On the southeast side of Guadalajara lies San Pedro Tlaquepaque, also known as Tlaquepaque or simply San Pedro. The name Tlaquepaque derives from Nahuatl and means "place above clay land," and the area is famous for its pottery and blown glass. We had heard that people come from all over the world to shop here, so we decided to check it out on Sunday.
Tlaquepaque features El Parián, a large plaza surrounded by restaurants and bars, and at the center is a large gazebo where mariachi groups play. The main square in the city center is known as El Jardín ("The Garden"), where there are two churches, El Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Solitude) and San Pedro (Saint Peter), and the Benito Juárez market. The entire place has the feel of a historic Mexican village, and there are plenty of restaurants, galleries, and several museums, as well as many street vendors selling food and crafts.
More "touristy" feeling than many of the other places we have visited, Tlaquepaque still had a certain charm and appeal to it. Many of the shops are set up like galleries with beautiful furniture and artwork; again, I would have bought lots of things if I could get them home!
One editorial note: A few people have asked us who is posting to the blog, Trent or Denise. Trent did the first three and the one about what Trent has been doing, and the rest have been me, Denise. I have given myself a separate login to the blog now, so you will be better able to tell who is writing.
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