scheduled events program:

April 4th 19:00 HRS - CHAMBER ORCHESTRA CLEMENTE OROZCO CEDART

April 6 at 12:30PM - LATINO GROUP ASSEMBLY AND SON AND SOUL CHOIR

April 8 19.00 HRS - TYPICAL ORCHESTRA Chapala

April 10th 17:00 HRS - CLASS MEETING ARTISTIC CULTURAL CENTER GONZALEZ COCK WITH STUDENTS OF THE HOUSE OF CULTURE Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos

April 11 at 18:30 HRS - CINE CLUB , the film "Like Water for Chocolate"

April 12th 19:00 HRS - Ixtlahuacán BALLET AND MY GROUP MEXICO

Admission is free for each of these scheduled EVENTS, and everyone is invited and encouraged to participate, and asked to spread the word to friends and members of the greater Chapala resident community.  Participate and CELEBRATE 94 YEARS OF THE ARRIVAL OF A TRAIN Chapala...

Sincerely, MARIA ELENA RAMIREZ [email: gonzalez_gallo@hotmail.com]

Feria Maestros del Arte

Feria Maestros del Arte

November 15-17, 2013
Friday & Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LOCATION:
Club de Yates de Chapala 
(Chapala Yacht Club)
Paseo Ramón Corona
Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico

$50 pesos admission

Mexico Art Show

Chapala lake level

This foto was taken from the end of the Chapala pier by Steve that runs the Lake Chapala Weather site. He says they are digging a channel for tour boats to get in and out. The lake is down 10 feet from 2008 levels.

Lake Chapala Weather

A drive into Guadalajara and back

A drive from Chapala to Guadalajara and return video

La Isla de los Alacranes

La Isla de los Alacranes (Scorpian Island - Lake Chapala)

Bill bought a "speed boat" a few months ago and has been working on the steering and controls. He actually just bought the boat and trailer and had to match it up with a motor he had. He launched it a few days ago and it's moored in the Chapala public boat harbor. So because I'm heading for the coast soon he wanted to give me a ride.

Pretty bumpy ride for a light boat over the waves. Most everything else on the lake are heavy pangas that plow thru the waves. Smoother coming back with the wind.

Every little restaurant of about 8 has their own moorage/dock. Someone comes out to help you tie up. They know you want to look around the island so they offer to take your meal order and have it ready when you get back. The island is not very long and is narrow but because of the lake level we couldn't make it to the east end. Meal was just OK but a nice setting.

A few of these signs around the island

Boat docks

Restaurant

A few of these around the island too

The ride back with sailboat and island in the distance

Chapala Artisan Fair

Back in November I was asked to go along on a shopping trip, found myself in downtown Chapala and remembered the Art Fair. Since I'd never been and Marilyn had - I opted to check it out while she continued her shopping.

Very cool and worth the 50 peso admission. The paper art and weaving were my favorites and it was good to see the Cocucho potters making an appearance. Talk to the weavers and they'll tell you all about the extensive process of dying (like tie dying) and setting up the looms. A number of local artists made the fair as well like the muneca women from San Cristobal.

Food was good and reasonable - check it out if you can

Feria Exposición Maestros del Arte AC is a non-profit mexico art show held yearly in Chapala Jalisco, Mexico to promote the ever disappearing folk and indigenous art (artensania) of Mexico. Artists are invited from all corners of Mexico based on the quality of their work, whether their art has been passed down generation to generation, or perhaps they are an "undiscovered" artist who is worthy of recognition for his/her work. All art/handcrafts must be made totally handmade by the artist presenting their work and they must use only "natural" materials in its production.

Mexico Art Show - Feria Exposicion Maestros del Arte AC

More Fotos of the Artisan Fair

Jocotepec

Jocotepec is located in the state of Jalisco, approximately 40 kilometers south of Guadalajara and at the western end of Lake Chapala. Even at the elevation of 5130 feet, the presence of the lake provides for a year-round mild and pleasant micro-climate.

The village of Jocotepec (place of the plum trees) was founded in 1529. It is the county seat (municipio) for a number of smaller surrounding towns. It's a very typical Mexican town, and has traditionally been known for the quality serapes woven there. It features a large street market on Thursday mornings and an active mercado and plaza any day of the week.

Jocotepec is my favorite place to stay when I'm in the Lake Chapala area with a few inexpensive motels just east of town on the road to Chapala. We also have friends that live downtown.

Aerial view of Jocotepec


Jocotepec Plaza


Jocotepec Church on Plaza


Jocotepec Malecon on Lake Chapala

Mezcala Island - Lake Chapala

Mezcala Island
Lake Chapala, Jalisco - Mexico

Mezcala Island is a few kilometers southeast of Mezcala on the northern shore of Lake Chapala. It is also known as El Presidio. From 1812-1816, a small band of rebels held off the Spanish army and navy against overwhelming odds. Tired of the humiliation the Spanish finally negotiated a peaceful surrender with the insurgents. The island then became a Spanish prison for many years.

It's rumored that there existed indigenous structures and hieroglyphics on the island before the fortifications were built but all traces disappeared with the construction. There are tours to the island from both Mezcala and Chapala-

Aerial view of Mezcala

Ruins of the fort

More ruins

Mezcala island from Mezcala town

A few more Mezcala fotos