The humidity apparently stayed between 92 whatevers to 55 whatevers. I don't have a clue about humidity.
After I am fluent in Spanish I will start in on the concept of measuring humidity. Maybe, if I still care, in the year 2013.
Under the guise of educating the public, today I am offering a variety of news tips.A big wrestling show, never one of my favorite events, is arriving in Las Varas next week. Luckily for those of us in Chacala, the show is being heavily advertised all around town.
The boy in the middle proudly told me that the father of the little girl is the star in the middle of the poster. They didn't know how much the shows costs, which is fine because I already have plans for that night. 
And here is the real news. Marjorie Greaves, a Public Television producer on Vancouver Island spent part of her vacation in Chacala last winter creating a program for the CBC "Dispatches" radio program.
The focus of the show is the Techos de Mexico program here in Chacala. It's a program offering interest-free loans to families who want to build a combination home and rental units structure on their property.
I won't talk about it because the radio show describes it well.Here is the intro
Making Ends Meet in Mexico
In Mexico, the difference between poverty and prosperity is sometimes just a place to call your own.It certainly was for Aurora Hernandez and her family.
In their coastal village, a Godfather and a modest guest house changed their lives forever, as we hear now from journalist Marjorie Greaves.
And the link
http://www.cbc.ca/dispatches/
And then click on blue highlighted line "Listen to Part two in Real Audio".
You can see photos and make reservations thru Chacala Vacation Rentals
The 8 minute recording includes interviews with Jose Enrique de Valle, the creator of the program, and home and rental owners Aurora, Beto, and Leti .
4 comments:
Never mind my last comment, I found the broadcast by doing a search.
I fixed the bad link to the show. Andee
Andee, this may be all and good but from what I glean from your blogs the infrastructure (if there is any such thing) is already strained to the max. The more publicity the more people will come. You already indicate that during the "season" the beautiful paradise is overloaded. Too bad for more publicity.
Hi Gin,
My point of view is that short-stay tourism is okay for Chacala. There are tourists who come here from other parts of Mexico, from Europe, Canada and the U.S., and they stay for a few weeks, or maybe a little longer, and go on their way. Maybe to return next year.
They generally don't have time to destroy the physical environment in Chacala, or to treat local people with disresect and rudeness or to break the laws here.
Mostly they don't have jetskis, motos, Hummers, or try to block off access to the beach. Or build monster houses.
They do bring money, generousity for the scholarship program, and in the past, a lot of volunteer labor.
And they don't build ugly buildings, destroy the natural environment with real estate schemes, or run land prices up so high that local people can't live here.
Tourists who stay for a week or a month don't try (or aren't successful at trying to impose their values, ideas or culture on local people. And they don't have the power to insist things be done the gringo way.
But gringos who come here to make big bucks in Chacala real estate, or to try to impose their values or religion or whatever on local people are a problem. You see it happening everywhere where the wealthy see a chance to "invest" in real estate. They usually don't have a clue about local culture, or respect for local residents or their way of life.
Ignoring for the moment the situation with some RV's most short-term visitors to Chacala bring cash and a spirit of curiosity and respect. And, I, personally that's that's okay.
Particularly when the rental owners are local Mexicans. As opposed to gringos with trying to compete with local landladies with big advertising campaigns and so on.
I hope this makes sense.
I don't like the LA Times article or the various other articles in the press about Chacala.
Mostly because those articles seem to draw people who don't have a clue about Mexico and don't care to learn. They want to hang out on the beach and whatever.
I try to write about things that I hope draw people to Chacala who bring money. But also gentle spirits. People who will come with an open to a new experience and ready to open their minds and hearts to another culture and another way of life.
I think that radio thing might draw the kind of people who are trying to be, at the least, a benign presence in Chacala. And at best, people who want to be involved, or offer scholarship. Or learn Spanish, or a new skill here. Or to bring things for the Kinder kids.
Who come to Chacala because they are curious, and want to learn about life here. Besides enjoying the incredible beach, the small town environment, and the local residents who welcome them.
That's where I am at today. Tomorrow, who knows?
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