The Sounds of Mexico

July 14, 2020

Life in Mexico is never quiet. Punctuating our day are the various trucks that announce themselves to be nearby, just in case you need their service.

The first sounds most people are aware of are the various gas trucks. Below are recordings of Zeta Gas and Gas Milenium. They are carrying the four foot tall cylinders to exchange full for empty.

Zeta Gas
Gas Millennium

The knife sharpener walks through the neighborhood every week or so blowing his whistle. It’s the same whistle throughout all of México, too.

Knife Sharpener

The junk man makes his rounds at least a couple of times a week, too. Old metal, broken appliances, aluminum, and much more will be collected at your door.

Junk Man

In the late afternoon you’ll hear the song below. Just in case you’re looking for an ice cream treat .

Frozen Treats

I wasn’t able to catch a good recording of the cheese man or the fruit and vegetable truck. I always listen for them, especially the trucks selling a single kind of fruit in season. I’ve bought cantelope, tomatoes, mangoes and watermelon at various times lately, perfectly ripe and at a nice price too. The picture at the top is of mangoes I bought a couple of weeks ago. Thirty pesos, too! (That’s about $1.30 USD)

In these pandemic times there is another thing we hear morning and evening – church services announced over a public address system. All we can really gather is “Maria, madre de Dios” but I imagine those accustomed to a daily service appreciate it and are familiar with the words.

Church service

We’ve never heard the camote whistle here in San Antonio Tlayacapan but they used too come by our house in Mazatlán one night a week. Those delicious roasted sweet potatoes straight from their red hot brazier were a real treat.

Share and Enjoy !

More about Nancy

I'm Nancy, a US expat living in San Antonio Tlayacapan, Jalisco after 11 years in Mazatlán, México.

12 Comments
    1. Here in a tenencia of Morelia we have many of the same sounds, but the best is the saxaphonist across the street practicing. Since COVID-19, he’s been at home more than not, which means daily blessings of his music.

      1. Hi Jennifer, I envy you your saxaphonist. We have the barking dog chorus this week to accompany the trucks! Take care and stay well.

    1. Such a treat to hear these sounds when we can’t get back to Mexico yet. Thanks

      1. Hi Barbara, Hope you are well and that it won’t be too long until you can return.

    1. Too bad you couldn’t get a recording of the police telling people to quedarte en casa. I guess the helicopter rides over the lake have been suspended, but at some point you’ll be able to add that as well.

      Thanks for the smile this morning!

    1. Ahhh, these sounds remind me of the wonderful summers my sisters and I used to spend with my grandmother in Mazatlán in the 70’s. Some things don’t change. Those were special times and makes me miss those simple things. Can’t wait to travel again after it is safer to travel. Glad to have found your blog again and hope you’re enjoying your new home.

      1. Thanks so much Lorena. All the best to you and fingers crossed for the world to become safer very soon.

    1. Great post! I’m sure you can guess why I didn’t listen to your recordings…yes I hear the exact same ones…they may even be the same vendors that pass by my house. Miss seeing you guys. I imagine you are living your home and that garden that must be growing by leaps and bounds!

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