pinatas and how the came to be

The pinata came to america by spanish explorers. In mexico there was a tradition of their own with what we see today, brightly colored shapes made by paper mache and cardboard. We see pinatas that are shaped as spongebob squarepants and pineapples and hearts. Teh pinatas used to be just a ceramic figure but now pinatas are filled with candy or gifts! Way more fun in my opinion! Its a hit to every childs party pinatas aren't just for children though either. Pinatas have been used as wedding decorations, and center pieces! How to make a pinata is rather easy too. All you need is one large balloon, some newspaper, 2 cups of flour, 3 cups of water, paint colored markers or crayons!

How to make churros

 Im going to show you how you make churros!! The way they do it in spain! and they'll taste just as good if not better!

Vegetable or Olive Oil
1 cup water
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)


Prepare to fry the churros by heating oil in a pan (1 to 1&1/2 inches) to 360 degrees F.

To make churro dough, heat water, margarine and salt to rolling boil in 3-quart saucepan; stir in flour. Stir constantly over low heat until mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute then  remove from the heat. Beat eggs all at once continue beating until smooth and then add to saucepan while stirring mixture.

Spoon mixture into cake decorators' tube with large star tip. Squeeze 4-inch strips of dough into hot oil. Fry 3 or 4 strips at a time until golden brown, turning once, about 2 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels. Then roll churros in sugar or dump the sugar on the pile of churrosjust like the pros.

Las Vegas Nevada!!

Of many Spanish named cities in the United states Las Vegas Nevada may be one of the most popular. Las Vegas means many meadows in English, but Las Vegas is far from meadows its more known for its fabulous casinos, gambling, entertainment, and shopping malls in the metropolitan area!!  Thats the reason Las Vegas is the 28th most popular city in the united states!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas,_Nevada

Spain Flag

 

The Spain flag is red and yellow strips with the coat of arms on the left side.  Along the coat of arms there are pillars of hercules, which represent Gibraltar and Ceuta on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar.

 There is a urban legend of the colors of the flag of spain. It represents a bullfight arena, with the red representing the bullfighter´s blood and the yellow the sand of the arena, but this has no basis in fact. The colors of the flag of Spain were chosen as they were the colors of King Ferdinand´s own coat of arms.

I really like this flag because it looks really rich looking with the dark red and yellow. The coat of arms is such a good touch to the flag because it shows the strength of the country. Also it shows a little bit of royalty in it too because of the kings hat on the top of it and they have a monarchy.

Enrique Iglesias

Enrique Iglesias is a spanish american pop music singer. He was born may 8th, 1975 in Madrid, Spain.  Enrique started his career ion a mexican label called Fonovisa when where he bacame popular in the united states.
 Enriques parents were also singers in spain and were very successful. Enrique was the youngest of three of the parents of Julio Iglesias.

On July 12,1995 , Iglesias released his first album titled "Enrique iglesias", that had a major hit "Si Tu Te vas"  which sold a million copies in its first week which is rare when its a record in a language other than English.
Enrique was the winner of two World music Awards  in the categories of "World's Best Selling Latin Performer" and "World's Best Selling Spanish Artist", in the ceremony held in Monaco on November 9, 2008. HERES A FAMOUS SONG OF HIS CALLED I LIKE IT

I really like Enriques music it has such a good beat and its just really fun to listen to what he comes up with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrique_Iglesias

The Pina Colada Song

The pina colada, a festive drink made for relaxing on a long chair on the warm sands of puerto rico!  this deliciouis drink is made with pine apple juice, with creamy coconut juice and some ice. Better than a iced coffee, better than a wild berry smoothie at caribou!!!  This beverage is soo good and  soo sweet with a little bit of tang from the pineapple juice. The beverage is so good that they made a song about it that is shown later in the blog. 
The pina colada song was

I was tired of my lady, we'd been together too long.
Like a worn-out recording, of a favorite song.
So while she lay there sleeping, I read the paper in bed.
And in the personals column, there was this letter I read:

If you like Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain.
If you're not into yoga, if you have half-a-brain.
If you like making love at midnight, in the dunes of the cape.
I'm the love that you've looked for, write to me, and escape.

I didn't think about my lady, I know that sounds kind of mean.
But me and my old lady, had fallen into the same old dull routine.
So I wrote to the paper, took out a personal ad.
And though I'm nobody's poet, I thought it wasn't half-bad.

Yes, I like Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain.
I'm not much into health food, I am into champagne.
I've got to meet you by tomorrow noon, and cut through all this red tape.
At a bar called O'Malley's, where we'll plan our escape.

So I waited with high hopes, then she walked in the place.
I knew her smile in an instant, I knew the curve of her face.
It was my own lovely lady, and she said, Oh, it's you.
And we laughed for a moment, and I said, I never knew..

That you liked Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain.
And the feel of the ocean, and the taste of champagne.
If you like making love at midnight, in the dunes of the cape.
You're the lady that I've looked for, come with me, and escape.

If you like Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain.
If you're not into yoga, if you have half-a-brain.
If you like making love at midnight, in the dunes of the cape.
You're the lady that I've looked for, come with me, and escape

I like this song because it makes ytou just happy listening to it. Also it has a good beat and it really puts you in a summer mood like it should be summer all the time and in minnesota that would be an awesome thing because summers are so nice here and we dread when winter comes so we dream of summer all the time.

http://www.tsrocks.com/j/jimmy_buffett_texts/the_pina_colada_song.html

coco taxis and camellos

Transportation in Havana cuba, you would think that it would just be a average taxi that we have in america, but its not its not its a downsized little coconut looking thing hence the name.  Although they may be small they can reach very high speeds. You may ride in this like any other taxi, to go to your hotel or even for sight seeing around Havana .

 Another source of transportation is camellos. Which are large heavy hump-backed 18 wheeler trucks with bus like carriers  that can pack over 300 people in them. They come by every 10 to 15 minutes like a city bus but they are just alot cooler to look at. So transportation in cuba isn't alot different that the transportation in america they use taxis just like us and they also use buses. The difference is that they are alot more fun than the transportation in america.

I would love to ride in the coco taxis! They would make me feel like I was in a gocart driving down the road and I just think that they would have to put you in a good mood because they look so silly. If i were to ride in the Camello I think I would  get really bus sick because it doesn't look like it is the comfiest ride in the world. Also I wouldn't want to be so crowded which Camellos are.

.http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Caribbean_and_Central_America/Cuba/Provincia_de_Matanzas/Varadero-1650834/Transportation-Varadero-Coco_Taxi-BR-1.html

http://havanajournal.com/culture/entry/camellos-and-public-transportation-in-cuba-7711/

Quinceanera

A Quinceanera is a Hispanic tradition that celebrates when a young girl reaches maturity. This is when its a girls sixteenth birthday. Now in America we would us relate it to when a girl celebrates her sixteenth birthday. They celebrate it with a party and everything just like an American party just with some extra twists. Also its a little more personal than an American sweet sixteen.

The Quinceanera celebration traditionally begins with a religious gathering. that is held in a house or banquet e hall. afterwards there is a party with  food and music, and a choreographed waltz or dance from the 16 year old girl and a group of her closest friends or family mainly called the cour of honor. The Quinceanera's Court of honor can be comprised of all young girls called the Dama, or all young men called Chambelán or Escorte or a combination of both.

The Quinceanera usually wears a ball gown, with her Court dressed in dresses and tuxedos. A most popular tradition is the Changing of the Shoes.  This is where the father or favored male relative changes the young girl’s flat shoes to high heels. This is a symbol of the girls transformation from a little girl to a young lady. 

Another tradition is the last doll used as decoration and keepsake.  The doll represents the things of a child that the young lady will no longer focus on.     http://www.quinceanera-boutique.com/quinceaneratradition.htm

Day Of The Dead

Mexico celebrates a yearly tradition called Day of the Dead at the end of October to early November! 

Day of the Dead isn't anything like a American Halloween, but they decorate with skulls and flowers, food just like America but for a deeper meaning then just trick or treating and entertaining kids. They celebrate day of the dead so they have a day to remember the people that have past. They have separate days for the children who have died and for the adults who have died. 

This isn't a mournful day either its a happy and colorful celebration that the spirits are still alive.The hispanics make alters like the one on the right to dedicate the dead. All alters portre the eliments of nature such as earth,wind,fire,and water. Earth is represnted by a food or crop such as corn or their favorite food. Wind is represented by a moving thing on the alter like a flag blowing in the wind or something like that. Fire is seen by a candle burning on the alter as well there usually are alot of candles on the alter. Lastly water is set on the alter in a cantene or bowl of somekind.

http://www.dayofthedead.com/content/traditions-altar