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Saturday evening, my wife and I decided to have a look at two of the newer Ajijic restaurants. First we went to the soon to be signed "El Sombrero". (Immediately to the west of El Barco - I believe the restaurant was previously called "Blue Moon".) It was just before 7:00p.m.. Two adults and two children occupied a single table. We sat down and the waiter brought us what appeared to be "temporary" menus. As there were no bottles wines listed we asked if there was a wine menu. The waiter said that there wasn't a menu but did we want red or white? We asked what wines were available and he responded: "Red and White". He hadn't realized that we wanted to order a bottle of wine so we again asked what wine was available. As our table was close to the bar we could see several bottles of different wines. I asked if I could look closer at the bottled wines behind the bar and as he didn't appear to be concerned I walked to the bar and saw that all but two of the bottles represented a pretty poor and very low cost selection. I suspect that any one of those bottles represented the "red or white" house wine that would be served by the glass. The only two other bottled wines were considerably "higher end" Mexican wines and I inquired about the price. The waiter had no idea but said that he would find out. He approached a woman employee who appeared to be the "cashier". She also didn't know the price. Nor did the one other male waiter! Our waiter said that they would have to make a phone call which he did and when he returned to our table a few minutes later, informed us that either of the two bottles would be $700.00MN. By then we had been in the restaurant about 15 minutes and we were the only customers remaining. Something simply didn't feel right. If the front of house staff on a Saturday night weren't trained or prepared to function what might the back of house (kitchen) be like? Why run the risk of a ruined Saturday night? We left and decided to make our first visit to "Scallions" which is adjacent to El Torito. We arrived at Scallions about 7:20pm. Not one patron inside the restaurant. A man and woman sitting on the outside terrace with drinks. We took a few minutes to look at the menus that were posted on the exterior wall of the restaurant and were quite impressed by the rather extensive offerings and noticed that the largest percentage could best be described as Italian and, in many cases not just the simplest of meals. By then a waiter had noticed us and approached with menus and asked where we would like to sit. We asked if we could have a look at their wine menu. He informed us that they didn't have one but did we want red or white? Saturday night, no customers to speak of, a totally empty restaurant. Why again run the risk of a ruined Saturday night? Thank goodness we were just a few strides away from Alex's Pasta and..........a full restaurant with well trained and courteous staff..........a great meal we had............. with a bottle of excellent wine! A Saturday night saved! Sadly, people continue to spend their savings and open what they hope might actually become a successful restaurant. A restaurant with loyal patrons. Sadly, some restaurants open before they are actually ready and even more sadly, in doing so, "the seeds of failure are sown". Far too soon the operators or investors find that "something is not working". The reality is that something wasn't working from the day they opened their doors and it's best described as: 1. Poor or no real planning! 2. Inadequate training of staff (or themselves). 3. Zero thought given to any examination of exactly what segment of the population, local or otherwise, might become their clientele? Like my wife and I, other people have possibly had a similar experience. Or sometime soon they might at either of these two restaurants. That type of experience, unfortunately could result in the client NEVER RETURNING!

Happy Hour started early?

The fish restaurant of which I write doesn't have a fake jungle, etc. What it has is inferior food that only Tapitios on the weekends would eat. That's why it's so empty on the weekdays. I used to live down from their corner until recently and saw how empty they were, especially on the weekdays.

Search using the words EYE EXAM. There are quite a few past posts.

Yo 1 I am sure that you are aware that the respective restaurants out in SJC are booming with customers every week end. I would assume that the Tapito customers would not return to waste their money on "inferior" food....or maybe they just go there for fake "jungle" and "pirate" scene to placate their kids? Since its inception I have never understood why the SAT location always has looked empty, but then I have never visited that SAT location If the barometer of a good economy is judged by the busyness of the restaurant trade, to day, seeing how crazy people are trying to park and get into the SJC restaurant "mile", the economy is doing well, and by the way not a junk car parked there , new SUV's , BMW's and flashy sports cars.... unloading whole families.

The fish restaurant near Sunrise has been there a couple of years and has never done well. Their other restaurants out by SJC and in Guad serve inferior food, so I image this branch of their restaurant was the same.

Juan Carlos is a master carpenter and did some fine work for us. Not unreasonable for the quality.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pull+out+keyboard+tray+under+desk&crid=24HFZWTGGOTC0&sprefix=pull+out+keyb%2Caps%2C195&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_13 or on Amazon Mexico... https://www.amazon.com.mx/s?k=under+desk+keyboard+tray&__mk_es_MX=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&ref=nb_sb_noss

Local artist Jose Duran. American style and 12x12 folded. I have been buying his for over 10 years. Room for appointments, etc. on every date. 200 pesos each for 2019. Just released 2020 about a week or so ago.

Cedric you are chasing your tail....that is why the office is using a formula...I guess there are exceptions , we are in Mexico where thi gs are an art and not a science

To be clear I was a prepaid soul. Original install in Los Salvias. Moved to SE corner of San Antonio near La Paz almost to Mirasol. Many people have been installed who are not prepaid. My neighbor who walked in to Ilox was installed before I was installed. It happens all the time and not a big deal. It all depends on many things including the quarter of the moon 🙂

Sally, not to sure who that might been directed to, but you have responded to a 3-year old Post so don't expect much response from your question. In another thread here I did see that there were 2 Honda CR-Vs for sale by a guy who also runs a car wash at Lakeside. His cars are usually very good. Also, there is a place called S&S Auto who is very reputable. He has both used vehicles and can/does act as a 'dealer agent' for car dealerships in Guadalajara.

No, I have a septic system which I feed carefully. I do have good internet though with Telmex when they're not driving me up the wall and that's in Riberas del Pilar. I'm happy.

OK, so I think that the best fish and chips I had was in a pub in the borough of Leith Scotland.Teuchters Landing. Oh what a night. Good food, good beer and great people. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Teuchters+Landing/@55.9773176,-3.1710281,19.5z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x4861e2c403f2a19f:0xe7c1fad809c30714!2sScotland,+UK!3b1!8m2!3d56.4906712!4d-4.2026458!3m4!1s0x0:0xfea3469ed190c678!8m2!3d55.9774693!4d-3.1713826

You have a sewer connection? Want to switch?

Intercasa gave the answer, along with the chart of the tax liability. The transaction and payment is accomplished at the office of the Recaudadora; the taxing agency and vehicle registry, ie, the recording office. In Chapala, it is located at the east end of Degollado. It is wise to go there with the seller and buyer both present to insure that all paperwork is presented, and that there are no outstanding liens or tickets, before turning over any cash.

... maybe it will only be open to the faithful...

When you are living in Mexico, you are living in a society that normally revolves around cash. It's quite common in the US and Canada for people to only carry debit and credit cards with them, no cash. But in those places, there aren't people asking to help you out or employed to bag your groceries who rely on tips. When in Mexico, the protocol is to always have some change in your pocket for this purpose. Get with the program. When in Rome....

When I first came to Mexico I knew to tip so I always did. One day I tossed some coins on the counter for the older woman who had bagged my groceries. She got very angry and gave me the salute. I told my wife what happened and she told me I had insulted the woman. Now I always smile and put it in their hand with a gracias. I always try to carry change for tips as quite often I don't get get proper change back for a tip when I buy something.

Giving candy bars only has a 50% downside, it gives tremendous gratification to the "giver". Even giving a candy bar to my grand kids, would get my hand slapped and a retort of "where´s the green juice. grandpa?"

No. And frankly, when was the last time an ATM spit out a 10 peso coin or a 20 peso bill? Where I live, garbage collectors no longer receive a salary. The custom is to tip the garbage collector when he takes away one's garbage. The standard tip is five pesos, and I usually put out garbage twice a week. I make a point of saving 5-peso coins for just this purpose. Save your change. Take enough to the supermarket to tip the bagger. Be a mensch.

Of course I noticed. What I said still stands: take enough cash to give a tip to your bagger. How hard is it to stick 10-20 pesos in your pocket AND take your credit card?

Pardon me, but when children and elderly people are working for tips, they need money. They can't pay their bills with a candy bar. You like the smile you get back, but you're interpreting it to your benefit. Not necessarily so. Just this week I read a long article in La Jornada (newspaper out of Mexico City) about pensions in Mexico. The standard amount for a person retiring from lifelong work? 1200-1500 pesos a month. Tip the baggers!

It is the same at other stores' checkouts, such as Soriana, etc. Please do tip the baggers, be they seniors or children, who are also helping to support their family in their off-school hours. With a split school day, you may see children helping at any time of the day. They are not skipping school.

I tip all baggers

My Calgary relatives told me that there is a city up north called Edmonchuck which is next to and a suburb of Millet, Alberta. And the team is called the Millet Oilers and they are first in the Pacific Division