Mexico – Fake Flamenco

Choir!Choir!Choir! Singing in San Diego/Tijuana

October 13, 2019, the Canadian group Choir!Choir!Choir! organized a singalong at the San Diego/Tijuana border between the United States and Mexico. The group and the audience sang the Beatles’ “A Little Help from my Friends” in English and Spanish. The show united 800 hearts and voices. Here’s a video of the concert: Click Suzanne’s Mom’s […]

Gardening, Mexico, Spanish Culture and Language

The Great Butterfly Migration

While I sat on our back steps shucking corn, I watched butterflies, bees, and moths feed on the nectar of our purple asters yesterday afternoon. On one cluster of Aster Amellus I spotted six Monarchs, 5 American Lady Butterflies, 4 Bumble Bees, 3 Honey Bees, 2 White Cabbage Moths and one Hoverfly (camouflaged to look […]

food, Mexico, Spanish Culture and Language

Pipián Sauce, a la Gringa

This sauce is based on pumpkin seed mole, called mole verde, or pipián. The Nahuatl word, molli, is the origin for mole, the Mexican word for this traditional Mixteca sauce. You may have tried mole made of chocolate, almond and chile over chicken in a restaurant. This pipián mole also has rich flavors. Although traditionally […]

Mexico, Spanish Culture and Language

How Mary Converted A Nation

When I was 14, I was lucky enough to travel to Mexico City. Our Spanish teacher took our student group to the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Several impressions remain with me; the enormous modern church (built in 1976), the faithful arriving walking on their knees to show their devotion, and the experience of […]

Latinas, Mexico, Music, Spanish Culture and Language

Latina Superstar Linda Ronstadt

Rock, country, folk, mariachi, opera, bluegrass, jazz; Linda Ronstadt loved to sing them all. She pursued her singing passions, even when her record labels discouraged her from orbiting in additional genres. Linda possesses talent, good sense, and great taste, and most of her albums turned platinum. She’s sold over 100 million records. Linda Ronstadt was […]

Mexico, Spanish Culture and Language

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

In the United States we celebrate Cinco de mayo as a day-long happy hour. Parties are fun, but let’s look at the story behind May 5th. In the 1862 Battle of Puebla, the Mexican Army triumphed over the invading French Empire; it was a lot like David and Goliath. No one expected them to win […]