Category: Why I Love Mexico

Look at that! A Mexican Christmas Tree Made with 500 Sombreros

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This amazing thing has been created by indigenous artisans in Nacajuca, Tabasco. The 10-meter Christmas tree is decorated with 500 sombreros.

In addition to the sombreros, the 10-meter tree is adorned with 100 bags, traditional fans and drums, all of which were made by artisans from nearby Mayan towns.

Filing under “Mexicans: How can anyone not like us?”

Via: Tabasco Hoy

 

Vicente Fernández’ Washington Post Obituary Is Something Else

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Vicente Fernández died December 12, 2021 at 81. His Washington Post obituary is a thing of beauty.

It’s December 12, 2021 and I’m back in my beloved CDMX. Yes, I arrived just in time for the Guadalupe celebrations, and to kick off of a month-long taco/tostada/pozole/champurrado-filled Guadalupe-Reyes Marathon.

Alas, Sunday morning I woke up to the news of Vicente Fernández’ passing. Fernández, who once wrote a corrido for Hillary Clinton,  was a beloved figure to many Mexicans, (i.e. not this blogger, though.) But I digress. My point is that I woke up to news of “Chente’s” passing by none other than The Washington Post, which tweeted: “Vicente Fernández, Cowboy King of Ranchera Music, Dies at 81.”

Cowboy King? Sure, Jan! The now-deleted tweet was retweeted by yours truly and started to get some traction until it was deleted a few minutes later. The corrected headline was changed to “Vicente Fernández, King of Ranchera Music, Dies at 81.” 

But the fun was only starting. I began reading the actual piece only to see some priceless translations of some of Chente’s biggest hits:

“Volver Volver” somehow was translated as “Go Back, Go Back…”

…which, minutes later, and after Mexican tweeted couldn’t stop laughing, was corrected to read “Return Return….”

Hilarity ensued and I couldn’t love my followers any more:

¡Bravo!

 

Spanish 101 for English-Speaking People

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Americans: How can anyone not like them?

Challenged by some very unorthodox methods to teach English to Latinos (such as this one and this other one) Mexicans have come up with yet the most creative way to teach Spanish to English speaking people (i.e. mostly gringos.)

All you have to do is read the following sentences as if you were reading English.

Check it out. It’s easy, it’s revolutionary and… It’s FREE!

1. Boy As-N-R (Voy a cenar): I’m going to have dinner

2. N-L-C John (En el sillón): On the armchair

3. Be a Hope and Son (Viejo panzón): Fat old man

4. As Say Toon As (Aceitunas): Olives

5. The Head The Star Mall Less Stan Doe (Deje de estar molestando): Stop bugging me

6. Kit At Tell Loss War at Chess (Quítate los huaraches): Take off your sandals

7. Pass a Lass All Saw (Pasa la salsa): Pass the sauce

8. Be Goat Tess The Ran Chair-O (Bigotes de ranchero): Farmer’s mustache

9. Web Us Come Ham On (Huevos con jamón)

10. Does Stack Kit Toes The Car Neat As (Dos taquitos de carnitas): Two pork little tacos

The Three Amigos Summit Is Always a Good Mariachi Wear Meme Opportunity

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I haven’t followed this week’s #ThreeAmigos Summit as closely as in previous years (you know? I’ve been super busy looking for a job.) Still, my timeline is an amusing patchwork of mariachi-wear jokes & cartoons. Some are good, some are great (see below), some are … meh (see above.)

This brilliancy from ‘The Globe and Mail’

Critizing the sombrero stereotype? Who has the energy any more?

AMLO Goes to New York City; Chairs Session at the U.N.; Hilarity Ensues

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On Nov. 9, 2021 AMLO tweeted: “At the UN Security Council in New York we proposed to establish a World State of Fraternity and Welfare that guarantees the right to a decent life for 750 million people living in poverty.”

At this point, it isn’t really a surprise that the “Mexican meme machine” is so amazing at its job that it should be protected by the UNESCO –or something.

In the latest example of what “my people” have done to immortalize President Andrés Manuel López Obrador 2021 visit to New York City, I give you some of the best memes echoing AMLO’s Nov. 9 posting proposing a “World Plan for Fraternity & Welfare.” (Ay, caramba!)

This blogger is super busy trying to get unemployment benefits to dwell too much on each of these, so please just scroll down, enjoy and -please- help me add to these by commenting on this post.

Grassy ass!

What started it all:

Moses, it you?

What heroes are made of

What dreams are made of…

 

Mexican President Preps Visit to NYC. Alas, He’ll Miss the Local Garnacha Action

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AMLO looooves a good local garnacha, but he might miss on my city’s Mexican delights this time.

Start spreading the news…
He’s leaving next week…

Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (aka AMLO) will be in the Big Apple for a short visit next week (Nov. 8 & 9) and while this blogger was eager to follow his culinary adventures in her adopted city, it looks like he will be missing out on the whole “Puebla York” experience.

According to press reports, AMLO will travel to the United Nations next week and give a speech about the dangers of corruption (no, really!) His visit corresponds with Mexico taking over the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council in November.

Alas, while his supporters at the “Morena New York Committee 1” are prepping a whole fiesta complete with mariachis –and plenty of local garnachas–, it looks like AMLO will remain at the UN and look all professional and stuff.

The 2021 AMLOFestNYC is free to the public and is to take place -where else?- at the Aztec Hall in Brooklyn. But the fiesta will have to go on without him.

A real pity if you asked me, since Manhatitlán is home of the best antojitos, garnachas and other Mexican goodies on this side of the border.

Ni modos, presi. Maybe next time! 

Back in CDMX –and it never felt so good

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Una puerta cualquiera en la Colonia Doctores. Laura Martínez, October 2021 (P.P.)

After 1 year, 7 months and eleven days, I’m finally back in my beloved CDMX (formerly known as D.F.) and while many things have changed -and Covid was truly devastating for many Mexicans I know- the simple beauty of my birth city and its sights & sounds remains undisturbed.

Since October 8, 2020, I have not only lost one job but two of them, and while things look pretty challenging right now, I’m very lucky to be back and to be able to hug my friends and family once again. Yes, I’ve been hugging people left & right… Take that, #PincheCovid!

Also, and given the extra time life is affording me right now, I have made some very important resolutions, like updating this blog sangüichero as often as possible and catching up on some very important reading material (see below.)

I’m not really sure what’s next. But first things first: I’m off to Ajusco for some sopa de hongos. ¡Ahí se ven!

The Economist Puts AMLO on Cover; Calls Him a ‘False Messiah.’ Hilarity Ensues

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British magazine The Economist wrote a scathing editorial critizicing Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (aka AMLO) and urging voters to “curb” the ambitions of the “power-hungry” leader.

Published in its May 29-June 4 edition, the piece made it to the cover, showing a photo composition of AMLO beneath the headline “Mexico’s false messiah.” The editorial compares AMLO, as the president is commonly known, to “authoritarian populists” Viktor Orbán of Hungary, Narendra Modi of India and Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil.

While the government officially dismissed the article as “very propagandistic” and even went as far as to send a letter to the editor, Mexicans (yours truly included) have tons of fun tweaking said cover. Once again, I’m happy to say that Mexican Twitter never disappoint.

Here some of my faves:

Mexico’s True Messiah: El señor de los tacos

Idea: (yours truly) Photoshop via: @zwiitt

Grande, Del Toro

JuanGa: El Mero Mero

El Buki

Giovanni Dos Santos

Two Covers. Two Truths

Last, but not least. Her Majesty La Concha

Zara Home Attempts to Gentrify Luffa Sponges; Hilarity Ensues

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Multinational fashion chain Zara has done it again. The home products division of the Spanish giant has put some luffa sponges (known in Mexico as zacates) for sale at 299 pesos (about 9.60 U.S. dollars).

As any Mexican knows, these kinds of sponges can be found in any market around Mexico from less than a dollar a pack. The over 2,000% price difference was not lost on Mexican Twitter, which quickly activated the Zara Home Meme machine. The results are… hilarious.

Eco Shower

Eco Lunch

Make Cubetas Chic Again

Eco Friendly Dog House

Eco friendly Dog House

To think I was brought up in a Zara Home

The Best Mexican Memes of the Biden Inauguration

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Luis Valle on Twitter

It’s January 20, 2021 y’all, which means two very important things: Trump will no longer be president and Mexican Twitter is on fire. I will be posting here my favorite meme-moments of the day and updating throughout the morning so be sure to come back!

Guess Where He’s Going?

Don’t Forget Him!

In Some Form

Bernie Knows What’s Up

Awww, Bernie

Make Red Hats Great Again

Bernie, Always Bernie

This Was Inevitable

Cleaning up the Mess

Swearing on El Baldor, Of Course!

Coco & Bernie

Last, but not Least….

From the one and only El Alteño on Twitter