Dennis Walker is the man behind Mycopreneur, a satirical look at the space where mushroom culture and international living collide. (Dennis Walker/Mycopreneur)
Vegan tacos aside, when you think about mushrooms in Mexico, what comes to mind? Frolicking through the lush, green forests of San Jose del Pacifico? Chasing elves and fairies through trees that appear to be breathing? Watching multi-colored clouds transform into real life, shimmering animals, only to disappear into dust when you touch them?
When I scheduled an interview with Mexico-based mushroom enthusiast Dennis Walker, this is exactly the conversation I envisioned. I figured if I didn’t come out with the necessary information for an article, I’d at least get hooked up with a reputable shaman to help me find God during a visit to Tulum. I mean, why else take mushrooms in Mexico, am I right?
Mexico has become increasingly synonymous with magic mushrooms in recent years, with some mixed results for the indigenous communities that hold them sacred. (Wikimedia Commons)
Turns out, I’m not.
This is not the world of fungi in which the owner of Mycopreneur, the leading mushroom publication which follows the emerging psychedelic industry and the cultural, historical, spiritual and medicinal use of traditional functional mushrooms, lives.
Dennis entered my life as many do these days, through social media. I watched his satirical video about expats in CDMX, a group into which I am unfortunately lumped. It made me laugh so much that I reached out to hear his thoughts on life as an entrepreneur in Mexico and his opinion of the best magic mushroom retreats within driving distance.
What I learned was just as profound as a weekend of psychedelics. I came out of our chat with a deeper respect for mycology and an understanding of how we, as expat immigrants, can assimilate into our chosen society.
At 17, Dennis tried magic mushrooms for the first time and had a “pivotal, transformative, cathartic experience”. There were no lingering side effects, minus the shift in how he viewed life as a whole. He was fascinated by the fact that the source was natural as opposed to lab-created, and his investigation began.
He found himself in Mexico, where mushrooms are revered and used in a variety of ways, from taco fillings to healing teas. It felt familiar and comfortable to be here. Growing up in San Diego had intertwined Dennis with Mexican culture, even prompting him to produce a documentary about life on the border in 2017. After graduating university he worked as a high school teacher in Southern California, but his interest in mushrooms remained.
During summer breaks, he’d return to Mexico, introducing himself to the indigenous communities fighting to conserve and protect the fragile fungi. Dennis got involved with groups like Cooperativa Simbiosis in Mexico City, Fungaria in Chiapas, and Fungipeople in Jalisco. He worked with them to organize events like cooking classes, conservation techniques, and even mushroom beer brewing. He learned how and when to forage, which species are used ceremoniously and why, and how to grow his own.
As this fascinating world of mycology unfolded, Dennis left the education industry to support his fellow mycologists through an online platform, a podcast, and international speaking engagements. He relocated to Mexico, where, as he puts it, “I found a sense of charm and character that I don’t sense in the US.”
Walker says that mushrooms help to “[Put] me in touch with nature, my health, and my community.” (Magaly Rayita)I didn’t write this piece with the intention of making you eat more mushrooms. I wrote this because after my talk with Dennis I understood that it was his love of fungi that assimilated him into a life in Mexico. Dennis has succeeded where few have even attempted — he’s been incorporated into local societies from urban to indigenous. When asked how mushrooms have improved his life, Dennis told me this: “We live in an age where everyone is trying to reduce everything to the sum of its parts. The joy of [foraging for and learning about] mushrooms restored in me a childlike sense of wonder. It puts me in touch with nature, my health, and my community.”
That’s when the light bulb went off. It was his passion that didn’t just take him down a new path professionally and personally, but directly into a society that welcomed him with open arms. Isn’t that what we, as expats, are ultimately looking for?
A fusion like this doesn’t happen on its own. As Dennis puts it, it’s “incumbent on people moving to a new place to work on assimilating, integrating, and building connections locally”. Diving into something you love alongside others who share that love is paramount to connecting with your adopted community.
Expat doesn’t have to mean “foreign”.
What do you want to do more of? Learn more of? Experience more of?
Let your interests guide you, and Mexico will open its doors.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga, and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Lettersin your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.
While cannabis was partially legalized in Mexico in 2021, the legal situation around the drug remains murky. (Grav/Unsplash)
4/20 is near, and people in Mexico want to know where we are on the legal status of cannabis. Mexico’s relationship with cannabis has been a long and complicated one. While hemp, a variety of cannabis with low psychoactive properties, has been used for textiles and rope for centuries, the psychoactive cannabis, marijuana, has had a more turbulent journey. Decriminalized in small quantities in 2009, the plant took a historic leap in 2021 with Supreme Court rulings legalizing recreational and medicinal use. However, the legal landscape of cannabis in Mexico is still under construction.
The Past:
Cannabis in Mexico has some interesting periods of cultivation, medicinal use, and even prohibition.
Legendary Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa (center) smoking “marihuana.” (Higher Collective/Facebook)
Introduction (16th Century): The Spanish brought cannabis to Mexico, primarily for its industrial use as hemp for making rope and textiles.
Uses (19th Century): After Mexico gained independence, hemp cultivation declined. By the late 19th century, recreational cannabis use, known as “marihuana” in Mexico, became more prevalent.
Prohibition (20th Century): Concerns about violence and social disorder led to a ban on cannabis use in military hospitals in 1882. Fueled by negative media portrayal and international drug control trends, Mexico fully prohibited cannabis production, sale, and recreational use in 1920. This ban continues today.
The Present:
In the corridors of Mexico’s Congress, marijuana regulation hangs in limbo. Since the LXIV Legislature commenced its term in September 2018, 13 initiatives aiming to regulate recreational marijuana use and its derivatives have been introduced. However, 12 of these initiatives remain among the labyrinthine committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, leaving the nation in a state of legislative inertia.
Cannabis accessories are already sold in Mexico, but their legal status is still dubious. (Galo Cañas Rodríguez/Cuartoscuro)
Among prominent proposals lies the initiative championed by former Morena senator Gerardo Novelo Osuna, a stalwart figure in the marijuana legalization discourse. Introduced in October 2019, Novelo Osuna’s initiative advocates for creating the General Law for the Regulation, Control, and Use of Cannabis and its derivatives. This bill endeavors to reform various articles within the General Health Law, the Federal Criminal Code, and the Law of the Special Tax on Production and Services.
At its core, Novelo Osuna’s proposal seeks to delineate the identification of cannabinoids, decriminalize possession for personal consumption (set at 28 grams), and establish a regulatory framework governing the cultivation, production, sale, and consumption of cannabis. Moreover, it addresses taxation intricacies, with proposed modifications to the Law of Special Tax on Production and Services targeting products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) within specified thresholds.
Echoing the chorus for reform, Senator Clemente Castañeda of Movimiento Ciudadano (MC) presented an initiative in September 2018, advocating for amnesty for individuals incarcerated due to cannabis-related offenses. This proposal underscores the societal repercussions of punitive measures stemming from cannabis prohibition, signaling a call for compassion and rectification within the justice system.
Further diversifying the legislative landscape is the initiative by PAN Deputy Éctor Ramírez, currently under review in the Health Commission of San Lázaro. Ramírez’s proposal aims to regulate the utilization of non-psychoactive cannabis within cosmetic products. By delineating thresholds for psychoactive substances and facilitating the manufacture, importation, and commercialization of hemp-infused cosmetics, the bill seeks to harness the economic potential of cannabis derivatives while ensuring consumer safety.
Currently, cannabis is legal to possess but not to buy, as Congress continues to stall on legalization. (Shelby Ireland/Unsplash)
The Supreme Court’s 2021 decision legalized recreational use with a caveat – permits are still required. However, the process for obtaining these permits hasn’t been established by the health regulatory agency COFEPRIS, leaving recreational users in legal limbo. Technically, possessing up to 28 grams and growing up to six plants at home is legal for adults over 18, but lacking a formal framework creates uncertainty. It is legal to possess but not to buy, so the legal framework is needed.
The legislative impasse persists, casting a shadow over Mexico’s aspirations to align with global trends in marijuana regulation. Despite efforts to emulate the successes of Uruguay, Chile, and Canada in legalizing recreational marijuana, substantive debates surrounding penalties for possession and consumption linger, reflecting the delicate balance between public health concerns and individual liberties.
Also, foreigners should be cautious – while possessing small amounts may be decriminalized for residents, tourists could face stricter consequences.
The Future:
Mexico’s cannabis legalization is a landmark decision, but the road to a fully functioning legal market is still complicated. The Mexican Congress must draft and pass regulations establishing a system for licensing producers, retailers, and distributors. This will likely take time, with potential revisions based on experiences in other countries.
The MMGY Travel Intelligence survey – called the Cannabis Tourism: Opportunities, Issues and Strategies report – found that 29% of all active leisure travelers, and 18% of all Americans, are interested in cannabis-related activities on vacation. If the recreational market in Mexico were regulated today, it would reach a value of US $230 million in 2024.
Legislation on cannabis is important because it will prevent large interests from taking advantage of the market, train small and medium-sized companies, and provide education to prevent addictions, issues on which his organization is working.
Camila Sánchez Bolaño is a journalist, feminist, bookseller, lecturer, and cultural promoter and is Editor in Chief of Newsweek en Español magazine.
Some days, you just need an expert to come to your house and treat you well. Mexico News Daily's list of tried and true beauty and wellness experts will help make that dream a reality. (Scape)
This article contains exclusive discounts for readers. Mexico News Daily is not affiliated with Glitzi or Scape.
Mexico is one of the countries with the highest growth in the wellness industry, with a market representing a size of over US $46 billion – and for good reason.
The country’s spa scene truly shines, offering an array of tempting options and enviable talent. Among Mexico’s best-kept secrets is its multitude of affordable, high-quality at-home spa and beauty services. From massages to manicures, facials, makeup artistry, and styling services, the list of possibilities is endless. With just a few taps on a smartphone, you can summon professionals to your doorstep, transforming your home (or hotel room) into a personal oasis of relaxation and indulgence. Coveted luxuries once only available to kings and queens are now available for download at prices that often rival those of brick-and-mortar locations.
Does anything beat the comfort of a good massage in your own home? (Zen 2 Go/Facebook)
Unwind with a massage delivered straight to your door
My first experience with the delight of at-home spa services took place in a cozy studio I was renting in Roma Norte. A friend had sworn by a booking app she used for scheduling massages and facials. After a grueling work week that left me tense and mentally depleted, I wanted nothing more than to unwind and experience what she had called “heaven at home.”
Lounging on my couch, I downloaded the app, selected a deep-tissue massage from an array of delectable options, chose a time for that evening, requested a female masseuse and plugged in my payment details. Four hours later, heaven knocked on my door in the form of a petite, uniform-clad lady.
“Hola,” she said, peering in as I opened the door. “Masaje relajante?” Efficiently rolling in a folded massage table, she promptly set up a station with fresh sheets, aromatherapy and a speaker spouting twinkling wind chimes and rainforest sounds. I dimmed the lights, dropped my towel and hopped onto the massage bed. With a gentle waft of aromatherapy, heaven began. For an hour, Paty kneaded and shaped me like a batch of focaccia dough, and I loved every minute of it.
Since then, I’ve unabashedly become an at-home service addict of sorts, booking and sampling a variety of experiences, both alone and with friends.
Need an emergency manicure? Glitzi has you covered. (Glitzi/Instagram)
Get help with beauty emergencies in moments
During one such instance, horrified at the state of my toenails before a beachy trip to Puerto Escondido with a girlfriend, I hurriedly booked us at-home mani-pedis. Two gracious nail technicians serviced us amidst piles of suitcases and clothes strewn about in a last-minute packing frenzy. Our freshly exfoliated feet soaking in basins of warm lavender water, we relaxed and gossiped as an episode of Netflix’s “Love is Blind” buzzed away in the background.
A few weeks later, preparing to attend a Vogue Magazine gala celebrating Día de los Muertos in November, I booked hair and makeup services to elevate my glam game. After a strategic consultation rivaling those of battle generals, my makeup artist got to work. As I sipped chilled albariño in my living room, obediently pursing my lips and shutting my eyes when instructed, she worked her magic to produce stunning results. Later that night, I felt very much the belle of the ball at the celebrity-studded event in trendy Juárez.
Whether in need of a “sparty” with the gals, professional glam for a special event, emergency beautifying or a set of relaxing experiences to surprise the wife — gentlemen, take note! — these easy-to-book, reliable services don’t disappoint.
Below, we’ll uncover the two must-have main players in the at-home wellness and beauty booking space, along with a few other honorable mentions. Most of these apps are in Spanish, but it’s nothing that Google Translate won’t tackle. We’ve also negotiated some discounts for MND readers… because you all deserve to be treated like royalty.
Read on for some exclusive discounts for MND readers, and get relaxed in no time. (Zen 2 Go)
Glitzi
At the top of our list is Glitzi, a service that has become something of a titan in the realm of on-demand spa and beauty treatments. With the most extensive repertoire of offerings, Glitzi’s catalog is undeniably the most comprehensive in the at-home pampering sphere, offering an expansive array of services to four major cities in Mexico: Mexico City, Queretaro, Monterrey and Guadalajara.
Glitzi’s reasonably-priced options run the gamut from massages of all varieties including Lomi Lomi & prenatal, basic facials, manicures and pedicures, barbershop services for men, haircuts for the entire family, color and keratin treatments, styling and updos, makeup applications, as well as eyelash and eyebrow grooming. Bundled packages combining different treatments at a discounted rate are also available.
Among Glitzi’s standout offerings is maderotherapy, a massage technique rooted in ancient Colombian holistic healing practices that utilizes anatomically designed wooden tools. The practice is purported to provide a litany of benefits, including cellulite reduction, pain management, increased flexibility, deep relaxation and weight loss. Other unique Glitzi services include lymphatic drainage, chocolate massage and foot reflexology. While Glitzi’s massage therapists and glam technicians each have their distinct style, each experience ends up somehow being exactly what you needed.
Massages range from 700 pesos for a 60-minute basic decontracting massage, to 1340 peso, 90-minute ayurvedic massages, while makeup services hover at around 1350 pesos for predetermined looks.
There is almost no service that Glitzi doesn’t seem to offer, from maderotherapy to haircuts. (Glitzi/Instagram)
Exclusively for MND readers, use code MNDWELLNESS to receive a discount of MXN 150 off your first booking.
Scape
If Glitzi is the fun, versatile sibling who dabbles in a myriad of pursuits and nails them brilliantly, then Scape is the posh and sophisticated older sister who has spent years abroad in Europe. Founded in 2018 by Swedish wellness entrepreneur Helle Jeppsson, Scape specializes in a tightly curated selection of quality-assured luxurious spa services, keeping its focus primarily on facials and massages. With operations spanning 25 cities across Mexico – from CDMX and Cancún to San Miguel de Allende and Puebla — Scape boasts the nation’s broadest coverage for at-home pampering.
Because each of its massage therapists undergoes proprietary training from Scape and works with a vetted set of products, clients can expect a high level of consistency and quality of treatments. The company’s therapists also engage in ongoing training and educational programs, continuously honing their craft with new techniques and modalities.
Scape’s minimalist massage menu centers on four core varieties – sports, prenatal, deep tissue, and relaxing, with treatments ranging from 990 pesos for a standard 60-minute escape to 1690 for a luxurious 2-hour at-home retreat. Massages employ products from Scape’s own Nordic-inspired Mys line, which features some of the most deliciously-scented aromatherapy oils I’ve ever encountered, along with sumptuous body oils.
For facial enthusiasts, the company offers a bespoke selection of five facial treatments tailored to address a variety of skin needs. With specialized options like the Teen Facial catering to adolescent skin concerns and a Vitamin C facial for brightness, Scape leverages spa-grade products from Spanish brand Natura Bissé, alongside facial technology tools from Swedish brand Foreo.
Scape offers clients a touch of European sophistication and luxury. (Scape)
Use code MNDWELLNESS15 for a 15% discount on your first booking or gift certificate to Scape.
Honorable Mentions
Some of the other fabulous players in the on-demand wellness and beauty space include Glam2Go, which focuses on makeup and beauty services in 8 major cities, and Zen to Go, which hones in on massages in 10 cities.
These incredible at-home experiences prove that some of the best massages in Mexico City … can often be found right in the comfort of your own home! Have you tried any of these apps? Let us know in the comments below!
Monica Belot is a writer, researcher, strategist and adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City, where she teaches in the Strategic Design & Management Program. Splitting her time between NYC and Mexico City, where she resides with her naughty silver labrador puppy Atlas, Monica writes about topics spanning everything from the human experience to travel and design research. Follow her varied scribbles on Medium at https://medium.com/@monicabelot.
Want to learn Spanish from the comfort of your sofa? Look no further than our guide to the best Mexican Netflix shows. (Netflix)
I love watching TV and movies, and I’m not embarrassed to admit it. After all, we humans are practically programmed to really get into a good story.
I’m also a fan of watching Mexican TV (and Netflix) specifically for learning purposes. With technology that lets us put on subtitles at will, watching local shows and movies is a fantastic way to study both Spanish and Mexican culture, and one that I’ve long recommended.
Watching Mexican shows like Ojitos de Huevo can give you more than just new language skills – it can open the door to learning more about other cultures as well. (Netflix)
To help you enjoy them as much as I do, I’ve come up with a list of recent Mexican TV shows that you can find on some of the major platform services available — one is hosted on Disney, and the rest are on Netflix.
I’ve tried to stick to lighthearted comedies and a couple of intriguing dramas, but there’s certainly more out there — especially if you expand your search to film! Mexico has an astoundingly varied and storied film history, so it’s worth a much deeper dive than we’re taking here for those especially interested.
El Galán
This is an adorable show that I got to know because I was on the subtitling team for it a couple of years ago, and I… think I’m allowed to say that. It centers around an aging telenovela (soap opera) star looking for a comeback in his native Mexico after a couple of decades performing on cruise ships. Back in Mexico, he realizes that the world has changed quite a bit since his popularity as a womanizing and — let’s admit — obliviously sexist leading man. This is a comedy that follows this flawed but loveable ex-star as he tries to find his footing once again in a world with very different sensibilities than the one he found so much success in before.
La Casa de las Flores
La Casa de las Flores | Anuncio Fecha de Estreno Temporada 2
This might be my favorite modern Mexican TV show, and was so popular that it resulted in several spin-offs. This dark comedy centers around a wealthy family in Mexico City — as many Mexican shows do, admittedly — whose wealth was built initially by a flower shop. The show begins with a startling mystery and features some of the best comedic acting I’ve seen. My favorite character is one of the older sisters – especially since she speaks very, very slowly, making dialogue easy to follow. If you only have time for one show, make it this one!
Club de Cuervos
Club de Cuervos | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix
For an incredibly humorous deep dive into the world of Whitexicans, you can’t get much better than “Club de Cuervos,” which centers around a pair of siblings who inherit a popular soccer club when their father dies suddenly.
The son is a bit of a loose cannon and the very face of unrestrained, slightly psychopathic but fun privilege, while his sister is serious and businesslike, far better equipped to take over the team but much less likable: what male-dominated industry wants a woman who hardly smiles bossing them around? This show is impeccably acted and uproariously funny – and well worth your time.
Ojitos de Huevo
Ojitos de Huevo | Tráiler oficial | Netflix
This show was an interesting mix of Disney-like simplicity in storytelling and some rather adult themes. It centers around two disabled young men who have graduated from school and decide they want to leave their families in Querétaro to try to “make it” in Mexico City. One is blind, and the other has cerebral palsy. They’re both smart and funny, but they’re also young men who by definition are not in the most intelligent phase of their lives. When one of the boys decides he wants to be a standup comedian, the pair and their band of misfit friends do everything to make it happen in this heartwarming and very funny one-season series.
Luis Miguel
Luis Miguel La Serie | Trailer Oficial | Netflix
I’ll admit that this is the only show on the list that I have yet to see, a biopic on one of Mexico’s best-loved artists. That said, it’s been highly recommended to me by several people, usually with an introduction like, “It’s surprisingly really good!”
If you don’t know who Luis Miguel is, you surely will soon if you spend very much time in Mexico. He grew up on stage, singing songs that most Mexicans know all the words to, and was the very definition of cool in the ‘80s and ‘90s. One of the cafés I frequent only plays his songs…and no one minds at all. And apparently, he’s had a life fit for a soap opera, which is dramatized in this biopic series. This, of course, is a very short list, and doesn’t include many of the shows that are still watched nationwide on cable TV. But you can put subtitles on these, so they’re a great start! Got any other Mexican TV shows you’d like to recommend? Feel free to list them for us all in the comments section!
Travis Bembenek's family visiting him in 1995 in Guadalajara, at the end of his study abroad semester there. (Courtesy)
The year was 1995, but I remember the anxiety I felt like it was yesterday.
It was my second year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and I found myself looking around at what some of my best friends were studying: engineering, chemistry, accounting, physics.
I wondered, how will I find a good job with a generic management/marketing degree?
So I started thinking about what I could do that would give me some more experience and hopefully, more marketability to get hired after graduation.
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had just gone into effect the year before, and I remember Ross Perot talking about the infamous “giant sucking sound” of jobs going to Mexico. Was it time to learn Spanish?
I intensely disliked Spanish in high school and did the minimum required to get into college, but maybe it was time to try again? I looked into the study abroad program of the UW Madison Business School to learn more about programs in Spanish-speaking countries. My options: Santiago, Chile or Barcelona, Spain. Both great places, but neither struck me as very relevant to a future career in business. Mexico seemed like a more logical choice, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it.
This being the pre-Google era, I researched by reading the campus daily newspaper, and one day came across an ad for a study abroad program in Guadalajara through Beaver College (now called Acadia University) in Pennsylvania. Had I ever heard of Beaver College?Of course not! Did I know anything about Guadalajara? Absolutely not! But I decided to take the plunge — which turned out to be the single most important and impactful decision I’ve ever made in my professional life.
Fast forward to 2024, thirty years later, and it’s both surprising and disappointing to learn how few students study abroad in Mexico. I looked at the UW-Madison Business School study abroad options currently available and there are over 30 programs to choose from around the globe. In fact, there are programs at five different universities in Spain, but still none in Mexico! I couldn’t believe it. How can it be that so many people are coming to Mexico to vacation, so many foreigners are now living in Mexico, so many business people from around the world are coming to work in Mexico, and yet such a tiny amount of students come here to study?
A quick Google search shows that over 25,000 U.S. students study each year in Spain, over 14,000 in France, and yet less than 3,000 study in Mexico. What’s going on here? Are kids just generally not interested in Mexico as a study-abroad option? Are parents not interested in sending their kids to study in Mexico? Are U.S. and Canadian universities lagging in offering programs in Mexico? Are Mexican universities not stepping up and offering attractive programs?
I understand that Mexico might not be as “attractive” as a European country in some respects. Europe offers an unparalleled experience to study with people from all over the world and the opportunity to easily travel to many countries — which is invaluable. But Mexico has so much to offer as well, given the increasing political, business, social, and cultural ties across North America.
Taking me as an example of a student who did study abroad in Mexico, the experience was life-changing and the impact was lifelong. Mexico offers a much easier opportunity to “keep up the connections,” given the proximity to the United States and Canada. Many expats I’ve met who are now living in Mexico studied here earlier in their lives.
It’s important to remember that the overall impact of a study-abroad program is not just academic, but rather as an experience. A few highlights from my time here included weekends on isolated tropical beaches, exploring ancient pre-Columbian pyramids, discovering 500-year-old cities, learning how to dance in Acapulco’s clifftop discos and camping in a Chiapas rainforest. I was invited countless times to stay, eat, and travel with my new Mexican friends’ families, and most importantly, I learned how to be independent, curious and confident.
Why not study art in the footsteps of Frida Kahlo in Mexico City? Why not learn anthropology in the shadows of Maya pyramids in the Yucatán peninsula? Why not take business classes at a university in Monterrey, Guadalajara, Querétaro, or Guanajuato where there is a massive investment boom? Why not take culinary classes (along with some surf lessons) in Oaxaca? Why not challenge yourself by taking an economics or liberal arts class somewhere in Spanish? The opportunities are endless.
I recently spoke to the U.S. Embassy about what is being done to foster student exchange on both sides of the border, and I was happy to see that some progress is being made. However, my sense is that there is a lot of work yet to be done to fully take advantage of the opportunity.
We at Mexico News Daily believe that this is an important topic to explore further, and we will be providing increasing coverage of the issue going forward. Our intent is to inspire new ideas, debate and dialogue, so please share your thoughts in the comments. And in the meantime, try to inspire a student you know to study in Mexico!
Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for over 27 years.
San Luis Potosí is one of Mexico's best kept secrets, and is filled with history, culture and Mexico's second-largest public park. (Depositphotos)
Strolling along San Luis Potosí’s tree-lined, pedestrianized street, the Calzada de Guadalupe, I pondered why I hadn’t seen a single foreign tourist in the city. San Luis, as the locals call it, is a beautiful town whose historic center was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2018. Made up of 42 streets, the downtown area is home to 500 historic monuments, Baroque and neoclassical structures and old stone manors that have been now been remodeled into museums, shops, and restaurants.
It’s hard to pick the very best that San Luis Potosí has to offer, but here are some of the highlights:
San Luis Potosí has some great examples of Baroque and neoclassical architecture. (Stephanie Hernández/Unsplash)
The Longest Pedestrian Street in the Americas
This two-mile walk is technically a number of different streets that have all become pedestrianized. The trail begins at the Hidalgo Market, continues to the Plaza de Armas – home of the neoclassical Metropolitan Cathedral – then along the shopping street of Zaragoza, and from there turns into the Calzada de Guadalupe, ending at the Basilica of Guadalupe.
The Water Tank on the Calzada
The gracefulneoclassical 19th century Caja de Agua (water tank), the last remaining reservoir in the city, stored water brought by the aqueduct. In that era, structures were obviously designed to be not just functional, but beautiful. Although the Caja de Agua had a rope cordoning it off, we enjoyed watching a bridal couple ignoring the barrier and having their photos taken in front of it. Near the water tank is a 19th-century statue of a water boy (El Aguador) carrying water in a terracotta jug to nearby houses.
The Leonora Carrington Museum
Towards the end of the Calzada is a long, low building with castle-like turrets and thick walls. It turns out it’s a former prison, now home to the Leonora Carrington Museum. Carrington was a British-born Mexican artist and one of the last great Surrealists of the twentieth century.
Carrington’s path from London to Mexico City was a twisted one. She met the famous surrealist artist Max Ernst in London, and in 1937 they ran away together to France. When the war broke out, Ernst was arrested in Germany while Carrington escaped to Spain, where she had a mental breakdown. After she recovered, she went to the Mexican Embassy where Renato Leduc, the Mexican ambassador, agreed to a marriage of convenience with her so that she would be given immunity as a diplomat’s wife. The couple sailed for New York and later settled in Mexico City, where their marriage ended amicably. Carrington lived and worked mainly in Mexico for the rest of her life.
Leonora Carrington spent much of her career in Mexico, and chose the former prison to be a fitting site for her museum. (Museo Leonora Carrington)
In the museum, her bronze sculptures, often hybrid figures, half human and half animal, look bizarre, especially against the stark backdrop of a former prison. Hyenas, horses, crows, half-crocodiles, winged pigs, and giant women recur throughout her work. One sculpture shows a woman with an animal head wearing a long elegant gown. Her paintings tend to be dreamlike, steeped in myth, mysticism, and folklore.
Why a museum dedicated to Carrington in San Luis Potosí, of all places? One of the museum staff told us that because of her history with mental illness, Carrington found the idea of a former prison housing her art appealing and oddly appropriate. Also, she was a friend of another Surrealist, fellow Brit Edward James, who lived in Xilitla, a pueblo mágico in the area of the state known as the Huasteca Potosina. In Xilitla, he designed a whimsical sculptural garden called Las Pozas.
The Basilica of Guadalupe
Just beyond the museum is the Basilica of Guadalupe, an important church for locals. December 12 is the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a popular feast day that celebrates the anniversary of the appearance of the Virgin Mary, Mexico’s patron saint, in Mexico City. On that day, hundreds of faithful crawl for about a mile on their knees along the Calzada to the church.
The impressive chandelier at the Basílica de Guadalupe is worth the visit on its own. (Barry Evans)
The church also houses one of two crystal ship chandeliers that hang in different local churches, with the other located in the nearby Church of San Francisco. The chandeliers, dating to 1788, were commissioned as a tribute by sailors who believed St. Francis saved them from a shipwreck. Shaped like a caravel, the boat used in Portuguese and Spanish colonial expeditions, they were originally donated to St. Francis’s church in Real de Catorce, an isolated mining town north of San Luis. Church authorities considered the chandeliers too important to be stuck in such a remote town and decided to move them to the state capital of San Luis Potosí.
Plaza de Carmen
A lovely place to hang out and watch people, the plaza is ringed with two museums, a theater and the Templo de Carmen (an example of Churrigueresque Baroque architecture.You can’t help but notice an eerie bronze sculpture, “El Cofrade” (the friar), which to Americans looks like a Ku Klux Klanner. The sculpture symbolizes one of the brothers who walks in the Procession of Silence, a solemn event held on Good Friday, beginning at the El Carmen Church and winding through the historic center.
Tangamanga Park
Tangamanga is the second largest urban park in Mexico, after Chapultepec in Mexico City. “But it has more trees!” boasted our taxi driver. Indeed, the huge park has more trees than any park I’ve seen in Mexico, along with a lake and a two-mile paved trail for walking, running, and cycling.
An interesting detail about the park is that it hastwo water treatment plants for irrigation and its compost.
The Train Museum
If you’re a railway enthusiast, you’ll enjoy the kid-friendly train museum, the Museo del Ferrocarril, the best part of which is the trains themselves, which you can climb aboard. Check out the model train layout on the second floor.
Cerro de San Pedro
San Pedro was the site of the first discovery of gold and silver in the region in the 16th century. (Municipio Cerro de San Pedro)
The birthplace of San Luis, San Pedro is a tiny mining village 40 minutes from the city, where gold and silver were discovered in 1592. You can walk for miles and visit a mine. It’s mostly deserted during the week but can get crowded on weekends.
We were in San Luis Potosí for four nights, but could easily have spent a full week there, and I’m already looking forward to another visit.
Where to Stay
We stayed at the Gran Concordia, a mid-range hotel a block from the Plaza de Armas. Breakfast is available for an extra fee. It was amazing to go from the busy street scene, filled with vendors and musicians, and two minutes later be relaxing in the quiet oasis of our room.
Where to Eat
La Oruga y la Cebada is a family-style restaurant with a terrace restaurant. Great shrimp tacos.
La Posada del Virrey, on the Plaza de Armas, has both indoor and outdoor seating. We enjoyed the mojitos (which weren’t on the menu).
For early risers, Cafe Tokio, a typical Mexican (not Japanese!) restaurant with booths, opens at 7 am and offers generous Mexican breakfasts.
Louisa Rogers and her husband Barry Evans divide their lives between Guanajuato and Eureka, on California’s North Coast. Louisa writes articles and essays about expat life, Mexico, travel, physical and psychological health, retirement and spirituality. Her recent articles are on her website, https://authory.com/LouisaRogers
Presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum speaks at a recent campaign event in Ayala, Morelos. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro.com)
Just over seven weeks before voters go to the polls to elect a new president, leading candidate Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling Morena party spoke to the El Financiero newspaper between campaign events earlier this week.
Here is an overview of the remarks the former Mexico City mayor made to journalist Salvador Camarena while traveling by car to an event in Amecameca, México state.
On the security situation in Mexico
Sheinbaum, who polls show has a double digit lead over opposition bloc candidate Xóchitl Gálvez, acknowledged that crime and violence are a concern in parts of Mexico, but asserted that is not the case in the “majority” of the country.
She recognized that one state where insecurity is a problem is Guanajuato — Mexico’s most violent state in recent years in terms of total murders — but said that she hadn’t “perceived” fear among guanajuatenses, as residents are known, or Mexicans who live in states such as Jalisco and Michoacán, where crime is also a concern.
Gálvez is campaigning heavily on her pledge to establish a “Mexico without fear.”
While candidate Gálvez regularly focuses on Mexico’s security shortfalls, Sheinbaum said healthcare and education are more urgent concerns. (Toño Aguilar / Cuartoscuro.com)
Sheinbaum said that access to healthcare and education are more pressing concerns for many Mexicans.
“In many places before [calling for] security, people shout at me, ‘a hospital! a school!’ she said.
“I’m not saying that [security] isn’t an issue on which we have to continue making progress, I don’t want to make light of [the problem], but this idea that Mexico is afraid and doesn’t want to go out to the street, I don’t agree with that perception,” Sheinbaum said, adding that the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) has made progress in combating crime and reducing homicide rates.
“It will be up to us to do it more quickly, and we have to have a security strategy because there is organized crime in the country,” the Morena candidate said.
On whether she will be ‘independent’ of AMLO as president
“I’ve always said that I’m the one who is going to govern and I’m going to govern for the people of Mexico,” Sheinbaum said when Camarena put it to her that the people of Mexico want to know whether she will be free from the influence of AMLO, her political mentor and former boss when she served as Mexico City environment minister in the early 2000s.
“I hope that the people of Mexico feel represented by me, that’s the objective. … President López Obrador is a very respectful man. He never spoke to me by telephone when I was mayor to tell me [what to do], to give me an instruction. Never,” she said.
Though she is running on a platform of continuity, Sheinbaum has also made efforts to differentiate herself from President López Obrador. (Lopezobrador.org.mx)
On renewable energy
“I dedicated myself to energy [matters] for years,” said Sheinbaum, a physicist and environmental scientist who worked with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
“I always thought that renewable energy had to be promoted, so we’re going to try to accelerate the energy transition in the country,” she said while responding to a question about how she would differ from AMLO as president.
On water
“I believe resources and time have to be dedicated to decontaminating the country’s rivers … and … other bodies of water,” Sheinbaum said.
“… I’m a scientist, on many of the issues I’m going to have scientists working with me. For example, on the issue of water [scarcity], which is one of the country’s big issues,” she said.
On her plan to perpetuate the ‘transformation’ of Mexico initiated by AMLO
Asked whether she and the Morena party would shift to the political center should she be sworn in as president on Oct. 1, Sheinbaum pledged that the “transformation” of Mexico will continue under her leadership.
The president handed over the baton – literally – of his “Fourth Transformation” to Morena 2024 candidate, Claudia Sheinbaum, on Thursday night. (MARIO JASSO/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Sheinbaum said that under her leadership, Mexico will continue to have a government that:
is “dedicated to those who have the least.”
is “austere.”
has “fiscal and financial discipline.”
“defends the autonomy of the Bank of Mexico.”
is honest.
“We’re going to defend our project of transformation of the country,” the presidential aspirant reiterated.
On whether she will continue AMLO’s tradition of holding press conferences every weekday
Sheinbaum said she didn’t know whether she would hold daily mañaneras, as López Obrador’s lengthy pressers are colloquially known, but stressed that she is “convinced” that there is a need to have “direct communication with the people.”
The media “serves a function, but there also has to be direct communication,” she added.
On the case of the 43 missing students
Sheinbaum predicted that, in the 5 1/2 months it has left in office, the current government will make a lot of progress toward solving the almost 10-year-old case involving the abduction and presumed murder of 43 young men who were studying at the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers College in Guerrero.
If the case isn’t resolved by the time AMLO leaves office, “we’ll finish it,” she said.
The unresolved case of 43 student teachers who disappeared in 2014 still haunts family members of the disappeared. (Cuartoscuro)
“It’s a wound for Mexico and the only way to close a wound is to by having justice, truth and justice,” Sheinbaum said.
More election reading
Want to read more about the June 2 elections at which Mexicans will not only elect a new president, but also state governors, mayors and thousands of municipal, state and federal officials?
Mexican amateur golfer Santiago de la Fuente. (Andrea Murcia)
Santiago de la Fuente, a 22-year-old golfer from the city of Guadalajara, made his Masters debut this week, just three months after earning an invitation by winning the Latin American Amateur Championship.
The University of Houston senior — just the sixth Mexican golfer to play in the Masters, the most prestigious golf tournament in the United States — is on a roll this year after earning honorable mention All-America honors as a junior last year.
The road to the Masters
In February, De la Fuente was tied for ninth after two rounds of the PGA’s annual Mexico Open, played this year at the Vidanta Vallarta course in the Pacific Coast state of Nayarit. He was the top-finishing amateur in the tournament, tying for 46th.
De la Fuente won the LatAm Amateur — held at the Santa María Golf Club in Panama in January — by 2 strokes over Omar Morales thanks to a final-round score of 64 that earned him his spot in the Masters. Second-place finisher Morales, a 21-year-old from the state of Puebla, is a member of the UCLA golf team.
The win in Panama also earned De la Fuente invitations to play in this year’s U.S. Open and the British Open.
De la Fuente had a strong performance at the PGA’s Mexico Open in February. (Mexico Open at Vidanta/Facebook)
Among the tidbits Golf Monthly shared: Santiago started golfing at the age of 3 and played in his first tournament at the age of 9.
De la Fuente’s Masters debut
At the Masters on Thursday, De la Fuente shot an opening round 76 — 4 over par — after his start time was pushed back 2-and-a-half hours due to a weather delay.
“I was a little nervous on the first tee, but after that things flowed rather well,” De la Fuente said afterward, according to newspaper Milenio. “At the end of the day, golf is golf and we’re not always going to get the desired result.”
“I struck the ball well but I started to feel uncomfortable on the back 9 and unfortunately, I finished poorly.”
The Jalisco native had a rough start to his second round, suffering a triple-bogey on the third hole before finishing with a 6-over par 78, leaving him at 10-over for the tournament, and well outside the projected cut of 4-over.
The 2024 Masters are taking place at the course of the Augusta National Golf Club, seen here. (Masters)
De la Fuente played the Masters course five times before his debut, the most recent being a research mission to prepare him for the tournament.
“I was just doing homework for the tournament,” De La Fuente told Amateur Golf magazine. “I was not really playing, but I was taking a lot of notes and learning where to hit it.”
The other five Mexicans to play at Augusta National are: Juan Antonio Estrada (1962, 1963, 1964), Víctor Regalado (1975, 1979), Álvaro Ortiz (2019), his brother Carlos Ortiz (2021) and Abraham Ancer (2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023).
Ancer boasts the best performance by a Mexican at the Masters, finishing in 13th place with an 8-under-par 280 in 2020.
According to a company statement, the Mexico plant will support the growth plans of both Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks in the U.S. and Canadian markets. (Volvo Group)
Swedish manufacturer Volvo announced on Thursday its plans to build a plant to begin manufacturing heavy-duty trucks in Mexico by 2026.
The company did not reveal where the new plant will be built, saying in a press release that it will manufacture trucks in Mexico “to support the growth plans of both Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks in the U.S. and Canadian markets, and to support Mack Truck sales in Mexico and Latin America.”
The new plant will focus exclusively on building heavy-duty conventional vehicles for the Volvo and Mack brands. (Wikimedia Commons)
Volvo Group, based in Gothenburg, Sweden, owns Mack Trucks, a U.S. automaker based in Greensboro, North Carolina. This will be its first truck manufacturing facility in Mexico.
The new 1.7 million-square-foot plant will be “a complete conventional vehicle assembly facility,” the company said. The new plant will focus exclusively on building heavy-duty conventional vehicles for the Volvo and Mack brands.
While the Volvo Group declared that the company’s Mack LVO plant in Pennsylvania and its Volvo NRV plant in Virginia will remain the company’s primary North American production sites, the factory in Mexico will “deliver logistical efficiencies for supporting sales to the southwestern/western regions of the United States, and to Mexico and Latin America.”
The announcement was met with dismay by the United Auto Workers (UAW) labor union in the United States.
“We are extremely disappointed in Volvo’s decision to build a class 8 plant in Mexico as our local leadership have been working closely with local and state government officials to build a state-of-the-art plant in [Pennsylvania],” the union stated in a letter, according to WFMZ news.
Over the past five years, Volvo has invested more than US $73 million to expand operations at its Pennsylvania plant and earlier announced plans to spend US $80 million for future production there. In addition, the company is completing a US $400 million expansion at its Virginia plant ahead of the release of the new Volvo VNL model.
The Volvo press release did not reveal how much the company planned to invest in its new plant in Mexico.
Volvo’s first-quarter results won’t be available until later this month, but the company reported a 10% increase in fourth-quarter sales for last year.
After hitting its strongest exchange rate against the dollar since 2015, the Mexican peso depreciated on Friday morning. (Isabel Mateos/Cuartoscuro)
Four days after appreciating to its strongest level against the US dollar in almost nine years, the Mexican peso declined sharply on Friday morning before making up some of the ground it lost.
Bloomberg data shows that the peso’s exchange rate weakened to as low as 16.74 on Friday morning before slightly recovering to trade at 16.66 at midday Mexico City time.
The Mexican peso has strengthened against the US dollar so far this year, but is predicted to weaken by the end of 2024. (Cuartoscuro)
The weaker position represented a 1.8% decline for the peso compared to its closing position of 16.44 to the dollar on Thursday, and a 2.6% tumble compared to the 16.30 level it reached on Monday.
Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Mexican bank Banco Base, said on the X social media platform that the peso was depreciating due to the “expectation” that the United States Federal Reserve won’t start cutting its key interest rate until November.
Janneth Quiroz, director of analysis at the Monex financial group, noted on X that the peso was affected by a general strengthening of the U.S. dollar on Friday.
The DXY index, which measures the value of the greenback against a basket of foreign currencies, was up around 0.7% at midday.
“The index’s upward movement is largely driven by rising U.S. yields and a hot inflation data environment that favors the U.S. dollar. In addition, Federal Reserve officials expressed fewer possibilities for rate cuts this year, and an increase in hawkish bets is another driver boosting the currency,” FX Street said.
The peso has benefited for an extended period from the vast difference between the official interest rate in Mexico — currently 11% — and that in the U.S., currently 5.25%-5.5%.
In another post on X, the Banco Base analyst said that the market at the start of the year expected the Fed to make three interest rate cuts in 2024.
“Now, two are expected,” Siller wrote, adding that “it wouldn’t be strange” if, in a few days, just one rate cut from the Fed comes to be expected, considering how much expectations have changed.
The differential between interest rates in Mexico and the U.S. declined by 25 basis points last month, and will narrow further if the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) makes additional cuts before the Fed makes an initial one. Such a scenario could lead to a weakening of the peso, although Banxico’s cut last month didn’t negatively impact the peso’s exchange rate.
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