Guadalajara! Guadalajara!

Tomorrow at 6:30 PM EST, I am departing for Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico!  The last time I went to Mexico was before September 11th, 2001 (prior to the passport requirement for visitors from the United States).  I was in San Diego with my family for the vow renewal wedding of my parents.  All we had to do to get to Mexico was walk maybe a mile from the border of San Diego and then go through some revolving doors.  Once inside, there were taxi drivers lined up to take the anxious visitors to the club district.  Our taxi driver didn't mind that about seven of us squeezed into his cab, including our 18 year old cousin who would enjoy his new-found legal drinking status.  Our driver was so anxious to please us and get us to our destination in a timely manner that he selflessly ran all of the red-lights along the way.  What a pal. 

I know many of us in The West have a preconceived notion of Mexico that was shaped by American pop culture; from a sombrero clad mouse named 'Speedy Gonzalez', to a burrito loving Chihuahua with an accent similar to that of Antonio Banderas.  I wholly take offense to this simple view of our friends to the South.  It's a shame that so many people write off so quickly the depth, and richness of a peoples' culture because of some ready-made stereotypes that better represent those doing the stereotyping than they do they people the stereotype aims to simplify.  (Okay, of course it's fun to stereotype amongst friends though -- and when I finally do come across a local taking a siesta under the shade of a tree with a bottle of Patron in hand, I'll be sure to point it out to everyone around me.)

I don't expect Guadalajara to be like Tijuana.  Just like in North America - you wouldn't expect that some po-dunk town be representative of all that we have to offer here in the states - just as I don't expect my only true visit to Tijuana be the indelible impression I'll be left with of this beautiful country.  (For a truly inspiring story of Mexico, read this blog entry, "Mexican Extremes" from a writer at Fieldreport.com) Guadalajara is the second largest city in Mexico, and exerts a major influence over the whole of Mexico's economy, religion and culture.  But I wont deny that it might not be anything other than quintessential Mexico.  After all, Guadalajara is touted as the the birthplace of tequila and the Mariachi. As a matter of fact, there are plenty of Mariachi bands for hire in the area, and since my friend's birthday was this past week, I'm going to attempt to hire a few to sing a song or three for her birthday.  I'd prefer if we were unexpectedly ambushed by them during a quiet dinner, or something or they unexpectedly regale us as these Mariachi did between stops on this subway ride in New York.




My post was titled after the opening lyrics of Jose Pepe's classic song, "Gudalajara"



I'll be back with a tan, pictures, and a wife.  I hear the women there are beautiful.

Gael Garcia Bernal is from Guadalajara, so that's a start, right?