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| Here is what you'll find on our Chapala-Ajijic page: Feria
Maestros del Arte Show Schedule
November
9, 11 and 11, 2007 New
Location: Club de Yates de Chapala (Chapala Yacht Club) Admission:
50p (hand stamped for return that day) OR Feria Maestros del Arte Brochure
Admission each day to the fair is 50 pesos ($5 USD) or all three days for 100p ($10 USD). We've made the price of admission very affordable so that you can come every single day! Get your hand stamped and return as many times during the day as you like. Here is a map to where the Feria will be held this year - Club de Yates de Chapala (Chapala Yacht Club) Taxis Ajijic Taxi 376 766-0674,
766-1663 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bus Local buses are also available - ask for the information at your hotel.
Chapala & Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico Chapala and Ajijic (Ah-hee-HEEK) are just 30 minutes south of the Guadalajara International Airport. Both are two of the many villages that surround Mexico's largest lake, Lake Chapala, 700 miles south of the US border. The area is noted for its exceptional climate. In November, daytime temperatures will be around 70°F. This area is home to a vibrant international community of Mexicans, Americans, Canadians and Europeans. Internet, ATM banking, hotels, restaurants, and public transportation exist side-by-side with traditional Mexican life. The primary language is Spanish, but many people speak some English.
Arriving
by Air When you deplane, you'll board a bus that will take you the short distance to Immigration where you'll fill out an immigration form and have your passport stamped. From there you'll pick up baggage and pass through customs. You'll find the Guadalajara airport safe, easy to navigate, and friendly. ATMs that dispense pesos, a Starbuck's Coffee, Burger King and gift shops are available after you exit customs. If you are not being met by your hotel, the taxi kiosk is just outside customs to the left. Buy a ticket to Ajijic for about $27 US. Fares are set so no haggling is required. Be sure that your hotel has provided you with their address and directions. Leaving
by Air
For a complete guide and map to the area buy "Mexico's Lake Chapala and Ajijic: The Insiders Guide" available at www.chapalaguide.com or at the Information booth when you get to the show. With or without a guide, your hotel will help you with transportation and recommendations for restaurants. Be sure to secure your hotel reservations well in advance.
Some of our favorite restaurants
A map showing all ATMs in our area will be available at the Feria Information Booth.
Chapala and Ajijic are both lovely villages whose people are centered around family and tradition. To keep your visit a happy one, observe normal travel safety. Make Xerox copies of your passport, ticket, credit cards and other documents and keep the originals in your hotel safe. Take as much cash as you need for a day's purchases and keep an eye on your belongings. Don't expect to be able to pay for purchases at the fair with travelers cheques. We do hope to be able to offer credit card purchases and many artists will accept personal checks from the US. Visit the ATM machine or change house early before leaving for the fair.
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The
3-day Maestros Del Arte art show will be held in a new location this year
- 
We
willl have an English-speaking shipper available to help you get your
large purchases home. Look for the signs that say Shipping. 
Arriving
during the daylight hours will make it much easier to check into your
hotel or B&B, although many connecting flights into Guadalajara may
arrive at night - just alert your hotel to your arrival time. If you're
arriving by air you'll need your passport
or a notarized copy of your birth certificate (please check with your
airline first as the passport rules for the US are currently undergoing
some changes). 
Feria
Maestros del Arte ends Sunday, November 11 at 4p.m. Stay Sunday night
and plan to fly out the next day. Your hotel can make arrangements for
your departure and help you check that your flight is on time. Folk art
is exempt from duty so don't worry about declaring your purchases to Customs.
If you've bought too many items to carry, be sure to visit our on-site
shipper at the Show. They'll help you ship your treasures.
(See above.)
Here
is a list of our favorite hotels in both Chapala and Ajijic. Click on
the name of the hotel or B&B to go to their website.
There
are many fine restaurants in Ajijic and the surrounding area - these are
some of our favorites.
Bring
your ATM card. This is mostly a cash society. ATM machines
are available near the Ajijic plaza. We do not recommend travelers checks.
We hope to offer credit card purchasing at this year's show, however,
should this not become a reality, we will accept US checks and/or change
your US dollars.
Mexico
often gets what we living in Mexico consider "a bad rap" in
the foreign media. There is unrest in parts of Mexico the same as in any
other part of the world. There is also crime. BUT when you compare Mexico
crime statistics with those of the US or Canada, you will find them very
much lower. After all, why would all of us living here stay, if Mexico
was truly and unsafe place to live or visit?
If you are concerned, check the 
Everyone
drinks bottled water! It is readily available at corner grocery stores,
in your hotel, and in restaurants. If you have a delicate stomach we recommend
carrying Pepto Bismal tablets. The restaurants we recommend above are
very reliable, but if travel here has upset your stomach, alert your hotel
owner or B&B host during the day if you think you may need the services
of a doctor - most of them make housecalls. 
Still
have some questions or perhaps you need more information on