FAT TUESDAY

FAT TUESDAY

 

Fat Tuesday is the traditional name for the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. It is more commonly known as Mardi-Gras, which is simply Fat Tuesday in French. It gets its name from the custom, in many Catholic countries, of marking the day with feasting before the fasting season of Lent begins.

Here in Ajijic for the traditional parade they throw instead of beads; baking flour or confetti. 

Last Tuesday Dan and I went to the organic market and on our way back we stopped at this organic coffee shop in the heart of Ajijic.  Oh, no we were right in the middle of all the excitement.  It was around 10:00 in the morning and baking flour everywhere, along the parade route.  Never the less, we ended up with flour all over us. 

Check out the pictures that I took of the parade…

 

 

El Andador Organic & Healthy Food

DANIEL THE CHEF

 I am very humbled to be able to talk about the chef that I had when being treated for functional medicine.  Unfortunately, he is no longer at the facility but, has opened up his own business.  He prepares food for outpatients and delivers to them personally.  The food is all organic and gluten free.  I love the way he prepares the food for he puts his whole self into it ~ gourmet.

If you are in the Tijuana area look him up, you will not be disappointed.  Check his menu below along with some pictures of foods that he creates.  

 
Tel (664) 864-1115 or (664) 303-2573

FEBRUARY IS CARNAVAL TIME ( MARDI GRAS) HERE IN CHAPALA

 

Last night started the first day of Mardi Gras, so here in Chapala they celebrate with a parade and a carnival.  Unfortunately, I left my sim card in my computer therefore, was unable to take more pictures.  I tried to capture what I could with what I had in my camera.  Down below is the history of the event...

 

 

 

 

 

February is Carnaval Time—a final and often frenzied spate of fun and frivolity before the onset of Lent. In Mexico, as in other countries throughout the Christian world, the week before Ash Wednesday is a period of gaiety sparked by fiestas, pageantry and all around fun. But like so many celebrations here, Mexican versions of Carnaval are likely to combine elements of pre-Columbian folklore and legend with Catholic tradition to create events unlike those encountered elsewhere.           
             

  Actually, the tradition of Carnaval (or Mardi Gras, as it is known in some places) pre-dates Christianity itself, having roots in ancient Greek rituals honoring Dionysus, god of wine and revelry. The Romans, who were always ready for a good party, continued the tradition in their Saturnalia rituals and orgies, celebrations later combined with pagan rituals of other conquered people.
              
 As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the old tradition became linked to a time of merrymaking preceding the annual Carnes Levandas, a Latin term meaning removal of meat (for Lent) which was later shortened to Carne Vale and finally Carnaval.           
              
Songs, dancing, parades and spectacles became the focus of such celebrations and various city-states competed to stage the most elaborate festivities.
              
Meanwhile, across the ocean, the ancient Mayans were holding religious festivals in early spring with processions and dances that mocked their officials and chieftans. Other pre-Columbian cultures held elaborate rain-making ceremonies at the height of the dry season. Certain fertility rites were also staged as the dry season neared an end.
              
As the European and Mexican cultures combined, Carnaval became another occasion for indigenous people to maintain a bit of their ancient tradition while accepting the new Christian beliefs. And, as the years passed, Carnaval in Mexico became more and more energetic and imaginative.
              
 Today, specific proceedings vary from place to place with the coastal cities of Veracruz, Mazatlan and Acapulco staging brilliant fiestas highlighted by gaudy parades and processions. Colorful floats vie for prizes as clowns, mimes and masked impersonators poke fun at local dignitaries. Lavish balls are often held during the week, and a Carnaval king and queen are crowned.
              
In Merida, parades usually feature flower-laden floats while colorful dances of obscure origin are performed. But the celebration of Carnaval is not limited to the large city-parades; games, fiestas and allegorical dances are staged in many other towns and villages all over Mexico.
              
In Santa Ana, Tlaxcala, for instance, impersonators don pink masks and dress up in exaggerated finery as they mock tourists and big city folks. Other towns holding unusual festivities include Papantla, Veracruz, where umbrella-toting masked men mimic pre-Hispanic rain-making ceremonies; Tuxpan, Jalisco, where the old fertility bull dance is often the highlight of the festivities; and Zaachila, Oaxaca, plus a number of towns in the.. state of Mexico where the mock battles between Christians and Moors are staged. Perhaps the most unusual pageantry over the years has been the enactment of a famous legend in the town of Huejotzingo, Puebla.
              
 Here, nearly all the villagers take part in an elaborate four to five day drama in which a young rancher-turned-outlaw abducts the beautiful daughter of the mayor and escapes to a hillside hideout. He is pursued by police and soldiers and is captured just as the wedding celebration reaches a climax. The entire spectacle varies from year to year but always seems to include lots of soldiers, masked outlaws, Apaches and police, to say nothing of fireworks, music and dancing.
              
Celebrations at Lakeside are perhaps not as dramatic, but you’re likely to encounter a considerable amount of music, festivities and good spirits throughout the pre-Lenten period. Chapala, in particular, usually has parades with floats, fireworks and all the trappings of a grand fiesta.

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

February 1, 2015

 

Yesterday while we planned on attending the party here in Hotel Perico for the game, I realized that it will be going on 2 years that we have been in the Ajijic area of Mexico.  

 

I started this blog to let all to see how safe Mexico is and to have you follow our adventures as we see the sites.  It has been an amazing ride, full of beauty along the way.  Even here in Mexico we enjoyed the Super Bowl and the half time with Katy Perry.

 

We enjoyed the big game on a large screen in the reception office with a mixture of us Gringos and Mexicans.  Dan and Tom put together a pool with a game board, each square costing just 5 pesos.  It was awesome that there were even a few Mexican visitors betting on the game. Two of them won the pool the first quarter and final score and of course I won the other two.

It’s great to see fans from other countries enjoying football and yelling for their team or maybe in this case the score or box they had. I was disappointed that my team did not win, but the game was exciting and even though I wanted the Hawks to win it was a fun time for all.

 

Here at Perico, we get involved in enjoying living.  For example we are starting on Tuesday nights to watch the award nominated movies.  This week we are going to watch the Theory of Everything. 

 

Until next time, Mexico is as safe as the US….