Guadalajara

A creative person has to create. It doesn't really matter what you create. If such a dancer wanted to go out and build the cactus gardens where he could, in Mexico, let him do that, but something that is creative has to go on.
Katherine Dunham

Buenas tardes amigos,

We just returned from a fabulous eight day trip to Guadalajara Jalisco Mexico and absolutely loved it! We stayed at Las Sabilas, one of the most beautiful small hotels on the planet, at a bargain price. It is centrally located only three blocks from El Centro Historico. Our host was owner, Robert Clark, a world famous garden designer. He fixed us coffee every morning and we had wonderful talks.  Robert is incredibly talented and is the REAL most interesting man on the planet.  He does not often drink beer but when he does, he drinks it at Las Fuentes, a neighborhood bar, the oldest in Guadalajara. (1912)  It resembles a San Francisco establishment with all the charm.

We made many friends in the neighborhood and hated to have to say goodbye.  Pancho lives across the street, has a cab, and drove us everywhere, including Lake Chapala. One day,  after lunch, his cab did not start and two borachos (drunks) helped him push it backwards down a cobblestone street with a dog chasing after them and biting at their legs. That didn't work but we got a jump start from another cab driver.

The public art in Guadalajara is the finest that we have seen anywhere with the exception of Barcelona Spain. Guadalajara must be the retail center of the western hemisphere! There were so many markets and products.

The food was the best that we have had anywhere and the people were so helpful and caring. 

At Tlaqapaque we purchased several artistic pieces. Our home is decorated with art from around the world. The products in Tlaqapaque rival the quality of the pseudo Tlaqapaque in Sedona, but at a fraction of the price.

We also took in a very nice zoo and aquarium along with the multi-pronged 2,000-foot-deep Oblatos Canyon that has hiking trails and the narrow Cola de Caballo waterfall, named for its horsetail shape.

On a scale of 1 to10 this was a solid 9.9 trip. Mexico has so much to offer at such a bargain. We feel that most areas are as safe or safer than in our country. We take prudent risk and Mexico falls into that category. Fear is a big motivator. The state department's propaganda, is doing a good job of keeping tourist dollars north.

ELG tavelled with a broken back and a turtle shell and managed to have a great time without any fear. The candle of life is burning quickly. Go to Mexico. Have an 

adventure!