04/20/2025

DAY ONE

I stepped onto the tarmac from the loosely air conditioned plane and was immediately transferred into a veil of humidity. I didn’t mind it however, as the air was as thick as my excitement. Jalisco. This would be my first passport stamp. And with each pad of my foot on the pavement toward the airport, my eyes sharpened and my ears perked up. I kept lock-step with my cousin and the other travelers in the line to go through customs. Thankfully I traveled with a single backpack. After a crawling progression of bag checks and passport examinations, we were finally re-released into the warm heavy air on the other side of the airport. I breathed it in. Slowly. My skin took on a light sheen as we waited for the next wave of taxis to return from their drop-offs. My cousin, more adept in the Spanish language than I, hailed a driver. We packed ourselves and our bags into the car, enroute to my Aunt’s house- a vibrantly colored flat roofed house on a semi-densely populated brick-paved street in Chapala.

As my cousin carried on a slightly energetic conversation with the driver, I found myself more intrigued with what was happening outside of the car, than in it. I ogled the views of mountain peaks in the distance, the occasional expanse of desert landscapes, and the strangely comforting fusion of urban and rural sights. I observed locals at bus stops while others led cows alongside the road as we neared the street on which my aunt resided.

Colorful truck lined cobblestone road and house dotted mountain views

Within 2 hours of arriving we found ourselves shuttled away to an indoor/outdoor eating establishment that boasted live music and amazing food. There to entertain the crowd was a pop-cover band. And they did not disappoint. The locals there were friendly and welcoming, the smoked chipotle glazed wings I decided on were immensely flavorful and tender. The complement of sweet with underlying heat called for unapologetic finger licks.

As the night continued and we returned by foot to our quarters for the next two days, I became aware that the energy seemed to be rising, rather than subsiding. It was Friday night in Chapala, and the music swelled with each passing car. The route was peppered with groups of friends sitting by pickup trucks with music, drinks, and laughter. The square, lit with string lights, incited a mood to linger. As we settled in for the night, the bouts of music and laughter continued to seep through the windows. And it made for an amazing introduction to the region of Guadalajara.

Two tickets to paradise…