RATING: ♦♦♦♦♦
Ajijic has a lot of lovely local shops, but the place to go for real shopping is Guadalajara, specifically the municipality of Tlaquepaque. The town is known for it’s boutique shops and trendy restaurants. This is not bargain shopping, but it’s a great place to find high quality art and craft works from all over Mexico.
I took a day trip with the Charter Club Travel Agency, where we saw pottery making and glass blowing artists at work in the morning, then spent the afternoon exploring Calle Independencia, the main shopping street in Tlaquepaque. It is a pedestrian walkway closed to vehicles and lined with street artists and quirky statues. Typical colorful banners fly overhead.
On one end of Calle Independencia is the main square in the city center, known as El Jardín Hidalgo (Hidalgo Garden), named after Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the Father of Mexican Independence. I had a picture taken of me with Hidalgo.
The other end of the street runs into El Parián, a large plaza surrounded by restaurants and bars. Other main features include the two important churches, El Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Solitude) and San Pedro (Saint Peter).
Tlaquepaque is also known for it’s mariachi bands that usually play in the plaza. I happened to be coming out of a shop along the walkway when I noticed an all female band getting ready to play. The sidewalk cleared, the band started playing, and two pairs of costumed dancers came twirling through the crowd. It was fantastic! The band played only one song, then they were finished and disappeared. Serendipity at it’s best!
I enjoyed it so much, that next time I’m taking David with me.
