Santana - December 14th

The Vincente Fernandez Arena in Guadalajara

This concert is a homecoming for Carlos and a festive kickoff event to mark his forthcoming album project close to his heart entitled CORAZÓN. In addition to the superstars performing at the December 14th show, Lila Downs, Ziggy Marley, Pitbull, and Romeo Santos will also be joining Santana on this star-studded album project CORAZÓN, release date to be announced soon.

Santana to perform in Guadalajara, Mexico on December 14th at Arena VFG

Feria Maestros del Arte

Feria Maestros del Arte

November 15-17, 2013
Friday & Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LOCATION:
Club de Yates de Chapala 
(Chapala Yacht Club)
Paseo Ramón Corona
Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico

$50 pesos admission

Mexico Art Show

Ringo Starr concert November 16th

Sale of tickets for Ringo Starr concert in GDL 2013

Concert Location: Auditorio Telmex, Guadalajara, México

Concert Date: Friday November 16, 2013

Time: 20:30

The tickets for Ringo Starr Auditorio Telmex in 2013 have a cost or price from: $ 310 pesos

Ticketmaster for Ringo Starr and His-All Starr Band

The 17th annual French Film Tour comes to Guadalajara

From the 6th of September to the 19th  the  Seventeenth Annual French Cinema Tour comes to Guadalajara , which presents a selection of 7 French films and 19 Mexican films.

The French Film Tour will be held in the art rooms of Cinepolis and Cineforo of the University of Guadalajara.

Agavero Landscape and The Tequila Trail

The Ruta del Tequila Cuervo train from Guadalajara only delivers passengers to the distilleries of Jose Cuervo and Herradura.  "For those two companies the people and local producers are not important and there is no general support for the region, "explains the director of Tourism Amatitán, Azucena Torres Valencia, who along with representatives of Arenal, Tequila, Magdalena and Hostotipaquillo, have formed the new council called Agavero Landscape.

The goal of the project is to help increase the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium companies (MiPymes) in the selected area where Tequila originated as well as to develop the Tequila Trail to the Agavero Landscape, creating a business network for the promotion of cultural and rural tourism. With a common vision we will develop and market tourist based products and services according to demands of the market. 

This project is an opportunity for the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) or ´Fondo Multilateral de Inversiones´ (FOMIN) to closely collaborate with the private sector of Jalisco State, specifically with micro, small, and medium businesses (MiPymes) for the development of a specific region which is expected to produce a model capable of being copied- not only for other regions of Mexico but also other Latin American countries. 

The Tequila Regulatory Council is responsible for managing The Tequila Trail for the Agavero Landscape. Tourists will have the opportunity to explore archaeological sites, old style houses, opal and obsidian mines, distilleries and the magnificent Agavero Landscape. Familiarizing yourself with the route will show you what Jalisco tourism has to offer to world culture.

La Ruta del Tequila

Origin, History and Geology of El bosque La Primavera

The origin is very recent and started when volcanic eruptions occurred (between 14,000 and 27,000 years ago), during which issued a series of pyroclastic flows estimated in the order of 20 km3 which covered an area of approximately 700 km2 and, volcanic activity ended after forming the Cerro El Colli 27,000 years ago, which is the most recent dome.

The forest La Primavera with 140,000 years of existence, is the largest ecological reserve that is near Guadalajara Metropolitan Area; has survived thousands of years to multiple adverse circumstances, however, has been diminished by the action of human, you should want to learn the lesson of which is of great importance, and care for it and preserve it.

The Exciting Geology of Bosque La Primavera

Origen, Historia y Geologia - in Spanish

Fish Kill Under Investigation in Jalisco

MEXICO CITY – Authorities are investigating the deaths of thousands of fish due to a molasses spill in the western state of Jalisco, a spokesman for Mexico’s Profepa environmental protection agency told Efe.

An investigation was opened on Monday after officials received complaints from the Los Pinos fishing cooperative in the city of Acatlan de Juarez, where the Hurtado dam is located, and the government of the city of Tlajomulco.

The fish kill was apparently caused by an “environmental accident,” the Profepa spokesman said.

Molasses “is not a toxic substance,” but it produced a chemical reaction that eliminated the oxygen from the water and killed the fish, the Profepa spokesman said.

A local business dumped the molasses in a ravine and it was washed into the sea by the rain.

Fish Kill Under Investigation in Mexico

Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve

The Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve covers 1400 km² (roughly 350,000 acres) and is located in Southwest Jalisco on the border of Colima. In this mountainous complex over 2000 vegetable species have been registered of which some 20 are endemic. The fauna includes 330 bird species like woodpecker, raven, hummingbird, royal eagle among others. Some 200 mammal species like tlacuache (opossum), deer and large threatened felines like jaguar, puma, and ocelots along with more than 50 reptile, fish and amphibian species. 

But when the Sierra de Manantlan Biosphere Reserve was created in 1987, it was not because of the wildlife or even the exotic flowers. Instead, the centerpiece of this ruggedly beautiful reserve is a scruffy, weedy plant, named teosinte, that if noticed at all would seem more like a blight than a natural treasure. Teosinte (pronounced tee-oh-SIN-tay) is a wild relative of corn, and this particular variety grows on 15 acres on Sierra de Manantlan and no where else in the world. It has genetic traits found in no other plants - traits that could prove vital to corn fields across the world. It has resistance to diseases that commonly afflict other varieties, and it is a perennial plant that - unlike most domesticated varieties - does not have to be replanted year in and year out.

Teosinte 

Las Joyas research station that was established to protect the habitat around the discovery

Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve Map

Teosinte – maize’s wild ancestor

Sauza Museum - Tequila

The Sauza Museum is less than a block off the plaza and across from Cuervo World which is basically an upscale, mall-like store.   I much preferred this museum which used to be the Sauza family home.  You can only take photos in the courtyard and the store so there is much more history to see.

The Sauza Museum is basically a collection of memorabilia, including paintings, old photos and ancient tools. The Sauzas sold their operation in 1988, although Guillermo Erickson Sauza, a fifth-generation family member, recently began producing his own brand, Los Abuelos, using traditional techniques.

Sauza courtyard

Those were the days

Sauza store

Jalisco or Xalisco or both

I was reading an article on the Primavera Forest just out side of Guadalajara and it mentioned that the major rock formation is of volcanic ash hardened into pumice, also known as Jal.   This pumice formation is one of the largest in the world and gave rise to the state name of Jalisco.

With only that one reference I wasn't convinced that Jal was even a word let alone the origin of the name.   Looking further I did find a few well respected authors making the same claim.   Jal is also used in advertisements when sold for industrial purposes.

So what can you do at this point but search Jalisco and up pops Wikipedia with it's version which is:

The name is derived from the Nahuatl Xalisco, which means over a sandy surface. Until about 1836, the name was spelled “Xalisco,” with the “x” used to indicate the “sh” sound from Nahuatl.

Could the sandy soil and pumice be one and the same

Jocotepec on the way to Tonala

Glen's GPS wanted us to take the along the Lake Chapala route rather than heading straight into Guadalajara on Lopez Mateos. We obediently obeyed without questioning why and will never know. Glen hadn't seen the new Jocotepec Malecon and I hadn't seen the newer work done there. It gave us a chance to stretch our legs and grab a beer.

The first thing we noticed was the lake level was way down. That tour boat that is usually tied up to the Malecon was a couple hundred yards away and the other little pier off to the left had a new extension.

They've added some nice touches to the park with much more grass, raised the level behind the walkway that used to flood, added a beach front walk, a kids playground to the far left and replaced all the water sculptures they removed for the Folklorico Festival they had a few years ago. Very nice job.

Tour boat

Pier extension

New fountain and bridge

Replaced water sculptures

Chapala lake level

This foto was taken from the end of the Chapala pier by Steve that runs the Lake Chapala Weather site. He says they are digging a channel for tour boats to get in and out. The lake is down 10 feet from 2008 levels.

Lake Chapala Weather

Street Band Guadalajara

We saw these kids playing downtown Guadalajara on one of the plazas and they really had a crowd.   All the instruments were home made except for a cow bell and a cymbal.  Paint buckets for drums and a PVC tuba.   The smaller wind instruments I'm not sure.   Bass drum was a carboard tube.

Cofradia distillery tour - Tequila

A distillery tour in Tequila was a first for both of us so early afternoon we stopped at the little bar "Arte en Juego" to ask for a suggested tour and to have a beer. That bar happened to be owned by Cofradia and the very cute bartender sold us two tickets (150 pesos) and called a van to pick us up.

The Cofradia distillery is on the edge of town where most of the larger ones are in town or on the highway. Cofradia is a boutique brand that is not mass marketed like the others. That generally means more  expensive products but their tour is first class and very personal.

We arrived about two miles out into the country and there were about 10 Mexicans waiting to start the tour. Our guide spoke both languages so took time for us gringos after she explained in Spanish. We saw the process from the raw "pinas" (peen-yas) (pineapple), cooking them, tasting how sweet after cooked and had the distilling process explained. Freshly distilled Tequila is illegal to sell because it's 100 proof and has to be deluded with water before it is aged. We did taste it and it was quite good.

Their aging room is also their store for some more tasting. They built the place around trees that protrude thru the roof to provide shade. There is also a large underground cavern that has been converted to a restaurant but must have originally been for aging. We ate there and about 2 1/2 hours total the van took us back to town.

Bar Arte en Juego

Cofradia van

Cofradia entrance bar

Raw pinas ready for the oven

Cooked pinas in the oven

Fermentation vats

Getting some 100 proof for us to try

Our guide

Beautiful grounds

Cofradia logo on the hill

Tonala for a few days

A little disappointed with the quality of the artenesia but glad we went. We had two choices for hotels and we went with the less expensive Hacienda del Sol which turned out well. The other option was the Casa de las Palomas for about 100 pesos more. Hacienda del Sol was 450 pesos for 2 people, had a nice restaurant in the lobby and large indoor parking. Both are close to downtown and the Art Tianguis.

We had planned on staying 3 days and seeing more of Guadalajara but we found Tonala not very interesting and lacking decent restaurants and a taxi to Guad Centro was 150 pesos. Didn't want to deal with buses or park downtown. Walked a lot Saturday and did the Artisania Tianguis on Sunday morning. The tianguis goes on for blocks and blocks but I found very little was special. The shops that are there every day are not real easy to find. I'm sure we missed a few good stores but maybe another time

Sunday afternoon we took a taxi to downtown Guad, walked alot more and took one of the Tapatio tour buses around the city center. More on downtown and the tour on another post.

Casa de las Palomas

Hacienda del Sol

Hacienda del Sol restaurant

First church on the Tonala plaza

Opposing church across the plaza

Upscale artesenia shop

The endless tianguis (market)

Mercado Corona - Guadalajara

Mention that you’re going to Mercado Corona — that riot of honey, clothing, flowers, uncommon fruit such as black capulines and light green arrayanes, steaming food stands and what-not, all peeking out in glorious disarray from a concrete structure two blocks from Guadalajara’s cathedral — and your friends’ reactions may range from, “It’s a nice place to go ... once” to “Horrible!”

It is true that in this market you rub shoulders — literally — with ordinary folk and that here you are more likely to glimpse a sleeping borracho [drunk] than a well-dressed anorexic, as you might in a tonier mall.

But if it is medicinal herbs you are after, and knowledgeable merchants to instruct you in their use, Mercado Corona is your mecca.

Guadalajara Reporter Article

Ixtepete Pyramid - Guadalajara

The Ixtepete pyramid,  the only archaeological site within Guadalajara , remains unknown despite the amount of existing plans to excavate the ruins properly and build a museum on site before the Pan American Games.

The pre-Hispanic ruins dating from Epiclassic period, around the year 650, is located on Avenida Mariano Otero, on the ring road of the city, the site is open to the public free of charge, but only popular among visitors during the Spring Equinox.

In 2007, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) announced it would make available 52 million Mexican pesos to transform Ixtepete to be a major tourist attraction before the Pan American Games, but these plans never materialized.

A lone sign reveals the age of the ruins and provides basic information about how they were built, but the only sign of life in recent times is the visit of a group of local children who participate in a football team among the remains of the ancient pyramid.