“To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the most pleasant sensations in the world.” – Freya Stark
by S.L. Jordan
It was on one of those, "Women should do this before..." bucket lists that made me add a solo trip to my own personal list. As someone who is perpetually single, I do majority of my life alone. So, a priority on planning a solo trip didn't fall high on my list. Plus - to know me is to know I DO NOT PLAN my trips. I just buy the tickets, pay for lodging and go with the flow of the group or off vibes alone. And it seemed like whenever I DID semi try and plan one, something else came up and I would have to decide between friend fun or a solo trip. I rarely turn down an opportunity to make memories with my chosen framily.
This time the universe intervened, and I got my solo trip - not to Belgium like the flight tracker I have had set for the last two years thought it would be, but to Mexico. The real Mexico - Guadalajara. The onus of this trip started as a trip of three for a friend's birthday in June. Both friends have remote jobs and had recently relocated to Mexico, one in Playa Del Carmen and the other in Monterrey. After seeing advertisements for the Jose Cuervo Tequila Train experience, I picked Guadalajara as the destination.
One by one, life intervened and my two other friends were no longer able to go. I could have canceled the trip, but I didn't want to have to worry about using credits and vouchers by a certain time period. Especially later in the year when it feels as if the months are moving a warp speed. Plus, kismet is so amazing the way it divinely works in our favor, I have dubbed this year my Palette Cleanser Year - Year of the Ginger so to speak- and while in this reflective period this trip was exactly what I needed. I virtually went noticed and un-noticed in the best way.
This was not my first trip to Mexico. I have previously been to Mazatlan, Tulum, Cancun, and Play Del Carmen, but as I said before other than Mazatlan I don't FEEL like I've been to Mexico. This trip proved it. I found this cute spot in Guadalajara; they were bedroom villas - Casa Murmullos. A fancy way to say elevated hostel to me - but I loved it. It is located in the Jesus neighborhood, one of the oldest and most traditional neighborhoods in Guadalajara. It was perfectly cozy. I wanted something small where I could keep track of who was coming and going. I believe there were 8 bedrooms, maybe 10, in this place. I selected a room with a private bathroom, but I did check out the public ones, and they were nice, spacious, and private. The dining area, living room, and kitchen were common areas. But since this was a trip for semi-isolation, I rarely used those areas outside of the kitchen.
The host spoke English and was extremely helpful. The following morning, he walked me to an Art Studio/Speak Easy for breakfast. I didn't come out of my room until almost noon that day and when I asked about breakfast, he was shocked! He basically told me I had wasted the day already - SIR, I am on VACATION. That fact was a shock to him as well. Upon my arrival he asked was I there for work and when I said no, he looked at me with a newfound interest. I quickly found out that there were NOT a lot of Black people in Guadalajara, or people of color that were not darker hued Mexicans for that matter. It is very much a popular destination for other Mexicans.
Because I had the Jose Cuervo tour scheduled for the next day, I spent the majority of my first day wandering around the city and plazas. One of my favorite things about visiting cities/countries that were once colonized by Spain, are the Plazas. Upon colonization, Spain declared that there must be a Plaza on like every other block. I love how alive the Plazas are at any time of the day. I spent a lot of time romanticizing the day just people watching.
This was in the Plaza de Guadalajara. I went to visit the Catedral De Guadalajara. I was raised Baptist but went to Catholic school from K-4th [partial 4th] grade, and I love the decadence and architecture of Cathedrals.
I would like to give an extra shout out to my TRIPOD!! That baby held me down and delivered amazing shots.
Exhibit A:
Since I had to be at the meeting spot for the Tequila Tour at 8am, I went home early and watched the sequel to Rebel Moon on Netflix.
Now, let me just say that the name of this experience gives the impression that you will be on a train all day. That is not the case. We meet at an office/bus depot for the tour. The buses were nice, chartered buses - upon check-in I was told that my tour guide did speak English and that when we got the Factory that my tour would also be in English. I have taken years of Spanish, but I am nervous and shy about my comfortability speaking the language. Depending on how fast a speaker is talking, I can usually understand what is being said and I most certainly read it better than I can speak it.
Our first stop was to an Agave Farm. We stepped off the buses and were given a nice cold tequila cocktail. As a tour was being given in Spanish, some of us took the opportunity to wander the agave farm and take pictures.
I had the opportunity to meet real life Jimadors and learn about their history in Mexico and the place Tequila held with the elite. I am a huge history buff so that was the best part of the tour for me. I had no idea the amount of work it took to harvest agave. Honestly, I look at Tequila with more reverence now. ONLY 100% Agave from now on.
mmkay.
After that we made our way to Tequila Town where the Jose Cuervo Factory is located. It's cute, it almost feels like an amusement park for adults.
The tour consisted of a guide who taught us how to tell the difference between quality Tequila and trash, [I might share that secret with you], before we were given a tour of the Jose Cuervo Factory. We walked through the distillery and learned the MANY ways tequila is distilled to achieve Blanco, Anejo, Reposado, Extra Anejo, and Cristalino Tequila. It's extensive guys.
After which we were free to wander around before the Mariachi Band performed for us. In the clip below, our tour guide was telling me about a lady selling food in an area of the town. If you listen closely, you can hear her, say "she has magic in her hands". So, of course I had to go try it because, "WHAT WOULD ANTHONY BOURDAIN DO?"
If that's not your motto when traveling then, I think you're doing it wrong.
She was NOT wrong. FYI.
I had to stop and get a REAL drink after the tour because those pre-made cocktails were more juice than anything - TO ME.
DISCLAIMER: one of my really good sister-friends tells everyone, "Women from Detroit can drink any man under the table." So, keep that in mind if you are planning to take a ride on the Jose Cuervo Tour.
Sitting in the auditorium with majority Mexicans, it felt like being at a family reunion. Everyone knew the songs, and their voices filled the arena. I lowkey got a lil' emotional, because I only usually have this experience when I with MY community and that jam hits! The dancers reminded me of the Flamenco dancers I saw in Madrid - not in dancing type, but just in talent and awe.
After the performance, we headed back to the train station to get on the ACTUAL Jose Cuervo Train.
It was definitely a nice experience; the train was beautiful, and they gave another Tequila Tasting lesson. Quite literally poured more tequila down our throats and fed us before dropping up back off at the Bus Depot.
I arrived back to my room, relatively sober for an all-day Tequila event. The next morning, I had the chance to practice yoga with Tribu Distrito Yoga . In honor of Pride Month, which was celebrated around town with flags, they hosted a free class on Sunday morning at the Museo Cabanas. This is the fourth Spanish speaking city I have practiced in, and the experience is always interesting each time. Unlike Quito, Ecaudor and Madrid, Spain the teacher did not come around and translate what they thought I needed in English. Very much like San Salvador, El Salvador the teacher just taught the class in their native language like they normally would. Which I appreciated - nothing worse than traveling to a country where you are not fluent in the language but expect for them to cater to you in your native language.
The class was amazing, and at the end he had us do this exercise that highlighted TO ME how much I stray from intimacy. We turned to face another yogi and just looked into their eyes as we breathed together - chile, it DID NOT help that I was staring into the face of a FINE ASS MAN. Like, c'mon NOW!!
So, bear with my if I start staring at you intently while you are talking - I am working on getting BACK to doing that and not shying away from that level of intimacy with ANYONE.
Before I just drop the last few scenic videos and pictures - I HAVE to let you know that the breakfast I had on my last day was absolutely the BEST breakfast I've had out the country besides the Fried Jacks I had in San Ignacio, Belize. I was HIGH KEY mad I waited until the last day to try it - it was literally packed every day, and I should've known then the food slapped!!
Now, enjoy some of the B-Rolls I took of the city.
In summary, LOL, I thoroughly enjoyed Guadalajara, and this will be the first of many solo adventures.
In case you wanted to read about the other cities I have done yoga in, here ya go:
I started this blog after my trip to San Salvador, El Salvador so I owe y'all a throwback post on that trip, and from the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, California.
I am one set closer to my dreams of being a Travel Yogi, until then ....
Meet Me on the Ma'at
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