Guadalajara
“The Pearl of the West” is the affectionate name Tapatios (local residents) have dubbed Mexico's second largest city (only Mexico City is larger), which is 450 years old and has five million inhabitants.
Located in the west-central part of the country in the State of Jalisco (it's the state capital), this serenely beautiful and stately colonial city sits on a high plateau more than 5,000 feet above sea level.
Blessed with an ideal climate and a location convenient to much of what Mexico has to offer, the city and its surroundings has attracted many American and Canadian expatriates.
It's a city of parks and fountains, of monuments and rose-lined boulevards, a city alive with color, especially in the flowers that bloom nearly year-round. Purple jacaranda trees bloom in the spring; the ethereal trees line many streets and are an impressive sight; and the flaming Flor de Noche Buena (poinsettias) bloom in December, giving the city a Christmas flavor!
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Guadalajara was founded in 1542 by the Spanish conquistador Nuno de Guzman, and, although modern, it still retains much of its colonial charm with its many 17 th century buildings in the old downtown area; NAFTA's influence has brought many international companies here, due both to the quality of life the city offers as well as its strategic location. |
