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tashby

May 21, 2009, 11:21 AM

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The Best of Guadalajara

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We live near Lake Chapala and I want to start spending more time in Guadalajara. Unfortunately, I don't know the city well at all yet. I've done the touristy/major site things in the center, and have visited Tlaquepaque and Tonalá. I'm looking less for major tourist sites, and more for great ways to spend the day. Neighborhoods that are interesting and pleasant and worth poking around for a day. Activities that are worthwhile. Etc. My interests are fairly broad, so I'm going to leave it non-specific.

What are some of your favorite ways to spend a day in Guadalajara?

Again, since I don't know the city well, any info on locations and how to get there (either by car or bus) would be great.

Thanks!

stina

May 21, 2009, 1:18 PM

Post #2 of 9 (3740 views)

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Re: [tashby] The Best of Guadalajara

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Lots of great stuff to do here....

One of my favorite things happens every Sunday- a large network of streets throughout the city shut down to car traffic from 8AM to 2PM for ViaRecreativa. Pedestrians and bikers take over the streets and it's lots of fun. A really nice area is Vallarta from the Centro out to Minerva. You can borrow a bike (it's free!) from the city if you want, hang out in el Parque Revolucion and hoola hoop or jump rope and watch the skateboarders... Eat brunch at one of the outdoor cafes on Vallarta (Chai is especially good). People watching galore!

This is only one idea. There are tons more things to do here.

esperanza

May 21, 2009, 1:55 PM

Post #3 of 9 (3735 views)

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Re: [tashby] The Best of Guadalajara

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There's a state bookstore in the courtyard of the Ex-Convento del Carmen, at Av. Juárez #612, Col. Centro, Guadalajara. Go there and buy the nearly 300-page Guía Arquetectónica Esencial Zona Metropolitana Guadalajara, published in 2005 by the Gobierno de Jalisco. The book is beautifully produced.

Study the book and make a list (by colonia, which is how the book is organized) of wonderful examples of period architecture (from colonial times to Art Deco to the near-present) in the city. The book is superb in every way--organization, photography, and descriptions of the architects, buildings and colonias. In the back-of-the-book index section, the authors give maps, routes and itineraries for visiting churches, houses, and neighborhoods.

You could spend months seeing the city via this guidebook. It's indispensible. I'm looking at the book now and wishing I were in Guadalajara today! We'd go to Restaurante La O for lunch (corner Guadalupe Zuno and Grl. San Martín, don't miss a long look at the fabulous pasta floors), peer in the fence of the Casa Pagoda across the street--it's probably still for sale or rent--and then walk over to the glorious Casa Zuno (Av. Unión #2226, corner Guadalupe Zuno)for a tour.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

tashby

May 21, 2009, 2:45 PM

Post #4 of 9 (3727 views)

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Re: [stina] The Best of Guadalajara

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Thanks Stina! Sunday ViaRecreativa sounds really pleasant, and the book sounds like exactly what I need, Esperanza. Perfect.

cookj5

Jun 2, 2009, 9:30 PM

Post #5 of 9 (3617 views)

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Re: [tashby] The Best of Guadalajara

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Tashby- Try visiting the Abastos, the huge open air regional produce market. Mind blower of a place. You'll see fruits and veggies you never knew existed. Here is a link to give you an idea:

http://cookjmex.blogspot.com/2008/11/abastos-guadalajaras-extraordinary.html

Lots of other stuff for sale too, and great little restaurant stalls. Enjoy!

tashby

Jun 27, 2009, 11:53 AM

Post #6 of 9 (3480 views)

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Re: [cookj5] The Best of Guadalajara

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I've been meaning to get to the Central Abastos for a while and finally made it last week. ¡Dios Mio! It is enormous! Talk about a place that will warp your perspective.....I think I completely lost it when I found myself wandering "Tomato Street".

Got a copy of Guia Arquitectónica Zona Metropolitana Guadalajara also. What a great book. Beautiful. For anybody wondering, I don't think it's available in regular bookstores since it's a state publication, but it was right where Esperanza said it would be in the bookstore next to Ex-Convento del Carmen. (FYI reprinted in 2007.)

Been waiting for the rains to begin to more fully enjoy ViaRecreativa. So we'll probably do that next Sunday.

Anybody else have Guadalajara favorites? Thanks.

"El Gringo Jalapeño"

Jun 28, 2009, 7:23 PM

Post #7 of 9 (3405 views)

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Re: [stina] The Best of Guadalajara

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Stina is right...the ViaRecreativa is fantastic! I rode all day one Sunday in mid-November of 2007, and had a wonderful time, meeting people of all ages enjoying life, even had marble sized hail for about 15 minutes! If I didn't live in Xalapa, Veracruz I would be at the ViaRecreativa every Sunday.
Another place which is absolutely fantastic for a Colorado mountain boy like me is the "Pueblo Magico" of Tapalapa, about an hour and a half from Guadalajara on the way to Cd. Guzman and Manzanillo. Go to the "Piedrotas", the water fall, and just enjoy the centro of this inviting town(the "pegoste"=peach jam in a clay dish is absolutely delicious). Be sure to get a "barranco" at Don Chilo's cantina if he is still around(was in his late 90's last time I was there)
¡Que viva Jalisco!(despues de Xalapa y Veracruz, por supuesto)
Roy B. Dudley "El Gringo Jalapeño" See more about Xalapa at www.xalaparoy.com

RickS

Jun 29, 2009, 10:39 AM

Post #8 of 9 (3363 views)

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Re: ["El Gringo Jalapeño"] The Best of Guadalajara

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I'm guessing that Roy is referring to Tapalpa in the mountains just west of Sayula.....

"El Gringo Jalapeño"

Jun 29, 2009, 11:44 PM

Post #9 of 9 (3316 views)

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Re: [RickS] The Best of Guadalajara

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Rick:
Correct! It was a "lapsus mensus" on my part. Tapalpa is really a "Pueblo Magico" in every sense. Maybe it was just wishful thinking on my part that "Tapalapa" were next to "Xalapa". It would be wonderful if I could get to Tapalpa more often, but Jalisco is a fairly long ways from here.
¡Gracias!
Roy B. Dudley "El Gringo Jalapeño" See more about Xalapa at www.xalaparoy.com

(This post was edited by "El Gringo Jalapeño" on Jun 29, 2009, 11:46 PM)