Another year has come and with it, another edition of one of the biggest and more interesting culture festivals, the May Cultural Festival in Guadalajara.  

This year, France is the guest country and will be welcome for over three weeks in the surroundings of Guadalajara. If you are around do not miss this opportunity to see amazing cultural events. Photography, music, film, among others will be present in this festival. 

The rendezvous begins on the 9th of May and ends on the 25th.

For more information and the entire program please visit: www.festivaldemayo.org

Enjoy!  

I came to Mexico because I wanted to work with children there. It had always been my dream to help children and to get to know them and their lives. Every day I started my work by helping to clean everything at the orphanage, and after this I did homework with the children. We also played a lot together.

It needs a bit of time until the children get used to you and until you have a trustful relationship with them, but I never gave up and soon everything went perfectly. 

The children wanted to learn with me and they started saying "Hello" instead of "Hola" or they said "Thank you" instead of "Gracias". Every time they looked at me with their big eyes and every time they gave me a huge hug it touched my heart and I felt so happy. It is such a special experience and I also learnt a lot from them.
A lot of patience is needed, but I can recommend to every one of you to go to Mexico and to help the children.

It is important to give the children time to get to know you and you shouldn't give up. After a while they will be open and then you will have an unforgettable time with them. They also wrote me nice letters and they gave me nice drawings. 

When they give you a hug and say "Thank you" you really know that you are improving their lives and that you are giving them hope for their future.

This feeling is the most beautiful feeling I have ever had!!
Thank you for the great time!

This month of July our Animal Care centre is one of our busiest projects, 8 volunteers bringing together some of their harder work, making the centre work as a very well oiled machine! And like they say, the more the merrier!

This project is no easy thing, no stroll across the park, it demands a lot and attitude plays an important role here everyday, some may think dealing with animals may be easier than dealing with people, but it requires patience, kindness and understanding too.

The whole world may be taking place in London with the olympics right now, but here in the city of Guadalajara right now Poland, Scotland, USA, Canada and France join forces to make volunteer work a force to be reckoned with in our city! One great olympic volunteer work!

Congrats to all our volunteers collaborating at the Animal Centre for their amazing dedication and commitment to this project.

Saturdays can offer a wide array of things to do on Chapultepec street, from modern street markets, to bars and restaurants, but also some traditional culture can be found here, a boulevard market of traditional culture from the state of Oaxaca brought all the way here by the Tinujei tribe (also called Triquis), residents from the west areas of Oaxaca and Tinuje means "Brother of Mine".

Legend says that they were exiled from Moltelban for desobeying the King´s orders and after living the nomad life and moving around different areas they finally arrived to Chicahuaxtla (which means "Strong Place").

It is a tradition for all male Triquis to learn spanish and triqui as well as it is a tradition for all females to learn the art of triqui handcrafts such as clothes shirts, hats and baskets made of palm tree and other items as earrings or necklaces, all of these totally based on traditional shapes and colors. 

I can't decide whether i have been too busy to update my blog, or just far too lazy. This is my third time in Guadalajara with Projects Abroad, and there are still so many things that I have to do and see. Jalisco is unlike anyother place in the world, every time that I return, it still surprises me. Last week I took a trip to La Barranca with the animal centre to release some animals. I couldn't believe that there was somewhere so pure and natural so close to Guadalajara. As Guadalajara sprawls over the counrty, there is a sudden drop into La Barranca. The canyon is filled with monkeys, birds, and surging waterfalls. It is one of the most beautiful places in Jalisco, and yet so close to the city. I can honestly say I could spend hours in that canyon. 

Being back in Guadalajara really reminds me of how lucky I am. My return means that I can spend time with close friends, my mexican family, and make new connections and friends for life as I have on my previous trips. I have waited a year to be back in the land of the Tapatios, and now I can safely say that I feel as though I am back in my home away from home. 

Sayulita is one of Mexico´s gems, located in the state of Nayarit, just one hour away from the famously world known Puerto Vallarta.

Sayulita is a small beach with some sort of a hippie/surfer atmosphere, the kind of place where after spending a few hours there you feel like you know everybody and their history; the kind of place where locals immediately make you feel like one of their own.

During the day people just stroll around the town centre and the beach but once the evening arrives the places just lights up like some sort of a hippie fairytale, making you feel like you have left civilization and everything that happens here just makes you forget about the routine and stress of the city.

The beach is amazingly beautiful and quiet, and the sand has this white pearled color, creating a perfect harmony with the sound of the ocean and the people selling hand made souvenirs to the tourists.

Personal recommendations: horse ride around the beach, it’s a cant miss and some real seafood prepared by the locals!

Chilaquiles is one of the most typical dishes in México, the kind of classic breaksfast you find in every tiny
eatery around the corner and a great mexican energy booster to start your daily tasks.
Ingredients

Mexican chilaquiles are excellent for holiday breakfasts or party munchies.

5 to 10 guajillo peppers, stemmed and seeded
2 cloves garlic
1 (8-oz.) can green tomato sauce
1 cup water
1 Knorr Chicken Bouillon Cube
3 tbsp. oil
12 corn tortillas, cut into 1-inch strips
1/2 white onion, chopped (optional)
4 oz. shredded Jack cheese
Directions
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 15 to 20 minutes
Place peppers, garlic, tomato sauce, water and bouillon in
a blender or food processor; blend until smooth. Heat oil in
a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Fry tortillas
until lightly browned and crispy. Add onions and cook,
stirring frequently, until tender.

Top with sauce and cheese. Lower heat and cook, covered, for 10 to 15
minutes or until cheese is melted and tortillas have soaked up the sauce.

Can also add beans,1 or 2 scrambled eggs on top of the chilaquiles and some mexican green or red salsa
to make it a real mexican power breakfast!

When people think Mexico they think sun, and yes, we get a lot of that, but Guadalajara is also a city that gets a lot of rain, and not just simple rain but heavy storms! And that's been a common thing for the last couple weeks (yes, raining season is here!) very heavy rains during the day and night, sometimes it makes it impossible to go out without getting all soaked wet as a cat and wishing you would have taken a surfing board with you; but have got to say that it is a vital part of Jalisco's charm, walking the streets of Guadalajara and trying to evade the rain while drinking a delicious coffee or hot choco.

Guadalajara is a very charming place that just invites you to walk down its streets when it rains, specially the city centre or parks, it just glows with a very unique charm, even when it means heavy rain, god-like lightning and deafening thunders! but once it gets all mixed with the city itself it turns into pouring beauty that embellishes the city.

Many people they come to Mexico to get some sun, and trust me when I say you will get a lot of that, but also try to enjoy the rainy days, try to see it like if it were the nature's soundtrack to your mexican adventure, and trust me, next time you find yourself trapped in the middle of some heavy rain you will definitely think Guadalajara!

Perfect recommendation for a rainy day: Tamales and Atole.