6 replies to this topic

[happy jackson]

I've flown through both towns several times but never stopped to explore or see what might be there. Plan on taking friends there next week.. Bad idea or something to see.. Also lunch stop.

[elbajio]

Foco Tonal is in Ocotlan.  It is a a place of healing power and spiritual energy that is interesting to check out.  Look for a sign on the right as you are heading into town.  If you cross the river you have gone too far.  Any of the locals can direct you. 

 

Stop in Jamay on the way to La Barca because they have a beautiful monument on the plaza.  Here is my friend's blog site with great pictures and story: 

 

http://bigskysouther...-jamay-jalisco/

 

Have a safe and enjoyable trip.

[JayBearII]

I enjoyed the murals in the main municipal building in La Barca. Lots of history there.

[sparks]

One of them makes furniture but forget which

[Happy Feet]

Very good Japanese Restaurant in Ocotlan.. check out the facebook page

SUshi MuRaKaMy

....... Its not fancy but clean and great  inexpensive food.

 

Many  factory furniture shops on the way to Ocotlan,

[eagles100]

The furniture stores on the way to Ocotlan are great, have reasonable prices and they offer delivery service to Lakeside.

[dichosalocura]

I have never been to the centro of Ocotlan, but have passed through there a couple of times driving around the lake.  Ocotlan does interest me, and I have looked up quite a few videos on youtube.  There are quite a few, nearly all being in Spanish of course.  Ocotlan apparentely has a lot of history, with a nice centro historico and a gorgeous parroquia church and several very nice smaller churches, or chapels, with a lot of gold leaf on the alters.  According to the videos that you can see on youtube, it definately appears to warrant a closer inspection, possibly spending a healthy weekend walking its streets and visiting nearby Jamay, with its gorgeous papal obelisk and regarding La Barca, besides the history surrounding its name, I know nothing.  Apparently La Barca sprang about due to being along the route from Guadalajara to DF............The river Lerma, was supposedly much wider and grandiose in those days, and a boat station developed at that location to row people to and from going between DF and Guadalajara, a town sprang up there, hence the name La Barca or The Boat.

 

If and when you go there, please report back and tell us all what you saw and experenced.

And if you want a more mexican route, you can always go driving past Mezcala, you go up into the moutains surrounding the lake, you pass through several small villages, and you come out near Pontitlan, where you meet up with the carretera to Ocotlan.  The road is all cobble stones with two cement runners that you drive on.  That route may add 30 to 45 minutes to the trip.

 

Good Luck.