Suspects arrested in LeBarón massacre; FBI agents join investigation

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November 11, 2019

México state's Cosmovitral wants to see more millennials.

The second most popular tourist attraction in México state after the ancient city of Teotihuacán is seeking to boost visitor numbers by tapping into a segment of the market that is notoriously tricky to crack: millennials.

The Cosmovitral Botanical Garden in the historic center of Toluca features an elaborate stained-glass mural by deceased México state artist Leopoldo Flores that tells the story of man and his relationship with the universe. It is also home to 400 different species of plants.

More than 360,000 visitors have enjoyed the enclosed garden this year, including foreigners from countries such as Japan, Israel and Spain, but director Alejandra Abraham Jarquín would like to see more young people coming through the doors.

“. . . Generations like the famous millennials and other young people don’t know [the garden]. For that reason, I think that the time has come to freshen up its image in order to attract people aged 30 and below . . . It will be a little complicated but not impossible,” she said.

Abraham said that public interest in the Cosmovitral has waned since 2015, the year after former United States president Barack Obama, ex-prime minister of Canada Stephen Harper and former Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto visited during a leaders’ summit in the México state capital.

To stimulate new interest, the way in which the botanical garden/museum is marketed will be given a makeover, the director told the newspaper El Universal without offering further details.

Abraham also said that Cosmovitral management have asked the Toluca government for help to clean up the area that surrounds the garden.

The presence of street vendors has made it difficult to get into the attraction and more and more rubbish is accumulating in nearby fountains, which are also used as public bathrooms by people who come to Toluca’s downtown to participate in protests, she said.

“What we’re seeking to do is position the museum among the main sights for national and international tourists . . .” Abraham explained.

Anyone who visits the Cosmovitral can expect a memorable experience. Flores’ mural – which extends around the perimeter of the 3,500-square-meter structure and across its ceiling – is made up of 45 tonnes of stained glass divided into 500,000 separate fragments.

Among the themes explored in the work are the dualities of day and night, man and woman and good and evil.

Abraham said that 28 different colors of glass were used in the mural, 80% of which are shades that were developed abroad. If a section of glass breaks or is damaged, dyes often have to be imported to replace it, she explained.

The Cosmovitral opened in 1990 but construction of the art nouveau building began in 1909 as part of a range of projects to commemorate the centenary of Mexico’s independence from Spain.

It was inaugurated in 1933 and functioned as a market for 40 years before undergoing an extensive renovation in order to be converted into an indoor botanical garden and museum.

The building was renovated again in 2015 with a 31-million-peso (US $1.6 million at today’s exchange rate) investment.

New plant species were introduced and an additional Japanese-inspired space featuring a pond filled with koi was added.

The Cosmovitral is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00am to 6:00pm. Entry is just 10 pesos for adults and 5 pesos for children.

Source: El Universal (sp)

Guinness confirms 102-meter taco is world’s largest

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November 11, 2019

The state of Querétaro earned the Guinness World Record for the world’s biggest carnitas taco on Sunday.

Stretching an entire city block, the enormous taco measured 102 meters long and weighed in at 1,200 kilograms of tortillas and 1,507 kilograms of seasoned pork meat.

The organizer of the event, Alejandro Paredes Reséndiz, said it began in 2011 when he made a promise to his uncle — head of the Querétaro gastronomical council — that he would make the world’s largest carnitas taco.

He researched the most consumed food product in the state and found that it was carnitas.

“I recognize that there are other states in the country, like Michoacán, where they make delicious carnitas, but here in Querétaro there are seven different styles,” he said.

After it was measured, the taco was served to 15,000 spectators.

He said the Guinness organizing committee had declined five previous applications for the record, waiting until event organizers had fulfilled all the requirements necessary to qualify for a world record.

“We used certified workers with history in Querétaro,” said Reséndiz. “We complied with all the regulations of the Guinness contract. All of the carnitas were made today, everyone had the proper equipment and, most importantly, we shared the food with all who attended.”

The event took eight months of planning, utilized local carnitas producers and gathered 15,000 people to witness the spectacle and then eat the results.

Guinness World Records does not award prize money, but Reséndiz said any money earned as a result of the record will be donated.

“If we earn even one peso, it will be donated to the DIF family services center, because Querétaro should be the best state in Latin America,” he said.

For Reséndiz, the achievement was not only a world record, but also a personal best.

“I broke my own record because the last taco I made was 75 meters long. It was registered, but not certified. I hope that all 15,000 people can eat. We began at six in the morning and we won’t go home until the volunteers feed the visitors until the taco is gone,” he said.

Carnitas are made by cooking the different parts of the pig in giant copper or stainless steel pots. The meat is traditionally seasoned with a mineral salt called tequesquite, but there are many different regional variations.

Source: Infobae (sp)

Always keep a bowl of limes at hand to use in all kinds of dishes

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Janet Blaser

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November 11, 2019

Limes have become such a standard part of my regular diet that I forget how “exotic” they are. Here in Mexico, they’re cheap and plentiful and used in every kind of dish imaginable.

I can go to the Sunday tianguis (flea market) and get a kilo bag for 10 pesos, and while they’ll cost a bit more in a regular grocery store, they’re still cheap. For me, they’ve replaced lemons in, well, everything, and when sometimes I buy an actual limon amarillo it kind of tastes strange now.

Just to be clear, I’m talking about the little round bright-green limes found here, which are Persian limes, a cross between a regular lemon and a key lime, which has a thinner, yellower skin. Also called Tahiti limes, they’re actually the most commonly grown lime in the world.

So why do they cost so much in the United States and Canada? Don’t get me started.

How do I use them? Let’s see — squeezed over fish or shrimp or any kind of taco, in guacamole, salsas and marinades, in limeade (the ubiquitous limonada), with mineral water for fizz or plain agua for a less festive drink, in ceviches, in cooked fruit desserts, in cocktails, micheladas and ice-cold cervezas.

The list goes on and on. I always have a bowl of them in my fridge, ready to use with whatever. I’ve even been known to squeeze a little fresh lime juice on cuts or scrapes (ouch!) to speed healing.

One word of caution: Don’t substitute packaged lime juice, no matter how cute that little plastic green container is. It won’t taste or act the same as fresh lime juice.

Honey Garlic Lime Shrimp

Perfect for entertaining or when you want a special dinner – or just because shrimp are so plentiful in Mexico! Do use the best quality honey you can afford to be sure you’re getting the real thing and not some sort of corn-syrup-with-honey-added product.

1 cup high-quality honey
½ cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp. minced garlic (about 6 cloves)
¼ cup lime juice (about 4 small limes)
1 lb. peeled shrimp
¼ cup butter (I prefer President or Lur-Pak brands)
1 head broccoli
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, minced

Whisk together honey, soy sauce, garlic, and lime juice. Place shrimp and ⅓-½ cup of honey mixture in a zip-top bag (enough to coat shrimp well). Remove air from bag, seal and marinate for 30-40 minutes in refrigerator. Cut broccoli into bite-sized pieces and steam until tender but still firm. Set aside.

Honey Garlic Lime Shrimp makes a special dinner.

Melt butter in a skillet, add remaining honey mixture and bring to a boil. Cook until sauce thickens. Discard marinade, add shrimp to pan and cook till shrimp starts to turn pink, about 1½ minutes. Add broccoli and cook a few minutes more till broccoli is hot and shrimp is cooked. Add cilantro. Garnish with lime wedges and serve over rice. Makes 3-4 servings.

Fresh Lime Cake

This light, fluffy cake is delicious plain, but feel free to add a simple vanilla frosting.

1½ cups sugar
2 Tbsp. lime zest
2 cups flour
1½ tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
3 eggs
½ tsp. vanilla
¾ cup vegetable oil
⅔ cup fresh lime juice
¾ cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 176°C (350°F). Grease and flour one 9″x13″ pan or two 8″ cake pans.

Combine sugar, lime zest, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, mixing well. Add eggs, vanilla, vegetable oil and lime juice and beat well. Stir in sour cream. Pour into prepared pan(s) and bake for 22-28 minutes, until a pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Citrus Cooler

Lemonade with a twist – of lime, orange and grapefruit – makes for a super refreshing drink that’s easy to make. I sometimes add minced fresh basil or mint for a different taste.

10 limes, juiced
2 oranges, juiced
1-2 pink grapefruits, juiced
7 cups water
1/3-½ cup sugar
Optional: mineral water (agua mineral)

Combine all ingredients in large pitcher and stir well to dissolve sugar. Chill and serve. If using mineral water, decrease regular water by half, fill glass with ice and citrus mixture, and add mineral water to fill.

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.

Nuevo León prison opens its doors to reveal 76 years of history

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November 11, 2019

A recently-closed 76-year-old prison that became notorious for violence will be open to the public for the next five weeks prior to demolition.

The Topo Chico prison in Monterrey, Nuevo Léon, where 49 prisoners were killed in a riot in 2016, was closed by Governor Jaime Rodríguez Calderón on September 30 after its inmates were transferred to jails in Apodaca and Cadereyta.

Until December 15, members of the public aged 18 and over will be able to take free guided tours of the penitentiary to learn about its storied history.

Nuevo León tourism chief Miguel Ángel Cantú said the tours will run Wednesday through Sunday and visitors will have the opportunity to see 12 different areas of the jail.

Some parts of the prison complex will be off limits, he said, because authorities are carrying out investigations to determine whether there are any hidden graves.

The Topo Chico prison housed about 300,000 criminals between its opening in October 1943 and its closure just over a month ago.

Inmates ranged from leaders of criminal organizations convicted of multiple homicides to small-time crooks such as a young man who did two and a half years for stealing a kilo of barbacoa (slow-cooked meat).

Among the areas of the prison open to the public are the cells, the Sigma Theater and the Catholic temple.

Built in 1945, the theater hosted countless plays and performances that entertained thousands of inmates over the years. During the prison tour, visitors watch a five-minute video that gives an overview of Topo Chico’s history.

Built in 1963, the temple is one of the best-preserved parts of the prison. Monterrey archbishop Rogelio Cabrera López is among the church leaders who have officiated at masses within its walls.

On Friday, the first day that the guided tours were offered to the public, 2,043 visited people visited the Topo Chico prison, Nuevo León tourism authorities said.

Laura Morales, a law student, told the newspaper Milenio that seeing how inmates lived in the prison was “depressing” but the visit served as a reminder to stay on the right side of the law.

The prison housed over 300,000 prisoners since its opening in 1943.

“. . . Going in and hearing about how people live there gives you a sensation of sadness,” she said, adding that she was left with no desire to end up in prison herself.

At a ceremony on Thursday to mark the opening of the prison to the public, Governor Rodríguez said the main purpose of the tours was to open young people’s eyes to the horrors of life on the inside.

He recalled that when he first moved to Monterrey from his family ranch at the age of 16, young men were often sent to spend a night in Topo Chico as punishment for public drunkenness, brawling or being too amorous with their girlfriends in the city’s squares.

The next day, they would be given a broom to sweep the city’s streets or made to wash a police car, Rodríguez said.

The governor said that after the prison visits conclude in the middle of next month, Topo Chico will be knocked down and a new state archives building and public park will be built on the site.

The 650-million-peso (US $34-million) project is expected to be completed in 14 months.

Source: Expansión Política (sp), El Universal (sp), Milenio (sp)

Day of Dead Night Bike Ride draws record 147,000 riders

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November 11, 2019

A record 147,500 people took part in the annual Day of the Dead night bike right held Saturday in Mexico City, the Transport Secretariat said.

And while most enjoyed their nocturnal ride, some were victims of police brutality, according to a complaint.

Wearing a range of disguises and costumes, the cyclists completed an 18-kilometer route from the Fuente de Petroleos (Petroleum Fountain) on Reforma avenue to Plaza Tlaxcoaque in the historic center of the capital.

Mexico City Transportation Secretary Andrés Lajous, who participated in the ride, told the newspaper El Sol de México that one of the most gratifying aspects of the event was to see young children enjoying their city at night. Many families took part including some that took their pets along for the ride, which took place between 9:00 and 11:00pm.

A costume contest at the Angel of Independence monument, live music at different locations and the screening of short films promoting the use of sustainable transportation at Plaza Tlaxcoaque complemented the bicycle outing.

A costume contest at the Angel of Independence was part of the event.

While the vast majority of participants had an enjoyable and safe night, one young woman said that she and other cyclists were attacked by at least 20 police officers late on Saturday.

Twitter user @malitriushka said that after Reforma avenue reopened to traffic at about 11:00pm, the safety of cyclists riding on the road was threatened by an aggressively-driven Metrobús.

The woman said that she and other cyclists approached police to ask for assistance but were beaten and accused of theft.

“As a cyclist, as a woman, I saw the situation and decided to help. Now I have fractures and am accused of theft,” she wrote on Twitter. “They beat me and with false testimony they say I stole a hat,” the woman said in another post.

She also said that her boyfriend and three other people were detained by police and that their cell phones, which had recorded the incident, were confiscated.

The Secretariat of Citizens Security (SSC) said that one officer was injured after an altercation between cyclists and police and that it had launched an investigation into the incident and the alleged aggression by police.

If any wrongdoing on the part of police is uncovered, the guilty officers will be arrested and will face justice, the SSC said.

Source: El Sol de México (sp), Milenio (sp)

Interjet reports 70% increase in Canada-Mexico traffic this year

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November 11, 2019

Interjet's Mexico-Canada flights see big increases.

Interjet has increased its traffic between Canada and Mexico by 70% in the first 10 months of 2019.

The Cancún-Montreal route saw over 67,121 passengers during the period, a 137% increase over last year, while the Mexico City-Montreal route saw an increase of 95%, transporting 68,715 passengers.

The Cancún-Toronto route saw 69,080 passengers this year, an 81% increase.

The Mexican airline has six routes that connect Mexico City and Cancún to the Canadian cities of Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.

Interjet carried over 363,128 passengers between those destinations in 2019, to reach a seat occupancy rate of 83.6%.

The increases are not only due to Canadian tourism in Mexico. More Mexicans are visiting Canada as well.

Source: El Heraldo de México (sp)

Nayarit beach reopened after it was privatized in 2016

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November 11, 2019

A Nayarit beach that was closed to the public in 2016 has been reopened by the federal government.

The Secretariat of the Environment (Semarnat) revoked a concession for La Lancha beach to a real estate consortium, reopening it to the public.

The beach in Punta Mita was closed to the public when the office of maritime land zones (Zofemat) granted an exclusive concession of the land to a consortium comprised of DINE, Rancho Punta Mita and Cantiles de Mita.

Semarnat said it will file a complaint against Mariana Boy Tamborrell, then head of Zofemat and currently in charge of Mexico City’s environmental protection agency. The federal department claims that the privatization of La Lancha beach was illegal.

Environmentalists removed the company’s gate to the beach on Friday and invited people to visit once again.

The current director of Zofemat, Rodrigo Hernández Aguilar, said the Mexican government is committed to opening all of the country’s beaches up to the general public. His department will continue inspecting concessions to verify that they comply with regulations.

“This is an achievement for the people of Nayarit, considering that since 2016 they have denounced the closing of the beach on the part of the Cantiles de Mita, with the authorization of the Semarnat at the time, manipulating the laws for the company’s convenience,” he said.

In order to deliver on President López Obrador’s campaign promise to open up the country’s beaches, federal Environmental Secretary Víctor Manuel Toledo has asked people to keep in mind that Mexico’s coastal communities have enjoyed the beaches for hundreds of years.

He said he and his department will work to ensure that people recover the freedom of movement in their ancestral territories.

Sources: El Diario NTR (sp), Milenio (sp), La Silla Rota (sp)

10 bags of remains found on Guanajuato-Silao highway

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November 11, 2019

Bags and posters found on a Guanajuato highway.

Ten black plastic bags containing human remains were found on the Guanajuato-Silao highway early Saturday morning.

The bags were accompanied by several posters bearing threatening messages directed to the state Security Secretary Samuel Ugalde García. The messages were signed by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

The bags contained the remains of what are assumed to be four youths who were recently kidnapped in the municipality of Santa Teresa. However, the identities of the victims had yet to be confirmed.

The specific content of the messages was not released, but photos of the scene clearly reveal the initials CJNG, those of the criminal organization led by Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes.

Unofficial reports said the posters revealed the identities of the victims.

Aside from making threats against Ugalde, they also claimed that the victims were kidnappers and extortionists.

Guanajuato has seen a surge in organized crime violence in 2019. The state led the country in murders in August, and clashes between the CJNG and the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel have placed towns like Irapuato — where murders have increased 30% this year — among the country’s most dangerous.

Source: La Verdad (sp)

If the people don’t want the Maya Train, there won’t be one: AMLO

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November 11, 2019