[ 02.2015 | San Diego ]

wandering around in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, you wonder how you’ve gotten into that time lapse. and when. the park remembers the early days of the city and includes many buildings from the period around 1850. it is registered as California Historical Landmark and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. it was San Diego, where the first permanent Spanish settlement on the West Coast was founded in 1769. thus, the old town is known as the ‘birthplace of California’. and believe me, this can be felt everywhere.

Mariachi is an indigenous musical expression of Mexican country people which goes back several hundred years. the tradition is characterized by a particular repertoire of music, a distinct grouping of instruments, and a special style of singing. in their music, the musicians celebrate joys and express struggles of the Mexican people. Mariachi was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

Another Mexican tradition, that was also inscribed in the same list, is the ‘Día de Muertos’ (= Day of the Dead). it is an annual Mexican multi-day holiday that is acknowledged internationally in many other cultures also and is now celebrated on Nov 1st and 2nd. on this holiday people gather to pray for and remember deceased family members and friends to support them on their spiritual journey.

sources: oldtownsandiego.org | mariachi.org | inside-mexico.com