Alright, you guys haven’t heard from us in a while because we’ve been traveling to three different cities in the past four days! Haha! On Monday we were in Guadalajara, and Tuesday + Wednesday in Uruapan (and now, we arrived a few hours ago in Mexico City). Here are our experiences for the past few days…
Guadalajara
We unfortunately decided to stay here for a day only. Unfortunately, because we fell in love with that city! We found it was very cultural, and kind of reminded us of Montreal. Tons of record and music shops, libraries and of course, great food. As soon as we arrived, we went to visit some metal shops. We found two, each called “Capital Rock”. They were ok – nothing truly special, except for some killer bootleg shirts (like a long-sleeve Acheron – Rites of the Black Mass shirt!!!). The CDs and DVD’s were quite expensive and were mostly of more known black/death and thrash metal bands.
One of the Capital Rock entrances - Garibaldi 333
Some CD's - Candlemass' Epicus was 2700 pesos!
We also found by accident some incredibly dusty second hand record shop, which had some used LPs of 80’s Mexican metal bands (Luzbel, Ramses and more) as well as some classics (Possessed, Satan, Baron Rojo, Tygers of Pan Tang, Judas Priest, several copies of all early Maiden’s, etc…) The place’s name is Roxy and Roll (huhh huhh). Unfortunately, the owner asked outrageous prices for each record (around 20$ USD each and more), so I actually didn’t buy any. I know I’m going to find more in Mexico City!
Roxy and Roll - Juan Manuel No. 747-A
Tons of gems are hidden behind those Metallica and Guns 'n' Roses records...
I’m sure there are tons more record shops in Guadalajara, but we could only explore for one day. We also saw some interesting things along the way… Like a gum sticking panel!
And ate some wonderful tacos from a friendlyMexican guy, to which we spoke 100% Spanish. We were quite proud of ourselves!!
Tacos of lard, chorizos and beef. SO GOOD.
And while coming back home, we glanced upon one of the many churches… this one looked quite creepy with a full moon:
The Return...
Uruapan
4 hours bus ride from Guadalajara is the city of Uruapan. Having an altitude of 1600 meters, it has a climate perfect for growing avocados. We were staying in a 450-year-old guest house owned by two Canadians, and had a really great time! The first day, we pretty much only had time to visit the National Park, which is a sub-tropical park with tons of man-made water streams and cascades. But first, we had lunch. Here is the hamburger François had… An odd mix between a burger and a hot dog! Haha!!
Behold! The incredible hot hamburdog
And here are photos of our walk in the park:
Parque Nacional Eduardo Ruiz
Parque Nacional Eduardo Ruiz
Parque Nacional Eduardo Ruiz
ARRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!
After the visit in the park, we were hungry again haha, so we went to a restaurant of “comida economica” (cheap food) and had an amazing dinner for 10$ including gigantic dishes and drinks:
Fried chicken / Pollo dorado with rice, refried beans, salad and fried veggies. MM!
The great cook, making my plate
Chilaquilas / Tortillas, spicy salsa and eggs mixed together, and coated with parmasan-style cheese and hot peppers. Served with frijoles refritos, of course!
About 35 km from Uruapan lays a tiny village called Paricutín… which got completely destroyed 67 years ago by a volcano that grew out of nowhere in a farmer’s field. It completely covered the village with lava, leaving only ruins of their church.
Desolate land
Ruins stuck in lava rocks
The volcano is unique in the fact that its formation was witnessed from its very inception.
We attempted to visit its crater, but unfortunately our guide got us lost, which ended up taking too much time.
San Salvador under the ruins
After our expedition (which lasted from 10AM to about 5PM… my legs are still killing me!), we went to eat some Quesadillas, made by a local grandmother and her family. It was the first time that I saw someone making tortillas completely by hand, so I approached her and asked her if I could make some with her… but she didn’t speak Spanish! (She spoke the local indigenous language) So I had to ask her son haha… anyway, she made me do two tortillas, which I totally butchered. They were thick and oval… but tasted really good!!
The abuela
Failing to make tortillas by hand
Quesadillas de carne con aguacate
Upon returning to Uruapan, our guide drove us to the world’s (apparently) thinnest house, measuring 1,5 meters wide!
World's thinnest house in Uruapan
Then we slipped in our bed to make 450-year old dreams…
More news from Mexico City this week!
Into the Void 
January 21st, 2011 at 8:33 am
Haha, super cool! Ça me rappelle notre voyage au Mexique, on a fait des tortillas à la main (ou du moins, essayé) dans un petit village très pittoresque:
C’est vraiment pas évident à faire! Ça a l’air facile quand les dames le font mais elles ont l’expérience. 🙂
January 24th, 2011 at 5:15 am
Wow, as if qu’on a fait la même chose!! Haha. Oui c’est pas évident… et la madame n’a pas voulu utiliser mes tortillas pour des quesadillas 😦
January 21st, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Hey, Pomal Doom Metal l’église
pognée dans la roche volcanique!
=O Annick, t’as pensé a prendre du Maskara
dans tes affaires mes pas mes bloody dices! 😦
spa grave jvais te le rappeler quand meme THE BLOOD IS THE LIFE
Doom What Thou Wilt
-Sam
January 21st, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Wow! Cool trip guys! Encore plus de photos SVP!!!! ;-))
– R
January 24th, 2011 at 5:15 am
Ça s’en vient! 🙂
January 21st, 2011 at 6:16 pm
Guadalajara a l’air belle en effet!
J’aime vraiment les photos de la abuela, c’est vraiment spécial qu’elle t’ait laissé faire des tortillas avec elle! D’habitude ces vieilles dames refusent l’aide de tout le monde quand elles font la cuisine.. ma grand-mère se fâchait à chaque fois que quelqu’un voulait l’aider avec la farine :S hehe
Bonne chance avec les chilangos du DF!
January 24th, 2011 at 3:56 am
Les photos sont belles, surtout celles des plats, j’ai faim maintenant, lol. Je suis curieuse, est-ce qu’il n’y a qu’un lit dans le meuble la plus étroite? Comment on pourrait dormir dedans?
January 24th, 2011 at 5:12 am
Moi aussi je me demandais la même question! Peut-être qu’ils ont un lit superposé (bunkbed) ou bien qu’ils ont appris à dormir debout comme des chevaux? Haha… c’est dommage, j’aurais voulu la visiter à l’intérieur!!
January 26th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
awesome photos!
August 10th, 2012 at 1:19 am
Hi, I know this post it´s from more than year ago but anyway, Im from Guadalajara, I´m glad you like the city, I Know that dusty record store “Roxy & Roll, and it´s true, the owner aks for excessively high prices, and besides that the owner, a.k.a. “el guero” or “the blond guy” is nuts, it´s like If you don´t buy, don´t fuck.
Thaks!!
Awesome Blog