Guadalajara/Vallarta Trip Report

Recently we did a family reunion in Guadalajara.........It had been 15 years since I'd been there, and now I had kids, a wife, and new familia waiting for our arrival on the mainland............

We bailed out of TJ International, no problemos after getting our tourist cards and checking our baggage.........We we're on the plane heading southbound to Guadalajara.





We did Volaris with 12 family members. We had the entire front of the plane -- which was very cool. Some had never flew before but everyone did just great.

We got the rental car and navigated our way to the Centro Historico. After trying to find my wife's family's house for 3 hours without an address or real directions, I bailed back to the hotel to eat a hot dog. We would see the familia the following day and head to Lake Chapala......




Before meeting the 3 different family's on Sunday, we headed for breakfast after passing the catedral.....









Time for dinner -- post more manana...............

[Edited on 6-1-2012 by ateo]

well?

it's tomorrow!

OK......I got a lot of photos so this is gonna be very hard to organize, but here goes.......................

Day 2:

Woke up at Hotel Aranzazu and ate Tacos al Vapor from the 7/11 down the street. Not a good idea but I needed something quick to eat before leaving to go meet my wife's family. The view from the hotel:





30 minutes later, we meet the family and they offer me homemade tortas. I'm stuffed already but I don't want to insult them so I eat..................and eat..............

We leave to go visit more family in Lake Chapala:





The "O" in the Amlo sign resembles the "O" in Obama's signs:





Some stuff we saw on the way:





















We arrive in Lake Chapala at family #2's house. Oh wow, more food........I wouldn't ave ate them Tacos en la manana if I knew what lay ahead of me:









We hung out for about an hour when someone floated the idea of actually checking out the Lake. I hopped right on that:









Pretty crazy boardwalk.......everyone was drinking. It was a Sunday afternoon I guess........

We hired a panga to take us out to the island.......Alacran:





And it started to rain on our return trip....




And that was day 2...............Ended up driving home in the dark, back to the hotel, went for a quick swim in the pool, and called it a day.

Day 3 -- Cocula, the birthplace of Mariachi music, and the hometown of my Mother-In-Law...........


My wife's mother grew up in this town and hadn't been back here in over 35 years. It was a trip for sure. We visited her old house, took a break from the INCREDIBLE HEAT at another family members house, ate Birria and visited the grave of my Abuela-In-Law.


Best Birria I've ever had:




And the funeral home across the street:



Some sort of plant that somebody used to use when they were a kid for some medicinal reason....I couldn't understand the Spanish..........




And that was Day 3..........went by quick, but saw some great historical areas, as well as my Mother-In-Law's old stomping grounds. Rumor has it that she used to go to school dressed appropriately, but once out the door raised her skirt above the knee...........a risky thing to do in the old days.

Day 4 - Finally a day for just us to roam around!


Museum time.........
















Candy anyone?






The underground:





Back above ground:






We did the bus tour thing and it was pretty awesome, except for when we clipped an electrical wire and it snapped and whipped into the side of the bus hitting myself and my daughter. Fortunately it wasn't live.

And we got sick of Mexican food so we ended up going to Burger King for dinner.

Day 5 - Tequila and Vallarta!!

We bailed Guadalajara around 9AM and headed for the town of Tequila:

















We didn't stay long in Tequila. I was looking to sample the tequilas but we were there pretty early and most places didn't appear to be open, so we bailed to Vallarta.






Ate at this place and had the best shrimp burrito of my life:








Our hotel:



It was just about now that I started seeing reports of Hurricane Bud racing our way and wondering if we'd need to hunker down or evacuate!

Day 6: Pool day at the In-Laws condo
















Then down to the Malecon for dinner and drinks.............











This place was good, but the charged my VISA twice...........















The map app on the iPhone came in handy on this trip. Before we left the room and wifi, we'd map out or directions, then follow them as we drove around...............helped out big time!

Day......whatever - I've lost track....

Hurricane Bud goes from a category 3 down to a tropical storm in literally hours.

We got rain, but NO WIND whatsoever.





We bailed Vallarta and headed for the small town of Mascota, where we were to meet more family as well as attend a 50th birthday party for my brother in law's Dad.


Navigating the windy road thru the jungle:









That's a b-tchin Pemex sticker -- I want one!










The hotel and grounds:

















THE PARTY. And oh what a party it was. My Mother-In-Law ended up renting the mariachi's for 3 hours more -- after the party was done. They were up till 4AM!!
























End of day. Time for hangover.

Final days:


We awoke to Peac-cks on the balcony............











And a dog:




The school across the street:





And the scenic artsy drive:

































Didn't like the Tejuino.

Then back to Guadalajara for 9AM flight back.


The last moments before boarding the plane. Kids shot.








Somewhere over Sea of Cortez/Baja....anyone now where it is?








TJ airport:



Hope you enjoyed it. I did!

PS, came thru Otay Memorial Day in Ready Lane. Took 20 minutes.

Thanks bajajudy. Yeah the pool is on level one, above the lobby level. Nothing special -- it was actually really cold! I'll post a pic.



They remodeled the lobby while we were there. Looks super artsy now.

And it was nice to meet the other side of the family. I feel like my family has quadrupled in size in just a week!

The remodeled lobby of Hotel Aranzazu:



[Edited on 6-1-2012 by ateo]

Thanks Paula. I just now realized I posted a damn long trip report with probably too many pictures! Took me forever to scroll down the page! Anyway....

The Tejuino wasn't bad, but I didn't have the urge to finish it. Maybe it was just a bad Tejuino stand. I don't think any of my wife's family tried one - maybe they drink them in private.

Talpa was cool. Cocula was great, and Chapala was definitely a must see.

Oaxaca rules too......I was down in Salina Cruz area a few years ago.

Puerto Escondido, circa 1987 - a few years ago indeed!

notice the lip of this wave in the drawing



it really is that perfect. just like you used to draw them on your Pee-Chee school folders.....remember these?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pee_Chee_folder


sorry for the hijack. oaxaca is a special place!



[Edited on 6-2-2012 by woody with a view]

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view notice the lip of this wave in the drawing it really is that perfect. just like you used to draw them on your Pee-Chee school folders..... sorry for the hijack. oaxaca is a special place! Jon says: Indeed it is! I busted a Rick James longboard on my 3rd wave at Puerto back in 1997. What was I thinking taking a 10'0" out? [Edited on 6-2-2012 by ateo]

Yeah Woody and Paula, Oaxaca is a great place!

nice!

Pta Chacahua (5-20-87... 25 years ago last week) an hour north from Puerto. then an hour boat ride thru flamingo infested mangroves. there was an alligator farm right at the mouth (but still inside) of the lagoon.

Great Times, Thanks for the ride(s).....



[Edited on 6-2-2012 by woody with a view]

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view Pta Chacahua (5-20-87... 25 years ago last week) an hour north from Puerto. then an hour boat ride thru flamingo infested mangroves. there was an alligator farm right at the mouth (but still inside) of the lagoon. Great Times, Thanks for the ride(s)..... [Edited on 6-2-2012 by woody with a view]

yeah, i had a jvc video camera back then and had hours of this stuff from our trips. we did 6 straight summers in puerto from 86-91. we'd swing hammers all winter and take off for 2-4 weeks each summer. it seems like so long ago!

i won't go back as i'd not recognize the place, plus i don't have the guns to ride them waves (but i do have the rhino chaser i used to ride mounted on my living room wall!) anymore. i had my bite of the apple. times change and so does the equipment.

plus, baja is so much closer. mama doesn't like the hobo camping in the dirt so that allows me to get some waves in those outta the way places a couple of times a year.

and i tell ya what. i wouldn't change a minute of it.....