Autumn Ezine 2024

Lorena and Dali

Legend has it that when the artist, Salvador Dali, arrived in Mexico, he promptly left. Why? He reportedly said that he did not ‘want to be in a country that was more SURREAL than his Art”…

And that precisely describes the reason ARTE exists, why we are here and staying. Presenting to you what is interesting, ethereal, earthy, and surprising about a place we call Home.

I’ve lived and worked around the world, but Mexico has captured my heart, soul, and my imagination. My goal as the Editor Creator of the El Arte Del Bienestar ezine is to present to you compelling stories, photos and videos so you too can fall in love.

Salvador Dali

Jocotepec, Jalisco State

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MY STORYBOOK

By Lorena Be Any Star

Editor Creator

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Introduction

Guadalajara, Guadalajara

Mexico City, the country’s capital (CDMX) may be the corazón (heart) of Mexico. BUT Guadalajara is its heartbeat.

I spent a summer there when I was a college student participating in an initiative by the American Red Cross (ARC) called Friendship Latin America. Several young volunteers were selected to teach Red Cross skills in various parts of Mexico and Guatemala. I was sent to work with the large Red Cross chapter in Guadalajara to teach Mother and Baby Care. I was hosted by the family of the President of the Guadalajara Red Cross Youth chapter, a guy my own age. He introduced me to the various activities and services provided by the chapter. A few times we also went to the Chapala chapter.

Guadalajara is the second largest city in Mexico, so apart from my volunteer work, I spent time sightseeing. An eye-opening experience was going to the famous Mercado Libertad, commonly known as the San Juan de Dios market. Big doesn’t even begin to describe its size which has the distinction of being the largest ‘Mercado’ in all of Latin America. It still exists today in all of its glory. Of course, I was introduced to the Mariachi Plaza where competing and loud bands of mariachis ply their trade. And I saw the three main churches in the town center which are laid out as a cross.

Today, I am a holistic Travel Concierge specializing in the Pueblos Mágicos (Magic Towns) around Lake Chapala and Guadalajara is the gateway to them.

I was also invited to watch a Chivas match, from a box seat in their home stadium but unfortunately at that time, I didn’t know anything about futbol! Today me and my staff are big fans and supporters of the game. We will post more on the 2026 FIFA World Cup events in Mexico in a later edition.

In closing, I just wanted to mention two of many famous Tapatios, people from Guadalajara. The late Ms. Gloria Guiness, was a socialite and force majeure on the celebrity circuit back in the day. She was born Gloria Rubio y Alatorre on the 27th of August 1912. David Suro Piñera, was an early pioneer promoter of Mexican food and tequila in .the U.S. He is still active today.