After two years in Chacala, I think I have finally figured out the up-side of "Mexican time", the phrase generally used to refer to people showing up when they feel like it, or whenever it works out.
Yesterday someone visiting in Chacala keep pressuring me to give a specific time when I would finish working up at Susana´s. And of course I had no idea because all kinds of things can happen where ever you go around town. I could see how frustrated she was as she tried to pin me down
so that we could get together later in the day. And I not only couldn´t give her a time, and realized I didn´t want to.
I have found out just taking things one minute at a time, and not making time commitments or even having a strong agenda for the day works much better for me than having "appointments" and specific detailed plans for the day. I usually wake up with some ideas about things I want to do during that day, but it´s certainly not written in stone, or even in any particular order. I might want to go up to Susana´s, find the water jug guy and ask him to bring me water, ask Esparanza to wash some beddings, ask Beto if he has a drill he or I could use to repair my new bed, hang out with Dona Lupe and with the people at Chico´s, make sure Concha remembers a guest is coming later today and get some info from Aurora about her prices for a long-term renter for June, and get some bread and tortillas and a couple plastic garbage bags for Esparanza and see if kids are living at a particular puesto, and visit with some of the visitors here that I especially enjoy and go the the correo (post office) in Las Varas because I think I have a package there (because one of the taxi drivers gave me a note from the correo sayings had a package). And wash my clothes, eat breakfasst and lunch, tidy up my camp, and probably spend some times with the neighborhood kids drawing and painting on my table. Those are the things on my mind. And by the end of the day I probably did some of those things and probably did a bunch of other stuff: take a walk with someone, help Trini with her new website, visit with somone, go to the hot springs, get a ride to La Penita, or whatever. Many things happen serendipitously here. I am walkind down the road and someone stops and offers me a ride wherever, or comes by with something I was hungry for (Marta´s apple pies), or ...รงรง
Actually, it´s hard to describe, but I call it ¨Chacala time". But really I think it´s leaving your life and your ideas about what you "need" wide open. And to not get strongly connected to a certain version of how things need to happen.
I think in my old life, pre-Chacala, I almost always had a full calendar and definite ideas about how things should happen. And that I probably missed out on lots of opportunities and adventures, and chances because I was so busy following the end of my nose (and calendar book) that I forgot to notice what was going on around me and turned down interesting opportunities because I had to keep to my schedule.
It used to really annoy me that the collectivos run whenever they want, and fiestas start hours after the announced starting time, and people rarely show up when they said they would. But in all those cases it works out fine even if at a different time. Other fun stuff happens while you are waiting, and it is okay to do stuff inpromptu (ly) because that´s what other people are doing too.
There´s plenty of time to hang around and visit and learn something new from someone, or help someone out.
I think it´s sort of connected to how nice it is to be in a camping place here. I am surrounded by big families this week. The kids are never crying, babies are happy, no one yells are kids or anyone else. People hang out all day talking and visiting and eating and cookings and enjoying themselves. Dads and moms and grandmom and dads, and aunties and cousins and brothers and sisters send the days together and I am jealous of how much people seem to like each other and the lovely sound of happy voices all day long. Maybe I am missing ugly comments and undertones etc, but I don´t think so. The families seem to like being together. I wish I had a family like that.
Yesterday morning I was helping Luis, Aurora´s uncle unload some stuff into his puesto (I was just walking by on the way to Susana´s and stopped to visit and help) .I commented that I hadn´t gotten a Chacala shirt yet and we were looking thru his shirts for an X large for me but he didn´t have one. And anyway I didn´t want to spend money on a tee shirt. Then last night I was at Chico´s hanging out and clearing tables and having a filete and making sure some new visitors I like were all set for dinner. Then Narcisa, the owner, handed me a present for Christmas, a new Chacala tee shirt in my size. And she and Luis hadn´t talked about it or anything. She had had it since the night before. I like that. When stuff you were thinking about just happens. Like my bed last week.
Anyway....
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Christmas in Chacala
This is Christmas Day. Generally it's not my favorite day in the year, but this has been a very nice Christmas. I had dinner last night with Aurora's family, and slept all night. Got up and had a great breakfast and then slept half the morning away.
Someone brought me today's Sunday NY Times. Heaven is lying in my hammock alternating between watching the ocean and reading the Times and doing the crossword.
Had a nice lunch and read in the hammock and visited with people coming by to say "Merry Christmas". My favorite Scottish Doctor and wife team, David and Emma, came along with their kids, Dougal and Hamish, and we ate peanuts and visited. Very nice people and I love seeing their kids little blonde heads at the beach. Quite a contrast. David is voluntering at a clinic in Las Varas for about five months, before the family returns to start a new medical practice in Scotland.
Chacala is sort of empty compared to last year. Empty of masses of celebrating people from Guadalajara, etc, but full of gringos. Full being 8 boats, 10 motor homes, and five vans, and about about 50 from the US and Canada stayiang around town. (coorection, Monday morning. People starting arriving late last night, and the town appears to be filling up for the local school vacation period).
As I write this, Susana and Poncie's Christmas potluck is starting up on the terrace upstairs, and it's been a very nice day. It was in the low 80's all day. Clear and beautiful sky with green ocean water and kids playing and families picnicking on the beach.
Everyone else is dressed up at the party and I am wearing shorts and a tee shirt, but I brought a shirt that is slightly better than a tee shirt. Oh well.
I hope everyone is having a nice day today.
(Followup: the dinner was great. Excellent food and nice company.- I had kind of been dreading a kind of cocktail atmosphere level of conversation, and it wasn't like that at all. I think Chacala attractions some very nice and interesting people.
Although I like the summers best here.
If you are looking for a van or taxi pickup at the airport, or a boat ride to surfing or whale watching, be sure to check out airport pickups and boat rides
Someone brought me today's Sunday NY Times. Heaven is lying in my hammock alternating between watching the ocean and reading the Times and doing the crossword.
Had a nice lunch and read in the hammock and visited with people coming by to say "Merry Christmas". My favorite Scottish Doctor and wife team, David and Emma, came along with their kids, Dougal and Hamish, and we ate peanuts and visited. Very nice people and I love seeing their kids little blonde heads at the beach. Quite a contrast. David is voluntering at a clinic in Las Varas for about five months, before the family returns to start a new medical practice in Scotland.
Chacala is sort of empty compared to last year. Empty of masses of celebrating people from Guadalajara, etc, but full of gringos. Full being 8 boats, 10 motor homes, and five vans, and about about 50 from the US and Canada stayiang around town. (coorection, Monday morning. People starting arriving late last night, and the town appears to be filling up for the local school vacation period).
As I write this, Susana and Poncie's Christmas potluck is starting up on the terrace upstairs, and it's been a very nice day. It was in the low 80's all day. Clear and beautiful sky with green ocean water and kids playing and families picnicking on the beach.
Everyone else is dressed up at the party and I am wearing shorts and a tee shirt, but I brought a shirt that is slightly better than a tee shirt. Oh well.
I hope everyone is having a nice day today.
(Followup: the dinner was great. Excellent food and nice company.- I had kind of been dreading a kind of cocktail atmosphere level of conversation, and it wasn't like that at all. I think Chacala attractions some very nice and interesting people.
Although I like the summers best here.
If you are looking for a van or taxi pickup at the airport, or a boat ride to surfing or whale watching, be sure to check out airport pickups and boat rides
Friday, December 23, 2005
Chacala and Christmas
Yesterday morning I woke up in my tent, thinking I wanted a bed, that my nice 4 inch foam mattress on the ground just wasn't enough. So I went up to Susana'a and did reservations, thinking about finding a bed somewhere. On my walk home I noticed an old guy was hauling stuff out from behind Patti's place (orange house across the road from Concha's). And there was my bed. I got it for a few pesos, partly because it is kind of old and the wood was kind of crummy. And missing a couple of bedboards. Then I walked on the Chico's restaurant. I was having a Coke there and resting my foot with the broken toe, and telling the owners/waiters, cooks etc about my "new" bed. Chicha (the owner) asked me where the bed was, and then said something to one of the waiters. He hopped up and headed out to the parking lot. Then he turned and sayid, "come on, we are going to get your bed!!!". So we went up and got the bed and took it to my beach camp. When Esperanza saw the bed and the missing boards, she disappeared somewhere and came back with three boards that fit perfectly. Boards made out of wood are precious here, and very expensive, so I was very lucky.
So now I have my smaller tent as a bedroom with a real bed, and all my stuff and my desk in the bigger tent. The smaller tent has a better view. This morning I watched it get light lying on my bed looking out the screened tent window. The waves were huge!!! Every solstice they get big for a day, and I guess this was the day. Beautiful big, crashing waves.
There are three kid Christmas parties here this year, plus the nightly posada. Yesterday afternoon the county-level officials came down to Chacala to give the town an reward for being cleanest town in the certain category, or maybe it was third place. But, in any case, the award seemed to be $1000USD and a regular sized pickup for collecting local trash. There were also four wooden life guard towers standing there, at the party, but I don't know who brought them or where they came from. I think there has been food and pinatas before I wandered by, and there were large rubber balls, big bags of candy and a yoghurt drink for every child.
Today is the party the EBACH (scholarship kids) but on for the little kids, and then this afternoon the people that made a house out of the restaurant next to Las Brisas (from San Diego) are having a party. I think they are some kind of evangelical Christians, and I have the idea the party is related to that, but hopefully I misunderstood about that. Las Brisas is having a $15USD dinner on Christmas Eve and Casa Pacifica is having a potluck on Christmas Day early evening.
Being a very Grinchy person, I plan to have a quiet day on the beach, drawing, reading, and writing. We'll see.
The nightly Christmas posada, which goes to a different house or business very night, is still going on. Last night the kids sang going to Coco's, and seemed to be having a great time.
The circus is in town. Not the gypsy circus, but a bigger one with a big tent. I am not expecting to get any sleep til after midnight. They are parked in the field out behind the beach near Esperanza's. Last time they were here they has a big parade, plus the loudest loudspeaker you ever heard going around town on the truck all day, advertising the circus.
This is the Friday before Christmas, and so far there are not alot of Mexican campers here, which seems kind of unusual to all the shopkeepers, etc. They are thinking maybe people will are arriving today for the whole next week. Who knows. Three police have made the street a one way loop thru town, hoping to avoid giant traffic jams (two buses and a small pickup can cause alot of traffic problems on a 12 foot wide road.
Anyway. I am still loving the beach, especially with a bed. There are lots of very nice visitors here, including alot from Vancouver Island, for some reason.
So now I have my smaller tent as a bedroom with a real bed, and all my stuff and my desk in the bigger tent. The smaller tent has a better view. This morning I watched it get light lying on my bed looking out the screened tent window. The waves were huge!!! Every solstice they get big for a day, and I guess this was the day. Beautiful big, crashing waves.
There are three kid Christmas parties here this year, plus the nightly posada. Yesterday afternoon the county-level officials came down to Chacala to give the town an reward for being cleanest town in the certain category, or maybe it was third place. But, in any case, the award seemed to be $1000USD and a regular sized pickup for collecting local trash. There were also four wooden life guard towers standing there, at the party, but I don't know who brought them or where they came from. I think there has been food and pinatas before I wandered by, and there were large rubber balls, big bags of candy and a yoghurt drink for every child.
Today is the party the EBACH (scholarship kids) but on for the little kids, and then this afternoon the people that made a house out of the restaurant next to Las Brisas (from San Diego) are having a party. I think they are some kind of evangelical Christians, and I have the idea the party is related to that, but hopefully I misunderstood about that. Las Brisas is having a $15USD dinner on Christmas Eve and Casa Pacifica is having a potluck on Christmas Day early evening.
Being a very Grinchy person, I plan to have a quiet day on the beach, drawing, reading, and writing. We'll see.
The nightly Christmas posada, which goes to a different house or business very night, is still going on. Last night the kids sang going to Coco's, and seemed to be having a great time.
The circus is in town. Not the gypsy circus, but a bigger one with a big tent. I am not expecting to get any sleep til after midnight. They are parked in the field out behind the beach near Esperanza's. Last time they were here they has a big parade, plus the loudest loudspeaker you ever heard going around town on the truck all day, advertising the circus.
This is the Friday before Christmas, and so far there are not alot of Mexican campers here, which seems kind of unusual to all the shopkeepers, etc. They are thinking maybe people will are arriving today for the whole next week. Who knows. Three police have made the street a one way loop thru town, hoping to avoid giant traffic jams (two buses and a small pickup can cause alot of traffic problems on a 12 foot wide road.
Anyway. I am still loving the beach, especially with a bed. There are lots of very nice visitors here, including alot from Vancouver Island, for some reason.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Peope Who have Read My Blog Coming to Chacala
Something I had never imagined has been happening the past couple of weeks. People who have been reading my blog about Chacala, this blog, have been actually coming to Chacala, and introducing themselves to me. I am usually at Casa Pacifica in the morning, and people coming for breakfast at the Cafe upstairs come by to say hello. Or come by my camp on the beach to visit.
It's been very nice for me. I have been having email converstaions with some of these people because of the blog, and others have just been reading it. It's really nice to meet people and talk with them about Chacala and their reactions to being in Chacala after reading my impressions.
One interesting thing, at least to me, is that it is not apparent to many people who are reading the blog what gender I am. That is interesting to me, and when I get a chance I am going to go back and re-read things with an eye to identifying my gender. A man told me that since I was talking about grounding the electrical system at one of the houses that he assumed I was male. Whatever. And apparently I mentioned my son and ex giving me a tent for camping and people read that both ways. As I said, I am going back to take a look.
Anyway, Casa Pacifica is having a Christmas Day potluck at 5pm for people visiting Chacala, etc. I don't care for Christmas and usually ignore it, but I might come to that. There are alot of nice people around, and how knows, they might have some good books or magazines.
I will probably be going to Chico's Christmas Eve, but who knows. I think we have going to have a little campfire tonight at Esparanza's (where I am camping) and I like that idea. People will be arriving today and tomorrow for the holiday season and I am half dreading the noise, etc, and half looking forward to it.
Some people were over at Las Cuevas yesterday and saw very large manta rays out where they were swimming. Apparently they don't have stinging tails, but it kind of scares me. Next time I can get a boat ride over there I am going to look.
It's been very nice for me. I have been having email converstaions with some of these people because of the blog, and others have just been reading it. It's really nice to meet people and talk with them about Chacala and their reactions to being in Chacala after reading my impressions.
One interesting thing, at least to me, is that it is not apparent to many people who are reading the blog what gender I am. That is interesting to me, and when I get a chance I am going to go back and re-read things with an eye to identifying my gender. A man told me that since I was talking about grounding the electrical system at one of the houses that he assumed I was male. Whatever. And apparently I mentioned my son and ex giving me a tent for camping and people read that both ways. As I said, I am going back to take a look.
Anyway, Casa Pacifica is having a Christmas Day potluck at 5pm for people visiting Chacala, etc. I don't care for Christmas and usually ignore it, but I might come to that. There are alot of nice people around, and how knows, they might have some good books or magazines.
I will probably be going to Chico's Christmas Eve, but who knows. I think we have going to have a little campfire tonight at Esparanza's (where I am camping) and I like that idea. People will be arriving today and tomorrow for the holiday season and I am half dreading the noise, etc, and half looking forward to it.
Some people were over at Las Cuevas yesterday and saw very large manta rays out where they were swimming. Apparently they don't have stinging tails, but it kind of scares me. Next time I can get a boat ride over there I am going to look.
Chacala is Getting Very Busy
Chacala is starting to see the Christmas crowds, both US and Canadian tourists and Mexican families from Guadalajara and other places in Mexico where it's cold this time of year. I am writing this on Thursday, a few days before Christmas and most of the rentals are full, but not all. There are places that don't advertise, but are listed at Chacala budget rentals it you are still thinking of coming down this holiday season or later in the year.
Living on the beach has been wonderful for me. I love hearing the waves all day and night, and being outside all the time. I just finished reading a wonderful book called Lizabeth and Me. It sounds like it would be depressing, becauses it's by a man who what homeless for three or four years. But I really enjoyed it.
And it made me think that in someways I might be considered sort of homeless in Chacala, but I don't feel homeless at all. I have been moving every six months or so, (always to houses) but now I am camping. But I have electricity for my fridge, and two light bulbs, a real bed with foam mattress, and showers and toilets about 100 feet away, so I feel pretty comfortable.
One thing that's different about camping here in Chacala is that the camping spaces that are for rent are much smaller than I am used to in the US. They are usually the size of your palapa, about 15 by 35 feet. Mine in right at the edge of the beach, with a very low wall of rocks separating me from the actual beach. My floor is sand with a rock patio buried underneath the sand. The water is about 15 feet away during high tide and about 40 feet away during low tide. It's great. The water is just beautiful. This morning three young local men were surfing right out in front of my camp, and they looked so lovely, dancing around on the waves.
I seem to have broken one of my smaller toes a few days ago, tripping over a piece of tile on a sidewalk in Las Varas. It hurts enough to make me stay at home. I think it will start feeling better in a day or two. It's kind of nice to be home and have visitors come by. Lots of interesting people in Chacala today. This morning a nice woman gave me Sunday's New York Times. I am in heaven. She also has two New Yorker's she will leave for me.
Mishwa, a long-term Chacala visitor and some-time resident, is here for this Christmas vacation. She is camping in the next site, and last night she told me about a "survey" she is making around town. The question is, is Chacala better now than it was before yachts started arriving, MardeJade was built, the paved road and gated community put it? Those events started about 20 or more years ago. I will report on the answers in a few days.
Living on the beach has been wonderful for me. I love hearing the waves all day and night, and being outside all the time. I just finished reading a wonderful book called Lizabeth and Me. It sounds like it would be depressing, becauses it's by a man who what homeless for three or four years. But I really enjoyed it.
And it made me think that in someways I might be considered sort of homeless in Chacala, but I don't feel homeless at all. I have been moving every six months or so, (always to houses) but now I am camping. But I have electricity for my fridge, and two light bulbs, a real bed with foam mattress, and showers and toilets about 100 feet away, so I feel pretty comfortable.
One thing that's different about camping here in Chacala is that the camping spaces that are for rent are much smaller than I am used to in the US. They are usually the size of your palapa, about 15 by 35 feet. Mine in right at the edge of the beach, with a very low wall of rocks separating me from the actual beach. My floor is sand with a rock patio buried underneath the sand. The water is about 15 feet away during high tide and about 40 feet away during low tide. It's great. The water is just beautiful. This morning three young local men were surfing right out in front of my camp, and they looked so lovely, dancing around on the waves.
I seem to have broken one of my smaller toes a few days ago, tripping over a piece of tile on a sidewalk in Las Varas. It hurts enough to make me stay at home. I think it will start feeling better in a day or two. It's kind of nice to be home and have visitors come by. Lots of interesting people in Chacala today. This morning a nice woman gave me Sunday's New York Times. I am in heaven. She also has two New Yorker's she will leave for me.
Mishwa, a long-term Chacala visitor and some-time resident, is here for this Christmas vacation. She is camping in the next site, and last night she told me about a "survey" she is making around town. The question is, is Chacala better now than it was before yachts started arriving, MardeJade was built, the paved road and gated community put it? Those events started about 20 or more years ago. I will report on the answers in a few days.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Sunday Morning in Chacala
I woke up at 7am this morning, late for me. The sound of the waves usually seem to wake me up at daylight. But I puttered around and cooked breakfast, a bacon sandwich and some grapefuit and watermelon. The ocean was a beautiful green this morning.
As I walked up to Casa Pacifica a little later, quite a few people seem to have hangover-headaches this morning. The big fiesta/grand opening yesterday for the new hotel offered lots and lots of free cerveza and tequilla, and food, and the loudest music I have ever heard in Chacala. There was a ten-man band with an incredibly loud speaker system. I went for a few minutes around 5pm, and there were alot of people there. Almost no local people. And a large table of local Americans and American/Canadian vistors. I loved watching the dancing, especially Guillermo and his wife Lupita, owners of Casa Chacala, who were dancing up a storm.
Espraranza's campground had a full complement of kid campers this weekend. A group of sixty kids and some adults from a pentathalon (not spelled right) sports club in Guadalajara. They walked over to Las Cuevas yesterday. A nice group.
I was surprised how territorial and invaded I felt when I came back to my camp after dark and found it surrounded on two sides by tents, and herds of roaming kids. The first night was kind of annoying. My laundry was knocked onto the ground by someone, and my water jug spilled over. And kids fell into my tent twice that night. But it calmed down by 10pm, and in the daylight the kids were more careful about where they were walking.
The moon is still pretty full and the nights are beautiful. It's still a little cold at night, but tourists are still wandering around in shorts and tee shirts at night, so I think I have just gotten accustomed to being warm all the time.
Susana and Poncie are hosting a Christmas Day potluck at their Cafe at Casa Pacifica and Las Brisas is having a Christmas Eve dinner at the restaurant. Everyone is expecting a big influx of Mexican tourists in the next few days. The puestos (little shack-like stores on the beach road) have been opening up the last few days. The big EBACH (scholarship program run by an American for Chacala kids) Christmas party for Chacala kids is on Wednesday, I think. The EBACH kids do a great job.
Koko Bongo's store is carrying more and more grocery items. It's a nice clean store and I like supporting a Chacalaen-owned store.
The ocean water feels chilly for a minute, then it's fine. I haven't seen any whales this week, but I know they'll be along again soon. The days are warm and sunny and lovely. As soon as I finish this I am back to my camp to loll around and relax. I am buying a hammock next week, and I can't wait.
As I walked up to Casa Pacifica a little later, quite a few people seem to have hangover-headaches this morning. The big fiesta/grand opening yesterday for the new hotel offered lots and lots of free cerveza and tequilla, and food, and the loudest music I have ever heard in Chacala. There was a ten-man band with an incredibly loud speaker system. I went for a few minutes around 5pm, and there were alot of people there. Almost no local people. And a large table of local Americans and American/Canadian vistors. I loved watching the dancing, especially Guillermo and his wife Lupita, owners of Casa Chacala, who were dancing up a storm.
Espraranza's campground had a full complement of kid campers this weekend. A group of sixty kids and some adults from a pentathalon (not spelled right) sports club in Guadalajara. They walked over to Las Cuevas yesterday. A nice group.
I was surprised how territorial and invaded I felt when I came back to my camp after dark and found it surrounded on two sides by tents, and herds of roaming kids. The first night was kind of annoying. My laundry was knocked onto the ground by someone, and my water jug spilled over. And kids fell into my tent twice that night. But it calmed down by 10pm, and in the daylight the kids were more careful about where they were walking.
The moon is still pretty full and the nights are beautiful. It's still a little cold at night, but tourists are still wandering around in shorts and tee shirts at night, so I think I have just gotten accustomed to being warm all the time.
Susana and Poncie are hosting a Christmas Day potluck at their Cafe at Casa Pacifica and Las Brisas is having a Christmas Eve dinner at the restaurant. Everyone is expecting a big influx of Mexican tourists in the next few days. The puestos (little shack-like stores on the beach road) have been opening up the last few days. The big EBACH (scholarship program run by an American for Chacala kids) Christmas party for Chacala kids is on Wednesday, I think. The EBACH kids do a great job.
Koko Bongo's store is carrying more and more grocery items. It's a nice clean store and I like supporting a Chacalaen-owned store.
The ocean water feels chilly for a minute, then it's fine. I haven't seen any whales this week, but I know they'll be along again soon. The days are warm and sunny and lovely. As soon as I finish this I am back to my camp to loll around and relax. I am buying a hammock next week, and I can't wait.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
More Building in Chacala
There is another new building going up on the second tier of lots in from the paved road into Chacala, going north from the new hotel. They have been creating a road to the back lots the last few days. I don’t know what is being built but, it appears to be more that a one-lot construction site. P.S. (written later, it turns out part of that road will be an access road to the back of the new hotel.) And access for the houses to be built on the second tier of lots on the uphill side of the paved road.
The is also a new road being built in Chacala from the paved road down to the beach road. At the beach road it will come out between Koko Bongo’s and on the paved road it starts just in front of Augustine's the first of the four buildings on the downhill side of the paved road, right before the corner where the cobblestone road goes down to Juan’s tienda and the beach road. It seems like a pretty steep location, and I guess it will add value to the lots on either side of the road. One of the lots Leo of Koko Bongo’s is selling is on the slope on the north side of the new road. Probably a decent view lot.
The lot directly downhill from Gordon’s and across the road to Casa Pacifica now has an ugly (in my opinion) motor home parked on a bare dirt fill lot with no trees, plus a bright red truck with a gold camper parked next to it. It looks like a junky trailer park. Just what Chacala needs. A gringo slum.
FREE LUNCH UPDATE
The people with the motor home are still camping next to the beach. It sounds like they paid up and then refused to pay for any more nights because soon the Christmas vacationers will be in Chacala and camping around them so they shouldn’t have to pay. I was told that in Spanish, so I may have misunderstood. I haven’t seen if the police returned yet or not.
I spent 15 minutes picking up their garbage this afternoon. They and the guy from the US who is squatting in a shack on the beach, have been leaving plastic shopping bags of garbage next to the road. Of course, the dogs were tearing open the bags and spreading the garbage all around. Chacala is entered in a clean town campaign right now, with prizes, and their litter was the only trash on this whole section of the road. Sometimes it’s really embarrassing to be an American (or in this case, I would be embarrassed if I was French-Canadian).
If you would like to look at other websites about Chacala this website might interest you.
The is also a new road being built in Chacala from the paved road down to the beach road. At the beach road it will come out between Koko Bongo’s and on the paved road it starts just in front of Augustine's the first of the four buildings on the downhill side of the paved road, right before the corner where the cobblestone road goes down to Juan’s tienda and the beach road. It seems like a pretty steep location, and I guess it will add value to the lots on either side of the road. One of the lots Leo of Koko Bongo’s is selling is on the slope on the north side of the new road. Probably a decent view lot.
The lot directly downhill from Gordon’s and across the road to Casa Pacifica now has an ugly (in my opinion) motor home parked on a bare dirt fill lot with no trees, plus a bright red truck with a gold camper parked next to it. It looks like a junky trailer park. Just what Chacala needs. A gringo slum.
FREE LUNCH UPDATE
The people with the motor home are still camping next to the beach. It sounds like they paid up and then refused to pay for any more nights because soon the Christmas vacationers will be in Chacala and camping around them so they shouldn’t have to pay. I was told that in Spanish, so I may have misunderstood. I haven’t seen if the police returned yet or not.
I spent 15 minutes picking up their garbage this afternoon. They and the guy from the US who is squatting in a shack on the beach, have been leaving plastic shopping bags of garbage next to the road. Of course, the dogs were tearing open the bags and spreading the garbage all around. Chacala is entered in a clean town campaign right now, with prizes, and their litter was the only trash on this whole section of the road. Sometimes it’s really embarrassing to be an American (or in this case, I would be embarrassed if I was French-Canadian).
If you would like to look at other websites about Chacala this website might interest you.
The Ocean in Chacala is Phosphorescent
I am not sure if phosphorescent is right word, but the last two nights every wave on the Chacala beach had a beautiful sort of fluorescent glow. It’s just beautiful. Three of us just been an hour sitting in the dark watching the glowing waves It was so beautiful.
It’s still going on but I came inside to sleep, But I couldn’t sleep so I am writing.
Two of the three bike riders are still in town, camping down the beach from me. They have just finished a semester of studying Spanish in Guadalajara and are very fun to visit with. Will, one of the bike riding boys, and Mishwa, both think the glow is from some kind of algae. It is so amazing. I opened the tent window so I watch while I type. It is just so beautiful. The foamy part seems to be what is glowing, and maybe the almost full moon is adding to the light. Every time a wave crashes light bounces all around. Another lovely part of Chacala, and probably up and down the coast.
The traditional walk to the shrine for Guadaloupe did not actually happen last night. By the time they gone to every shrine in Chacala (built especially for last night and today), and had eaten some special foods at each place, it was 2am and everyone was too tired, or had to go to work, or to get the kids ready for school. So they are going tonight. A few minutes ago the fireworks went off and the church bells rang, letting everyone know it was time to met at the church and start the walk.
Oops, Mishwa just came back from the walk to the shrine. She said it was lovely. There were about forty Chacala people, including lots of teens. They sang beautifully the whole way carrying candles and she was really glad she went.
It’s kind of cold in Chacala tonight. 70 degrees F at 8pm. It’s very dewy in the morning these days, even away from the beach. I don’t remember so much dew from other years.
They seem to be more whales coming through again.
It’s still going on but I came inside to sleep, But I couldn’t sleep so I am writing.
Two of the three bike riders are still in town, camping down the beach from me. They have just finished a semester of studying Spanish in Guadalajara and are very fun to visit with. Will, one of the bike riding boys, and Mishwa, both think the glow is from some kind of algae. It is so amazing. I opened the tent window so I watch while I type. It is just so beautiful. The foamy part seems to be what is glowing, and maybe the almost full moon is adding to the light. Every time a wave crashes light bounces all around. Another lovely part of Chacala, and probably up and down the coast.
The traditional walk to the shrine for Guadaloupe did not actually happen last night. By the time they gone to every shrine in Chacala (built especially for last night and today), and had eaten some special foods at each place, it was 2am and everyone was too tired, or had to go to work, or to get the kids ready for school. So they are going tonight. A few minutes ago the fireworks went off and the church bells rang, letting everyone know it was time to met at the church and start the walk.
Oops, Mishwa just came back from the walk to the shrine. She said it was lovely. There were about forty Chacala people, including lots of teens. They sang beautifully the whole way carrying candles and she was really glad she went.
It’s kind of cold in Chacala tonight. 70 degrees F at 8pm. It’s very dewy in the morning these days, even away from the beach. I don’t remember so much dew from other years.
They seem to be more whales coming through again.
New Hotel in Chacala
The new hotel on the paved road, just north of Aurora and Lupe's Techos, is opening on Saturday afternoon. Big grand opening. Apparently everyone invited, but many local people have told me they aren't planning to go becaue they haven't been invited personally. The owner, Luis, is an Mexican/American from Palm Springs, and his family has a cement company there.
It's scary to think of that big hotel up there, 15 rooms, six with kitchens. And a restaurant with bar and a pool.
Oh well.
It's scary to think of that big hotel up there, 15 rooms, six with kitchens. And a restaurant with bar and a pool.
Oh well.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Guadalupe in Chacala
I am writing this just before daylight in Chacala. I am sitting on my bed in my lovely tent. I can see it’s getting light in the east and can hear the sound of the ocean.
Last night I went to bed about 7pm, planning to take a nap for a couple of hours and then get up and go up to the iglesia, the Chacala church, for the special festivities for the eve of the special day honoring Guadalupe (December 12th). Which is actually today, but the event starts the night before with a kind of Mass with lots of singing, and a hot drink made with vanilla, and visits to small home shrines to Guadalupe. And the a midnight walk to the Guadalupe shrine about a mile down the paved road.
We had walked up to the Chacala church just before dark, and it was decorated beautifully, with special flowers and decorations around the lovely statue of Guadalupe.
There are several special decorations around town yesterday, in honor of Guadalupe. At Dona Lupe’s restaurant, Fonda Lupe, there is a beautiful collection of framed paintings, and flowers and special Christmas lights. And Maria/Palila and the house next to Sarai's little grocery/school both had beautiful decorations. Don Enrique's restaurant had music AND decorations.
It just occured to me, maybe the Guadalupe decorations are like Christmas decorations in the States. They sometimes get kind of competitive.
Last night, and every year, lots of people from Chacala walk together on the road to Las Varas, to the shrine for Guadalupe. It was originally built about ten years ago on a special tree trunk, and then when the new road was built about six years ago the people of Chacala made a permanent shrine out of cement. People walk there a lot, and often leave flowers. When the collectivo drives by the shrine most people cross themselves.
I have been invited to two birthday parties today, one for a baby girl named Guadalupe and other other for my former landlady, Guadalupe. I didn’t put it together until last night that most of the women who are named Guadalupe are named that because they were born on her day, December 12th.
I am continually amazed at all the things I don’t know about life in Chacala. It’s handy for me to know most, if not all, Guadalupe’s were born today. Easy to remember their birthdays.
Anyway, I never woke up from my nap, and missed the whole thing. I love the idea of walking together in the night, but maybe next year.
P S. UPDATE ON THE "FREE LUNCH" PEOPLE:
Last night at dark the police (five of them) showed up to tell the people that didn’t want to pay the rent for their campsite that they had to pay or leave immediately. Apparently the non-payers are leaving this morning. Don Beto said the police told them they would be arrested if they hadn’t left Chacala when by the time the police returned today. I guess every tourist town attracts people who think they deserve a free lunch.
Last night I went to bed about 7pm, planning to take a nap for a couple of hours and then get up and go up to the iglesia, the Chacala church, for the special festivities for the eve of the special day honoring Guadalupe (December 12th). Which is actually today, but the event starts the night before with a kind of Mass with lots of singing, and a hot drink made with vanilla, and visits to small home shrines to Guadalupe. And the a midnight walk to the Guadalupe shrine about a mile down the paved road.
We had walked up to the Chacala church just before dark, and it was decorated beautifully, with special flowers and decorations around the lovely statue of Guadalupe.
There are several special decorations around town yesterday, in honor of Guadalupe. At Dona Lupe’s restaurant, Fonda Lupe, there is a beautiful collection of framed paintings, and flowers and special Christmas lights. And Maria/Palila and the house next to Sarai's little grocery/school both had beautiful decorations. Don Enrique's restaurant had music AND decorations.
It just occured to me, maybe the Guadalupe decorations are like Christmas decorations in the States. They sometimes get kind of competitive.
Last night, and every year, lots of people from Chacala walk together on the road to Las Varas, to the shrine for Guadalupe. It was originally built about ten years ago on a special tree trunk, and then when the new road was built about six years ago the people of Chacala made a permanent shrine out of cement. People walk there a lot, and often leave flowers. When the collectivo drives by the shrine most people cross themselves.
I have been invited to two birthday parties today, one for a baby girl named Guadalupe and other other for my former landlady, Guadalupe. I didn’t put it together until last night that most of the women who are named Guadalupe are named that because they were born on her day, December 12th.
I am continually amazed at all the things I don’t know about life in Chacala. It’s handy for me to know most, if not all, Guadalupe’s were born today. Easy to remember their birthdays.
Anyway, I never woke up from my nap, and missed the whole thing. I love the idea of walking together in the night, but maybe next year.
P S. UPDATE ON THE "FREE LUNCH" PEOPLE:
Last night at dark the police (five of them) showed up to tell the people that didn’t want to pay the rent for their campsite that they had to pay or leave immediately. Apparently the non-payers are leaving this morning. Don Beto said the police told them they would be arrested if they hadn’t left Chacala when by the time the police returned today. I guess every tourist town attracts people who think they deserve a free lunch.
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