By Josie Goldberg
PUEBLA, MEXICO (The Hollywood Times) – 10/1/ 2025
When my last and final Racehorse “Am Yisrael Chai” came into my life, I suffered immensely to get her to become a real Racehorse. She was the third horse I bred, and the previous two, one lost his life to Covid, and the other one was severely handicapped due to her small size. I could not understand why I was suffering so much and could not fathom my bad breeding luck. It was not until I read the book “Evocations with Smoking Mirrors” by Rocio Tejeda Herrada that I understood that by some cultures and according to Mexican book author Rocio, that we as humans need to suffer to get to Luminosity which is the connection with the theorem and that the real things that matter in life are love and family. Rocio believes one must suffer to be ultimately happy.
I must say that I must agree. Maybe it’s a Russian Jewish cultural aspect as well because before I ever saw any success in my life I suffered immensely and never understood why or how. If you don’t believe me watch all my reality tv shows. In America people would just tell me to take a chill pill while my dad would always tell me that until I really suffer, I will never see happiness and success. It felt normal for me through my life with my ups and downs. Rocio calls it PASSION. She said she is a Latina, its normal. Rocio and I understood each other’s Passions. We connected!
I was so fortunate that on this reporting job, I was able to visit Puebla, Mexico and Mexico City, where Rocio Tejeda Herrada and her partner Marcus Davila Plonning took me behind the scenes of historical sites that inspired her book Evocations with Smoking Mirrors. Without giving away any spoilers, there is one unimaginable death, that I believe set the tone of book. However, you will have to read the book to see if and how this tragedy was overcome.
I am so excited to take you, my readers at The Hollywood Times along with me on my trip to Mexico from the beginning to end. The first thing was I had to add to my name according to my Mexican hosts. I was “Josephina Deborah Goldberg de Gramillo de Martinez De California. Gramillo and Martinez were my family host and I was from California. Had to show some respect for the culture. I loved my new colorful name.
I arrived on Mexican Independence Day in Puebla, Mexico and was greeted by my host. I was given a bodyguard & driver. Senior Manuel, he made my trip so comfortable and safe. I joked with him and asked if he was a “Sicario” but I soon realized it’s not funny to joke about Cartel related topics as it’s so REAL in Mexico. So I got the message. We had Chile En Nogada, which is the signature dish for Mexican Independence Day and some Mexican Red Wine, I have to say it was 10.
Day 2, was Filming day
I am a big fan of telenovelas, so I asked the makeup artist to make me look like a glamorous “Mexicana“. I wanted to look like the character Teresa Mendoza from my favorite Nouvela “La Reina Del Sur”. Rocios makeup artist Adi at Beauty Studio Shane made me feel like a sexy Mexicana.
Check out the videos below:
I would like to introduce you via video, Marcus & Rocio Live from “The Great Pyramid of Cholula” in English and Spanish.
Then we went to “Palacio De Justicia” and saw the amazing “Cathedral de Puebla”. Rocio’s best friend Liz Sanchez works at the Palacio De Justicia, and I had to ask her how she met Rocio and what exactly is her job at the Palacio. I also got an intimate interview with Marcus, Rocio loving supportive partner. Marcus is not only a very talented illustrator, but he is essentially what love is to Rocio and what Rocio says made her overcome the biggest tragedy of her life.
Mexico City, Mexico
Hotel Genève where I stayed was iconic. Hotel Geneve has preserved since 1907. Right in the center of Mexico City, it has hosted illustrious personalities such as Sir Winston Churchill, Paul Newman, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Sophia Loren and many other notable celebrities.
I also got to interview Rocio’s father in Spanglish, Lawyer Miguel Angle Tejeda Ortega. I asked him if woman our protected in Mexico when it comes to love &marriage? One never knows if you meet a wealthy Mexican man and move to Mexico.
I found one of the top lawyers …. Call NOTARIO TITULAR MIGUEL ANGEL TEJEDA ORTEGA
EMAIL: TEJEDA1421@YAHOO.COM.MX
TELS: 222 242 50 58
I wrapped up the interview with Rocio with mixed emotions from extreme sadness to extreme happiness. The book was very colorful. I am a very emotional person myself. On a lighter note, I asked Rocio what her dreams are when it comes to her career as an author? She told me that she would love Guillermo del Toro (Successful Mexican filmmaker and author) to adapt her book “Evocations with Smoking Mirrors” and make it into a movie. The Hollywood Times and I would like to wish Rocio Tejeda Herrada the very best and we hope to see her book one day as a blockbuster hit with Guillermo Del Toro.
