Chapala Railway Station to Become Museum
By Ilse Hoffmann(Published in El Ojo del Lago, November 2000) “I want to put a stop to the rumor that has been circulating around town. The one that says the old train station my family donated to the town of Chapala will be converted into a disco, bar, restaurant, casino, etc. It was donated for use …
Ajijic Tianguis
By Catherine A. MacKenzie Early Wednesday morning transforms an ordinary street in Ajijic into a party among strangers. Inside, the tight air tries to shed itself of the fused flavours of flowers and fried fat. My sweaty palms grasp my purse with the concealed pesos to my chest, in an attempt to protect it from …
The Battle Of Mezcala Island
By Robert M. Burnet Mezcala Island, a rocky and chayote-covered outcrop near the north shore of Lake Chapala, today bears scant evidence of the long and bloody battle waged there during the Mexican War of Independence from Spain. The little-known battle has considerable historic importance, however, because of the major change it produced in the …
I Live In Ajijic
By Neill James (Ed. Note: The following article was first published in 1946 in the magazine Modern Mexico. Ms. James, known as the “Godmother of Ajijic,” set many of her charming stories and books here at Lakeside.) Ajijic is an old, old village. Our solidly built Franciscan Church bears the date when it was finished: …
Flora and Fauna in Lake Chapala
The term ecosystem was coined in 1930 to denote the physical and biological components of an environment considered in relation to each other as a unit; the whole complex of physical factors forming what we call the environment. The degree of species diversity or biological diversity – popularly referred to as biodiversity – of an …
Climate and Weather in Lake Chapala
Mexico as a whole has been graced with an unusually temperate climate year-round given its tropical setting. The rainy season occurs during the Mexican summer and has a very moderating effect on day-time temperatures. Even though the rain rarely lasts more than an hour, and typically occurs at night, the cooling effect lasts well into …
Archaeological sites near Chapala
A number of interesting archeological zones have been discovered around the Lake Chapala area. While they require a bit of sleuthing to find, they reveal interesting facts about the ancient peoples who populated the area. Piedras Zorras Rocks containing illustrations and engravings have been found in the area, leading archeologists to believe that in about …