Manzanillo Sun

Did You Know?

2011 Freda Rumford September 2011

By Freda Rumford from the September 2011 Edition

  • * Feeling locked in?? because most people have headed north for the summer and there is not too much to do in the rainy season. Did you know that a group of happy people are gathering each Tuesday afternoon to play cards? Mainly “Wizard” Check it out – La Huerta from 2 p.m. till about 4.30 p.m.
  • *While we are talking about cards, we have been having fun with “learners bridge” with a great teacher. Wednesday afternoons from 1 p.m.. For more information contact: Patty at pet1972@sbcglobal.net or Freda at this magazine. freda@manzanillosun.com
  • *Also just starting are Spanish Conversation Classes with Profesora Martha Martinez. Monday and Wednesday from 5.30 – pm to 6,30 p.m. These classes are just 50 pesos per session. For more information contact Ian at this magazine ian@manzanillosun.com
  • *Did you know that if you are having problems downloading to the NOOK, it is just a breeze to do at Starbucks. For some reason it seems that TelMex is somehow blocking the signal to some regular internet addresses even though we have wireless internet. When you buy coffee at Starbucks, on the receipt is the password and user name for doing this.
  • *September 16th is the Memorial day for the declaration of Mexican Independence. Initially it was led by Mexican-born Spaniards, Mestizos and Amerindians who sought independence from Spain. It started as an idealistic peasants’ rebellion against their colonial masters, but ended as an unlikely alliance between Mexican ex-royalists and Mexican guerrilla insurgents. (Wikipedia) The days leading up to 16th September are the only days that Mexican flags are sold in the streets.
  • The next official commemorative celebration (besides the days of the dead on 1st & 2nd November) is November 20th . Observance: Third Monday of November.
  • The banana plant reaches its full height of 15 to 30 feet in about one year. The trunk of a banana plant is made of sheaths of overlapping leaves, tightly wrapped around each other like celery stalks.
  • If you discover that you are having strange bouts of Moctezuma’s revenge , have you been eating bananas lately or frequently? In recent discussion one worried person was stating that there was a possibility of an amoeba, it seems that others had discovered a banana problem. Check it out before dashing off to the Farmacia for more pills.
  • Although most of the visiting North Americans do not like the local sweet corn, preferring that grown in cooler climates, this was in fact the origin of corn and Columbus took it back to Europe after one of his South American expeditions. It is grown as far south as Peru.
  • In Mexico the green tomatillo is referred to as a tomate, and the red, round tomato as jitomate.
  • The Conquistadors also found the Potato in the new world mistaking the name “Batata” which the Incas used for the sweet potato and transferred it to the ordinary Potato which was grown on the Andean mountains in Peru. They were introduced to Europe in the early 1600’s but were generally disliked and initially used mainly as cattle food.
  • Another mistaken name occurred when settlers asking the name of the place they had landed were told “Kanata” meaning “village’. Thus we have Canada. Some village!!
  • Mexican tacos have chopped cooked meat in them rather than the ground beef used in the north. The meat is simmered slowly in a crock pot for several hours before being “slivered” for the tacos.
    Flavourings are added during the cooking as desired. The flavourings used on exactly the same cuts of meat are what determine the name and nature of the dish.
  • In Mexico, “Lima” is the name for Lime and “Limón” is lemon and much more rare in the markets here. Entirely different although both citrus fruits, the small lima is very like the Key Lime we have been told and makes a really good Key Lime Pie and, of course, Margarita.

Know more, little known, off the deep end, little quirky tidbits…… feel free to email them in to the editor. Email: Freda@manzanillosun.com

 

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