“GIN GIN” The Place For Gin in Mexico City…

Un secreto a voces que ha despertado la curiosidad de los locales y descubierto nuevas formas de consumir el gin. El Gin Gin es un espacio ideal para tomar cocteles con ginebra y disfrutar de un menú reducido pero muy exquisito. Un Kitchen-bar dedicado a servir en un ambiente muy misterioso, poco tradicional y muy interesante; la decoración incita al secreto y hace de una casa vieja, un lugar increíble para disfrutar los mejores gins de la ciudad. 

Pueden probar una gran variedad de cocteles, incluso cocteles vírgenes para todos aquellos abstemios. Es un lugar que vale la pena visitar, la música es para todo tipo de gustos y a través de su Página de Facebook pueden observar los diferentes DJ’s y músicos invitados que estarán tocando durante la semana. Un bar ubicado en una de las zonas más hispters y “trendys” de la Ciudad de Mexico, La Roma. Dónde la luz tenue y las plantas crean una atmósfera acogedora y llamativa para esta espectacular ciudad. Para conservar la intriga y el misterio las reservaciones se realizan únicamente a través de su Página de Facebook.

¡Gracias por leer y espero les guste mi recomendación!

A new “speakeasy” that has conquered the inevitable lifestyle of the locals in Mexico City. It is a Kitchen-bar located in one of the trendiest and hipster zones in Mexico called La Roma. The ambience has its own mystery and charm that will surprise you every time. People come here for the Gin cocktails prepared exquisitely by the bartender, definitely the best gins in the city.

The menu is small but the dishes are delicious, I completely recommend trying the peanuts with olives seasoned in spicy spices and the pizzas. I don’t remember the name of my favorite cocktails but one was made with cucumber, sake, gin, and tonic; and the other one had a very special gin mixed with the juice of the olives and a splash of tonic water. They sound simple but they are completely astounding. The decoration is quite peculiar and interesting but cool and classy at the same time. It is a place worth visiting. In order to keep the secrecy, reservations are made through the Facebook page. Hope you like the recommendations and always remember to Keep it Local!

 

Where to eat in Nuevo Vallarta…

Hello my dear readers, I am sorry for being absent for the last weeks, between the classes and some new projects that hopefully will start soon, I had a lot going on. I am in Nuevo Vallarta in Jalisco Mexico. The place is about 20 minutes away from downtown Puerto Vallarta. I am staying at Grand Luxxe, which is the luxury hotel from the big chain Mayan Palace. The place is enormous and the accommodations are beautiful, with rustic decorations. It has plenty of restaurants to chose from, which include Mexican, seafood, italian, and even a buffet everyday for breakfast and dinner. It has a kids pool area with a slow river and a water slide, where kids can spend hours having fun. Inside the hotel you can also find a market place, where you can do some shopping from several Mexican brands including Pineda Covalin. You can also shop for flowers, delicious chocolates, wine, crepes, and vegetables.
Outside the hotel area I recommend having lunch at “Las 8 Tostadas,” it is my favorite local restaurant in Nuevo Vallarta. The place is not fancy at all but the food is astounding. You will find different types of seafood tacos, quesadillas, ceviche, tuna tartar, carpaccio, and empanadas. Everything is served fresh, and perfectly seasoned. The fish tacos are surprisingly tasty, fresh, and crunchy on the outside. The ceviche and the tuna carpaccio are a must try. If your looking for local food to try, this is the place to go, the only bad thing is that it closes at 8 pm so come early.
The other two restaurant to go to in Nuevo Vallarta are “La Dolce Vita” and italian joint, and “La Laguna de Timo” another amazing local seafood restaurant. This place is even less fancy than 8 Tostadas, but the food is extraordinary. The menu is simple but it doesn’t need anything else because the seafood by itself is tasty enough. The must try here is the Red Snapper Sarandeado, a traditional grilled fish dish from Mexico’s Pacific Coast. The fish is rubbed in a garlic and chile paste and then grilled to perfection. The fish was extremely soft with a small chili and garlic crust which was mild and reduced the salty flavor of the fish, making every bite wonderful. And the plus in this place is that you can spot celebrities from time to time.
Come to Nuevo Vallarta and explore the magnificent nature that this place has to offer, just watch out for the iguanas, they sure know how to make an entrance.
Visit Mexico!!!!

Fitness Madness Part IV

Ph. by Fernanda Casillas

Hola my dear readers! Sorry for not being here constantly and just posting every now and then. I am taking a food writing course and it is taking me more time than I expected. I am sorry, however, it’s no excuse. I’m trying to be a better writer so you can enjoy my writing more every day. Thank you for standing beside me and for following me in this path that has almost taken me a year.

This is another Fitness Madness post but this time in Monterrey, NL. I studied my bachelors degree in this city, it was also where I met Daniel, and a lot of my dearest friends. Daniel and I visit Monterrey every now and then, and I thought it would be a good idea to take some photos in this Environmental Park called Chipinque. Located in the mountain of Sierra Madre Oriental, it is a park which altitude goes from 730 to 2,200 meters above sea level. Locals go there for many outdoor activities including cycling, running, camping, outdoor fitness, and even bird-watching. The place is beautiful, and the views are breathtaking. If you go to Monterrey, Chipinque is a must for those adventurers.

¡Hola queridos lectores! Perdónenme si no he estado escribiendo mucho en el blog, estoy tomando un curso de “food writing” y me está tomando más tiempo del que pensaba. No es ninguna excusa pero les pido perdón. La verdad estoy aprendiendo mucho y quiero mejorar mi manera de escribir para que puedan disfrutar más leerme. 

Este post es otro de Fitness Madness, pero esta vez las fotos fueron tomadas en Monterrey, Nuevo León. En esta ciudad fue dónde estudié mi carrera, dónde conocí a Daniel y a muchas de mis mejores amigas, por eso la estimo tanto. Daniel y yo tratamos de ir de vez en cuando y la última vez que fuimos decidí tomar estas fotos en un parque ecológico muy importante en Monterrey. Este parque se llama Chipinque, y está ubicado en la Sierra Madre Oriental. Es una área natural de 1,791 hectáreas y tiene una altitud de 730 hasta 2,200 metros sobre el nivel del mar. Los locales visitan este parque para realizar varias actividades como correr, ciclismo, montañismo, hay gimnasio al aire libre, clases de yoga todos los domingos y además es simplemente hermoso por las vistas que tiene de la ciudad. Si visitan Monterrey, este parque es un lugar que vale mucho la pena conocer, especialmente para aquellos aventureros. 

The most dangerous risk of all…

 Ph. by Fernanda Casillas

“The most dangerous risk of all – The risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.”

– RANDY KOMISAR

There is a TV commercial about a store that uses the phrase “find what speaks to you,” and I know there’s no comparison to what I’m about to write here in this post, but I find that phrase rather motivating. We go through life doing what we have to that we forget what we want to, people spend their entire lives working so there can be a time when they live the life they’ve always wanted. But, what happens if that time never arrives? We keep waiting for a moment to live and do what we love, so “finding what speaks to us” is a way of searching for things to do that makes us happy. I know we have to work, and we have to do things we don’t like, but that is no reason for us to be miserable. And I can`t tell you to find your passion, I think that is really confusing from time to time because we can also spent our entire lives trying to find our passion and feel frustrated if we don’t; and maybe when we find it we discover that either it wasn’t our passion at all or it wasn’t as we expected it to be. So as Thomas Merton once said: “find meaning in an imperfect moment,” and everyday do the things that make you happy, live you life one day at a time and enjoy it because it can be as extraordinary as you want it to be, stop waiting to for your passion to arrive!!! How are you feeling this Friday? Today, I am feeling less negative and more positive towards the idea of living my life jus the way I want to right now!

These photos were taken at a local restaurant in Monterrey, Nuevo León in Mexico. It is a Mexican food restaurant called Gallo 71, the food is really good and the drinks are amazing, it is a little bit expensive though. I totally recommend trying the artichokes as an appetizer, the tuna tartar is also delicious and the must try is the pistachio cake, it will amaze you. Always make reservations in advance, and if the weather is nice I recommend a table in the terrace. Thank you for reading!!!

“El riesgo más peligroso de todos – El riesgo de pasar toda tu vida sin hacer lo que te gusta, apostando que puedes comprarte la libertad de hacerlo después.”

– RANDY KOMISAR

Hay un comercial de TV de una tienda para decoración de casa que usa una frase que dice “encuentra aquello que te habla,” y yo sé que no tiene ninguna comparación con lo que voy a escribir en este post pero la verdad la frase me parece muy motivadora. Pasamos nuestra vida entera haciendo lo que tenemos que hacer que nos olvidamos de lo que nos gusta hacer, muchas personas pasan su vida entera trabajando para que algún día puedan vivir la vida que siempre soñaron. Pero, ¿qué pasa si ese día nunca llega? Siempre esperamos el momento en que podamos vivir y hacer lo que nos gusta, así que “encontrar lo que nos habla” creo que es una forma de buscar las cosas que nos hacen felices. Yo sé que tenemos que trabajar, que siempre va a haber cosas que no nos gusten hacer y que tenemos que hacerlas, pero eso no quiere decir que tenemos que ser miserables por el resto de nuestras vidas. Y tampoco les puedo decir que encuentren su pasión y que todo se resolverá mágicamente porque no es cierto, encontrar nuestra pasión puede llegar a ser muy confuso y complicado; que pasa si nunca la encontramos, entonces viviremos frustrados toda la vida, o que pasa si al encontrarla descubrimos que no era lo que esperábamos o simplemente no era nuestra pasión. Así que, como Thomas Merton dijo una vez: “encontremos significado en un momento imperfecto,” vivíamos día a día haciendo cosas que nos gusten, un día a la vez y disfrutémosla al máximo, porque su vida puede ser tan extraordinaria como ustedes quieran. Denle valor a todo lo que hacen y denle recompensa también, vivan inmensamente sin remordimientos y dejen de esperar a que su pasión entre por la puerta. ¿Cómo se sienten este viernes? Yo hoy me siento más positiva hacia la idea de vivir mi vida justo como yo quiero vivirla!!

Estas fotos fueron tomadas en un restaurante en Monterrey, Nuevo León. El restaurante se llama Gallo 71, es de los mismos de la cantina La Nacional, y se especializa en comida mexicana. La comida es deliciosa y las bebidas están buenísimas. Les recomiendo probar las alcachofas de entrada, el tartar de atún también es muy rico y lo que vale la pena probar es el pastel de pistacho. Si quieren ir tienen que hacer reservación porque casi siempre se llena mucho y yo les sugiero una mesa en la terraza si el clima lo permite. !Muchas gracias por leer!

I WAS WEARING FOREVER 21 NECKLACE, MIU MIU SUNGLASSES

 

 

Fitness Madness Part III

You know I’m a fitness addict, and I wanted to show you this amazing tool to train anywhere, anytime. RIP Training is a lever bar with a resistance cord designed to provide core strengthening and stability, cardio endurance, balance, and control as a functional training device. It gives us the ability to perform better and easier our every day activities. It is perfect for traveling because you can take it in your bags and use it whenever you want to train. I really recommend it, and when you buy it, it comes with a series of exercises and complete workout routines so you can train easily. Today could be a good day to start working out!!!Hola!!! Ya saben que soy una adicta al ejercicio y es por esto que quiero enseñarles este aparato que pueden usarlo cuando sea y en donde sea. El RIP Training es un aparato compuesto de una barra atada a una liga de resistencia, es diseñado para proporcionar fuerza y estabilidad en el abdomen, equilibrio, resistencia y movilidad a través del entrenamiento funcional. Es excelente porque nos ayuda a hacer con más facilidad y de una mejor manera nuestras actividades de todos los días. Lo recomido ampliamente, si es que lo compran, en el mismo paquete vienen una serie de ejercicios y rutinas de entrenamiento con las que pueden empezar. ¡¡¡Hoy puede ser un buen día para comenzar a entrenar!!!! ¡¡Gracias por leer!!

I was wearing Lululemon pants and shirt, Nike shoes.

 

Two amazing cities, one informative post…

Ph. From www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx

This is not a regular post, it is not based on what locals do, but on what tourists, travelers, and experiencers can do in two very exciting cities: Mexico City, an article made by me, and Las Vegas, an article made by Kendra Thorntorn. Hope you like it…

My Beloved Mexico
by: Bettina Guisa
HISTORY, CULTURE, AND TRADITION

I don’t know how to begin to explain how amazing, vibrant, and exhilarating this city can be. Especially when I’m proud to say that it’s one of own. A city full of wonders, colors, culture, history, tradition, and hospitality: my beloved Mexico City.

This city has more to offer than what you’ve probably have heard on the news, there is not comparison of what you hear than what you can experience in every unimaginable way.
It’s a city that has it all, even a piece of heaven. I’m talking about an extraordinary place in the middle of chaos that makes you believe in magic: Bosque de Chapultepec (Cerro del Chapulin), one of the biggest “urban” parks in Latin America. With 686.05 hectares it welcomes around 15 million visitors per year providing them a historic, recreational, and environmental place to enjoy and conquer every day. It has 9 museums, including the National Museum of Antropology and History, one of the most important museums in Mexico with 26 rooms of astounding archaeological and ethnological pieces gathered since the eighteenth century. Another museum, which is also an emblematic building of the city and the country, and one of the most wonderful places to visit in Mexico, the Museum of National History. Known as the Chapultepec’s Castle (Castillo de Chapultepec), an eighteenth century castle that compiles most of the history of Mexico including the building itself: a gunpowder factory, home of emperors, headquarters of the military school, residence of the presidents of the country, until 1939 when it was turned into a museum. You can see everything in this unforgettable piece of land, it has it all, including a museum where children can play, touch, and learn (Papalote, Museo del Niño); to an amusement park, two lakes, a zoo, and a forest with great restaurants and activities to relish.

If you are looking for a more contemporary and modern art, The Jumex Museum is the place to go. Designed by the British architect David Chipperfield, it’s a place designated to learn, explore, and discover contemporary art. Another museum, which is worth visiting at least once, is the Soumaya Museum, a non profit establishment that collects, researches, conserves, and exposes masterpieces of art from Mexico and Europe.

Besides museums, Mexico City has an astonishing place waiting for you to discover. The Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes), one of the most beautiful places I have seen in my life, a place where artists turn opera, dance, and theater into national jewels.

FOOD FOR THE SOUL

How can I talk about Mexico without naming its traditional and one of a kind food? Known and well desired in many countries around the world, Mexican food is best savored in Mexico. One of the best places to eat authentic Mexican food is called Tacuba Coffee (Cafe de Tacuba), founded in 1912. The restaurant is a big house from the seventeenth century, fueled with inspiring gastronomical history and high quality standards; a true gastronomic gem in the City. Another Mexican food devoted restaurant is El Cardenal, a beautiful traditional place full of character where you can taste genuine Mexican flavors. They are a reminder that food tells a story through its aromas, techniques, and savors. You can really tell that this food was made to inspire and conquer every palate.

BEST OF THE BEST

Mexico City is compiled with different kinds of zones that suit different personalities. Two of my favorites are Polanco and La Roma. Polanco is a chic and high end zone that offers great restaurants, shopping, and culture. It has all kinds of restaurants for all types of palates and distinctions. You can taste extraordinary traditional food from Yucatan (cochinita pibil) in a small and not so fancy restaurant called Turix. You can have one of the best brunches in the city in this pet friendly place Maque or have the night of your life in Gravity a pop music nightclub with great drinks and great ambiance.
La Roma is now considered one of the best zones in Mexico, it’s hipster, trendy, and so out of the ordinary. You can take a walk over its streets feeling completely in a different kind of world; it takes your breath away. My favorite place here is Rosetta, an Italian restaurant offering amazing food and great service with the most romantic scene you have ever experienced. A must visit in Mexico City. If you want a drink or two you must visit Salinger, foamous for its gin and tonic combinations, the food is limited to snack bar but really delicious. And if you are looking for more of an alternative place to dance and drink the place for you is Mono, a speakeasy nightclub designated to make you move under the beat of electric, progressive, and techno music with no strings attached.

RECREATION AND ADVENTURE

I couldn’t leave the fun out of this amazing journey through my city. There are a million things to do here but these two are my favorite. Take a ride on a hot air balloon above the dreamiest place in Mexico: Teotihuacan, a national heritage gem full of wonder and history. The ride is extraordinary, you can see all the pyramids from above and learn more about our culture. The other wonderful adventure and a must do in Mexico City is a promenade in the Xochimilco canals inside the colorful gondolas (or “trajineras” as we call them) where you can hear Mariachi, taste authentic Mexican food, and have a shot of tequila. Xochimilco is a World Heritage Site that welcomes tourists and locals for a once in a lifetime experience.

This is just a taste of my beloved Mexico, there are still so many wonders and adventures waiting for you, so book a trip to Mexico city and have the best experience of your life.

Four Ways to Get Your Thrills in Sin City
by: Kendra Thorntorn

Everybody knows that Las Vegas is a fun place to be. In fact, if you bother to step outside the air-conditioned comfort of your hotel or casino, you’ll find that there are some truly thrilling, once in a lifetime experiences available to the intrepid Las Vegas vacationer.

FOOD FIGHT!

In true fashion, visitors can seize the day (and some antacids!) in any number of larger than life food challenges. There are several to choose from – the buffets alone can qualify if you do them right – but two of the best are right next to each other. You can grab a monster-size eight pound burger at the Monte Carlo, and true steak lovers and / or gluttons for punishment (and everything else!) can stroll on down to BRAND, a hip steakhouse on the Strip with a gut-busting challenge of its own: a $250 USD, 120 ounce steak grilled to perfection, a side of your choice, and two sauces of your own choosing. In either case, come hungry, and be ready for an audience, because your fellow diners and visitor’s love watching these spectacles almost as much as they love watching an underdog win it big!

YOU’RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER BOAT

Remember ‘JAWS’? It’s a classic, right? Well, it just so happens that the fine folks of Mandalay Bay resort have something you can only find in Sin City: The only predator-centric aquarium in the whole of North America. They’ve got it all – piranha, carnivorous Moray eels, and lots of other deep-sea hunters. Know what else they’ve got? Sharks. Fifteen species of them, in fact, and wouldn’t you know it, you can go diving with them! Participants get fitted for a shark suit made of chain mail, and then you and a crew plunge beneath the waves of the indoor ‘Shark Reef’ exhibit.

MUSEUMS

Las Vegas has quite a cultural scene. It boasts several museums, and while they range in specific content and exhibit type, it’s easy to find something anyone can enjoy. Suitable for individuals, couples, and families alike, a favorite example of Sin City’s must-do museums is the National Atomic Testing Museum, which chronicles Nevada’s unique history as a nuclear testing site. It’s located just a few miles away from the Strip, so make sure you don’t miss it!

THRILL RIDES

Last on our rundown of a thrill-junkie’s preferred pursuits of Las Vegas, but certainly not least, there is the collection of adrenaline pumping roller coasters and other such rides and attractions. Whether you’re looking to jump off a one hundred plus story platform or take on El Loco’s negative-G drops, if you look to amusement parks for your rush, Vegas has you covered.

These are some of my personal favorites. The attractions here are truly unique and the hotels make you feel right at home. With so many to choose from, sites like Gogobot make it easy to read user reviews so you can feel more comfortable on your next trip to Vegas!

Ph. by http://lasvegas.haasalumni.org

Great Combination

I arrived to Mexico City a year ago and when I started going out to restaurants, clubs, bars, etc., I’d never imagined that I would fall in love with this city. This weekend I went out with some friends that have been living here for a while now, and we were talking about how this city can be a little bipolar; it gives you these amazing places to go out, to explore, to have fun, to meet people, to have a nice cup of coffee, you name it and Mexico has it; but it also gives you a lot of traffic, people drive like crazy, and it’s always crowded (everywhere, anyplace). However, we all agreed that it gives you more than it takes you. So I want to recommend this amazing place that perfectly combines the elegance of French food with the extravaganza of our traditional Mexican food (which I absolutely adore and admire).

The place, which is located in Condesa/Roma one of the trendiest neighborhoods in the city, is called Mexsi Bocu. Everything about the place creates the perfect fusion between Mexico and France: the decorations filled with chandeliers, ancient pictures with golden frames, and the chairs are different among them, but classy; and if you go to the terrace upstairs, you will find yourself in an outdoor mexican patio with a full bar and amazing music. The food is really good and the menu has a lot of classic french and mexican dishes to offer, as soon as you get in you can smell the baguettes baking, which makes you wanna eat anything that comes out of the kitchen. We ordered tuna and salmon tostadas as an appetizer, really fresh and citrusy; as an entree we ordered a seafood soup with a tamale inside, at first I couldn’t imagine eating something like this, but it really surprised me, they combined perfectly the tamale absorbs all the juices and flavors from the soup making it melt in your mouth. Also we ordered the famous “chile en nogada” which the executive chef Alexis Preschez managed to reconstruct turning it into a napoleon  (classic French presentation of dishes) with layers of sweet and savory ground beef and poblano chile topped with the nogada sauce; the colors of the dish were amazing. I completely recommend trying Mexsi Bocu, the place is comfy, homey, classic, with two great open spaces which incite you to drink and socialize. The waiters are always smiling and they have a great attitude, which is always a plus; and the food speaks for itself. Hope you like it!!! Always remember to keep it local!!!

Ratings:

Price $$$

Service: Excellent

Ambiance: Casual and great for drinks before going out.

Reservation recommended at night.

Hace un año que llegue al DF y jamás pensé que cuando empezara a salir a restaurantes, antros, bares, etc. me iba a enamorar de esta ciudad. El otro día estaba cenando con unas amigas, que ya tienen tiempo viviendo aquí, y platicábamos de cómo esta ciudad puede llegar a ser un poco bipolar, por un lado te ofrece una gran cantidad de restaurantes, de lugares hermosos, donde tomar un cafe agusto, ir de compras, ir a cenar, cualquier cosa que tengan en mente y México lo tiene; pero por otro lado el tráfico es horrible, la gente maneja como loca y siempre todo está lleno. Sin embargo, acordamos que es más lo que te da que lo que te quita. Entonces quiero hablarles de un lugar que fui hace tiempo y me encantó, es un lugar que fusiona perfectamente la elegancia de la comida Francesa con la extravagancia de la comida Mexicana, la cual amo y admiro con todo el corazón.

El lugar se llama Mexsi Bocu y está situado en la colonia Condesa/Roma, que es uno de los barrios más hipsters de la ciudad. Lo que me encantó de este lugar, además de su comida, es que todo se mezcla perfecto entre Francia y México. Las paredes están llenas de retratos antiguos de flores como deslavadas con marcos dorados, las sillas de las mesas no combinan entre si pero a la vez se ven muy clásicas, hay candelabros por todo el restaurante, todo esto totalmente francés. Por otro lado, la terraza del segundo piso asemeja a un patio antiguo mexicano, con una barra enorme (donde muchas de las bebidas son servidas en vasos de peltre) y excelente música. El menú está súper variado, además de que ofrece muchos platillos clásicos franceses y mexicanos. Nosotros pedimos unas tostadas de atún y salmón para empezar, estaban muy frescas y con mucho sabor a cítricos. De segundo tiempo ordenamos una sopa de mariscos con un tamal al fondo, al principio de verdad no me imaginé comiendo algo así, pero realmente me sorprendió combinaban perfectamente; el tamal absorbe todo el jugo de la sopa y los mariscos, lo cual hace que se derrita en tu boca. También ordenamos el famoso chile en Nogada, y lo que me encantó de este platillo es, que el chef ejecutivo Alexis Preschez presenta una reconstrucción del platillo en un Napoleón (una clásica presentación francesa) de láminas de carne y chile poblano bañadas con la salsa Nogada. La presentación se veía muy bonita y los sabores estaban perfectos. Verdaderamente recomiendo Mexsi Bocu, el lugar es acogedor, clásico y muy bonito; los meseros fueron muy amables y siempre estaban sonriendo y atendiendo con la mejor actitud. Cuenta con dos terrazas muy bonitas que te incitan a tomar y convivir, y la comida es deliciosa. ¡¡Espero les guste!!

Ratings: 

Precio: $$$

Servicio: Excelente

Ambiente: Casual y excelente para precopear.

Les recomiendo hacer reservación especialmente en la noche pues si se llena mucho.

Inspiration…

It’s Friday again, and I couldn’t think of a better way to start this year’s Feeling Friday with something I want to share with all of you, something worthy of admiration, a true inspiration that moves a city just by making believe… I am talking about a local tradition in Irapuato, Guanajuato, my hometown. In Mexico our holiday traditions are not done after New Year, on January 6th we celebrate “The Three Wise Men Day” (also known as The Three Magi or Día de Los Reyes Magos) a day where we remember when the Three Wise Men, Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthazar followed the star of Bethlehem all the way to Jerusalem to meet Baby Jesus, bringing him treasured gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. As a representation of this, on January 5th the children put one of their shoes under the tree waking up on the 6th with gifts from The Three Wise Men. Also on the 6th, we get together to eat a pastry called the King’s Ring (Rosca de Reyes), a tradition brought by the Spaniards, which is an oval shaped pastry decorated with dried fruits symbolizing the gems of the kings’ crowns. It is baked with hidden small figurines from Baby Jesus remembering the moment when the Holy Family needed to hide Baby Jesus to save him from King Herod. So each person of the family cuts the pastry and whoever gets the figurine has found God… and also he or she must be the host of another celebration on February 2nd: Candle Mass Day, and serve tamales and hot chocolate to all the guests.

So after I told you all of this, I want to share my hometown’s tradition. It all started by a family, who wanted to make dreams come true. Some years ago the Alfaro family, began by dressing up as The Three Wise Men, visiting families to give presents to their children and traveling the streets of Irapuato as a way of giving the people some hope and inspiration. Over the years, this turned out into a magical parade, which now involves around 500 people who work together to give the children of Irapuato a chance to meet their dream: to see The Three Wise Men. The parade comes to life thanks to all the people who donate their work, effort, and money, and lend their trailers to create the amazing decorations which inspire the history of the born of Baby Jesus. It takes months of organization (for some even a whole year), and 4 days to decorate all the trailers. At the end of the parade, The Three Wise Men appear filling the streets of Irapuato, with joy and happiness. After the parade is finished, The Three Magi, go to hospitals, and shelters, and visit the terminally ill children to deliver presents, giving them a night they will never forget. Also, they get hired by some families to give the presents to their children as well, and they use this money to buy more presents, and to cover some of the expenses incurred during the parade. Everything is done just for the love of the city and its children, which is the amazing part, this family created an extraordinary tradition that has become part of peoples’ lives. So, I want to take this chance to thank this impressive family for giving us, 250,000 people, a night we all look forward every year, a night full of wonderful memories that give this city an inspiration to aspire. Thank you for making this day exceptional, you do bring magic to the children and to adults, which most of the times are the ones who need magic to believe that the world is still a great place; so you make the impossible possible in one night. How are you feeling this Friday? I am feeling proud… proud of this family, proud of my city, my people, my hometown.

I want to thank the Alfaro family, and Julio Martínez for making this article happen. Thank you!!!

Es viernes otra vez, y no pude pensar en otra mejor manera de empezar este primer Feeling Friday del año, con una cosa que quiero compartir con ustedes, algo digno de admiración, una verdadera inspiración que mueve una ciudad sólo por hacer creer. Estoy hablando de una tradición local en Irapuato, Guanajuato, my ciudad natal. En México, nuestras fiestas no terminan después de Año Nuevo; el día 6 de Enero celebramos el Día de Reyes, un día en el que recordamos cuando los Tres Reyes Magos: Melchor, Gaspar y Baltazar, siguieron la estrella de Belén hasta Jerusalem para conocer al niño Dios, llevándole tres regalos: oro, incienso y mirra. Como representación de esto, el 5 de Enero por la noche, los niños dejan su zapato debajo del árbol para despertar el 6 con regalos de los Reyes Magos. También el día 6, nos juntamos en familia para comer la Rosca de Reyes, una tradición que nos dejaron los españoles, la cual es una rosca ovalada decorada con frutos secos que simbolizan las piedras preciosas de las coronas de los Reyes. Es horneada con pequeñas figuras del Niño Dios escondidas, que representan cuando La Sagrada Familia tuvo que esconder al Niño Dios para salvarlo del Rey Herodes. Entonces, cada persona de la familia parte un pedazo de rosca y si sale el figurín del Niño Dios quiere decir que ha encontrado a Dios… además esta persona debe invitar a su casa a todos los presentes el día 2 de Febrero, Día de la Candelaria, para servir tamales y chocolate caliente por tradición.

Ahora bien, después de contarles todo esto, quiero compartir con ustedes la tradición de mi ciudad natal. Todo empezó por una familia que quería hacer sueños realidad. Hace algunos años, la familia Alfaro, comenzó visitando casas y paseando por las calles de Irapuato para llevar regalos a los niños y dar a la gente algo de esperanza e inspiración. Después de tiempo, esto se ha convertido en una cabalgata que ahora involucra alrededor de 500 personas que se juntan a trabajar para darle una oportunidad a los niños de conocer su sueño: ver a los Reyes Magos. La Cabalgata toma vida gracias a todas las personas que donan su trabajo, esfuerzo y dinero, y prestan sus trailers para ser decorados enseñando la historia del nacimiento de Jesús. La organización lleva alrededor de 4 meses (para algunos el año completo) y toma 3 ó 4 días para decorar todos los trailers. Al final del desfile, aparecen los Reyes Magos, llenando de felicidad y alegría las calles de Irapuato. Cuando el desfile termina, los Tres Reyes Magos, visitan hospitales, albergues y niños con enfermedades terminales para entregarles sus regalos y darles una noche que jamás olvidarán. Además son contratados por algunas familias para que les lleven los regalos a sus hijos, y con ese dinero puedan comprar más regalos y cubrir algunos de los gastos que se incurren durante el desfile. Todo se hace por amor a la ciudad y a los niños, que es la mejor parte, esta familia ha creado una tradición extraordinaria que se ha convertido en parte de nuestras vidas. Es por esto, que quiero aprovechar este Feeling Friday, para darle las gracias a esta maravillosa familia que nos regala una noche que esperamos año con año, una noche llena de grandes recuerdos que le dan a esta ciudad una gran inspiración a seguir. Muchas gracias por hacer de este día, un día excepcional, realmente traen la magia para los niños y también los adultos, quienes la mayoría de las veces somos los que más necesitamos creer que el mundo sigue siendo grandioso; gracias por hacer lo imposible posible. ¿Como se sienten este viernes? Yo me siento orgullosa… orgullosa de esta hermosa familia, de mi ciudad y de mi gente.

Quiero agradecer a la Familia Alfaro y a Julio Martínez por hacer este artículo posible. !Muchas gracias!