Cirque du Soleil plans its first theme park in Vallarta

Cirque du Soleil plans to create and operate a major theme park that promises an immersive "entertainment experience" in Nuevo Vallarta on Mexico's west coast.

It's a first for the Canadian company known for its elaborate circus-style shows that tour the world.

Details in the announcement Wednesday were scant, except to say that ideas for the theme park near Puerto Vallarta are in development. Cirque is partnering with Mexican resort developer Grupo Vidanta on the project, which is expected to open in 2018.

"Grupo Vidanta is offering us an amazing sandbox in which we can unleash our creativity," Cirque's founder, Guy Laliberte, said in the statement.

Renderings of ideas show sections called the Village of the Sun and the Village of the Moon, similar to different "lands" at other theme parks. Each experience will be based on a storyline and will be performed by Cirque artists, and could include a water park, nature park and an outdoor area that holds 3,000 to 5,000 visitors for evening shows, officials of the two companies said.

Cirque du Soleil plans its first theme park, chooses Mexico site

Nuevo Vallarta is in Nayarit but is still Vallarta ....

Tlajomulco hosts the Nacional Charro Competition

Guadalajara, Mexico (October 2, 2014) .- From October 25 to November 16, Rancho Santa Maria de Tlajomulco will host 70 edition of Congress and National Charro Championship 2014, which will have the presence of the top teams the country and the United States. 

A total of 135 teams charros, 94 casts of skirmishes and charros are 15 full participants in this competition, Jalisco returns after the last time it was held in the state was in 2009, at the Arena VFG. 

"Scoring with the support of all will be a great tournament, and have everything ready, well organized, and have the mares, all stock, it will certainly be one of the best tournaments in recent years" He explained in a press conference Salvador Sánchez, president of the Charros Association of Jalisco and member of the organizing committee. 

To cover all the rodeos, the organizers have made ​​available 400 mares pial, jockeying and Mangano and 800 bulls tails and repair , weighing between 380 and 480 kilos. 

The ticket price is 90 pesos for the three day rodeo, which will be at 12:00, 16:00 and 20:00. 

"The National Charro is a tool first order to promote the good image and Jalisco, it is estimated that some 10 000 delegates will come to be several days in the city and represents a major economic benefit, "explained Enrique Ramos, Secretary of Tourism of Jalisco.

Recibirá Tlajomulco el Nacional Charro

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

Proposed new Corona Mercado

Almost three months after the fire that destroyed the Corona Market in the historic center of the capital of Jalisco, the afternoon of Friday unveiled the conceptual project that will work to rebuild; according to the mayor, Ramiro García Hernández is estimated that the work, which cost about 300 million pesos be completed in one year.

Of the 30 proposals received, the office "Fernández Arquitectos SC" is the winner of the tender to be developed to choose who would have to draw the layout for the construction of the new market Ramón Corona after this collapse in a fire Sunday May 4.

This is a project that includes 589 stores and parking for 582 parking spaces, plus about nine thousand square meters of offices.

The facade of this market would comprise gates and trellises, along with special adaptations for sustainability and lattices that protect against the sun's rays, green roofs, solar panels for electricity supply and efficient lighting devices.

The intent of the Ochoa property management is that becoming a new tourist destination and service for visitors to the historic center.

Concepcion de Buenos Aires

So a drive down the south side of Lake Chapala was the plan maybe to Petatán and see the pelicans if they were still there. Thoughtful me without my map I didn't know how far Petatán was and made it as far as Cojumatlán - both in Michoacan. Cojumatlán is a large town and Sundays are the day for everyone to meet at the plaza. Couldn't find parking within 4 blocks and didn't feel like being the only gringo with a camera in the huge crowd - so back to Amacueca and maybe head inland.

A friend told me about Concepción de Buenos Aires somewhere off the new road to Mazamitla as being an attractive place to visit. The turn off is about 10-12 miles up the hill from Amacueca to the right. Putting that name on a road sign is next to impossible so you'll see something like - Cocep de BA. About 12-15 miles on this secondary road full of not very deep potholes appears the gates to Concepcion.  Without a map in this area it's hard to tell if you are in Jalisco or Michoacan.

The town reminds me of a number of Colonial mountain towns like Tapalpa, Mazamitla or even Patcuaro with the tile roofs, buildings painted similarly and lots of wood. However this town was only founded in the 1850's and became head of it's municipio in the 1880's. The sign on the entrance to town says - 'Land of the friendly people'