| Ever wonder what the perfect marriage between | | | | famous menudo, except it has pork or |
| the historic and modern would be like? What if we | | | | sometimes chicken instead of tripe. On a quick |
| add the spring season all year long? Well, you get | | | | note, you should know that Guadalajara is so |
| none other than the great city of Guadalajara! It | | | | proud of its culinary creations that it hosts La |
| is the perfect union of class, culture, modernism, | | | | Feria Internacional de Gastronomia (International |
| all topped with the perfect year-round weather | | | | Gastronomy Fair) every September. |
| which makes for the picture-perfect backdrop. | | | | Accompanying your food you should indulge in the |
| Let Patawalk introduce you to this magnificent | | | | state's native drink: Tequila! The drink is almost |
| place. | | | | synonymous with the city of Guadalajara. Tequila |
| The city of Guadalajara is named by the city of | | | | is actually named after the small town where it |
| the same name in Spain. The name Guadalajara, | | | | was created and is it lies just outside the city of |
| to be more specific, comes from the Arab | | | | Guadalajara. The drink is taken from the native |
| language and it means "Valley of Stones or | | | | plant, Agave, which is fermented and distilled. This |
| "Stony River." It was found by Nuno de Guzman | | | | is an ever growing industry and you can take a |
| in 1542, with 126 residents; today it has over a | | | | tour of three of the most well-known distilleries: |
| million residents. | | | | Sauza, Jose Cuervo, and Herradura. The most |
| Now that you've learned a bit about the | | | | interesting of the three is the Herradura Tequila |
| foundation of this year-round spring city, let me | | | | distillery because it has kept the traditional and |
| tell you what truly makes it fabulous today. The | | | | original factory. This is a complete hacienda and in |
| Historic Center is the oldest part of the city. One | | | | fact, the owners still reside right there. |
| main area here is the Plaza de Armas, which is | | | | What better time to take pleasure in a shot of |
| kind of like a park. It is square-shaped, surrounded | | | | tequila or maybe a margarita than when |
| by gardens, the benches are made out of iron | | | | submerged in Guadalajara's night life. Unlike most |
| and it has a kiosk, also made of iron brought | | | | nightlife of beach towns, Guadalajara offers an |
| from Paris. Another spectacular historical place | | | | array of nightlife entertainment for all ages and |
| you must see is the Metropolitan Cathedral. This is | | | | preferences. You can walk into a nice jazz club |
| one of those buildings that dates back to the | | | | like "Copenhagen 77", a high quality piano bar such |
| 1500s, this particular one was established in 1616 | | | | as "El Piano", or you can dance all night at a rock |
| and is truly an architectural marvel for it is a | | | | nightclub like "Hard Rock Café". Of course, the |
| mixture of Gothic, Baroque, Neoclassical, and | | | | night life also offers opera, ballet, and live theater. |
| Moorish. It also has to towers, which were re-built | | | | So all you have to do is decide what you're in the |
| in the 19th century. Inside, the cathedral has | | | | mood for and it's there! |
| eleven altars, three central areas, and the roof is | | | | If you're in the mood for some shopping, then |
| supported by thirty columns (much like the ones | | | | visit Mercado Libertad (Liberty Market), which is |
| used in Greece). Within the vicinity, there's one | | | | one of the largest indoor traditional markets in |
| very interesting monument known as Rotonda de | | | | Mexico. It features over 1000 vendors and here |
| los Hombres Ilustres (Rotunda of Illustrious Men). | | | | haggling is like an art. It's almost impossible to not |
| This monument was built in memory of | | | | find what you're looking for. You can find |
| distinguished people from the state of Jalisco. Built | | | | everything from Mexican candies, wooden toys, |
| in 1952, it is in a circular shape made of quarried | | | | food, leather coats, perfumes, watches, radios, |
| stones containing seventeen columns. What really | | | | clothing, and so much more. To get a true musical |
| makes it interesting is that it houses the remains | | | | experience then the Plaza de los Mariachis is a |
| (in small urns) of ninety-eight illustrious people. If | | | | must. Here, you can listen to the world renowned |
| you're into art, then you have to visit the Palace | | | | Mariachi music live. Mariachi music originated in the |
| of the State Government, which features murals | | | | neighboring town of Cocula, Jalisco but it is now |
| created by one of Mexico's most famous painters | | | | mainly associated with Guadalajara. What really |
| (also a native of Jalisco), Jose Clemente Orozco. | | | | brought about the association of the Mariachi |
| Teatro Degollado (Degollado Theater) is not only a | | | | music with Guadalajara was in 1907 when a group |
| theater, but its ceiling has a painting depicting a | | | | performed in front of the then president, Porfirio |
| scene from the "Divine Comedy"- the epic poem | | | | Diaz, and the then Secretary of State of the |
| written by the Italian author Dante about a | | | | United States. Guadalajara has in fact embraced |
| journey through hell, the purgatory, and heaven. If | | | | and made this music part of their culture. It is |
| you would like to visit at least one museum, then | | | | such an important part of the culture that |
| go to Jalisco Regional Museum. Rarely will you | | | | Guadalajara hosts El Festival del Mariachi y |
| have the opportunity to see a complete | | | | Charreria (The Festival of Mariachi and Horse |
| mammoth skeleton! But that's not all; the | | | | Riding). Participants from all over the world |
| museum has sections dedicated to Paleontology, | | | | including Japan, France, and Belgium can be seen |
| Pre-history, History, Painting, and Archeology. | | | | here performing their best tunes. In fact, just last |
| Another interesting building is the Ex-Hospicio | | | | year 542 mariachi musicians played together |
| Cabanas which was built in 1810 by the Catholic | | | | breaking the record for the largest mariachi group. |
| Church as an orphanage. The building features a | | | | Charreria is something that is very much |
| neoclassic style of architecture and today it is as | | | | entwined with the mariachi music. This is the |
| a cultural institute featuring art and several murals. | | | | original cowboy rodeo art; here the "charros" |
| Since you're visiting the colonial style part of the | | | | (cowboys) perform and compete in different |
| city, why not experience a little of that colonial life | | | | horse riding and roping events. You can see both |
| and visit the area on a "Calandria", which are | | | | the Charreria and the Mariachi performing every |
| horse-drawn carriages. | | | | Sunday afternoon in the bullring - Plaza de Toros |
| After all taking in the magnificence of Guadalajara | | | | Nueve Progreso. |
| you'll surely work out an appetite. When you visit | | | | The city is also host to two other international |
| Guadalajara, make sure to taste the native dishes. | | | | events: The International Film Festival of |
| "Birria" is definitely a staple dish of Guadalajara; it | | | | Guadalajara and The Guadalajara International |
| is usually goat meat cooked in a spicy sauce | | | | Book Fair. Both fairs, as the name indicates, |
| broth which includes chili peppers, ginger, cumin, | | | | features participants from all over the world. The |
| black pepper, oregano, and clove. It is usually | | | | first fair takes place in March and interesting the |
| served with corn tortillas and limes on the side | | | | event last year featured over 200 films. The |
| and topped with minced onion and cilantro. If you'd | | | | Book Fair is indisputably the largest |
| like to try birria, it is sold at most Mexican-food | | | | Spanish-language book fair and an astounding 300 |
| restaurants but one that really stands out is Las | | | | publishing firms from over 30 countries are in |
| Nueve Esquinas (The Nine Corners). Tortas | | | | attendance. |
| Ahogadas (Drowned Tortas) is another classic | | | | This great city also offers a little something for |
| Guadalajara dish. A "Torta" is similar to a sub | | | | the kids. The city's zoo is one of the most |
| sandwich, but uses oblong-shaped bun that is | | | | impressive in the country and adjacent to the zoo |
| crunchy on the top but soft in the interior. The | | | | is a unique amusement park, Selva Magica (Magic |
| bun is filled with fried pork, but you can get | | | | Jungle). The zoo has over 1,500 different animals. |
| chicken, beans and cheese. The sandwich is then | | | | The amusement park has over 35 rides, a dolphin |
| submerged or "drowned" in a sauce made out of | | | | show and even the toucans perform! |
| chili peppers and served with a side of radishes | | | | Why wait, go indulge right now, see it in 360 at |
| and avocados. Hmmm! Lastly, another more | | | | Patawalk! |
| well-known dish is "Posole". This is much like the | | | | |