Zapopan and Tlaquepaque

Today we made good use of Uber.  We wanted to see two suburbs on opposite sides of Guadalajara.  The metro does not go there yet - but we saw lots of construction of their progress. 

Our first stop - Zapopan and the Basilica de Zapopan.  The name on the church door is: Parroquia De San Pedro Apostal.  This most important church in Guadalajara was built in 1730 and finished in 1819.  It houses the Nuestra Senora de Zapopan, a petite statue of Mary.  The faithful follow it on their knees on October 12 from the Cathedral in Guadalajara to this church to pray for favors at the altar. 

There is a very large plaza in front of the church.  Many of the following pictures are of scenes in that plaza.  We tried to go into the church, but there was a service going on.

 The above photos were taken inside of the church courtyard.  Just outside we saw these.  Many indigenous people set up their wares in the courtyard.

 The town sign was on the plaza, but the buildings behind are across the street.

 Not sure what the symbolism is of the eagle eating the snake, but I have seen it before in Guadalajara.

Some kids from Wisconsin, also enjoying Guadalajara.

There are restaurants along the side of the avenue of umbrellas.

 On the far end of the umbrellas is this gateway.  Through it you can see a flyby with another large street on the ground level.

 Gate from the street side.  Corn or maize is very important in this culture.

 Back through the umbrellas - back to the church to see if the service has ended.  It has not.

We took some photos of the inside of the church at the doorway, and then went across the street to see another church.

It has a similar name: San Pedro Apostol Zapopan, so may be part of a larger Church complex.

 We could go inside this one.  Christmas decoration abound in this church - even more than some we have already been to.  Many twinkling lights as well as wreaths and balls on trees branches.

 Lunch time, so we headed back to the avenue of umbrellas and went to the first seafood restaurant.  My fish was not overly flavorful, but they served a salsa of cucumbers, onions and chile that was very tasty and a little hot.  Mike had fish soup which he declared good.

Then back to the church - the service is still going strong!

We call an Uber and head off to Tlaquepaque.  It is known for its Jardin Hidalgo - filled with flowering bushes, gardens and tons of benches to sit on.

The first church we went to (you can see it in the background in the first photo from this village), was called Parroquia San Pedro TLa Quepaque, Jel. 

The second church was just across a small plaza.  It is the Santuario De Nuestra, Senora de la Soledad or Sanctuary of the Virgin Mary.

 Inside the courtyard of the second church you find the usual nativity.

Back to the first church.

 Back in the garden area.

Nearby a market was going on.  Mike shopped for a leather belt.  While I took colorful photos.

I came across this restaurant.  Are they saying you are a pig if you eat here or only pigs are allowed in?

This area is known for its artisans.  There was a Mercado in the basement of this building, which is actually the Municipal De Tlaquepaque - or government building.  Inside we discovered two murals. 

This one was to show the power of fire in the making of ceramics.

This is the same on taken with the wide angle lens so I could get more of it in the photo.

This is the second mural - not sure what it is about.

Outside of the building is this Christmas Tree.  It is decorated with pigs and other things having to do with agriculture.

And across from it - another piggy restaurant.  Are you sensing a theme here?

A scene across the street as we waited for our Uber ride back to our hotel.