10 Ways Mexican Dictator Porfirio Diaz Actually Made a Positive Impact
Porfirio Diaz was the president of Mexico for 30 years—longer than anyone else in the country’s history. He led the country from 1876 to 1910 (with a four-year pause). He was a military commander and strategist who led the Mexican troops against the French. Given that Porfirio Diaz pretended to remain in power forever, history remembers him as a dictator. But we can’t overlook all of...Read More
Discover Mexico’s Freedom Trail With These 9 Beautiful Cities
Discover the Independence of Mexico history by traveling along the Freedom Trail! Mexico’s Freedom Trail is a series of touristic cities that were once key spots of the independence movement. In Mexico, it’s called the Ruta Hidalgo (Hidalgo Route) because Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was the leader of the cause. The route covers all the cities and towns he went through, marked...Read More
How El Grito de Dolores Triggered the Mexican War of Independence
El Grito de Dolores (the Cry of Dolores) was the turning point that led to Mexico’s independence from the Spanish Empire. This event inspired other independence movements and wars across Latin America. The Mexican independence process started in 1810 and culminated in 1821. Mexicans celebrate their national identity, traditions, symbols, music, and more annually. Visiting Mexico in...Read More
Frida Kahlo and Diego: Legends and Icons of Mexican Culture
Artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are two of the most iconic figures of Mexican culture. Through their modernist and post-revolutionary paintings and murals, they captured an era when the people wanted their power back. Indigenous roots and the origins of Mexicans were important to define national identity. And feminism was absent from the artistic field. Their influence...Read More
7 Mind-Blowing Books by Roberto Bolaño
Roberto Bolaño (1953-2003) was an award-winning Chilean writer, poet, journalist, and critic. Latin American literature experts consider him to be one of the most prominent and influential contemporary Spanish-language authors. Three of his books rank among the 15 best-published pieces in the last 25 years. Literary experts compare him to authors such as Pablo Neruda and Julio...Read More
The Influential Sounds of Son Cubano in Cuba
Son cubano is a dancing and singing style from Cuba. It gained international fame around 1930. It’s one of the most influential genres of Latin American music. Thanks to son cubano, we have other popular genres like salsa. The word son means something close to “sound” or “tune.” It’s not exclusive to son cubano; others include son huasteco and son jarocho. Son cubano has...Read More
Essential Tourism Vocabulary in Spanish: Words and Phrases To Know
With Spanish tourism vocabulary, you can greet people, ask for directions, order food at a restaurant, and navigate the bus station, airport, hotel, and more. Spanish tourism vocabulary helps you immeasurably while traveling in Hispanic countries. Learning Spanish is a tool that will open all kinds of doors for you. Your whole travel experience will be different and more...Read More
8 Incredible and Iconic Murals in Mexico City
Murals in Mexico City are famous for their size, historical importance, and transcendence. These immortal pieces of art document Mexican history. Mexican murals often display battles, wars, oppression, and the quest for justice. Muralism in Mexico started in 1920, and a generation of iconic painters transcended borders with their creativity. Muralism was a way to document the...Read More
The Ultimate Vocabulary Guide to Day of the Dead in Spanish
Get up close to Mexican culture by learning this Day of the Dead vocabulary. Day of the Dead is a Mexican celebration where the living welcome their beloved departed once a year. The dead crosses the threshold of their world to ours to eat, drink, dance, and sing with us. To learn more details about the specific rituals, decorations, dishes, and even how to make your own ofrenda...Read More