Máscaras : Dancing Devil Faces : Aya Huma of Ecuador
Cover Image via El Universo 2014 I have been in my new residence for nearly five years now and I am still yet to unpack every box transferred in the move. During an exploration of some of these boxes last week (I was looking for a particular book) I rediscovered a mask that I had long forgotten about. I found it, like most of my … Continue reading Máscaras : Dancing Devil Faces : Aya Huma of Ecuador
Nariño. The Place, People, and its Pottery.
Cover Image : Las Lajas Sanctuary in the Nariño department of southwestern Colombia. This stunning neo-Gothic basilica was built inside the deep canyon of the Guáitara River. The church sits on a massive stone bridge that spans the 100-meter-deep canyon. Known as a miracle over the abyss, it has drawn global pilgrims since the 18th century to honour the Virgin of the Rosary of Las … Continue reading Nariño. The Place, People, and its Pottery.
Flores Medicinales : Matlalxochitl
Botanical synonyms and subspecies Allosperma tuberosa (L.) Raf. Commelina acuminata Kunth Commelina alpestris Standl. et Steyerm. Commelina coelestis fo. albipetala Matuda Commelina coelestis Willd. Commelina dianthifolia Delile Commelina elliptica Kunth Commelina fasciculata Ruiz et Pav. Commelina graminifolia Kunth Commelina pallida Schltdl. Commelina pallida Willd. Commelina tuberosa L. Commelina tuberosa Lour. Commelina tuberosa Redouté Commelina tuberosa var. inflata M. Martens et Galeotti Commelina tuberosa var. nana M. Martens et Galeotti Also called : barquito, cacamatlalin (Bye and Linares, 2013), caña de pollo, … Continue reading Flores Medicinales : Matlalxochitl
Itzcoatls Mum*
*that’s “mom” for all you Canucks and ‘Muricans My first introduction to Itzcoatl, the 4th Huey Tlatoani of the Mexica people came via my studies delving into the category of herbs called quelites. Various depictions of the man, a man who, for all intents and purposes, was the bastard son of a peasant and, who was able, through the opportunities afforded him by being a … Continue reading Itzcoatls Mum*
Quelite : Metezurras
This Post is purely for informational purposes only. I have no personal experience using this herb either culinarily or medicinally and as much of the information on this species can be contradictory I recommend caution be demonstrated. A caution like this also demonstrates somewhat the loss of knowledge with regards to plants of this nature. The wild, weedy plants are often overlooked and replaced with … Continue reading Quelite : Metezurras
The Tortillero : An Unsung Kitchen Hero
It never once crossed my mind until I came across this tortilla warmer I found it on Facebook Marketplace and was immediately drawn to its 1970’s aesthetic. My initial reaction was to frame it like the piece of art that it is and display it rather than use it for its intended purpose. It was this “intended purpose” that slowed me down and got me … Continue reading The Tortillero : An Unsung Kitchen Hero
Ranch Water
It all started with this article…..from July of 2026……..(and a disclaimer that I am not being funded or sponsored by any of the companies/products in this Post. I do it for my own interest – much as everything else I post – and I like pretty pictures) To elaborate…… (text in BOLD were links in the article that took me elsewhere. I have added these … Continue reading Ranch Water
Quelite : Nurite
Nurite According to Martinez-Gordillo et al. (2013), Mexico has 14 species of Clinopodium, of which 10 species are endemic: C. amissum (Epling et Játiva) Harley C. ganderi (Epling) Govaerts C. hintoniorum (B.L. Turner) Govaerts C. jaliscanum (McVaugh et R. Schmid) Govaerts C. macrostemum (Moc. Et Sessé ex Benth.) Kuntze C. maderense (Henr.) Govaerts C. mexicanum (Benth.) Govaerts C. micromerioides (Hemsl.) Govaerts C. palmeri (A. Gray) … Continue reading Quelite : Nurite
Peñón de los Baños
Peñón de los Baños is a rock formation located northeast of the Venustiano Carranza borough (1) in Mexico City and is one of the two original towns of the district. Boroughs (Spanish: demarcaciones territoriales, lit. ’territorial demarcations’) are the subdivisions of Mexico City. As of 2026, there are 16 boroughs in Mexico City, officially known as alcaldías. Each borough functions as its own municipality within the … Continue reading Peñón de los Baños
Cooking Technique : Toreado
It all started as a giggle on a menu translation. I was writing a talk that I was to deliver at the Museum on an Australians encounter with Mexico and I was reminiscing on the time I spent in Mexico in 2007 at the Hotel Catedral. I got a good deal at the time (I don’t think I could have afforded to stay there otherwise) … Continue reading Cooking Technique : Toreado
