What if I were Mexican?

What is culture? What if you were born in India or Zimbabwe or New Zealand? Well must probably you will speak another language, practice another religion and had a whole different way of behavior and diet, etc.

Me, I was lucky enough to be borne in a place of earth with the nicest weather, lots of different ecosystems, a great variety of flora and fauna, eleven thousand kilometers of coast with the most amazing beaches in the world... a place than now is considered Mexico, where we speak Spanish, worship Virgen de Guadalupe and eat hot spicy food... well, at least the majority of its residents.

I will talk you a little bit into our culture just in case you are interested, just as an useful tool for you when you visit or decide to live in our beautiful area of this world. 

Arriba el Mariachi!!

Yes! you would know all lyrics, sing along and totally relate to Mariachi Music. The word comes from the french "marriage" it is basically a pretty cool mix of music, beats, and instruments from our ancestors the Aztecs, the Spaniards and the slaves from Africa, such a delicious synergy, right?

"Dos tacos Al Pastor por favor"

Well, what would Mexico be without the taco? It is the most representative food of our country and you really should know this: if you have had tacos abroad Mexico, well believe me you have not had the REAL TACO. If you were Mexican you would sure eat many of these delicatessen every week. And there are thousands of hundreds of different tacos, they change depending on the State, there are even blue tortillas from blue corn (my favorite), but here are the most traditional ones:

• Quesadilla - Cheese Taco
• Taco Al Pastor - Pork marinated Taco
• Taco de Asada - Beef Taco
• Taco de Carnitas - Pork Taco
• Taco de Pescado - Fish Taco
• Taco de Camarón - Shrimp Taco

French do 2, we do 1

Yes, you probably will have more human contact than what you do now. When we encounter someone we know, we greet with one kiss on the cheek, well more like a touching cheeks. Some people may find this too personal, or invasive... if you really just want to keep your distance, a hand shake would do just fine! There are different levels of closeness, and yes I consider myself one of the ones that not only do the cheek but also a little hug, if I love you, like you, care about you, I will definitely give you a kiss a hug and a big smile, just because that is me.

Mexican Time

Well, if they said meet you at 8, you must probably would appear at 9:45. It is a little bit shameful, but it is the true in most cases. Why would not take time seriously, why we are not slaves of the clock? I do not know. Sometimes I get frustrated when I did everything to get to a place on time, and they keep me waiting for 40 minutes or more, not nice, I know! Sorry if you have to experience anything like this, believe me we are working on it. Have I forgotten appointments? Yes, and I have apologized. But have some faith, there are a lot of friends and family that are always on time everywhere, every time. 

1, 2, 3 shots of Tequila

Are you feeling more and more Mexican by now? I bet you are ready for Tequila! Here, we drink it to celebrate, at bars, clubs, at home. We like it as a digestive, we mix it with soda, lemon, we cook with it, have tequila ice cream, tequila shrimps and tequila cake. Ancestral drink, part of our history and a great heritage to the world. You know every good story starts with "We were drinking tequila when..." So come to Cabo, to Guadalajara, Mexico City, Oaxaca... and drink up with your tequila shots!! 

So I hope this gets you a little bit closer to understand us, don't try too hard, just accept us and love us. At the end, yes, we are all the same, we breath the same air, it does not matter which part of this planet you are right now, we all aim for acceptance, love, success, respect. We protect our loved ones we live and then we die. We take vacations, we make memories, we dream of the beach in our feet... So don't you wait for it, live now. Cabo is awaiting you with its sun, beaches, adventures and "Choyeros" (folkloric name for the ones borne in Baja)... lots of fun and peace, your hammock, your "margarita" and your book. 

#Choyero #NoBadDays #Cabo #CaboforLife

AZTEK - What a great novel!!

Is it a tragedy? Was it meant to be so sad, so bloody and unfair?  I just read one book that really marveled me, one that will always be in my personal library as a treasure, ASTEK by Gary Jennings.
This historic novel about the life of an "mexica" man, who lived and travel all around Mexico before it was conquered and even witnessed how the Aztecs took the news of the first men arriving from the oceans. The book was published in year 1980 and 34 years later, here I am, a Mexican lady, amazed and really eager to know more about my ancestors.

There is no doubt of how much history and culture the "Aztecs" left in this land, all the beauty of its glorious times are showed in its pyramids and I bet there is still more to be discovered about them.

Anyway, this is just a teaser, I do not want this words to be a spoiler, but really give you the idea of the great things you will discover in this novel:

1. You will find the names of Aztec gods and goddesses, many of them inspiration of many places, even names of people, yes here in Mexico and abroad.
2. Did you know women actually were the regents, even were adored in some places of America? One of them was god, judge, regent all at the same time. 
3. This thing of shaving ourselves, well... comes from old times, with the Purhépechas from Michoacán! Chewing gum, yes, also from old times with the Olmecas.
4. Find out why the first Spaniards that arrived in our land were considered gods, what was the impression of the locals when they saw their big ships, their dogs, horses and fire weapons for the first time.
5. And imagine the faces of the Spaniards when as a tribute, Aztecs would give them presents of gold, and rubies and many other treasures. 
6. Sadly you will see how one woman in particular took a very important place in the history, even if she was "indian", she took part with the Spaniards and made a whole difference in the results.
7. How Tenochtitlan residents, warriors and Cuauhtemoc survived a site of almost 3 months, how they honorably made it until the last moment, giving all the resistance humanly possible to the conquerors, some died there, some finally left. But all of them were honest, brave Aztecs fighting for their land, their future.
8. And finally, there was a huge element in the Conquering of the Americas, that affected more than any man, more than any weapon... you will discover it here too.

I know that it was the "tonali", destiny of the Aztecs, and that is how on August 13th. 1521 Hernán Cortés and its soldiers took whatever was left of the Great Tenochtitlan, the magic and pride capital of "El Unico Mundo", a place that before them, before the small pox, and the parsimony of the Spaniards, was paradise, full of marble, and floating gardens and rivers and white buildings.

Can we still inherit the best of both nations, the Aztecs and the Spaniards? Could we be truthful but astute; courageous but cautious; meditative but still able to take an opportunity when you see it. Could we be respectful to the god of the sun, the god of the rain and the god of the war, respect animals and the nature and adore it but still be wise to know that we do not need human sacrifices, and be people of good hearts and generous with each other?

May the future conquests of humanity bring only education, food, water and hope to the areas that need it. May there not be any more blood in the name of gods, money or any other selfish reason.

#LoveLife #AztecHeart #VisitMexico #Caboforlife