Seen & Heard
By Duddessa

     *PAST AND PRESENT: Forty-five years ago a young man named Robert Kleffel first came to this area. With his VW he could travel for six dollars a day. For two dollars, a day he stayed in a nice downtown Guadalajara hotel. His first tour was to Tonala — ten miles beyond the last building in Guadalajara. His second trip, by bus, took him to Chapala.  Lunch for 35 cents, beer for l0 cents. A side trip on a dirt road gave him his first sight of Ajijic. Robert especially noted this charming weaving and embroidery town.  Bonnie, Robert’s wife, remembers 25 years ago when she wanted to buy two special beaded bracelets.  Bonnie laughed, “Each one cost 35 cents.” Robert refused.  “I didn’t think she needed two beaded bracelets ... but I didn’t know much about women then.”
     Robert is connected with Northern Lights. “I may once have been an economist,” he says, “but I find life here with the people at its best. I live here for the Arts.”