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Jalisco Mexico

Guadalajara is the capital city of Jalisco. Mariachi, which is the sum of a cultural revolution expressed through a group of musicians, dressed in popular clothing that encompasses the essence of Mexico and it's people, originated in the southern part of this state in the 19th century.

Traditional dishes include Birria or stewed goat or pork in thick, spicy tomato broth; Pozole or thick, hominy-based soup with hunks of pork, tomato, cilantro and garbanzos; Sopa de Elote or sweetcorn soup; Caviar de Carpa (Lago de Chapala) or carp caviar, Ancas de Rana al Mojo de Ajo (Lago de Chapala) or frog legs in garlic sauce, and more.

The airport is situated between Guadalaraja and a popular retirement area for Canadian, German and American expatriates known as Lake Chapala. Along the shores of this 60-mile by 17-mile lake, there are small cities of varying sizes, the larger ones could be 7500 residents more or less. Our favorite location is about 20-some miles (in a federally regulated taxicab) to a small bed and breakfast in Ajijic (Ah-hee-heec). We have been going there since the late 1980's and have never been disappointed. You can easily go from city to city on any of the numerous busses. Much progress has been made over the years in the age of the bus, but the fare is still very cheap. The roads are better, there are new housing subdivisions, and the markets are improving.

A bus ride away from downtown Guadalajara is the fabulous shopping suburb called Tlaquepaque (silent "T" and say "locky-pocky). This area is a tourist mecca. You can walk these festive streets (no cars) and see inexpensive wares on blankets on the cobblestones, expensive silver shops, upscale clothing and beautiful Mexican pottery stores, much of it by local artists. There are several restaurants there, where you can rest and eat and watch the Mariachi bands. Have you ever seen a band of beautiful women Mariachis? Once you have found Tlacquepaque you will surely return. Don't forget, the shops are closed for siesta.