Mexican Memoirs - Downtown stroll

 Hola amigos, buenos dias.

I took another walk on the streets of downtown Guadalajara on Saturday night. It was like Christmas Eve in Jamaica.

Hundreds of people were on the streets shopping and restaurants were doing roaring business. It was close to 9 o'clock and most business places were drawing down their shutters, but not so the restaurants. One thing I have noticed here is that there is an eating place every 100 or so metres. Mexicans, it seems, can never get enough tacos.

Well, just after dropping the now burdensome laptop in my room and stepping out of the Hotel Fenix, I saw what appeared, at first, to be a crowd outside a restaurant.

Weekend hotspot

I went a little closer, and then it became clearer. As many as 30 people, young and old, were in an haphazard line waiting to get into the La Chata, an ordinary-looking restaurant in the heart of the city. I peered inside the relatively small place and saw that it was filled with people, about the same number inside as were outside, having dinner. As soon as, usually a couple, left a table it was made ready quickly so that a new set of customers could be ushered in.

On enquiring further, I was told that La Chata served the best Mexican food downtown and it was in high demand, especially on weekend nights.

I have not said anything about my hotel as yet. So, here goes. First up, I do not have anything bad to say about it, neither do I have anything too good to say.

Helpful staff

Let's just say it is serving my purpose. It's nothing fancy - just a nine-storey building. I have a place to have a bath in the mornings and before bedtime. There is hot and cold water and the elevator is working. There is a TV in the room but no air conditioner. No need for it: the weather here is mostly mild. Lastly, the staff is courteous, so much so that I have given the only Jamaican pin (Guadalajara 2011) I had to one of the receptionists, who I have found to be extremely helpful.

I had to rub this in before I leave: I spent yesterday morning watching, with some amount of glee, the 6-1 drubbing of Manchester United by their so-called noisy neighbours, Manchester City. I am not anti-United. In fact, I deeply respect them for their achievements, but glory must be shared. Not good to have one team dominating.

Hasta mañana.