A Visit to Tonala

Yesterday we took the bus to Tonala, a small market town on the outskirts of Guadalajara. Tonala has a huge flea market every Thursday and Sunday which covers about 12 large blocks, completely filled with vendors and street food. It was mobbed especially around the food stalls. They all smelled delicious and I was dying to try some but we were advised not to because the source of the food and water is unknown. After my bout with diarrhea in Peru I decided to take the advice!

It was so hard to resist all the gorgeous pottery, glassware, furniture and paintings. We didn't buy much because most of it was large and so breakable and we have no way to get it home. It was just an experience being there! The people are so friendly and not at all pushy! None of them were yelling at us or shoving things in our faces.

When we arrived back in Ajijic we stopped in the little grocery store and were amused to see a real Mexican cowboy, dressed just like in the movies, large sombrero, mustache and all, ride up to the door on his horse. He didn't get off but hollered to one of the little girl clerks. Of course we had no idea what he said, but next thing she scurried out the door with two different bottles of tequila for him to make a choice! It was hilarious. He took one, handed her the pesos and rode off into the sunset.

Speaking of tequila, we are quite close to the town of Tequila, where it is distilled. There is a tequila tourist train that is an all day trip, with a tour of the distillery and fields of agarve (which is the plant that it comes from) plus all the tequila you can drink. We are not going to take it because I'm afraid it would kill me!! The agarve fields are all over the place around here.

Last night there was a huge fiesta taking place somewhere around here. The people of this area have fiestas for every little thing. Most of them are private family parties. We could hear the fireworks and music blaring on loudspeakers until around midnight.