Holy Week in Mexico: Time for Jesus Accidents Nationwide

Photo credit: Pulso DF

You may not know this but Semana Santa (Holy Week) is a very important religious holiday in Mexico, and among the many events that take place during the course of the week, the so-called passion play is one of the most popular — and well-attended. It consists of a representation of the via crucis, and involves everyone, from workers, students and housewives who become actors for one day to play the roles of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, the Nazarenes, the apostles — and other characters (not all of them strictly Biblical) including a spy, a dog, and a wandering Jew.

In the play, when Christ gets captured, we see him carrying a cross a long way and until he reaches a location that represents Mount Calvary. In the most famous of these representations (the one that takes place in Iztapalapa) we see Christ carrying his cross from the town’s main square to the nearby Cerro de la Estrella in the heart of Mexico City.

Unfortunately, not all Mexican towns and cities have a mountain or even a hill around, so they resort to crucify Jesus on pretty much any location, including an electricity pole. This, as you can imagine, can have bring about some funky accidents.

JUST WATCH. ¡Pobre Jesús!

CDMX Has Had it with Airbnb –and why I’m Back

This condominium does NOT agree with Airbnb

So, I’m back in Mexico City, this time – unfortunately – on a not-so-happy family emergency. And while I juggle my time between work, family gatherings and hospital visits, I try to roam about the city as much as possible to try to figure out how the so-called “digital nomads” are transforming my beloved D.F. (Spoiler alert: Not in a good way.)

I see a lot more signs in English (and I’m not even in Roma or Condesa) and prices of pretty much everything have gone to the roof. Yet, the food is glorious and my people are kind.

I’ll be here for a while, so expect more Mexico-related posts vs. the usual Bad-gringo food ones. Oh, and if you’re around, hit me up for a semi-happy hour or something.

Photo: Laura Martínez, Colonia Nápoles. March 2023.

September 19 Strikes Mexico Again; Hilarity Ensues

Today’s 7.6 magnitude quake came on the same day as devastating quakes in 1985 and 2017.

Nope, I’m not making this up. Today, Monday, September 19, 2022, at around 1:07 pm local time, Mexico City residents were shaken (not stirred) by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake, that killed at least one and damaged a lot of buildings across several states.

I first learned about it not on Twitter, but on the family WhatsApp that was going nuts with voicemail notifications from my brother and sister sounding really really scared. The first message, from my brother, came through at 2:08 pm/EST and it simply said “Está temblando,” two words any born and raised Mexican knows all too well.

Then came my sister with a 7-second message saying it was really fucking bad and then I sort of panicked.

I had been in transit but as soon as I got home I called to make sure they were OK. Thankfully, everyone was unscathed. Scared shit still, but unharmed.

Barely 7 or 8 minutes later, the memes started pouring in. It was – once again – my people’s way of dealing with calamities, from highlighting the HUGE coincidence of the September 19 date to celebrating the inevitability of our demise.

I’m just gonna post a few examples below to give you an idea of what’s going on today post-sismo, but feel free to follow this blogger’s Twitter feed to keep up in real time.

Because September

Because COVID

 

 

Because Mexicans are the Shit

Because … Let’s Skip September

hat tip: @rocos_life

This post will be updated…

Back in CDMX –and it never felt so good

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 Pro-Trump Mob Assault on the Capitol in One Word

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?”

Tortas, Tacos and Trajineras to Encourage Mexico City Migrants to Vote in 2021

‘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.’

Hat tip: Chilango Le Chanclé

Mexicans are Making Face Masks Featuring Luchadores

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.

So now you know it. Wash your hands, do not touch your face, go grab a conchavirus and… go out as if you’re ready to hit the ring!

Via: Chilango

Next Time you Hear about those ‘Bad, Lazy Mexicans’…

People pass buckets and shovels to remove the rubble of a collapsed building Sept. 19 after an earthquake hit Mexico City. The magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit to the southeast of the city, killing hundreds. (CNS photo/Ginnette Riquelme, Reuters)

… just go over these photos and watch the following video.

NOTE: These images are not mine. I was fortunate enough to be elsewhere when the Sept. 19, 2017 earthquake struck. I just thought all of what has happened so far in my birth country should serve as a great reminder of how Mexicans can come together in times of crisis and tragedy, no matter what the so-called leader of the free-world would want you to believe.

This Is the Best Ad for English Lessons you’ll ever Find

Marketing and advertising executives would be well advised to use the advertising tactics of Mr. Miguel Fong, some dude I don’t know but who teaches English in Mexico.

If you are bilingual, you will now have appreciated the power of the above ad. But here’s a quick translation for my beloved monolingual followers:

WANTED

He responds to the name “Unforgettable”

If you cannot read this name, it is because its in English. Contact me so you can learn!

Nice job Mr. Fong, I wish other language institutions would follow your lead.

Via: Reddit

Mexican Entrepreneurship Knows No Limits: Flood Edition

Mexico City looked like a scene of an apocalyptic movie on Wednesday afternoon as a powerful storm hit Mexico’s capital, flooding entire avenues, several subway stations and even private homes and shopping malls.

But, as you — loyal followers of this blog — have learned by now, there’s no stopping the creativity of my people (i.e. The Mexicans) in the face of adversity.

Just WATCH:

Video by: @LoboSinLuna

Conan Goes to Mexico, Handles Street Tacos Like a Boss

conantacos

You might not be aware of this, but Conan O’Brien is in Mexico City, thus having much better food — and fun — than the rest of us.

This week, as part of his ongoing Mexico City adventure, the famed TV presenter was spotted sharing a few street tacos with none other than Jorge Ramos, the Univision anchor who managed to pissed off Trump way before the rest of the “evil, flailing media” did.

Anyhow, Conan Without Borders: Made In Mexico premieres Wednesday, March 1st on TBS and this blogger cannot wait.

Via: Milenio

Apple Picks Mexico City to Showcase AirPods, Because CDMX is ‘Muy Cool’

mexicocity

Apple has launched its first commercial for its not-yet-widely-available wireless earbuds (aka AirPods.) And what better way to show how cool something is than by having a freestyle dancer roaming my birth city while listening to music?

There are several things that give it away, but it’s mostly the signs — and overall beautiful decadence of La Capirucha.

Via: YouTube/Apple

‘Tis the Season… to Battle Coke’s Mexican Christmas Spirit

A Diabetes tree has risen in the middle of Mexico City
A Diabetes tree has risen in the middle of Mexico City

Here we go again.

Barely one year after Coca-Cola unleashed the fury of this blogger — and many, many more people — with a ridiculous holiday commercial set in Oaxaca, the beverage giant is on the hot seat again.

The reason? Mexico City officials have allowed the company to put up a gigantic Coca-Cola-themed Christmas tree right in the middle of the city’s main square.

The offending, plasticky huge thing is now being labelled by activists as the Diabetes Tree, which is just a perfect way to “celebrate” the deathly toll the disease has taken on my people.

So, as the suits over at Coca-Cola would say: Feliz Navidad, suckers!

Via: Aristegui Noticias