New linear park
Cybernauts can take advantage of free wifi access in the new lineal park that opened this week in the central divider on Avenida Lazaro Cardenas, between Niño Obrero and San Ignacio.
Telmex is providing the service in the so-named Paseo San Ignacio, which runs above the new tunnel on the busy thoroughfare. The park measures more than one kilometer in length and includes some 50 benches, walkways, trees, two basketball courts, a children’s play area and a space for cultural activities.
A feature of the park is a statue of Saint Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits.
More than 850 trees were uprooted to make way for the new tunnel but authorities say that around 10,000 saplings have been delivered for planting in the new park. As well as 136 pine trees, there are 124 colorful tabachines (Flamboyant) trees.
The tunnel/park project cost 210 million pesos and took ten months to complete.
Fiestas de Octubre
The colorful opening parade for city’s annual Fiestas de Octubre takes place in downtown Guadalajara on Sunday, October 9, starting at 10 a.m. It runs up 16 de Septiembre, past the Plaza de Armas and along Alcalde until La Normal traffic circle. Find a spot on the route early for a good view.
The Fiestas fairground at the Benito Juarez Auditorium (two blocks north of the Periferico, between Federalismo and Alcalde) is open daily from Saturday, October 8 through November 6. Expect games, food, entertainment – all the fun of a Mexican fair!
Metropolitano Park
As part of a cultural week in Guadalajara’s Parque Metropolitano running from October 22-30, a team of 500 Mexican graffiti artists will unite in an attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records.
Timed to coincide with the Pan American Games, the artists aim to paint the world’s largest mural in the park on Saturday, October 22. Each artist will have an area of four square meters to spray paint images with the themes of peace and sport.
The mural is planned to be two kilometers long and 1.5 meters high, making it larger than the current record holder in Malaysia, which measures 1,678 square meters.
“We want it to have a meaning, a message. We join the call for peace around the world and we believe the framework we have today with the Pan American Games is ideally suited to this,” said Antonio Sandoval, from Fusion Colectivo Jalisco, who will participate in painting the mural.
The Parque Metropolitano has invested 500,000 pesos in organizing the cultural week, which will also include dance performances, art, film, crafts, puppets, rock and other events.
Many of the activities will be related to Veracruz, the guest of honor, with a rare opportunity to watch the traditional Papantla Flyers in Guadalajara on the opening day.
This pre-Hispanic ritual which originated in Papantla, Veracruz, involves dancers attached to ropes launching themselves from a 30-meter pole and descending gracefully to the ground.
There will also be a Pan American film series, with movies from as far afield as Argentina, Brazil and Chile projected on the big screen used in last year’s Park Theatre program.
To keep the kids entertained there will be drama, puppetry, storytelling and clay workshops.
Meanwhile, 80 artisans from Jalisco, Puebla, Michoacan and Veracruz will be selling their products to visitors throughout the week.
Mexpat
Mexpat’s next gathering takes place at the Temple Bar (Irish pub) on Tuesday, October 11, from 7 to 11 p.m.
Mexpat brings together a wide range of expatriates from diverse countries each month to meet new and old friends and network. It’s an informal group open to anyone who wishes to meet foreigners working, living or studying in Mexico over a drink.
Temple Bar is located at Avenida Lopez Cotilla 1860, in Colonia Americana. Telephone 3630-6336.
Soccer
Upcoming professional soccer games in Guadalajara:
Atlas vs. Tijuana (Estadio Jalisco) Saturday, October 8, 8.45 p.m.
Guadalajara Chivas vs. Estudiantes Tecos (Estadio Jalisco) Saturday, October 15, 7 p.m.