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Best of 2024: Life in Mexico according to Sarah DeVries

By
MND Staff
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A tiendita in Mexico
Reading Sarah DeVries' column is like stepping into your neighborhood tiendita — you might arrive without a list, but you always leave with exactly what you needed. (Unsplash)

Mexico News Daily’s resident thinker, explainer, seer, doer and dog-loser has had a busy 2024. It’s not been an easy year of explaining the myriad differences between life in the United States and life in Mexico — but she sure has tried. 

From rounding up the best of Mexican memes to curing hangovers or teaching us all how to curse appropriately, Sarah has worked tirelessly to bring MND readers closer to life as a real Mexican. If a real Mexican was born in Texas, that is.

So sit back, get ready to laugh and enjoy some of the best slice-of-life pieces we published in 2024.

How to spot a foreigner

Ever see someone walking down a street in Mexico and just know they’re not from around here? It’s like playing “Spot the Gringo,” and while Mexicans are generally friendly, foreigners tend to stand out like a sore thumb. Their outfits scream comfort over style —athletic sandals, anyone? And their faces? Smiling at everyone like they’re auditioning for the “Nice American” role. Then there’s the way they look at people — overdoing eye contact and forcing everyone they pass to be their new best friend.

Of course, there’s also the gringo habit of leaning on everything — because why stand when you can lean? And when navigating narrow sidewalks, they’re always in a rush, showing that classic gringo urgency. Oh, and they love staring — whether it’s a leaf or a piece of trash, it’s all fascinating. Blending in? Not their forte. But they sure have a knack for making their presence known!

The tell-tale gringo: how to spot a foreigner in Mexico

Beauty is in the blue eye of the beholder

Dating in Mexico is like a confusing game of “Who’s the prettiest?” where it’s not just about skin color but also social class. Racism in Mexico is a mix of classism and colorism.

Unlike the U.S., where races were segregated by law, Mexico’s complex mestizo history has created a society where darker skin often means poverty and fewer opportunities. Wealthy Mexicans? They’re mostly lighter-skinned, thanks to centuries of colonialism. This is why Mexican beauty standards are Eurocentric — blonde hair, light eyes, the works. But if a foreigner marries someone darker-skinned, Mexicans sometimes wonder, “Why choose that?” Casual racism? Definitely. 

Beauty is in the blue eye of the beholder

Digital nomad blues

Typing away in Veracruz’s Heroica taproom, sipping beer and watching housing prices skyrocket around her, Sarah DeVries looks like the quintessential digital nomad. But hold on — she’s not exactly living the dream. Sarah has been in Mexico for decades, long before online work became a thing. Back then, her first job in Mexico involved working in education, getting paid in cash, and dreaming of a microwave.

Fast forward to 2011, and she snagged her first online gig with Open English. Things were looking good, until a lawsuit from a fellow worker turned her perfect gig into a nightmare.

Cue the existential crisis. As U.S. employers increasingly restrict remote work to workers based in the actual United States, Sarah’s realizing that maybe freelancing is just as stable of a strategy as taking a traditional full-time job.

The digital nomad blues and a tale of remote work caution

When everybody wants the ‘real’ Mexico

Twelve years ago, while living in Querétaro, Sarah and her sister decided to visit San Miguel de Allende, thinking it was the perfect, authentic Mexican town. Nestled in the mountains with mild weather, charming streets and a lovely artisan market, it seemed like the ideal getaway. But as they wandered the Zócalo, they couldn’t help but notice something odd: they were passing more expats than actual Mexicans. San Miguel, it turned out, had become a retirement haven for U.S. and Canadian expats. 

So, what is the “real” Mexico? The idea often floats around that places like Cancún or Los Cabos aren’t “authentic,” but what if the “real” Mexico is constantly shifting? After all, when new arrivals — whether from abroad or other parts of Mexico — move in, they change the landscape, often making locals lament that their beloved towns are no longer the same. In Querétaro, for example, natives grumbled about the influx of Chilangos (people from Mexico City), who were “ruining” the city with their traffic and looser morals. Sound familiar?

The truth is, places change. Newcomers bring both benefits (more services!) and drawbacks (more traffic!). And while we love discovering hidden gems, we also secretly wish they stay hidden… until we arrive. Then, it’s like, “Sorry, but now it’s ours. Please don’t come.” 

Welcome to the complicated nature of gentrification and tourism.

When everyone wants the “real” Mexico

Should I get offended?

Gringos and Mexicans make a pretty great pair — like peanut butter and jelly, but with a surprise dollop of salsa. Our cultural personalities mesh well, unlike, say, the classic tension between U.S. and French citizens. But even the loveliest matches have their moments. Sometimes, gringos get downright annoyed. And sometimes, Mexicans are left wondering if their new gringo friend was raised in a pressure cooker.

In Mexico, time is more of a suggestion. If you’re rushing, this might not be the place for you. Get used to it. Parties? They start when they start. No one’s apologizing for showing up three hours late. The goal is being there, not being punctual.

Now, gringos, listen up: don’t show your impatience too obviously. Mexican patience is legendary, but if you’re too loud about it, you’ll get on their nerves faster than a neighbor’s blasting music. Speaking of noise — this country is not a whispering library. If your neighbors are loud, well, welcome to Mexico. Complain all you want, but the noise won’t stop. The cops will show up, nod and leave, and the music will turn back up.

If you’re getting upset over all this, just remember the saying: “Si ya saben cómo soy, ¿para qué me invitan?” — “If you know how I am, why invite me?” So grab a beer, relax and don’t expect anyone to arrive on time. It’s Mexico, baby.

Should I get offended?

The American Know-It-All

We all know the classic American Know-It-All: always a guy, right? He’s the self-proclaimed expert on everything in Mexico — customs, holidays, traditions, what people like, don’t like, think, don’t think. He knows the best taco joints and the inner workings of Mexican families. Oh, and did I mention he barely speaks Spanish?

It’s like those Mexicans who claim English is super easy. They “understand perfectly,” they just struggle with speaking it. Okay, buddy. But if you don’t speak the language, I’m not following you around the country.

The American Know-It-All

On the other end of the spectrum, you have the actual Know-It-Alls. They throw out folkloric phrases, translate them for you, and expect you to be impressed. Pro tip: Don’t offer unsolicited expertise. Don’t assume you’re the most interesting person in the room. And definitely don’t explain Mexico to Mexicans.

Mexicans, for the most part, let these guys be. Maybe they whisper a “qué pendejo” later, but they don’t dwell on it. Turns out, we’re all a bit clueless sometimes—and that’s okay. Just don’t make it your thing.

If you’re interested in more Sarah DeVries, you can find her complete writing for Mexico News Daily here.

Sheinbaum casts doubt on New York Times fentanyl report: Monday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stands at a podium at her morning press conference, where she discussed a recent New York Times report on fentanyl production in Sinaloa
President Sheinbaum accused the New York Times of committing significant errors in its recent report on fentanyl production in Mexico. (Presidencia)

After visiting the states of Jalisco and Tlaxcala on the weekend, President Claudia Sheinbaum was back at the National Palace in Mexico City on Monday for her morning press conference.

At her mañanera, as the president’s weekday morning presser is colloquially known, Sheinbaum spoke about a range of things including a New York Times Mexico dispatch from a fentanyl lab in Culiacán and the ruling Morena party’s apparent media strategy in response to Donald Trump’s promise to designate Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations on his first day in office.

NYT report on fentanyl production in Sinaloa ‘not very credible,’ says Sheinbaum  

Sheinbaum noted that The New York Times published a report on Sunday about fentanyl production in Sinaloa.

“An article came out that is important to highlight, in which two reporters allegedly go into a fentanyl laboratory,” she said.

“We talked about it in the security cabinet [meeting] today,” Sheinbaum said of the report headlined “‘This is What Makes Us Rich’: Inside a Sinaloa Cartel Fentanyl Lab.”

The president subsequently asserted that the photographs accompanying The New York Times report don’t in fact show the production of fentanyl. She claimed that the photos (and video) actually show the production of methamphetamine.

Mexican authorities remove fentanyl pills, methamphetamine and cocaine from a drug lab found in Culiacán, Sinaloa, in February.
Mexican authorities remove fentanyl pills, methamphetamine and cocaine from a drug lab found in Culiacán, Sinaloa, in February. (FGR/Cuartoscuro)

“The production of methamphetamine is one thing and another very different thing is [the production of] fentanyl,” Sheinbaum said.

“… So [the report] is not very credible, let’s put it like that,” she said.

Fentanyl is not produced in the way the Times’ photographs demonstrate, Sheinbaum asserted.

“Fentanyl is produced in other ways,” she said, adding that either the Navy Ministry or health regulator Cofepris “could report on” the methods used to produce the synthetic opioid largely responsible for the drug overdose crisis in the United States.

“The photographs aren’t credible,” reiterated Sheinbaum, who declared that her government would “scientifically prove” the alleged inconsistencies between the Times’ reporting and photos.

On Monday afternoon, The New York Times said on social media that it was “completely confident” in its reporting on “the production and testing of fentanyl in Mexico.”

“Our reporters spent months investigating the fentanyl industry, quoted current and former Mexican officials on the record about the production and testing of fentanyl in the country, and documented a fentanyl lab in Sinaloa. We stand by the reporting fully,” the Times said.

Earlier this month, Sheinbaum rejected a New York Times report stating that the Sinaloa Cartel had recruited chemistry students to make fentanyl. She suggested that the newspaper drew inspiration for the Dec. 1 report from the television series “Breaking Bad.”

Sheinbaum denies knowledge of Morena ‘media strategy’ in response to Trump’s pledge to designate Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations

A reporter noted that the El Universal newspaper published details of a document that was reportedly sent to all Morena senators last week.

According to El Universal, “the Morena bench in the Senate designed a media strategy to reject the policy announced by the President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, to classify Mexican cartels as terrorist groups.”

El Universal reported that the document outlining the strategy said that “the designation of Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist groups would represent the imposition of policies contradictory to the social treatment [of problems of violence] in the quest for peace and justice.”

Among other things, the document also reportedly said that a U.S. designation of Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations “would weaken Mexico’s international image.”

In addition, it warned of possible “revolts and armed uprisings” in Mexico if the U.S. military were to carry out operations against Mexican cartels inside Mexican territory.

Donald Trump speaking at CPAC 2011 in Washington, D.C.
The Morena party bench of the Senate designed a media strategy to speak out against Trump’s promise to designate Mexican cartels as terrorist groups, El Universal recently reported. (Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)

Asked whether she knew about “these alarmist positions of Morena in the Senate,” Sheinbaum responded that she did not.

“I don’t know who drew up the document, I don’t know it,” she said. “I don’t want to offer an opinion on a document that I don’t know.”

Sheinbaum stressed that she didn’t know whether a single senator or a group of Morena senators wrote the document. She also said she didn’t know the “motive” of the document.

“What is important,” Sheinbaum said, is that Donald Trump, during his first term as U.S. president, had a “very good” and respectful relationship with former Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

“And that’s why I trust that we’re going to have a good relationship of respect, of coordination, not of subordination,” she said.

Sheinbaum wishes Mexicans ‘a happy 2025’

Sheinbaum, who won’t hold morning press conferences on Tuesday or Wednesday, wished Mexicans “the best this new year” as well as “a happy 2025.”

She said that her government would conduct “an evaluation” of 2024 in Mexico in economic, social and political terms and report its findings at her press conference on Thursday.

Sheinbaum added that the Mexican people took two “transcendent” decisions when they went to the polls in June.

“The first is that [they voted for] the transformation to continue,” she said, referring to citizens’ strong support for the ruling Morena party and the so-called “fourth transformation” of Mexico initiated by López Obrador.

“… And, at the same time, they took the great decision for a woman to govern our country for the first time. This is part of the transformation, they go together, not apart,” Sheinbaum said.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

Mexico is sitting on 500 million liters of unsold tequila

By
MND Staff
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Barrels of surplus tequila sit in storage
Some tequila brands began cutting prices last year as consumer demand for the spirit weakened. (Germán Romero/Cuartoscuro)

Falling demand for tequila in the United States has left Mexico’s producers of the spirit with a surplus of unsold inventory, according to a Saturday report in the London-based Financial Times (FT).

Coupled with the prospect of tariffs being slapped on exports to the U.S. under President-elect Donald Trump, tequila’s glory days in the United States seem to be in peril.

“The tequila industry is set for a very turbulent 2025,” Trevor Stirling, an analyst with the financial management firm Bernstein, told FT.

“Much more new spirit is being distilled than is being sold, and inventories are starting to accumulate,” he added.

Half a billion liters of surplus tequila in storage

According to FT, Mexico was sitting on more 525 million liters of tequila in inventory at the end of 2023.

Also, about one-sixth of the 599 million liters of tequila produced last year remained in inventory — according to figures shared with FT by the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT) — although some of that is being aged in barrels rather than waiting to be bottled or sold.

Bottles of Don Julio Mexican tequila sitting on a shelf
Nearly 100 million liters of tequila produced in 2023 remains in inventory — undergoing barrel-aging or waiting to be sold. (Shutterstock)

U.S. consumers’ thirst for tequila has grown rapidly over the past decade, in part due to a host of celebrity-backed brands such as comedian Kevin Hart’s Gran Coramino, model-influencer Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila and actor George Clooney’s Casamigos.

Another such brand, Santo — founded by celebrity chef Guy Fieri and rocker Sammy Hagar — was reportedly victimized by a heist in the U.S. last month that netted the thieves more than 24,000 bottles of the stuff.

Despite the robbery, demand for tequila in the United States has fallen over the past 18 months, with FT citing two reasons: a decline in the pandemic spirits boom and imbibers cutting back on their drinking due to higher prices.

FT wrote that sales of spirits in the U.S. shrank 3% during the first seven months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, based on data provided by IWSR, a leading analyst of the global alcoholic beverage industry.

Celebrity chef Guy Fieri, left, and rocker Sammy Hagar, right, holding boxes and a bottle of their brand of tequila, Santo as they pose for a publicity photo
Numerous celebrity tequila brands, like Santo by Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar, cropped up during tequila’s boom years over the past decade. (Santospirit/Instagram)

IWSR, which originally stood for the International Wine and Spirits Record, noted that U.S. tequila consumption fell 1.1% during that span — well below its 4% rise in 2023 and 17% rise in 2021 at the height of the tequila surge, FT reported.

The volume of tequila exported from Mexico reached an apex of 418.9 million liters in 2022, marking the 13th straight year of growth.

Over that span, tequila exports from Mexico increased by 207% — and since 1995 the increase was a whopping 548%.

However, the export volume dipped to 401.4 liters last year, according to data from Statista.com, a 4.2% dropoff from 2022.

Tariffs threaten to deepen the tequila slump

Adding to the emerging tequila slump is Trump’s threat to hit Mexico, the U.S.’s biggest trading partner, with a 25% tariff on its goods.

“It would be shooting themselves in the foot because their consumers would have to pay much more,” said CRT president Ramón González.

Tequila shots with lime
Any tariffs on tequila would push up prices paid by U.S. consumers, according to the president of the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT). (Shutterstock)

FT noted that Mexico relies on the United States to buy 83% of its exports.

Two-thirds of all tequila produced in Mexico was exported in 2023, FT reported, with 80% of that going to the United States. The next two largest export markets were Germany and Spain, with about 2% each, according to FT.

Tequila is protected by a designation of origin. Like French champagne or Italian parmesan cheese, products using the name tequila can be produced only in regions officially recognized by the Guadalajara-based CRT: most of Jalisco and parts of Nayarit, Michoacán, Guanajuato and Tamaulipas.

In addition, tequila must be made of at least 51% blue Weber agave, with an added requirement for “agave tequila” (such as blanco or silver) that all sugars come from blue agave.

Citing research by Bernstein, FT noted that large tequila brands have been cutting prices for more than a year in response to weaker consumer demand.

Moreover, the price of agave has plummeted from about 30 pesos per kilo to between six and eight pesos (for suppliers with contracts), or as low as two pesos on the spot market, according to producers and farmers, FT wrote.

With reports from Financial Times and Reuters

Tourism officials move to end airport taxi abuses at Cancún International

By
MND Staff
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Cancún will soon launch a program at the International Airport (AIC) to improve transportation, mobility and the traveler's experience
Taxis departing from the Cancún International Airport are known to charge tourists upwards of 100 dollars for a ride to the hotel zone. (Shutterstock)

Tourism authorities in Cancún are working to improve transportation, mobility and the traveler experience at Cancún International Airport, according to a recent announcement by Quintana Roo Tourism Minister Bernardo Cueto Riestra. 

The ministry’s efforts include resolving issues negatively impacting tourism to Cancún, including mistreatment of passengers, exorbitant taxi fares and frequent blockades in the resort city’s hotel zone.

In the announcement, Cueto noted that for several years, the local government had been detached from the happenings at the state’s airports. They are now striving to improve the traveler experience and become more competitive as a tourist destination. 

“We need to improve some aspects and dynamics at the Cancún airport to ensure our tourists have a better experience. This is crucial for … competitiveness,” Cueto emphasized.

Cueto explained that immediate actions include halting irregular transport services and improving taxi fares to ensure they are not determined by supply and demand. Authorities aim to enforce fair prices to reduce abuses by some taxi operators and improve passenger mobility. 

Taxis departing from the Cancún International Airport are known to charge tourists upwards of 100 dollars for a ride to the hotel zone. According to the rates established by the city, a one-way trip from the airport to the hotel zone should cost between 100 to 400 pesos (US $5 to 20). 

The confrontation between hitmen and members of the Judicial Police of Quintana Roo, in the Paraíso Maya subdivision, resulted in the death of the alleged leader of an organized crime group, known by the alias El Memín. The police officers, supported by members of the Mexican Army, were carrying out an operation in the subdivision to surround El Memín, who tried to escape and resisted capture. The alleged hitman fired from inside a taxi, with license plate 3457, against the members of the Judicial Police and the military, but was shot down by them during the shootout. Another alleged criminal, nicknamed El Flaco, was injured in the shootout, who received a graze and two bullet wounds in the arm. He, along with two others, were arrested.
Users and drivers of ride-hailing apps have experienced increasing acts of violence from taxi drivers in Cancún, who are known to charge higher fares than those determined by local law. (Amaranta Prieto/Cuartoscuro)

In addition to the pricing issues, users of rideshare apps like Uber have experienced acts of violence from taxi drivers. 

On Dec. 12, local police arrested three taxi drivers in Puerto Morelos, south of Cancún, for threatening a tourist for using a rideshare app. Videos posted on social media show drivers blocking an English-speaking tourist from getting into the rideshare car. Immediately after, the governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama, said in a statement that the taxi driver’s license had been permanently revoked.

In January 2023, the Supreme Court granted permission for Uber and other rideshare platforms to operate in areas of Cancún and the Riviera Maya, but strong opposition from local taxi operators has led to conflict, increasing attacks by taxi drivers.

With reports from Vértigo Político, Por Esto! and Diario Cambio 22

Foreign Affairs Ministry mourns Jimmy Carter, champion of bilateral diplomacy

By
MND Staff
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Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter
Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter died at his home in Georgia on Sunday, aged 100.(Shutterstock)

Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry (SRE) lamented the death of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, who died at his home in Georgia on Sunday aged 100.

In a message posted to X, the SRE offered “its most sincere condolences … to the family of the former president, as well as to the people and government of the United States for this regrettable loss.”

As president from 1977-1981, Carter broke with prevailing U.S. foreign policy early in his term, outlining a vision based on protecting human rights. 

Carter proclaimed a new era in U.S.-Mexico relations, while also pledging to end the tradition of U.S. interventionism in Latin America. Additionally, he offered to support the development of democracy through multilateral cooperation.

That same year he signed the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, guaranteeing that Panama would gain control of the Panama Canal after 1999.

In 1978, Carter again put his new foreign policy into action, straddling the geopolitics of the Cold War while seeking solutions to address a revolution in Nicaragua, where the Somoza dictatorship had been seen as a U.S. ally. Carter criticized the military dictatorship’s abuses, pushed for a path to democratic transition and eventually ended military assistance to the Somoza government in January 1979.

Carter’s visit to Mexico in 1979

In February 1979, Carter made what the New York Times described as a “troubled visit to Mexico,” during which he and then-Mexican president Jose López Portillo agreed to start negotiations for the U.S. purchase of Mexican natural gas.

While in Mexico City, Carter spoke in Spanish to a joint session of Congress, famously quoting storied Mexican poet Octavio Paz: “What separates us is the very thing that unites us. We are two distinct versions of Western civilization.”

But he also spoke hopefully: “Our perceptions of each other have sometimes been distorted,” he said. “But we have made progress, and I believe that in the coming years we will make greater progress toward fuller cooperation, understanding and mutual respect.”

During the three-day visit to Mexico, the two presidents agreed to close consultations on the issue of undocumented Mexicans in the United States, but made little progress on other issues that divided the two nations, including trade and border control.

With reports from El Economista, Infobae, Milenio and The New York Times

Is Mexico the most democratic country in the world? Sheinbaum says it might be, thanks to judicial reform

By
MND Staff
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A Mexican voter fills out a ballot in a voting booth bearing the words "INE" and "El voto es libre y secreto."
Starting in 2025, Mexican judges will begin to be chosen by election rather than appointment. (Shutterstock)

President Claudia Sheinbaum said Sunday that Mexico is “perhaps” the most democratic country in the world given that it will hold judicial elections in 2025.

Speaking at an event in Tlaxcala, Sheinbaum highlighted that a number of constitutional reforms were approved by Congress in recent months, allowing Mexico to “recover the social sense” and the “patriotic sense of our Constitution.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stands on a stage in Tlaxcala to say that Mexico is possibly the most democratic country in the world. A crowd of people in cowboy hats watches
The visit to Tlaxcala concluded Sheinbaum’s presidential tour of all 32 Mexican states. (Presidencia)

“Thanks to senators and deputies, this year something unique in Mexico and the whole world was approved. Next year, on June 1, thanks to one of the reforms to the Constitution, the judicial power will be elected by the people of Mexico,” she said, eliciting cheers and applause from attendees of the event in Panotla, Tlaxcala.

Sheinbaum noted that Mexico’s president and lawmakers are already “democratically elected” before emphasizing that the nation’s judges will soon be chosen by citizens as well.

“Now judges, magistrates and Supreme Court justices will be elected democratically. This makes us perhaps the most democratic country there is on the face of Earth,” she said.

“Our adversaries say there is authoritarianism but how [can there be] if it is the people who decide? Democracy is government of the people by the people for the people. And now the judicial power will serve the people of Mexico and the nation as it should have always done,” Sheinbaum said.

A man casts his ballot in a Mexican election
The first round of judicial elections are scheduled for June 1, 2025. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)

The president, like her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has argued that judicial reform was needed to rid the nation’s courts of corruption and other ills. López Obrador submitted the reform proposal to Congress in February and signed it into law two weeks before he left office at the end of September. A second round of judicial elections in 2027 will follow those scheduled to take place on June 1, 2025.

Critics assert that the election of judges will lead to the politicization of Mexico’s judiciary. In a nutshell, they argue that Mexico’s courts will come to be dominated by judges sympathetic to the ruling Morena party’s agenda, thus removing an essential check on government power.

Candidates for judgeships will be selected by the president, the Congress — which is currently dominated by Morena — and the judiciary itself. In 2025, citizens will elect a total of 881 federal judges, including nine justices who will sit on the bench of the Supreme Court, two fewer than is currently the case.

“On June 1 next year,” Sheinbaum said on Sunday, “together we will elect justices of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation.”

“It is something historic,” she added.

The government has also faced criticism over some of the other reforms that were recently approved by Congress, including one that eliminated seven watchdog agencies.

Government critics have long argued that the incorporation of autonomous agencies into ministries and other federal departments would eliminate important counterweights to executive power and represent a backward step for democracy.

Sheinbaum has said that the reform will lead to “more transparency” and help to eliminate corruption while generating significant savings for the public purse.

Mexico News Daily 

What to expect for the Mexican peso in 2025, according to analysts

By
MND Staff
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500 Mexican peso bill to represent the currency's wobbling
Trump’s return to the White House, the Mexico-U.S. relationship and local fiscal policies are expected to impact the Mexican peso in 2025. (Shutterstock)

UBS Global Wealth Management managing director Alejo Czerwonko believes the Mexican peso will gain 4% on the US dollar in 2025, despite the currency weakening by 19% throughout 2024. 

His reasoning? An improvement — not a worsening — of bilateral relations between Mexico and the United States. 

Alejo Czerwonko
Alejo Czerwonko is a United States-based analyst with UBS Global Wealth Management and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2023. (WEF)

Rejecting the prevailing pessimism about future relations between North American neighbors, Czerwonko told the newspaper Milenio that the mutually beneficial bilateral relationship is very strong and can’t be overlooked when predicting the future of the peso.

“Of course, Mexico benefits from the United States, but the reverse is also true,” Czerwonko said. “If Washington really wants to reduce its economic dependence on China, the relationship [with Mexico] is part of the solution.”

Czerwonko predicted that the peso — which opened Monday at 20.31 to the US dollar — will trade at 19.50 to the US dollar by the end of 2025. This is stronger than most projections, but still weaker than the 18.70 exchange rate that Mexico’s Finance Ministry (SHCP) anticipates in 2025.

The peso’s tumultuous year in review

The 19% hit the peso took this year was its worst since 2016 though the decline in international oil prices was primarily to blame then, according to Milenio.

A 500 Mexican peso bill and a calculator.
The Mexican peso has taken a wild ride since mid-year, returning to its pre-2023 exchange rate of 20 to the dollar. (Shutterstock)

In April, the peso reached a nine-year high of 16.30 to the dollar. Shortly after, the currency started to slip, grazing an exchange rate of 18 by June 3. President Sheinbaum’s election on June 2 created nervousness about a perceived upward trend in absolutism, sending the peso on a downfall that was made worse by the Morena party’s passage of a controversial judicial reform in September. 

In recent months, the peso has hovered around 20 to the dollar, with December producing a depreciation of 0.46%. 

The exchange rate winds shifted dramatically this month as both the Mexican and U.S. central banks lowered their benchmark interest rates, inflation decelerated in Mexico and U.S. political news ahead of Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration emphasized potential conflicts. 

Contrary to UBS, the news magazine Expansión cited analysts who see Mexico’s currency weakening to as much as 21 pesos to the US dollar.

Trump’s return to the White House, the uncertainty of the Mexico-U.S. relationship, broad geopolitical concerns and local fiscal policies are all expected to impact the peso in 2025, Expansión reported.

In contrast to SHCP’s bullish stance, Mexico’s central bank sees the peso finishing 2025 at 20.53 to the dollar. Other institutions surveyed by Expansión offered projections ranging from 18.5 by Banco Base to 21 by Monex Financial Group. 

Citibank Mexico (20.5), Finamex Casa de Bolsa (20.9) and Rankia Investment Group (20.5) also foresee a slight weakening in the peso next year. 

Banco Base analyst Gabriela Siller hedged on the bank’s positive projection, telling Expansión that if Trump does carry out his threat to slap tariffs on Mexican imports to the United States, the situation would become less certain.

With reports from Milenio, Expansión and ABC Noticias

Mass graves discovered at Mexico’s northern, southern borders

By
MND Staff
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Chiapas authorities examine a clandestine grave
Chiapas authorities arrested four people and seized weapons, vehicles and drugs during a state government security operation that led to the discovery of a clandestine grave in La Concordia. (FGE Chiapas/X)

Authorities have discovered 17 bodies in clandestine graves in the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico.

The Chiapas Attorney General’s Office and the state Security Ministry said Sunday that 15 bodies were found in the municipality of La Concordia in recent days, while two additional bodies were located in Palenque. All 17 bodies belonged to men.

Maps location of La Concordia, Chiapas
The bodies of 15 men were found in clandestine graves in La Concordia, Chiapas. An additional two bodies were uncovered in Palenque, near the border with Campeche. (Google)

La Concordia is located in southern Chiapas near the border region where the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel are engaged in a long-running turf war.

Palenque, a municipality in northeastern Chiapas on the state’s border with Tabasco, is best known for the Palenque archaeological site. It is part of a region that has also been affected by cartel violence.

Chiapas Attorney General Jorge Luis Llaven Abarca told a press conference on Sunday that the 15 bodies discovered in La Concordia were found in 11 clandestine graves on two properties. Ten of the bodies were “mutilated,” he said, explaining that the victims had been “tortured” before they were killed.

“They have cuts in different parts of their bodies. They’re dismembered,” he said.

Authorities searching for clandestine graves in Chiapas
Authorities are continuing to search for clandestine graves in Chiapas, with the municipality of Catazajá, which borders Palenque, a current focus. (@ramirezlalo_/X)

Chiapas Governor Eduardo Ramírez said on social media on Saturday that in addition to the discovery of 15 bodies in the Frailesca region, of which La Concordia is part, four people were arrested and weapons, vehicles and drugs were seized during a state government security operation.

“We will continue with the operation. … We’re reestablishing tranquility and social peace in the region. We won’t take a backward step!” he wrote.

The two bodies discovered in Palenque were in two clandestine graves in the locality of Nueva Esperanza.

All 17 bodies found in Chiapas were taken to morgues to undergo testing aimed at determining the identities of the deceased, the cause of their deaths and how long they have been dead.

Authorities in southern Mexico are continuing to search for clandestine graves in Chiapas, with the municipality of Catazajá, which borders Palenque, a current focus.

Llaven said that authorities are searching for people who have been forcibly abducted or “disappeared.”

He said that the Chiapas Attorney General’s Office had received 124 reports of cases of enforced disappearance this year but acknowledged that many cases go unreported due to families’ fear of reprisal.

The discovery of the 17 bodies in La Concordia and Palenque came after human remains were found earlier this month in Emiliano Zapata, a municipality near Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the capital of Chiapas. Authorities have not yet determined how many people the charred remains belonged to. They were specifically searching for seven people who were abducted in November, among whom was a 12-year-old boy.

‘Possibly human’ remains found in municipality that borders US

The Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office (FGE) said last Thursday that “bone remains” of 12 “indeterminate skeletons” had been found in 11 clandestine graves in the municipality of Ascensión, which borders New Mexico.

The discovery of the remains occurred during search operations carried out on Dec. 18, 19 and 20, the FGE said in a statement.

Maps location of Ascensión, Chihuahua
Skeletal remains were also discovered in Ascensión, a town near the border with New Mexico. (Google)

The exhumation of the “possibly human” remains was carried out by forensic anthropologists and other experts, the Attorney General’s Office said. The experts collected spent cartridge cases from the graves, the FGE said.

“The indeterminate skeletons and evidence found were transported to the laboratories of the Forensic Medical Service in Ciudad Juárez for analysis and investigations to determine identities and the cause and time of death,” the FGE said.

The Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office has not yet announced the results of the testing.

Chihuahua, which borders both New Mexico and Texas, is one of Mexico’s most violent states.

With more than 1,800 homicides between January and November, the northern state ranked fourth among the country’s 32 federal entities for total murders in the first 11 months of 2024.

With reports from El Universal and EFE 

Try this classic Ambrosia Salad… but make it Mexican!

By
Deborah McCoy
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2
Mexican Ambrosia salad
Once considered a luxury in the United States, the Ambrosia Salad is back... and now 100% more Mexican thanks to the ingenuity of Deb McCoy. (Canva)

When you think food and the holidays, you think rich and heavy especially when it comes to desserts. But what about a dessert that’s equally rich and pleasing to the palate but a little lighter? The perfect accompaniment to a New Year’s celebration, or a fab cocktail party. That’s where our Mexican Ambrosia Salad enters the picture.

It’s not really a salad but instead a delightful concoction of fruits, nuts, coconut, cream and marshmallows, a very simple recipe from humble beginnings that has evolved over the past centuries in the U.S. to something more complex. But when it first came into being it was a very different concept. 

A classic (non Mexican) ambrosia salad
A classic ambrosia salad, once a luxurious treat for American households. (Allrecipes)

The term “ambrosia” derives from Greek and Roman mythology, where it was considered food for the gods, granting immortality to those lucky enough to consume it. In the U.S., the earliest documented ambrosia recipe is found in the 1867 cookbook, “Dixie Cookery.” It consisted of two ingredients: oranges sweetened with sugar, layered with coconut — and it was a luxury! 

Once again, Mexico influenced this recipe since coconut wasn’t introduced to American kitchens until trade routes were established during Spanish colonial rule. But by the 1930s, Ambrosia Salad was a traditional Southern holiday dish, especially for Easter and Christmas. 

The current American version utilizes canned fruits, sweetened coconut, mini-marshmallows, sour cream and Cool Whip. Heaven forbid to all but the mandarin oranges and marshmallows! And that’s the reason we’re going to make this Mexican, with wonderful fresh fruits of all kinds, and crema, nuts and unsweetened coconut! 

This is the perfect holiday dessert to serve alongside pumpkin or pecan pie or trifle. It is refreshing, rich and maybe, just a little lighter on the calories! 

Mexican Ambrosia Salad:

Mexican ambrosia salad
Serves eight. (Canva)

Ingredients:

  • 1 can (11 oz.) (311 g) mandarin oranges, drained well. (mandarinas)
  • 15 oz. (425 g) mixed, fresh fruits: strawberries (fresas), mangos (mangos), papaya 
    • (papaya), cut into bite-size pieces. 
  • 1 Cup (151 g) grapes, halved. (uvas)
  • 1 Cup (165 g) fresh pineapple, cut into bite-size pieces. (piña)
  • 1 – 2 sliced, fresh bananas. (plátanos)
  • OPTIONAL: Add 1 apple (manzana) and 1 kiwi (kiwi) for added flavor, cut into bite-size 
    • pieces. 

Also:

  • 2 Cups (250 g) mini-marshmallows. (mini-malaviscos)
  • ½ Cup (85 g) unsweetened, shredded coconut. (coco rallado sin azúcar)
  • OPTIONAL: Chopped pecans (nueces pecanas) or walnuts (nueces) to taste, for crunch. 
    • Fold nuts into salad before serving to avoid them getting soggy. 

Dressing:

  • ½ Cup (120 g) whipping cream. (crema para batir)
  • 1 Cup (230 g) crema. (crema)
  • ½ Cup (153 g) sweetened condensed milk. (leche condensada azucarada)
  • 1 tsp. (4.2 g) vanilla extract. (extracto de vainilla)
    • Mexican brands noted for their intense flavor: Villa Vainilla; Vainilla Totonac’s; Molina Vainilla. 

Instructions:

  1. Drain mandarin oranges thoroughly.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine crema, whipped cream, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and blended. 
  3. In a large bowl, add fruits, mini-marshmallows, and shredded coconut.  
  4. Gently fold in the cream mixture until fruits, etc. are evenly coated. 
  5.  Refrigerate for a least 2 hours, allowing the flavors to blend. Refrigerate overnight for best results
  6. Fold in nuts (to taste) before serving, if desired. 

Disfruta!

Deborah McCoy is the one-time author of mainstream, bridal-reference books who has turned her attention to food, particularly sweets, desserts and fruits. She is the founder of CakeChatter™ on FaceBook and X (Twitter), and the author of four baking books for “Dough Punchers” via CakeChatter (available @amazon.com). She is also the president of The American Academy of Wedding Professionals™ (aa-wp.com).

 

National Geographic’s top rated Riviera Maya underground walk

By
Bel Woodhouse
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2
The Aktun Chen cave system is around 5 million years old
Echoing spirits and an astonishing dinosaur-era underground system can be found in Aktun Chen, an unmissable cave walk in the Riviera Maya. (Bel Woodhouse)

As you probably all know by now I’m a huge nature lover — above and below the ground. Whether zip-lining through treetops or spelunking in a five million year old cave system, I’m happy. And spelunking is a special kind of happiness for me. So, when I found out that  Aktun Chen Eco Park had one of the world’s top underground walks, my friend and I were on the next ferry, ready for an adventure at the private park near Akumal, 40 minutes south of Playa del Carmen.

Now if you’ve never been spelunking before, it’s just dawdling around exploring caves. I’ve been spelunking all over the world. So far, my favorites were bat caves in Cambodia and Slovenia’s huge Škocjan Caves Park. But this one, at Aktun Chen right here in the Riviera Maya, tops my list! National Geographic has listed it as #3 on their Top Underground Walks of the World.

Cave systems in the Yucatán Peninsula can be as old as 5 million years old.
Bel (right) excited and ready to explore this sprawling cave system. (Bel Woodhouse)

A living museum

I love the tranquil peace of a cave system — especially one this old. Five million years is a long time, but not that long in the evolution of this planet. Whatever created this system, I’m thankful to experience it. Exploring the creamish-white caves is stunning. The ancient stalactites formed over thousands of years are amazing. The sparkle of the gemstones and mineral deposits in the stalactites is breathtaking. It’s a beautiful world rarely seen, which, to my eyes, makes it a little bit of magic here on Earth.

Plus, my inner child likes to pretend I’m in a Lord of the Rings movie on an epic quest, slowly moving deeper into the earth, listening to underground rivers and seeing a whole new world as your eyes adjust to the low light. But we didn’t need to on this walk.

Ancient stalactites formed over thousands of years
Ancient stalactites hanging from the ceiling formed over millions of years, a testament to the age of the caves. (Bel Woodhouse)

The walk inside Aktun Chen, the cave system in the Riviera Maya

The caves aren’t that deep. A few meters under the surface, it’s well-lit and well-ventilated as you follow the guide. An easy 650-yard (0.36 mile, or 594 meters) walk. There are plenty of stops along the way as they explain about the cave system and its formation.

Geeking out on geological formations is a given in such an amazing place. Formations that fascinated me. Stalactites hang from the cave roof. Stalagmites grow from the ground up and the columns form as they grow large enough to meet. This takes thousands of years, forming from mineral deposits left from water dripping down. Occasionally, thick braids of tree roots hang from the ceiling, creating a living column through the cavern before disappearing into the earth again. The natural structure supports huge trees above, in the lush jungle. These caves support all sorts of life.

Life in the cave

An underground river connects the entire cave system in Aktun Chen
The cave feels ancient — and maybe even supernatural. (Bel Woodhouse)

In ancient times people lived in caves, using them for shelter. This makes them historically and geologically interesting, as well as geologically interesting. But the thing that I loved was the local legends. 

Echos are natural in any confined space like a cave. But in certain places, the acoustics make it sound like other people are there. So, the Maya used to think there were spirits and revered the caves. Now, I didn’t hear any spirits, but I would like to go back and try to. Our tour group was chatty, removing any spookiness that may be heard on a quiet day. I’d love a chance to talk with the spirits to see if they answer back. Imagine if they did?

Okay, I just gave myself goosebumps so let’s move on. I want to share my favorite part of the cave.

The underground river

Stalactites hanging from the ceiling in the Aktun Chen cave system.
In the depths of Aktun Chen, you can see the reflection of the stalactites hanging from the ceiling in the clear waters.  (Bel Woodhouse)

Some moments in life concrete into treasured lifelong memories. For me, standing on the boardwalk crossing the underground river is one of them. Honestly, it is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places I have ever seen.

So much so, that I didn’t want to leave. My tour group moved on yet I remained to enjoy a moment of peace in the tranquility of the cavern. Pure, crystal clear water showed every underwater formation below my feet. Above, hung the honey and pale mustard of the stalactites, mixed with dusky pinks and pure whites of other formations. I could have spent hours in there marveling at the pristine beauty.

This area was my favorite. It’s easy to see why National Geographic has named it one of the top underground walks in the world. And it will remain that way. There is no swimming in the river so it remains protected. And you know what? Knowing that makes my nature-loving heart smile.

Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with 500+ articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over 7 years now she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon. 

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