Flowermarket Día de los Muertos – Patzcuaro

Anyone who has ever seen pictures of the Día de los Muertos in Mexico, celebrated it before and/or been there knows that the Día de los Muertos involves a lot of flowers and all kinds of natural materials. Basically, Mexicans paint pictures on the street using seeds, flowers, leaves, coffee and other materials, and decorate the altars with beautiful flowers. The most distinctive feature, of course, are the orange flowers, which seem to light up everything and make everything cheerful. Well, that's exactly why I was so curious about a flower market for the Día de los Muertos. And since I happened to discover one in Patzcuaro, I just walked up and down. It's impressive how many beautiful flowers are bought within two or three days and then used to honour the dead. But it's also really beautiful 😊 Go or not? I think it gives a good insight into the seriousness behind the holiday. That's why I think it's worth walking through a flower market for the Día de los Muertos 😊

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Market Día de los Muertos – Patzcuaro

The Día de los Muertos – Day of the Dead – is probably the biggest holiday of all in Mexico. It is celebrated everywhere and throughout the country. People wear make-up, magnificent altars with fruit and flowers are set up to celebrate and honour the dead, and families and friends come together throughout Mexico to celebrate the Día de los Muertos. As it’s the case with every holiday, there are places in Mexico that are known for being particularly beautiful and authentic for tourists to experience the holiday. In Mexico that place during Día de los Muertos is Janitzio. A small island located on a lake near Patzcuaro. Since I didn't know if I would ever be back in Mexico for the Día de los Muertos, I decided to go to Patzcuaro. Here, the Día de los Muertos is said to be celebrated in a particularly authentic and beautiful way as well. Plus, it's easy to take a boat to Janitzio. Patzcuaro itself is not particularly large. It is a small town located right beside a large lake in the heart of Morelia. It is quite charming and pretty, but apart from a convent and a quaint town centre, there is not much to see here. Of course, everything was beautifully decorated for the Dia de los Muertos, the streets were filled with market stalls and tourists, and everywhere people were making their final preparations for the Dia de los Muertos. I stumbled across the market in Patzcuaro by chance. Like since it is located in the heart and centre of Patzcuaro, I would have inevitably come across it at some point. It was, of course, filled to the brim with things for the Día de los Muertos. There were also useful and typically Mexican items, but above all an incredible amount of things for the Día de los Muertos. Figures, sculptures, chocolate, sugary treats, sweets of every kind and shape for the Día de los Muertos, T-shirts, jewellery, bags and so on. It was really cool, honestly. There was also a place where you could have your face painted, which I obviously did on the Día de los Muertos :D The whole atmosphere at the market was really nice and relaxed, and you could really feel how everyone was getting ready and looking forward to the upcoming holiday. Go or not? If you're travelling to Patzcuaro for the Día de los Muertos, you should definitely take a stroll through the market. It's really cool and you'll see something completely different and some truly fascinating and cool things related to the Día de los Muertos. 😊

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Tequila

No, I'm not talking about the drink :D Just as most beers, wines, etc. come from a place of the same name, Mexican Tequila also originates from the tiny village of Tequila near Guadalajara. By the way, I’m calling it a ‘tiny village’ because Tequila basically consists of a cathedral, a few Tequila museums and shops, and Tequila fields. In short: it's really small and literally consists of Tequila :D Since I don't drink alcohol myself and knew that I would be travelling around a bit more, it didn't make sense to take Tequila from Tequila home for anyone. So… I didn’t buy anything. But honestly, I was very triggered. And with a little more planning, I probably would have taken a tour of the Tequila fields – cause I believe that it's possible. So instead, I just went there, looked around Tequila and, for the first time really understood how deeply rooted Tequila is in Mexican culture and that, just like beer in Germany, there are an incredible number of different types of Tequila. And mezcal, for example – which no one in Germany seems to even know, but which is at least as typical and present in Mexico as Tequila – comes from the same plant but is produced differently. So it was a very interesting day – even for someone like me who doesn't drink alcohol :D😊 Go or not? Yes. :D Period. Anyone who is stupid enough to not visit Tequila when in Mexico… own fault :D I mean how can you go to Mexico and not visit the town that carries the same name as the world-famous alcohol and then not take a tequila tour or something? Come on! :D

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Tlaquepaque – Guadalajara

I love Tlaquepaque! It is definitely one of the cutest, prettiest and most charming neighbourhoods/Pueblos Mágicos I have ever been to. It has a small central park with a cute pavilion decorated with flags, a charming old town, which is also partly decorated with flags, and where jewellery and souvenirs are sold on a few corners. Apart from that, there is a really beautiful sign in Tlaquepaque and bronze figures that cheerfully head towards the old part of the town. Really cute. I admit, Tlaquepaque doesn't have much – really, it doesn't – but this neighbourhood simply stole my heart. It's so cute and the vibe is so calm and relaxed and sweet and... Tlaquepaque is really worth a little trip. It's like a little break from Guadalajara. Because, just like Zapopan, Tlaquepaque is actually IN Guadalajara, but when you're there, it feels completely like you're in a small village or town near Guadalajara. Go or not? Yes, one hundred percent. I think Tlaquepaque is one of the highlights of Guadalajara. So if you're in Guadalajara, don't miss Tlaquepaque 😊

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Zapopan Market – Guadalajara

Very colourful, with a selection that I have never seen before or since in Mexico, and really incredibly big. The market of Zapopan is... famous for several things. Mainly because you can get things here that you wouldn't even think of. I mean, I've seen plastic Christmas trees and Groot figures or something like clay jugs for water. In Mexico basically every Mexican market has pretty much everything you need for everyday life in stock and available to buy. In Zapopan, on the other hand, there is less fresh food, for example – at least from what I saw – and more junk, stuff for the house and... things you really don't expect to find at a Mexican market – I mean, plastic Christmas trees, hellooo! :D Apart from that, the market is really HUGE! I remember we were strolling through the market and I thought to myself, ‘How much more is there?!’ And I love markets... Of course, we eventually reached the end, but the place is really... you need time to cover the more or less whole thing :D One more little note about the quality: I found that the market had a lot of junk as well as a lot of really good stuff. It's a bit of a place to search, rummage and dig around. So it's a bit different from other Mexican markets. Go or not? Personally, I found the market really cool and very fascinating because it was different from other markets, with more stuff and also just really huge. At the same time, I think there are cooler markets and more Mexican ones in Mexico. So only go if you have time 😊

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Zapopan – Guadalajara

Zapopan is a neighbourhood of Guadalajara that is also kind of a Pueblo Mágico (magical town) right next to Guadalajara. It is part of the city, but at the same time not really. A bit like Xochimilco or Coyoacán in Mexico City. Both are quite far from the centre and famous for their own unique attractions. In the case of Zapopan, these are the cathedral, the sign and the market, which is truly immense and where there is an incredible amount to discover and buy. Apart from that, as in many Pueblos Mágicos, there is a street decorated with umbrellas hanging above it. I went to Zapopan with a friend from Switzerland whom I had met in Puebla, and I honestly felt like I had travelled to a village near Guadalajara – knowing that we were still in Guadalajara. Nevertheless, the silence and tranquillity of the place is just so... you no longer feel like you're in Guadalajara. And that makes Zapopan part of Guadalajara and yet not part of it. Go or not? If you have time, yes, otherwise I think there are nicer neighbourhoods and Pueblos Mágicos elsewhere. Not because Zapopan isn't really cute, but... there's so much to see in Mexico that sometimes you have to make compromises. 

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Bosque los Colomos

Very quiet, very green and very peaceful. At least the part where I was - the Japanese garden. A really beautiful, quiet and very peaceful place, where there were squirrels, you could watch fish in the water, a quinceañera was having her photo shoot - in Mexico you have the big party at 15 and not at 16 - and a lot of silence and splashing water. I can't describe it any other way than just really peaceful. Go or not? I liked it there and it's really green and beautiful and peaceful, but it's not easy to get to and it's beautiful, but not wow. So I would only do it if there's still time.

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Viewpoint & Park Independencia – Guadalajara

Very cute, beautiful and very quiet and peaceful. I would say that describes the ambience of the park/viewpoint de la Independencia near the CUAAD campus in Guadalajara. The viewpoint with the small park on top is located at the end of a street pretty much on the outskirts of Guadalajara. Like the viewpoint looks out over the surrounding countryside. As I have an absolute weakness for viewpoints and legitimately haven't found a better one or one with a view of Guadalajara itself, I went there and was... well, not underwhelmed, but the viewpoint is like Guadalajara itself. Beautiful, but just not amazing. However, you can chill out on the steps and just enjoy the view, have a snack and just be. And the park itself is also really cute and absolutely peaceful. Go or not? If you like viewpoints and are in Guadalajara anyway, yes. Otherwise, no. Because it's quite nice there, but not a must.

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Centre & Streets of Guadalajara

Guadalajara is one of the largest cities in Mexico. Accordingly, the centre is of course relatively large and also quite ‘normal’ and untouristic. Of course, there are fountains and really beautiful pedestrian walkways etc., but you rather feel the Mexican vibe of a big city here. Which is kind of cool and actually typical of big cities though. Nevertheless..... To be honest - and I apologise in advance to everyone from Guadalajara as well as everyone who loves this city - I wasn't impressed by it. Not at all. Like don't get me wrong, the centre of Guadalajara and the streets are really beautiful and not to be despised at all and there were also corners that kind of had the wow factor, but I just didn’t catch the spark. Like I just didn’t feel it. Perhaps it was because everything was beautiful, but nothing really knocks you off the floor. Or at least that's how it was for me. Except for the Plaza de la Liberación. That was impressive. And so... Guadalajara's streets and the centre are beautiful and there's a lot to see, but Guadalajara has neither the charm of the small towns nor the proud beauty that simply knocks you out, like Mexico City, for example. Guadalajara is more of a city where you have to live and get to know its corners in order to like it - or so I think/guess. But maybe it's just me and I'm just really weird :D Go or not? Honestly? It's not a must for me personally from a tourist perspective. Still, it's one of the biggest cities and it is very close to Tequila (where tequila literally comes from), as well as Tlaquepaque (super cute) and other cool things. Apart from that, Guadalajara is said to have a cool party life. So I would just say up to you. And if you're there, you should of course also take in the centre and the streets 😉 (the centre being more important though)

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Plaza de la Liberación

Very lively, really beautiful and very central. In fact, the Plaza de la Liberación - Liberation Square - is one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful square in Guadalajara. There is a sign that I didn't manage to take a single photo of without people on it because someone was always posing in front of it. Admittedly, the sign is really cool and a bit different to the ones you usually see in Mexico :D Apart from that, there's a small fountain, a really nice building on one side of the square, seating and chill-out areas on the sides and a really fantastic view of the back of the cathedral. Together with the sign, it is a real eye-catcher. And extremely Instagrammable :D Go or not? I think it's unnecessary to say, but yes safe. The square is really cool and really beautiful and an absolute must if you're in Guadalajara 😊

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