Getting ready for another season of fiestas and rodeos

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - As the countdown continues until we head back to Mexico, the calendar also is getting filled up with various dates of the fiestas, rodeos, religious holidays, state holidays and a whole series of other days that seem geared toward, well, fun.

Last year, living in La Manzanilla, it seemed like there was something going on all the time. Sometimes 24 hours a day.

And if the fiesta in La Manzanilla that weekend (or entire week) wasn't enough fun, well, all you had to do was drive a half-hour to nearby Rebalsito or Melaque or Barra de Navidad or Cihuatlan or ? and a party was happening.

The photos below are from the rodeo in La Manzanilla last winter.

What a happening that was.


Admiral takes pix of the rodeo parade


Horses in the parade


Making parade music

More photos from Arroyo Seco, Tenacatita and La Manzanilla

ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - In going through files this week, a treasure trove of photos has surfaced.

One shows some surfer-dudes getting ready to hit the water in Arroyo Seco. That photo is truly historic as it was taken only a few days after we decided to buy the downtown Arroyo Seco lot for a combination conference center, safari camp and cantina. And the surfer dudes - who were hungry, thirsty and looking for lodging - validated our idea of what we wanted to build (and are building) in the village.

More on how it's developing will be posted in future blogs, or in the Captain's Blog. (The link is on the right of this posting.)

Another photo is of some swimmers at the beach at Boca de Iguanas, getting ready to brave an undertow that is supposed to be fierce.

The third shot was taken while a team of professional photographers was taking wedding photos on the beach at Tenacatita.

Talk about bringing back memories...


Surfer dudes with the Admiral Fox and son Dylan Fox (cowboy hat)


Watch out for that famous Boca undertow!


Taking wedding photos at Tenacatita Beach

When in La Manzanilla, check out the Cafe Risa

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - Amiga Tia Richardson is getting rave reviews for the recently reopened Cafe Risa, formerly El Girasol.

Tia bought the restaurant earlier this year, did some interesting renovations during the monsoon season and is open for business again.

On the La Manzanilla message board, she's getting lots of positive feedback.

Message board comments about Cafe Risa

When she bought the restaurant last year, I was concerned about the menu and staff. Would the menu be the same? Would the staff stay?

Apparently the answer to those questions is yes and yes, though I haven't talked directly to Tia since she reopened. She's too busy!

When I am on the ground in La Manzanilla in November, the TBB will publish a full review of the restaurant (with the menu) so readers can peruse what they might like long before they make it to town.

I'm hungry already.

A handful of La Manzanilla photo updates

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - As I posted today that the TBB will be updating later this fall on a regular basis, I realized that I should post some of the photos that have come in during the months since I updated this site last.

Here's a handful:


Even small dogs love Willie's magaritas


Not the smartest move to make


Rusty sets the fish free


Admiral Fox, a horse and a cowboy


Water breaches the land by the Jardin

Long dormant, The Bugle will reawaken this fall

ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - After a long hiatus, the Tenacatita Bay Bugle will be back in business publishing later this fall when a merger with the Arroyo Seco Sentinel takes place.

Watch this space for more news on that merger.

In the meantime, if a log looks like it is swimming through the water, move away from it.