Zihuatenajo and more: Dec 15th Tonala Guadalajara

so a bit about our hotel. It is the Guadalajara Plaza Expo a business class hotel. When we arrived we were quite impressed by the size, appearance and the valet parking guys at the front entrance. We were checked in quickly - once we go up to the 1st floor where our room was located we thought, yes a bit older looking but smells clean. The room itself was pretty decent, and we were only paying $56 CDN a night but once you got into the bathroom I actually had to laugh - so small you couldn't swing a cat - poor Tom said he had to hang onto the handicap rail in the bathtub because it has such a bad lean to it. Ok that's it for the hotel.
We got a good start to the morning as our main purpose for being here was for shopping. We started with a real Starbucks coffee then took a cab to Tonala - the shopping mecca of Guadalajara. Every street had shops selling everything from metal works, pottery, furniture, jewellery - you name it. It didn't matter where you looked there was stuff to buy everywhere. This in itself overwhelms me and I don't know where to start - also if you see something you should buy it because if you come back for it you won't remember where the heck you saw it - becomes a big blur.

We found the town square - which every town in Mexico has - and found more police, firemen, and paramedics everywhere just standing around (yes they were armed with heavy artillery aka machine guns). There was a tent with a huge video screen and many chairs set up - the big politico was giving his year end report - so I guess all the policia etc were there in case what he had to say the people didn't like - could be a revolution. There was even police on the rooftops of all the buildings surrounding the square watching the goings on with binoculars. Made us feel a bit weird as we were the only gringos to be found in this sea of people - but it was okie dokie but I didn't want to take pictures just in case.

We wandered the area of Tonala for a couple of hours and did purchase a few things but nothing major. Stopped for a light lunch then caught a bus to Guadalajara centro historico - the best way to see things you wouldn't normally see on a tour and all for 10 pesos each.

Metal works shop

Glass blowers - note the lack of protective equipment

Tonala Cathedral all dressed up for Christmas

Coca Cola sponsored Christmas Tree

OMG - Guadalajara is dressed up for Christmas New York style (only mexican). There are Christmas trees, street lights, buildings with decorations and more pictures with Santa kiosks than you can shake a stick at.

Poinsettia Tree

Nativity Scene

Picutres with Santa

We did some walking around to see all the decorations during the day then decided to come back for dinner when we could see them in the dark. Before heading back to the hotel we stopped for a beer at the Bullfighter Bar that we had visited 2 years ago - it hadn't changed.

Bullfighter Bar with tons of old bullfight memorabilia around

Got our cab and he did really well until, when we were nearing our hotel he needed to stop and ask for directions - gotta love it.

Quick cleanup then back to centro to a restaurant that was highly recommened by our bellboy - again the taxi driver needed to ask directions. When we finally arrived at the restaurant we soon discovered this was the same restaurant (Fonda San Miguel) we had dinner at 2 years ago - how funny. This building is about 400 years old and used to be a monastery and is really lovely and is now also a museum.

Fountain at Fonda San Miguel

We finished a lovely dinner then we wandered back into some of the plazas to see the Christmas lights at night. We came across a band of young guys playing Christmas carols with homemade instruments - amazing how good they sounded. A nightcap was in order then back to the hotel - what a great day.