Leslie York, before and after her ordeal in Tulum.
A Canadian woman’s trip to paradise turned into a nightmare when she was attacked in her hotel room last week in Tulum.
Lexie York of Ottawa, Ontario, was beaten so badly while staying at Tulum’s Grand Bahia Principe resort that she required over nine hours of reconstructive surgery.
York, 29, arrived alone on November 10, planning to meet her mother there the next day.
Around midnight, York left her room to get something to eat. She met two couples also staying at the resort and remained with them in the restaurant until around 3:00am.
After she returned to her room, she heard a knock on her door. It was one of the men she had met at dinner, who authorities have since identified as Ricardo S.P., a 34-year-old chauffeur from Mexico City who was staying at the hotel with his wife.
Suspect in the beating of a Canadian woman in Tulum.
Through a translation app, he told York that his wife had heard screams coming from her room, and he had come to check on her.
She told him she was OK, but the man forced his way into her room and attacked her. She tried to scream, but he choked her and beat her in the face with his fist.
York lost consciousness during the attack and awoke with her eyes swollen shut. She managed to feel her way out of the room to seek help.
York was first taken to a private hospital in Playa del Carmen and later transferred to a hospital in Cancún. Local media reported she had been sexually assaulted as well as beaten.
Her mother arrived on November 11, and her brother Matthew York joined them the next day.
“She had nine hours of plastic surgery. She has nerve damage in her face. The swelling is kind of going down now, but at the time it was quite bad,” he told CBC News.
Lexie York remained in Cancún as of Monday, recovering from her injuries and it was not clear when she would be well enough to travel.
“Every time she lifts her head up she gets dizzy,” her brother said.
A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said the family is being provided consular services and that Canadian officials are working with Mexican authorities to resolve the case.
The Quintana Roo Attorney General’s Office said Ricardo S.P. had been arrested connection with the attack.
The Grand Bahia Principe resort issued a statement in response to the attack.
“As soon as the hotel was informed of the incident, staff immediately activated our internal security protocol, including providing urgent medical assistance and alerting the local authorities. We wish Ms. York a speedy recovery and hope that the authorities get to the bottom of this incident as soon as possible.”
The Cornish pasty, introduced to Mexico in the 19th century by British miners, has helped a 19-year-old university student from Pachuca, Hidalgo, take another step toward achieving his goal of a career in the space industry.
Rafael Legorreta Castañeda, an aeronautical engineering student at the Metropolitan Polytechnic University of Hidalgo (UPMH), sold the snack on campus to raise funds to attend NASA’s International Air and Space Program (IASP) in Huntsville, Alabama, from October 27 to November 2.
In an interview with the newspaper Milenio, Legorreta, or “El Chico Paste” (Pasty Boy) – as he came to be known at his university – said that attending the program at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center was a dream come true.
“When we’re little, everyone’s dream is to be an astronaut and to get to know the National Aeronautics and Space Administration . . . [NASA astronauts] were the first to travel to the moon, so when I was told that I had the opportunity to participate in this program, I was very excited,” he said.
“Six months ago, the call-out to participate was published and the director of my degree program told me to enter so I did and I met the necessary requirements although I needed to cover the costs. That was difficult because I spent about US $4,500 but with the help of my parents and by selling pasties at university . . . I raised the funds to achieve this dream,” Legorreta said.
His attendance at the IASP couldn’t have been more successful: Legorreta, along with another UPMH student, Andrés Romero Badillo, won the program’s first prize for a project they created.
“We won . . . with a strontium hexaferrite project, it’s a highly magnetic material . . . and the purpose we gave to it was that, combined with paint, it can be a UV radiation insulator as well as a treatment against cancer, among other uses. The prize was that our material will go to space for nine months from Cape Canaveral in May 2020; then they’ll return it to us to continue with the research,” he said.
“Beyond the first place that we won, I feel proud to have achieved my goal [of attending the IASP] and to have represented my country, my state, my city Pachuca and my university, in a dignified way,” Legorreta said.
During the six-day program in Alabama, the UPMH student attended conferences and classes at which he learned about topics such as rocket design and the languages used at the International Space Station. Legorreta also had the opportunity to experience life as an astronaut in a space simulator.
“. . . It was really cool, a great experience,” he said, before offering some inspirational words to other young people.
“Sometimes we don’t have the money necessary to achieve our goals but that shouldn’t limit us or stop us from achieving them . . . Fight for what you think is impossible . . .”
The accident scene this morning on the Mexico City-Pachuca highway.
A crash involving three buses killed 13 people and injured 20 on the Mexico-Pachuca highway between Mexico City and Ecatepec late Monday night.
The accident occurred when the driver of a bus traveling north attempted to pass by driving on the shoulder. The vehicle slammed into the back of another bus that had stopped for passengers. The second bus then crashed into another that was stationary in front of it.
Initial reports counted nine dead, among them a three-year-old child. However, Civil Protection officials raised the count to 11 when rescue workers found two more bodies inside the wreckage.
The México state attorney general reported on Tuesday that two of the victims among the injured had died in hospital, bringing the total count to 13 dead. Only seven of the 13 had been identified as of Tuesday morning.
Ecatepec firefighters and Civil Protection officials arrived on the scene along with five paramedics units to tend to the injured and remove the dead from the wreckage.
The crash closed the Mexico-Pachuca highway into the early morning hours, and traffic was diverted onto an adjacent highway.
A skating rink will once again be set up in Mexico City’s central square in December for Christmas celebrations but for the first time ever it won’t be made of ice.
This year’s rink will have an acrylic surface, Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum told a press conference on Monday, explaining that the purpose of the change is to be environmentally-friendly and save public money.
She said that the ice rinks in the zócalo in recent years were expensive both to set up and maintain because they required a lot of electricity. The total annual outlay was around 30 million pesos (US $1.55 million at today’s exchange rate), the mayor said.
This year’s synthetic rink will cost the city much less “not just in terms of rent but also the electricity it consumes and the emissions it generates,” Sheinbaum said. “As I have said [previously], the environment has to be [considered] in our project.”
Christmas festivities at the zócalo will commence on December 15 and include performances by a children’s choir, Sheinbaum said, adding that the traditional Christmas lights that adorn surrounding buildings will use environmentally-friendly LED bulbs.
This year’s celebration will be different because it will be environmental conscious, she declared.
The Morena party mayor, a close ally of President López Obrador, said her government intends to decrease spending on Christmas festivities every year during her six-year term.
The ancient Mayan city of Chichén Itzá was founded at least 400 years earlier than previously thought, according to the head of a team that is exploring and mapping cenotes, or sinkholes, on the Yucatán peninsula.
Guillermo de Anda, an underwater archaeologist and head of the Great Mayan Aquifer (GAM) project, told the newspaper Milenio that the conclusion is based on studies of carbon remains found in the Balamkanché cave beneath the Yucatán state archaeological site.
It was previously thought that the Mayan people inhabited Chichén Itzá from the year 525 AD but archaeologists now believe that the city’s foundation occurred around 100 AD.
“As archaeologists, of course, we have to base [our hypotheses] on material facts, on things we can analyze [to determine] their age. Precisely according to these specific elements, we’re reaching this specific conclusion,” de Anda said.
The hypothesis will be further analyzed at the First Mayan Aquifer Archaeology Colloquium to be held at the Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City on November 20.
“. . . We found an altar in . . . Balamkú, where it had been determined that there were no burials but we’ve found and documented human bone fragments. We’re waiting to see what they correspond to, if it was [a place for] funeral rituals or [human] sacrifice. Both Balamkanché and Balamkú are at Chichén Itzá. They are two very important places . . .” he said.
The GAM team, made up of archaeologists, biologists, underwater photographers and cave divers, also discovered in 2018 a link between two systems of flooded caverns in Quintana Roo that together form the world’s largest underwater cave.
Construction began last week on this complex in Mérida.
The real estate conglomerate Grupo Aura has announced that it will invest 2.75 billion pesos (US $143 million) in Yucatán over the next five years.
The company cited security, development and economic growth in the state for its decision to build four properties, two of which will be located in Mérida.
CEO Gregorio Adrián Zamora Flores said the state’s initiative to drive development in re-industrialization, sustainability and industry 4.0 were reasons for deciding to invest in an interview with the newspaper El Economista.
“Yucatán is a beautiful state. It has everything, and what stands out most is security. There are several factors in our decision to invest, such as its push for economic development that aims to attract the best international companies focused on sustainability,” he said.
“. . . we did a series of in-depth studies and analyses across the country and we saw the growth in the state. It will continue to grow,” he added.
Zamora also explained that the four complexes will be smart structures, meaning they will be focused on taking care of the environment, and will also have systems that will ensure they are energy efficient.
The structures will be built using Bubbledeck technology, a construction method that reduces the amount of concrete necessary by injecting air pockets into slabs using “bubbles” of recycled PET plastic. It lightens the structure and insulates it from heat and noise.
“We will also use PEX tubing, which leads to lower amounts of bacteria in the water. It’s a new material that doesn’t require solvents or adhesives in the connections. We’ll also use solar panels and cellular concrete,” Zamora added.
Construction of the company’s first property, the 900-million-peso Aura Smart Luxury Living complex in Mérida, began last Thursday.
“With the beginning of construction on this first property, we are helping benefit the local economy. We are going to contract local companies, generate 1,500 direct jobs in the construction process, as well as 3,500 indirect jobs,” Zamora said.
The complex will have three towers with a total of 370 apartments and a five-story tower with three pools, a gym, events hall, restaurants and stores.
In the first nine months of Governor Mauricio Vila Dosal’s administration, the state says it has recorded 23.7 billion pesos (US $1.2 billion) in private investment, as well as the creation of 17,010 direct and 54,120 indirect jobs.
Today we’re going to talk about tuna fish. Canned tuna, that is. Yes, yes, fresh tuna is affordable and available (especially now, in season) but many of us (ahem) still have a special place in our hearts for a good ol’ tuna salad sandwich.
It didn’t take me long to realize something was very off with the canned tuna here, which didn’t make any sense as Mazatlán is a big tuna fishing port. Most of the brands were mushy, weirdly flavored goop in a can – not what I was wanting or expecting.
They’re almost impossible to drain, and the flavor is decidedly bland and non-tuna tasting. The final test was that even my cats won’t eat the cheap brands!
A quick read of the ingredient list on the label (not that quick, as the font is so very small) revealed what the problem was: “proteina vegetal de soya.” Apparently a certain percentage of vegetable protein is allowed without having to be noted in the product name. (i.e., “cheese food” as opposed to “cheese.”
In my former life as a food writer in California, I would have called some government office or tuna cannery and found out the regulations allowing this unwelcome addition to what should be a basic product.
This is the good stuff.
As the language barrier and my limited patience prevent me from doing that here, what I can say is that you get what you pay for. Profeco – the federal consumer protection agency – noted earlier this year that most brands of canned tuna contain soy without any indication on the label that it’s included or what the ratio is. Some brands contained up to 62% soy protein; no wonder my cats wouldn’t eat them.
So I only buy Dolores brand premium lomo sólido de atún, which (supposedly) has no soy or vegetable protein of any kind. It also has double the protein of the cheaper brands.
Yes, it costs more – a regular-size 140-gram can is about 30 pesos as opposed to the 9 to 18-peso cost for the others – but you’re getting actual tuna fish. The premium brand is in a box with a little “window,” making it easy to find on the shelf.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about tuna salad, Mexican-style! Mazatlecos tend to put canned carrots and peas (yuck) and a ton of mayo in theirs, but what I like to do is add a little kick to my tuna salad by adding some chopped rajas, or marinated jalapeños. You can buy these in tiny cans or by the ounce from big jars in the deli section of grocery stores or abarrotes stands in the mercado.
While I won’t say that Pastel de Atún – literally “tuna cake” – is a traditional Mexican recipe, it’s certainly very popular in Mazatlán. Crema is like sour cream but cultured to not be quite as sour, easily found in any Mexican grocery store.
Marysol’s Pastel de Atún
With a consistency similar to a souffle, this traditional Mazatlecan dish is a simple, inexpensive crowd-pleaser you’ll find served at parties, big gatherings and weekend afternoons at home with family. Don’t be tempted to substitute a heartier, whole grain bread — the soft white bread is essential for giving this dish a cake-like texture, hence the name “Tuna Cake.”
2 cans good quality, oil-packed tuna, drained
1 cup crema
1 small can (105 g) sweet red pepper strips (chili morrón)
1-3 pieces rajas (marinated jalapeños), or to taste
1 heaping Tbsp. mayonnaise
Salt & pepper, to taste (just a little!)
Optional: 2 Tbsp. cream cheese, fresh cilantro for garnish
Two loaves soft white bread, crusts cut off
Blend everything except the bread in the blender till smooth. On a cookie sheet or lasagna pan, make a layer of bread slices. Spread with tuna mixture. Cover with another layer of bread and continue layering until all filling is gone, ending with a layer of filling. (Like frosting!)
Garnish with red pepper strips, rajas, cilantro, etc. Refrigerate 1-2 hours; cover with plastic wrap if chilled longer. Traditionally served in wedges with frijoles puercos on the side and eaten with a fork.
Can also be cut into 1-2 inch squares and served as an appetizer. Best eaten within two days. (Note that adding cream cheese will make the texture firmer and more spreadable.)
Tuna salad is great for leftover tuna steaks.
Tuna Pasta Salad
Delicious on a hot day, and a great way to dress up pasta salad or use up a leftover tuna steak.
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. Dijon mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. capers, minced
½ tsp. sugar
8 oz. pasta, cooked, drained and cooled
8 oz. grilled tuna steak, cubed or 1 can high quality tuna
1 tomato, diced
½ avocado, diced
½ bell pepper, diced
Whisk together vinegar, mustard, mayo, cilantro, garlic, capers and sugar. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking until mixed well. Let rest 30 minutes in refrigerator. Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl and toss with dressing. Makes 2 servings.
Janet Blaser of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, has been a writer, editor and storyteller her entire life, and feels fortunate to write about great food, amazing places, fascinating people and unique events. Her work has appeared in numerous travel and expat publications as well as newspapers and magazines. Her first book, Why We Left: An Anthology of American Women Expats, is available on Amazon. Contact Janet or read her blog at whyweleftamerica.com.
A gas station in Tamaulipas that stole two liters of fuel for every 20 it sold was shut down last week by the federal consumer protection agency.
Profeco chief Ricardo Sheffield Padilla told reporters at the presidential press conference on Monday that during an operation supported by the National Guard, his agency closed 240 pumps at 20 stations that were either selling short liters of fuel or didn’t give permission for their pumps to be inspected.
“On November 13, we found a real scoundrel . . . in Tamaulipas. The eight hoses were giving two liters less for every 20 liters. They were stealing 10% of the fuel,” he said.
Sheffield said that 12 pumps were shut down earlier last week at a gas station in Jalisco that was stealing just over 0.6 liters for every 20 sold, while 12 pumps were closed at a Campeche station that was only giving motorists 19.5 liters for every 20 they purchased.
The Profeco chief said he couldn’t disclose the exact locations of the gas stations because they are currently under investigation by the federal Attorney General’s Office.
Sheffield said that a new, more sophisticated method of fuel pump tampering was detected during last week’s operation and will be investigated by authorities.
Sheffield also revealed that Profeco had discovered that the dirtiest gas station washrooms in Mexico are in Zacatecas city at a station run by the company Distribuidora de Combustibles de Zacatecas.
“They take away the desire to go to the bathroom . . . They don’t charge but you couldn’t charge for the bathrooms; hopefully they improve the service,” Sheffield said.
The Profeco director said the cleanest gas station washrooms in the country were found at Emerald Gas in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur.
President López Obrador announces roadwork while in Nayarit on Sunday.
Funds raised from an auction of confiscated jewelry will be used to upgrade the highway between La Yesca and Tepic in Nayarit, President López Obrador said on Sunday.
López Obrador told members of the indigenous Wixárika community at an event in La Yesca that the federal Attorney General’s Office will hand over 260 million pesos (US $13.5 million) worth of jewelry that will be auctioned off at Los Pinos, the former presidential residence.
The president said he was confident that the jewelry will sell for more than its estimated value, even though previous auctions have not been as successful as the government hoped.
“. . . People want to help. I’m sure that the 260 million pesos will increase and it will be the first allocation for the road to La Yesca. I’m making this commitment to you and also telling you that we will continue providing support,” López Obrador said.
He described the highway and other roads leading to the municipality in the interior of the small Pacific coast state as virtually impassable due to landslides and mud.
Work on the highway will begin before the end of the year, López Obrador predicted.
He pledged that the government will continue to implement social programs and provide welfare payments to indigenous communities in Nayarit, and promised that a state-run company will soon provide them with reliable internet coverage.
The president also said that federal funds will be provided before the end of the year in order to carry out maintenance projects at Nayarit schools and that the government’s tree-planting employment program will launch in the state in January 2020.
Sembrando Vida (Sowing Life) will employ 2,500 people in La Yesca and the same number in the neighboring municipality of El Nayar, López Obrador said, adding that the aim is to plant trees on 12,500 hectares.
The president said the government is also prepared to intervene in order to solve land disputes between indigenous communities and cattle ranchers in eastern Nayarit.
A YouTuber and influencer from Yucatán was hospitalized last week after eating two habanero chiles in a stunt recorded for his video channel.
Comedian and actor Hugo Lara Arias, one of the stars of Los Hermanos Lara (The Lara Siblings), had lost a bet and had to eat the two chiles — at once.
“I don’t eat chile,” Lara admitted to the three others who appeared in the video. “But first one, then the other.”
“No,” the others said in unison, telling him he had to eat them at the same time.
So Lara put both in his mouth and began chewing. He immediately started to cough, and his skin turned red.
Initially believing that nothing was amiss, the others continued to talk to the camera and laughed at Lara for having lost the bet.
But when he put his hand to his throat and continued to wretch and cough, it became obvious that something was wrong.
An ambulance was called and Lara was taken to hospital.
His sister and co-host Yazmin Lara later confirmed on social media that her brother was in stable condition.
“. . . Hugo Lara is in stable condition. We didn’t think that this would get so out of control, and we will show you the video we recorded . . . so that you can see what really happened . . .” she said.
The siblings’ YouTube channel has over 658,000 subscribers.
