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You never know where you will find your next tour guide. There are those who have been assigned to you by your travel agent, and then there are those who assign themselves to you. Francisco Pérez, one of the oldest university students in an ancient university city, thoroughly enjoys sharing his local knowledge with visitors who share his passion.

Mmmm… “roasted milk.” Somehow that translation doesn’t sound quite as tasty as the Peruvian (and Chilean) dessert “leche asada,” does it? In any case, our host Natalia (from Colombia) shows us how to whip up this sweet delicacy. In Part 1, Natalia starts by heating sugar to make caramel.

Puerto Rican piano impresario Carli Muñoz spent over twenty years playing with some of rock’s biggest stars, such as The Beach Boys, The Association, and Wilson Pickett. However, it was jazz that brought him to the piano as a boy and it is jazz that continues keep him tickling the ivories to this day. So next time you are strolling through the streets of beautiful Old San Juan, follow your ears to Carli Café Concierto. Tell ‘em Yabla sent you!

Mexico has a rich and varied architectural heritage that can be seen in its many classic colonial era plazas and buildings. The elementos of this historic architecture are preserved and utilized by today’s planners and builders, providing D.F. (Mexico City) with developments that are modern yet traditional and inviting, maintaining a sense of continuity with the past as the country pushes ahead into the 21st century.

Juan is a seller of large garden plants in the fashionable La Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City. Lucky for us, he was willing to tell us a little about his lovely merchandise, most of which grows native in the lush mountains of Oaxaca.

The Centro de Cultura Casa Lamm is composed of an art gallery, an art school, a cultural center, a bookstore, and, yes, the phenomenal Restaurante Lamm—all housed within a magnificent old mansion in the colonia Roma section of D.F. (Mexico City). Whether you want to sit down for a succulent meal of say, squash blossom lasagna, or just chill late-night with friends in the glass-encased courtyard, you are definitely going to want a fresh fruit margarita at the ready!

wicoy: como una calabaza pequeña, tal vez 15 cm de diametro, verde y blanco y es mucho mas fino que la calabaza. Para comer es parecido a un zucchetthi/zucchini. Bastante rico. (Thank you to Guatesol for info!) Rafael relates facts and myths of the natural environment in his native land.

Carlos is a fine artist and an athlete who, when not painting a canvas, can be found sailing windsurfers and kites from his little guest house on the breezy south beach in Adícora, Venezuela. We asked him if he would give us a little presentation from atop his roof. You can hear for yourself that this spot is all about one thing, el viento!

Couldn’t you just go for some re-fried beans right now? They are great for breakfast, great for lunch, and we’re happy to have them for dinner, not to mention a medianoche snack! Let’s drop in on Gloria as she cooks up a batch for us…

Quite frankly, it’s not hard to find excellent Mexican food in Mexico City! Yet, we still consider ourselves lucky to have pulled into Fonda Mi Lupita while out foraging along Calle 17 de Mayo. We invite you to join us for a little chat with manager José Luis Calixto Escobar, completamente!

We asked Carli Muñoz if he’d play a few bars of his latest compositions, and, lucky for us, he obliged. One of the tunes, “Portrait of Mia,” was written for his brand-new hija, Mia. We’re wondering if he’ll ever address her as mi’ja.

Could it be that that the “Tu Rock es Votar” campaign resulted in a closer Mexican 2006 election, one that ironically left the youth feeling more disillusioned than ever? Felipe Calderón Hinojosa edged out Andrés Manuel López Obrador by such a thin margin that the losing side demanded a total recount, which was not granted. The ensuing cloud surrounding the election left a bittersweet taste in the mouths of many Mexicans.

Armando David Ortigosa decided that something needed to be done to motivate the young people of Mexico to participate in its presidential election. He looked north for inspiration, where the “Rock the Vote” campaign used pop stars to try and get young voters to the polls. The Mexican equivalent became known as Tu Rock Es Votar.

A little spot to build, to create, to listen to the sea, what more do any of us really need? Francisco takes a beautiful public space and makes it his own through conservation, beautification, and an open invitation to all to come, enjoy and treat nature’s work with care and respect.

In beautiful Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, the local cooks know their fruit! Let’s drop by the lovely Casa Mar as Gloria prepares a glorious multi-colored fruit salad made with local sandía (watermelon), melón, and plátano (banana). You may soon find yourself blending melon seeds into a delicious horchata.