Big Band 30's and 40's Music

I was driving home through downtown Melaque Saturday night after beers at Frank's. The streets and Plaza were full of tourists and locals enjoying the cool of the evening. Passing cars blaring Rancho music I decided to see what was on the radio and ad a another dimension to this interesting scene. To my surprise they were playing Big Band swing and jazz from the 1940's. The local Cihuatlan station plays a lot of music from the US on weekends and even has a news section in English that I've run into but have no idea of the schedule

It's heating up in Melaque - or I should say the humidity is rising. The last two nights required air conditioning to avoid sleeping in a pool of sweat. Hey - only 4-5 more months of it along with higher elecric bills.

The history of Beer in Mexico

by Groupo Modelo

The Spanish Conquest

The first brewery in the Americas was founded two decades after the fall of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlán.

On 16 July 1542, the Emperor Carlos V granted Alonso de Herrera a permit for his brewery on the condition that he gave a third of the profits to the Crown and and undertook to transport the vats and other equipment from Europe.

Two years later, on 15 May 1544, Alonso de Herrera was able to report to Carlos V that the business was a great success. This was confirmed on 5 September 1550 when royal officials were ordered to collect the value of a third of the beer brewed in the city for the Crown.

After this auspicious beginning, however, little is known of the history of beer in New Spain. It is possible that the authorities cracked down on its consumption, and in any case it had to compete with a great variety of traditional Pre-Hispanic fermented drinks.

Among the most popular during the viceregal period were such indigenous brews as chicha, zambumbia, and tesgüino.

The Colonial Period

It is hard to estimate the number of small breweries established in Mexico during this period. However, Von Humboldt's figure of 71,806 bottles of beer imported through the port of Veracruz in 1802 suggests that consumption was not inconsiderable.

Grupo Modelo web site

Baja California 1952

Just too cool not to post this. The earliest I was there was '62 and no further than Rosarita. This is back when you really had to work to 'do Baja'. it even comes with almost surfing music but neither surf muisc or rock-n-roll had been invented then

This is a short movie made by my grandfather "Ray Haller" in 1952. He and his friends made a trek down from California to Baja California to fish, hunt and explore this region.

Yakult for your Acidophilus fix

So this is our newest thing. They are sold in every store I've been into. A good way to get your acidophilus fix and keep the flora in your intestines balanced. It's not easy to find yogurt or even milk with acidophilus in Mexico - and we don't drink much milk. A good option for those who are lactose intolerant. The little jars cost from 40 to 60 pesos.

Why drink Yakult?

As part of your lifestyle to maintain a healthy digestive system. That’s why. A healthy digestive system is important for your, well… health. Unfortunately, various aspects of everyday life can upset the health of our gut. Common culprits include inactivity, antibiotics, stress, excess alcohol, a poor diet, smoking, overseas travel and lack of sleep.

One key to keeping your digestive system happy despite these inevitable hitches is to maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria. Your intestines contain trillions of bacteria – more bacteria, in fact, than there are humans on this planet! There are good bacteria and there are bad bacteria, and the two constantly compete for space in the intestines. The key is to help the good bacteria keep the upper hand, thus crowding out the bad guys.

That’s where Yakult comes in. It is a probiotic. It tops up the good bacteria that occur naturally in your system. And it helps keep the bad ones at bay. And by maintaining the healthy balance of the gut flora, Yakult enables your body to maximise its own natural defenses. All from one small bottle a day

Yakult Mexico

Yakult UK

Esperanza and her Blog - Mexico Cooks

A very interesting person that knows Mexico inside and out. Check the link at the bottom for her cooking Blog
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Twenty-six years of life in Mexico give me an extraordinary perspective on life, cultures, and cuisines in this complex and glorious country.

I speak native-level Spanish and am a Mexican citizen. Mexican history, native and mestizo cultures, and Mexican esoterica are my passions. Want to know about a custom or a tradition or a festival? Just ask me!

I've eaten in 28 of Mexico's 31 states (plus the Distrito Federal--Mexico City) and continue to be a serious student of Mexico's cuisines. Need to know about a particular herb or regional dish or seasonal meal? Let me know.

I offer specialty guided tours in Mexico, including hands-on culinary adventure tours, extraordinary tours to the homes of artists and artisans, and off-the-tourist-track adventures in the city of Guadalajara and the state of Michoacán. By all means contact me when you're ready for a Mexico you scarcely knew existed.

As you read Mexico Cooks!, you'll discover your own passions about Mexico.

Pase usted--está en su casa.*

Cristina

Mexico Cooks

Holy Cross Day (Día de la Santa Cruz)

May 3rd - Holy Cross Day (Día de la Santa Cruz)

Buildings under construction are decorated by construction workers placing crosses made by coloured papers & flowers. Picnics and fireworks follow celebrating this day dedicated to masons & builders. Mari just laughs at another fiesta because there are so many. Another reason to relax, have a good time and close the banks in Mexico.