MEXICO: Guadalajara

After Barcelona we had to make a trip to Houston for “routine medical appointments”.

(One of the downsides to being retired, is being “old”.)

So we figured while we were in the “neighbourhood” we’d pop down to Guadalajara, Mexico.

Guadalajara was founded in 1542.

The Spanish colonial city is Mexico’s second-largest metro area.

One of the early tasks for the Spanish colonial city was to build a cathedral. It was originally completed in the 1560s. 

Originally, the cathedral had four towers (two front and two rear), but because of earthquakes its towers were rebuilt multiple times. The rear towers were destroyed in an 1818 earthquake and that time they were never rebuilt.  The current front towers were finished in the mid-19th century. However, one tower is taller than the other tower. Any guesses which one? 

Teatro Degollado, inaugurated in 1866,  is a neoclassical theater and cultural landmark near the cathedral. Renowned for its elegant architecture, murals, and acoustics, it serves as the home of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra and remains a symbol of the city’s artistic heritage.

It has undergone several restorations that preserved its historical character while modernizing technical facilities. 

 

The city’s best‑known and biggest traditional market is Mercado Libertad (San Juan de Dios Market.) It’s HUGE – and one of the largest indoor markets in Latin America, with nearly 3,000 stalls spread over three floors. You can find everything from fresh produce, spices and candies to crafts, leather goods, clothing, housewares and souvenirs. John and I can't shop, so we concentrate on the food stalls.

There you can find the regional tortas ahogadas, a specialty of Guadalajara. The name means “drowned sandwich.” It’s made with a crusty bread roll (called birote) filled with pork, then literally soaked in a spicy tomato-chile sauce. It’s messy, spicy, and one of the city’s signature street foods.

We went with our tour guide, who took us to his grandfather’s food stand. He has been doing business for 60 years. I take it from all the photos that he is a type of local celebrity.

So I googled grandpa: "Don Chava’s promotions, personal connection with customers and his community-oriented gestures helped make the place popular on social media and in local news... including famously giving away hundreds of tortas to fans of the Atlas football club after their championship win."

More wandering, discovering....

and food tasting is required.