By Brooke Gazer
In the 1940´s, Felix Ruiz was a young man who was determined to live to become an old one. At that time land disputes were common thoughout Oaxaca and when a quarrel in the region of Santa Maria Huatulco escalated into an all out war, eight of his friends had perished. Fed up with the fighting, he left “Rancho Las Palmas” where he was born to start a new life in a nearby region on the coast. Continue reading The Patriarch
By Marcia Chaiken and Jan Chaiken
El dia de la familia is a relatively new national holiday in Mexico, observed on the first Sunday of March. It was instituted by the federal government in 2005 with the signing of an agreement to promote the unity of the family. The signatories included President Vicente Fox, various units of government, universities and other educational institutions, religious groups, representatives of the media, civic organizations, and business groups. The purpose of the day is to celebrate the integral role families play in Mexican culture and more generally to reinforce the global importance of families as the nucleus of society. Continue reading Family Day
By Deborah Van Hoewyk
Loyal readers of The Eye know that the birth control pill was actually created in Mexico City in 1951, when chemist Carl Djerassi synthesized hormones from Mexican yams. And, as we speak, other scientists from Mexico City are working on a molecule that will keep sperm from getting where they’re supposed to go—should work with everything from fish to cattle to men! Continue reading Planning the Mexican Family: A Triumph of Birth Control
By Julie Etra
Gay Marriage
Recognition of same-sex marriage varies throughout Mexico and is regulated by the state, although only civil unions are recognized. In this respect Mexico is surprisingly liberal for a predominantly Catholic nation. On December 21st, 2009, the Legislative Assembly legalized same sex marriages in Mexico City and the Mexican capital is one of the few places in the world where gay couples can legally adopt children. Continue reading Diversity in Mexico
By Brooke Gazer
When we were planning our move to Mexico many of our friends and family thought we had lost our minds. We had visions of warm sandy beaches with palm trees swaying gently in the breeze; they had visions of Clint Eastwood in “A Fist Full of Dollars”. (Never mind those “spaghetti westerns” were shot in Italy!) The truth is that Mexico is a multi-faceted nation that cannot be summed up with one stereotype. One aspect that might surprise you is the sophisticated level of scientific research that has come from this country. Mexico has been involved in some the most advanced discoveries of the 20th century. Here are five examples. Continue reading Extraordinary Innovation from Mexico
By Carole Reedy
We learn to ask for what we want by speaking.
“But it is in reading that we enter the intimacy and wonder of language.” Bassia Bar-Chai
“If you don’t read and write in the language, your Spanish will never improve.” These sage words come from the Spanish maestra quoted above who speaks seven languages fluently. Continue reading Reading To Improve Your Spanish
By Carole Reedy
Shopping as a cultural activity? In Mexico, especially in DF, it’s very possible. Just as there’s food on every corner of the city, there are items to buy, customs to learn, and captivating vendors with whom to converse. Shopping in Mexico is much more than just buying—it’s learning about the item’s origin, method of production, variety of uses, and names. Continue reading Christmas Shopping: Where and What to Buy at Mexico City’s Markets and Bazaars
By Carole Reedy
There is no pill or medicine that can miraculously grant you good health and an ideal weight. But there are powerful foods to help you on your quest. These superfoods contain disease-fighting nutrients that bolster your immune system, thus preventing illness. They also lower cholesterol and reduce your risk for heart disease and cancer. At the same time, they provide all the building blocks you need to stay healthy, maintain a healthy weight, and put you in a better mood.
How can they accomplish all this? Here’s a list some superfoods and what they can do for you. All are readily available at your supermarket. No need to search for specialty shops or health-food stores. Continue reading The Heroes of Health: 10 Lifesaving Superfoods
By Carole Reedy
There is no pill or medicine that can miraculously grant you good health and an ideal weight. But there are powerful foods to help you on your quest. These superfoods contain disease-fighting nutrients that bolster your immune system, thus preventing illness. They also lower cholesterol and reduce your risk for heart disease and cancer. At the same time, they provide all the building blocks you need to stay healthy, maintain a healthy weight, and put you in a better mood.
How can they accomplish all this? Here’s a list some superfoods and what they can do for you. All are readily available at your supermarket. No need to search for specialty shops or health-food stores. Continue reading The Heroes of Health: 10 Lifesaving Superfoods
By Jane Bauer
Things you should know about me regarding the following journey, I am very destination oriented and I don’t like to exercise. On being destination oriented….when I was 12 I developed a routine of riding my bicycle from Westmount along the Lachine canal to Old Montreal. At my destination I would purchase a small strawberry slushy and ride home. Now they sold the exact same slushies on our corner but it wasn’t the same. When I rolled up one day to find the little depanneur in Old Montreal had stopped selling slushies, my bike adventures along the canal came to an end. As for the exercise bit, well I like using my body; tennis, golf, yoga and of course biking, but just don’t tell me I am doing any of it for exercise. In my bucket list fantasy of running the New York marathon I never really think about the training or even the running. My mind rests on the fantasy of traversing the 5 boroughs of my favorite city and ending in Central Park, receiving one of those silver tin foil like blankets and then of course I am in NYC so a great dinner awaits. So when I decided to ride my bike from Santa Cruz Huatulco to Zipolite I thought about my arrival. I made plans with friends and booked a cabana. I didn’t pack any snacks, have a fancy water bottle or even get my bike tuned up. Are you rolling your eyes yet? Continue reading On the Road
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