I don’t know if you’ve heard of it, but at least I’ve always been told that Latinos know how to party. Since the day of the World Cup, when Mexico won against Germany in the group stage, I know what they meant.

First of all, to all Mexicans: congratulations, you deserved it that day.
Firstly to all the Germans: We were just plain bad and accordingly bowed out of the World Cup at the group stage. And if you had witnessed the party that was thrown afterwards at the Angel de la Independencia in Mexico City, you would have given the Mexicans even more credit. 😀

I watched the game in my hostel at the time and knew at some point that it was over. But as we played really embarrassingly bad and I was in Mexico City, it was clear that we would go out and see what was going on in the streets. I knew several people at the hostel – a Mexican, a Latina and an American. So we went out and found this party. Everyone was cheering, shouting and dancing, there were Mexican flags everywhere and everyone had these spray cans with foam in them. And the whole time they were chanting ‘Ay ayay canta y no llores. Porque cantando se alegran, cielito lindo, los corazones…’. And then of course even louder ‘AY AYAY CANTA Y NI LLORES. PORQUE CANTANDO SE ALEGRAN, CIELTIO LINOD, LOS CORAZONES!’
The atmosphere and the vibe were quite frankly incredible. That day I learnt this song and will forever associate it with Mexico and a genuine Mexican joy and party. This song is burned into my memory like few others. I still get goosebumps today when I hear the song and sing it at the top of my lungs.

I also that day learnt what is meant by the Latino parties I had heard about. Not necessarily the nightlife or club life – Spain is better at that 😀 (no offence) – but rather the parties that simply come out of nowhere and out of pure joy on the street. But Mexico City was really unbeatable in this respect that day. And they celebrated as if they had won the World Cup (or at least the way we celebrate in Germany when we become world champions. We could honestly learn from them 😉)

Go or not? Well…. It’s hard to go 😀 but if anyone should ever get to enjoy one – a street party like this doesn’t just happen when you win such a great football match – then just get involved and have fun. It’s worth it 😉😊