When representatives of the Anglican faith from Western Mexico gathered in February in Hermosillo, they heard reports from congregations that range from cathedrals with many members to congregations that serve English speakers in Mexico to the tiny church of La Santa Cruz in Téroque Viejo, Sinaloa, where, as one delegate put it, young clergyman Luis Antonio Olivetto was sent to “this small and poor town, with nothing except his faith … to the point that he had to sleep on the church’s pews.” 

Even as we become aware of the shopping mecca that is Zapotlanejo, we are confronted with the colonial history of this lovely town on the outskirts of Guadalajara.  Immediately after passing the inevitable Pemex station and the shopping malls that line Highway 80, we can easily spot the graceful colonial era arches that outline the entrance into the city proper.

As a young man, he believed his bad luck with women and money was “congenital and irremediable.”

Whether you’re an intrepid on-the-road adventurer or a relaxed armchair traveler, Tony Burton’s “Western Mexico: A Traveler’s Treasury” is an ideal companion to satisfy every curiosity about the unique attributes of the country’s occidental heartland.

Guadalajara’s municipal tourism department is offering a range of free, three-hour daily city tours spanning a variety of areas and interests during Holy and Easter weeks. The walking/bus tours run from approximately 9 a.m. to noon and from 3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, April 14-25.

A group of Jocotepec youngsters became so concerned about students dropping out of school—many of them before even reaching high school—they decided to do something about it.