Melaque's new "sign"

New sign on the plaza

I saw this for the first time yesterday and assume it's been up for the whole festival which ended yesterday. I thought only large towns around Mexico were getting these but they are getting around to the small ones

Locals are unhappy saying it should be San Patricio and Melaque is the West end near the old hotel

Presa El Pedregal

Presa El Pedregal is up highway 80 near Lazaro Cardenas and was built to better control flooding downstream, mainly in Melaque. When I was there a few years ago I don't remember the lake being that large. The water level may have been a lot lower but it sounds like that may not all be water. Last summer local residents reminded the Municipality that the lake had never been dredged. I hope this is not another "build it and abandon it" project so common in Mexico. 

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 about this weather

Snow and hail all over central Mexico and people complaining about the cold. That was from a front coming down from up north but the moisture sure could be the El Niño effect. This current Pacific system certainly is a result of El Niño. Word is most of this will be south of us but we will surely get some rain and our country side will never turn brown this year

A system developing in the Eastern Pacific Ocean will stretch rain into Mexico threatening flooding for this weekend.

Following a front moving from north to south across the country for the end of the week, a low pressure will develop off the Pacific Mexican coasts of Colima and Michoacan de Ocampo. This moisture steers inland just in time for the weekend.

AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Rob Miller said he expects the heaviest rain to start on Saturday and extend into Monday.

Heavy Rain in Mexico This Weekend Raises Flooding Concerns

A new Comex location

There seems to be a real lack of common sense when it comes to opening restaurants in this area .... or maybe all of Mexico? Or maybe it's money to burn? The Chinese place on that corner must have set a record for the shortest lived restaurant in Melaque. I doubt it lasted 5 months. Roasted chicken places open and close in less than a year. Many restaurants last awhile but are constantly playing musical chairs with locations. Part of it is situating themselves better and part is the landlord jacks the rent if he sees them making money. Pretty sad actually and I've seen some of my favorites come and go.

So Comex took advantage of the open space and moved from their hole in the wall store a few blocks toward the beach to this very visible and open store. Good move Comex, we won't have to wonder if you are there 6 months from now.

Laguna del Tules open again

Some people from La Manzanilla were amazed

Some people from La Manzanilla were amazed but we that live here see it quite often, especially this year. As long as the water keeps coming up out of the ground on the north side of the highway the lagoon will continue to fill. Lots of fields can't be planted because they are pure mud and puddles. This happened 15 years ago and I don't think it's going to stop any time soon. Melaque, Mexico

Bamboo building course

Curso Bambú: Construyendo el Desarrollo Sustentable           Bamboo: Building Sustainability

Aprende de silvicultura, tratamiento, usos y transformacion del bambú. Conoce porque el bambú es una buena opción para el desarrollo sustentable  y como sacarle el mayor provecho. Disfruta de este curso dinámico en La Costalegre de Jalisco, México, un verdadero paraíso tropical.   Learn how to grow, treat, process, use and build with bamboo.  Learn why bamboo is an excellent option for building sustainability and how to benefit from it. Enjoy this dynamic course on the Costalegre, Jalisco, Mexico--a true tropical paradise. This dynamic course covers bamboo cultivation techniques, treatment, processing and construction, in addition to transformation of bamboo into artisanal furniture.  The goal is that participants will be able to design and build with bamboo, as well as cultivate it.  The course balances theory and practice.   The course instructor is Mayolo Hernández, one of the experts on bamboo in Mexico.   The course is designed for students, designers, builders, contractors and anyone interested in learning how to build with bamboo. Costo del Curso /Course Costs:     $4,000 PESOS por persona. Incluye materiales, desayunos, comidas, una cena además de un paseo eco-turistico de observación de aves en el manglar de La Mazanilla.*     $335 USD per person.  Includes: materials, breakfasts, lunches, one dinner and an interpretive mangrove birding tour.*   * Pregúntanos por tus opciones de hospedaje  * Ask about accommodation options   Fechas del Curso / Course Dates: 21-24 de Abril, 2014  / April 21-24, 2014 Mayores Informes / For More Information:   davison.collins@gmail.com   www.tierralegre.org/es/cursos/bambu   www.tierralegre.org/courses/bamboo ¡Insríbete Ahora! Hay cupo limite de 25 personas.  Depósito completo requirido para reservar tu espacio.  Envíanos un correo con tu ficha de depósito.    Sign up Now! The course limit is 25 participants.  Full deposit necessary to reserve your space. Send us an e-mail with your deposit receipt.  For U.S. deposits, request U.S. bank account info.   Titular: Davison Daryl Collins Banco: Banamex Sucursal: 0736 Cuenta: 47398 CLABE: 002385073600473981   MX Cel:  (315) 104-5442 MX Tel:   (315) 351-5305 U.S. Tel: (865) 230-7995 María Asunción No. 49-A, La Manzanilla,  Jalisco, C.P. 48898, MEXICO

Gringo Farmer

I guess this guy has been doing this for a few years now but my neighbors just told me that a gringo is the farmer in charge of this sizable section of land, Looking at it on Google earth, beside Pinal Villa, it's L shaped and considerably larger than the foto. The subject came up because the watermelon planted came up so fast as we pass by every day. We assume this guy used to farm watermelon in the southern US and decided to do it here. Most likely the land is leased. A pretty good sized crew of migrant workers are out there every day. Just shows that you don't have to open a seasonal restaurant here if working in Mexico is what you want to do. This mystery gringo lives in Melaque so we may meet up some day for more of the story.

Watermelon "patch" in Pinal Villa

Dia de Muertos, Melaque

Dia de Muertos, Melaque, Mexico

A video by Jack Brock

The festivities and displays by local schools starts today and will be featured on the town plaza through the 2nd of November.   Today is Halloween but not really connected to Dia de los Muetos.   Tomorrow is Dia del los Ninos and the 2nd is Dia de los Muertos.

Summer beach crowds - Melaque

It's school vacation in Mexico and the heavy weather seems to have passed for awhile. I haven't been to the beach to enjoy it for months and usually  enjoy just cooling off in my pool. Two neighbor women and kids wanted to go to the beach yesterday so off we went to our normal hangout, Sirenitas.   Husbands stayed home to play Sunday futbol.

Not sure why I was surprised at the number of people but I was. Water was warm, kids had their usual fun and a little good food. Marcos was floating outside the waves talking to a couple of gringos that were down for a few weeks so we passed some time together. Good to get away from the house and our little community. They want to spend a day at Tenacatita but I'm still unhappy with what happened there. Will have to think about it plus my neighbors want to go as well and don't have room for all.

Revolution Day Melaque

The Mexican Revolution (Spanish: Revolución mexicana) was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz, and lasted for the better part of a decade until around 1920. Over time the Revolution changed from a revolt against the established order to a multi-sided civil war. This armed conflict is often categorized as the most important sociopolitical event in Mexico and one of the greatest upheavals of the 20th century. This is a major holiday in Mexico. This slide show documents the parade that takes place in Melaque every year to celebrate this important event.

Revolución Mexicana, Melaque 2012 - by Jack Brock

Body of missing Canadian found near Barra de Navidad

I just want to say there is a message in this.  Ron did not get hijacked on the highway.   He made a stop where he shouldn't have, flashed money where he shouldn't, or who knows  ..... don't get too relaxed in Mexico and especially when by yourself.   Mexico is not Margaritaville as some would have us believe

Body of missing Canadian found near Barra de Navidad

Tuesday, November 06 2012 16:31 GR Staff

Sources tell the Guadalajara Reporter that the body of a man found in wasteland near the coastal town of Barra de Navidad Tuesday morning has been identified as Ron Lloyd Mackintosh, a Canadian expatriate who was reported missing on October 22.

A source at the Barra de Navidad police station told the Reporter that a municipal patrol found the body about one kilometer from the center of the popular beach resort, near the turnoff to Jaluco.

He said either a family member or friend had been taken to the scene to identify Mackintosh, who originates from British Columbia. Other sources confirmed that a friend of Mackintosh identified him at the site, noting that the body was tied to a tree.

A forensic team was still working at the scene mid-afternoon Tuesday.

Mackintosh was last seen around 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, October 21 on Calle Gomez Farias in Melaque, where he dropped off a friend in his black, B.C.-licensed 2008 Jeep Patriot. Friends say he intended to drive home but never arrived. His girl friend reported him missing to police on Monday, October 22.

Melaque Moments

Published on Aug 31, 2012 by Mickey Coughran
Photos taken in and around Melaque, Jalisco, Mexico, between 2007 and 2012.
Music by Lalo. "Artistic effects" via multiple software programs.
My first attempt at loading to YouTube

Melaque Skim 2012

X3M will be hosting the 2012 Melaque Skim Contest, taking place March 9-11. The event began in 2007 and is the biggest skimboarding contest in Mexico; competitors will be coming from Ixtapa, Oaxaca, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Cabo, Guadalajara and of course Melaque, as well as the United States, France and Brazil.

On Friday the 9th of March final sign ups will take place on the beach after a free skim, followed by a meeting with the contestants. On Saturday and Sunday (the 10th and 11th of March) the contest will be held.

Melaque Skim Contest 2012

Two tropical storms headed our way

Two tropical storms that were well out to sea are being forced to turn NE towards the coast of Mexico due to weather currents along the US border. A very unusual situation over my last 6 years here. Jova is closer but Irwin is a little bigger. Reports say if they don't take strength from each other we may have a level 2 hurricane landfall by early next week

Sirenitas Saturday busy

I totally forgot about Cleone's birthday party and after a day's work on the house I dropped by to see who was at Sirenitas. Not only the long table full of 30+ gringos (which you don't need to see), but almost all their tables were full.

Elke and Vern went swimming and said the water was perfect and it was. Sad to say it's a combination of working every day ... and when you live on the beach you don't use it. Last time I went in the ocean it was chilly and in a few months it will be like soup. I have been missing perfect water.

Beach tables at Sirenitas

View of the beach

Sirenita's restaurant, Melaque Jalisco, Mexico

First possible storm of the season (100%)

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
500 PM PDT SUN JUN 5 2011

Showers and thunderstorms continue in association with a low pressure area located about 450 miles south of Acapulco Mexico. even though there has not been any recent change in the organization of the shower and thunderstorm activity, satellite images indicate that the circulation has become better defined over the past few hours. Environmental conditions appear favorable for further development, and the low will likely become a tropical depression during the next day or two. There is a high chance, 90 percent, Of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours as it drifts to the northwest.

This is the Western Pacific map that will change with time.

At least for a few days we can watch this one

Pinal Villa school for migrant kids

Nice video of the migrant school project in Pinal Villa

Children, who work all day in the fields near Melaque, Mexico, go to school for a couple of hours in the evening. They are driven to and from the school by John LaPointe. In this clip, musician Miguel visits the kids to sing and teach guitar.

Día de la Revolución en Pinal Villa

With the vacation day last Monday to make a three day weekend I forgot Saturday, the 20th, was the Día de la Revolución when they have parades. Downtown Melaque streets were being rerouted for a few hours in the morning because they have a large parade with floats, Queens of something, dignitaries in convertibles and every school class in the area.

Pinal Villa has 2 classes basically but both are Primary divided by age. No cars or floats ... just kids in school uniform. Normally I would run around looking for better views but this was just about it.

It was my maestro's (brick layer) birthday yesterday and we closed the work day with a bar-b-que (carne asada) and a few buckets of beer. Then more people showed up, bought more meat, re-lit the bar-b-que and more beer and ended up at a neighbors house who had better music. Ah the life in Mexico!

Gonna rain

Every 2-3 days we get a weather buildup against the mountains that reaches the beach. Lots of rolling thunder and sheet lightning. Almost no wind and it's starting to sprinkle. It might last for an hour or so or into the evening. Humid but cooler because almost no sun all day. Another day at the beach in Mexico