In September of 2005, I decided to visit Guadalajara, Mexico for several days – an extended Labor Day weekend. Could a vegan travel to Mexico and find a burrito without cheese? Why Guadalajara, one may ask, instead of Mexico City or Cancun and the ruins at Chitzen Itza? The answer is quite simple. As a single female travelling alone, I did not care to risk my personal safety after hearing the horror stories of kidnapping and worse in Mexico City. Cancun was too “Americanized” for me. Upon doing my online research, I found some information which claims that Guadalajara has the reputation of being the “Most Mexican” of all Mexican cities. Many traditions and cultural activities that we hear of today were actually created or discovered there. The sombrero, the Mexican  hat dance, tequila,and mariachi music, among other things originated in the Guadalajara region!

My accommodations were in a simply beautiful, traditional Mexican-style inn with an enclosed courtyard.  I was fortunate in that this particular weekend was the national Mariachi Festival and performances were held every evening in my hotel lobby!

This trip was taken on my own without an American tour company. However, I researched online and found a local Mexican tour agency. I signed up for the local city tour. This consisted of visiting the city plaza complete with cathedral, opera, the ornate government palace, and various other government buildings. I love the traditional orange and yellow color architecture! Walking just several thousand yards away from city center, you could see more contemporary statutes and museums. Street performers and musicians lined the plaza. We also visited the park in which you find statues of the historical figures who made an impact in this region, such as Orozco and Vallarta.

Next stop was the city shopping center for souvenirs! The “Mercado Liberdad” sells everything from live parrots to Mexican shoes to Guadalajara trinkets and statues. I purchased quite a few local goods!

In the evening, my tour group attended a music performance by “Ballet Folklorico” at Teatro Diana. It was performance of traditional dances from various regions of Mexico. I completely enjoyed and highly recommend it! The regional apparel and dances were spectacular!

Dinner was on my own. As usual, my pre-vacation online research led me to happycow.net where I found a vegan-friendly restaurant in Guadalajara called “Restaurante Zanahoria” – i.e. “the carrot restaurant”. The restaurant itself was very simple in appearance. However, the food was amazing! They had delicious vegan food, tasty desserts, and wonderful smoothies and juices, all at very reasonable prices. I highly recommend this restaurant!

The next day I hopped in a taxi on my own(as I feel comfortable with my basic, Spanish-speaking skills) to the nearby village of Tellaquepaque, only 20 minutes away. This town is a mecca of artisans making and selling their craft. I was in heaven! The were streets lined with vendor stalls. I purchased many souvenirs such as a traditional, colorful Mexican blanket, a Mexican traditional doll for my neice, a handmade puppet for my nephew, and little items with Mexican logos on them. There were also colorful contemporary and traditional art galleries and cathedrals which I visited there.

When I arrived back in Guadalajara, it was time to eat! After my online research, I decided that it would be an adventure to eat at the touristy “Santo Coyote Restaurant” due to its colorful and decorated decor. Here is where my Spanish language skills came into play. My particular waiter was not particularly conversant in English, so I attempted to order my meal in Spanish. I did a good job of naming various vegetables, rice, and juices in his native tongue. The meal was great! I recommend this restaurant (even for vegans), not only because of the  food but to experience the ambiance, decor, and music!

Day 3, I was feeling more and more comfortable conversing in Spanish, so I ventured on a city bus for one and a half hours to the town of Tequila. I personally do NOT drink alcohol…  never did. However, I wanted to visit this town for several reasons: 1. my interest in seeing the beautiful, mountainous landscape, 2. my desire to see more than just city life, and 3. my curiosity in seeing how a local product is manufactured, in this case tequila.

Lucky for me, I was seated on the city bus next to an elderly lady who was friendly and spoke slowly enough for me to understand and participate in a nice conversation during the journey. The Mexican people are friendly. The ride was smooth on good roads and the scenery was gorgeous! We drove by mountainous areas and miles upon miles of blueish-green agave plant fields in the valleys. Tequila is made with the agave plants found in the Jalisco region.

Upon arrival in Tequila, I searched for a cafe to eat lunch. No vegan restaurants in this very small village. However, I found pizza and sandwich shoppes. This made me content enough. After all, I was mainly here for sightseeing!

After filling my tummy with a sandwich, I walked down the street to the Jose Cuervo Tequila factory. It is within a gorgeously-ornate building. The guide took us through each step of the tequila-making process. When the sugars from the agave were in the fermentation stage, we got to sample some from the conveyor belt. What a sweet, juicy treat! Very informative and well-led tour. We then were led to the gift shop where you could purchase local crafts or many tequila-based products. I purchased tequila-infused candies as a gift for my dad. In one of the two gift shops, you could even take a photo with a local member of the Huichol Indian tribe.

I am really glad that I decided to venture to Tequila by the city bus. The scenery along the way is beautiful and the little colorful village itself has quaint, little gift shops, museums, and the tequila factory worth visiting.

That wrapped up my Mexican holiday. The vegan dining in Guadalajara was superb. It was a wonderful trip filled with experiences and culture of a true Mexican city and the surrounding regions!