Guadalajara
 “The Pearl of the West” is the
affectionate name Tapatios (local residents) have dubbed Mexico’s second
largest city (only Mexico City is larger), which is 450 years old and has five
million inhabitants. Located in the west-central part of the country in the
State of Jalisco (it’s the state capital), this serenely beautiful and stately
colonial city sits on a high plateau more than 5,000 feet above sea level.
Blessed with an ideal climate and a location convenient to much of what Mexico
has to offer, the city and its surroundings has attracted many American and
Canadian expatriates. It’s a city of parks and fountains, of monuments and
rose-lined boulevards, a city alive with color, especially in the flowers that
bloom nearly year-round. Purple jacaranda trees bloom in the spring; the
ethereal trees line many streets and are an impressive sight; and the flaming
Flor de Noche Buena (poinsettias) bloom in December, giving the city a
Christmas flavor!
 Guadalajara was founded in 1542 by
the Spanish conquistador Nuno de Guzman, and, although modern, it still
retains much of its colonial charm with its many 17th
century buildings in the old downtown area; NAFTA’s influence has brought
many international companies here, due both to the quality of life the city
offers as well as its strategic location. At first glance, Guadalajara appears
to avoid the obvious tourist trappings of some other Mexican cities—which may
explain its charm. It’s a subtle city, not noted for its nightlife, but there’s
still a lot to see and do.
Guadalajara is a well-connected
city, to say the least—only a three-hour drive to the Pacific beach cities of
Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo on new toll roads. And from here you can easily
connect to other colonial cities, most within comfortable driving distances and
some even by air. And with the opening of the Guadalajara-Mexico City
superhighway, it’s only four hours to Mexico City, linking these two major
cities as never before. And this connectedness is reflected in Guadalajara’s
culture and sophistication, with its tree-lined boulevards, beautiful city
parks, great hotels, plazas, shopping centers, museums, restaurants, art
centers, its Degollado Theater (home of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra),
lovely old churches, universities and huge exciting markets, all of which will
fill your days with the unforgettable sights and sounds of Mexico, and of course
on a grander scale than any of the smaller colonial cities.
The seven-block-long Plaza Tapatia
and the cathedral dominate the downtown area. The plaza is a stroller’s paradise
of colonial architecture, fountains, ancient and modern sculpture, shops and a
museum. At the west end of the plaza is the “first block” of the city, which
 includes not only the spot where the city was established in the 16th century,
but the cathedral and four plazas extending to form a cross. Most of Guadalajara’s great colonial buildings face these plazas. In front of the
cathedral is Plaza Guadalajara, which is packed with laurel trees and boasts a
fountain with the Jalisco state seal. The southern arm of the cross is the Plaza
de Armas, with its Victorian kiosk of lacy wrought iron, where locals gather for
band concerts on Thursday and Sunday evenings. The eastern park behind the
cathedral is the Plaza de la Liberacion, dedicated to the heroes of Mexican
independence; in its center is a statue of Padre Hidalgo, the father of the
independence movement. At both ends are beautiful fountains, and the entire
plaza is bordered with flowers. To the north is the Plaza de la Rotonda, whose
center contains a circular group of columns set in a garden honoring illustrious
Jaliscans. A series of life-size statues in bronze skirt the park.
The name Guadalajara comes from
the Arabic or Moorish word Wad-al-jidara, which means “river of stones.”
Tapatios are friendly and proud of their beautiful city, eager to introduce
visitors to its beauty and charm. It boasts the nearby handicraft towns of
Tlaquepaque and Tonala, where some of the leading artisans of Mexico ply their
trades, producing some of the most beautiful and unique works found anywhere.
The city has long been a haven for many North American retirees; and thousands
more Americans and Canadians reside in the nearby towns of Chapala and Ajijic on
the shores of Mexico’s largest inland body of water, Lake Chapala, which is only
45 minutes’ drive from the city and well worth a visit. A visit to nearby
tequila plantations and distilleries also makes a great side trip. In the town
of Tequila, you can tour the haciendas of leading tequila distillers Casa Cuervo
and Sauza, to see how the national drink is made. Tequila Herradura, another
leading distiller, is based in the town of Amatitlan, between Guadalajara and
Tequila, and their hacienda, San Jose del Refugio, offers guided tours, On
Saturdays, you can take a day-long train tour to Tequila that includes
tequila-tasting on board, mariachi music, folkloric dancing and a typical
regional meal. Operated by the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce, the Tequila
Express departs from the train station at 11 AM and returns about 8 PM.
Guadalajara can easily be the
focal point for an entire Mexican vacation. It’s ideal for those who want to get
off the usual tourist track, yet expect good hotels and comfortable living.
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