On Monday afternoon December 1st meeting attendees piled into cabs and headed to Tlaquepaque, a charming town south of Guadalajara’s city center. Moments after our arrival, members of our group were approached by a man who was carrying a large iguana who, in the spirit of the season, was sporting a tiny red and white Santa’s cap. Carpe Diem! In no time, chapter Webmaster Sam Duncan was modeling a fashion accessory beyond compare. The iguana perched himself atop Sam’s outstretched arm just long enough to provide for a spectacular photo opportunity—any longer would have spelled disaster for Sam’s left sleeve.

Tlaquepaque’s central square, also known as El Jardin or “The Garden,” was full of sights and sounds. The foliage was beautiful and the omnipresent ficus were pruned into block-like volumes as if Donald Judd had wielded the gardening sheers. Both churches adjacent El Jardin, El Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad and San Pedro, were closed; however, one was still able to keep time by the bell towers’ chimes as the afternoon lazily ticked away.

One of the main shopping streets, lined with stores and restaurants in converted homes, provided a quiet path for a relaxing stroll. In a number of cases, a store full of pottery, glasswork, antiques and leather goods merged seamlessly with a restaurant, often located in the building’s central courtyard. Adobe Fonda was one such store-cum-restaurant where chapter members convened for an early dinner. The long table where we were seated was surrounded by illuminated mirrors around the perimeter and lit from above by an amalgamation of chandeliers and lanterns that bathed us in a warm orange light.

Following our very satisfying meal the group departed from the restaurant amid well wishes from the staff. As we emerged onto the street and headed towards the taxi stand we were treated to a celestial rarity. In the night sky a crescent moon hung above two planets, Venus and Jupiter, in what is known as a planetary conjunction. It was a fitting way to mark the end of our day in Tlaquepaque.

Submitted by Elizabeth Schaub