“Don’t touch ejido land with a ten-foot barge pole,” a savvy Chapala realtor once told a client who expressed interest in purchasing some cooperative farm (ejido) land in the area with a fabulous view of the lake. “You never know what problems are going to surface later.”

“You get what you pay for” is sage advice and comes to mind as costs are borne to put children into private school in Guadalajara.

For over half a century, Mexico has celebrated July as National Reforestation Month.  In 1951, the second Thursday of the month of July was declared as “Tree Day” in Mexico and on July 7, 1959 the entire month of July was designated as “National Reforestation Month.”  How do we celebrate this event in Puerto Vallarta now after 50 years since it`s declaration?

Senior Jalisco officials are correct in saying this state has largely escaped the violence afflicting other parts of Mexico over the past two to three years.

July 4 marks the 234th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The United States of America is currently the world’s longest-running democracy. Back in 1776, the idea that free men could maintain law and order and forge a nation at the same time was perceived by most as a far fetched endeavor.