On my last day in the Guadalajara area, I took a bus to Tlaquepaque, opting first for a quick stop in Tonala. What a mistake that turned out to be. I lost track of how many times I got on and off the bus thinking that I had reached the city center. When I finally did, I was so disappointed that I turned around and got right back on another bus after a short walk around the area. I suspect I never really found downtown Tonala, but after another hour’s wait, the bus dropped me off a short walk from downtown Tlaquepaque.
Tlaquepaque is a suburb of Guadalajara and is famous for its pottery and blown glass handicrafts. The first thing you see when you arrive in the center is San Pedro Apostol Cathedral:
I walked a bit further and peeked in the local produce and artisan market, but after all the getting lost and bus changing, I was parched. Luckily for me, there were coconut vendors in El Jardin, the city’s main square. I bought one and quickly drank up the juice inside. I took the coconut back to the vendor and he chopped up the coconut meat for and sprinkled it with chiles and lime for to snack on. Feeling rejuvenated, I started walking down El Parian, Tlaquepaque’s main plaza, which meets Independencia, a street flanked by boutiques and artisans.
The Regional Ceramics Museum is also on this street, and was a nice, air-conditioned break from the hot sun outside. Several intertwining rooms display generations of traditional pottery from Jalisco here.
Tlaquepaque was exhausting, not because it was difficult to navigate, but because I was completely dehydrated. The temperature must have jumped twenty degrees in one day, so by the time I was back in Guadalajara, I went straight to dinner at La Gorda.
I had sopes, enchiladas and tacos, and the most refreshing glass of horchata ever.
I headed back early to the hotel to pack, as I had to be up early the next morning for the second half my trip: the Jalisco coast.
i was wondering where the hell you were.. wow! the trip sounds great. give us more pictures when you come back, and have fun!
yay, you’re back! love these mexican food photos, yum!!
Hyde – I actually got back a few weeks ago but have been behind on documenting the trip. I had a great time though – if you’ve never been to Guadalajara, you should!
Sepideh – Thanks, the food photos are my favorite! They were a good excuse to stop and get a bite to eat during the trip. 😀
hmmm sopes. i love the word tlaquepaque.
you are having a ball, i can just tell from the pictures (which are great btw)… enjoy!
I was just looking at your recipe for calamari and ran across this post. I used to travel all over Mexico including Tonala, Tlaquepaque, and Guadalajara. In fact, I drove there when I started an importing business because I loved the pottery and glassware from this area. Funny thing I ended up with a jewelry company instead – even though my love were the artisan products. Jewelry is what sold the best – oh well. Brings back so many memories. Love your blog!