Celebrated in Ecuador on November second, the Day of the Dead is a time for family members to gather together and pay respects through customs involving food, prayer and music, to deceased family members, whom they view as very much alive energetically.

Hailing from Caracas, Venezuela, the group Trabuco Contrapunto has its roots in tropical music and Afro-Latin rhythms with a Venezuelan flare. On this song, prominent Venezuelan hip hop personality Budú joins them. Don't forget to support these artists' music by searching for them on the major digital platforms.

Corn to dough and dough to tortilla. It’s simple, it’s automatic, and it’s how Alfonso and his siblings make their living. Step up to the counter to learn more.

Don Alonso tells us a bit about his tortilla business and how the automatic machines revolutionized the way to prepare tortillas.

Juan paints outlines on his tiles using a paintbrush and manganese oxide, but at one time practitioners did this by laying down fine strings dipped in wax, and this explains why Juan still calls the technique he uses cuerda seca, or “dry cord.” Note that he describes the technique as one of alto relieve, or “high relief,” which is the opposite of bas-relief (low relief).

Fernando makes a date with an old work friend he has not seen for a while in order to catch up on the changes in both of their lives.

Pipo and Priscilla take us on a brief excursion to a tower located in Parque Amazónico La Isla, where one can view the entire city of Tena, Ecuador. The experience for Priscilla, however, may be a little less relaxing.

Priscilla and Fernando enjoy a beautiful day on a riverbank where the locals swim. Let's hear them talk about their experiences in this sport.

Musician and songwriter, Jorge Garcia, leads the band, Suena Disco. Their single, Temblor, featuring guest artist, Itzia Aranda, incorporates electronic music from Guadalajara with a tropical flare.

Originally from Venezuela, Eduardo Cedeño, a.k.a. Tatobox, is a New York-based composer, musician, and producer with a long career in alternative rock. In his song, "Plastic," which promotes global ecological awareness, Tatobox is accompanied by the "cuatro," a typical instrument from his country. Enjoy more of his work on social media.

Tatiana explains the symbolism behind the colors of the Mexican flag- red, white and green- as well as preparing a dish which both includes those colors and honors those values.

In celebration of the Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday in which the departed are sometimes honored with the preparation of their favorite dishes, Tatiana shares with us a bit about her recipe for "Dead Raising Chilaquiles," as well as her philosophy regarding life and death.

Tatiana shares with us some home remedies for the restoration of our physical and spiritual health.

Young Taimur’s Spanish is not quite as easy for the non-native as that of his neighborhood pal Zulbani, but he does have a lot of interesting things to say! Listen up, because our young friend presents an opportunity to hear some expressions and turns of phase you may have not heard before.

Recently the song "Mesa Que Más Aplauda" from the Mexican group Climax had reached coastal Venezuela and was blasting from every bootleg music kiosk and bus stereo. Its catchy, inane, meaningless refrain za za za, yakuza, yakuza was on the lips of every impressionable child from 5 to 50. Taimur was no exception (nor were we!)