Cogan’s Reviews Here’s a guidebook with a very definite difference. It doesn’t just set out in the usual way to give you a rundown on the community and make suggestions on what to do and where to go. Rather, Joseph Harmes, has put together a rather incredible list of ‘bests’ – some 126 pages of […]
Continue ReadingCogan’s Reviews I’ll confess to having some trouble getting into this collection of stories. I found the first two tales so downbeat that I wondered if I could read the rest. I persisted, however, and I’m glad I did. They aren’t the most pleasant stories you’ll ever find and the characters – both Mexican and […]
Continue ReadingCogan’s Reviews Here’s a story that takes in a complete life, from childhood well into adulthood, and from rags to riches. It’s a story that is of interest to we residents in the Lake Chapala area as it starts out in Ajijic and covers a fair number of years there – or should I say here. […]
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I should explain at the outset that I have lived in Ajijic on the shores of Lake Chapala for the past five years and there are days when I’ll admit I feel surrounded by Americans and Canadians. I can see all the reasons for living here as happily as I do — the climate, the […]
Continue ReadingPoint your car (or take the bus) along the south side of Lake Chapala, past San Pedro Tesistan and San Cristobal Zapotitlan and San Luis Soyatlan and San Nicolas and Tepeguaje to Tuxcueca. Make a right turn and keep your eyes wide open. You may encounter official Mexican soldiers conducting inspections. Sometimes they just look. […]
Continue ReadingMy exalted editor, spelling coach and inspirational wife of more than 50 years said my chosen subject for this month wasn’t very good so we’ll skip what I thought was an award-winning essay and go directly to questions and answers. Question: I’ve read about your forthcoming book. What the heck are you doing in Mexico? Answer: Having a delightful […]
Continue ReadingThe first time was in New York, along Seventh Avenue, near the intersection with Broadway, where the streets come together to make a piece of pie. No doubt I was gawking. Might as well have carried a sign saying “Country bumpkin at the county fair.” A dapper little gentleman, who, in real life, could have […]
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Ancient Chinese proverb say ox in ditch bad news. Really bad if your ox. Lirio (water hyacinths) on Lake Chapala, in the colorful state of Jalisco, in this magical country called Mexico, is bad news. Because the ugly green carpet spent too much of the winter at our end of the lake, it’s really bad — […]
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I bought another watch the other day. I didn’t need it, but there is great joy in negotiating with the watch salesman. A chunky, little man works the villages along the north side of Lake Chapala in the exciting state of Jalisco. His specialty is watches with fancy faces, famous names and very ordinary insides. […]
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There once was a questionnaire regarding what was best and worst about Mexico. There was no available data about number of respondents or when or where the survey was conducted so I will concede it was unofficial and most likely unscientific. Just guessing that questions and answers were in English. Results were. The timing was […]
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