Los Ayala
News - May 2011 
Magical
     The next edition of the news from Magical Los Ayala will be issued in the first week of June 2011.

     If you would like to receive Los Ayala news via email, Email
Christina Stobbs, with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.
"Tiar Sin Apuntar "
Literally, this means "to shoot without aiming." It is the Mexican equivalent of "to shoot from the hip," that is, to say things without giving due consideration to the consequences.


Jaltemba Bay Animal Rescue (JBAR)
Spay & Neuter clinic Update
 
     Way to go! Lin Chimes advises that 245 animals came to the JBAR Spay & Neuter Clinic held in April, and 209 animals were spayed or neutered. This is an all time record!

     Lin expressed her appreciation to the veterinarians from Mexico, Canada and the United States, and all the volunteers for making this possible!

   For your reading and viewing pleasure... JBAR Newsletter April Edition








This & That
A few words from the Editor

     Locals are saying that this Semana Santa was one of the busiest in Los Ayala, ever. Romy Mora, Juez of Los Ayala advises that it was also a “Semana Blanco” (Translates to a white week) which means that it was a “Good Week” in that no drowning, deaths or accidents occurred. There were a couple of minor incidents in which the assistance of the marines was required, that involved a few individuals who indulged in a little too much alcohol. Nineteen children were reported lost but all were quickly  and safely returned to their parents.

      Romy Mora, wishes to extend a special
“Thank You” to Girrsa for the excellent service they provided Los Ayala during Semana Santa; simply job well done keeping up with emptying all the trash bins. She also expressed her appreciation to SEMARNAT for once again awarding Los Ayala the PET program, which allowed our community to keep Los Ayala beach clean despite the crowds; and to the Marines who patrolled Los Ayala beach ensuring order. Two of the marines were designated life savers but thankfully their services were not required.

      Unfortunately Los Ayala did not benefit from having any “Transit Police” in town during the Semana Santa, and as a result it was challenging to enforce rules such as; buses parking only in designated areas; no camping on the beach; (camping is only allowed in designated areas with restroom facilities), no sleeping overnight in vehicles; and no motorized vehicles on the beach. According to Romy, enforcing these rules, proved difficult.  

     While Semana Santa takes on a decidedly party atmosphere in Los Ayala; Semana Pascua is more sedate and vacationers seem to enjoy a little rest and relaxation, and a quieter atmosphere.

What’s new?
    The vast majority of the hotel and bungalows in Los Ayala have agreed to take part in the Los Amigos de La Penita recycling program. Baskets will be delivered to all the hotels and bungalows in Los Ayala and advising guests about the recycling program will be placed in all rooms.

    Thank you to Carol Wallace, the chair of the Los Amigos de La Penita's Recycling Program for expanding the program in Los Ayala. With the hotels and bungalows on board, recycling in Los Ayala is destined to take off!

News Updates
     What’s up with Well Registration checks for private homes in Los Ayala? No one knows! Although officials from CONAGUA were seen in town during Semana Santa, no homes, that we are aware were checked. I asked Romy if she thinks that the well registration checks will still occur, and she said it is hard to say, but at least all home owners in Los Ayala have been given fair warning of the requirement for registering wells.

     To date, there is still no news of when we may expect the work on Los Ayala roads to begin. Romy  advises that because everyone is so busy with the presidential elections, the 3 for 1 program for the roads seems to have been set aside and it appears that it is not a priority at this time. Despite this news she is still hopeful that the work on the roads will commence before the rainy season begins.

   







  



    

   

   




Christina Stobbs

Semana Santa - Playa Los Ayala 2011
Easy Day Trips from Los Ayala
Guayabitos Beach

Guayabitos is the best beach in Jaltemba Bay for long walks, body boarding and people watching! To read more see
Spectacular Rincon de Guayabitos

 

 

Local Folks







Meet Lori Schneider-Wood
Los Ayala's Pippi Longstocking






Dining in Los Ayala
Recommended by Romy!

Boca Del Rio
The Best Pescado Sarandeado!
Property Tax Payment Day
Monday, May 9, 2011

  
The property tax payment date was postponed in response to property owners requests and feedback that they would have the monies to pay their taxes after Semana Santa & Pascua.

Los Ayala Property Owners are asked to pay their property taxes at
Bungalows Las Iguanas
 Monday, May 9, 2011
 between 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.


Bungalows Las Iguanas
Bahia de Jaltemba #75, Los Ayala,
Nayarit, Mexico

Tel: 327-274-0611
From Canada/USA 011-52-327-274-0611


Editor's Favourite Quick & Easy Recipes
Mango Margaritas

- 1 1/2 ounces of tequila (preferably 100 % algave)
- 1 1/2 ounces of Cointreau or Triple Sec
- Juice of 3 large limes (or 1 1/2 limes and 1 1/2 ounces of mango juice)
- 1 large mango
- 1-2 cups of ice

Toss ingredients in a blender, and blend at high speed. Serve over ice. Makes 2 large margaritas!



Photo Gallery - Celebrating Dia Del Nino in Los Ayala


Heermans Gull - Los Ayala Beach Playa Los Ayala - Book Launch in Tepic
Yesteryear in Los Ayala
Jaltemba Bay, Mexico

From 2005

Photo of Xavier Noel Ibarra Osterhagen and Jimena o Ximena looking out the window of the Los Ayala's Kindergarden. 2005

Photo by Bea Rauch

If you have some old photos taken in of Los Ayala please share with others through Magical Los Ayala. Email your Yesteryear photo to Christina Stobbs

About Bea & Ken Rauch
Jaltemba Bay Photographers
    
    Bea and Ken have enjoyed staying in Jaltemba Bay every year since 2004. They usually come for a visit every November, staying here for about two months.

     Bob Howell introduced them to Jaltemba Bay, and Ken and Bea say the area just grew on them.  They became involved in Vicky’s charity work and over the years they have brought loads of school supplies, medical supplies, clothing and toys to distribute where she recognized the greatest need. They have accompanied Vicky to El Tonino, Divisadero, Mesillas, Noriega, San Isidro, Las Piedras, Las Varas and many other villages. One of their most memorable journeys was in the back of a pickup truck to El Cora, where the reward was visiting the waterfall and swimming in the clear waters. They have also visited Tepic and the hot springs at Jamurca. On their bucket list is a visit to the Monarch Butterflies near Morelia and to Santa Del Oro.

    Ken and Bea usually explore on foot, bicycle and via  collectivo. They are avid bird watchers and nature lovers and every trip they take thousands of photos. Their photos are beautiful and it is always a pleasure to share them with the community. Their bird photos are simply delightful! Be sure to check back to view June's Magical Moments which will feature a very special bird photo by Bea.

    Bea loves to
cook, and says she thinks she is mastering the art of Mexican cuisine. Ken is becoming fluent in conversational Spanish.  Over the years, they have developed several local friendships, and they say that returning to Jaltemba Bay each year is almost like a “homecoming”. They have yet to stay in Los Ayala, but they have stayed in Guayabitos and in several different areas of La Peñita and advise that each barrio has its own unique character. Perhaps next year they will choose to stay in Los Ayala!


Mothers Day in Los Ayala
Jaltemba Bay, Mexico

     Boye De Mente states that "The glorification of Mothers in Mexico" is is best described by the word "Marianismo," which refers to the veneration of so-called feminine virtues like purity and moral strength. The colloquial term for the same concept is "Mamismo". Women are believed to be semi divine, morally superior to and spiritually stronger than men. The fact of the matter is that despite a culture full of machismo, Mothers are adored in Mexico.

    Mothers Day in Los Ayala is always a special.  Children in schools make home made crafts as gifts for their Moms and the sweet voices of children can be heard serenading their Moms in the early morning hours. The town streets are filled with flower vendors, and the local restaurants are packed with families treating their Mom to a day out.  Playa Los Ayala and Playa del Beso are packed with families treating Mom to a special day.

   This year a special event will once again be held for Moms in Los Ayala, with a special Mothers Day fiesta in Los Ayala's Town Plaza. This special day is put on every year for Moms in the community... Locals donate monies for food and drink, and much appreciated gifts which typically include household items and personal beauty items, which are raffled off at the party.


What Else is New?

     Romy Mora, Juez of Los Ayala is running for the position of Regidor (PAN Party) and if elected she will be representing Los Ayala, Guayabitos, La Colonia and part of La Penita de Jaltemba. Elections take place this July.

     The elections for the new Juez of Los Ayala are expected to take place in September 2011. Candidates are still to be determined.
  
     A new internet cafe called "Cyber Horacio" is open for business in Los Ayala which means that we now have two businesses offer internet services! (Posada Las Flores has an internet cafe on their premises and they serve great coffee! It also appears that a Tourist Office will be opening in Los Ayala soon. I spoke to a representative from the office who told me that they would be selling tickets for tours in Los Ayala and the Jaltemba Bay area, including a harbour cruise. Stay tuned for details!

   Last but not least. there is a plan in the works to buy and install plenty of garbage cans throughout Los Ayala.






Semana Santa & Pascua
Los Ayala Style

      Ken and Bea Rauch visited Los Ayala during Semana Santa, taking a collectivo from La Penita de Jaltemba and report that the beach was packed with hundreds of vacationers, mostly families enjoying a day at the beach, where food, family and fun were the focus of the day.

      Los Ayala beach was lined with hundreds of colourful beach umbrellas, and the warm ocean waters were packed with vacationers cooling off.

   The restaurants on Los Ayala beach all appeared to be enjoying a brisk business, as did beach vendors.


    In town, our roads were jam packed with food carts selling refreshments and snacks, to satisfy the appetites of tourists. Los Ayala even had a tourist train taking vacationers for a trip across Los Ayala.

    Ken & Bea state that "Semana Santa in Los Ayala" was a great demonstration of "How Mexicans are Masters in the Art of Having Fun!"


Playa Los Ayala - Memorias de mi Pueblo
Los Ayala Beach - Memories of my people

     This little gem of a book, was written by Jesus Carranza Diaz. Jesus describes Los Ayala as a tourist paradise; a small resort town which provides the necessary infrastructure of hotels and restaurants for vacationers who enjoy swimming in the warm ocean waters of Los Ayala; the beautiful kilometer long beach; and dining on traditional Mexican cuisine. He states that Los Ayala is an inexpensive resort destination where the beautiful beach is accessible to the public and that the the town of Los Ayala has maintained the warmth of its' people; welcoming tourists and making them feel comfortable.

    The book also includes some precious old photos including; past queens of Los Ayala, a few photos of the traditional houses, a photo of the church when it was just a grass hut and many delightful photos of the families and people who originally settled in Los Ayala. It even has a photo of Romy Mora, on the beach when she was a young girl. Chefs will enjoy trying out recipes traditional to this area which include recipes for shrimp ceviche, seafood soup, and a myriad of seafood dishes.

     Jesus says that Los Ayala is a place that has prospered with time, yet it has managed to retain the flavor of its' people through their stories and legends which give our community a unique identity.  The legends outlined in the book include; The Elves of the Fig Tree, The Woman in the Road; The Pirate with the Black Dog; The Headless Woman; and the Treasure of the Ayala Brothers.

       I am quite fascinated with  the legend of the "Treasure of the Ayala Brothers", and this particular book says that at the time of the Conquistadors, ships in the area of  Chacala beach and Playa los Cuevas were loaded with jewels, gold, gems and pearls, and precious colorful pottery. The Ayala brothers were very strong and intelligent, attacked the ships, stealing this great treasure which is hidden in Los Ayala within small caves and wells, somewhere in the thick forest of Los Ayala Still to be discovered! (To the best of my Spanish translation ability)

    Playa Los Ayala - Memorias de mi Pueblos is available for purchase for just $100 pesos, from Romy Mora at Bungalows Las Iguanas in Los Ayala. The English edition will be published later this year. (Anticipated publishing date is November 2011)





Playa Los Ayala -  Memorias de mi Pueblo
Book Launch in Tepic

Photography by Ken & Bea Rauch 
Easter in Jaltemba Bay
Semana Santa is a Family Affair


     Semana Santa is a significant Christian holiday in Mexico, celebrating the last week of Christ's life before his crucifixion on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. However, here in Jaltemba Bay, the celebration of the holiday is akin to a family-friendly Mardi Gras.

    To continue reading this article see MexConnect...



Semana Santa - Los Ayala Style
Photos by Ken & Bea Rauch and Christina Stobbs
Cyber Horacio
New Internet Cafe in Los Ayala!


Dia de Las Madres

Join us in Los Ayala's Town Plaza to Celebrate  "Mothers Day"

A Party Especially for the Moms in
 Los Ayala

Date and Time TBA
Upcoming Events




Did You Know?

It is no longer legal to make a left hand  turn into La Penita off of Highway 200! For more information see New Left Hand Turn Procedure

as presented on the Jaltemba Bay Life - Forum


Cost of Living in Mexico
CFE - Electricity
 
   One of the many pleasures of living in Jaltemba Bay, Mexico is the affordability of living. The cost of housing, transportation, groceries and dining out are inexpensive when compared to the costs in Canada, especially relative to large cosmopolitan cities such as Vancouver, British Columbia. (my home town)

    The cost of telephone and internet service here is similar to the cost in Canada and the United States; however an important cost to consider for those of you who intend to live here year round is the cost of electricity.  If you live here full time, and
if you view air conditioning and a swimming pool as essentials to surviving the hot, humid summers here - it is likely that you will find your electricity, expensive; perhaps stratospheric!

     To  learn more check out CFE Electric Bill & Rates as presented by Johan of the Jaltemba Jalapeno

For the best shrimp burgers in Jaltemba Bay check out Restaurant Charly on Guayabitos Beach - Open Year Round!
Luxury Beach Front Condo
for Sale by Owner 


Magical Moments
May 2011

"Contentment"
 by Boswell Malcolm
Christina Stobbs