Ricardo Phillips An Autoethnography

Ricardo Phillips [email protected]

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Birds,

During the pre-Columbian (or prehispanic) history of the territory now making up the country of Mexico, birds had great symbolic meaning and appear in the decoration of buildings, stelae and in their hieroglyphic writing since the dawn of their civilization. And that it can also be the incarnation of the divine, or the vehicle through which the gods manifest themselves and the song of birds was conceived as a sacred language.

Within Mayan mythology there are images of birds that have not been identified as species and that have been considered supernatural birds; such as the Muan bird and the Principal Bird Deity, which have generally been associated with enthronement ceremonies.

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Travelers love Cancún for its pristine turquoise waters and wide, white-sand beaches. But an ambitious new urban art project is giving visitors a reason to leave the beach behind. Colorful, large-scale public murals created by renowned Mexican and international street artists are popping up all over Cancún, turning this bustling resort town into a vibrant open-air art gallery

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Mexican Concha

Concha’s consist of two parts: A sweet, enriched bread roll, and a crumbly cookie dough that acts as its topping. The dough is made of (ingredients ordered from most plentiful to least): wheat flour, water or milk, sugar, butter (or lard or shortening), eggs (though not always), yeast, and salt.

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Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Dainty White'

The Hibiscus flower meanings include ephemeral beauty, romantic love and passion, friendship, hospitality, and joy. The quintessential tropical flower, the hibiscus originated in Asia and then made its way to other warm places around the world, including Polynesia, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Florida, and the Caribbean. Not only are hibiscus flowers considered beautiful, they have significant spiritual meanings in many cultures.

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Speaking of the Aztec's Diet: While the Aztecs ruled, they farmed large areas of land. Staples of their diet were maize, beans, and squash. To these, they added chilies and tomatoes. They also harvested Acociles, an abundant crayfish-like creature found in Lake Texcoco, as well as Spirulina algae which they made into cakes. The meat was eaten sparsely; the Aztec diet was primarily vegetarian with the exception of grasshoppers, maguey worms, ants, and other larvae. Even now, some of these insects are considered delicacies in parts of Mexico.

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The Prickly Pear cactus is such a powerful symbol in Mexico that they put it smack in the middle of the national flag. It was considered sacred by the ancient Aztecs, and modern-day Mexicans eat it, drink it, and even use it in medicines and shampoos. Its soft inner flesh plays a starring role in a plethora of favorite national dishes: tacos, soups, salads, jams and even candies.

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Florida Thatch Palm

Thrinax Radiata also known as the Florida thatch palm,[4] is a medium to slow growing palm in the family Arecaceae. It is native to many Caribbean islands, Mexico, Central America, and far southern Florida. Its natural habitat is sandy, calcareous soil in coastal areas.

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Ti Plant (Good Luck Plant)

The Ti Plant is a palm-like shrub that symbolizes the connection between the living and the dead for some Austronesian cultures, having many ceremonial purposes. In practical terms, Ti Plant is used to make dyes and is grown for ornamentation.

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Pothos is a low maintenance perennial evergreen houseplant in the Araceae (arum) family. Also known as the Marble Queen is a popular member of the pothos family. It features striking green and white variegated, heart shaped leaves and long, cascading vines. It makes a wonderful trailing or hanging plant from a tall shelf or pot

Desired for it's glossy, green or variegated leaves on cascading stems.  It only grows 6 to 8 feet as a horizontal groundcover, but the trailing, climbing vines can grow as long as 40 feet.  This feature makes it well-suited for hanging baskets

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These beautiful plants with large, fragrant, deep golden yellow flowers are Golden Trumpet (Allamanda Cathartica), a member of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). This evergreen plant, native to northern South America, is frost tender, but can be grown in a greenhouse in cool climates or as a summer annual. It is less successful as a houseplant because of its high light and humidity requirements that are difficult to provide in the average home.

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It is either a bright pink or creamy yellow color and has a strong and sweet scent that is adored by many. In the past, only royalty was allowed to wear this flower due to its wonderful smell. The plumeria flower represents birth and love; spring and new beginnings.

Found in Cancún, in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico

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Royal Pancians (Delonix Regis Flower) is a species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae native to Madagascar. It is noted for its fern-like leaves and flamboyant display of orange-red flowers over summer. In many tropical parts of the world it is grown as an ornamental tree and in English it is given the name royal poinciana, flamboyant, phoenix flower,[citation needed] flame of the forest, or flame tree (one of several species given this name).

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Pink Trumpet Vine (Cancún, in the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico)

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Hawaiian Rare Plumeria Frangipani Plant Planta Cutting in White (Cancún, Quintana Roo) Mexico

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If you are a fan of tropical climates or have seen movies about a vacation in Hawaii or Cancun (where I find myself) you may know the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, known colloquially as Chinese hibiscus, China rose, Hawaiian hibiscus, rose mallow and shoeblack plant. It is a species of tropical hibiscus, a flowering plant in the Hibisceae tribe of the family Malvaceae.

Wikipedia

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El Sombrero!!!!!!! en AIFA, Mexico City

Dolphin Beach (Playa Delfines) is a welcome respite from the crowded beaches and bustling nightclubs for which Cancún has become known. Located just beyond the hotel zone at one of the city’s highest points, this quiet stretch of sand offers picture-perfect expansive views and an ideal setting for a leisurely stroll, catching waves, or simply relaxing. It is here that I discovered the artwork of Algeria del Prado who is made up of duo artists Octavio Alegria (Mexico) and Ester del Prado (Spain). Together they mix two visions and colours born on different continents, inspired mainly by animals, organic and ethnic elements with a surrealist nuance. They mix mythological animals, which hide a strength, talent or a virtue that man can learn, with organic elements and personal symbols in a dreamlike atmosphere.

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Aeropuerto Internacional de Felipe Ángeles (AIFA) en la Ciudad de México….