The Guadalajara Reporter

Remembering lost loved ones

This weekend, Mexican families will honor the memory of departed loved ones by visiting their grave sites, building traditional Day of the Dead altars or by simply enjoying a cup of hot chocolate with traditional pan de muerto.

Car import scammers run riot

Expats looking to nationalize their foreign-plated vehicles are being targeted in a series of scams that have involved fake paperwork, stolen license plates and basic out-and-out theft.

The situation has prompted Aduana (Mexican Customs) to seize the cars of several unsuspecting foreigners in recent weeks.

The con artists have even duped well-established and respected firms in the Lake Chapala area, including insurance brokers TioCorp.

Customer survey - September 28, 2013

Consumer survey - April 27, 2013

Customer survey - July August 31, 2013

Customer survey - March 23, 2013

Mellow Midwesterner takes charge of US Citizen Services

Immediately following the departure of Ambassador Anthony Wayne, the audience of expatriate U.S. citizens gathered at LCS stuck around to engage in a no-limits dialogue with Mark Seibel, the new head man at the Guadalajara Consulate’s American Citizens Services Section.

Crooks do not take vacations

As the country prepares to go on vacation to celebrate Semana Santa, remember the droves of people at public plazas, beaches and other areas is a paradise for enterprising thieves. Crooks do not go on vacation.

Abbeyfield offers creature comforts for self-sufficient seniors

Abbeyfield, Ajijic’s deluxe assisted living facility for self-reliant seniors is throwing an open house on August 27 to show off available accommodations, its newly installed solar power system and other amenities.

How to properly prepare a check in Spanish in Mexico

Recently, I went to a casa de cambio (money exchange house) in downtown Guadalajara and started to write out a personal check to cash. Before I realized what I was doing, I had written the date and amount in Spanish. The clerk said, “No problem. The U.S. banks accept checks written in Spanish.”

Thumbs up on local Apple availability and pricing

People seeking Apple products in Guadalajara have little reason to pout, with Macs, iPods and iPads available in at least 61 spots in metro Guad, including the newest — an “Apple Shop” that opened last week in Sam’s Club next to Galerias mall.

Consumer survey - Feb. 23, 2013

Customer survey - July 20, 2013

Season of abstinence begins on February 13

Lent is the season of penance and prayer for Christians before Easter.

Car importation process back on track

One lakeside business seems to have found a way to bypass the problems that have plagued other firms and individuals that have tried to help expats nationalize their foreign-plated vehicles.   

Love & friendship abounds on February 14

Few people in Mexico refer to Valentine’s Day as Dia de San Valentin; most prefer the commonly used Dia del Amor y la Amistad (Love and Friendship Day), which is popular throughout Latin America.

Consumer survey - May 25, 2013

Consumer survey - January 26, 2013

Free safe return program for illegal cars suddenly gets a lot more popular

Officials at Guadalajara area tax offices have expressed surprise at the sudden rise in the number of requests for permits to ensure the “safe return” of illegal foreign-plated vehicles to their home countries.

FIESTAS CALENDAR 2013

There’s a fiesta, fair or major happening going on somewhere in Mexico every day of the year. The Reporter has compiled a month-by-month run down of major dates to mark on the 2013 calendar.