Lo que hacen los Mexicanos

Yesterday I explored beyond the city limits of Guadalajara and visited el Lago de Chapala. This lake is a hotspot for Mexican travelers due to the fact that the climate stays so nice all year round. The village that surrounds the lake itself is quite picturesque with the huge lake in the background.

Chapala: Rinconcito de Amor
               little corner of love :)
















To be honest, there isn't much to do in the village other than walking around or having something to eat. I have found though that Mexicans are happy just finding a nice bench in the shade and talking with the family while taking in the sights in sounds. There were a number of vendors selling helado (ice cream) and all sorts of little snacks. The weirdest one I saw was selling dried little fish. El lago de Chapala is a really nice place to spend a day just admiring the view of the lake and enjoying the fresh air.

The city in the background

Front view of el Fuente Pescadores

La iglesia













After my buddies and I walked around the village and had una cerveza, we headed to the nearby town of Ajicic. This pretty little town is a very popular retirement destination among Canadians and Americans. You can tell its a pricey area code because the hills are lined with large, beautiful houses.

Emma trying some complimentary tequila... don't worry, I tried some too.

My lunch at the Iguana de Piedra.... fish stuffed with shrimp and then fried. yum!













When we returned to Guadalajara I wanted to walk off lunch (it was a bit heavy since it was fried) so I walked down Avenida Chapultapec for a little bit. This is probably my favorite street so far in Guadalajara. There are ton of shops, cafes, trees, benches, and statues. On Saturday nights this avenue is closed down so as to facilitate pedestrian traffic. Its very charming! There are tons of families and couples that just come out onto the street and sit around talking. It is very interesting to me to see people so content to simply sit and talk! I, and I'm sure many other Americans, always feel the need to be "doing" something. I could read a book or grab a drink with friends, but I'm not sure I'm patient enough to just sit. I can sit fine by myself because there is a lot of good people watching, so I did as the Mexicans and just sat!

There were many tables set up with free activities, such as drawing for the little kids or chess for the older ones.

















Great day overall :)