La Bienvenida a Nuestra Ciudad
f you haven't thought about making a journey to Guadalajara, you might want to add this city to your checklist. Guadalajara was incredibly cosmopolitan and full of buildings rising up and beautiful people everywhere. We were invited to a friend's birthday party and my husband, and I had never been so we decided to hop on Aero Mexico and have a little adventure.
We took off for a day to visit Tlaquepaque (tlaké pake) famous for its pottery and blown glass. The main square in the city centre is El Jardin Hidalgo (Hidalgo Garden"), named after Miguel Hidalgo y Costlier, the "Father of Mexican Independence." You stroll down one street and each shop was more colorful and full of incredible hand made goods than the next.
Talented women were making any color, size or shape you would like.
Father Hidalgo was one of the heroes of the Mexican War of Independence.
Voladores de Papantla - An ancien Mesoamerican ceremoy/ritual still performed today. The ritual consists of dance and the climbing of a 39 meter pole from which the participants then launch themselves tied with ropes to descend to the ground while one remains playing a flute and drum.
After the first part of the day shopping around and working up an appetite, we decided to stop at Casa Fuerte. Highly recommend from our local friends, and no reason in questioning that. It was quiet the preferred place.
Case Fuerte was open air, tranquil with a Latin jazz band ( I was in Heaven) and we were ready to experience the full dining culture of Mexico. I ordered a Don Julio margarita, my husband had a Spanish white wine and the chips and salsa were terrific. Just what we had in mind.
Camarones Tamarindo - Camarón, en salsa de tamarindo. And it was delicious...
Chili Relleno en Nogada - Poblano peppers seemed to be a very popular dish.
The people were lovely here, so happy and you could feel they appreciated tourist and the locals. The service was great, along with our food and drinks.
With our friends being locals we knew we were in for an authentic experience, and now... ready for round two of shopping. Gracias Casa Fuerte, for taking care of us.
Beautiful glass hearts in all sizes and vibrant colors.
We purchased these beautiful glasses, along with hand blown stir sticks, place mats, cocktail and dinner napkins along with this hand blown napkin holder.
Colorful handmade placemats & napkins.
HUI ZA CHE / TEQUILA REPOSADO / gift from the birthday boy, made by his family.
Dia de los Muertos / Day of the dead /
Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico, in particular the Central and South regions, and acknowledged around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and help support their spiritual journey.
Day of the Dead happens to be my birthday, so we couldn't resist beginning our collection.
Incredible, stunning furniture and light fixtures at IO Art Gallery.
How can you not appreciate an incredible Mariachi Band...
A goodbye wave from the Joven (young) in Tlaquepaque
"The world is a book, and those who do no travel read only one page." Saint Augustine