More Liana

I took that photo in Mexico City, last year or the year before. Sorry, I meant to post that along with the photo. Yes, during the rainy season--which is just ending here in this part of Michoacán--there are women who forage for mushrooms in the wooded areas around Pátzcuaro. In the market there, I find heaps of beautiful chanterelles and a couple of other varieties of mushrooms. And then *poof*, the rains end and so do the mushrooms, until the next year. These are some I bought over there:

That's the one I use, the H24 Citronex. They also have plug-ins--these:

A friend brings me curry leaves from Los Angeles. I have a big plastic bag of them in my freezer. I use them to make a 3-chile dal, among other things.

Walmart and Superama have been refunding the delivery charge if your order arrives later than the hour you specified. They're running almost a day behind, here in Morelia.

I want to know what the company thinks the name of this place means.

Johannes, I'm curious about the meaning of the retirement building's name (LaPueblita)--what does that mean? I'm also curious about YOUR name on the post (also LaPueblita). Are you part of that retirement home business?

Jerald, you've responded to a several-years-old thread. You might want to start a new thread, with your question, to get more attention and answers.

"Tarifa de circular" is meaningless. Tarjeta de circulación is correct, it's the permission for any vehicle to be on the road. Thanks for correcting yourself. Yes, everyone must have one. As far as I remember, the tarjeta de circulación is permanent. New vehicles are eligible for the 00 hologram, which exempts them from further smog testing (verificación) for several years. There is no tenencia in CDMX unless your car is out of compliance with CDMX regulations. There IS what is known as "Refrendo"--the cost this year is 524 pesos. Odd that you can get driver's license insurance using a friend's liability policy.

Why in the world would you think a car with CDMX plates is "probably" a chocolate? Customs import document? Liability insurance only? Your points are totally confused. I lived in Mexico City for 8 years, owned a car for a good portion of that time, never paid a 600 peso annual fee, and don't understand your reasoning. There is no such thing as a "tarifa circular"--maybe you are thinking of the annual smog revision sticker, but cars under a certain age are not required to have that. Can you please send me a link to an article that backs up your many points?

You can look here to see if you have a CURP. Fill in the blanks and the website should be able to tell you. https://www.gob.mx/curp/

In Spanish-language publications, the idea of "regatear" (try to get an artisan vendor to lower a price) is truly being discouraged and most thoughtful people, foreigners and Mexicans alike, agree that asking for a lower price on an artisan's goods is incorrect. Most artisans price their products substantially below a retail price. For example, if you shop at Mexico City's Museo de Arte Popular, the items are priced approximately three times the vendor's price if the vendor sold direct to you. At the Casa de Artesanías in Morelia, the same is true. Worse yet, the museums accept the items on consignment from the artisans and a much of the time the artisan doesn't get paid at all for what the museum sells. The artisan has to go to the museum any number of times to ask for payment for an item or items that are no longer in the museum stores, only to be told, "Oh, that item broke," or "Sorry, but it's been lost somewhere," or "Come back next month, we don't have the funds to pay you right now." If the vendor's stated price is more than you want to pay, say gracias and go elsewhere. If you hear a vendor offer an item to another client at a substantially lower price, an identical item to the one that interests you, ask if you can have it at the same price. You don't know the story behind the sale: maybe the potential buyer has purchased extensively from that artisan in the past and is giving a discounted price to a well-known client. For example, I know many, many artisans in various states of Mexico--as do many of you. If you or I have purchased items from Sr. Fulano in the past, he might well say, "The price is 500 pesos--but to you, it's 400." You don't know the reason, you just think you're getting the higher "gringo price". If you look hesitant to buy, and the vendor OFFERS you a lower price, buy the item. Watch for these words in publications about artisans' work: "DI NO A REGATEAR." "Say no to bargaining."

Your link is broken, here are a couple of my photos till yours is back on line.

I live in Col. Del Valle Tlacoquemécatl in Mexico City and a camote/plátano seller comes down my street fairly often. I feel so happy when I hear the blast of the steam whistle--I know that the old traditions live on. The knife sharpener passes by, too, with his pan pipe; the scrap metal truck comes by several times a day with its loudspeaker blaring, the harmonium player stands on the street corner with his wonderful tunes pouring out of the organ, and the church bells in the tiny church in the park near me peal the Angelus at noon. In the middle of this huge city, I feel the pulse of Mexico and its small-town past that keep the rhythm of the days.

Does don Toribio still roll cigars in front of SuperLake? People said his were great.