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A little about Playa Zipolite, The Beach of the Dead . . .

Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca, Southern Mexico, on the Pacific Ocean. A little bit about my favorite little get-away on this small world of ours.

Zipolite, a sweaty 30-minute walk west from Puerto Angel, brings you to Playa Zipolite and another world. The feeling here is 1970's - Led Zep, Marley, and scruffy gringos.

A long, long time ago, Zipolite beach was usually visited by the Zapotecans...who made it a magical place. They came to visit Zipolite to meditate, or just to rest.

Recently, this beach has begun to receive day-trippers from Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido, giving it a more TOURISTY feel than before.

Most people come here for the novelty of the nude beach, yoga, turtles, seafood, surf, meditation, vegetarians, discos, party, to get burnt by the sun, or to see how long they can stretch their skinny budget.

I post WWW Oaxaca, Mexico, Zipolite and areas nearby information. Also general budget, backpacker, surfer, off the beaten path, Mexico and beyond, information.

REMEMBER: Everyone is welcome at Zipolite.

ivan

Saturday, April 14, 2018

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Buenas vacaciones en Zipolite y Puerto Ángel PubliMar Turistas disfrutan de las playas. • Un promedio de 75 por ciento de ocupación hotelera. • Vigilancia permanente en las playas. Raúl Laguna. SAN PEDRO POCHUTLA.- Con buena afluencia turística cierra la segunda semana vacacional de ésta temporada en Puerto Ángel y Zipolite, en donde hasta el ...


Buenas vacaciones en Zipolite y Puerto Ángel
Turistas disfrutan de las playas. • Un promedio de 75 por ciento de ocupación hotelera. • Vigilancia permanente en las playas. Raúl Laguna. SAN PEDRO POCHUTLA.- Con buena afluencia turística cierra la segunda semana vacacional de ésta temporada en Puerto Ángel y Zipolite, en donde hasta el ...

• Turistas disfrutan de las playas.
• Un promedio de 75 por ciento de ocupación hotelera
• Vigilancia permanente en las playas
Raúl Laguna
SAN PEDRO POCHUTLA.- Con buena afluencia turística cierra la segunda semana vacacional de ésta temporada en Puerto Ángel y Zipolite, en donde hasta el momento existe saldo blanco y que aun corporaciones policiacas y castrenses realizan recorridos de seguridad y vigilancia en apoyo de la ciudadanía.
El director de turismo municipal de San Pedro Pochutla, Juan José Denova Reyes informó que de un 75 por ciento de ocupación hotelera en los destinos, tanto en Zipolite como en Puerto Ángel, para ésta semana bajó a un 60 y que todavía se puede observar visitantes, sobre todo de nacionalidad mexicana, caminando por las playas, turistas que van de paso, aquellos que visitan éstos centros vacacionales sin pernoctar en el lugar.
De acuerdo al informante, durante la semana pasada, en el franja turística que comprende de El Mazunte, TonamecaPuerto Ángel en Pochutla; la ocupación hotelera se mantuvo a un 75 por ciento y que durante ésta semana todavía se mantiene turismo de paso y los que se hospedan en cada uno de los lugares vacacionales.
Denova Reyes puntualizó que “tanto en Zipolite como en Puerto Ángel hubo cancelaciones de hospedaje, debido al bloqueo en Noxistlán, unos quisieron rodear los bloqueos y salían al mismo lugar y mejor decidieron en trasladarse a otro lugar o simplemente regresarse a su lugar de origen”, manifestó.
Actualmente, los turistas que prefieren los destinos de Zipolite o Puerto Ángel “ya previenen, sobre todo por Internet realizan sus reservas; son muy pocos visitantes que llegan sin reservar”, dijo.

Ocupación hotelera al 75 por ciento

Para el director de turismo, la afluencia vacacional en la franja turística de El Mazunte a Puerto Ángel se mantuvo en un promedio de 75 por ciento y que en Puerto Escondido y Huatulco fue mayor debido a que los paseantes que visita la franja viajan por carretera y que debido a los bloqueos no pudieron viajar o se abstuvieron a hacerlo.
“Sin embargo, a Huatulco y Puerto Escondido, la mayor parte del turismo lo hace vía aérea; además de los que llegan vía terrestre que entraron por Acapulco o por el Istmo, que afortunadamente por esas arterias no hubo cierres carreteros”, explicó Denova.
Cabe mencionar que las playas de Zapotengo y Salchi, tuvo un repunte por la visita de turistas, sobre todo de nacionalidad mexicana que disfrutaron de los lugares, “en otras ocasiones se veía gente en éstos lugares; pero ahora llegó más gente que en otras ocasiones”.

Zipolite y Puerto Ángel las más visitadas

Las playas más visitadas durante las dos semanas han sido Zipolite en sus más de dos kilómetros de extensión con las que cuenta, sobre todo Roca Blanca; además de Playa Panteón en Puerto Ángel.
Hasta el día de ayer; en Puerto Ángel y Zipolite todavía tenían visitantes, turistas de paso y de los que cuentan con hospedaje y “se espera que en éste fin de semana llegue más turismo y deje derrama económica para los prestadores de servicios de éstos destinos de playa”.

Saldo blanco, solo dos incidentes

A pesar de dos muertes ocurridas, una de un turista michoacano que se resbaló entre las rocas y que su caída provocó la pérdida de sus signos vitales y que en Playa Tijera un pescador muriera ahogado al realizar su faena entre las piedras y que una ola lo derribara; en general hubo saldo blanco.
A un lado de los dos incidentes, en Zipolite, salvavidas realizaron varios rescates y prevenciones; además de salvamentos en la playa de Estacahuite.
En las diferentes playas pertenecientes a San Pedro Pochutla se ubicaron salvavidas que estuvieron al pendiente de los paseantes y realizando prevenciones de seguridad mientras disfrutaban del agua del mar.
Las playas pochutlecas vigiladas por salvavidas fueron Zipolite, Puerto Ángel, Estacahuite, Zapotengo y Salchi; además de elementos de Protección Civil que se encontraban al pendiente por cualquier llamado de alerta en las playas semi vírgenes y vírgenes que son visitadas durante la temporada.

Vacaciones seguras

En cuanto a seguridad; elementos castrenses se sumaron a la vigilancia realizando patrullajes motorizados y pie a tierra en las diferentes playas.
Así mismo, elementos policiacos municipales y estatales realizaron recorridos, haciendo presencia en los destinos turísticos para inhibir la delincuencia; hasta ayer, únicamente había reporte de detenidos por faltas administrativas por alteraciones en vía pública.
Durante la temporada vacacional o lo que va de las dos semanas de asueto, en la región no se reportó ningún robo a turistas en los destinos de playa de Zipolite y Puerto Ángel.
Una ambulancia municipal con paramédicos a bordo estuvo permanente para el apoyo de cualquier eventualidad que se presentara.

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Wonderful Mexican Market Foods That You Need To Try by fabiolaofmexico


Wonderful Mexican Market Foods That You Need To Try

by fabiolaofmexico
The best way to shop in Mexico is not at a chain store but in one of the many colorful markets. Take a look at what I found! Read more of this post


The best way to shop in Mexico is not at a chain store but in one of the many colorful markets. Take a look at what I found!

Follow my blog and fall in love with Mexico!

Click to tweet this post

Every weekend, I grab my bags and head off to the nearest market, or “mercado”, or to the nearest street market, or “tianguis”.
I head off to buy all my produce for the week at much lower price than in a regular chain store. There’s a lot more variety, and it’s fresher too.
Although you can find anything at all in a Mexican street market (produce, meat, kitchenware, cleaning items, dishes, clothes, shoes, makeup, jewelry, accesories, furniture, house plants, and basically everything), I only go there to buy fruits and veggies.
Why? Well, I love to shop just as much as the next person, but there are no shopping carts at the “tianguis” and I sincerely doubt I could carry everything home with me!
In any case, there are lots of interesting fruits and vegetables you can buy in a Mexican street market. Take a look!

Wonderful Mexican Market Foods That You Need To Try

Purslane or “verdolagas”

These green veggies are super healthy because they contain a high level of Omega-3 fatty acids, essential minerals, and antioxidants.
In Mexico, we like to cook them in green salsa. Pork in green salsa with purslane is classic Mexican dish!

Corn smut or “huitlacoche”

Huitlacoche is a kind of fungus that infects corn, but it’s also a Mexican delicacy. One of the most delicious foods you can ever try is quesadillas filled with huitlacoche.
Huitlacoche is healthy because, like purslane, it contains Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. And it’s also full of fiber, so it helps control glucose and regulate digestion.

Fig leaf gourd (black seed squash) or “chilacayote”

This little veggie is round, green, and delicious. In Mexico, we use it to make soups, stews, and salads. It tastes a lot like zucchini. In fact, it’s related to zucchini, so it’s really not that strange.
The chilacayote is rich in antioxidants and fiber, and helps control blood glucose levels, so it’s used in the treatment of diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
By the way, the round veggies to the right are round zucchinis. They taste exactly like regular zucchini, except they’re round. But the fun part with chilacayotes and round zucchinis is you can stuff them, like stuffed peppers. Delicious!

Mamey fruit

This is an amazing food! The mamey fruit is absolutely rich and creamy, so it’s best for making smoothies, milkshakes, ice cream, and mousse. It tastes yummy and sweet, and has a lovely pink color. What’s not to like?
The mamey fruit is high in vitamin A and C, and antioxidants. Plus, the oil from the seed makes hair and eyelashes grow longer.
When you come to Mexico, make sure you have some mamey fruit. It’s a must-try!

Mango

I’m sure you’ve heard of mangoes and most likely you have also tried this fruit. Mangoes are one of my favorite fruits ever because it’s very sweet and delicious, but it’s also full of fiber and vitamin A and C.
Yes, I know mangoes are high in sugar, so it’s best no to go overboard with them.
In Mexico, we love to have mangoes with chili powder, and we also use them to make desserts like ice cream and mousse. I love mangoes!
The mangoes you see in front are Haden or “petacon” mangoes. These have a very large seed and are best used to make juice or smoothies.
The ones stacked in the back are Manila mangoes. In my opinion, these are the best kind, and you can used them to make salads, desserts, or just eat them plain.

Plantains

If you’ve never tried these, you are missing out on something great. Plantains are different from regular bananas because they are starchy, the skin is thicker, and they are best used for cooking instead of eaten raw.
And you can make lots of things with plantains! You can slice them, fry them, and serve them with rice. You can mash them and make croquettes or pancakes. You can add them to soups or stews, or drizzle them with syrup for dessert. Yum!
Plantains are also rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and fiber, so they’re healthy and delicious.

Papaya

This is definitely at the top of my favorite fruits list. Papaya is a staple in most Mexican breakfasts. It can be served diced or juiced, and it’s also a great addition to fruit salads.
Papaya is full of fiber and vitamin A, but the best part of it is that papaya contains an enzyme that stimulates the digestive system. So if you have stomach trouble, an ulcer, or gastritis, papaya is the way to go.

Papalo

This is an herb native to Mexico. It has dark green leaves shaped like a butterfly wing and tastes like a cross between arugula and cilantro.
Papalo is used to spice and garnish soups, stews, tacos, salsas, and guacamole. It’s best eaten raw, but it definitely has a strong taste. 
Papalo is good for conditions such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It also helps with digestion and stimulates the immune system.
I don’t really like the taste of papalo, but they say three leaves of papalo a day will keep the doctor away, so maybe I should give it chance. What do you think?

Nopal Cactus

I can’t get enough of this veggie! 
The nopal cactus is a superfood. It’s low in calories but contains a huge amount of dietary fiber, which make it one of the best foods to have around if weight loss is your goal. The fiber will keep you full for a long time so it will keep hunger pangs at bay, and will also help you reduce bloating.
Also, the nopal cactus helps maintain your blood glucose level stable. This makes it an excellent nutritional aid in the treatment of diabetes. Apparently, nopal cactus keeps bad cholesterol levels low as well.
You can cook the nopal cactus and use it to make a soup, a stew, or a salad. Or you can make a healthy nopal cactus green smoothie.
At the market, I can buy the cactus and the vendor will scrape off the thorns, so there’s no danger involved. In fact, you can also buy it already cleaned and diced, and ready for cooking. There’s no reason to skip out on the cactus!

Squash blossoms

These beautiful orange blossoms make the best quesadilla filling. Or you can also use them to brighten up soups and stews.
Squash blossoms are not just pretty, they’re also nutritious. They contain several essential vitamins and mineral, plus they’re a good source of fiber.
You will need to remove the stems and pistils before cooking to avoid any bitterness. After that, you can saute the blossoms with onion, garlic, and epazote. The best quesadilla filling ever!
Street markets are where many Mexican families buy their produce. You can find the largest variety of fresh foods at the lowest price. Plus, if you buy at street markets you’ll be supporting local businesses and farms. It’s a win-win for everyone!

Would like to try any of these foods? What’s your favorite kind of fresh produce?


NATE MEETS WORLD We Live In A Beautiful World! Go Explore It!


http://www.natemeetsworld.com/


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Habitantes de Zipolite muestran su inquietud ante la posible instalación de una gasolinera en la comunidad.
ZIPOLITE, POCHUTLA.-Pobladores de Zipolite muestran su preocupación ante la posible construcción de una gasolinera en la comunidad, por representar una seria amenaza para los ecosistemas y poner en riesgo la estabilidad social y seguridad de cientos de personas que habitan en este importante polo de la Costa.
A través de una denuncia que circula en redes sociales, habitantes hacen un llamado a autoridades locales y representantes de bienes comunales para que expliquen la forma en que se ha concebido el proyecto de la estación de servicio que estaría ubicada en la avenida principal a la altura de la colonia Los Mangos, del que aseguran no han sido informados ni mucho menos consultados sobre las características y viabilidad del mismo.

Afectaciones ambientales graves

La imagen turística, el entorno ambiental y social se verían seriamente afectados.
Los inconformes señalan que dada la opacidad del plan existe el temor fundado de que la gasolinera derive en un problema de contaminación en pozos de agua, mantos acuíferos y veneros que durante la época de lluvias van directo al mar.
Los riesgos de una mala planeación o ubicación anárquica de la estación, de la que aún no saben si cuenta con estudios de impacto ambiental, afectarían directamente a una zona de mangle localizada a menos de 400 metros, y explican, en caso de desastres naturales pondría en riesgo a los niños que acuden a los dos planteles educativos (kínder y primaria) que se encuentran en las cercanías del predio.

Ocultan información autoridades

A los vecinos, quienes justo hace cinco años vivieron un evento similar en el que un empresario pretendía imponer la construcción de una gasolinera, pero que debido a la oposición rotunda de la comunidad, la obra fue cancelada; también les preocupan las afectaciones a la imagen y flujo turístico, pero particularmente la cercanía de las casas con la pretendida estación.
Consultados al respecto, algunos habitantes mostraron su inquietud por el ocultamiento de información de parte de la agencia e integrantes del cabildo municipal, pues aseguraron que hace unos días se realizó una reunión casi a escondidas con algunos ciudadanos afines a la representante interna, y se prevé que el domingo próximo haya un nuevo encuentro con el mismo recelo.

La obra, a consulta: autoridades

Por ello, exigieron que se informe al grueso de la comunidad sobre la obra y se someta a consulta, una vez analizados los posibles impactos sociales y ambientales, pues de lo contrario, se podría desatar un conflicto en la comunidad que se rige por usos y costumbres.
Cuestionado sobre el asunto, Heriberto Jacinto Juárez, regidor de Obras de San Pedro Pochutla señaló que se trata de un proyecto que ha sido retomado y propuesto por segunda ocasión por el empresario Osvaldo Manzano (dueño de otras gasolineras en la región), pero aún no ha sido puesto a consideración de los habitantes de Zipolite, por lo que el próximo domingo, durante la asamblea comunitaria a realizarse a las 5 de la tarde se informará a la ciudadanía sobre el tema.

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Tips for Teaching English Abroad

I’ve been an English teacher for more than 15 years now, in three different countries and in all kinds of situations: university, high school, general ESL schools, conversation clubs, meeting rooms in factories, people’s homes, even at a kindergarten in South Korea, which was my first teaching job.
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What began as a means to adventure and living abroad has become my career. But it’s more than a career; it’s still a means to adventure and living abroad, and it’s also opened other opportunities, such as translating.
I’ve learned a lot, from teacher training courses and especially experience, and I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way. These experiences (including mistakes) informed my newest article for Transitions Abroad: the Guide to Teaching English as a Second Language Abroad. Please click the link for the article.
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Vive Latino Music Festival, Mexico City, 2018 MAR 19 Posted by Ted Campbell

Vive Latino Music Festival, Mexico City, 2018

Last weekend (March 17-18) was the Vive Latino Music Festival in Mexico City. Every spring, international and Mexican bands take the stage at Foro Sol, a massive outdoor venue that hosts the biggest rock shows in Mexico and doubles as a baseball stadium and racetrack.
This year, like most years, it was mostly rock en español with outliers like electronic music and rap, along with some famous foreign groups. The headliners on Saturday were two of Mexico’s biggest bands, Panteon Rococo and Molotov, and on Sunday Queens of the Stone Age and Gorrilaz.
vive latino 2018 1
I went with my wife and some friends on the first day, Saturday. Unlike other years, when we’d see a few bands on side stages and then spend the rest of the night watching the main stage, this year we wandered around catching music on several of the five stages. It was a hell of a lot of fun with a few pleasant surprises.
vive latino 2018 4
The first surprise wasn’t pleasant at first, but turned out to be a good idea. The beer and food vendors (and presumably t-shirt vendors too) accepted no cash. You had to get a wristband and add money to it at a booth. The vendors would scan it with their cell phones so you could pay for your beer or hot dog.
SONY DSC
The problem was that when we entered Foro Sol sometime around 4 PM, there were no more wristbands. I had disturbing visions of spending the whole day with no food or drink. As we walked the grounds outside the huge bleachers of the main stage, I saw many other people trying to buy beers and hearing the same explanation. You need a wristband to buy it. No, I don’t know where the wristbands are.
Thankfully it didn’t take long to find a recharge station that had wristbands. As the night went on, I became a believer. You didn’t have to deal with change or tipping, and at the end getting a refund for the leftover money was fast and easy. I’ll admit that I felt like I was in a Black Mirror episode at times: the cell phone glowing over my hand, light reflecting off the piece of plastic tied to my wrist, and then the new lower number on the screen, counting down to zero. This one had a happy ending, though, a fresh beer every time.
Of course, the obvious reason for the wristband was that the workers wouldn’t be skimming money all weekend, and in that regard I’m sure it was a success.
vive latino 2018 3
After the wristband adventure and getting some food, we watched Pate de Fua first. This Mexican group plays a bouncy mix of jazz, tango, and rock. They’re good, but they were much better when I saw them from about 20 feet away at a much smaller music festival in Metepec near where I live.
Then we went to the main stage and watched a cover band with a symphony orchestra doing famous rock en español as the sun went down. We couldn’t really hear the instruments from the orchestra, but it was nice to sit up in the bleachers with a wide view of the huge stage, where I’ve seen many shows over the years, among them the Rolling StonesRoger Waters, Metallica, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, and other Vive Latinos.
vive latino 2018 5
After that we headed over to a distant side stage to watch Venezuelan band Los Amigos Invisibles. I’d seen them years ago at the Cumbre Tajin Festival in Veracruz and knew that they put on a funky dance party. We got there before they started playing and the grounds were already packed. We made it as far up as the soundbooth. Unfortunately the volume was too low — in order to appreciate their music it needs to be loud and thumping, at least the bass and drums. Oh well, at least my wife got to hear their hit “Mentiras.”
Leaving Los Amigos Inivisibles, we cut in front of the main stage and were treated to our second surprise — Morrissey. Now, I couldn’t name one Morrissey song, and a band I wanted to see (that we were on our way to see) was happening at the same time. But on the way we stopped for a beer and listened for a while. It sounded good, kind of what you’d expect from a Morrissey concert if you had no idea what to expect, but in a good way: moody music and wailing voices, a big beautiful sound rising up from the stage. I even recognized a song. So, yes Morrissey, if you’re ever on the lineup of another music festival I’m at, I’ll give you my full attention.
No meat was cooked or served during Morrissey’s set, a condition he regularly imposes due to his staunch veganism. In fact, he cancelled his set during the 2013 Vive Latino because he smelled meat from the stage. Now he was back and ready to redeem himself, meat clause in the contract and all.
Here’s the sign outside the chorizo tent explaining that “the sale of products of animal origin will be suspended between 19:00 and 22:00. This is to not affect the participation of some of the artists in the festival:”
vive latino 2018 2
After Morrissey we went back to the Escena Indio stage where we’d seen Pate de Fua earlier. With at least 30 minutes until Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, there was still plenty of space up front. So after a beer recharge (we were wristband experts by now), we went up close to wait out all the pushing and shoving until the show.
Simply put, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds was awesome. It was a high energy, rocking show with tight music and larger-than-life hooks. Out of 15 songs, they played six Oasis songs (“Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger” being the biggest) and closed with a sing-along cover of “All You Need is Love.” I can’t claim to be the world’s biggest Oasis fan, although I had their first album on repeat back in the day. I knew none of the new originals. But it didn’t matter — the songs were good enough that you didn’t need to recognize them to enjoy them. We were close enough to see the band clearly, at least when everyone wasn’t holding their cell phones up over their heads blocking the view of everyone behind them. Anyway, this was a minor annoyance compared to all the drunks singing along with songs they didn’t actually know the lyrics to, mumbling out the English words at maximum volume: Blah blah blahblur-WALL!
Mexican ska/rock/funk band Panteon Rococo had already started on the main stage when the last notes of “All You Need is Love” rang across the crowded field. We found seats halfway back in the bleachers and caught the second half of the show.
Panteon Rococo is easily my favorite popular band in Mexico and I’d seen them a few times already, both at music festivals and smaller theaters. They’re fantastic live. “La Dosis Perfecta,” one of their best songs, gets stretched out with a long reggae intro.
Unfortunately, their show suffered from the same problem as Los Amigos Invisibles: not loud enough. Why?
The performance was good but needed to be cranked up one more notch, maybe not to 11 but at least to get the ears vibrating. Because of this, when they finished we wove our way across the bleachers to get closer for Molotov, a super popular Mexican rap/punk/etc. band that I’d never yet seen in concert, a glaring omission in my Mexican live music experience.
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I’ll give it to you straight — we got a little bored during Molotov. Yes, we got to hear their classic songs that mix Spanish and English, songs I play on guitar with Mexican friends at parties, like “Frijolero” and “Gimme the Power.” They played a cover of the Misfits song “I Turned into a Martian,” translated to Spanish, so it was “me convierte en marciano.” The recorded version is a departure from the original, but live it was sufficiently fast and rowdy to surely earn Danzig’s grudging approval. The stage lit up with the colors of the Mexican flag during “Frijolero:”
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But maybe, just maybe, punk rock isn’t made to be heard in a huge outdoor arena with 80,000other fans. I’m sure it was exciting on the floor up front, but from high in the bleachers, we just weren’t feeling it.
So it was back to the nearby Escena Indio stage to be surprised again. It was well after midnight and no band was playing yet. We walked right up to the stage, where a few people were lingering.
Suddenly the lights shone bright and the speakers blared loud with frantic techno sounds that weren’t quite dance music, more like organized noise and craziness. But it sounded good. The members switched instruments, left the stage and returned. For a while there were only four of them, one on drums (which sounded nothing like drums, but triggered programmed effects) and the other three on keyboards, sometimes picking up a bass or guitar.
This was Titán, a Mexican electronic group formed all the way back in 1992 that, coincidentally, includes a former member of Molotov. I’d never heard of them before and I won’t miss them again. The field was totally full by the end, with stoners bobbing heads, drunks stumbling, and couples fighting.
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So, another year, another Vive Latino. Even though the two bands I was most excited to see, Panteon Rococo and Los Amigos Invisibles, were way too quiet, other shows were unexpectedly fun. For me, the highlight and biggest surprise was Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, the only full show we saw, and from up close too. There were more surprises with Morrissey sounding excellent and the final head-trip of Titán. Good times had by all, I’m sure.
Next up in Mexico City in April: David Byrne and then LCD Soundsystem. See you there?