| Keyword |
Description |
| Colonial |
Related to the architectural style and period when Spanish colonizers built cities in Mexico, typically featuring old stone buildings and narrow streets |
| Exhibition |
A public display of artwork, photographs, or other items for people to view, usually held in a gallery or museum |
| Iconic |
Something so famous or important that it represents or symbolizes a culture, place, or time period |
Photographer Paul O'Connell discovered something special during a vacation in San Cristóbal de las Casas: the city's colorful VW Beetles, nicknamed "Vochos". For five years, he photographed these round, vintage cars driving through narrow colonial streets. He loved how the brightly painted Beetles looked against the city's old buildings and street art. O'Connell used his creativity to make the Vochos look like they were the stars of the city, almost like characters in a story. After taking hundreds of photos, he decided to share his work in an exhibition to celebrate these iconic cars before they disappear.
Getting the exhibition ready wasn't easy—eight months before the opening, the main gallery he booked closed for renovations. Luckily, he found a smaller space called Nauyaca Galleria, and the show opened on January 29, 2026. The exhibition, titled "El último de los Vochos" (The Last of the Vochos), attracted many visitors, including members of a local Vocho owners club who drove their custom cars past the gallery. People loved seeing the photos, and some even spotted pictures of their own cars. The title reminds us that Mexico stopped producing VW Beetles in 2003, so every Vocho on the road today is over 20 years old.
The exhibition shows why these cars matter to Mexican culture. While Europeans rarely drive old Beetles anymore because of pollution rules, Mexicans still use them as everyday transportation. O'Connell's photographs capture this special moment in history, preserving memories of the Vocho before these beloved cars become too old to drive. The exhibition continues through February at different venues in San Cristóbal with free admission, and O'Connell hopes to create an even bigger show in Mexico City in 2027.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English |
Spanish |
| Vacation |
Vacación |
| Creativity |
Creatividad |
| Exhibition |
Exhibición |
Time to discuss
- Why might old cars like the Vocho be important to preserve as part of a country's culture?
- If you could photograph something from your community to preserve it for future generations, what would you choose and why?
- Do you think it's fair that older cars can still drive in some countries but not in others? Why or why not?
Let's write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph:
- Write a short story from the perspective of a Vocho car that has lived in San Cristóbal for 30 years. What adventures has it experienced and what changes has it seen in the city?
- Choose an object or tradition from your own culture that might disappear in the future. Describe why it's important and how people could help preserve it for future generations.
