The day after a pro-Trump mob assaulted the nation’s Capitol, Metro, a Mexico City tabloid, printed what this blogger declares the best headline ever on the whole messy situation.
Please also note the wonderful use of the word zafarrancho, a wonderful choice to describe Wednesday’s brawl.
Filing under “Why I love Mexico” and “Mexicans: How Can Anyone Not Like Us?”
Mexico’s coronavirus czar Hugo López Gatell urged Mexicans to stay home… but then he went on a beach vacation, sparking anger … and tons of memes.
After urging people to stay home, wear a mask, keep a safe distance from others and avoid going on vacation, Mexico’s coronavirus czar, Hugo López-Gatell, decided to take a maskless beach vacation in Oaxaca, prompting a wave of criticisms among Mexicans and later becoming the nation’s butt of the joke.
A series of photos published this weekend show Dr. López-Gatell seated at an outdoor bar with a female companion in the tourist-friendly beach of Zipolite, Oaxaca. Neither is wearing a mask. Another photo, taken a few days earlier on a crowded flight from Mexico City to the beach resort, López-Gatell is seen talking on a cellphone — again not wearing a mask. The photos quickly went viral on social media.
While the politician’s beach escapade sparked anger, naturally, it also gave rise to some hilarious memes and images that continued to light the Internet well into the new year, because when it comes to quick, witty Internet humor, Mexico sigue siendo el rey.
Here are some of my favorite reactions to López-Gatell’s beach escapade.
Today in our always popular section Mexicans, How Can Anyone not Like us? I give you Dr. Ricardo Madrigal, whose urology clinic specializes in non-surgical penis enlargements and fixing other virile malfunctions. Judging from Dr. Madrigal’s marketing tactics, he’s not the one to beat around the bush when it comes to promoting his services.
“IT’S NOT THE COLD; THAT’S JUST THE WAY IT IS!” reads a recent billboard in Mexico captured by a Reddit user.
In addition to huge signs along local highways Dr. Madrigal is also very active on Facebook, where you can find tons of other incredible Christmas promotions.
‘A chilanga without a voting document is like a al pastor taco without pineapple’
Mexican electoral authorities are calling on chilangos (as Mexico City residents are known) living abroad to take part in the 2010 election and vote for a “Diputación migrante.” What this basically means is that migrants hailing from the city capital will be able to cast a vote for representation at the Mexico City Congress.
And what better way to convince chilangos to take part than using some of the things that make our heart beat the hardest? Tacos al pastor; tortas de tamal and trajineras.
As Mexico’s Electoral Institute (INE) inform us on a dedicated Website, being a chilango without a voting document is equivalent to really dull things: Like a taco al pastor without pineapple; a guajolota (torta of tamal) without bolillo or a trajinera without a name.
This blogger better go sign up for this thing ASAP.
‘A chilango without a voting document is like a guajolota without bolillo.’
Reddit user IranRoman in Guanajuato, Mexico, captured this image showing two unsuspecting victims of COVID-19: Retro arcade games.
The sign literally says “Out of order because COVID-19,” which in Spanish sounds like they are not working because they “got” the virus, and not that they’re not available because of the virus.
Regardless, this is yet one more excuse for this blogger to exclaim… Mexicans: How can anyone not like us?
Mexican duet Alan y Roberto dedicate latest creation to a pesky virus.
It took Alan y Roberto (a Mexican duet) barely two hours to write a corrrido dedicated to the coronavirus, but the song is on its way to become a YouTube hit.
“I told him we are going to make a theme for them [Latinos impacted by COVID-19]… give them encouragement, hope and a positive message. Because the truth is something that many people are going through”, Alan Meza, told Univision Arizona.
“We have never had to experience something like this, really,” added Roberto Meza. “I know that there was a lot of fear, a lot of uncertainty on the part of the people and the truth was that was our mission, to carry that message.”
As is mostly the case with corridos, the tune is monotonous and kind of generic but what seals the deal are the lyrics. Always. Here’s a taste
Everyone was very scared, because of the coronavirus
We ran out of toilet paper, rice and even beans
Water is also becoming scarce
But fear not, it will all be over soon
Stoers, restaurants, schools and bars have closed their doors
I’ve spent many, MANY, years on this blog trying to explain “Latin things” or “Mexican things” to a mostly monolingual, crowd and I believe I’ve been pretty good at it.
Until now.
The above cover by a Mexican tabloid perfectly captured (prematurely, mind you) what happened on November 7, 2020, when the presidential election was finally called for Joe Biden, making Trump one of the few incumbents to lose a bid for reelection (thank God!) It also makes it harder to explain, so I will let the wonderful people from Urban Dictionary to take it from here.
The bigger, more simple version of a sign advocating for social justice is even better.
Looks like advocating for equality and social justice doesn’t go down well among some people. Take some Iowans, who found a sign posted outside a Mexican restaurant a little too… politically correct.
The story goes like this. Alfonso Medina, owner of La Carreta Mexican Grill in Marshalltown, Iowa, had placed the below sign outside his restaurant as a way to take a stand in favor of science, social justice, equality… crazy, right?
The original sign posted outside La Carreta Mexican Grill in Des Moines, Iowa.
According to CNN, the offending sign brought lots of hate mail to Mr. Medina, including one letter that actually blew up on social media. Said letter came from a customer, who addressed Mr. Medina by name, said he had recently spent a lot of money in his restaurant but that –upon seeing the sign– he’d never eat there again. This person actually ended the misive by calling Medina “a leftist Marxist.”
Mr. Medina took to Instagram to respond by saying: “We’re sorry your burrito had to get political, but it was the only way y’all would listen.” The IG post ended with a bang: “No Love, No Tacos.” Then, just like any genuine “leftist Marxist,” would do, Mr. Medina copyrighted the No Love, No Tacos slogan; adopted it for his restaurant and even paid for a large billboard to display it.
Filing under Mexicans: How can anyhone not like us?
From the always-popular section Mexicans: How can anyone not like us?comes one of the world’s smartest name ever, spotted somewhere in Mexico, home of some of the most surreal (i.e. wondrous stuff I’ve ever seen.)
Are you still not sure Mexico is the funnest place on Earth? Check out some of the following:
Going to celebrate ‘El Grito’? Don’t leave home without them
I know we cannot wait for all the food, drinking and piñatas coming our way this September, but the pinche coronavirus is still with us, people, so please plan accordingly and #WearADamnMask.
Find me a better English translation for “Soy el más verga.” I’ll wait
Speaking of my homecountry –and awesome translations– I give you this CDMX pesero, whose owner has earned a spot on this blog for being exactly what he claims to be: The More Dick –presumably “El más verga.” Go ahead and find me a better translation. I’ll wait.
They cost between $150 and $200 Mexican pesos (less than 9 bucks) and are available for children and adults.
The idea came from Mexican wrestler el Hijo del Soberano, who has been producing these beauties like crazy as the cases of COVID-19 in the country continue to climb… unfortunately.
The above candle is being sold as a “mystic product” and it promises to protect us from the evils of coronavirus. In fact, according to the owner of this establishment in Tabasco, all you have to do is light it up and move it around your body while you say the special prayer printed on the glass.
I’m going to be honest here: I’m not sure it works, but it’s only $40 pesos (which is like less than $2 USD at today’s exchange) so why not give it a try? Now if I only can get to Tabasco….