CHRISTMAS IN MEXICO

Several weeks before Christmas, elaborately decorated market stalls or puestos are set up in the plazas of every town and city. Some people travel for days from remote areas to get to these markets. The puestos offer crafts of every conceivable kind, foods such as cheese, bananas, nuts, and cookies, and flowers such as orchids and poinsettias.

The poinsettia is native to Mexico and is believed to have first been used in connection with Christmas in the 17th century when Mexican Franciscans included the flowers in their Christmas celebration. There is a legend connected with the flower. A little boy named Pablo was walking to the church in his village to visit the Nativity scene, when he realized he had nothing to offer the Christ Child. He saw some green branches growing along the roadside and gathered them up. Other children scoffed, but when he laid them by the manger, a brilliant red star-shaped flower appeared on each branch.

The main Christmas celebration in Mexico is called las posadas, which refers to processions reenacting Joseph and Mary's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. The processions begin nine days before Christmas because the original journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem took nine days. Friends and family members divide themselves into two groups - pilgrims and innkeepers. The pilgrims travel from house to house asking for a shelter and are refused at each until they finally reach the house where an alter and Nativity scene have been set up. Here the pilgrims are admitted with great rejoicing, a traditional prayer is spoken, and the party begins. Food and drink are served and then children take turns trying to break open the pinata.

ECOTOURISM

(Also known as ecological tourism) is responsible travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas taht strives to be low impact and (often) small scale. It purports to educate the traveller; provide funds for ecological conservation; directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and foster respect for different cultures and for human rights. Ecotourism is held as important by those who participate in it so that future generations may experience aspects of the environment relatively untouched by human intervention.

Ecotourism typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultuarl heritage are of ecotourism is to offer tourists insight into the impact of human beings on the environment, and to foster a greater appreciation of our natural habitats.

Responsible ecotourism includes programs taht minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local people.

Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an integral part of ecotourism is the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of economic opportunities for local communities.

FASHION

Introduction

Fashions and clothing are constantly changing and may differ from country to country, depending on various factors including age, geography, and climate.

1. Blouse

2. Change out of

3. Clothes

4. Dress

5. In fashion

6. Jeans

7. Second- hand clothes

8. Shirt

9. Shoes

10. Put on

11. Shorts

12. Suit

13. Sungalsses

14. Sweater

15. Take off

16. Tie

17. Try on

18. T- shirt

19. Wear

20. Boots

VOCABULARY

Clothes

breast pocket= bolsillo en el pecho
side-pockets= bolsillos a los lados
inside-pokets= bolsillos internos
zip= cierre, cremallera

V-neck= cuello en V
round neck= cuello redondo
low neckline= escotado

striped= a rayas
checked= a cuadros
pleated= tableado

jewellery= joyas
bracelet= pulsera
brooch= prendedor
necklace= collar
string of pearls
ring
charms= dijes

tailor= sastre
dressmaker= modista
tailored suit= traje a medida

to come into fashion
to be in fashion
to be fashionable
to go out of fashionable
to be out of fashion

to try something on
to fit ( it´s the right size)
to suit (looks well)

TRANSPORT

MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

Ferry

Airliner

Bicycle

Bike

Boat

Bus

Canoe

Car

Criser

Airport & Planes

Air hostess

Airline

Airport

Aisle

Arrivals

Baggage

Baggage claim

Carry-on luggage

Cart

USEFUL VOCABULARY

1. (Aero) planes(s)

2. (Bi) cycle(s)

3. Boat (s)

4. Bus (es)

5. Car (s)

6. Helicopter (s)

7. Lorry (lorries)

8. Moped (s)

9. (Motor) bike (s)

10. Ship (s)

11. Submarine (s)

12. Tanker (s)

13. Taxi (s)

14. Train (s)

15. Tram (s)

16. Tube train (s)/ underground train(s)

17. Van

18. Yacht (s)

Other vocabulary
window, aisle, seat, ticket, flight, travel, safe, aboard, vehicle, limousine

HEALTH

A BALANCE DIET

To stay healthy, it´s important to eat the right kinds of foods. Dairy products are good for your bones and teeth and help to keep your skin and hair in good condition, so drink a glass of milk every day.

Carbohydrates give you a lot of energy and proteins are excellent for your muscles so eat a piece of breat or tortillas with your meals and one egg or 200 grams of meat or fish daily.

Vegetables and fruits are good for everything.

You need citrus fruits to help fight certain viruses, especially colds. Drink a glass of orange juice or tomato juice daily and eat a portion of green and yellow vegetables to keep your hair and skin looking good.

Carlos Santana´s biography

Carlos Santana (born July 20, 1947) is a famous Mexican rock and roll guitarist, originally from Autlan De Navarro, Mexico. He became famous in the 1960s with a band named Santana.

Carlos Santana´s father was a mariachi violinist and young Carlos learned the violin originally, but switched to the guitar when he was eight years old. After a family move to Tijuana, Santana began playing in clubs and bars; he remained in Tijuana when his family moved to San Francisco, California, but soon joined them. In 1966, he helped found the Santana Blues Band, eventually shortened to simply Santana. The band started playing at the Fillmore West, where many of the great San Francisco bands began. Santana´s recording debut ocurred on The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper with Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield.

Soon signed to Columbia Records, Santana released a self- titled album, Santana, the group at this point consisting of Carlos Santana (guitar), Gregg Rolie (keyboards and vocals), David Brown (bass guitar), Michael Shrieve (drums), Jose Areas (percussion) and Michael Carabello (percussion). On the tour to support the album, the band played at Woodstock; the set was legendary and vastly increased Santana III (1971). The original Santana band the disbanded. Rolie went on to become a founding member of Journey.

Carlos Santana used the name and a series of changing musicians to continue to tour around the country, releasing several albums. During this period, Carlos took the name " Devadip", bestowed upon him by spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy. Many albums followed

in the 1970s and 80s, including collaborations with Willie Nelson, Herbie Hancock

, Booker T. made a guest appearance on Ottmar Liebert´s album "Solo para ti", on the songs "Reaching Out 2 U" and a cover of his own song, "Samba pa ti". He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Carlos Santana dramatically returned to popular consciousness in 1999 upon the release of Supernatural, which included collaborations with Rob Thomas, Eric Clapton and Lauryn Hill and won nine Grammy Awards.

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, radio conglomerate Clear Channel Communications sent out of a list of 150 songs that were recommended to be pulled from airplay. Santana´s "Evil Ways" was on the list.

CONVERSATION

Hello Claudia, what are you doing?

I go to buy ice cream and cookies. Do you want go with me?

Ok. but you go with me to do exercise.

Oh no!, I don´t like, it´s boring and tired.

Come on! you are very lazy, try!

What kind sort the exercise there are?

There are many sports or types. What do you like?

I like soccer and martial arts.