Since the World Cup is going on at the moment, it reminded me of a neat film I saw a few years ago.  La Gran Final or The Great Match is by Spanish filmmaker Gerardo Olivares.

The film follows three different tribes from around the world: Mongolian nomads, the Tuareg of the Sahara (Niger’s Tenere desert), and the Indios of the Amazon (Brazil). They are all excited about watching the 2002 World Cup between Germany and Brazil. The adventure begins when they try to figure out a way to get to the nearest television set.

It’s a simple film which makes you laugh along with the characters.  It also reminds you how much we have in common, despite our different way of living.

I think Olivares also wanted to show how globalization and the information age has reached even the most isolated people in the world. It’s also made me realize how much technology is a part of our life. It truly makes you feel like it’s a small world after all.

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We’ve had quite a heatwave this past weekend in northern California.  To help me cool down, I like to make peppermint green tea and let it chill in the fridge for a couple of hours.  The peppermint helps you feel instantly cooler and the lime makes the tea a healthier drink.

Cooling minty green tea with lime recipe:

6 cups of water, 3 green tea bags, handful of fresh mint leaves, 1 whole lime sliced and juiced, 2 tbsp of agave nectar.Just boil the water, add the tea bag (let in steep for 5-10 minutes).  Add the fresh mint leaves, lime juice, and agave syrup.  Stir, let it cool and then refrigerate until cold.

You can even add some fresh sprigs of mint for an extra cooling and refreshing tea.

Another drink I remember enjoying on hot summer evening is Sangria.  My first glass of Sangria was in hot and humid Key West, Florida.  I am not a big fan of wine, and Sangria is more like fruit punch wine and pretty good.

Here is a beautiful hand painted ceramic Sangria pitcher from Spain.  Visit the site for a simple Sangria recipe.  Or try my recipe using a bottle of Merlot.

This tall hand thrown pitcher is the perfect way to serve Sangria - a festive, warm weather drink full of fruit and wine. It holds about 2 liters - half a gallon of cool refreshment. The pinched spout will help the wine flow freely and keep the slices of fruit where they belong — inside! (Food safe, lead free, hand wash.) - LaTienda.com

Sangria is usually red or white wine mixed with brandy, sugar, fruit juice, and soda water.  It is a popular wine “punch” originally from Spain and Portugal.  There are other variations to the recipe.

You can start with red wines such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir or Shiraz.  But you can also use white wine as well.

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