Beautiful Guadalajara!!!

La Perla Tapatía

Being a "Tapatío" is awesome, because Mexico is known worldwide because of Jalisco's traditions and mores. Now,  being specially from Guadalajara it's even more awesome. We are rich in culture and traditions, Guadalajara is full of life and color every where you see. We are one of the major cities in Mexico and because of this and our development through history. I am really proud to be mexican and to be tapatia; every time I hear the mariachi I feel my heart beating faster, every time I think in our interesting and spiritual  traditions I get goosebumps, I get an inside cheer and happiness that it's just irrepressible. We should all be proud and we should carry on with mexican traditions, whether is the exquisite cuisine, the folkloric dances, the cheerful songs and melodies or all the costumes of our native people, we must nurture it and keep passing them from generation to generation.

Here is the basic information you need to know of Guadalajara :

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Nickname(s): Spanish: La Perla de Occidente(English: The Pearl of the West), Spanish: La Ciudad de las Rosas (English: The City of Roses)
Motto: Spanish: Somos más por Guadalajara, (English: We are more for Guadalajara)
Location of Guadalajara within Jalisco
Guadalajara Location of Guadalajara within Jalisco
Country	Mexico
State	Jalisco
Region	Centro
Municipality	Guadalajara
Foundation	February 14, 1542
Founder	Cristóbal de Oñate
Government
• Mayor	Aristóteles Sandoval Díaz (PRI)
Population (2010)
• City	1,495,189
• Density	10,361/km2 (26,830/sq mi)
• Metro	4,424,252
• Metro density	1,583/km2 (4,100/sq mi)
• Demonym	Tapatío, guadalajarense

Ancient Guadalajara

The name "Guadalajara" was chosen after the birthplace of Nuño de Guzmán in Spain. The town lasted for only a short time at this site. Guzmán, Crístobal de Oñate, Miguel de Ibarra and Sancho Ortiz decided to relocate to a place where there would be more water, fewer dust storms and better transportation. By August 8, 1533 they had moved the town to it's second location, near Tonalá. Two years later, in March 1535, they again moved the town to a new location. After a large attack by natives on September 28 in 1541, during the War of the Mixtón, they decided once more to relocate the city to a more defensible location. They chose Guadalajara's present location, in the valley of Atemajac, along the San Juan de Dios river. 

Added Towns

Zapopan

Tonalá

El Salto

Tlajomulco de Zúñiga

Tlaquepaque 

Here are some pictures of Guadalajara's most famous landmarks through history, basically thru the 50's - 90's : 

Jalisco Stadium 

Plaza de la Bandera

Independence Hall 

La Minerva Roundabout

Plaza Juarez Inauguration 

Guadalajara's Arches

Downtown

Panteón de Belén

Fountain in front of Hospicio Cabañas

Guadalajara in the 90's

Guadalajara Now 

Basílica de Zapopan 

Guadalajara's Arches 

Historic Downtown 

La Minerva Roundabout 

Expiatorio de Guadalajara 

Plaza Las Armas

Downtown 

Daylife 

Guadalajara is like any other city, it has a lot of delicious and diverse restaurants, cafes and beautiful fashion malls. We have also a Zoo and next to it there's a Fun park called Selva Magica.  But if you are looking for something unique you should visit our historical places, such as downtown or maybe a Guadalajara's Suburb, such as Chapultepec, Terranova, Providencia, Ciudad del Sol or go a little bit further and visit Chapala Lake, Tlaquepaque, Tonalá, Tequila which by the way is an excellent choice... and other added cities or places nearby.

Chapala Lake 

Hospicio Cabañas

Andares Mall

Tlaquepaque

Providencia and Terranova Suburbs

Tequila

The Guachimontones

Nightlife 

There are several nightclubs, bars, cafes, night activities in places like Chapultepec and well, it's like any other city, but we have more fun and party a lot!

Lucrecia Nightclub

Bossé Nightclub 

Bike Night Stroll

Chapultepec- López Cotilla Area

Political Life 

The actual State Governor is Aristóteles Sandoval Díaz, member of PRI 's political party.

There's a lot of people unhappy about him being the governor because his lack of experience and preparation and other things about him and the party. But I think we should be more possitive about it and try to be informed about what he is doing to get real information and facts so we can critic with a background of information and to give good opinions. This is pretty much the same with Mexico's president, Enrique Peña Nieto. 

Aristóteles Sandoval ( Governor)

Enrique Peña Nieto( President)

Important Dates and Festivities 

February 14 : Guadalajara's Foundation Jubilee.

FIL( Feria Internacional del Libro) : It´s around autumn and it's the International Book Fair.

Fiestas de Ocubre: They are celebrated in October and it's like a carnival and famous mexican singers present each year. There is also a beauty contest ( just for women).

Romería: Celebrated from May 20 thru October 11. The Romería is when Zapopan's Virgin visits temples and cathedrals in all Gdl, Tlaquepaque, and other towns. 

Candelaria: January 25- February 9. A Christian festivity. 

Día de Muertos: November 1st- Nov. 3rd. These days are dedicated to celebrate our dead ones. The first day is dedicated to the children that died and teh 2nd and 3rd to the adults and elders. People make shrines with the favourite things of the dead one. 

Candelaria Typical Food 

FIL

Día de Muertos Shrine

Fiestas de Octubre

Mexico is a great country to visit and Guadalajara is definitely a MUST! It's full of life, joy and love :)