Agua Caliente

Today was the first day since we've been in Guadalajara that we were able to spend as a family, so we decided to get a taxi for an hour-long journey to a water park, Agua Caliente (http://www.aguacaliente.com.mx/), which means, "Hot Water." As you might notice by looking at the pictures, we just about had the place to ourselves. With temperatures in the mid-eighties (no shock, as we've had exactly the same weather each day), we were surprised to find so few people there! We enjoyed the water slides, elaborate kiddie areas, wave pool, hot water pool, and playground. Ella was thrilled to be allowed on the big slides, as she isn't tall enough for the big-kid rides back home. Something noteworthy about Mexico is that it appears they are not as busy trying to protect people from themselves as we are in the U.S.: decisions like whether or not your 4-year-old can go on a waterslide are left to you and your 4-year-old (And guess what? She didn't drown.). We also fed the entire family lunch for about $18, and this included two beers -- hey, we couldn't help ourselves, beer for $1.20 at an amusement park at home is unheard of, right? On our way out, we paid about $3 for a round of ice cream treats for the kids -- again, they'd be at least $3 EACH at home. Everyone had a fabulous time, and we'd like to do it again and rent one of their bungalows for a two-day stay!

Kinder y Escuela de Natacion

Yesterday, Addison decided to begin attending school with Maisy and Ella. Reluctant in the beginning, he soon realized what he was missing when the girls were coming home with art projects and tales of their swimming lessons. These pictures show the kids in front of the classroom where they do art, swimming lessons, and Ella on the playground. I also included a photo of Veronica, the owner of the school, and Dany, the secretary. As everyone else we have met in Guadalajara, they both have been extremely welcoming and helpful to us. I also had to post a picture of what I did while the kids were in school today: I indulged in the guilty pleasure of visiting the coffee shop next door and getting caught up on a little reading.

Venturing Out

Today, we (Denise and the kids) took our first trip out of our little neighborhood by taking a cab to the Galleria Mall. The school where the kids take their swimming lessons requires that the girls have a one-piece bathing suit, and we did not bring one for Ella, so we 'had' to go shopping. . . Turns out this mall is a nice place, and it's HUGE: I could have spent the entire day there, or longer. It's three stories tall, and standing in the center of it is this giant Christmas tree, surrounded by palm trees. The kids were pretty impressed with this thing, and Maisy thinks we should have a house big enough to get one for ourselves. Maybe next year. . .

Our Apartment

Our apartment here in Guadalajara is very nice, and it's close to everything we need. The first photo shows the view of the surrounding area from the rooftop patio. The next one is our unit from the outside. The last one was taken just outside the fitness center, where the kids start their school work while I get a little exercise.

Dining out in Guadalajara

Today we'd like to report on some of our dining experiences in Guadalajara, and we'll start by sharing a little experience that demonstrates how much we have to learn! Last night, we were walking down the street, looking for a local restaurant we had heard about. As we were walking, Trent pointed to a restaurant.

Trent: Hey, that place has the same name as the place where we ate last night.
Denise: Where do you see that?
Trent: That sign right there!
Denise: You mean the one that says, 'Abierto'?
Trent: Yes, that's it, Abierto's.
Denise: Trent, that means, 'Open'.
Trent: Oh crap, you're kidding. I told everyone at the office that we ate at this really great place called Abierto's.


We have had great meals with fantastic service. Our favorite so far has to be Don Kamilo's, where you can eat a dish for which Guadalajara is famous: Carne en su Jugo, or Beef in Juice. Sounds rather unappealing, but it's fabulous. Sort of a beef in au jus with bacon, pinto beans, onions, and cilantro. They start bringing food to you immediately: bean soup, a bowl of red chile sauce, fried corn tortillas, along with a plate of grilled sweet onions, radishes, and limes. This place also has some of the tastiest margaritas we've had. We had heard about Guadalajaran hospitality, and have now experienced it first-hand; everyone treats you like family.

The girls are in!

Today, Maisy and Ella were enrolled in Kinder - a preschool and swim school all wrapped in one. The place looks like it will be a lot of fun. You can't see much from the road, but behind the wall there's all sorts of great stuff. They have a number of different classrooms, play areas, arts and crafts, and so on. The girls seem pretty into it; I hope their enthusiasm lasts, as they don't really have a lot of options. It's also in a great location: right next door to our apartment complex.

Hola Amigos!

Hola!! I arrived in Guadalajara on November 2nd, Friday afternoon. The ride from the airport to the suite was very interesting. The sights, sounds, and smells are noticeably different from those at home: I can feel that I'm in a foreign land. Guadalajara has a population of about 1.6 million people along with another 4.1 million in surrounding areas. You can imagine all the people and cars you see as you drive through the city.

Denise and the kids arrive tomorrow, Sunday, and then the real adventure begins. Living in a land where we don't speak the language, we don't know exactly where we are, and we don't know how to get around is going to be challenging. Once we get answers/work-arounds to those questions we'll be soaking up as much of the Guadalajara area as we can. And, before we know it, it's going to be time to head back to the States.