We both have been so fortunate for having met the pure Mexican culture in many ways.
Here I'm standing next to a group of Mariachis that came to play and sing at a stylish Mass, celebrating the 49th anniversary of El Encinal, Monteblanco's oldest mushroom farm.
Mariachis are without hats; out of respect!
To the left is the manager from El Encinal and Don Victor who started Monteblanco 49 years ago is seated next to me and on the right of me is his son.
The kind Mariachi lends Pieter his violin...
The priest is getting ready for saying Mass
It was a very special Mass and afterward lunch for all employees.
During Mass, which got celebrated with lots of fresh flowers!
Mariachis still playing while employees are seated at table now.
Second from left is me standing near the door...
No paper napkins and such, but instead an Eco friendly table setting!
That was a meaningful event and most of the employees are grateful for their job!
UNESCO has added Mexico's Mariachi music to its list of 'intangible cultural heritage of humanity'.
Glad they did!
Plaza Garibaldi in Mexico City famous for its serenading Mariachis click for more info
On our fourth trip for consulting in Mexico, we got another very special royal treatment...
On Saturday, December 2 of 1995, we got picked up at the Camino Real Hotel in Mexico City, by Agustín and Carmen. They took us to the Historic District of Mexico City (UNESCO World Heritage Site) where we had lunch on a terrace with a margarita, under a parasol in the sun. It is such a beautiful city with many parks, trees and green planting; paradise.
After lunch we did walk around for some shopping together, for us CD's from the three tenors and organ music from Bach which we could not find at Schiphol/Amsterdam airport.
After a rest period back in our hotel, Agustín and Carmen picked us up again at 21:00 to go to Plaza Girabaldi where, according to the old Spanish tradition, the Mariachis still serenade. The idea is that you will listen in the square and pick out a group for taking to your home for serenading your wife/girlfriend/lover...
What a display!
It's like being in a live operette with such beautiful costumes!!!
Beautiful trousers with those gold decorations along the side of their legs. The length is also perfect; nice and long down to their booties. Very slim cut and higher waist, as in the movies used to be. Also with hats on, and they use violins, bass guitars, trumpet and a unique instrument the Vihuela (a 15th-century fretted plucked Spanish string instrument).
Agustín bought a group, for three songs; dedicated to Carmen and me.
That was very special!
Of course, the audience could also enjoy it.
WISH we'd had our iPhones back then...!
Related link:
Our 1st Time Consulting in Mexico with stay at Camino Real Hotel Mexico City | previous post about hotel where we stayed
Festive and wonderful event;-))
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
Deleteit sure was festive and wonderful!
Hugs,
Mariette
I don't know Mariette, I think you did pretty well capturing the atmosphere of these events with your camera. I can't get used to taking photos with my phone ✨
ReplyDeleteDearest Grace,
DeletePhotos making with a good iPhone is easy and they turn out well. But what I meant was having had an iPhone back then for videotaping it...!
Hugs,
Mariette
Iphone or not, you got some great photos here, Mariette. I enjoyed learning about this Mexican tradition, too.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Dearest Martha Jane,
DeleteThank you and I sure would have loved to capture the sound with my iPhone...
Mexico has lots of great traditions!
Hugs,
Mariette
What a wonderful experience. The music must have been so lovely. Was the Mass celebrated in Mexican or Latin?
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteYes that were some wonderful experiences!
The Mass was in Spanish, which comes very close to Latin.
Our Lord must have been smiling...
The same with being serenaded, I was smiling too and feeling happy!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, You and Pieter were lucky in that every place you went, you got to see the local specialties. Sometimes these were because of your position as visiting experts, but through your stories we also feel the genuine welcoming nature of these people giving the best they had to offer. A great way to travel the world!
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteYes, that is absolutely a great way for traveling the world and we enjoyed working in the different countries and cultures. We always wanted to be part of it, their daily life's celebrations shared like this makes a lasting impression!
Very warm people indeed and we treasure that.
Hugs,
Mariette
La música forma parte de la cultura de una tierra. Ella define muy bien a ese país.
ReplyDeleteMe alegro de que hayan disfrutado de su música. He visto por la tv de mi país, artistas mexicano que interpretaban la música típica de ese país.
Besos
Querida Antónia,
DeleteSí, representa parte de su cultura, una historia cantada de historias de amor y otras. Seguro que has escuchado esto y lo entiendes mejor que cualquier otra cultura.
Abrazos,
Mariette
Hallo Mariette, mooi en bijzonder om dit mee te maken. Fijne dag!
ReplyDeleteBeste Willy,
DeleteJa, voor beide evenementen was het heel bijzonder inderdaad.
Liefs,
Mariette
Love That Hat Of Yours - Another Wonderful Experience You Share - Thank You
ReplyDeleteCheers
Dearest Travis,
DeleteYes, this were indeed wonderful experiences for both of us.
Thanks for liking my hat!
Hugs,
Mariette
Mariette and hats go hand in hand / head on head. Adorable.
ReplyDeleteDearest Helen,
DeleteThank you! Still have this one...
Hugs,
Mariette
Wow talk about an amazing experience
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteYes, it sure were two very amazing experiences!
Hugs,
Mariette
What a nice experience and it's always interesting to be able to experience other cultures.
ReplyDeleteWe organize an international folklore festival here every two years with participants from all over the world ... I always look forward to it very much.
And on vacation in Andalusia I had the opportunity to get to know the original flamenco, including red wine! Have a nice day.
Thank you for your beautiful photos. I was very happy to see them.
Dearest Viola,
DeleteIt sure is nice for being transformed into a new culture as it enriches our minds.
We too have seen the authentic flamenco dancers and it made quite an impression on us.
How lovely for organizing such an international folklore festival; that brings people closer together and helps understanding a foreign culture.
Thanks for your kind words!
Hugs,
Mariette
I've watched a Mariachi show but they wouldn't be original, as it happened in Spain. But I could feel the emotion.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Coisas de Feltro
Dearest Christina,
DeleteOh, they might have traveled to Spain for performing there!
Yes, they put a lot of passion into it and that is very palpable.
Hugs,
Mariette