Guadalajara is happening………
We have put the Arizona house together using our Mexico resources to make the remodel affordable while maintaining our home as a unique and individual work of art. Fixtures, “antique mesquite wood” sofa tables, unique metal candelabras, and Talavera sinks along with a few hundred pounds of hand-made Talavera tile for the kitchen and a few art treasures complete the picture of this southwestern home. The town of Tonala is actually a close neighbor and suburb of Guadalajara is the center of cottage industry crafts that accomplish these works home art. Tonala is as well where the El Rincon del Sol is located. All of which is why we go there — as well as enjoying Mexican dishes that aren’t on the standard menus of tourist oriented Mazatlan.
El Rincon del Sol, owned and operated by the Mayor of Tonala is picturesque in it’s setting, but more important a fantastic place to enjoy some unique Mexican cuisine. One of my favorites is “Chile en Nogada” [Pasilla chile stuffed with a mixture of meats, fruit, nuts, good spices and an walnut cream sauce.] Its a WOW!!! My wife enjoys the giant burrito that is full of wonderful spiced meat… Neither is spicy or hot; just a great dining experience. In addition, since we ride the bus from Mazatlan taking a sack-lunch with us on the way to Guadalajara, we ask the restaurant to prepare a sack-lunch for our return trip to Mazatlan..
We are, however usually laden with things we have purchased at market for the house in Mexico, or things to bring north for the house in Arizona. We will have been to the village craftsmen, the artists that do beautiful oil paintings, and been into the San Juan del Dios market [The largest wholesale market under roof in Latin America] to see what we can’t live without. We always find something.
Along the way its time as well to stop for lunch. My personal favorite is the “shrimp cocktail” which is a shrimp consume over fresh shrimp, huge pieces of avocado, white onion, a bit of tomato and it is absolutely delicious. That and Topo Chico [the fizziest soda water I have ever encountered anywhere in the world!] to drink and we are back on the road shopping.
Tonola also has a city wide street market that encompasses the entire main part of the city and some of the side streets. Fun to walk, see everything from the craftsman’s wears to the latest in China manufactured plastic bags and baskets. Just walking the market with it’s Video stalls, CD vendors and street foods is an adventure in and of itself.
Its an adventure worth considering.
