This is our first destination for Mexico !! Guadalajara! Why Guadalajara? To be honest, it was the least expensive destination since Los Angeles by plane. However, we were able to discover wonderful things in Guadalajara!
Couchsurfing in Zapopan
This is a special couchsurfing that awaits us in Guadalajara but the advantage of these features is that they become memorable. forever. It's Victor who welcomes us to his home in Zapopan, all ready from Guadalajara. He is a Spanish teacher for foreigners who need to learn the language of the country and he speaks French very well. He did three years of study only in French and was able to improve his apprenticeship by leaving a few months in Quebec.
What is this famous particularity in Victor? It was not just Victor who welcomed us to his home but also his partner Erik, his roommate Vanessa, his other roommate Ulysses and his little brother Leo. There were 7 of us in Zapopan's apartment. At first it's a little scary to have everyone but in the end it was super rewarding!
Erik, Victor's spouse is a math teacher, and it was only two months since he moved to Guadalajara. During some visits, it was for him also his first discovery. We were not 2 but 3 tourists!
Vanessa is a 4th year student in biology and wants to come as an ethologist. OOOH good say so, I know very well this area. His dream? Go to Africa to take care of animals! What a coincidence! We were made to meet us! It was Vanessa who made our first visit to the city the day after our arrival. This is a fantastic guide, who knows a lot about the place while it is only 3 years that she is in Guadalajara. She also offered us our first tastings in Mexico.
Ulysses is Argentinian and cooks tacos. He wanted to show us a part of nature on his day off. He went around South America hitchhiking! He also visited Costa Rica.
Regarding Leo, it will be very fast because we have hardly seen it. I know he is 20 years old and loves to party a lot!
Gastronomy
From our first day in Mexico, our hosts put us directly in the atmosphere of the country, left for tastings! They were keen to make us taste the specialties of Jalisco, the state including Guadalajara, more or less tasty , everything depends on the taste of each of course!
Quesadillas!
Our first meal in Mexico was quesadillas! A delight! It's served with green non-spicy tomato sauce, spicy red tomato sauce and guacamole. Regarding the guacamole, with Ezekiel we found it spicy but our guests made fun of us because they felt absolutely nothing ...
Le Tejuino con nieve de lemon Tejuino is a fermented corn drink with a scoop of lemon sherbet. It is possible to drink it as it is or you can mix a little tejuino with beer. Having no beer on us, we saw it naturally. For Ezekiel, the drink had very little success. For my part, I have a mixed opinion. I really enjoyed the taste of lemon brought by the sorbet but much less the texture is quite thick.However it is only our own feeling, everything depends on the taste of each. It is imperative that you drink this drink!
Ecelo Ecelo is a hot dish mixing corn, cheese and mayonnaise. The first impression is quite surprising especially with the hot mayonnaise mixed with the other two ingredients. But little by little, the taste becomes more and more interesting and finally very good. As always I strongly advise you to taste this specialty.
Tunas At first sight the color of the fruit made us think of the dragon fruit but it is not so. This is the fruit of NOM, typical fruit of Jalisco! It is the fruit of the cactus. At home, we know it as the prickly pear.This has the taste and texture of the kiwi with it. It's very good, so Ezekiel liked it a lot. Watch out for the thorns when you eat it and the many red spots that can happen on your t-shirt during tasting!
During our trip to Tlaquepaque, we were able to discover other tunas with different colors, such as pink, yellow, green!
Meal prepared by Victor and Erik
We were 3 couples living together in Victor's apartment. Thus, every evening a couple prepared the meal for the whole troop. This is what Victor and Erik cooked:
With the dishes, the couple also prepared two drinks, one made from mango and the second made from tamarind. Very good!
Thank you again for this meal.
Cucumber and mint drink Erik made us a drink made from cucumber and mint. Mexicans drink this very fresh water when it's very hot!
Victor's tea
Victor prepares his own tea based on rosemary, cinnamon, lemongrass and adds at the end a bag of manzanilla. A delight!
The torta ahogada The troda ahogada is a sandwich filled with pork with onions, chilli for those who wish, all is dipped in tomato sauce. Thanks again to Vanessa for this culinary discovery that is a specialty of Jalisco! Victor was surprised that we enjoyed this dish because the French they know do not like wet bread. They are wrong! It's too good!
Carne in su jugo
The last specialty of Jalisco that we ate before leaving Guadalajara is the carne en su jugo. It is simply meat in its juice accompanied by guacamole and onions. Very good!
Nieve de agua or leche
Vanessa absolutely wanted us to taste the nieve de agua or leche (snow of water or milk). It is simply ice made on the spot. I had a ice cream made with water and strawberry (a sorbet actually). It's very good, I felt it was homemade with the good pieces of strawberries inside. While Vanessa took a ice cream made with milk and tequila (a real ice cream).
The center of Guadalajara
We discovered Guadalajara by night the very first and then day which allowed us to visit the monuments. The impressions are very different but remain memorable.
Guadalajara by night
So it was in the middle of the night that we visited for the first time the center of Guadalajara. Two words come to mind: magical and beautiful. All monuments are dressed in light! I recommend you to do this wonderful ride because you will take full eyes. I give you a taste with the following photos:
The church of Guadalajara
The Cathedral of Guadalajara:
The Senate Palace:
The theater of Guadalajara:
The Rotunda:
The Guadalajara library
Guadalajara in daylight It was the day after our night out that we returned to the center of Guadalajara to visit the interior of churches, cathedrals and monuments. A chance for us, because we learned that on Tuesday, the visit of the museums and monuments were free! Here is in image the center of Guadalajara in daylight:
In this cathedral, it is possible to observe the body of a little girl called Inocencia. The story goes that Inocencia wanted to receive the body of Christ at the first communion. His father did not agree with this. The girl secretly studied the catechism and made her first communion. When his father heard the news, he was so insane that he stabbed Inocencia several times, causing his death. For this cruel gesture and for the love of Inocenia for Christ, his body was exposed in the cathedral. Today, it is called Saint Inocencia.
We were also able to make new discoveries during this tour of Guadalajara in broad daylight such as:
There is a rather surprising passage in Guadalajara called the Devil's Passage. Victor, our host, told us that at night the devil was coming out in this street. It is also the meeting place for male and female prostitutes.
In Guadalajara you can see many sculptures and many fountains!
Victor and Vanessa introduced us to the Colonia Américana. This is the old rich district of Guadalajara where foreigners came to build their houses. But since other even more luxurious districts appeared, and all the inhabitants of Colonia Americana left for these new places. To date some houses are inhabited while others are transformed into coffee for example.
The center of Zapopan
The center of Zapopan is very small but has a lot of charm including its impressive church.
Vanessa told us that at night, the church is highlighted and that the place where it is filled with people in the evening to enjoy the show but also the freshness.
Some statues are also exposed in the city!
Another monument impossible to miss in Zapopan: The arc of ingreso!
Dance in the street
This is not a myth, Mexicans love and know very well how to dance salsa and many other dances. There are also free classes on Mondays evenings in Guadalajara followed by "free time" where Mexicans and Mexicans dance to the rhythm of music. And be careful! Do not laugh, it's wonderful to see people dancing in the street for fun. A real treat for the eyes and ears. I learned that dance was compulsory at school in Mexico. This explains why Mexicans are as good at this discipline.
The Markets of Guadalajara
With Victor we visited two markets located in Guadalajara: the Corona market and the San Juan des dios market.
Mercado de Corona
The Corona market is on 3 floors. Its particularity is located on the third floor with stands dedicated to exosterism. Victor explained that white or black magic is very common in Mexico. Sorcerers and witches come to shop here, even those who are not introduced to magic. Out of curiosity, we went to this famous third floor, knowing that right next to it are dedicated religious stands, as it brought a balance.
Mercado de San Juan de Dios It is the largest market in Latin America. You can find everything you want!
To visit Tlaquepaque
Tlaquepaque is a small town located 1 hour from Guadaljara accessible by bus. It is especially necessary to go there to visit the historical center of Tlaquepaque, place of rendezvous of the Mexicans to share a moment together, to eat una torda ahogada or una nieve de agua!
Of course, several monuments are to visit:
Every year, Tlaquepaque adopts a different theme to decorate the city. This year it is the heart that is put forward!
In this small town, we find what makes the charm of Mexico to know the colorful houses, the decorated streets!
Right next to the street of El Parian, here are the paintings that you can meet:
Other small details of decorations can be seen in Tlaquepaque:
Stores have been able to showcase their wall decorations that do not go unnoticed:
Hiking in La Barranca
Ulyses offered us to discover a little green area towards the Barranca. During our dinner together on the eve of our walk, Victor warned us that it was very hard because the whole way was sloping. With Ezekiel, we told ourselves that we are taking up the challenge. Vanessa was also adventurous and it was also the first time she went to Barranca.
After about 1 hour by bus we arrived on the famous site, Ulyses, Vanessa, Ezekiel and me. The view is beautiful!
To begin our hike, we first had to go down to the river and then go back up. For this first part, the boys left their side while Vanessa and I stayed together to go at our own pace, and we did well! The boys took another path that consisted of following the tracks of an old very steep train track. With Vanessa we put about 1:30 of descent against 30 minutes for the two adventurers. However, we had the chance to observe an iguana! Unfortunately I did not have my camera ...
There is no doubt we are in Mexico with all the cactus we meet! Regarding the river, there is nothing spectacular. Vanessa explained to me that a few years back, this river was clean but today it is totally polluted. Pity...
The return of La Barranca was rather sporty especially for me. In all honesty, I did not feel well from the start of the climb. I think the heat was there for a lot. Ulyses, very nice, went back to the exit to bring me bottles of water and a big piece of ice that I kept against me all along the ascent. I thought I'll never make it! As for Vanessa, a big bravo because she knew how to go up easily! I took 3 hours to reach the summit!
Et maintenant...
Cost of the stay in Guadalajara:
- Airline ticket from LA to Guadalajara: 179,93 euros for 2 persons
- Accomodation: 21 euros pour 2 night in hotel and couchsurfing
- Meal and greed: 145 euros for a week
- transport: 41 euros for 2 for a week (bus et uber)
- carte SIM pour 1 mois: 7 euros
soit total of 393, 93 euros
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