First Days in Tlaquepaque

This a return trip to Tlaquepaque. Sue will share the apatrment "Lirio Blanco" with me for the first five days. The day Sue goes home, Ann will arrive.

Our trip was a long one...as I allowed four hours between flights in Houston instead of one. Could have made it in one...but, what if there were delays??? A week ago, our flights may have been cancelled. They had more snow in Texas than in northern New Hampshire.

Arrival in Guadalajara was easy....push a button...get a green light and you walk rightthrough customs. My first challenge was the ATM machine. It was only in Spanish. I understood the part about charging a fee for transaction...but, then it seemed to be asking for a contribution as well. I hit NO and the transaction was cancelled (at least, I hope so). Fortunate, I had just a little bit over the amount needed for a taxi to Tlaquepaque. It is very safe and easy to get a taxi at the airport. I went to the Taxi kiosk...told the gentleman that I wanted to go to Tlaquepaque Central. He charged me $210 pesos (about $16). I received a receipt and presented this to one of the fleet of taxis out front. Very easy. I did need to show the driver a map and give him some directions. Would he have found it himself? Of course.

Olivia, the owner of Olivia's Apartments www.oliviasapartment.com had just returned from California. She found two sets of keys to our apartment "Lirio Blanco"....and we were all set. Richard and Kim, our upstairs neighbors welcomed us. After a walk in the rain, to the town center and the ATM, we had a supply of pesos and could eat dinner. We ate a delicious and filling dinner across the street at Olivia's restaurant...Cenaduria La Unica. Had the small Posole (tomato chicken broth, chopped cabbage, radish, corn, and chicken and wonderful seasonings) which was huge and a large quesedilla...plus a cervesa Rusa (beer with lime juice, ice, and salt around rim of glass.

Yesterday was a brighter day...sun was out...it warmed up....and it felt warm and cheery. As we walked along Reforma, a couple stopped us to ask if we are staying at Olivia's Apartments. They were Kerry and Ken from Texas, and are staying across the street in Violeta. Conversation was short as their bus to Guadalajara came along and we said good bye. Will have to visit with them another time.

We did our market shopping...which I always enjoy...spreading the wealth among many vendors. We did get some wonderful crisp, chewy bread from one of them and of course the makings of guacamole from several others. I have decided to do much of our staple shopping at the little shop which is two doors down from our apartment. This way we do not have to carry heavier items such as milk and soda too far....but, more importantly, to give them business.

Returned to apartment to put away our market goods...and then it was back out to walk Independencia and view the galleries and shops. Ah, how am I to resist all of these colorful and joyful momentos of Tlaquepaque? I had to curb the urge to buy....telling myself that I had no room for these decorations and that I do not need any clothing no matter how perfect it might be.

We followed the excellent advice of our friend Laurinda, Deb, Pauline and Elaine who spent the two previous weeks in Tlaquepaque and had our mid-day meal at Rio San Pedro on Calle Juarez. It lived up to their recommendation. Sue had the veggie stuffed pepper and an orange margarita both of which, she really liked. I had the wonderful chicken breaststuffed with squah flowers with a white mole sauce, This came with rice and vegetables. The presentation was lovely. Enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant...all of the Mexican decorations.

The Gallery of Sergio Bustamante was pure joy. It had changed since last year...even the exterior. I love the little beings that are climbing ladders up the building.

We slowly walked back home walking in and out of galleries and shops along Juarez. Spent a couple of hours reading, catching up on email, making guacamole, tuna salad, and preparing fruit to eat later.

After having a light supper...crisp bread making a tuna and quacamole sandwich....we went back out to the area around the Parian. Perhaps we were too early for the Mariachis, as I did not hear any. The streets were crowdwd (in a nice way) with families enjoying themselves. There were vendors of all sorts of street foods - fried dough, corn on cob, corn off cob in a cup with chili sauce and cheese, chips with a hot sauce, puddings, roasted yucca, garbanzo beans...and so much more. I did not see the fried grasshoppers. Perhaps they are not in season.

The jacaranda trees are not yet in bloom. They are the huge trees which will be covered with purple blossoms. We did see bouganvilla (sp?) and roses. What changes will there be during my twos weeks in Tlaquepaque?