Exequiel Lazareno passed yesterday

He drowned last night while surfing. It's rumored he was hit by a boat but just a rumor. He was the owner of Bar Albatros which I had not visited but heard it was a cool place. He has been working on a few acres his family owns along the road to Pinal Villa and I've stopped to talk with him a number of times. His dad had a few ovens that he cooked limestone in to make Cal which was used as mortar in the old days. He showed me the ovens and explained the process. 

Very nice guy y descanso en paz Exequiel

Exequiel Lazareno

Oven to make Cal

School vacation in Melaque

Lots of tourists in town, lots of buses from other parts of Mexico

I'm sure local businesses are happy after the last three slow months

How much rain last night

About that much

Melaque ejidatarios can regularize their legal status

Guadalajara, Jal., July 16, 2014

The ejido San Patricio, who for 24 years has fought in courts Melaque beaches in the municipality of Cihuatlan, adjacent to Colima, announced a preliminary agreement with agricultural authorities. To achieve this, it would be one of the few on the coast of Jalisco that have stood the real estate and tourism pressure.

In celebration of 77 years since the founding of the ejido, which for two decades has not been officially recognized, the chairman of the board, Miguel Alvarez Sanchez said are imminent certification of the settlement, the registry update ejidatarios, recognition of the board and the regularization of their ejido endowment.

Ejidatarios de Melaque podrían regularizar su situación jurídica

It seems to me there are not two places of Melaque and San Patricio especially since the ownership of the beach has been settled although at one point the beach and part of town were considered Melaque. According to the sign above San Patricio Ejido was founded in 1937 or 77 years before July 2014 with no mention of why the name. Neighbors say there used to be a small rancho named San Patricio possible owned by a family with that name. Another old timer says Melaque beach used to be called the Beach of Malaquicon.

Cleanup day on the Andador

Andador in Villa Obregon

This is the first stage of a joint cleanup effort between Cihuatlan General Services and the general community. Citizens are helping with the work and contributing snacks and aguas frescas. A constant project with the rains.

Hidalgo extension to be paved

New pavement with adoquin, sidewalks, water and sewer

We were out at the Prepa yesterday getting Uriel enrolled and I noticed some heavy equipment and lots of drainage pipe next to the Sports Complex. On the way back I stopped and asked a supervisor what was up. He said new water lines, sewer, pavement and sidewalks all the way out to the Prepa.  That is great for me driving him to school because that road is usually terrible. I seriously doubt it will be finished before summer vacation is over.

So much for those public Baños

A make work government project gone wrong

Building public bathrooms on the beach without consulting the population is not a real good idea. Above is the remains of the work started on Calle Clemente Orozco. They don't totally block beach access but the area would be closed to vehicles. The other was going to be on the street end next to Sirenitas.

The consensus was if you want to build public bathrooms at least put them in a more secure place like the Plaza. Would the beach baños be locked at sunset or would druggies and rateros have access to them all night. I'm sure the neighbors on either side want these in their front yard. It would be a full time job keeping them clean.

So all signs of the projects will be removed and the street repaired to the way it was a few months ago.

Public baños .... not everyone is pleased

Want the best view in Melaque?

Land for sale in Laguna Los Otates.

Area: 5.34 hectares.

Location: Federal Highway 200, between the communities of Jaluco and Villa Obregon, in the municipality of Cihuatlan, Jalisco.

Direct access by federal highway.

Project: Ideal for a spa, rest home or ecological development.

Information and treatment: 315 104 82 82

Terreno en venta en Laguna Los Otates.

Kaliman # 1 - The Original

Not sure why I haven't stopped and talked to this store before. Maybe that sign is new and it brought them to my attention. My question yesterday was do they have the Tuesday and Thursday specials like the VO store because the one on the highway does not. The answer is yes they do include potatoes and a large soft drink for the same price on those two days. Normal price is 110 pesos for one roasted on a grill chicken, coleslaw, salsa and tortillas. Half a chicken is 60 pesos.

The original store of three

The Pool Hall is across from their grill

Cocodrilo hunting

Nahima (5 years old) wanted to go hunting for cocodrilos so we took a drive around the lagoon all the way over to the new beach camping extension at Laguna del Tules Motel. They have extended their property almost to where the lagoon gets opened when it's full. 

I didn't think we'd be lucky and early evening is probably the best time ... but I hadn't been to the lagoon for awhile and how to tell kids they won't be there. We walked along the Andador over to the ARM that Steve used to write about. Somebody has put in a little time and energy to keep the Andador clean but not much. Pretty run down but still pretty.

We came back along the beach and stopped at the Tourist Police office. We saw the water there had been almost up to the street but difficult to tell how recently. Beautiful colors in the water and a really lively waves on the bay. We were totally surprised by a wave topping the high ridge of the beach and we bolted backwards. Not dangerous but have to have extra concern with a 5 year old. The last foto is Lorena with Nahima's  sandals in one had and Nahima in the other. It was only 4-5 inches deep but did create a little lake behind the "dunes".

Towards Jaluco

Towards the beach

From Laguna del Tules at the mountains

Surprised by wave and we bolted

Wave topping the beach