Pro Animal Melaque Fundraiser

At Restaurante Esmeralda

BINGO FUNDRAISER

Please join us for a fun afternoon this Thursday at 1:00PM. Local merchants have donated prizes for each of the games, and there will be a couple of special cash pot games for those who wish to buy an extra card. We've got a lot of great items in our Silent Auction as well, and you don't need to play bingo to participate. 50/50 raffle tickets give you a chance at another cash payout. We also will have for sale some of our logo items (t-shirts & caps).

All of our spay & neuter, medical, & rescue efforts are made possible by our fundraisers, so come out and show your support for the animals of the Costalegre!

Cisco's Amigos - Barra Clinic - Dec 3

Cisco's Amigos will be holding it's first Barra de Navidad free spay and neuter clinic starting December 3rd. and running until December 7th. This will be our 23rd clinic in the area. The clinic will be held at the Campo de Futbol as you drive into Barra.

If anyone would like to help out please send an e-mail to ciscosamigos@hotmail.com or call @ 351-5164 if you have questions.

Volunteering a small amount of time is a wonderful way of not only helping the animals, but it's a way of giving back to our Mexican neighbors.

Cisco's is dedicated to providing the much needed sterilization services to the dogs and cats of the communities of the Costalegre. During our clinics we provide experienced help for overseeing the recovery of the animals after their surgeries and we provide medicines for parasites, fleas, ticks and provide help for any other medical problems the animals might have- all without charge.

Electrica Costalegre

Another Gringo business other than the seasonal restaurant or bar. A Canadian couple and the mother of one of them started the electric parts store about 6 months ago. They seem very well stocked, knowledgeable and ready to order what you need.   Nice folks as well.

Note from them on the local message board

We have just opened the orange electrical store in Villa Obregon, just a tope or two west of the Pemex .... or across the highway from Alvaro Obregón.

We are here to serve the community, to bring in the goods that you had to drive to Manzanillo for (like Pool timers), to supply some NICE decorator lighting, LED lighting, designer switch plates.

Yes we have nuts and bolts things like wire, extension cords, breakers and fuses if you have a new build or renovation.

The thrust of this post is to hear from YOU

Tell us what you need, what you want, what would be nice to have or smart to have. We'll be going on a couple buying trips in the next month to meet suppliers of unique hard to find inventory.

We'll have interesting items arriving in January, internet 'No break', some more security camera systems to offer alongside our current top of the line BTicino unit, wireless boosters and with your input, the things that you want, the things you can't find, and even if we don't stock it, we can at least source suppliers for the product and special order when the need arises.

Highway 80 to become 4 lanes?

South Coast  Mayors and the Tourist Associations Call for 4-Lane Road To Costalegre

COSTALEGRE. 06/JUNIO/2013. 

They believe that if Highway 80 were 4 lanes to Costalegre it would be a huge help to the tourist market.

The real trigger for tourist life would Costalegre termination of federal highway 80, in the stretch to the Costalegre, to four lanes, and that is why the mayors of the south coast region, and the association of hotels, motels and Costalegre developers are requesting the work.

"We are asking the Governor to get back to the continuation of Highway 80, so people can come to us from Guadalajara to the Costalegre, on a road with less risk and more quickly, 80 percent of our tourism we have in the Costalegre, comes from Guadalajara ".

Piden Carretera De 4 Carriles Para Costalegre

Politically correct Mexico - Carnaval

Everything is ready for February 24 to March 01 the opening of the traditional "Carnaval Costalegre" with a series of events ranging from arts and cultural presentations, to competitions and sporting events and dances.

The Mayor of Cihuatlán, Roberto Gallardo Ruiz, said the "feria del pescado" will be in its second season, and is already prepared, it will be on Sunday 27 February.

The "feria del pescado", an event that was first held the past year, is an initiative of the current municipal authorities Cihuatlán seeks to institutionalize the event to be held every year.

Prior to this "feria del pescado" on Saturday 26, there will be a fishing tournament, where the municipal authority as a prize awarded to first place an outboard, "we are inviting the people of the region to participate in this exciting tournament that is part of what we have for this year's Carnival, "he added.

According to the schedule of events unveiled the organizing committee of "Carnaval Costalegre 2011" which is based Barra de Navidad, referred to photographic exhibitions, cultural performances and art, an art exhibition, sporting events, a race in La Manzanilla, and the traditional competition to choose the carnival queen.

Foto and article from Correo de Manzanillo

Another video of the indigenous school in Pinal Villa

La Escuela #3 - Overview of indigenous school, medical, housing, and music event. This school is just outside Melaque Jalisco on the Costalegre.

Surfing Melaque Costalegre

Surfing (on long-boards) on the Melaque side of the Bahia de Navidad is rare because we mostly have a steep beach break. The only exceptions are during the rainy season when sandbars are created from the outflow. This video was taken after the opening of the Lagoon last summer when there was enough sand deposited to make some good surfing for 3-4 days

Butterflies and Flowers in Pinal Villa

I guess I could have tried 50 times more to get the butterflies in focus but I had to go talk to our electrician to check on the best routing for house wiring. The lot next door is full of these wildflowers that grow to 6-7 feet and attract 4-5 different types of butterflies ... but no more rain in this comming season, all will soon dry up

Flowers on the lot nextdoor near Melaque, Costalegre

Bienvenidos a Melaque

I guess it had to come eventually since so many other towns have similar welcome signs (monoliths). This will be the largest one in the immediate area of the Costalegre that I know of. This is on the west end of Melaque at the entrance that is a continuation of Highway 80.

High water in the Lagoon

I'd heard the Laguna de Tules was filling up again after about 3 days of steady rain from Tropical Depression Lowell as it passed by. Sure enough, the docks along the Malecon (andador or walkway) are about 6 inches under water. The boat is doing OK so maybe a floating dock next time.

On another note, I just read that the Laguna de Tules walkway project failed to get proper environmental permission from the Federal Government. Thats the reason it's closed and not because it's starting to fall apart - which it is.

Dock under water

Looking back towards more rain clouds

Melaque, Costalegre, Jalisco, Mexico

Tropical storm Douglas

Tropical storm Douglas formed off Mexico on Wednesday, threatening to strengthen and dump heavy rain to a large swathe of its Pacific coastline. Packing maximum sustained winds of near 40 mph (65 kph) and higher gusts, Douglas was centered 245 miles (395 km) west southwest of the resort of Manzanillo in Colima state, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.

Douglas was moving northwesterly at 8 mph (13 kph) and headed generally toward the Baja California peninsula, where the Los Cabos resort is located, but was not expected to make landfall on its current track.

"Heavy rains associated with Douglas could affect portions of the southwestern coast of Mexico between Lazaro Cardenas and Puerto Vallarta," the center said.

Three days of rain in Melaque but the ground was not saturated so there was no flooding. They did open the lagoon to the ocean (first time this year) so the bay was full of debris and lirio

West end beach restaurants and panagas


West end beach where the canal opens

Melaque, Costalegre, Jalisco, Mexico

Early evening fotos of Melaque

Early evening is the best time for good light and people are out and about compared to mornings - late risers that Mexicans are. These are just a few taken a few nights ago with all the Gringos gone

Setting up on 'Taco Row'

Tacos in the Mercado

Tienda de Plasticos

Paleteria - Ice Cream

Tacos by the sea

Melaque, Costalegre Mexico

Melaque Skim Contest 2008

Con dos días validos de competencia y con participantes provenientes de Cabo san Lucas, Acapulco, Manzanillo, Puerto escondido, Guadalajara y Laguna Beach, se dio cita a la cuarta edición del skim contest de Melaque Jalisco.
X3M Melaque Skim Contest 2008

x3m.com.mx

X3Mex Skim Melaque 2008

X3Mex Skim board Contest Melaque 2008 - February 1st,2nd and 3rd

Last years contest was a success and well attended but this year it even looks to be larger. Last year there was only one surfer from Acapulco - this year there will be four. Also a promise a of few more guys from the US.

This is a little early to post this event but I have a neighbor that will be competing and he keeps reminding me it's coming.

X3Mex Skim Melaque 2008 - Jalisco Mexico - the Costalegre

Day of the Dead in Melaque

November 3rd is Day of the Dead in Mexico and this is a High School competition on the Plaza in Melaque on November 1st. Student teams create the displays that resemble the way grave sites are decorated. Offerings include food, booze, favorite music, clothes and other personal items. When the sun goes down candles and small fires are lit

More Day of the Dead fotos - Melaque, Costalegre

Musica por nuestra Gente - Melaque

November third (this Saturday) there will be a fund raising concert at the 'conha de futbol' in Barra de Navidad (that's the soccer field as you enter Barra). This fund raiser is to help the people of Melaque who were flooded a few months ago and lost most everything.

Tickets are $80 pesos early or $100 at the door. All the groups are major Mexican bands so consider it if you are here. Rostro Ocultos, Nahuta, Beto Piteado, Hugo Rodrigues, etc

First rain of the season

First good rain of the season, a little early and without a month of very hot weather preceding. It's been raining now for a couple hours, lost electric a few times, some thunder. The weatherman was right

You may not think this a vey big thing but rain is what cools us off and brings back the beauty of the coast. Actually most of Mexico is pretty dry right now and really looks forward to the rain. We also have 'land crabs' that spend 90% of the dry season underground. The first rain always brings out tons of them. Cars run over them, kids and pets kill them and their holes (cave entrances) are everywhere. These little monsters range in size from a few inches to 6-7 inches across. There are even some large enough near La Manzanilla, the locals eat them.

The first foto is our street just before the rain started with dark clouds in the background. Then, after the rain followed by a larger than normal crab buddy

Red Tide - Marea Roja

Red Tide or Marea Roja (called locally) is here in Melaque and the Costalegre. The ocean smells terrible within a couple of blocks. Not sure what the fishermen are doing but it is advised not to eat any seafood for the duration. I thought it had to do with warm water but the ocean is cold here now - and Red Tide is common as far north as Canada.

"Red Tide" is a common name for a phenomenon known as an algal bloom, an event in which estuarine, marine, or fresh water algae accumulate rapidly in the water column, or "bloom". These algae, more correctly termed phytoplankton, are microscopic, single-celled protists, plant-like organisms that can form dense, visible patches near the water's surface. Certain species of phytoplankton contain photosynthetic pigments that vary in color from green to brown to red, and when the algae are present in high concentrations, the water appears to be discolored or murky, varying in color from white to almost black, normally being red or brown. Not all algal blooms are dense enough to cause water discoloration, and not all discolored waters associated with algal blooms are red. Additionally, red tides are not typically associated with tidal movement of water, hence the preference among scientists to use the term algal bloom.

The Melaque Cave

If anyone has wanted to check out the cave - now is the time to do it. They have the whole area in front cleared. Not sure if this is a once a year thing to keep the brush down or if something is planned.

Oddly enough I noticed a small sign on the lateral street saying Rapel and an arrow pointing in that direction. The cliff is pretty shear so it might be the next Melaque attaction.

The Cave entrance just off the highway

The rock face they'll use to rapel

"Some fellows, I think from Guadalajara, came by our store over Semana Santa and asked if they could put up a poster about Rapeling in Melaque, they also had a poster up at Christmas. Don't know much about it apart from that but the poster is still up in the office with a contact number from the 333 exchange if anyone feels like jumping off a cliff."


Besides clearing the land they won't have to do much except maybe build a palapa to work out of.

And then comes Semana Santa

... and this was only last Thursday. This weekend we are staying away from the beach because there's not even a place to sit, let alone walk. Bus after bus load of people has been rolling in for the last week. There are 10+ police directing traffic, streets are closed at night downtown, extra police and ambulances from around the state are here, Mariachi and highschool bands walk the beach and town. Bring your stove, a tank of gas, a few plastic chairs and set up a restaurant in the median. Everyone that lives in Melaque is selling something.

Our end of town is less crowded because the ocean is less friendly here with large waves. Red flags line the beach but people are still entering the water. So far one drowning and a broken arm - both in the center of town. Hopefully no more problems as the crowds will start to thin out this week.

West end beach

West end beach