Tag Archives: Travel Mexico

Museums, Parks and Attractions in Guadalajara and Mexico

Dec22

2014 The Year That Was

Posted on December 22, 2014 by iamkaren23

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It seems like just yesterday I wrote about the year 2013, and now 2014 is drawing to a close. Once again the months have flown by, and I am now into my fifth year here in Mexico.

January began cloudy and blustery. Despite the cold temperatures in the wee hours of the New Year, throngs of people still crowded the streets smashing at pinatas and carrying suitcases in hopes of travel, both Mexican traditions at this time of year.

I took advantage of afternoon sunshine and warmth and headed for Parque San Rafael. After an enjoyable half hour walk, I arrived at the park. The swimming pool was drained, but several joggers were on the track. There were also soccer and raquetball games in progress. It may have been a cold winter day, but the park was just beautiful.

Winnipeg…….you have competition. There was a watermain break just around the corner from my house.

One Saturday afternoon we heard music and the boom of fireworks. We went outside to investigate and were amused to see a crowd of people throwing eggs filled with confetti. A woman with a huge wicker basket was handing out bags of candies and nuts. She explained to us that it was the celebration of the baby Jesus and that new godparents had been chosen. The couple pictured below received that honor. And no, that is a doll, not a real baby.

We also had a party at our house in January, complete with dancing and beer pong. Here is one of my housemates dancing up a storm.

The weather in February was considerably warmer. On Groundhog Day I ventured out to Lake Chapala and Ajijic. I played tourist and took a ride on the tram.

The following weekend I spent the day strolling the streets of Tonola.

Another day trip later in the month found me in Tequila. Samples were mandatory on tours.

My thoughtful housemate Omar surprised me on Valentine’s Day with this bouquet:

The Virgin of Guadalupe parade in my neighborhood found the streets covered with alfalfa as the procession made its way to the church.

Renovations in our house were finally complete and all the debris was hauled away.

March was highlighted by my daughter’s announcement that she and her boyfriend were now engaged. They are planning a wedding in 2015 in The Dominican Republic.

I stayed in Guadalajara the entire month teaching and writing. Spring was definitely on the way, along with some gorgeous flowers.

April arrived and I remained in Mexico rather than returning to Winnipeg as I had in past years.. Instead I made a quick trip to Texas as my tourist visa was about to expire. Upon my return to Guadalajara I visited Hospicio Cabanas and was delighted with the amazing murals, statues and other artwork on display.

I also participated in a Via Crucis before Easter where we walked approximately 5 kilometers in San Pedro and visited twelve churches.

Another day trip found me in Zapotlanejo, a small town renowned for its clothes shopping. Many of the stores featured live models. But the town also has a beautiful as well as very old church.

And of course I visited my beloved Parque Mirador.

May began with a bang with celebrations for Day of the Holy Cross. Around the corner from my house was a festival complete with rides, food , music and, of course, fireworks.

I visited my friend Omar in Tototlan, a small town close to Guadalajara. It was very relaxing and also a treat to have someone cook breakfast for me on Mother’s Day. Here is a view of the church in the plaza.

I celebrated my birthday in May as well with my friends and housemates. My actual birthday fell on a Friday, my day off, so I was also able to spend a relaxing afternoon at Parque Mirador, my favorite place in all of Guadalajara.

May was also Teacher’s Day in Mexico. Below is a photo of two of my students who presented me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

I spent the month of June checking out churches, squares and statues in Guadalajara. I also went to the Regional Museum and marveled at the artifacts, statues and art throughout the building.

July began with a fourth of July celebration at St. Mark’s Church.

It was also another touristy month for me here in Guadalajara. I visited churches, admired statues and checked out more museums. Templo Espiatorio is an amazing church not far from Centro.

At the Museo De Las Artes I was overwhelmed by the magnificent Orozco murals.

And of course I visited my beloved Parque Mirador again. I also spent a relaxing afternoon at Parque Agua Azul. The fountains were not flowing, but the scenery is lovely and it’s a peaceful place for reading.

The end of the month found me in McAllen, Texas for my interview at the Mexican Consulate.

August was highlighted by reunions with two dear friends. When I lived in Culiacan, Carmen and I were neighbors. We had brunch together when she came to Guadalajara for a conference.

Miriam returned from Norway and we went out for pizza, along with her boyfriend Cristian.

I continued exploring Guadalajara. I visited more churches, returned to the canyon, and found this delightful elephant at Centro Magno, a shopping mall.

September was an exciting month here in Mexico as Independence Day is celebrated on the 16th. A friend and I sat at The Parian sipping tequila and had an awesome view of the government building. The gritto was followed by fireworks and music.

September was also exciting as my work visa finally came through after months of documents, visits to Immigration and waiting.

October in Tlaquepaque means preparing for Day of the Dead. The streets are colorfully decorated and extravagant altars are displayed in El Refugio.

But the highlight of October was traveling to Culiacan to spend Halloween and Day of the Dead with my family. I also was delighted to meet my newest nieto.

My next stop was Mazatlan, my favorite beach. Although Hurricane Vance stopped by for a brief visit, I still had time to bask in the sunshine on the beach.

And then November arrived with blusteringly cold temperatures. Overnight lows of 0 and 1 convinced me that it was time to buy some gloves.

But there was lots to do indoors when the temperatures plummeted. El Refugio was a haven from the cold when the Oaxaca exhibit was held. An abundance of music, dancing, food and vendors prevailed.

In Centro a multitude of vendors set up in stalls to display their Christmas items.

Around the corner from my house a neighborhood celebration was held with music, magicians, luche libre, and rides for the children. And on another evening these characters came to visit courtesy of Coca Cola.

December has passed by quickly in preparation for Christmas. My favorite coffee shop, Jahanve, has these festive angels on the tables along with the usual sugar and serviettes.

I went to Sueno Magico at Clover Lawn Mansion, an amazing winter wonderland with a magnificent display of lights and awesome entertainment. Rides and activities for the children as well as a visit with Santa Claus were also featured here.

Just blocks from my house in Tlaquepaque this amazing tree shines brightly.

Tomorrow I am off to Tototlan to spend Christmas with a friend. It will be interesting celebrating this holiday in a small Mexican town. We are preparing a traditional dinner complete with turkey and all the trimmings, different from the usual pozole and ponche which is the norm here in Mexico.

As this is my last post before Christmas, I would like to wish my family, friends and blog followers a Merry Christmas. Enjoy your holiday celebrations wherever in the world you may be. May they be filled with family, friends and fun.

Dec17

Where To Go……What To Do

Posted on December 17, 2014 by iamkaren23

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As I write this, my daughter has just returned from New York and Broadway plays, and my son is in Las Vegas. And I am here in Guadalajara planning my holiday travels.

I am spending Christmas with a friend in Tototlan, a small pueblo about an hour away from here. It’s a quaint little place, and I’m looking forward to returning there again. It will be interesting spending Christmas in a small Mexican town and will be a different experience from the other tourist areas or large cities where I have celebrated Christmas in the past few years.

The first stop will be for grocery shopping in Ocotlan, another pueblo, as we are planning on having a traditional Christmas dinner rather than the pisole and ponche that are common here in Mexico.

My current housemates and I are planning on spending New Years together on the beach somewhere. Yes, somewhere, because we haven’t decided exactly where yet. We know we don’t want to encounter the frenzy of snowbirds that flock to Puerto Vallarta or Mazatlan.

Possibilities include Sayulita, Bucerias, Guyabitos or maybe even Manzanillo. The inevitable snowbirds will be there, but hopefully fewer in number.

One of my housemates lives near the beach in Australia, and my other housemate is from The Netherlands. We are all looking forward to leaving the hustle and bustle of Guadalajara behind for a few days.

Living here in Mexico, the possibilities for travel are endless. This is a magnificent country, and every area boasts its own treasures.

The highlight of my time up north was a train ride up in the mountains to Chihuahua.

The pyramids outside of Mexico City were amazing.

My favorite beach so far is still Mazatlan, although I have yet to explore the east coast of Mexico.

And I hope that my travels will take me to the jungles of Chiapas this coming spring.

My students constantly suggest new territories worthy of exploration, and my list continues to grow.

I will be returning to Winnipeg for a launch of my second book, Alive Again, on May 5th. While it will be nice to see my family and friends again, my heart is in Mexico and the many adventures that still await me here.

Dec11

Plaza De Las Armas At Christmas

Posted on December 11, 2014 by iamkaren23

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One of the things I love about living in Mexico is that it is possible to stumble upon the most interesting things when you least expect it.

Yesterday I was in Centro walking down one of the main streets when in the distance I spied a Ferris wheel. I decided to investigate. My walk took me to Plaza De Las Armas, and I was delighted with what awaited me.

First of all, there was a stunning nativity scene.

There was also a skating rink, a very popular attraction for children and adults alike.

The Ferris wheel caught my eye, and although I have a fear of heights, I decided to accept the challenge. I’m glad I did. The view was spectacular!

People also sped down a slide in inner tubes.

And of course there was the obligatory Coke tree, the sponsor of this venue.

Music was also on the menu as a band was just warming up as I was leaving. And there were a variety of stalls set up selling Christmas items and food. And have a look at this quaint little structure.

Yes, this little Christmas wonderland brightened up a cloudy day in Guadalajara.

Dec7

Sueno Magico

Posted on December 7, 2014 by iamkaren23

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Last night I spent a few hours in an absolute wonderland! Mansion Clover Lawn is open to the public only twice a year—on Halloween and at Christmas. Located on Avenida de la Paz near Chapultepec, there was already a long lineup when I arrived fifteen minutes before the opening time. I purchased my 70 peso ticket and then joined another line at the gate. This sight greeted me at the entrance.

Wow! And this was only the entrance! The spectacular display that awaited me was truly amazing. Gingerbread men and houses, a nativity scene, Santa Claus, brightly-lit trees, an awesome castle as well as live characters in costume were a delight. This was one magical fairyland!

A performance on stage at the castle thrilled children and adults alike. In addition, there were a variety of hands-on activities for children. There was also an area with rides for the children.

And of course there were numerous food vendors with everything from steamed vegetables to cotton candy and churros.

The mansion itself was incredible on the outside and on the inside. Apparently photos are not permitted inside but I did manage to snag a few before being reprimanded by staff.

I chose not to wait in a long line-up to visit with Santa.Perhaps next time. But alas it was time to leave this magic land.

Adios Santa! Hasta luego!

Dec5

So You Want To Learn Spanish

Posted on December 5, 2014 by iamkaren23

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I arrived in Mexico City on a flight from Houston on November 2, 2010 and tentatively approached the Immigration area in the airport. My knowledge of “hola, adios and cerveza fria por favor” would not be of any great help here. I foolishly assumed that there would be someone here who spoke English. Consequently, I left the area without the highly coveted copy of my tourist visa. But that’s a whole other story for a different blog post.

Living in Culiacan that year was quite the experience. This is a city where hardly anyone speaks English. The principal at the school where I taught did not even speak English. Nor did the lady whose home I shared. Nor did the staff at the grocery stores or pharmacies or bakeries or convenience stores that I frequented. But it often made for some interesting purchases.

My next job found me in Irapuato, a city considerably smaller than Culiacan. Other than the other English teachers at the school, only a handful of people who spoke English. However I was unprepared for the animosity displayed by the locals because I was a gringa, especially that of the Mexican teachers at the school. They refused to make any attempt to understand English, and instead expected the English teachers to overnight become fluent in Spanish. The hilarious part was that the school provided us with Spanish classes, but they were taught by a gringa and not a native speaker. A total waste of time as she taught only vocabulary as she herself did not know the grammar.

My next home was, and still is, Tlaquepaque, a suburb of Guadalajara. For the most part, that first year I spent my time with other English teachers who were native speakers. And we usually made ourselves understood when traveling or shopping although our knowledge of Spanish was limited.

Flash ahead and I am now in my fifth year in Mexico. I am nowhere near fluent, but I am also well beyond survival. Duolingo has become one of my best friends and we spend hours together regularly. I can definitely empathize with the difficulties my students have in learning English. Learning a new language is not easy.

Spanish is a beautiful language. It has a unique melody of its own. Now, if it weren’t for all the irregular verbs and the strange rules regarding pronouns and………. Yikes! I’m starting to sound like my students!

Dec2

My Friend Claudia

Posted on December 2, 2014 by iamkaren23

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The other day I was having breakfast at my favorite coffee shop in Tlaquepaque when my friend Claudia jokingly remarked to me that I never write about her. I thought “Why not?” So Claudia, here is your post.

When I first moved to Tlaquepaque more than three years ago, one of my housemates told me about a quaint little coffee shop on a side street just off the square. He told me that the coffee was great, the food excellent, there was WiFi, and that best of all were the people who owned it. Always eager to explore new areas, I packed up my laptop in my backpack and headed off to find Calle Constitution and this coffee shop called Jahanve. Needless to say, this has become my second home. And Claudia has become a great friend.

Claudia is very creative in the culinary area. Check out the Christmas cookies in the above photo. Below is a carrot cake.

And the following photo is my favorite chicken salad.

And this is the best breakfast anywhere in Tlaquepaque.

Here are photos of my favorite beverages. The first is a cappuccino and the second is an Oreo frappe.

Claudia is also the proud mom of a darling baby girl, Camilla. This photo is a three generation with Claudia’s mom as well.

Camilla often comes to visit at the coffee shop while Claudia is at work. And Claudia always has amusing anecdotes to share about her precious little girl as she grows. Just yesterday Camilla’s bright smiles and laughing eyes lit up the room. Yet Claudia insists that she is a terror now because she is teething!

Claudia is also a wealth of information when it comes to life here in Mexico. Healthcare, travel packages, shopping, sightseeing and current events are all her forte.

While the coffee and food are fabulous, it’s Claudia herself with her welcoming demeanor and warm personality that really makes Jahanve the best coffee shop in Tlaquepaque. Many of my former housemates who are back in their own countries often reminisce about the many enjoyable hours spent at Jahanve.

Saludos Claudia y hasta pronto Amiga!

Nov21

It’s Complicated………………Part 4…………..Finally!

Posted on November 21, 2014 by iamkaren23

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I arrive at IMMS Clinic 39 at 6:50 am. Hundreds of people mill about waiting for the doors to open. Nearby vendors are selling atole, pan and tamales. But that will have to wait. I am fasting for this blood test.

The doors open and I follow the crowd to the stairs. This time I don’t even attempt to check the elevator to see if it’s working. Miraculously there are only two people ahead of me at the lab. The clerk asks for my card. I tell her that I don’t have a card yet. That will come after the blood test. She shrugs her shoulders, takes my requisition and motions me over to a woman at a table with a multitude of tiny test tubes for urine samples. I’m prepared for this one. Pedro gave me the vocabulary and I purchased a “real” specimen container at the pharmacy, not like the test tube pictured below.

“What? You want me to transfer my sample to this tiny test tube and bring it back to you?” I ask incredulously. So off I go to the bathroom to perform this ridiculous task. When I return to the table, she takes the test tube from me and discards the remainder of the sample I had brought in. She then points to Puerta 2 where I need to go for the blood test. I walk into a room with about a half a dozen desks with technicians. I am taken immediately and Winnipeg technicians can learn from these Mexicans. I didn’t feel the needle go in at all, and there is not even a hint of a bruise.

Now it is time to get my card. Up the stairs I go to Ventanilla 3. What? It doesn’t open until 8 am? OK. I head downstairs to the street and get an atole and a pan. I then trudge back up the two flights of stairs. At 7:55 staff arrive and I am the first at the window. Everyone else in the waiting area flocked to Ventanillas 2 and 4.

Oh, we don’t need any photocopies. My passport, an original utility bill, my social security number and a photo will suffice. I am then given an identification paper with my photo stapled to it. I ask her if she needs to stamp the document that Oscar gave me at the other IMSS administration building. She says it isn’t necessary. Oh oh! Oscar will not be happy. He is expecting me to come back with a stamped document. And here at the clinic they tell me I don’t need to go back to see Oscar. Who to believe?????

So what do I do next? How do I find out the results of the lab work? Back I go to the director’s office. So apparently I need to go to Desk 10 which is only one more flight upstairs. And my identification paper is now stapled into a nifty little booklet with a horrendous amount of new Spanish vocabulary for me to master. After much discussion, I am given an appointment to come in to see a doctor on December 19th.

I guess if anything is terribly wrong I will be contacted before that. After all, they have my phone number. Yikes! I better head to Oxxo to put some credits on it! And I had better find that damn Blackberry! I usually use my iPhone for What’s App or Facebook that work off of WiFi. Maybe it’s time to ditch the Blackberry and get that iPhone unlocked…………..

Nov17

Guelaguetza

Posted on November 17, 2014 by iamkaren23

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A ten minute walk down the street from my house is El Refugio, San Pedro’s cultural center. A variety of activities take place in this building, and the current main attraction is Guelaguetza, a fair presented by the city of Oaxaca. Work by artesans, as well as clothing and foods are prominently displayed in several rooms. I briefly sauntered through this area on my way to the main auditorium where the entertainment was to be held.

This huge room was packed with people. By some miracle I was able to find an unoccupied chair right on an aisle. In addition to the hundreds of us who were fortunate to find seats, there were hundreds more standing.

Here are two photos of incredible vocalists who performed early yesterday afternoon.

And then the dancers thrilled us with their delightful costumes and incredible moves.

They were accompanied by a live group of talented musicians.

To the delight of the crowd, every now and then between performers, a person would appear on stage with a large basket filled with candy or fruit, and would toss them out to the audience. A vendor with a tray full of ice cream made his way up and down the aisles. The speakers blared music and the festive atmosphere was amazing.

I reluctantly left after about four hours when the battery on my phone died after taking numerous videos and photos.

I intend to return before the fair ends next weekend. There is still food to be sampled and a variety of displays to be viewed. And then perhaps a trip to Oaxaca itself in the future………….

Nov9

Trick or Treat!

Posted on November 9, 2014 by iamkaren23

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October 31st is synonymous with Halloween where I come from in Canada. In another lifetime, when I was a child, the chant was “Halloween Apples!” But it has now evolved to “Trick or Treat!”

Halloween conjures up images of costumes, carving pumpkins and toasting the seeds, as well as parties and candy. When my children were young, we would plaster the windows of the house with spooky decorations. We would bake cookies and cupcakes. We would create a ghosts in the graveyard with chocolate mousse and tomb-shaped shortbread. Here’s a photo of them preparing a pumpkin.

And because we lived in Winnipeg, it was often necessary to walk the streets in snow-filled tire tracks in search of candy. Costumes were often worn under heavy parkas. But masks and facepaint were plentiful.

Halloween is celebrated quite differently here in Mexico. While I have decorated the odd classroom with students, few of my students have experienced going door to door to collect treats. Instead, the bakeries and shops are filled with sugar skulls instead of candy kisses. Yes! Sugar skulls! Why? Day of the Dead is celebrated here on November 2nd.

It is also customary to build altars in honor of the deceased. These are often quite elaborate and require days of preparation. Photographs, keepsakes, candles and other decorations adorn these structures. The traditional flowers are orange marigolds.

Tlaquepaque is especially festive. Independencia is a pedestrian only street and it is amazing at this time of year.

At El Refugio a spectacular artesan fair is held in addition to the display of alters and catrinas for Day of the Dead. Here is a photo of a “live” catrina this year.

And to think that all of this is within a short 10 minute walk from my house!

Oct3

So It’s A Little Different Here in Mexico

Posted on October 3, 2014 by iamkaren23

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I am not your typical expat, or what many people stereotype an expat to be. Many of my friends back in Winnipeg have this image in their heads of what my life is like here in Mexico.

Yet nothing could be farther from the truth. Indeed I haven’t seen a beach in over a year now. Guadalajara is more than five hours away from Puerto Vallarta.

My life here is not lying on a beach all day or suntanning on a terrace. I’m up early two mornings a week and heading for the bus before the sun is even close to rising. And three nights a week I return home from work long after the sun has set.

No, I do not have to contend with snow and freezing temperatures. And I do teach considerably fewer hours than I would if I still lived in Canada. Despite the numerous concessions I have made in adapting to this lifestyle, I am quite content with my life here in Mexico. And I enjoy hilarious discussions with others when we compare situations that have arisen and we compare them with how they would have been handled in the USA or Canada.

Of particular note is the Mexicans fascination with paperwork. After all, why complete only one form with a multitude of information when it is possible to fill out several repetitious forms instead? And let’s not forget all those absolutely necessary photocopies that are not required after all. And when it comes to proof of identification…………..well, I won’t even go there!

Let’s apply for a work visa, or a bank account, or health insurance. Why should you make only one visit to that office when it’s possible to return for several visits? The security staff become your friends, you talk to complete strangers in endless lineups and the hours pass by not so quickly.

And while we’re on the subject of paper, toilet paper has some other incredible uses here in Mexico. It is often prominently displayed on tabletops in lieu of napkins or serviettes. It doubles as paper towels in the kitchen. It is often seen on the dashboards of cars and buses. But it is often missing in the bathrooms, along with the toilet seats.

I admit it. I drink juice with a straw out of a plastic bag. And I eat lollipops in class with my students. I also suck candies out of a straw. I eat potato chips with crema and salsa. I sprinkle tajin on cucumber slices. And of course I squeeze lime into soup or whatever else I’m eating. Tamales and tacos have become breakfast foods. But I still can’t bring myself to drown my pizza in ketchup or salad dressing.

Riding the buses in Guadalajara is rather wild when I compare it with the experience back in Canada. I have yet to ride a bus here that would pass a safety inspection and be allowed on the streets in Winnipeg. The vehicles here are ancient, dilapidated and dangerous. The drivers are not paid a salary but receive a percentage of the take, so they race each other from stop to stop, trying to cram as many people as they can on board. Although certain areas are marked “parada”, the drivers often fly by as they want to get the green light. If there is too much traffic, drivers impatiently change the route to accommodate their mood. Obviously there are no schedules either.

What I enjoy is watching what people carry with them on the bus. I have seen everything from car parts to live animals. Yesterday a woman had a decorative castle that took up two seats. Vendors on their way to market get on with flowers, clothing, jewelry and food. People get on selling candy or religious items, or occasionally just begging for money telling a tale of their health problems. But what I like best are the people with guitars, harmonicas, violins or drums who serenade us. Some of them are actually quite talented. The ones I dislike are the face-painted clowns who natter on endlessly in Spanish with jokes that are far from amusing.

Of course the long distance buses are a completely different story. I use the first class buses whenever possible. These air-conditioned buses are extremely comfortable with reclining seats and computer terminals where I can watch movies or concerts and listen to music of my choice. And these buses all have Wifi. And you are given a bag with a sandwich, potato chips, a cookie and a drink as well.

Mexicans love to protest and demonstrate. There are often very peaceful marches throughout the downtown area that snarl vehicular traffic as they stretch for blocks on end, complete with banners and flags. On one occasion, I joined the bus driver and other passengers at a taco stand as we waited for this parade of people to pass by.

The odd time these events are not so peaceful. The day I first arrived in Guadalajara back in 2011, twenty-five heads rolled down the main street in Centro. And on occasion, buses have been burned although passengers are always escorted to safety before these vehicles are set on fire. Unfortunately the Canadian media tends to sensationalize these occurrences in order to dissuade people from coming to Mexico. This is laughable to me as my hometown in Canada has been the murder capital of the country for many years. When I return to visit, I dare not wander the streets alone at night although here in Mexico I do it all the time. I feel safer in the Centro area here in Guadalajara than I do in downtown Winnipeg, day and night.

A couple of weeks ago I was in Centro Tlaquepaque to hear the Gritto associated with September 16th, Independence Day. Thousands of people swarmed the square on this occasion, voices ringing out loudly the Mexican national anthem. An incredible fireworks display followed and entertainment continued way into the wee hours of the morning.

Yes, I love my life in the land of manana. I have immersed myself in the culture and have met some amazing people. I have ridden in the back of pickup trucks and have taken a thrilling train ride up in the mountains. I have basked on beaches and gazed at magnificent pyramids. And many more exciting adventures await me here. Now if only the Spanish language didn’t have so many verb tenses………….

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