Reyna Trejo Villeda, 84, is one of about 35 elderly prostitutes, some retired, some still working the streets, who live at the Casa Xochiquetzal. The shelter is run by the Mexico City government and has given these women an alternative to sleeping on the street or in flop-houses in the downtown area.

Mrs. Trejo has quite a good singing voice and up until a couple of years ago played guitar along with her sister, a violinist. She comes from the Huasteca region of the state of Hidalgo, and sang me some ‘sones huastecos’ or huapangos from there.

Here’s one for Reyna called ‘La Azucena’ by Los Camperos de Valles.