Shopping in Guadalajara

As visitors, we always like to carry souvenirs back home with us. We also want to diversify our packed clothes, most of all because of good old "I bought it overseas" answer to people's "where did you get it?" Anyway, just as "eating out in Guadalajara" I will be splitting this entry into traditional shopping and fashion / grocery shopping for other needs.

Traditional Shopping
When you think local shopping, you mostly think of traditional Mexican items, such as bottles of Tequila, Mariachi hats, flags, Aztec Calendars, and other special souvenirs that remind you that you were here or that you are simply going to use as gifts. Most importantly, you want to get a fair rate for them. It is fairly known, everywhere in the world, when local vendors see that the customer in front of them isn't from around the area, they will bump up the price. This will particularly be even truer with different language speakers.

To make sure that doesn't happen to you, always go shopping with a local friend or acquaintance. Let them do the talking and the bargaining. However, if you find yourself local-free, then just do the following:

1. Walk into the first place where you have found the type of things you are looking for. Ask for the straight price right away and leave. Now you have a basis of the price you are looking for.
2. Walk a little more and drop 10% off the price they first gave you. Tell them that's what the other salesman offered and if he or she cannot improve the offer, then you're going back to the previous salesman. IMPORTANT: Look determined! Don't hesitate or they will see your bluff. 
3. Finally, just buy the fairest price. 

This said, it's now time for a list of places you might be interested in Guadalajara for traditional shopping.

Tlaquepaque

You will find a great tourist street right in the middle of Tlaquepaque, showing off the best Mexican cuisine, with lovely views and outdoor sitting. These are recommended restaurants:

1. El Patio
2. Casa Fuerte
3. El Abajeño

As far as shopping goes, you'll be able to find Mexican designer and artist labels. However, you will also find the other end of the spectrum: the tianguis. Tianguis is a indigenous word for market, and you will be able to find traditional sculptures and other handcrafts in which you'll be able to practice your bargaining skills. 

Tonalá

This place is less glamour and Mexican Haute Couture and more tradition. You won't find the restaurants you'll find in Tlaquepaque, or the designer lables. What you WILL find is the mecha of Mexican artistic traditions. You'll be able to bargain anywhere you go and you'll get authentic Mexican art. 

Guadalajara Downtown

You'll find the historic downtown to be newly renovated, clean and very walking-friendly. Find the oldest building in the city (and possibly the country), museums, Cathedrals, and other building.s You will also be able to find San Juan de Dios, the traditional market, in which you will also be able to bargain away for clothing, fruits, vegetables, and art. 

Eating Out in Guadalajara

You can't go on a trip and not try the local specialties, that would be like staying home (culinary speaking). However in this post, I'll be describing a couple of local culinary delights and other places with international cuisine that you might find yourself to be in the mood of will be found in the sequel to this post.

Local Cuisine

By now you should have already heard about Torta Ahogada. This local delight is hard to export because of the nature in the bread used for this recipe. It consists of a salty baguette-like bread called birote filled with "carnitas"or meat, with variation of chicken and cheese. The tricky and defining factor here is why Torta Ahoga (Drowned Sandwich) is called so: it is soaked in tomato sauce. Other toppings you might like to add and are traditional are bean sauce, onions, spicy sauce and lime juice.

There are a few places you might enjoy this delicacy with the best flavors in town:

• Tortas Toño: There are several venues for this chain, which can be found around the city
• Lonches del Santuario: located right in Guadalajara's downtown, you can't miss the original torta ahogada
• Tortas Ahogadas las Famosas

Another thing you might want to try are of course tacos. Although Guadalajara's version is very different from the international known version. These come in small soft tortillas the size of the palm of your hand with different types of meat. They're so small, you might end up ordering 12 tacos before you notice you're stuffed with delight. Try these clean and certified venues:

• Otto Taco
• Tacos Providencia

Now, remember to take pictures and comment about it on this blog. Just to see if the tip worked :) 

Transportation in Guadalajara

Guadalajara is a big city, and so you will definitely need transportation. Providencia, Chapultepec, downtown and Andares are the most walking-friendly places in the city; however they're a bit far from each other.

Of course you can always rent a car when you get to the airport, but if you're not the kind that likes to be stuck in traffic at rush hour -roughly 730am-830am, 2pm-4pm, 6pm-8pm- then you would most definitely try to pick up another means of transportation.

First off, there are airlines that offer the airport shuttle. For example, vivaerobus the most economic, domestic flights airlines has two shuttle routes: Plaza del Sol and Downtown Guadalajara. These two locations will leave you around the Expo Guadalajara and the Historical downtown sites respectively.

Once you get into the city, public transportation is made up mostly of public buses. Routes can be found online at rutasgdl.com . There is also a line of "light train" (tren ligero in Spanish), however it only covers a certain part of the city, so you will definitely need the help of the bus routes.

If you are the eco-friendly type of person, then Guadalajara is the city for you. There is a rent-me public bycicle program called Bikla. You basically log into their website and use your credit card or paypal account to enter the Public Bicycle club. This means that you will have access to the bicycle network that Bikla offers around the city. You can find a map of the bicycle parking spots where you can find them and return them.

Moreover, every Sunday is "Via Recreativa" day. This subject is actually extensive, so it will have its own spotlight later on. However, it's important to know that if you have any set of wheels that don't involve a car, or you're simply in the mood for a walk or a run, this program is what you've been looking for.

And last but not least, taxis. The yellow little Nissan Tsurus (although there are plenty of other models) have the Cathedral line drawn on the back of their cars. They are mostly safe and cheaper if you call for a "Sitio" or cab station for them to pick you up.

Visit Tequila

Tequila in Guadalajara

Do you know that magical drink that José Cuervo has showed the world and gives you a terrific party? Yeah, Tequila, that very drink has a hometown, a birthplace. Also called Tequila, in the state of Jalisco, a few minutes from Guadalajara, the little town has much to share to the world.

Dozens of the most important Tequila houses call this home. Casa Cuervo, Tequila Herradura and many others have acres and acres of Agave azul (the plant from which the pulp is absorbed and processed in order to make Tequila). Each label offers different sets of tours. But let's get to the first thing needed: transportation.

Tequila Express

There are mainly three ways you can get there: by train, by car or by tour. I highly recommend the first option. The train ride is accompanied by Mariachi music that will make you feel happier, plus, the Tequila Express (the train company name) will offer tequila and margarita tasting, as well as other refreshments that are already included in your ticket. If you choose to go by car, it will take you about 30 or 40 minutes to get to the small town all the way from Guadalajara.

Once you get to Tequila, you can choose whatever tour you like, however, the most famous ones are the ones offered by Casa Cuervo and Tequila Herradura. There are several different packages:

1. Basic: get a small tour of the factory and get a margarita tasting at the end
2. Full tour: Get a tour of the underground and get more free tastings
3. Food + Tasting: Get a tour and then get a full meal plus a lesson on how to pair up the best tequila with your meal. 
4. And more

With all the above descriptions, your safest and funnest shot is to take the train (you don't have to drive after all those free tastings). However, perhaps a designated friend or tour guide can take care of that for you. 

Travel to Guadalajara

Guadalajara is the most iconic city in Mexico. Tequila and Mariachi are two Mexican icons around the world whose birthplace was the very city of Guadalajara, Jalisco. That said, not many would know that exact piece of information. This website is dedicated to inform the traveler about the true faces of this city, and for the visitor to get to know it like a local. 

First of all, where is Guadalajara? This beautiful city, also called "La Perla del Pacífico" (Pearl of the Pacific) or "La Perla Tapatía" (The Tapatía Pearl) is the capital city of the state of Jalisco, on the Western part of the country. Locals are called "Tapatíos", and they are the proud citizens of the second largest city in Mexico.

Now, Tequila is an actual little town, it is the birthplace of the drink that has traveled the world over and it's located only 30 minutes away from Guadalajara.

Guadalajara is a financial centre and also the Mexican Silicon Valley. A great number on large international players have set up shop here. 

If you're looking for a defining local monument, Minerva is your answer. Several important avenues end up meeting this city's defender and can be seen in thousands of pictures.

That is the overall description of Guadalajara, but stay tuned for more detailed tips on what to do, where to go, what food to eat (most importantly where), and well... the secrets that you need to know to fully enjoy your trip.