Chapu, a place of youth

In GDL there is a place that you certainly know for the variaty of activities and places to visit, Chapu. This is actually an avenue with a wide median strip. During the week here you can find lots of restaurants, bars, clubs, galleries and many shops which may sound as any other popoular place, but Chapu is famous for is weekend life.

Specially on Saturdays the whole place turn into a cultural market, urban stage, dancefloor and even a concert hall. If you are willing to take a walk through Chapu in a Saturday night you migth find some interesting people and stuff. Clothing, books, food, toys, handmade sculptures and some traditional mexican souvenirs. You might also see some street shows, from a dance crew, circus act or a Jazz band playing on the middle of the street, Chapu have almost everything.

The Chapu experience is meant to be lived walking. The restaurants, bars, clubs and other stablishments are not only on the main stripe but also un several nearby streets. There is something for every taste and for every group.


Chapu is also used many times as a festival stage. Concerts and festivals are celebrated in Chapu really often, the bigger of them all should be the 212 RMX fest, last year about 47 bands were presented in a free concert with an estimated asistance of over 60'000 people.

Take a walk to Chapu and I asure you, there is nothing like it in GDL, you will find, sooner or later something of your taste and you will have a great time.

The Matrix

Are we all just living a lie? Haven't you ever though that we are all part of something bigger? Maybe we are inside something bigger? If we are, who is out there? Are we trully free?

This and many other questions have been on the mind of many, but maybe Matrix ,the movie, put a spotlight on this questions. The idea is simple, maybe we are all living a reality created by someone else with the objective of having control of our lives. This might sound crazy or creepy but this simple idea made a movie become one of the most succesful franchise of all times.

In my opinion I just dont know what to think. Maybe it is all as it seems and we are as free as we think we are, maybe we are all part of someone elses plan. But if thats the case, what could I do to change it? Maybe nothing. Looking at it in a different way maybe we are all prisioners of someone, ourselves. We all create our own reality from a universal truth. We are the ones that put the limits and the ones who make the choices. Maybe we all have a Matrix we have created for ourselves.

Think about it and if you are willing to, share your experience and opinion in the coments.

Perla de Occidente

Tapatio and Proud

I was born Tapatio and every time I tell my origins I just feel proud of saying it, specially when I have to describe GDL to an extranger, in which case I will always say something like "Guadalajara is a city known for the beauty, history, culture and hospitality". This is a city that is known world wide for its rich art and beautiful women, from prehispanic art to urban and modern artist GDL is one of the art capitals on Mexico. Guadalajara is relevant to the country not only for its beauty but also for its historical relevance, maybe the most important event that took GDL as setting was when Hidalgo signed the pact to abolish slavery in GDL, or the defeat of Hidalgos army in Puente Grande. For its history and its location GDL's culture has many faces and it is so extense and rich that I wouldn't dare to make a list. People in GDL are just great, we are known for being great hosts and for usually treating well any visitor. La Perla Tapatia is were I was born and rised and If I had the choice I would choose this city again. 

Added towns 

 Tonala 

The city had a 2005 census population of 374,258 and the municipality had a population of 408,729 and an area of 119.58 km². The municipality lies adjacent to the east side of Guadalajara. The city and the municipality both rank fourth in the state of Jalisco in population, after Guadalajara, Zapopan.

 On two days a week (Thursdays and Sundays) there is a giant street market covering the main streets, with numerous vendors of , glass and all kinds of handcrafted items and novelties. Most of the art found on Tlaquepaque and Guadalajara was manufactured here.

 Due to the clay soil in the area, pottery or alfareria has been a traditional occupation for centuries. 

Tlaquepaque

 Known also as San Pedro. During the 20th century it was absorbed by the outward spread of Guadalajara urban mot , lying only a few kilometres from the city centre. The city had a 2005 census population of 542,051, while the municipality had a population of 563,006. The municipality's area is 270.88 km² The name.

 Tlaquepaque derives from Nahuatl and means "place above clay land". The area is famous for its pottery and blown glass. 

Tlaquepaque features El Parián, a large plaza surrounded by columns and surrounded by restaurants and bars. The main square in the city centre is known as El Jardín Hidalgo.Other main features include the two important churches, El Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad  and San Pedro. You can also visit Forum Plaza (a mall) and the Benito Juárez market. 

 Tlajumulco 

Municipality in the state of Jalisco, It forms part of the Guadalajara metropolitan area and lies to the southeast of it. The municipality covers an area of 636.93 km². As of 2010, the municipality had a total population of 416,626. 

 The name is interpreted from Nahuatl as "Land in the Corner."

As it is part of the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Tlajomulco has an industrial base and is a large commercial area. This is also where the Guadalajara International Airport.

   Guadalajara’s top landmarks:

 Guachimontones

   

La Estampida

   

La Minerva

 

Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres

   

Glorieta Chapalita

Plaza de la Liberación

El Parian
 
Calle Independencia
 
Arcos de Vallarta
 
Plaza Tapatia
 
Plaza de los Mariachis
 
Avenida Chapultepec
 
Callejon del Diablo
 
Instituto Cabañas
 
Basilica de Zapopan
 
Expiatorio
 
Basilica de Guadalajara
  
Teatro Degollado
 

Con-Comic

Last Saturday the Con-Comic took place in Expo Guadalajara. For a weekend all kinds of people were able to enjoy the greater comics event of the year. As every year many people suit their selves on cosplays of different animes or comic book's characters.

I wasnt able to recognize a lot of characters mainly because I mainly read amercian comics, and many went dressed as anime or manga characters. Some people went there and stayed outisde waitng for you to ask them for a picture, some will respond only if you call them by the name of the character they were dress like. People ran exited when they saw any cosplay of a character they admired, like if they saw Johnny Depp or something like that.

Inside I was able to see many interesting stuff that I would have love to bought, but everything was expensive and Im no rich guy so I was happy just to see. 

It was a nice feeling whenever I saw a family attending this event together as if Con-Comic was a family trip. People of all ages and also from every social class attended together just sharing their love for anime, comic, manga and even some cartoons.

Some might say it is dumb to dress like a comic book character and that people should grow up but I meet some really nice, fun and mature people there. I even felt excited whenever I saw someone doing cosplay of a character I know.

Next year Ill propably go again but this time with more friends and                      money. Probably Ill find a nice costume to wear this year.