h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Howdy.

How about starting a Mexican club thingy for people who are Mexican or have inerest in Mexican culture and Spanish language? There are a bunch of Germans doing this (Germaniacs). I think it is a good idea. I don't know if there are many Mexicans who know about this site, but it would be worthwhile helping to explain more about what Mexico is really like for everyone else.

I was born English, butI have family from and have lived and worked in Monterrey for a couple of years - I live now in the much colder land of Canada. The people here have just started to learn what real tequila is - and may even discover real Mexican food shortly - I can now buy Chiles Poblano at my local supermarket!

I don't know much about Tampico. I know some people form around there - I have heard about a rather nice golf course and the oil industry, etc.. I once flew into the airport on my way to Veracruz - I would be interested to know more, as I know next to nothing.

I had been considering that, you know. However, I was considering one for Iberoamerica and Spain. There would certainly be more people. And it would be great to have one for Mexico and have a base for all Mexican. I am currently making a University Project about Pre-Hispanic Cultures, BTW, and accepting contributions.

Oh, and for a few days, don't talk about chiles as I recently got a stomachache and I'm in a nothing irritant I'm, however, glad you can get that. Did you ever fall to the depths of Taco Bell or other Ugly Stuff?

Well, there is an oil refinery (which has one of the three golf courses here). Big and important It is also an important port... well, Altamira, but it's very close... you can go into it and you'd still be in the city, even if a change would be noticed. There is the other golf course, which is the best, IMO. Lagunas de Miralta (Altamira, Miralta), There are houses around it. I'd love ot have a house there if it wasn't soooo far away from civilization. The Country Club and everything would be too long away. But at least I'd have an excuse to stay on h2g2 all day

I agree that this would be a good idea - A forum for people with interests in Spanish speaking (and Portuguese? throw in Brazil and Portugal - Perhaps that may confuse things?) countries - as they share history, culture and language, and influence each other.

I have never stepped inside a Taco Bell. I saw one in Mexico city once near my hotel on Reforma - I went to Arby's instead ( I was hungry and only had a few hours to rush around and catch a few museums - and I did not feel like finding safe and good tacos - shame on me). It seems all the gringo fast-food joints serve some sort of pseudo-taco thing now. They call them "wraps" - as they don'e resemble "Mexican" tacos (ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, some tomato and lettuce in a deep fried and folded-in-half corn tortilla - the likes of which I have never seen in Mexico).

In Monterrey, my fast food of choice has always been either "tacos Mode" - a small restaurant outside the Mode supermarket in Garza Garcia. They make the best little tacos of deshebrada, puerco adobado, barbacoa,... (I'm hungry now). Or else "Tortas Bernal", who have a couple of small places that just make tortas with shredded pork), avocado and cream - it's cheap and quick and cooked in front of your eyes really fast - I often see a few hungry traffic policemen in there!

I heard the Country Club is sort of like a piece of England stuck in Tamps.

I am also interested in Pre-Hispanic cultures. On a related topic, one of the precious and valuable things that makes Mexico special - is that much of the old cultures evolved and mixed with the Spanish - My sister-in-law travels around a lot visiting rural cultures in Mexico often populated by "native" people. Of course much has changed - but how wonderful that you can still meet people who have kept many customs from long ago. Canada is similar in this respect somewhat - we have Inuit and Mohawk culture to name a few. The Canadian government has also recently admitted that many of the "native" people live in 3rd world conditions in what is supposed to be the "best country to live in according to the UN" (you hear this every week or so since someone at the UN decided this) - well it is a pretty good place for most people.

Now that I am drifting off topic - We had a CBC news special program on Vicente Fox after his first day on the job. Half of it was about the policies and stuff like that. More than half of the program then focused on gay rights in Mexico - pointing out that old Vic. was a kind of a macho dude, and many gays felt threatened and some would like to move to Canada where they won't get beaten up. This is sort of typical of Canadian "politically correct news reporting" - not to belittle the issue - but I think more time could be spent on talking about the political situation in general.

I think it would just be confusing with the Portuguese and Brazilians. Different language... well, I think Gallego is Portuguese... oh, and what would be done about Catalan and Basque? Well, Basque should get its own, since the Basque have been Basque since the world began, but Catalan is very similar... I'm babbling, aren't I?

Anyway, I am glad you haven't entered it. Just seeing them on TV makes me want to throw a shoe at the TV.
'Deshebrada'? Do you mean 'de cebrada'?
I just ate some tacos. Flour tortilla, eggs, machacado, and beans... hmmm.

Modern Mexico is a mixture of Spain and the natives. I do love the pre-hispanic poetry... though it does center too much on flowers and other things like that. Of course, most of the natives are of the poorest people, except for a few, due to centuries of oppression (that is still going on, apparently).

I really don't like Fox very much. The only good thing he had was that he was not of the PRI and they had been in power way too long. And he's party is the PAN, which is the conservative one. Which is both good and bad. Good because they will stay anti-abortion (I am so very anti-abortion. IMO, if you have sex, you take the risk that you can get pregnant and you should live with the consequences if you do. Rape is another issue.) The bad would be all the anti-homosexuality and other similar issues. But I don't think there are anti-homosexual laws in Mexico. AFAIK, there is only the no same sex marriages (which, under Mexican law is logical since one of the resons for marriage is to have babies and you can't do that if the two parts are not present).

But more to the topic, how should we do the Iberoamerican Connection? Have you found other people?

I haven't found other people yet - I don't believe. They could be undercover Agentes Hispanohablantes. Most people of course here are from Britain and the Empire/Commonwealth and what isn't that anymore. Although my article on Tequila got some interest. This alone with the promise of real Mexican recipes etc., always gets people's attention.

I suppose we should stick to Castellano as it is the dominant language, especially over here. Although, I sure an outbreak of Catalan would be well understood, and perhaps even Gallego (This is a lot like Portuguese to me - but they do seem to have a good sense of humour) - Brazilians often resort to "Portanol" which is like "Spanglish" I suppose. Basque language doesn't relate to anything else around it. All I know is Euzkadi, which I understand means something like "us folks", and you can put up to four of them on your car.

You should do an entry on prehispanic poetry - I am sure it will get approved as it would be such a subject that most people would ot have the faintest clue about. I don't know anything about it, and I do not consider myself totally ignorant about Mexico and its people - I obviously only know very little - Which is why I am always fascinated by Mexico, and always will be.

Well I'm off to Monterrey in a few hours, so I'll likely have machacado con huevo too, with the best flour tortillas ever made in the Universe for breakfast on Sat. Hopefully with a good helping of fried tomato salsa with chiles serrano. Then I will likely proceed to a few favourite taco spots for real beef in flour tortillas, pork, barbacoa, etc. and maybe a couple of "piratas" washed down with a few bohemias or indios. I will wake up late the next morning.

"de cebrada" ... hmm.. Taco Bell ads. always make me think about shredded chihuahua dog tacos.

Feliz Navidad!

P.S. My only stay in Tampico was for about 45min on a flight from Monterrey to Veracruz waiting at the airport. I remember landing on the strip in a very small turbo prop (seats 12). I was great 'cos I could see out the cockpit window and watch the pilots from my seat. There was what looked like a rusty long-crashed or abandoned plane at the side of the runway. I remember across from me was an elderly Texan lady off to Tampico for the first time. She muttered "oh my God!" and made a few signs that looked like prayers once we started to land (and cold see the plane carcase).

Silly American woman...

I am sure that many would like to join up if they find out about a Spanish Connection... we do have to think of a name, though. A good one. And I agree with sticking with Spanish as the main, but maybe having a section for Catalan and others if people that speak them are found.

Actually, pre-hispanic poetry is one of the articles that will be part of my University Project. People should learn to appreciate it since it is good and deep and all. My favourtie piece is the one that is on the 100 Peso Bill (have you found it? You'll need glasses or a magnifying glass.)

Monterrey is a nice city. Big and all, but not crowded and polluted like Mexico City. Hmm... food... oh, look for a 'Casta' the best beer (I think it's an ale, though) I have tasted. Rather expensive though... it's from Monterrey.

Euskadi is the way the Basque call themselves, I think. ETA is Euskadi Something Something...

Igualmente!

I tried a few Castas last year - It is good beer. I think it is overpriced for what it is - it costs about the same a buying a good imported beer in Monterrey. I managed to demolish a few Indios and Sols in the last couple o' weeks. I think they are good everyday beers, and well made. Ales are beers - The term originally came from England and meant unhopped beer - Ironically, styles of English beer such as Pale Ales are normally heavily hopped. Lager is the style of beer normally made in N. America and Germany. Now the distinction is made based on the yeast used. Ale yeast ferments at warmer temperatures on top of the beer and lager yeast slowly at the bottom (Lager comes from the German word to store - ie. keep for a long time).

I really like Negra Modelo - but I would have to drink it in seclusion in Monterrey - While Noche Buena is even better, and I would openly demolish a few in public in Monterrey.

As fate would have it, we only have some 50s and 200 Peso notes. I did not notice the poetry before (I think), I paid most attention to the pictures and numbers.

I understand the Basque language, like Finnish and Estonian don't relate to those around - so no one has a good idea how they came to be.

Yes, it is overpriced... but my father was the one that bought it so that detail did not bother me much. I'm not much of a beer fan, though. The Indio is a good one. And Noche Buena is much better, but it is made for Christmas.
*blinks*
I'm actually quite happy in my ignorance of beers, lagers, and ales. I prefer just to use them as almost synonyms...

Well, it is only on the 100 peso bill with the Nezalhuacoyotl (spelling this is hard!). The poem goes something like this:

Amo al cenzontle(SP?),
ave de las cuatrocientas voces
Amo al color del jade,
y al enervante perfume de las flores.
Pero mas amo a mi amigo el hombre.

Birds, jade, and flowers were very important topics for the mesoamericans in their poetry.

Antes de que los peñascos sean peñascos, los bascos eran bascos.
I would like to learn Basque, if it were more spread around than just the Basque Country.... And if it were easier, too. If I decided to learn Catalan, even if it just helped me in parts of Spain and France, it is very easy to learn as it is like a mixture of French and Spanish.

Anyway, about the Spanish Connection... how about first making a page and then advertising it (through the nickname and Ask H2G2 and elsewhere)?

Ah yes! the cenzontle/tzinzontle or however it is spelt. I miss the sound of the song from my frequent trips up in the Sierra, 1400m up with nothing but the sound of them and the insects (and the ruffling of a few lizards, squirrels, and the odd puma).

I'll think about the page. It might take a while,as I am starting work on Monday and I expect to be very busy. Unless I get alarmingly productive this weekend.

Well, I have yet to hear that bird... or maybe I've heard it but just didn't know what it was.

Monday is the worst day of the world. I also start school once more that day. But I'm sure you can't wait for work. Well, once you have the page, tell me the number and I'll advertise it. Will it be bilingual, like the Germaniacs page?

Claro que si!

Suerte!

No tengo ni una gota de tequila (hemos tomado todo mi existencia), y tengo que despertarme temprano el lunes - que divertido.

Es mejor que no te tomes el tequila, entonces, o la resaca no te va a ayudar en el trabajo

I've found someone who might be Spanish at http://www.h2g2.com/U137575! MDL or something like that. Can't do anything about it now, though, too sleepy...