You hear the din of battle next to the church, the sound of rockets booming and you feel the ground shaking from five blocks away. Each Carnaval, in the tiny town of San Juan de la Vega Mexico, there is a re-enactment of a 400+ year […]
There’s not much going on here for Carnaval, but in the Jardin, you can buy gorgeous hand made paper flowers, accordion legged ‘payasitos’ – little clowns – paper masks and confetti filled eggs – cascarones – which the children run around with – war style […]
February 2 – the candlemas, groundhog day in the United States, a cross quarter celebration world-wide, is known here in Mexico as the candelaria, celebrated the 40th day after Christ’s birth, the day Jesus was presented to the temple. Never mind that the reason it […]
I’ve recently begun work on a documentary of the tin artistans of Mexico. Today, I interviewed one of the older families and they showed me this wonderful little tin boat which is powered by a candle. It actually putt putts around and just makes you […]
The Frida Kahlo Museum and the house that she grew up in, the house she was nursed back to health in after her tragic accident, the house she learned to paint in. This was her family home, which after one of her break ups with […]
As a follow up to the Queretaro Nacimientos – the seven deadly sins post and their fabulous three kings display, here in San Miguel, the day before Three Kings Day, a market is set up along Calzada Guadalupe which runs about a half mile. All […]
It is not exaggerating one bit to say that there is a larger than life fascination with fireworks here in Mexico. At three A.M. on almost any day of the week, you are likely to be woken up with a loud kaboom! followed by about […]
Last week we found a luchador wrestler pinata and bought it thinking we would have one for the kids on our street at new years. Yesterday, we went next door and got 10 year old Ariel to come fill the pinata. When he was done […]
In Queretaro, there is a nacimiento in the main plaza – four blocks filled with larger than life Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the three kings bearing gifts, walking along with their elephant and white horse. There’s the annunciation, with Mary and the Archangel Gabriel, a menagerie of animals […]
Thursday night, near the mercado Ignacio Ramirez, the final event of the celebration of the Virgen de Guadalupe was held. Vendors food booths and people filled the streets. The Virgin’s altar was in full bloom, the procession of women carrying a wood nicho on a […]
Every Christmas, Markets are set up all over town, Hundreds of stalls selling Cactus, Heno, Tree bark, Fir boughs, Painted clay figures, Glittery things, Lights, Nino Jesus dolls – the Santo Nino Along with elaborate hand made clothing To dress him in, for his birth […]
I think the saying goes ‘Let me count the ways’ And today, the multitude of ways they honor the Guadalupe, Lupe, Lupita, beginning at midnight with fireworks and a mariachi mass. At 7am there is a rosary at the altar down the street, with singing, praying, tamales […]
Today’s song, Nuestro Juramento (Our Vow) (Listen while you read this post) Was composed by Puerto Rican Composer Benito de Jesús of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, But it’s fame is attributed to Julio Juramillo Of Guayaquil, Ecuador, 1935 – 1978. His rendition and recording of the song […]
Today’s song – Mucho Corazon Is a Bolero written and popularized by Benny Moore, Go here for the video to listen to while you read this post There is a general consensus That the first Latin American Bolero Was popularized in 1895 By Cuban troubador […]
Perfume de Gardenias, There’s an incredibly rich story behind this song, Or more accurately stated, by it’s composer, Rafael Hernández Marín of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico 1892 – 1965. I suggest going to the song to listen while you read this post. At age 12 Rafael […]
Here’s the second post In the series of Singing in Spanish, Musica Romantica, Translated from Spanish to English below. Sung my neighbor Lorenzo and his quartet, On stage last night here in San Miguel. The link below has a movie of their performance Singing Si […]
Last night at the Feria de Lana y Laton I went by the stage which is set up in the Jardin to see what music was playing. I wanted to try out my new High definition video camera, which in almost every review, said the quality […]
Is considered the third largest monolith in the world following the Rock of Gibraltar and Sugarloaf in Brazil. In mass, it is second to Ayers Rock in Australia and towers at a height of about 450 feet. San Sebastián Bernal sits at the bottom of the […]
On the way into town yesterday, at the bottom of our hill, we ran into a several groups of mariachis singing to a statue of Santa Cecelia, who was resting on a litter, garnished in flowers, carried by two modern young women, chewing bubble gum. […]
I met up with Elvia and her four daughters at the cemetery today. She was late so I waited in front for an hour, arms full of flowers – you know me by now, trying to video people coming in with flowers, buckets, shovels, eating […]
The preparations have begun There are flower sellers everywhere. Home altars are being created, Car repair, shoe and small tiendas Have transformed into flower shops. You can’t avoid the papel picado banners or skeletons. Although Monday is officially the day, Families are already in the […]
Last Saturday John was walking downtown When he crossed paths with a wedding getaway, A couple on their decked out motorcycle, Four women gathering the bride’s skirt up Tucking her in, and off they went. With a double police escort On motorcycles, of course In […]
Yikes! all of a sudden two weeks have gone by. I’m working on several posts which if all goes well, Will be up by the end of the week – The final movie of the sunday parade is finished. You can click on the photo […]
Sometimes You just have to go for it. I mean street food. In this case, We have Dori Locos, The recipe As well as the video We’ve only seen these In Guanajuato But I’m pretty sure You can find them In other Mexican cities With […]
Sunday morning. 10:30 AM. Since midnight Friday night, the partying has been going on. The parade of the estrellas (stars) at midnight, followed by dancing and events in the Jardin until 4am when las mananitas – happy birthday song to San Miguel, the patron saint […]