Jonathan, I spent 3 days in Ciudad Guzman/Zapotlan El Grande but 
didn't know at the time that my ancestors had lived there so didn't 
look at it through those eyes.  There are 2 church's in the square.  
A very large one and to the side a small one. If your searching for 
specific records double check which of the two church's have them.  
The people were very friendly and there are a great variety of 
hotels and motels with a very old one right in the plaza area. It's 
a hub for everything in that part of Jalisco. My destination was 
Tamazula and Zapotiltic but the accomodations there were terrible so 
we returned each night to our motel in Ciudad Gusman, I believe the 
rooms ran about $40. American for a room for 3 people and were very 
nice. Lot's of good place's to eat and even a natural yogurt and 
health food store that was wonderul.
Good luck on your trip, Linda in Everett

--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, "mexicanfhr" <walkerjona@...> wrote:
>
> Thank you all, for your suggestions.  Where several of you asked in
> what area I will be.  I most likely will be in Sonora, Sinaloa, and
> possibly in Cd. Guzman and Sayula in Jalisco.
> 
> Jonathan
> 
> --- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, MMG8938@ wrote:
> >
> > Jonathan:
> > 
> > I wrote directly to you.  But I failed to mention about the 
cemetery
> records. 
> >  Some have offices at the entrance.  Also be careful in the
> cemetery.  You 
> > can get assaulted.  Be careful!
> > 
> > Are you going to Sonora?  I was trying to remember where your 
wife's
> people 
> > were from...cannot remember.
> > 
> > Also received your cd's and the pic....now you see why I do not 
like
> to take 
> > pictures!!!   Thank you very much for the CD's.
> > 
> > Mickey
> >
>

Jonathan, my "cemetary" experience in El Durazno was that someone in 
each town has a key to the local cemetary, I did not find any that 
were open, they were locked.  At the older cemetary in Los Haros, 
district of Jerez we were lucky that someone was working there and 
agreed to let us in, we had to leave when they did.  Cemetaries were 
not taken care of but the marble monuments were huge and paid for by 
relatives from the states who sent money I was told. When we were in 
Guadalajara the same was true for the really old cemetaries, someone 
had to admit us.
I had no luck finding records in Jerez Zacatecas, El Limon and 
Tamazula Jalisco.  Clerks were overworked and without copy machines or 
time to give us. I had better luck with the records at the FHC.
The trip was still very much worth the time and money, wonderful 
people just researching records is not a priorty for them.  I asked to 
check a marriage ledger from 1920 and was told the public is not 
allowed to touch the books.
Good luck in your search, I'm sure the locals will fill you in when 
you get there as how to go about getting co-operation each place you 
go.
Linda in Everett

--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, "mexicanfhr" <walkerjona@...> wrote:
>
> Hello all,
> 
> Have any of you ever done research in the actual Parish in Mexico?
> 
> I am asking, because in about 3 weeks, I will be going to Mexico. And
> if possible I will try find some information at the parish and
> cemetary level.
> 
> So could anyone give me some pointers, on what to expect? Or the best
> way to approach the subject?
> 
> Thanks,
> Jonathan
>