Guadalajara - The Cow Parade and more

The Cathedral in Guadalajara
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I stayed at my regular place – the San Francisco Plaza

– 490 pesos (about $44 - £23 per night). I was not happy about my room at first ; it was on the second floor and very small compared to the grand spacious rooms in the front. Then I discovered the modern heating/AC unit and all was forgiven .. I have been cold here in the past. I don’t seem to tire of

Guadalajara

even though I have been there several times. The lovely architecture, busy plazas and great museums make it an interesting city.

Hotel San Francisco Plaza
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There was even a Cow Parade .. (I recall the massive one in Chicago which Liz and I enjoyed so much in Chicago in 1999). Blank life size fiberglass cows are decorated by local artists. The ones in Guadalajara had the usual Mexican preoccupations: Day of the Dead was painted with skulls, one had a cut out section where you could view its heart and the best was Trans Border Cow .. a prosperous United States of American on one side and starving Mexicans on the other. It took me an age to figure out a centrepeice cow with many legs spread in a huge circle .. it was a Da Vinci Cow, based on the famous drawing of human proportions.

Cow Parade
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Thursday 1 February

The ceramics in the regional museum are truly amazing. Ancient art here was highly developed. There was an impressive Crucifixion in ivory with very Asiatic features ; probably done in the 17th Century by a Filipino who was brought to Mexico as part of Mexico’s colonial migration system. I was really sorry photos were not allowed .. this is a fantastic piece of art.

Finding a good Internet shop is no longer the problem as it was when on my previous visits. I found one which was quick and cheap (60 US cents for 40 minutes). I liked it because it was operated by an elderly lady who was very proficient with the computers and seemed to be giving training as well as hiring out machines. Just proves you don’t have to be a kid to be computer savvy.

Cow Parade
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I had another look at the Orozco murals in the Governor’s Palace and must say they are in a league of their own … Especially Fiery Hidalgo which portrays the priest (‘Father of Mexican Independence’) encased in flames ; it is painted in a semi dome in a staircase.