the blue gold of the mariachis
Š Jean-Pierre DEGAS / hemis.fr
Feature
Mexico :
In the heart of Jalisco State and beyond Tequila Mount, close to Guadalajara - the second city of the country - the valley disappearing into the Sierra Madre definitely looks like a blue sea. It is the kingdom of agave, the Tequila plant. A vast cover of pointed leafs which is neither of the color of the sky nor of water and stretches beyond 35 000 hectares. Last August, Tequila and its valley have been listed as World Heritage by Unesco. Cultivation of Agave is now being considered as a central feature of the national identity of Mexico. All the men from the valley are proud of it. Indeed it is the homeland of the Charros, the cow-boys wearing those large sombreros. The heroes celebrated during the golden era of Mexican cinema. But it is also the home of the Mariachis, the travelling musicians with their striking costumes who serenade guests during wedding ceremonies, thus explaining the origin of their name. Nowadays the tenors are acclaimed like the stars of the opera of Guadalajara, the capital of the mariachis. "Bienvenido en la Tequila Connection!" Text : Marie-France Parra (text available)
HEMIS_301675 : Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, agave fields listed as World Heritage by UNESCO dwell on 35 000 hectares
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, agave fields listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, the people who cut the agave are called the Jimadores, they trim the head of agaves with a coa, which is later used for distillery
Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Charros Festival, grouping before the Charreada which is also open to women
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, agave fields listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, agave cutters (called Jimadores) cut the agave heads with a coa for the distillery
Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, agave landscapes listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, horse is used to go into the valley from Tequila Volcano to the Sierra Madre
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, agave fields listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, agave cutters (called Jimadores) cut the agave heads with a coa for the distillery
Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, agave fields listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, agave cutters (called Jimadores) cut the agave heads with a coa for the distillery
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, after maturiting during seven years, an agave head weight almost 60 kg
Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, after maturiting during seven years, an agave head weight almost 60 kg
HEMIS_301657 Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, picking the agave heads at mountain side with mules
HEMIS_301682 Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, picking the agave heads at mountain side with mules, the foreman watching
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, agave fields listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, agave cutters (called Jimadores) cut the agave heads with a coa for the distillery
Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, mechanical harvesting of agave heads by tractors for the distillery
HEMIS_301655 : Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, agave fields listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, agave cutters (called Jimadores) cut the agave heads with a coa for the distillery
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, agave fields listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, agave cutters (called Jimadores) cut the agave heads with a coa for the distillery
Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, departure of the railway station of the Tequila Express Train for the Tequila Valley
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Mexico, Jalisco State, El Arenal, Tequila Express Train, crossing of the agave landscapes listed as World Heritage by UNESCO
Mexico, Jalisco State, El Arenal, Tequila Express Train, crossing of the agave landscapes listed as World Heritage by UNESCO
HEMIS_110829 Mexico, Jalisco State, agave fields (using to make tequila) near Tequila village
HEMIS_301701 Mexico, Jalisco State, Amatitan, arrival of Tequila Express weekly train for visiting the Casa Herradura
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Amatitan, Hacienda San Jose del Refugio, Casa de Herradura, Mariachis group off the Tequila Express Train
Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Charros Festival, grouping before the Charreada Parade
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Charros Festival, game of skill with lasso during the Charreada
Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Charros Festival, parade of the different schools of Charros (Mexican cow-boys)
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Charros Festival, attention to detail, the Charros (Mexican cow-boys) take care of their clothes
Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Charros Festival, game of skill with lasso during the Charreada
HEMIS_301707 : Mexico, Jalisco State, El Arenal, Tequila Express Train, crossing of the agave landscapes listed as World Heritage by UNESCO
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Charros Festival, Mexican is patriot and begins every ceremony by a parade with the flag and then Charros Parade
Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Charros Festival, grouping before the Charreada which id also open to women
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Charros Festival, Mexican is patriot and begins every ceremony by a parade with the flag and then Charros Parade
Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Plaza de Armas, concert of a Mariachis in a bandstand
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Charros Festival, Charros (Mexican cow-boys) with Sombrero and boots matched with belt
Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Charros Festival, the Charreada is a family celebration where everybody parades
HEMIS_301641 Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, local grocery
HEMIS_301694 Mexico, Jalisco State, Amatitan, hat shop for agave cutters called jimadores
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Tlaquepaque, on the outskirts of Guadalajara, El Parian Restaurant is the Mariachis'headquarters
Mexico, Jalisco State, Tlaquepaque, on the outskirts of Guadalajara, El Parian Restaurant is the Mariachis'headquarters
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Mariachis liven up many restaurants during the Guadalajara International Festival
Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Mariachis liven up many restaurants during the Guadalajara International Festival
HEMIS_301719 : Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Charros Festival, grouping before the Charreada which is also open to women
HEMIS_301642 Mexico, Jalisco State, Guadalajara, Charros Festival, chorus
HEMIS_301653 Mexico, Jalisco State, near Tequila, Guachimontones (Huachimontones) circular pyramids near Teuchitlan, pre-Hispanic population area listed as World Heritage by UNESCO
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, farmer in his corn field in front of the Sierra Madre and Rio Grande
Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, after work in agave fields, people like to go and see their corn
HEMIS_301625 Mexico, Jalisco State, near Tequila, Hacienda del Carmen with Spanish colonial style, detail of the chapel
HEMIS_301661 Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, street life
HEMIS_301658 Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, local grocery
HEMIS_301652 Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, 16th century Santiago Apostol Church
HEMIS_301627 Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, Santiago Apostol Church in the background
HEMIS_301633 Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, Jose Cuervo Museum in front of the distillery
HEMIS_123153 Mexico, gigantic advertisement for a brand of Tequila
HEMIS_301645 Mexico, Jalisco State, Amatitan, listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, Hacienda San Jose del Refugio, Casa de Herradura, old stills used to distil the tequila
HEMIS_301710 : Mexico, Jalisco State, Amatitan, located at the heart of the triangle with Tequila and El Arenal at the middle of agave landscapes listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, colourful facade
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Mexico, Jalisco State, Amatitan, listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, Hacienda San Jose del Refugio, Casa de Herradura, old mill used to crush agave heads
Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, Hacienda Cuervo cellar, tequila is maturing in oak barrels imported from Europe
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Mexico, Jalisco State, near Tequila, Hacienda del Carmen with Spanish colonial style, with its park, patios and chapel
Mexico, Jalisco State, near Tequila, Hacienda del Carmen with Spanish colonial style, with its park, patios and chapel
HEMIS_301711 Mexico, Jalisco State, near Tequila, Hacienda del Carmen with Spanish colonial style, with its park, patios and chapel
HEMIS_301722 Mexico, Jalisco State, Tequila, Casa La Cholula, tacos recipe accompany with red beans, beef burger, tortillas, corn and hot chili pepper
HEMIS_094737 Mexico, Federal District, Mexico City, tequila drink, salt and lemon