Intermediate Spanish Stories

On November 27, 1978, San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were shot and killed inside San Francisco City Hall. The gunman was Dan White, a disgruntled former city supervisor who had recently resigned and was angry that the mayor refused to reappoint him to his former seat. The Briggs Initiative Defeat: Milk led the successful nationwide campaign to defeat California's Proposition 6 in 1978, which sought to ban homosexual individuals from teaching in public schools.&n...

During the Vietnam War, a young American sailor accidentally fell overboard from his ship in the Gulf of Tonkin and drifted into enemy hands. Captured by North Vietnamese forces, he was thrown into one of North Vietnam's most notorious prison camps: the infamous Hỏa Lò Prison—better known to American POWs as the "Hanoi Hilton"—where torture, isolation, and relentless interrogations were a way of life. Outnumbered, tortured, and with no hope of escape, he made an extraordinary decision: ...

On June 11, 1962, inmates Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin staged an ingenious breakout from Alcatraz. The trio famously placed plaster and paint dummy heads in their beds, crawled through ventilation ducts, and used a makeshift raft to paddle into the frigid, fast-moving waters of San Francisco Bay. Their ultimate fate remains one of history’s greatest unsolved mysteries: The Escape Plan Preparation: Over six months, the men used sharpened spoons and improvised ...

On December 17, 1996, 14 heavily armed MRTA militants stormed a diplomatic reception at the Japanese ambassador's residence in the San Isidro district of Lima, Peru. They initially took hundreds of captives. Over four months, the rebels gradually released most hostages but retained 72 high-ranking diplomats, military officials, and politicians. The guerrillas demanded the release of jailed MRTA comrades, which the government vehemently refused. While negotiators stalled, military engine...

On July 20, 2002, a catastrophic fire occurred at the Utopía discotheque in Lima, Peru, resulting in the deaths of 29 people and injuring dozens more. The tragedy is remembered as one of the most significant safety failures in recent Peruvian history. Cause of the Fire: The blaze began around 3:15 a.m. during a "Zoo" themed party. A bartender performing a fire-juggling or fire-eating act inadvertently ignited the ceiling's acoustic foam. The nightclub was operating without a license and...

Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, exceeding those of Saudi Arabia. In the 1970s, the country was extremely wealthy because of its oil industry and was often called “Saudi Venezuela.” After the oil industry was nationalized in 1976, the state company PDVSA, Petróleos de Venezuela, Sociedad Anónima, became one of the most powerful energy corporations in the world. However, political decisions in the early 2000s dramatically changed the industry. During a major politica...

The Falkland Islands War (April 2–June 14, 1982) was a 74-day undeclared conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom over sovereignty of the South Atlantic islands. Following Argentina's invasion on April 2, a British task force reclaimed the territory, resulting in 649 Argentine and 255 British military deaths. Argentina (referring to them as Islas Malvinas) claimed the islands, while Britain had maintained control since 1833. Argentina invaded on April 2, 1982. The UK, led by Prime Mi...

Omayra Sánchez was a 13-year-old girl who was tragically trapped for almost three days under the debris of her home after the 1985 eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia. Despite rescue efforts and media coverage, her legs were hopelessly pinned, and rescue workers could not reach her with the necessary equipment to free her without amputating her legs. After approximately 60 hours, she died from complications, likely a heart attack, gangrene, or hypothermia. Her story beca...

The captivity of marine mammals such as orcas, dolphins, sea lions, and belugas has been the subject of intense debate in recent decades. Although initially justified on the grounds of education, conservation, and entertainment, multiple scientific studies have demonstrated that confining these species generates profound negative consequences. These effects are not limited to the individual well-being of the animals but also impact ecology, the health of ecosystems, and the ethical perception...

The Holy Inquisition was established in 1478 in Spain and later expanded to its colonies, including New Spain in the Americas under the protection of the Spanish Crown and the Catholic Church . Its primary goal was to enforce religious conformity and combat heresy, and it exercised strong ideological and religious control for almost 300 years. In its quest to preserve Catholic orthodoxy, it persecuted and punished hundreds of people, particularly among those who had converted to Christi...

On May 12, 1989, at 7:36 a.m., a freight train from the Southern Pacific, transporting trona, lost control while descending Cajon Pass, derailed catastrophically on an elevated curve, and plowed into a residential area on Duffy Street, a quiet residential street in San Bernardino, California. The accident was devastating; the lead locomotives and all freight cars were destroyed. The conductor, head-end brakeman, and two residents lost their lives in the incident. In addition, seven hous...

The California Condor, an awe-inspiring bird, holds a unique place in both ecological and cultural spheres. Its story of survival against formidable odds is a testament to the resilience and efforts of conservationists worldwide. In the 1980s, the California Condor was perilously near extinction, with only 22 birds remaining in the wild. This dire situation prompted urgent action from conservation groups, who took the bold step of capturing the remaining birds and placing them in captivity to...

The St. Francis Dam, or the San Francisquito Dam, was a concrete gravity dam located in San Francisquito Canyon in northern Los Angeles County, California, United States, that was built between 1924 and 1926. The dam failed catastrophically in 1928, killing at least 431 people in the subsequent flood, in what is considered to have been one of the worst American civil engineering disasters of the 20th century and the third-greatest loss of life in California history. The dam was built to serve...

January 2025 will forever be etched in the memories of Los Angeles residents due to the devastating fires that swept through Palisades and Eaton. These tragic events not only caused significant loss of life and property but also highlighted the vulnerability of urban areas to wildfires in an era of changing climate. The dawn of 2025 was marred by a series of devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles, leaving a trail of destruction and despair. The Palisades and Eaton fires, which i...

The R.M.S. Queen Mary spent three decades transporting the rich and famous across the Atlantic before retiring in 1967. She survived the Great Depression and World War II and managed to avoid the tragic fate of her cousin, Titanic. But under the glitz and glamour, this haunted ship is hiding several dark secrets. She offered all the finest amenities: exquisite dining rooms, swimming pools, daily radio broadcasts, a kennel for the passengers’ dogs, a children’s nursery — even a hospital....

This is part 2 of the summer 2024 trip. Be sure to listen to the 1st part first. To broaden your horizons, get to know other cultures, learn new things, and enjoy life to its fullest, it is necessary to travel at least once in your life. Traveling is not only a pleasure but almost a human necessity, traveling not only offers you the opportunity to see incredible places and meet interesting people, but it brings many benefits to your mental health, emotional state, your family relatio...

To broaden your horizons, get to know other cultures, learn new things, and enjoy life to its fullest, it is necessary to travel at least once in your life. Traveling is not only a pleasure but almost a human necessity, traveling not only offers you the opportunity to see incredible places and meet interesting people, but it brings many benefits to your mental health, emotional state, your family relationship, and your personal growth. People generally live every moment of life, from on...

On June 6, 1944, known as D-Day, entered history when landings on the beaches of Normandy in northern France brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the Allied armies and opened a new European front against the troops of the Third Reich during the Second World War. It was the largest and most dramatic military operation in history, which marked the beginning of the Battle of Normandy, the liberation of France, and the rest of German-occupied Western Europe, and marked the end of the...

At 8:32 a.m. PDT on May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens, a volcanic peak in southwestern Washington, suffered a massive eruption, killing 57 people and devastating some 210 square miles of wilderness. Mount St. Helens is located in the Cascade Range and stood 9,680 feet before its eruption. The volcano has erupted periodically during the last 4,500 years, and the last active period was between 1831 and 1857. On March 20, 1980, noticeable volcanic activity began with a series of earth tremors. Smal...

Legend has it that Death Valley Scotty built his castle on top of his secret gold mine that funded this lavish house. But the true story is even more improbable and interesting! Hidden in the green oasis of Grapevine Canyon in far northern Death Valley is the Death Valley Ranch, or "Scotty's Castle" as it is more commonly known. Walter Scott was a rowdy and shady character, with little luck in gold prospecting but great luck in spending investor's money. Albert Mussey Johnson was a well-res...

The 1997 North Hollywood shootout, also known as the Battle of North Hollywood, was a confrontation between two heavily armed and armored bank robbers, Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Mătăsăreanu, and police officers in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles on February 28, 1997. Both robbers were killed, twelve police officers and eight civilians were injured, and numerous vehicles and other property were damaged or destroyed by the nearly 2,000 rounds of ammunition fired by the robbers and...

During February 2024, the latest storm brought 1.99 inches of rain to Southern California so far, bringing this month’s total rainfall to 12.56 inches. The latest storm dropped 1.99 inches of rain in downtown Los Angeles and it makes it the fourth wettest February in downtown Los Angeles since 1877 when records first were reported. The monster storm triggered hundreds of mudslides across Los Angeles. Why do they happen? Our story takes 500 years to the past back to the Aztec Empire,...

Close to 80 years ago, a horrific murder scene, in the quiet neighborhood would shock the neighbors, puzzle the police, and forever stain the pages of the history of United States crime books. Elizabeth Short, known posthumously as the Black Dahlia, was an American woman found murdered in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 15, 1947, her body was cut in half and severely mutilated and her killer was never found. Although there are many theories and mul...

On this rainy Saturday morning, I received a phone call from you, we will chat casually while I prepare my morning coffee and tell you about my plans for today and the many things I like to do. Also, I will tell you about some of the wonderful places I like to visit around here. Join me for a casual look into my day. Mándame un mensaje Updated official intro without the season year Support the show You will find the full transcript behind the show notes: https://interspani...

Taking time to reflect on the past and think about what you want in the new year is essential for many reasons. First, it allows you to gain perspective on your life and identify areas where you want to make changes or improvements. Looking back on your experiences and achievements, you can better understand what works for you and doesn't and use that information to guide your decisions. Reflection also helps you set more meaningful and achievable goals. By considering what you have accomplis...

This is part 3 of the National Park Series Joshua Tree National Park is a vast protected area in southern California. It's characterized by rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes. Named for the region’s twisted, bristled Joshua trees, the park straddles Two distinct desert ecosystems: the cactus-dotted Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert, which is higher and cooler. Keys View looks out over the Coachella Valley. Hiking trails weave through the boulders of Hidden Valley. A fas...

Zoot Suit Riots, a series of conflicts that occurred in June 1943 in Los Angeles between U.S. servicemen and Mexican American youths, the latter of whom wore outfits called zoot suits. The zoot suit consisted of a broad-shouldered drape jacket, balloon-leg trousers, and, sometimes, a flamboyant hat. Mexican and Mexican-American youths who wore these outfits were called zoot-suiters. Pressures related to U.S. involvement in World War II contributed to the racial tensions that preceded t...

The following episode includes graphic content that may not be suitable for some audiences. Listener discretion is advised. During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying horror Halloween movies, where you will hear about the creepy monsters all wearing their iconic masks that hunt you in your nightmares. This is the last story. This is part 3 of the Halloween Movies Special 2023 Series Halloween is an American horror sto...

The following episode includes graphic content that may not be suitable for some audiences. Listener discretion is advised. During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying horror Halloween movies, where you will hear about the creepy monsters all wearing their iconic masks that hunt you in your nightmares. This is the second story. This is part 2 of the Halloween Movies Special 2023 Series *** Friday the 13th (1980) may ha...

The following episode includes graphic content that may not be suitable for some audiences. Listener discretion is advised. During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying horror Halloween movies, where you will hear about the creepy monsters all wearing their iconic masks that hunt you in your nightmares. This is the first story. This is part 1 of the Halloween Movies Special 2023 Series The Texas Chain Saw Massacr...

Before you start on this second part, please listen to E52, part I: Cesar Chavez Co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association, Dolores Clara Fernandez Huerta is one of the most influential labor activists of the 20th century and a leader of the Chicano civil rights movement. Born on April 10, 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico, Huerta was the second of three children of Alicia and Juan Fernandez, a farm worker and miner who became a state legislator in 1938. Her parents divorced when Hue...

Cesar Chavez (March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993) was an American labor leader and civil rights activist. Along with Dolores Huerta, he co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), later to become the United Farm Workers (UFW) labor union. Born in Yuma, Arizona to a Mexican-American family, Chavez began his working life as a manual laborer before spending two years in the United States Navy. Relocating to California, where he married, he got involved in the Community Service O...

On February 6, 2023, at 04:17, local time, a 7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria. making it the largest in Turkey since the 1939 Erzincan earthquake of the same magnitude, and jointly the second-strongest recorded in the history of the country, after the 1668 North Anatolia earthquake. The confirmed death toll stood at 57,658: 50,399 in Turkey, and 7,259 in Syria. And helped arrived... Mexico is sending some of its famous search a...

Fort Ord is a former United States Army post on Monterey Bay on the Pacific Ocean coast in California. In its prime, Fort Ord was once one the most coveted military training grounds in the U.S. Founded in 1917, Fort Ord was the first stop for many new recruits in many different wars such as WW2, Korea, and Vietnam. The fort closed in 1994 due to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action. Most of the fort's land now makes up the Fort Ord National Monument, managed by the United States Bure...

The día de Los Reyes is better known as the feast of Epiphany in English. Los Reyes Magos – known as the Three Wise Men, or Three Kings in English – are three men who followed the North Star to the town of Bethlehem to welcome baby Jesus into the world. Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar traveled from a faraway place to gift the Son of God with gold, incense, and myrrh. While children in everywhere received their presents on Christmas day, those living in México and other Latin-American coun...

As we approach the end of another year it is important to reflect on the experiences that one has lived, it is important to analyze the success you obtained and your failures, it is also important to make plans, and set goals to achieve new purposes, you have to put energy into things that are worthwhile, dedicate time to yourself and the people you love in life. While some wait until January 1 to make positive changes, the end of one year and the beginning of another offers a natural ...

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination near the end of his third year in office. Kennedy was the youngest person to assume the presidency by election. He was also the youngest president at the end of his tenure. Kennedy served at the height of the Cold War, and the majority of his work as president...

On the evening of 8 December 1980, English musician John Lennon, formerly of the Beatles, was shot and fatally wounded by an obsessed fan outside of the Dakota, his residence in New York City. John Lennon and Yoko Ono returned to the Dakota Apartments at approximately 10:50 p.m. As Lennon passed by, he glanced briefly at Chapman, appearing to recognize him from earlier. Seconds later, Chapman drew his gun, which was concealed in his coat pocket, aimed at the center of Lennon's back, and...

During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying and creepy real-life ghost stories, where you will hear about the unexplained paranormal and supernatural occurrences that have stained the pages of the history of the United States. This is the last story This is part 3 of the Halloween Special 2022 Series For over 100 years, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, has been flooded by reports of paranormal activity. From phantom cries of wounded...

During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying and creepy real-life ghost stories, where you will hear about the unexplained paranormal and supernatural occurrences that have stained the pages of the history of the United States. This is part 2 of the Halloween Special 2022 Series Inside The Real Amityville Horror House And Its Story Of Murder And Hauntings: The quaint-looking house at 112 Ocean Avenue was the scene of the gri...

During the month of October, during the Halloween season, I have put together a series of the most terrifying and creepy real-life ghost stories, where you will hear about the unexplained paranormal and supernatural occurrences that have stained the pages of the history of the United States. This is the first story. This is part 1 of the Halloween Special 2022 Series The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts b...

The 1994 Northridge earthquake that struck the densely populated San Fernando Valley in southern California, U.S., on January 17, 1994, was the third major earthquake to occur in the state in 23 years and was the state’s most destructive one since the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the costliest one in U.S. history. The earthquake occurred just after 4:30 AM local time along a previously undiscovered blind thrust fault in the San Fernando Valley. Its epicenter was in Reseda, a suburb ...

The Pacific Northwest Coast is a geographic region in western North America bounded by the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west. Though no official boundary exists, the most common conception includes the U.S. states of California, Oregon, Washington, and the Canadian province of British Columbia. Few areas of the United States are as diversely beautiful as the Pacific Northwest. You probably know about the foggy beaches and wooded mountains, but that’s just the beginning—we’re ta...

The 1992 Los Angeles riots, were a series of riots and civil disturbances that occurred in Los Angeles County, California, in April and May 1992. The unrest began in South Central Los Angeles on April 29, after a jury acquitted four officers of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) charged with using excessive force in the arrest and beating of Rodney King. This incident had been videotaped and widely shown in television broadcasts. The rioting took place in several areas in the Los...

This is part 2 of the National Park Series Being dwarfed by Earth’s most massive tree, the giant sequoia, fills you with wonder. It’s hard to believe that a living thing can be so enormous and old. Also known as Sierra redwoods, the largest of these trees live in California’s rugged Sierra Nevada mountain range. Some of the largest surviving giant sequoia groves can be seen in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and can live to be 3,000 years old! Giant sequoias grow so large b...

This is part 5 of the Leyenda Series Hundreds of years ago, when the Aztec Empire dominated the Valley of Mexico, it was common practice to subject neighboring towns and to require a mandatory tax. It was then that the chief of the Tlaxcaltecas, bitter enemies of the Aztecs, weary of this terrible oppression, decided to fight for his people’s freedom. The chief had a daughter named Iztaccihuatl: the most beautiful of all the princesses, who had professed her love for young Popocatepet...

The Linda Vista Hospital was first established in 1904 as the Santa Fe Coastlines Hospital, a prospering healthcare facility dedicated to servicing employees of the Santa Fe Railroad. During the early decades of the 20th century, the hospital flourished as did Los Angeles' surrounding Boyle Heights neighborhood. East LA was slowly transformed into a less affluent area, and the number of violent crimes escalated. Lowered funding at the hospital resulted in less staff to treat the influx of p...

Cinco de Mayo is a yearly celebration held on May 5, which commemorates the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, during the Franco-Mexican War. led by General Ignacio Zaragoza. While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations. Mándame un mensaje Updated official intro ...

A California hotel reminiscent of the lodge in the horror film The Shining has had a long history of paranormal activity and what are believed to be ghostly guests. The Padre Hotel in downtown Bakersfield first opened its doors in 1928, and the Spanish colonial revival structure has been the setting for a series of deaths and related tragedies through the years. According to local archives, examples include a woman jumping off the building’s roof, a man killing himself in a bathtub and a love...

Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Bakersfield is Sharktooth Hill. First documented by William P. Blake in 1853, Sharktooth Hill is one of the most significant Miocene fossil sites in the world Sharktooth Hill is a middle Miocene marine exposure of the Round Mountain Silt unit of the Temblor Formation. Using magnetic stratigraphy data, the age of this unit is estimated to be around 15.2 and 16 million years old (Prothero et al., 2008). However, above the bone bed...

Acapulco, a beach resort town on Mexico's Pacific coast, is set on a large bay backed by high-rises and the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains. Made famous by the jet set in the 1950s and ’60s, it's known for its high-energy nightlife, beaches, and golf. The screen of the Flores theater projected that night the short entitled The passion for billiards. The astonishment of the large audience was almost hypnotic in the face of such a dazzling prodigy. The figures moving with great speed will sudde...

When the rain began drenching the California landscape in December 1861, none of the state’s 500,000 residents could have imagined the devastation that was about to strike the region. Just a few months earlier, the farmers and ranchers of California had been praying for rain to spare their parched land from the two previous decades of exceptionally dry weather. The Great Flood of 1862 began in late November 1861, when early winter storms dropped heavy snow in the higher elevations of Northern...

Flag Day, or ‘Día de la Bandera’ as it’s known in México, is celebrated on February 24 every year, since it was first established. To fly the national flag is a sign of pride and patriotism. It is a positive affirmation of loyalty and commitment. It marks out a country that has confidence in itself and is comfortable with its place in the world, its history, and its future. The central emblem is the Mexican coat of arms, based on the Aztec symbol for Tenochtitlan (now Mexico Cit...

If you’ve ever wondered how it would be to visit the Yucatan Peninsula and the Riviera Maya, if you are a nature lover and flora and fauna enthusiast, you’ve probably heard about some mystic places called cenotes. A cenote is said to be quite significant to the Mayan people. Whilst cenotes were their main water source, they were also considered to be the entrance to the Xibalba, translated to the underworld, and a place where the Mayan gods would visit, especially Chaac, the Mayan god of rai...

This is part 4 of the Leyenda Series The Palacio de Lecumberri is a large building, formerly a prison, in the northeast of Mexico City, Mexico, which now houses the General National Archive. Known in popular culture as The Black Palace of Lecumberri, it served as a penitentiary from 1900 to 1976. It was inaugurated by President Porfirio Díaz. The Diary of Lecumberri by Colombian Poet Álvaro Mutis, describes his time thereafter being imprisoned in 1958. The living conditions within the pris...

This is part 1 of the National Park Series Yosemite National Park, one of the ecological treasures of the United States, is located in northern California. The seven square miles (18 sq km) Yosemite Valley is the most popular part of the park. The park features granite monoliths, waterfalls, streams, and Giant Sequoias. Yosemite National Park offers breathtaking views, incredible rock formations, and the largest waterfall in North America. As one of America’s most beautiful and ...

With cheerful red bracts and delicate yellow flowers framed against velvety green leaves, colorful poinsettias are an indisputable symbol of Christmas. In fact, poinsettias are the most commercially important potted plant in the world because of their endearing association with the December holiday season. But how did this warm-weather shrub native to western Mexico become so closely associated with Christmas? The original Nahuatl name for the plant we call “poinsettia” is Cuetlaxóchitl, cul...

Welcome to InterSpanish, the podcast dedicated to sharing the beauty and intricacies of the Spanish language through engaging stories! My name is Ana Perales, and I am thrilled to join you on this journey as the hostess of Intermediate Spanish Stories. With a deep passion for language and storytelling, I aim to bring you captivating tales that will not only entertain but also help you improve your Spanish listening and understanding skills. Language learning can often be challenging, especial...

Traditional Mexican handcrafted toys are those made by artisans rather than manufactured in factories. The history of Mexican toys extends as far back as the Mesoamerican era, but many of the toys date to the colonial period. Many of these were introduced as teaching tools by evangelists and they were associated with certain festivals and holidays. These toys vary widely, including el trompo, el bolero, la matatena, las canicas, la lotería, las piñatas, and more—made of many materials, incl...

This is part 3 of the Leyenda Series In southern Mexico City, a gritty working-class neighborhood gives way to the famous canals of Xochimilco, Xochimilco is one of the most popular destinations in Mexico City, principally for the miles of waterways that run through the area, the last remnants of a vast water transport system built by the Aztecs, which have led to it being dubbed the Venice of Mexico. To this day, the community is known for its floating plant nurseries and ...

The Mexican Revolution was a complex and bloody conflict that arguably spanned two decades, and in which 900,000 people lost their lives. The Revolution began with a call to arms on 20th November 1910 to overthrow the current ruler and dictator Porfirio Díaz. Díaz was an ambitious president, keen to develop Mexico into an industrial and modernized country. While he worked on implementing a capitalist society building factories, dams, and roads the rural workers and peasants suffered gre...

November 11 is Veteran's Day in the United States and it is celebrated every November, Veterans Day honors all who have served in the U.S. military. Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day and it is an opportunity to commemorate the contributions of living veterans publicly and to show appreciation toward them. For much of the rest of the world and especially in Europe, it is Armistice Day, the day that marks the end of World War I. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th mont...

A dedication to the deceased Day of the Dead (Dia De Muertos) has its origins in the pre-Hispanic cultures of Latin America, and it is a Mexican holiday that honors deceased family members, friends, and ancestors. It is a two-day holiday that reunites the living and dead. Families create "ofrendas" (Offerings) to honor their departed family members that have passed. These altars are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the departed, and the favorite foods and drink...

Columbus Day celebrations in the United States – meant to honor the legacy of the man credited with “discovering” the New World – are almost as old as the nation itself. The earliest known Columbus Day celebration took place on Oct. 12, 1792, on the 300th anniversary of his landing. But since the 1990s, a growing number of states have begun to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day – a holiday meant to honor the culture and history of the people living in the Americas both be...

While wildfires are a natural part of California’s landscape, the fire season in California and across the West is starting earlier and ending later each year. Climate change is considered a key driver of this trend. Warmer spring and summer temperatures, reduced snowpack, and earlier spring snowmelt create longer and more intense dry seasons that increase moisture stress on vegetation and make forests more susceptible to severe wildfire. The length of fire season is estimated to have increa...

Independence Day (Día de la Independencia) is a Mexican holiday to celebrate the “cry of independence” on September 16, 1810, which started a revolt against Spanish rule. Independence Day celebrates the day Miguel Hidalgo is believed to have made the cry of independence (El Grito de la Independencia) in the town of Dolores, in the north-central part of the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Hidalgo was one of the nation’s leaders during the War of Independence in Mexico. Mexicans celebrate their...

Twenty years ago, the nation watched transfixed as planes hijacked by terrorists crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001. Nearly 3,000 people died as a result of the attacks, including the 19 hijackers from the Islamic extremist group, al-Qaida. It remains the deadliest foreign attack on U.S. soil. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Cente...

This is part 2 of the Leyenda Series Owls have also long been viewed as harbingers of bad luck and even death. One myth tells us that bad luck will befall anyone who hears an owl hoot three times. Another wild myth claims that owls are the only creatures that can live with ghosts. Since long before the first Halloween, witches have been linked to owls. The Romans and Greeks once believed that witches could actually transform themselves into owls. Believe it or not, some people once actuall...

Bumblebees are going extinct in a time of ‘climate chaos’ Loss of vital pollinators, due in part to temperature extremes and fluctuations, could have dire consequences for ecosystems and agriculture. Bumblebees, among the most important pollinators, are in trouble. Fuzzy and buzzy, they excel at spreading pollen and fertilizing many types of wild flora, as well as crucial agricultural crops like tomatoes, blueberries, and squash. But their numbers are dropping. New research using a massive ...

The La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California have fascinated scientists and visitors for over a century, and today, this area is the only actively excavated Ice Age fossil site found in an urban location in the world! Over the last 50,000 years, Ice Age animals, plants, and insects were trapped in sticky asphalt, which preserved them for us to find today. More than 100 excavations have been made at the Tar Pits since the early 1900s, and most of the fossils discovered here are housed...

The federal prison on Alcatraz Island in the chilly waters of California’s San Francisco Bay housed some of America’s most difficult and dangerous felons during its years of operation from 1934 to 1963. Among those who served time at the maximum-security facility were the notorious gangster Al “Scarface” Capone (1899-1947) and murderer Robert “Birdman of Alcatraz” Stroud (1890-1963). No inmate ever successfully escaped The Rock, as the prison was nicknamed, although more than a dozen known at...

The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic structure connecting the city of San Francisco to Marin County, California. It spans almost two miles across the Golden Gate, the narrow strait where San Francisco Bay opens to meet the Pacific Ocean. The dream of connecting San Francisco to its northern neighbors became a reality when construction commenced in 1933. The Golden Gate Bridge opened to the public in 1937, has endured as a picture-perfect landmark and an engineering marvel. The Golden Gate B...

Mummies in Mexico?! Yes! The expressions on the faces of the mummies of Guanajuato show the terror they felt when they awoke in coffins and realized they had been buried alive. The Mexican mummies you see in the Guanajuato mummy museum all share a horrifying story. What is the story behind the Guanajuato mummies? The year was 1833. The place, Guanajuato, a colonial town in the center of Mexico. One day, townspeople suddenly became sick and died. First the very young or very old di...

The state of Guanajuato is located in the northern-central region of the República Mexicana (Mexican Republic). Its historical significance is so great for the country, that each of its corners tells a formidable story. It's known for its silver mining history and colonial architecture. Its network of narrow streets, alleyways, and tunnels is typified by the Callejón del Beso (Alley of the Kiss), so named because the balconies are close enough for a couple to reach across and kiss. In...

This a special episode to celebrate my 10th episode, and I want to take this opportunity to thank all my audience for the unexpected success and for allowing me to reach out to you wherever you are in the world. Trust in yourself and believe you too, can reach your goals! Mándame un mensaje Updated official intro without the season year Support the show You will find the full transcript behind the show notes: https://interspanish.buzzsprout.com If you have a story or to...

This is part 1 of the Leyenda Series Mexico is a country known worldwide for its deep-rooted cultural traditions, and legends, which balance between reality and fiction. The legends of the colonial era are stories that have an important cultural message since they are enriched by components of the folklore of the Spanish colonies in America. Generations of Mexican children have grown up afraid of La Llorona—a wailing woman whose misdeeds in life have left her spirit trapped on Earth...

Racial segregation of Mexican students in the California public school system during the 1910s and 1920s traces its origins to racial ideologies of Anglo-Saxon superiority from the 19th century. “The Eugenics Movement”, an applied ideology of improving the genetic traits and quality of the human population strongly advocated superiority and inferiority beliefs. In the 1930s racial segregation allowed for the creation of separate white and Mexican schools, with two distinct parallel curriculu...

The Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles, California, has been the site of so many gruesome suicides, grisly murders, and unexplained deaths. In addition to the number of guests who have passed while visiting the Cecil, at least two serial killers have stayed at this notorious hotel during their sprees, making it the kind of place where you just might sleep next door to a slayer. However, it wasn't until the LAPD released a disturbing video of a young woman who was later found dead in the water t...

Teotihuacán is an ancient Mesoamerican city located in a sub valley of the Valley of Mexico, which is located in the State of Mexico, 40 kilometers (25 mi) northeast of modern-day Mexico City. Teotihuacán is known today as the site of many of the most architecturally significant Mesoamerican pyramids built in the pre-Columbian Americas. Teotihuacán ('the place where the gods were created') was built between the 1st and 7th centuries A.D., it is characterized by the vast size of its monument...

It’s fitting that the Hollywood Sign, the worldwide symbol of the entertainment industry, was conceived as an outdoor ad campaign for a suburban housing development called “Hollywoodland.” After all, despite the high profile of the film biz, real estate has always been Hollywood’s primary economic driver. Although the Sign’s appearance and purpose have evolved over the years, its basic aspirational message remains the same: This is a place where magic is possible, where dreams can come true. ...

The historic center of Mexico City also known as Centro Histórico is the central neighborhood in Mexico City, Mexico, focused on Zócalo or main plaza and extending in all directions for a number of blocks, with its farthest extent being west to the Alameda Central. This is where the Spaniards began to build what is now modern Mexico City in the 16th century on the ruins of the conquered Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire. As the center of the ancient Aztec Empire and the s...

We are turning our beautiful Ocean into a plastic soup. About 8 million tons of plastic enter the sea every year, and if we do not change, we face a future with more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050. Our plastic addiction and waste mismanagement are condemning countless marine birds and animals to death by entanglement or poisoning. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, no corner of the Ocean is untouched by this global scourge. Mándame un mensaje Updated official intro without t...

Today we will take a narrative tour through the central California valley and visit Piedras Blancas, home to the Northern Elephant seals, you will learn about the history and habits of these extraordinary animals. Starting in the 1700s, the maritime fur trade of the Pacific Northwest depleted nearly all species of marine mammals including sea otters, whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions. Elephant seals were hunted almost to extinction for their oil-rich blubber, which was used to mak...

Welcome to the first episode of InterSpanish, my name is Ana Perales. Immerse yourself in interesting conversations on a variety of different topics in Spanish (Mexico) spoken at a slower pace to increase understanding and build vocabulary. For intermediate Spanish language learners. Today we will talk about the difference between learning a first language and the theory of the acquisition of a second language. Mándame un mensaje Updated official intro without the season year Support...