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.

Couldn’t you just go for some refried 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.

Could it be 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 bitter taste in the mouths of many Mexicans.

While stirring a pot, Doña Coco sings us a couple of Christian songs, which she learned at her evangelical church.

The history of bullfighting dates back to at least Roman times. For some people it is a form of art while others regard it as a barbarian tradition. This video takes us to the very heart of Las Ventas in Madrid, the most renowned bullfighting arena in the world. Torero o toro? Just pick a side, take a seat and enjoy the show.

La Vela is a small town in the state of Falcón, on the northwest coast of Venezuela, where every December 28th Los Locos [“The Crazy Ones”] arrive wearing colorful and elaborated costumes. The whole town becomes a party, with businesses closing and people dancing in the streets. It’s a tradition that could be in any magical realism novel and that desperately struggles to not fall into oblivion.

Our good Mexican friends know a little about everything and they’re willing to teach us! When you get somewhere, what’s the first thing to do? Here you’ll learn how to greet friends, lovers and even grandmothers!

Gonzalo is a Peruvian painter living in Germany. We had a great opportunity to visit him and talk about his life. Before learning about his work, let’s listen to the amazing tale of how he met his wife.

Let’s listen to more of this love story, starring a German woman and a Peruvian man on a date with destiny!

Yabla is in the historic center of Lima, the capital of Peru, on a national holiday and a saint’s day, no less. If you’re going to be stuck in a bit of traffic on a tour, Lima’s famous Plaza de Armas is a great place to be. There’s so much to see: The presidential palace, a 16th century cathedral and more. Come see for yourself.

Útilies. It relates to school supplies, including notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, paper, scissors… anything children need to get through the school year. Not a big deal for the middle class, but it can be a serious challenge to those of lesser means. López Obrador made it a campaign promise that útilies would be provided free to all children throughout Mexico, just as he did for the children of Mexico City while he was mayor.

Political campaigns are tough (and they can get even tougher after the voting). In this video documenting Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s presidential race, we learn some of the tricks of the trade in Mexico.

Street food is a great way to sample something unique to a country or culture. That’s why we don’t miss a chance to chat with street vendors and taste their treats. Strolling the streets of Mexico, we ran into this delicious soup—perfect for meat lovers!

Beautiful Panama has been promoted to tourists with the slogan “Se queda en tí” (“It stays with you”). Panamanian waters are great for surfing, for fishing and for floating around and chatting. Let’s meet Cholito, one of the locals, who will show us around in his boat!

You may know the baraja española, the Spanish deck of cards, with its classic renderings of kings and knights in four suits. Our illustrator friend Antonio Vargas created a uniquely Mexican baraja with native imagery drawing from the pre-Columbian Aztec, Olmec, Toltec and Mayan cultures.