Rain in Guadalajara, Mexico

Currently I am doing grad work in Spanish in Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city. Though bigger than Tuxtla (where I lived for a year, in Chiapas), this city of over 4 million feels like a giant suburb. The "Metro" has two lines and I doubt I'll be using it while I'm here as I live nowhere near it, but buses ("camiones"), taxis, and my own two feet serve as reliable transportation.
Since I've been studying Arabic, it is interesting to me that the name of the city comes from the Arabic wādi al-ḥijara وادي الحجارة, which means «Valle de la Piedra» or "Valley of Stone" (Thank you, Wikipedia).

I am here during rainy season, and have already lost a sandal to the flooded street-river that surges up when a downpour occurs. But I think I have learned a few things from the rain in Guadalajara:
- ALWAYS be prepared. Carry "chanclas" (flip-flops) or rainboots (I'd recommend the rain boots, as my right "chancla" got carried away last week) and an umbrella as it may rain at ANY time. In Tuxtla, the rainy season's storms were more predictable - usually between 2 and 5-6pm, lasting an hour or so and then clearing up. In Guadalajara, rain is possible at any point in the day or night (though night seems more common).
- When the sun shines, get out there. It may be hours or minutes until the next rain episode, but it WILL rain again and one must enjoy the sun while it lasts!
- If you can't beat it... laugh at it. No matter the havoc it is wreaking on your leather or suede sandals, there's not much you can do about the capillary action of the water working its way up your already-rolled up pantalones, oncoming traffic spraying mud puddles onto pedestrians - you -, or the 45-degree angle droplets slapping you in the face. You really just have to laugh.

Nostalgia

Getting psyched already to visit Europe in June, and I just booked the ticket yesterday! I'll be visiting Madrid (a first), Brussels (a first), Paris and Nice/Cote d'Azur. Having lived in Paris for a year, I have a ton of memories I can't wait to relive. Top 5 (no particular order):

1) le refuge des fondus - restaurant in Montmartre. Fondue, wine in a baby bottle... total tourist experience, so cheesy (pun intended), but I can't wait to do it again!

2) Vélib - Cheap bike rental system provided by the city. Coasting around the city, trying not to get killed by a taxi or bus. The best way to see Paris. Once biked by the Arc, down by the Seine, over to the Tour Eiffel, maybe through the Latin Quarter too... not the most direct path but very scenic!

3) PariRoller - 22h Friday night. Three-hour rollerblade trek around the city, about 25km. Insanity. First and last time I gave it a try, I ended with a head injury and a visit with the pompiers de Paris. Leaving the blades home this time.

4) Picnics on the bridges over the Seine - this may never be the same without the whole crew, but it is a very fond memory of mine!

5) Art! Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, not to mention all of the smaller ones... the monuments themselves are art!

Additionally, I can't wait to see any of my former Paris III classmates, and my babysitting trio! Sure, it was a lot of work bathing four people a day (including myself), getting everyone home from school, one leg of which on the metro with a toddler, and getting food in everyone's belly, but I can't wait to see the tots again, two years later!

On the right: something I hope has become a problem of the past - les crottes (dog droppings)!

I'm more than ready for this trip.

It's back!

Travel is my drug of choice. Planning the next trip is my addiction. I live in the moment, but live for my next trip...

So, the blog is back.

On a side note, to continue the analogy, I get a secondhand high from helping others plan their travel, so if you're lazy or unsure, I'd be happy to help you search for the best airfare, transportation, lodging, and itinerary for your needs and desires!

Welcome back!