Clarum 101

Beautiful old colonial home turned restaurant

by Ekahau about El Patio

El Patio --This is a beautiful old colonial home turned into a restaurant in a patio, terrace and open sidewalk setting. Great bar. In fact I enjoyed the Churros freshly made just around the corner out side the place this was the best and where the locals eat

The guacamole was very good.

Day Trip: Teuchitlan

by Jetgirly

Teuchitlan is a nice day trip when you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Guadalajara. You can get there by bus for 50 pesos, with the trip taking two hours from the Central Vieja (near Parque Aqua Azul) or ninety minutes from the Zapopan bus depot (but service is more frequent from the Central Vieja).

Once you arrive in the town, you have the choice of walking up to the pyramids (a fairly steep, shadeless thirty minutes), or hopping in a taxi for about 50 pesos (relatively expensive, but look for other tourists to share a taxi with). Either way, stop at the information kiosk at the bottom and pick up a free pamphlet with information about the site (English and Spanish). As you enter the actual grounds, you will be greeted and asked to sign a guestbook, but entrance is free (as of March 2008).

The site itself is small and doesn't compare to Chichen Itza or Teotihuacan, but for someone who has never seen pyramids before it's pretty cool. The focal point of the site is the huge, round, stepped pyramid that is surrounded by nine (or ten, depending on the source) small structures. Around this central point are smaller pyramids and the remains of other structures. Guachimontones is an active archeological site, and you may find archeologists busy at work uncovering new artifacts, structures and information.

Afterwards, it's an easy walk back into town. Teuchitlan has a great small-town vibe, and you'll see everything from wannabe cowboys practicing their lasso skills to children zipping around like devils on their tricycles. On the opposite side of the main road there is a large lake, and if you walk about 100 meters to the left from the town's sign you'll find a road that leads to a dozen or more lakefront restaurants, all with beautiful views of the cranes, frogs and fish that call the lake home. Caution: These restaurants are EXTREMELY seafood-focused and do not have food suitable for vegetarians.

Currently under construction........

by justtravelingthru

"The heartbeat of the city...."

The hardest thing about traveling is trying to put into words what I've seen, where I've been and most importantly what I felt. It's alway hard for me to find words that fully describe my visits...it's just never been something that I was good at....which is probably where my love for photography comes from. It was always easier to capture a moment....

Hope you enjoy the photos!

"Tlaquepaque"

I looked up and saw this amazing view and had to capture it. It's a little ironic considering I'm not at all religious. But I think that's why I love this photo---you don't need to be religious to find beauty in this scene.

"Vendor Lady"

I'm always amazed at how accomendating the locals are to foriegn travelers, not just in Mexico, but everywhere we've been. I can't say the same is true for people here in the states. We loved how this photo turned out...she had such a great face, Indian/Mexican. It was lovely to see the blend of cultures.