Tlaquepaque

Yes, it certainly looks like a mouthful! It's actually easy and fun to say: lahkee pahkee. 
Is it:
1) a Mayan Indian specialty dish
2) a microbrewery
3) a local line dance similar to the electric slide

NONE OF THE ABOVE (you saw that coming...)

Guadalajara is divided into burrows much like New York City.  Tlaquepaque is one of these burrows.  We took the comfy bus for the hour drive into the old bus station in Guadalajara.  From there, a taxi to the center of Tlaquepaque.  I had read that this area was the arts district, and we were not disappointed.

Per our usual, we ventured with an overnight bag and no reservations.  We were told that this was the high season so good luck finding a place to stay.  Couple this with the fact that most hotels and bed and breakfasts have absolutely no curb appeal, and I was worried and trepidatious about what our accommodations would be for the evening.  I learned they spare the curb appeal and save all of the wow factor for after you enter and experience the beautiful, colorful open courtyards.  I also forgot that my husband hides a horseshoe somewhere, because his luck never runs out.

I mentioned in an earlier post that discussing the price of goods and services would be a recurring theme in this blog, and no where is that more apparent than Tlaquepaque.  We shopped and shopped and shopped.  You would think that it was Material Girl Tina racking up the purchases.  You would be wrong.  Jon bought a leather jacket, new cowboy boots, and a sweater.  So we don't need to worry about Jon shopping for another 4 score and seven years. I bought new leather shoes, a hat (cuz I always need a new hat), and for the two of us a new overnight bag.  The leather goods are hand made and soft and exquisite and CHEAP! What we spent for all of that wouldn't have afforded the jacket in the states.

 

Tlaquepaque is the birthplace of mariachi.  We spent the evening in the open courtyards drinking tequila and listening to the music.  We watched as families with multiple generations ate tacos on the street and their children delighted in running around independently with a few pesos for toys and churros as needed.  The core of the Latino culture is family.  I don't think the American concept of a babysitter exists.  If you are having dinner in the town center at 10 pm in order to enjoy the music and the lights and the intoxication of the moment, your children are there with you.  They are playful, engaging, and unafraid; and it is awesome.

The next day we took a double decker bus back to Guadalajara and stayed on it for a tour of the city.  We thought we would spend the day exploring the city center which feels a lot like the hustle and bustle of Manhattan.  We didn't anticipate the physical weight of our purchases, and decided to head home.  Not to worry.  I've already realized a few items I still want, and I have already made plans for one more shopping spree...

 

 

 

 

 

 

“All the pathos and irony of leaving one’s youth behind

is thus implicit in every joyous moment of travel:

one knows that the first joy can never be recovered,

and the wise traveler learns not to repeat successes

but tries new places all the time.” – Paul Fussell

 

POST SCRIPT: As expected, I have become a Tlaquepaque regular with my favorite shops and taxi driver, Oscar.  I picked up stoneware plates, bowls, and mugs as well as new glassware to be enjoyed by guests of our Winter Palace in Maine.  I take the bus in to town, and at the end of my day Oscar arranges to meet me and load everything in the trunk of his taxi and drive me back to Ajijic.  On the drive, he teaches me Mexican Spanish; so I really know how to habla en Mexico! He plays American music on his CD player, and even gave me an Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas CD in Spanish to give to Bryce.  Have I mentioned that I LOVE this country?!?!