Search Results for: Jocotepec

Chapalando

Written by Gwyn Fisher

So Sita took the Schipperke back to the states yesterday. There’s a tongue twister in there somewhere… Everything went perfectly smoothly apparently. Sita’s back tomorrow afternoon. It’s strange being able to pick up keys and put shoes on without a 25 pound black dog leaping out of the shadows and expecting a walk.

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Yesterday I though I’d take advantage of having the car and being dogless and headed of to explore the banks of lake Chapala. Jocotepec was first on the list, which was having a little market so I stopped for tacos and bought some new headphones and wandered round the centre. Nice place. But I couldn’t live there. Pueblo chico, infierno grande… Same goes for San Luis Soyatlan, even though it has beautiful views of the lake and smells of roasting corn on the cob. I stopped several times for agave fields and views of fishermen in boats on the way to Sahuayo, Michoacan and had an amble around the centre there. It had a huge fruit and veg market but they weren’t used to tourists with cameras so I didn’t take that many pics. I’d only heard of Sahuayo thanks to Flor de Sahuayo tacos, and according to Fernando it’s also famous for zombies but I forget why. Anyroad, it’s a really pretty town. It still had its decorations up from el Dia de Independencia and had loads of little shops and hardly any chain stores which is admirable. Photos abound over at Flickr.

I’m listening to the new Rilo Kiley album as I work today and it’s a big disappointment. A real shame, because their last album, More Adventurous was fantastic. Its a Hit, and Portions for Foxes being my favourites, slices of country tinged indie pop… Maybe it’ll grow on me.

No word from the Taunton Gazette peeps yet…

San Juan Cosala – Temazcal

Written by Gwyn Fisher

So as I mentioned in me last post, Ana took us to the Temazcal yesterday, not along the road to Chapala as first thought, but between Jocotepec and San Juan Cosala on the “Chapala Riviera”. It was quite a sight. I made the right choice in not going to the saunas there, as, just as I suspected, there were touchy-feely new-agey rituals involved. But everyone looked cleansed as they emerged from the experience. Cleansed and hungry…

It’s got gorgeous views of the (surprisingly full) lake and all manner of aztec follies scattered around the immaculate grounds. Worth a look definitely and there’s a 100 pesos per person special on Wednesdays apparently if you’re up for pushing your body’s temperature controls to their limits and hugging sweaty strangers. Anyroad, all photos from that particular outing hence.

(UPDATE) and here’s Mamá de Rocco’s version of events and Monte Coxala (for that is the place’s name)’s official website (warning, plays sound on opening.)

This morning I read 2 pages of A4’s worth of description of the Camino Real project for the voiceover on the demo. I really hope they get the funding it’s going to be an amazing project, I get credit somewhere as Zummerzet Voice-Over Bloke and author and translator of the historical essay. Go, as they say, me.

Whiskers on kittens, brown paper packages, Spanish words…

Written by Gwyn Fisher 8 Comments

There’s a site that’s looking to find the most beautiful word in Spanish. I’ve got several for the list, which, while maybe not beautiful, are lyrical and pleasing in other ways. Here are a few of my faves. Spanish is such a great language, especially the Mexican variety.

Huitlacoche — it’s a black fungus that grows in maize that is specially harvested for pricey tacos/ quesadillas

Esperpéntico- An adjective that roughly equates to grotesque in English. It’s all about holding up a deformed mirror to society and describing the distorted view in order to better criticise it I came across it in my undergrad degree course in 20th century Spanish theatre.

Pendejadas- Acts performed by a pendejo (idiot/wanker/fool). Stupidities.

Olvidarse- In Spanish you can absolve yourself completely of guilt when you forget things. ‘Se me olvidaron mis llaves” is a common way of saying ‘I forgot my keys’, and literally translated means ‘My keys forgot themselves at me’. Brilliant!

Antojitos- Mexican (bar) snacks. Antojo is a wish, antojitos, little wishes, or things you just fancy nibbling. I’m fond of pretty much any word with the diminutive ‘ito” ending. Guerita, guapita, casita, abuelita, chiquitito, cosquillita.

To turn a noun into an assault/ explosion/ crash you tend to shove —azo on the end. So you get: bancazo- bank robbery, avionazo- a plane crash, and tequilazo- a night of binge drinking that did you no good at all, or the economic crisis when agave prices went through the floor. Fun for all the family.

Ajijic, Jocotepec, Zapopan, Tlaquepaque, – local places with names more colourful than Taunton, or Downey for example…

In French my favourite’s pamplemousse (grapefruit) and in English, it’s a toss-up between ‘arse’ and serendipitous. If you fancy sharing yours comment away 🙂

‘Pat does Chapala’- her words…

Written by Gwyn Fisher

This is my fave pic from today:

El Charrito

with this one a close second: fishClick the cowboys pic for a look at all the new photos from Zapopan, Chapala, Ajijic and Jocotepec. V. nice day it was, i had my favourite fish (and favourite Spanish word) for lunch, huachinango (red snapper), sita looked on in disgust as Pat and I worked our way through whitebait type fried fishy things and we took in the view of the lake. Great weekend all round. La Matera tomorrow evening for a pre-bday bash and Tuesday for continued festivities.

The post-boom weekend

Written by Gwyn Fisher

100_4481Ma Come No was the Italian restaurant of choice for Friday evening’s celebrations. Highly recommended, we suggest the Spanish Tempranillo… Saturday had me and pat checking out the patchouli oil and Tim Burton sponsored hippy market, the Tianguis Cultural before hightailing it over to Zapopan to see a disturbing statue of Juan Pablo II with little Juan Diego, huichol history (including unexplained taxidermy), modernish art in MAZ the Museo de Arte de Zapopan, and a filling lonche with all the requisite salsas. Sita took Pat to our little neighbourhood coffee shop, Starbucks for bickies and cafe and then supplies in Gigante. Victor and Jayna came round for lemon chicken and suchlike. After they left we watched Lord of War, Nicholas Cage as the prototypical arms dealer, then bed.

This morning: Skype with mis abuelitas and brekky, now we’re off to Chapala to check out Jocotepec, a little further on from Ajijic, where i went with Monica, Daniel and Ed last week. Pizza and a movie this evening… Little descriptive detail here since we’re in the key finding stage of leaving the house, cheers )