AMANDA NEILSEN (journalism student) writes:
After toast and coffee for desayuno we began our exploration of Guadalajara on Monday, walking down Calle Libertad in comfy walking shoes, sunshine overhead. We turned right onto Avenida Chapultepec and right again onto Avenida Vallarta, the “Michigan Avenue of Guadalajara,” our profesora Teresa called it.
My excited eyes darted back and forth at all of the new sights: the colorful buildings, the palm trees, and the ornate, beautiful cathedrals. My preconception was correct—Mexico is more colorful than Chicago. The Windy City, while colorful in its own respect, stands in stark contrast to the bold, vibrant, green, red, orange, and blue hues of Guadalajara.
Although I was observing these new sights from the beginning of our walk as we left our hostel, Casa Libertad, my attention was captivated by the interesting sidewalks. Soon I found myself watching closely for new patterns and colors and taking pictures of these varying sidewalks.
I found octagonal sidewalk tiles that looked as if they had been traced from a stop sign, red-and-beige checkered patterns, and small blue ceramic squares laid in the corners of larger red-glazed squares.
These eclectic sidewalks inspire me. How can there be such a variety of shapes, textures, colors, and materials along just a few city blocks? The standard beige concrete slabs of the sidewalks at home now seem so exclusive to me.
My Tuesday travels through Guadalajara revealed even more of these “inspirational paths.” My former hesitation about exploring calles nuevos has waned and I am now eager to investigate more during my next few weeks in Mexico.
While absorbing the unfamiliar atmosphere and fascinating scenery of a new country all around me, I am going to remember to continue looking down. Beauty is constantly found in unexpected places, and perhaps there is beauty on the path I am treading as well.
