Mexican Culture Archives - Page 5 of 7

Make Lakeside Your Home Base – Zacatecas Part I

One of the great advantages of Lakeside living is its location in the central highlands of Mexico, making it relatively easy to travel anywhere inside Mexico and internationally due to the close proximity of the Guadalajara airport. This is the beginning of a series of occasional articles highlighting lesser known travel destinations within Mexico. As we travel, from time to time we will take you along to visit some of the great cities of Mexico. ZACATECAS Everyone has heard of Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, etc., but have you ever heard of Zacatecas, (which is small enough that it doesn't … [Read more...]

Do I Have To Learn Spanish to live Lakeside?

The short answer is no and yes! You can certainly reconnoiter the area, find a place to rent, eat out and enjoy myriad activities without speaking Spanish. Many Lakeside natives either speak or are learning English and are happy to practice with you. However, your adaptation to Lakeside living will be greatly facilitated by at least a working knowledge of basic Spanish. There are many popular programs such as Duolingo, Babbel, and others that can help you get started. (Even ChatGPT can be your tutor!) Depending on their home/career circumstances, most of our Focus alumni take at least … [Read more...]

Noisy, Dirty and Dangerous Lakeside

This is a must read post if you're concerned about the potential downsides of Lakeside living. Recently some Lakeside expats who decided to return to their home country shared their grievances about the Lake Chapala area with us. After living here a few months their analysis was that Mexico is lawless, chaotic, messy, noisy, dirty and dangerous. To their credit, they realized that this is not the life for them and made the decision to go home. One of them, showing a good sense of self-awareness commented, “I guess I’m not as flexible as I thought I was.” It’s certainly true that Mexico is … [Read more...]

A Visit to Guadalajara with Focus on Mexico

Don't visit Lakeside without taking time to visit the historic city of Guadalajara, birthplace of tequila and mariachi music. The Focus on Mexico 6-Day Learning Seminar offers an à la carte tour of Guadalajara on Sunday before the formal seminar begins that includes a visit to the Hospice Cabañas, a Unesco World Heritage Site, and home of the unforgettable murals of José Clemente Orozco, often called the Diego Rivera of Jalisco. The photo on the left depicts "the clowns of war arguing in hell", and the murals as a whole take you through the distinctive and difficult moments of Mexican … [Read more...]

30 Great Reads on Mexican Migration and Culture

Are you considering moving to Lakeside for the next stage of your life? Would you like to read up on the history of Mexican migration and Mexican culture on both sides of the border? You're in luck because Judy King, a longtime Lakeside resident who regularly teaches classes locally on various topics relating to Mexico and its culture, has agreed to share her list of best reads on Mexican migration and culture with us. There is something on this list for every reader, from serious hard core reporting (The Devil's Highway) to memoir (Kissing the Virgin's Mouth), to light hearted fun … [Read more...]