Top 5 Things to Do In Guadalajara

..Or top 5 things that we did in Guadalajara.  We didn't do everything per se, but we got a pretty good layout of the city and here are our favorites.  Drumroll, please...

1.  Look at Old Buildings


Ya, ok, that doesn't sound that cool, but it really is.   They are almost all constructed in different styles so it's not as if seeing one old building means that you have seen them all.  There are also not too many buildings as to become overwhelmed and feel like you have to spend weeks just looking at old stones all day.  If you want to see more of the city, check out our virtual tour at http://www.bessieandkyle.com/map/virtual-tour-guadalajara-mexico/4

2. Catch Mariachi Fever

There are other places to see mariachi, mostly touristy restaurants with some young guys in clean, slick outfits playing on shiny new instruments.  Not here.  In the Plaza de Los Mariachis (the birthplace of Mariachi music), the old guard is here, playing the same mariachi songs they have been playing for more than 30 years, wearing slightly beat up outfits, and bearing the experience of many years of playing music outside.  This is the non-glossy version and, man, is it awesome.  Where else can you have 10 guys playing music only for you?



3. Eat Birria

A local specialty, Birria is basically a goat meat stew.  We were able to get some excellent, slow-cooked Birria at a place called Birrieria Las 9 Esquinas (The 9 Corners Goat-Stew-Making-Place) that came with a tasty selection of sauces, limes, and onions (plain and pickled).  Note:  Birria is on the far side of the table in the picture below.



Incedentally, birria also was a part of one of a memorable conversation with a taxi driver.  Talking to a taxi driver, we were wanting to ask him if he liked the Guadalajara soccer team, Chivas ("Goats" in English).  Sometimes when you don't speak a language totally fluent, you get fun responses...

Us: Te gustan Los Chivas?
     Do you like The Goats? (We were trying to ask about the soccer team)
Driver: Chivos?
          Goats?
Us: Si, Chivos.
     Yes, Goats.
Driver: Solo en birria!
          Only in goat stew!

4.  Look up at some murals

I haven't been to the Sistine Chapel, so I guess I haven't seen the mural to end all murals, but there were some pretty impressive murals in Guadalajara buildings by José Clemente Orozco.  For government buildings, they were quite provocative!



5. I can't think of a 5th

Sorry, Guadalajara is a cool town and all, but 2 days was enough time.  Plus, Top 4 Things didn't sound like a good name for a post.  If you go there, maybe you can give me a fifth one.