Our friend, Rafael, returns this week to talk to us about his homeland and its culture. As he explains, the Mayan culture continues to thrive in Guatemala via its language, clothing, and customs.

In Guatemala, people of Mayan descent not only retain various native forms of dress, but they also speak dialects of the Mayan language, a language many people wrongly presume to be long lost to history. Rafael treats us to some examples of words and phrases in this language, and also explains some of the particulars of traditional dress.

Let's travel to Quito, Ecuador with Cristina to visit El Panecillo, a famous hill and wonderful natural viewpoint guarded by the world's only winged virgin.

From Quito, Ecuador, Julia invites us into her home to share a delicious breakfast including cheese toast, fruit, tomato juice, and delicious mountain grown coffee.

Darwin takes us on a tour of the Guayllabamba Zoo, a refuge for wild animals that were trafficked or domesticated illegally. In this first part, he'll show us the areas for felines, monkeys, and birds.

In part two of Darwin's tour of the Guayllabamba Zoo, a refuge for wild animals that have been victims of illegal trafficking or domestication, he focuses on the aviary, the herpetarium, and the farm, among other areas for fascinating exotic animals.

Tour the Pyramids of Teotihuacán, a World Heritage Site within one of the most magical pre-Hispanic cities of Mesoamerica, near modern day Mexico City.

Learn from the girls of "Sin Desperdicio" (Without Waste) about their new campaign for cleaning up the environment. It's called "Not one more bag."

After a meeting is cancelled on him at the last minute, a boss and his very efficient assistant sit down together to reschedule it, as well as going over the boss's agenda for the day- both business and personal.

From the Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid, Luis Matosas speaks to us about his job as a computer science professor. He additionally organizes a seminar on marketing and "personal branding" and explains to us its importance in the current labor market.

With a difficult subject like math, it really helps to have a friendly, likeable teacher to help you through all the mental gymnastics required, and to give you a boost of confidence when needed. Andrés Valencia is just such a guy! Luckily for us, he agreed to chat!

Maria Lionza is said to have been born in 1502 to an Indian Chief in the Yaracuy region of Venezuela. Today she is revered throughout the Caribbean by followers of the syncretic cult which is named after her, but artists too find her an irresistably mystical symbol alluding to history, race, and sex. Her painting hangs on the wall of Francisco’s taller in Adícora.

Francisco sees potential for creation and innovation in a wide range of materials: drift wood, shells, seeds, goat skin, even plastic debris. He is speaking with the governor about creating a tallerr, or workshop, that can be used to teach artistic skills to the young people of the area, as well as to showcase the work of other local artisans.

Francisco’s little Taller Arte is guarded by the ever-vigilant Señor Coco, who never sleeps and sees all! Taller means “workshop,” and, as in English, this word can have a range of meanings, such as a place where artisans create, a place where things are fixed, or an event where people get together to work on ideas.

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.