Guadalajara
| |
Photo
by Carlos Sanchez |
| Click
on the image for larger version |
|
Nestled in the lush Atemajac Valley in the foothills of the Sierra Madre
Occidental mountain range, Guadalajara embodies the essence of traditional
Mexican culture. The city—Mexico’s second-largest and one
of Latin America’s wealthiest—is an impressive metropolis
whose manufacturing industry has earned it the nickname of Mexico’s
Silicon Valley.
Guadalajara offers everything from historic sites
and remarkable museums (more than 20) to traditional architecture and
elegant monuments which attest to its nearly 500 years of history. Its
vibrant cultural and intellectual life has made it a magnet for foreign
students. Last but not least, the city takes pride in being the birthplace
of Mariachi music.
| |
Photo
by Carlos Sanchez |
| Click
on the image for larger version |
|
Interesting places to visit include the Government Palace,
first occupied by the governors of few Galicia during the colonial period.
The palace later served as a residence for Miguel Hidalgo, who, from that
very palace passed a law abolishing slavery in 1810. Other must-see attractions
include the Institute of Jalisco Handicrafts, the Museum of Archaeology
of Western Mexico, the Jose Clemente Orozco Museum, the Museum of Huichol
Indian Handicrafts and the Museum of Journalism and Graphic Arts.
For outdoor recreation, Guadalajara offers two large parks
ideal for hiking and extreme sports. Barranca de Huentitan is a favorite
for adventure sports, and the Tequila Volcano, a 9,580-foot-high peak
near the town of Tequila, is most frequented by hang-gliders.
Tlaquepaque, a quaint craftsman’s village near Guadalajara,
is where travelers can find prestigious and skilled potters molding clay
into amazing forms. The colorful village of Tonala, is Jalisco State’s
pottery center, where ceramics are produced using eleven different techniques.
Guadalajara is also home to the largest enclosed market
in Latin America: the Liberty Market. More than 1,000 vendors sell local
blown glass, leather goods and other handicrafts the city and its surroundings
are famous for.
Guadalajara’s varied cuisine includes spicy tortas
ahogadas (sandwiches “drowned” in spicy tomato sauce) and
birria, a hearty goat stew. |
