Gauss-Telegraph: World trip from home in 30 days – Guadalajara

Gauss-Telegraph: World trip from home in 30 days – Guadalajara

by Andrés Muñoz

Cathedral of Guadalajara © Gobierno de Jalisco

My impression of Guadalajara

Skyline of the business district

I was born and raised in Guadalajara, so I have seen how the city evolved in the last years. Guadalajara is the second largest city in Mexico and it has now become a business, finance, arts and cultural hub in Mexico. In spite of the recent urban development, Guadalajara can be described as the most Mexican city. When you think of Mexico, the first things that might come to mind are Tequila and Mariachi. Well, the cultural symbols come from the same region. Nevertheless, Guadalajara is also a global city. It has a very diverse gastronomic scene and is host to many international events like the International Book Fair and the International Film Festival.

Must-see attractions

You should start with the historical city center of Guadalajara, best known for its buildings from the colonial period (from Renaissance to Neoclassic architecture). Some landmarks in this area are the Cathedral, Hospicio Cabañas(former hospital and orphanage and currently a cultural center), the Teatro Degollado (the oldest opera house in Mexico), the City Hall as well as the Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres – which honors the memory of different people from the state of Jalisco who transcended through history, like muralist José Clemente Orozco and architect Luis Barragán. Another attraction worth seeing is the Market of San Juan de Dios. It’s the largest indoor market in Latin America. You can basically find anything from food to clothing, shoes, accessories, video games and electronics. Although the items sold here are fake or copies. You should also be prepared to haggle. However, if you’re looking to shop for genuine items, Guadalajara is home to many shopping malls.

Chapala Lake

The metropolitan area of Guadalajara comprises other municipalities. The historic centers of Zapopan and Tlaquepaque are also worth visiting. Furthermore, you can take a day-trip to the town of Tequila or to the Chapala Lake.

Best museum in the city

The Regional Museum of Guadalajara (Calle Liceo 60, Zona Centro) is divided in two floors. The ground floor exhibits a natural historic collection and gives you an overview of the Pre-History and Archeology of the city. The upper level displays paintings from the 17th to 19th century.

Carne en su jugo © Karne Garibaldi

Favorite local dish

Carne en su jugo („Meat in its juices“)! This local dish is made of chopped beef and broiled in its own juice, beans and small pieces of bacon. It’s garnished with onion and fresh coriander and served on a clay plate. Karne Garibaldi, a small chain of restaurants which serves Carne en su jugo, was awarded with the Guiness World Record for the fastest ever food service (13.5 seconds) in 1996. Nowadays, waiters are still proud of the speed of their service. The number of restaurants – Mexican and international – has increased exponentially in the past years, so Guadalajara is a nice place to visit, if you like enjoying good food. Taco eateries, Mexican steakhouses and Italian restaurants are the most loved by the locals.

Note: Due to the spread of the coronavirus, we don’t recommend to travel until the all restrictions have been lifted.