What to see ?

It is good to spend a full day to visit the centro historico of the ancient capital beginning with the Plaza de la Liberacion bordered with the Cathedral (which construction began in 1452), the Regional Museum, the Delgado Theatre (its dome is decorated with scenes from the Dante's Divine Comedy) and the Palacio del Gobiernio where to see the famous Mural de Miguel Hidalgo, hero of the independence who proclaimed the slavery abolition in 1810.

In front of the Plaza Tapatia and its frogs-fountains, the Cabanas Cultural Institute is the most important colonial building of the Americas . Strolling along the crowded streets and parks is the best way to fill the real charm of the past times in Guadalajara

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Tlaqueplaque is a coloured ancient colonial village of potters and handicrafts where a lot of artists (like Bustamante ) have established their studios or galleries in between the multicoloured fashion and linen boutiques and the multiple shops of ceramics, toys and other trimmings.

In its centre, stands an immense cantina (canteen considered as the greatest in the world) with at least 34 different places to eat and drink and where the mariashis gather and perform every day and night for the pleasure of worldwide visitors but also many local people coming here with their family and children. In fact the Guadalajara area is known as the birthplace of the world famous Mariachi bands and also as the home of the Mexican hat dance.


Nearby, at about one hour drive, in the Santiago river valley under the top ( 9000 ft ) of the eponyme volcano, is the town of Tequila , everyone knows or should be able to guess, what this town is famous for.  The area around Guadalajara is mainly known for the Mexican craftsmen that turn out countless handmade items that are treasured the world over. But if the area has been inscribed in the World Heritage List by Unesco, it was for the blue sea of the agave plants that grow in the valley and produce the famous Mexican liquor and confer its identity to the whole region.

Tequila liquor is the final product of a long harvest story as it takes at least eight years for a blue agave plant to mature. Handout leaf by leaf, the core of the plant is a big white ball ( pina ), of about 20 kgs each, is roasted at low temperature to get out its juice, the “mescal”. After fermentation, it gives a sort of beer which the Aztecs melt with honey to make hydromel, their favourite drink
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But Indians didn't know the distillation technique; it was brought by the Spanish to produce the “tequila” which became the worldwide known Mexican liquor. It was portrayed as an incendiary spirit burning the throats of Mexican fighting caballeros. Nowadays Tequila can be drunk with sodas or in cocktails but connoisseurs prefer it “dry” un small c aballitos (with salt and lime) to appreciate all the aromas of the anejos or maduros , aged or extra aged in oak barrels. The best way to discover Tequila is to go through the small colonial town to visit the Jose Cuervo facility (called Mundo Cuervo) with a distillery that dates to 1873.

But be careful: One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Floor! Five Tequila, Six Tequila, Seven Tequila, Morgue! Says the chant!

Cathedral

Quetzalcoatl, the eagle eating a serpent

Mariachis


In a gallery at Tlaqueplaque,
a Mexican caballero

Where to play ?

In the last decade, the Guadalajara golf courses which were located in the outskirts of the city have been absorbed by the urban expansion. Nowadays, .the two last courses, El Cielo and El Rio, are integrated in dramatic environments.

El Cielo Country Club is settled, as it says on the top of a mountain at about 500 m high over the city (which is already at 1500 m ). in a biosphere natural reserve of 30,000 ha of trees and flowers, called “the Bush of Spring” with 135 species of birds and 30 of mammals, It is a ”mirador” with an exceptional panoramic view over the plateau where the city of Guadalajara is settled surrounded by a chain of greenwoods mountains.
The course has been designed by DeVictor-Langham Cy and constructed by the Kenova Cy from West Palm Beach ( Florida ) in full respect of the surrounding nature and the PGA specifications. The slope is 122!
This is a course for golfers who like to hear birds singing and see the wildlife tripping around while enjoying a majestic natural environment with extraordinary superb views. But it is not an easy course. Not at all as it is a mountain course climbing up and falling down on uneven terrain with tree lined fairways and some water hazards at the top. Hole 18 is the most perilous as its narrow fairway and green run all along the water. Good luck!
Nice restaurant under the trees with playground for the children. El Cielo, peace in a piece of heaven!
El Cielo, Paseo del Cielo N°1 - Guadalajara , Jalisco , Mexico
Tel : +5232682559 – www.elcieloc.com - email : greenfee@elcielocc.com

El Rio Country Club , between Guadalajara and Tequila, is the first course of the Lorena Ochoa 's generation.

Lorena is the Mexican golf Lady. She is from Guadalajara but the whole Jalisco citizens are proud of her as she has put the name of Mexico on the board of winners in the company of the world best players even the American ladies. Now she sponsors many competitions around the state, the young generation is attracted by the golf game and her name attracts great golf names and investors.
El Rio, at less than one hour drive from the centre of the city, is an example. At the inauguration on the 27 th of November 2007, great names from the golf sport and business came to assist Lorena, the Queen of El Rio.
As the name says, the course is not located on a top of a mountain, but in a valley along a small river alongside the motorway going from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta and the Pacific coast. In the background, the Tequiila volcano chain overlooks the “blue plain” of thousands hectares of agaves plants (for the Tequila liquor) and takes the new course under its protection.
It is a well-born course designed by Jack Nicklaus in a typical desert Mexican environment, jumping from one side to the other over the river, climbing up and down the sloppy hills. This 18-hole championship is a must of about 7000 yards with a first river jump at the drive and a second before the green! Need some balls. But it's a top course!
El Rio Country Club – Guadalajara - Mexico
Tel +52 38170108 www..elrio.com.mx

Other golf clubs in Guadalajara :

Guadalajara Country Club is the oldest and hundred percent private club. Guests may play only with members
near Plaza Patria, Guadalajara - Tel+52-33-3817-2734
Atlas Country Club
Km 6½ Carretera Guadalajara-Chapala, Guadalajara - Tel+52-33-3689-2620
El Palomar Country Club
Paseo de la Cima # 437, Guadalajara
Tel+52-33-3684-4436 Fax+52-33-3684-2411
Las Cañadas Country Club
Bosques de San Isidro Norte, Guadalajara Tel+52-33-3685-0235
A relatively new golf course in a charming wooded area north of the city. Visitors allowed everyday with reservations.
Santa Anita Club de Golf
Carretera Guadalajara-Morelia, Guadalajara Tel+52-33-3686-1192 .

Lorena Ochoa, the Mexican golf Lady from Guadalajara

El Cielo overlooks the Guadalajara city

It is a natural reserve

El Rio, tee n°1
and view to the Tequila volcano

The Sun-golfer seen by the famous Mexican artist Bustamante