It’s been 6 months now and even though I’ve renewed my lease, at times you still have to do a “reality check” to make sure you’re actually enjoying this new life and not just going through the motions. It is hard to give up the convenience of living NOB where most anything you can imagine is available with either a short drive, or a few clicks on eBay at most. So, when I found the ultimate Texas “convenience” I knew it was ok to stay.

I had heard there was an AutoZone store in GDL and with some research I found its approximate location and set out to explore new territory. With best intentions and tight seat belts I headed for the big city. I had figured two ways into the Zapopan suburb where the store was located. Retracing familiar roads I found the exit and made my turn expecting to see a split in the road almost immediately – wrongo, no split so after a few blocks I tried some cross neighborhood navigation which got me exactly nowhere, so I headed back to the Periferico to use the alternate approach.

This route worked for the most part except for some road construction which made for a bit of push-and-shove with everyone else determined to get there first. It turns out the AutoZone is across from Home Depot, not the one I’m used to seeing, but a more “upscale” store which is also next to a grande Soriana so I pulled in to check out things. This Soriana (groceries etc.) is huge and could easily be found NOB, unlike the smaller version we have here at the lake – I liked it and did some shopping also noticing a Radio Shack and Office Depot next door, things were looking up. As I pushed my cart toward the car there was a parking lot attendant to help load and take the cart, pretty nice actually.

Looking around I noticed a Carl’s Jr drive in at both ends of the complex? I headed for Home Depot, pretty nice; this was becoming my new favorite place in town. Returning to the car I spotted the AutoZone across the way and it’s just like NOB, so a great resource although they didn’t have the mirror guards I was looking for, but of course did have new battery cable ends for my neighbors’ car.

I decided to explore the area and retrace my route to see where I’d originally missed my turn and in typical GDL fashion I hadn’t actually missed my turn - there is an island blocking a left turn, you have to go a block north and do a returno and then a sharp right – good to know although the alternate route is almost as easy.

The shopping area in Zapopan is at the intersection of 3 major streets so I decided to explore more of the shopping available. As I was careening around the area I came across a Burger King and my first reaction was to drive in and get lunch, but then I realized how silly that would be as I’d be trying to communicate with a Spanish speaking talking box and if I couldn’t gesture and point, the chances of ordering anything was nearly impossible – I drove on.

Around another corner I hit the gold mine – YES, a genuine Dairy Queen and it was at that point I said “ok, that does it, I’m staying”! Later on the forum someone else mentioned one in a large mall, so “true civilization” has arrived in Mexico.

There is also an Outlet Mall on the south end of GDL on the Joco road that I explored and it’s so spiffy you have to pay to park. (You know things are spiffy here when they charge for parking – keeps the riff raff out) This is a big mall, very upscale with all the brands of clothes I never buy, Samsonite which I don’t need and a food court with a Chinese restaurant named Hong Fat (I passed).

Now, if only all these things were a bit closer and didn’t require putting life, limb and Jeep at risk it would be even better. Oh my gosh, I just said the same thing people in Lakeway were saying years ago before it was destroyed by development?