A Week Speaking ONLY Spanish With My Family in Puebla, Mexico 🇲🇽 | Spanish Vlog

Hey friends! I'm in Mexico now.

I traveled from San Francisco to Puebla, Mexico, to visit my parents. I'll be here for a few days and

my parents. I'll be here for a few days and I'm going to explore the city. I want you to see the natural interactions in Mexico, with my family, with vendors, at the market, ordering food.

Since I live in the United States, I'm taking advantage of being in Mexico to share this kind of content with you. Come along.

This is a famous, typical Mexican market.

It's called Mercado Independencia. Here you can find a little bit of everything: piñatas, candy, food.

Look, they have aguas frescas, something I miss so much in the United States . And look,

. And look, they're giving people vaccinations here. It's very common to find these vaccination stands here in Mexico.

They're usually set up in supermarkets, in traditional markets like this one, and in very public places where there's easy access for a lot of people.

What kind of bread do you sell?

Look, I sell what's called the "torta de agua," which is made in a traditional oven, handmade. We also have the "torta de agua," which isn't

handmade. We also have the "torta de agua," which isn't handmade, but it's made in a drawer oven, the kind that goes on a tray. We also have the "cocol de anís," the red one, also handmade , in a stone oven, and the drawer oven, which goes on a tray.

We also have the "pelona," the long "semita, " the "chancla," which is made with adobo, and the "pambazo," which is made with mole, or mole with chicken breast, or longaniza with beans.

We have all kinds of sweet bread.

Are these breads very typical here in Puebla?

Here in Puebla, they're traditional. Usually, what

people here in Puebla like, what they usually consume the most, is the "torta de agua."

Ah, very good.

Okay, quick pause.

Because what's happening right now is exactly why learning Spanish can feel so intense.

Everyone's talking fast and at the same time.

And you think you're already speaking Spanish because you understand certain vocabulary and have accumulated a few isolated phrases.

But clearly, when it comes to listening to locals speak, something's off.

And that's real Spanish.

Something I realized a while ago while learning French is that to understand moments like this, it's not enough to just read textbooks and learn vocabulary.

You have to train your ear to keep up even when you don't understand everything.

That's what Lingopie is for, which is sponsoring this video.

What I do is put on a series, a movie, or even short stories and just listen.

If there's a word or expression I don't understand, I click, look up what it means, listen to how it's pronounced, and keep going.

That helps a lot because you get used to understanding from context and not translating everything in your head.

And to accepting that it's okay if you miss a phrase.

If you want your Spanish to feel more natural and less calculated, Lingopie is a great tool for that.

I'll leave the link in the description.

Okay, let's get back to the conversation.

And both are used for tortas.

You can use either one.

The thing about this one is that you can prepare it simply with your avocado, your ham, and it's delicious.

And this one has a little more beans.

It also has avocado and cheese, and it's tasty.

Both are tasty, but, like I said, this one, since the process is very different, is tastier.

It's like the flavors are more concentrated.

And how much does this one cost?

$3.50 each, miss.

Right now, during the past December season, this one with pork leg is delicious.

Even more so right now, if you buy a chili pepper, you add the chili pepper. It

's already delicious with just that.

The torta is delicious.

Oh, very good.

Yes miss.

Yes, give me three, please.

And does it have milk, butter?

No.

It's just that, it's the flour.

A little salt and water.

Okay. That's all it needs.

Ah perfect.

So how much do I owe you?

$10.50 please.

This is a 50-peso bill.

Here you go.

That'll be $15.

$20.

$30.

$40.

$50 miss.

Very well, thank you very much.

There are the chickens hanging there, poor things.

She's a market vendor.

A market vendor is a seller who sets up simple stalls on the ground and sells their merchandise in the markets.

What do you sell?

I have tlacoyos with chicharrón, requesón, beans, and alverjón.

3 for $10.

And why do these look different colors?

They're made with blue masa.

Blue masa, okay, but it's also corn.

Yes, it's the same.

Okay.

How much do they cost?

3 for $10.

3 for $10.

Okay.

Can I have 3 bean ones, please?

Yes.

What else?

That would be all.

Here you go.

Beautiful day.

These kinds of crafts are very typical here in Puebla and in Mexico in general.

Especially in Puebla, the blue and white ones are very famous and they're called Talavera.

So that was a little bit of a typical Mexican market.

Today I imagine there were fewer people because normally the aisles are packed and you're bumping shoulders with everyone.

I prefer quiet days like today because when the market is crowded, I get overwhelmed.

Mom, do you know what you're going to order?

Just... I was just about to tell you.

I think I'd like a hot chai tea.

Yes, that's what I'm going to order.

You?

Me too.

Okay.

What?

Tell me.

Will the taro be just cold or also...?

I think you can order it hot.

Yes.

Okay, let's see.

In a minute.

Do you know what you're going to order?

No.

I'm about to find out.

Very good.

I'll have a taro, (this one), but don't put too much ice in it, because I'm feeling a bit under the weather.

What?

Me too.

Yes, then a taro, please.

You have matcha, but what is it, like cold, is it a frappe?

It can be cold, hot, it can be however you prefer.

Cold.

Okay.

Yes please.

Milk?

Whole milk.

Yep.

What did you order for dessert, Dad?

Coconut tart.

What are your favorite desserts?

My favorite dessert, I think, is cheesecake.

Mine too.

I like anything with chocolate.

You know how it is.

Chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies, with coffee, it's perfect.

What's your favorite dessert, Toño?

I don't think I have a specific one, but it could be brownies or sweet bread.

What kind of sweet bread?

Well, I like chocolate-covered palmiers or conchas.

Very tasty.

Good choices.

I want to introduce you to my family.

This is my dad.

This is my mom, and this is my brother.

There's one more member here, my sister.

She's the middle sister.

I'm the oldest.

My sister is the middle child.

My brother is the youngest.

My parents are from Baja California, a state in northern Mexico.

They have a distinctive accent.

Over the years, the accent has softened , but traces of it remain.

This is a churro.

Churros are typical in Mexico.

I think they make churros in Spain too, but they're a little different.

I don't know exactly what the difference is between a Spanish churro and a Mexican churro, but if there are any Spaniards here, say in the comments, " But Mexicans are superior."

And what's your favorite Mexican drink?

I'll start here.

Horchata.

What about you, Mom?

I really like hot chocolate.

And you, Toñito?

I think the hibiscus water.

Two drinks and a hot chocolate.

Very good.

Let's eat the churros, have our drinks, and then go home.

We're at one of my favorite restaurants in Puebla.

What's it called, Dad?

Almozero.

Almozero.

Come with me.

The café de olla is delicious.

It's one of my favorites too.

And I think I've only seen it here in Mexico.

My favorite of the cazuelas is the chorizo ​​in red sauce.

It's delicious.

Cha-cha-cha.

Anything else?

No, thank you very much.

Thank you. Enjoy your meal.

Thank you.

We liked everything.

We left the plates clean.

Everything was delicious, just as I remembered it.

It's been two years since I ate here, so it felt like being home again.

Let's have breakfast at a typical Mexican food stand.

Can I have some tlacoyos with...

What's inside? Just beans?

Beans or chicharrón.

Ah okay.

So, I'll have some with beans. And can I add steak?

beans. And can I add steak?

Yes.

And without the cheese or cream, please.

Salsa?

The red one, please.

As you can see, the basis of Mexican food is corn.

Many dishes are made with corn.

We make the dough and with it we make different things like tortillas for tacos or tostadas.

What I just ordered are called tlacoyos.

Tlacoyos are typical of central Mexico.

Like a true Mexican, I ate with my hands, without fear of getting dirty.

Without fear of success.

Everything was delicious.

I feel like I can't move, I'm so full.

I give the tlacoyos a 9.5.

The salsas were very good, they tasted homemade.

Great flavor.

How would you rate your quesadillas?

I give them a 9.

They were good.

Decent.

This is the famous church of Cholula.

I'm being blinded by it.

This church can be seen from anywhere in the city of Puebla because it's on a very high point.

This building behind me used to be a psychiatric hospital.

It was inaugurated in 1910.

Now it's a regional museum.

They say there are churches in Cholula for every day of the year, that is, 365 churches.

Not many people know this, but there are pyramids hidden in the hill below the church. Right now you can see part of the pyramid.

church. Right now you can see part of the pyramid.

Archaeologists have restored the part of the pyramid that's visible now, but the entire pyramid is actually buried under the hill.

Another interesting fact is that the hill the church is on is an artificial one.

When the Spanish arrived here, they saw the pyramids, decided to hide them, and build a church on top to evangelize the indigenous people of the region.

And it's not just one pyramid that's hidden.

There are seven pyramids, one on top of the other. The oldest dates back to the 2nd century BC.

Wow.

Someone's cleaning the pyramid.

If you look closely, there's a mini pyramid in the middle of the steps.

Who knows what its purpose was.

This one told me $50. This one. And a little blue one, I think.

It's very pretty.

Talavera, do you know what it is? Is it the material?

Yes, yes, yes. Look, Talavera is clay.

That's why you leave the relief here.

And this, the decoration is the finishing touch. That's Talavera.

Because if you take one of these and it's white like this, no.

It's not Talavera.

It has to be brownish here.

But you make sure it's not painted.

Because many people paint over the white.

And no.

And that's why the workshops put their last name on it.

Otherwise, we can't sell it because they come here, and they check them.

That it's really Talavera.

Yes, so we don't deceive the tourists.

Because if they catch us, (inaudible).

They're definitely taking away our ... Are they taking away our stall? Or our Talavera pottery...

... Are they taking away our stall? Or our Talavera pottery...

The place.

No, the place.

We have grasshoppers, come and try them.

We have garlic, chili, salt and lime.

What kind is this one, excuse me?

Salt and lime.

Oh my god.

Let's see the marinated ones.

Or garlic.

Thank you.

Lime and salsa or something like that to go.

Marinated or garlic are good.

Yes, they're very tasty.

How much are they?

One forty, the three for one hundred.

The three for one hundred can be salt and lime, garlic, or chili.

No, better give me just one. Forty, (this) one...

Give me garlic.

Lime and salsa?

(This) yes, please.

I'm never eating grasshoppers again, honestly.

I didn't want to say it in front of the vendor.

But I didn't love them.

They're not bad, really, but it kind of disgusts me to think that it's an insect.

And I'm eating it.

A chapulín is a grasshopper, it's another way to say it.

So I won't try it again, but if you're brave, come and try it for yourselves.

We wanted to climb up to the church, but honestly, we weren't prepared.

Not with the right clothes, hats, or water.

And it's a very steep climb, it's difficult.

And with the baby, it's even more complicated.

But I promise that next time I come back, I'll climb up and show you the view of the city and the church.

And with this beautiful view, we end today's vlog.

Thanks for watching the video.

Don't forget to subscribe to the channel so you can continue learning Spanish interactively.

Comment on what your favorite part of Cholula was.

Goodbye.