We spent a long weekend in Guadalahara, the second biggest city in Mexico (ab
out 3 million people). We stayed near the center of the city where the tourist sites are: the Cathedral, the Teatro Degallado, the market, plazas, etc. Friday night we attended the Mexican Philharmonic Orchestra at the theater. They were spectacular! Even Bear was astounded at the glorious production (even though he fell asleep in the second set because it was 9:30pm). Saturday we took the open-air double-decker bus tours around the city and into the neighboring town of Tlacapaque. Shopping in Tlacapaque was fun and interesting - and the prices were much lower than in Vallarta. If I were to furnish a house here, it would be worth the trip to shop there. It was funny how many items we bought that we didn't know we "needed"!
out 3 million people). We stayed near the center of the city where the tourist sites are: the Cathedral, the Teatro Degallado, the market, plazas, etc. Friday night we attended the Mexican Philharmonic Orchestra at the theater. They were spectacular! Even Bear was astounded at the glorious production (even though he fell asleep in the second set because it was 9:30pm). Saturday we took the open-air double-decker bus tours around the city and into the neighboring town of Tlacapaque. Shopping in Tlacapaque was fun and interesting - and the prices were much lower than in Vallarta. If I were to furnish a house here, it would be worth the trip to shop there. It was funny how many items we bought that we didn't know we "needed"!Guadalahara is a major tourist destination for Mexicans. There were not many gringos there at all! It felt like a major city in Europe - colonial style and older. The people were nice but life is faster paced there than on the coast. Nothing was expensive - from hotels and food to tours and souvenirs.
On Sunday we visited the town of Zapopan which was quieter and not very touristy. The central had a beautiful church and a Huichol Indian Museum. We lunched on traditional Mexican fare: tortillas with meat and cheese, frijoles (beans), and rice.
On route home on Monday, we stopped at the town of Tequila which is the birthplace of the national drink. On the
tour of the Jose Cuervo manufacturing plant, we learned all about the fascinating process of making Tequila. Did you know that an agave plants grows for 8-10 YEARS before it is harvested and that it is the root that is used in the process? And only alcohol made from agave plants in the specified regions of Mexico can be called tequila. Liquor made outside the region is called Mezcales.
tour of the Jose Cuervo manufacturing plant, we learned all about the fascinating process of making Tequila. Did you know that an agave plants grows for 8-10 YEARS before it is harvested and that it is the root that is used in the process? And only alcohol made from agave plants in the specified regions of Mexico can be called tequila. Liquor made outside the region is called Mezcales. We returned in time for Bear to attend karate class with his friends. Tomorrow Katherine and her boyfriend, Clay, come to visit for a week!
