The DARK SIDE of Guadalajara!

Although we LOVE Guadalajara, it does have an ugly side. If you want to move or travel here, better watch this!

After living in Guadalajara, Jalisco for over 4 months, we found a LOT to love about it. The activities, the people, the weather, and more. However, many people have told us they're planning to visit or move to Guadalajara after watching our videos about it. We felt obligated to share the "other side" of the story: the ugly side of Guadalajara, Mexico.

So what is it like living in Guadalajara as an expat? Well, we answer that in many of our other videos about Guadalajara, Jalisco. But if you're wondering what might be some of the downsides of traveling to or living in GDL - this travel vlog is for you.

These are things that are less desirable or possibly deal-breakers about GDL, México for some people. Hope these help you learn a little more about one of our FAVORITE cities in Mexico, Guadalajara.

ABOUT US (MADDIE & JORDAN)
In January 2018, we sold everything we owned in the US (except our husky Laska & what fit in our tiny, tangerine Prius C3) to travel the world—starting with Mexico. Since then, we've been making travel videos about our life in Mexico and the new experiences we encounter while traveling the world. If you'd like to join our shenanigans, subscribe to our YouTube channel. You can also poke around our social media to find out what we’re up to each week.

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Things I mention in my videos!

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#TangerineTravels #Guadalajara #Jalisco

[nycbearff]

Guadalajara is my favorite city in Mexico. I've lived her for 8 months now, and I'm still happy here. Part of it is that I thrive in a faster paced city; I lived in New York City for 25 years, and San Francisco before that, so the slow pace of most cities (like Merida or Veracruz) puts me to sleep. Guadalajara feels right. It's a great walking city, too - although I do carry a small flashlight in my pocket at night to help me avoid holes in sidewalks. It's no more dangerous to walk in at night than the cities I've lived in in the USA - and feels safer than NYC in the 1980's or SF in the late 1970's.

This video was done in a newer part of town - which looks more like any U.S. city. I prefer the older neighborhoods, with houses built against each other, local mercados, and small stores selling just about anything you could want. Between Av Americas on the East and Calle Independencia on the west, between Calle Jesus Garcia on the north and Calle Juan Manuel on the south, excluding the Americas neighborhood - those are my favorite neighborhoods - and they're pretty different from the neighborhoods Tangerine Travels videos. Well, and Mexicaltzingo, which is one of the oldest and most interesting parts of the city to me, but which is a mix of old blocks, new incursions, and broad avenues driven through in more recent historical times to carry the city's traffic. They are sometimes described by gringos as sketchy looking - but neighborhoods where old ladies and moms with kids walk around at 8 or 9 in the evening can't be all that dangerous. And a lot of sketchy looking people here turn out to be ok if you end up talking with them for one reason or another. The general building helper at an Airbnb apartment I stayed at, for example, looked a bit scarey when I first saw him - I didn't know he worked there, and I thought unkind thoughts. But I said "buenas tardes" anyway, to see how he'd respond, and it turned out that he was friendly, helpful, spoke a little English and did odd jobs around the neighborhood. So take a moment before you judge here. Just be careful like you'd be in any city, and call an Uber if you get spooked.

One of the city's pluses, for me, are the trees - there are lots more trees in the older parts of town than in the older parts of the other cities I've visited. It's worth dealing with the roots - which are amazingly wonderful sometimes.

In more residential neighborhoods, especially the older central neighborhoods I like most, many people still say "buenos dias" or "buen dia" in the morning, "buenas tardes" in the afternoon and "buenas noches" in the evening when they pass you. It's a neighborly greeting - because while you're in the neighborhood, you're part of it's life. The "rules" for when you say it and when you don't are flexible and you pick up on them pretty quickly. I wasn't expecting this in Guadalajara, although it's common in more tranquil cities like Merida. But the neighborhoods I like here are still very much like the Mexico I knew decades ago.

[martaguzman]

People in Guadalajara do speak a little faster but the vocabulary is very proper there opposed to the common ranch/street/casual/slang words used. More education is correct.

[maxzorin]

The trees in Guadalajara are amazing and they deserve the respect they are given.

Please please please never say there are too many trees... Temperatures have been getting higher and higher every year in Guadalajara because government or private investors keep cutting down trees for building purposes. Also contamination and increase in floods are cause because of this. I believe repairing sidewalks is a low price to pay for the job they do.

[holbeinstudios]

I truly believed this video was going to be about the 'Dark Side' of La Calzada.

**Only locals know what I'm talking about.

[Billymedia]

I'm from Guadalajara. When I read the title of the video I was expecting something completely different. I'm happy to see that you enjoyed so much Guadalajara that even the ugly part doesn't sound as ugly.
I would say that something that is affecting most cities in Mexico, sadly, is crime and violence. Let's hope Mexico can recover from that soon because as you're experiencing, our country is beautiful, rich and welcoming.
Thank you for your videos.

[rogeroga]

Yes, GDL is more expensive because it has a higher cost of living: salaries, real estate are the highest of the region. Like any big city around the world like: Singapore, Buenos Aires, Sao Palo, etc. GDL has been through like the last 500 years, the capital if you like, of the west region of the country. That have attracted trade, commerce and few factories/industry to the city, and people. Since colonial times GDL has been relevant, at that time, its name was: Nueva Galicia

[SillyLion]

To be fair, these problems are not exclusive of Guadalajara, all major Mexican cities share these; Cities grew in size, disorganized, and the infrastructure didn't grow on par.

[namaste]

Guadalajara is beatiful city..have so much restaurants..whit delicius food, and very nice places, Chapala lake, Tlaquepaque, Tonala, Zapopan, etc. The people in all Jalisco is very nice and try well...all tourist of all the world...welcome..all..Mexico is beatiful, no is dangeours.

[ruliche]

3:28 “Y ya se van a quedar aquí a vivir? O...?

[juanreynoso]

I love Mexico, here in Guadalajara, everything it is not OK, but most are good; things that are not right maybe we can fix it. We are the solution, If not us, then who? If not now, then when?. We must take action, but never fail to try to make our world a better place to live. Mexico is a great place to live. If you don't like something takes action, write to the newspapers or TV stations and let them know how they can fix the issues that make Mexico ugly. Help to make Mexico the best place to live.

[CarpeDiem-shwf]

Fact: The Via Recreativa's objective is to encourage the general population toget on their bikes and ride more. Really backing up biking as an alternative for public transportation.

[ramoncblancas]

Hello my friends, if you want to learn Spanish you have to go to the University of Guadalajara, it is very likely that they have an area where they teach Spanish for foreigners, they will be surprised by the prices and the quality of the teaching that there is in a school public. regards

[kvcp]

So this is like... 4 years late, BUT at 3:27 you say that you have no idea what he said. He said "Ya se van a quedar a vivir aqui o..." in other words "Now you will stay and live here? Or.." So you answered correctly! I was also super proud I understood.. cause although i was born there.. I grew up learning spanish in Canada along with French and English and i consider my spanish to be terrible.

[gilbertotoledo]

Oh Man, you guys think tapatios speak fast? Wait till you visit northern Mexico. People from the north are the one who really speak fast and have a very heavy regional accent. People from Guadalajara actually have a pretty neutral accent as far as Mexicans go.

[EricJA]

Would you say the people of Mexico are happier than the people in the states?

[lorenaarias]

I teach English as a second language, my students would say you speak too fast, and they feel exactly the same way you feel when you speak Spanish. It’s a matter of practice and training in listening comprehension. It takes time, but the more you practice the easier it gets. I must congratulate you for your Spanish is pretty good and getting better!

[ManuelGonzalez-sevz]

Hello All, this is not really a negative video. I think it is pretty fair. I am from Guadalajara and I think that if these are the negative things, then GDL is pretty awesome!!! Well done tangerine travels. I love the videos.

[enriquevilla]

" ¿Y ya se van a quedar a vivir aquí, ó...?

[apolex]

Guadalajara is honestly by far one of my most favorite cities that I've traveled to in the world. It's super safe, people are very nice and welcoming, food is great, and there is plenty to do and see. I loved so much that I decided to live there for 5 months! It has everything that you want in a big city, but much cheaper in comparison to most American cities