La Banda Max

 There have been quite a few demonstrations recently here in Guadalajara, craftspeople demanding work, anti-government protests and of course some in support of "Occupy Wall Street". The Kiosko in Plaza de las Armas is currently covered in protest material. The various signs here say "No More Blood" - one of the main slogans against the drugs violence and government reaction, over the blood "PAN" has been written, the PAN are President Calderon's right-wing party currently in governement here who have been since 2000. Another says "Enough of social repression, we are all Temaca". Temaca is a small village in Jalisco (where we are) which the National Water Comission, using federal expropriation power, plan to flood along with a couple of other villages in order to build a dam. Clearly the people of Temaca are none too happy with the decision to flood their homes and livelihoods and are protesting with the support of many. The last is a protest in favour of a national pension. A friend recently described the politics of Mexico to me as "Kafka-esque" and the more I learn, the more I see his point.
 This is a view from not too far from our home, near the football stadium.

 A street seller in Zapopan, one of the largest of the 4 "districts" that make up Guadalajara city. It's also the most affluent, although this is said to be due to community development paid for by drugs barons living in the area. Guadalajara itself is a relatively drugs-violence free zone, but the drugs war is affecting this country in its entirety.

 More of the same.

Sorry that it's dotty and out of focus. But here's a photo of Ellie eating Mole and Flautas in one of our favourite mexican restaurants, La Birreria Las Nueve Esquinas.

K.