Tlaquepaque

Tlaquepaque, once a town of it's own and bedroom community of the rich in Guadalajara, has been incorporated into the city. Lately it has attracted artisans of many talents and has become an expensive artsy-crafty shopping center. The pedestrian only streets that branch off the plaza do make for relaxing window shopping. Take your time and you'll also see much of Mexican history on display. Tlaquepaque underwent major commercial renovation in the 1970's to improve tourism.

In the middle of the plaza is El Parian, which was built in 1878, a block square cantina ringed by botanero restaurants and inside has a huge courtyard with central bandstand for entertainment. Some restaurants are only botaneros and some have full menus ... but you can just have a beer or Margarita and listen to Mariachis in the early evening.

I stayed at the Hotel Posada de la Media Luna which is right on the corner of the plaza and very convenient. They do have a parking garage agreement nearby but I was using buses at the time. A taxi ride to central Guadalajara should be less than 100 pesos but the taxis on the plaza are famous for overcharging

El Parian outer botana bars

El Parian inner restaurants and central bandstand

Pedestrian only shopping street

Pedestrian only shopping street

Hotel Posada de la Media Luna

Tuxpan River Valley

The most important River in southern Jalisco is the Tuxpan River wich originates in Mazamitla and fertilizes the municipalites of Tamazula, Zapotiltic and Tuxpan. The Tuxpan valley is a beautiful drive from near the Colima border up to Mazamitla. It starts in rich farmland of mostly sugar cane, thru small towns with sugar mills, higher into more varied farmland and finally the pine forests of the mountains. Highway #110 is the road through this area and signs will say Jiquilpan/Mazamitla (Jiquilpan is on the other side of Lake Chapala almost in Michoacan)

Small town across the valley

Sugar cane valley

Young sugar care

Jocotepec

Jocotepec is located in the state of Jalisco, approximately 40 kilometers south of Guadalajara and at the western end of Lake Chapala. Even at the elevation of 5130 feet, the presence of the lake provides for a year-round mild and pleasant micro-climate.

The village of Jocotepec (place of the plum trees) was founded in 1529. It is the county seat (municipio) for a number of smaller surrounding towns. It's a very typical Mexican town, and has traditionally been known for the quality serapes woven there. It features a large street market on Thursday mornings and an active mercado and plaza any day of the week.

Jocotepec is my favorite place to stay when I'm in the Lake Chapala area with a few inexpensive motels just east of town on the road to Chapala. We also have friends that live downtown.

Aerial view of Jocotepec


Jocotepec Plaza


Jocotepec Church on Plaza


Jocotepec Malecon on Lake Chapala

Mascota and Highway 70

Highway 70 construction and Mascota
from Vallarta, Jalisco - Mexico

Highway 70 leaves Vallarta just south of the Nayarit border, north of the airport and next to the new Vallarta Home Depot. It's about 40 kilometers of small towns and farmland before you start into the mountains. The road is actually very good except they have cut thru some impossible hillsides making yearly roadwork a necessity. Right now (November 2007) they are working on about five major sections both east and west of Mascota. Most of the work is on the west side.

After crossing the bridge below it mostly flat land until you drop back down into Mascota. Mascota is very Colonial in a non-fancy way with one church in ruins looking as if it was a religious center for the area many years ago. Lots of classic construction and cobble stone streets.

The last few fotos are from one of the very few scenic lookouts along the road after leaving Mascota and heading toward Talpa and Ameca.

Looking down on Mascota from the east


Mascota church


Mascota house


Mascota church and ex-convent

Mascota trip fotos

Autlan de Navarro

The city of Autlán de Navarro (or simply Autlán) is located in a valley at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental, in the south coast region of the state of Jalisco. Autlán is referred to as “La Puerta de la Costa” (Door to the Coast) because of its warm, humid climate and its geographical location, as an important stop in the highway from the Pacific coast to Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco. Because of it's location, Autlán is a very important regional commercial and agricultural centre for the state, as well as the location of the University of Guadalajara’s south coast campus.

Another town that has some feel of the Colonial Era but has not been preserved as such so new is mixed with the old. It's a good sized town with lots of downtown activity - market, plaza and a number of chruches. The bull ring (Plaza del Toros) is close to downtown and one of the fanciest ones I've seen. I really should have tried to get a few fotos of it - even if only the outside.

After coming out of Ayutla onto highway 80 there is a large drop in elevation into the valley where Autlan is (those famous hair-pin turns). I cruzed downtown and then stayed at Hotel Autlan near the bus station - nice place for about $40us. The next morning I walked around town, had breakfast and headed downhill again towards Purificacion and La Huerta (more hair-pin turns).

Entrance to Autlan and bus station from in front of my motel


Colorful intersection near the mercado


Lots of parks


Autlan Church

More Autlan pictures