The Tlaquepaque Chamber of Commerce hosted an official welcome for the Springfield delegation, including the traditional exchange of gifts and goodwill.
Springfield ambassadors enjoy visit to Tlaquepaque
The 15 citizens caught up with longtime friends and shared meals and music, including a special concert at Quinta Don Jose with Paco Padilla, Sheila Rios, Fernando Quintana and Grupo Canela.
They also learned how agave is harvested to produce Mexico’s national spirit during a visit to Tequila Forteleza. While in Mexico, they attended a Chinese New Year’s Festival and also shared traditions of Día de Reyes (Three Kings Day).
These trips are personally rewarding in the way they broaden our cultural perspectives, but also an important way to further SSCA’s mission of enhancing peace through people by building and maintaining long-term friendships across our countries.
A special friendship concert for the Springfield delegation at Quinta Don Jose host hotel showcased artists who have visited Springfield many times over the years, including Paco Padilla, center, and many other musician friends.
The U.S. group enjoyed a Chinese New Year festival hosted at Yiu Yih Chinese Comida and good friends Lupita Pun and Javier Iñiguez.
Now that’s a barbeque pit! The group enjoyed El Canelo Restaurant Campestre.
Renowned stoneware sculptor Rodo Padilla hosted the group at his Tlaquepaque workshop.
A field of agave planted at Tequila Fortaleza. Tlaquepaque is in the state of Jalisco, the iconic region revered as the birthplace of tequila.
Musician, artist and longtime friend to Springfield Paco Padilla and his wife, Ana, entertained the group at their home in Tlaquepaque.
