TJ and I are sitting here in the Mexico City airport and I've convinced him to collaborate with me on compiling OUR version of the Guadalajara Top 20 list. You've read as we made our way through the Community Liaison Office's version but on our final day in this beautiful country we wanted to share with you our personal favorites. Links in blue represent items on the CLO list that made the cut, links in red are our personal additions. It's all listed in alphabetical order because we don't want to play favorites. Alas, I didn't blog about all of them, so when applicable a brief blurb has been provided. You'll notice that several items are outside of Guadalajara. That's because the entire state of Jalisco is amazing and needs to be represented.
Ajijic and Chapala
Avenida Chapultapec - This important avenue is located two short blocks from the US Consulate and offers a variety of bars, restaurants and shops. Weekends may see the street closed off for auto traffic in the evening and opened up for street markets and concerts. Hipsters populate the area, honing their photography, drawing, and skateboarding skills.
Bosque Colomos
Casa de Artesanias
Guachimontones
The Guadalajara Cathedral
Hospicio Cabañas and El Refugio
Los Altos de Jalisco (Tepatitlán, San Juan de los Lagos, and the surrounding natural environment)
Mercado San Juan de Dios
The Orozco Murals
Palacio de Gobierno
Plaza Tapatía
Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, and Sayulita
The Stadiums: Auditorio Benito Juárez, Auditorio Telmex, Estadio Tres de Marzo, Estado Jalisco, Estadio Omnilife - Whether you're after a concert or a rowdy fútbol game, Guadalajara has a stadium for you! Spread throughout the city, there will always be a venue near providing exciting entertainment opportunities.
Tapalpa
Teatro Degollado and the Ballet Folklórico
Tequila and the Tequila Express
Tlaquepaque
Tonalá
Zoológico Guadalajara
Thank you to everyone for reading and responding so positively to my adventures in Mexico these past two years. It always surprises me when a new officer arrives and says "Oh, hey. I've read your blog." I was even more surprised when several people approached me on my last day at work to ask whether or not I was going to have time to complete the Top 20 list. That was definitely a solid motivation to get the job done!
I hope that I will be able to maintain your interest as we continue on to Washington, D.C. and Jerusalem. I also hope that these blogs will continue to be useful to folks arriving in Guadalajara and looking for things to do.
It's been a fun ride, and I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity. We both wish we could stay, but alas, we have a plane to catch.
Hasta la próxima!
wow, you are out of there!? Good luck, safe travels, maybe we can meet in person someday!
ReplyDeletetears.... your top 20 is making me all nostalgic. thanks a lot! see you soon in beautiful falls church. can we make a top 20 for falls church? no? ok- how about a top 2? :)
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