We are at Mexico City’s public university talking with Manuel. He tells us about the contrasts that exist within his neighborhood and what he thinks about the relationship between the United States and Mexico.

Should government pump money into the economy and generate jobs by financing giant public works projects? In the extremely close Mexican presidential election of 2006 (which he lost), Andrés Manuel López Obrador made it clear that that his answer is a decisive ¡Sí!

Mmm. What's in that and how do you make it? We get the scoop on "nopales" (prickly pear, from a cactus plant) with tomato, onion, cilantro and hot chili peppers from a street vendor in Mexico. Buen provecho...

In this Yabla exclusive, we learn how to make “Papa a la Huancaína,” a classic Peruvian dish that’s spicy and creamy and great for the summer. Enjoy!

Viviana really enjoys studying Political Economy at the UAM [Autonomous Metropolitan University]. She tells us about her major and the plans that she has for the future and shares some insights about the large social gap that exists in Mexico.

Bajofondo is, according to the group, a “collective of composers, singers and artists.” They started out as the Bajofondo Tango Club with a strong tango influence, but have since broadened their sound. Here they talk about the collective and begin a discussion of their sound.

Novalima is very aware of the importance of Peruvian folk music, not just in their sound but in another musical genres as well. Paco de Lucía, a Spanish flamenco musician, might have made the sound of the “cajón” (a box-like musical instrument) famous, but that sound is Peruvian as it gets.

Novalima mixes Peruvian folk music with electronic beats. Touring has become an important source of inspiration. That’s how they translate their musical roots onto the dance floor. Universal tunes with local sounds!

Continue learning about what specific kinds of music go into the mix to make the special sound that is Novalima.

The Peruvian group Novalima took a break from their European tour for an interview. Learn about the branching out and coming back together that the band members went through to achieve their rich and eclectic sound.

En route, Juan and friends tell about working far from home. Not only are there financial obstacles, there are cultural differences as well that lead to some misunderstandings. Americans don’t quite understand the saying Mi casa es su casa. Pay attention the next time someone from Mexico tells you there’s a party at your house!

Let’s keep learning the Chilango slang. Ciudad de México, also knows as El Distrito or el D.F. is home to around 21 million people. Of course, they have to set themselves apart from people coming from other cities, and that’s why they created their own words, their own expressions. We went to share and learn with this nice construction crew, all of them very proud of being Chilangos.

Sometimes we wonder: What do people from Chile eat? Well, thanks to our friend Joaquín we have an answer. And who doesn’t love sandwiches?

Bajofondo is the fusion of different musicians from the Río de la Plata area, Uruguayans and Argentineans. In 2003, they won the Latin Grammy for “Best Pop Instrumental Album” for their new genre: Electronic Tango. We interviewed Luciano Supervielle and Martín Ferres after a show in Germany about their most recent European tour.

These friendly and animated guys are hardworking chilangos. That’s how people from Mexico City are known around Mexico. Let’s share a bus ride with them and learn some slang about workers and working in and around Chilangolandia.