Swim across the bay from Barra to Melaque

Got lots of energy?  Be on the beach in Barra tomorrow morning at 8 AM. I think I've seen a video of the finish line in West Melaque but that's all

6th annual swim from Barra de Navidad to Melaque - Oct. 3rd

History of Beisbol in Cihuatlan

It seems  a shame with the long history of Baseball in the area that when locals attempt to create a league for youngsters it falls flat and never goes anywhere. Five to six local teams were all outfitted with donations from up north but that was not enough to keep people interested. Back in 2008 I went to the Cihuatlan sports field with the Melaque team and their opponents never showed up. Oh well, soccer is alive and well.

Longshore Drift

Is Longshore Drift the reason Barra has so little sand and why Melaque has so much?   Melaque's beach is currently wider than I've ever seen it.

Barra de Navidad beach

Melaque beach

CAM School and Benefit

Here's some fotos of the CAM (Centro de Atención Múltiple) School in Barra de Navidad where I have been every Friday with a kid for his physical therapy. The exercise pool below was donated by the local Rotary group and will be inaugurated next week along with the benefit. A very good school and worthy cause.  The school is located about 3 blocks past the pavement on Nueva Espana behind the primary school on the right.

Everyone is invited to attend the 4rd Annual Benefit Event for CAM Cihuatlán. This event, which supports local handicapped children will be held at Restaurant Esmeralda in Melaque on January 25th. 2013 starting at 4:00pm. Come out to enjoy delicious food, live music, dancing, auction and much more. Tickets are only $60 pesos and available at these locations.

Barra de Navidad: Hotel Alondra, CAM Cihuatlán
San Patricio - Melaque: Mex-Eco Tours, Restaurant Esmeralda

The school

Lunch and meeting area

The new exercise pool

CamCihuatlan.org

Anual Rotary Chili Cookoff

CALLING ALL COOKS - We are looking for cooks that want to join the friendly competition. The entry form (in English and Spanish) is available on our website at: http://costalegre-rotary.org/ or at MLS Realtors in Barra or Rooster Restaurant in Melaque, Being a chili cook is a great way to put something back - all the funds raised from this event go right back into the local community.

LIVE MUSIC -There will be live music throughout the afternoon and the Ballet Xalixco Folkloric Dancers will be performing as well!

But that’s not all! After the cookoff ends there will be live rock and roll music and Dancing Under Stars well into the evening!

It’s going to be a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and evening!

Quiet September in Barra

A quiet Barra de Navidad in September with somewhat eroded sand and lirio remains from the opening of Laguna de Tule. Lots and lots of rain for the last month required the opening of the lagoon between Melaque and Barra. This year the lirio (water hyacinth) even reached into the Barra lagoon.

Quiet beach being cleaned

Quiet street

The closing of Hector's Q-Club

I never did get to make a post of Hector's Q-Club which many of us enjoyed for the last year. Well I wasn't here for much of that year but played vollyball on each of my visits. Sad day for both the Barra and Melaque areas but hopefully we'll find another pool to stay cool in the summer and get some exercise.  Hector has opened the Q-Corner in downtown Barra

Below is a post from Elke on the TomZap forum

Today marked the end of a short-lived era in Barra. The Q-Club Community Center is closing its doors. And the bar. And the library. And the pool....

The Q-Club lease was not renewed by mutual agreement between Hector Loza and Don Deines, the owner of the Cadillac Ranch, witnessed by yours truly.

Don Deines will continue to dedicate his time and efforts to expand the Cadillac Ranch RV Park. Hector Loza's Q-Corner has taken off in Barra de Navidad. Any outstanding Q cards with punches left on them, will be honored at the Q-Corner.

For anyone needing reading material, the Q-Club books have been re-located to "The Club" in La Manzanilla. Hector will also have a few books at the Q-Corner.

We will miss the good times we had for the last year. Water Volley Ball. Potlucks. The Library. Satellite TV. Free Internet. Free Coffee. FREE LIVE MUSIC.

Hector, Liz, Eber, Maricela. A very hard working, fun family.

Carnaval Costalegre - 2010

Carnaval Costalegre Schedule
Febuary 12th - Febuary 16th
Barra de Navidad, Melaque, Villa Obregon

Click for larger copy

 

Barra Lagoon to escape Melaque Malagua

This Sunday we headed for the west end of Melaque beach and immediately were told by people and even the restaurant the water was full of Malagua (mal agua or jellyfish). This term refers to any sized jellyfish but here they are small and you seldom see them, you just feel the stings. The kids were only in a few minutes and all had multiple small red sting marks.

Marcos showed up about the time we decided to go to the lagoon in Barra de Navidad. Evidently these little drifting creatures end up along the beach due to wind and wave action and don't make it into protected areas like the lagoon.

So we had to rent a table and pay for parking near the Barra swimming beach ... but it's great for the kids and even Mia (3 years) could flop around in the shallows. Bring your own beer and food ... and mangoes on a stick are only 5 pesos.

Barra de Navidad lagoon swimming beach

Tianguis day in Barra

Thursday is Tianguis day in Barra following Wednesday in Melaque. Dora bought the wrong sized pants in Melaque so we went to exchange them and she ended up with two more things. That gave Ron and I time to wander around and get a beer. Later visited Armando and picked up Mike for an early dinner. Ron and Dora's last night in town before heading back to Seattle.

A Tianguis is a traveling market and pretty interesing if you've not been much. I'm kinda worn out on them. The have more tourist stuff over winter but get back to basics in the summer.

Barra de Navidad, Costalegre, Jalisco, Melaque

Musica por nuestra Gente

Musica por nuestra Gente
Benefit concert for Melaque flood victims

The concert was held on the soccer field (cancha de futbol) in Barra de Navidad for the benefit of Melaque flood victims. The 5 'groups' were; Beto Piteado, Paloma del Rio, Azul Violeta, NahUta and Rostros Ocultos in that order. Gates opened around 7:30 but the music didn't start 'till 10 which is pretty normal for Mexico.

The groups were all stripped down for a benefit tour and all using canned recordings to fill in for missings band members. Still the quality was very good. Sadly the attendance was poor and I just hope many more tickets were sold than people who showed up.

Stage

Azul Violeta

Rostros Ocultos


Nahuta

Web page with more fotos