Heavy rain is forecast for most of the Mexican Caribbean early this week. (Arturo Pérez Alfonso/Cuartoscuro)
As a heat wave continues in Mexico City and other parts of the country, rainfall is in the forecast in some states of southern Mexico.
Due to cold front 39, the Yucatán Peninsula and Mexican Caribbean will see heavy rains in the states of Campeche, Chiapas, Yucatán, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Veracruz. Pockets of rain are expected in Puebla, and isolated showers are also forecast in Baja California Sur, Coahuila, Durango, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.
El sistema frontal número 39 y su masa de aire #Frío ocasionarán #Lluvias muy fuertes, refrescamiento de las #Temperaturas y #EventoDeNorte de fuerte a muy fuerte, entre otros efectos.
The cold front will also bring gusts of wind between 60 and 80 kilometers per hour along the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, with waves 2 to 3 meters high in the southern Gulf of Tehuantepec. Wind gusts and dust devils are also expected in the northern states of Chihuahua, Coahuila and Durango.
Meanwhile, scorching temperatures will continue in central and southern Mexico.
A yellow heat alert has been activated in Mexico City and the Valley of México as temperatures are expected to reach between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius (82 to 86 Fahrenheit) on Monday. The few boroughs not affected by the alert are those west of Mexico City, including Cuajimalpa de Morelos, Magdalena Contreras and Milpa Alta.
The states of Guerrero, Michoacán and southwest Morelos will see high temperatures of 40 to 45 degrees Celsius on Monday.
The coasts of Chiapas, Colima, Jalisco and Nayarit will see highs of 35 to 40 degrees Celsius (95 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit) while Campeche, southwest México state, Guanajuato, Oaxaca, southwest Puebla, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, Tabasco and Yucatán are expecting temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees Celsius (86 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit).
Mexico and India have a long history, with official bilateral relations stretching back 70 years. (MND)
Almost three-quarters of a century ago, Mexico became the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with India after the South Asian nation obtained independence from the British in 1947.
Since the commencement of formal relations in 1950, “the trajectory of our all-round bilateral ties has shown growing intensity,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during a joint press conference in 2016 with Enrique Peña Nieto, Mexico’s president at the time.
Raquel Buenrostro, Mexico’s economy minister, with India’s prime minister at the 2023 G20 meeting in New Delhi. (Cortesía/Cuartoscuro)
While the formal Mexico-India relationship was established 74 years ago, the connection between the two lands and their peoples goes back centuries.
In this article — the first in our “Global Mexico: India in Focus” series — I’ll take a look at how the relations between the two countries have changed over time, and also consider the state of bilateral affairs between Mexico and India today.
Trade and cultural ties in colonial times
Between the mid-1500s and the early 19th century, a sea trade route known as the Manilla Galleon operated between Manila, Philippines, and Acapulco, Mexico.
The establishment of the northern Pacific route allowed a range of Indian products to reach Mexico, which, during the period, was under Spanish control and called the Viceroyalty of New Spain. They included textiles, cinnamon and pepper as well as mango, tamarind and coconut trees.
The Manilla Galleon trade route. (Wikimedia Commons)
Silver, chiles, tobacco and chocolate were among the goods shipped along this route from New Spain to Asian countries including India.
There was also an exchange of people between Asia and the Americas in this period, and many of those who traveled east across the Pacific Ocean were “Indian women who were placed in wealthy families and convents in Mexico City, Puebla and other affluent cities of New Spain,” according to Mexico’s Embassy in India.
One of these immigrants, according to legend, was a woman baptized in Mexico as Catarina de San Juan. Better known today as “La China Poblana” — at least partly because she married the Chinese servant of a priest in Puebla — Catarina de San Juan is credited by many with inspiring Mexico’s national dress, also called a China Poblana, due to the traditional Indian clothes she wore, including a garment called a langa voni.
Mirra — as was her original name — was “born around 1606 in India during the Mughal dynasty,” according to a journal article published by Colorado State University.
“She grew up amidst royalty until her parents, fleeing a ‘Turkish’ invasion, left for a safer city, according to one of her biographers, the Jesuit Alonso Ramos. One day when she and her younger brother were playing on the beach, ruthless Portuguese pirates abducted her,” the article continues.
She was taken to New Spain as a slave but ended up living much of her life in a convent in Puebla.
“Poblanas,” Carl Nebel, 1840. (Casa de México)
“She adopted the Catholic faith with such fervor that she became widely known for her religious visions and ecstasies,” according to Mexico’s Embassy in India. “The fact that she had accepted Catholicism so enthusiastically despite being born into another religion made her an exemplary case.”
Another fascinating story of interaction between Mexicans and Indians is one that played out in the United States in the early 20th century.
A significant number of Mexican women married Indian Sikhs, which resulted in the emergence of many Punjabi-Mexican enclaves in states like California, Texas and Arizona.
“The restrictive migration policies of the U.S. pushed solidarity between the Indian and Mexican migrants that had settled in California and Texas and mainly worked in the agricultural fields,” according to Mexico’s Embassy in Delhi.
“Recently, scholars … [have been] studying the rise and decline of a Punjabi-Mexican community that was composed of around 400 marriages, mostly Mexican women with Sikh men.”
1950 to the 2020s: A brief history of the modern Mexico-India relationship
Three years before bilateral diplomatic relations were established, Mexico recognized India’s independence, becoming the first Latin American nation to do so.
Prime Minister Nehru welcomes Mexican president López Mateos to India on Oct. 10, 1962. Octavio Paz, who served as Mexico’s ambassador to India, is in the center. (India In Mexico Embassy of India, Mexico City/Facebook)
In 1961, India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, visited Mexico.
“The similarities between India and Mexico are many, Mr. Prime Minister,” Mexican president Adolfo López Mateos said in a welcome address.
“Listing them would be long-winded, but there is one that unites us in such a way in present times that we cannot not mention it: the persevering effort of India and Mexico in the struggle for peace,” he said.
López Mateos traveled to India in 1962, becoming the first Mexican president to visit the nation. The bilateral relationship developed further with the dispatch the same year of Octavio Paz to New Delhi to serve as Mexico’s ambassador to India. Mexicans’ knowledge of India also developed as a result of the time Paz spent in India. The winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature wrote books about the country while he was there, including the non-fiction work In Light of India.
“Waves of heat; huge grey and red buildings, a Victorian London growing among palm trees and banyans like a recurrent nightmare, leprous walls, wide and beautiful avenues, huge unfamiliar trees, stinking alleyways, torrents of cars, people coming and going, skeletal cows with no owners, beggars, creaking carts drawn by enervated oxen, rivers of bicycles,” Paz wrote in a lyrical description of Bombay, now called Mumbai.
According to India’s Embassy in Mexico, the bilateral relationship with Mexico over the past seven decades “has been characterized by warmth, friendship and commonality of views on a wide range of issues.”
The governor of Nuevo León, Samuel García, on a 2023 business visit to India, where he held meetings with representatives of companies in the electromobility hub and information technologies sectors. (Cuartoscuro)
“During the Cold War years, Mexico and India worked together closely as members of the UN, G-77, G-15 and G-6 (nuclear disarmament), both actively championing the interests of developing countries such as in the Uruguay Round of Trade Negotiations.”
Over the years, the two countries have reached agreements in a range of areas including science and technology, cultural cooperation, tourism, agriculture, academic cooperation, human rights, renewable energy and water management. They have also cooperated on major global issues such as nuclear disarmament and climate change.
In 2007, Mexico and India entered into a “privileged partnership,” while Prime Minister Modi and former president Peña Nieto committed in 2016 to elevate bilateral relations even further to the status of “strategic partnership,” an objective that has not yet been reached but could be soon.
“We are now looking to move beyond a buyer-seller relationship and into a long-term partnership,” Modi said during his 2016 press conference with Peña Nieto.
“Information technology, energy, pharmaceuticals, and automotive industries are among key growth areas of our commercial linkages. But, there is potential to expand our commercial and investment [partnership], and science and technology partnership in new areas,” he said.
At the opening of a Mexican consulate in Mumbai last year, then foreign affairs minister Marcelo Ebrard said that the relationship between Mexico and India was closer than ever “for several reasons,” including “geopolitical stress and similarities in our positions in the world,” investment flows between the two countries and “the will” of President López Obrador and Prime Minister Modi to strengthen ties.
The opening of the Mexican consulate in Mumbai was attended by Marcelo Ebrard, center, who was Mexico’s foreign affairs minister at the time. (SRE)
India — the world’s most populous country and fifth largest economy — was Mexico’s 10th largest trade partner in 2022, with two-way trade between the two countries valued at US $11.4 billion, according to the national statistics agency INEGI. The figure represents an increase of almost 13% compared to the previous year.
At US $7.54 billion, the value of India’s exports to Mexico was almost double the value of Mexico’s exports to India, which generated revenue of US $3.86 billion in 2022.
India’s exports to Mexico include motor vehicles (the top export in 2022), auto parts, aluminum, chemical products, rubber tires and clothes. Mexico’s exports to India include gold (No. 1 in 2022), cell phones, data processing machines, oil, auto parts and chemicals.
Another important aspect of the modern-day bilateral relationship is cultural exchange. In India, Mexico’s embassy promotes Mexican art and culture in a range of different ways, including in museum exhibitions and art festivals.
“Our focus goes on to include identification of cultural ties and common social experiences that bind Mexico and India together and their articulation through literature, visual and performative arts,” the embassy says.
Ambassador Pankaj Sharma with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in 2022. (Cuartoscuro)
“The Embassy of Mexico believes that culture is a powerful tool for reinforcing and affirming the bilateral ties and the threads that weave our countries and its people together.”
In Mexico, a key disseminator of Indian culture is the Gurudev Tagore Indian Cultural Center in Mexico City. Regular classes for yoga, Indian classical and Bollywood dances, sitar, tabla, Hindi, Sanskrit and Indian cooking classes are held at the center, according to the Indian Embassy.
The presence of many Indian companies in Mexico helps to foster people-to-people links between Mexicans and Indians, around 8,000 of whom live permanently in Mexico, according to the embassy.
The three strongest performing areas for Indian investments in Mexico are information technology, pharmaceuticals and the automotive sector, the embassy says. A number of major Indian companies in those sectors, and others, operate here.
Meanwhile, cinema chain Cinépolis and bakery company Grupo Bimbo are among the Mexican companies that have invested in India.
The future looks bright for relations between Mexico and India, in large part due to the commitment on both sides to continue to strengthen bilateral ties. Asked in a recent interview what the Indian Embassy’s goals in Mexico are for 2024, Ambassador Pankaj Sharma mentioned the aim of elevating the relationship with Mexico to strategic partnership status.
“This will be possible with careful steps addressing all aspects of the bilateral relationship,” he said.
“Both countries are focused on deepening and broadening our engagement and removing bottlenecks,” Sharma remarked.
Guadalajara is a vibrant city that offers a massive array of gastronomic and cultural gems. We sent Bethany Platanella to track down the best parts. (Unsplash)
Guadalajara. It’s fun to say and to see. My recent trip to Jalisco’s buzzing capital was influenced by multiple factors: friends from Mexico suggested it would make a great weekend trip, it was an easy flight from Mexico City, it’s the birthplace of mariachi music, and…tequila.
SOLD.
Guadalajara, for the weekend warrior, is a city of two things: surprises and simplicity. Here is where you swap the urban hustle for an hours-long, boozy lunch on a breezy terrace. It’s a place for strolling through elegant residential zones and suddenly stumbling upon a cozy cafe or a sexy wine bar.
Eat, drink, and be merry while your neighbors, mostly tourists from Mexico, proudly sing along in El Parián. (Bethany Platanella)
In fact, I wouldn’t even call it a “city”, despite its ranking as one of the top five largest in Mexico. I’d call it a tightly-knit collection of towns, each with distinct style and personality.
If you’re lucky enough to have a long weekend to spare and feeling the itch to explore, here are some ideas of how to spend a juicy getaway in Guadalajara.
Friday
Arrive early and drop your bags at your hotel in either colonia Americana or Lafayette. Beeline to your first hearty Tapatío breakfast of pan dulce, chilaquiles, fresh juice, and Masala chai tea on the leafy patio at La Cafeteria. If there is a line for a table, enjoy a complimentary coffee while you wait.
With your belly full, make your way on foot or by car to the beating heart of the city, the densely-populated and ever-lively historic center. Dominated by the Guadalajara Cathedral, you can enjoy various angles of its baroque, neoclassical, and Gothic facade from each of the surrounding plazas.
Before becoming a contemporary art museum, Hospicio Cabañas was one of the largest and oldest orphanages in the Americas. Inside, you can find frescoes by Mexican muralist José Clemente Orozco. (Unsplash)
Take your time to walk around and visit:
Palacio del Gobierno
Rodonda of the Jaliscienses Ilustres
Plaza de la Liberación
Teatro Degollado
Plaza de Armas (especially if a carousel ride is on your to-do list)
A visit to Hospicio Cabañas is an ideal way to take shelter from the blazing afternoon sun. The 19th century Neoclassical orphanage-turned-HQ for the War of Independence is now a sprawling complex of national and international exhibitions and events. Come here for the art, the architecture, and the free 30-minute tour of José Clemente Orozco’s famous frescoes.
That’s a lot of sightseeing. You deserve a drink and a snack.
Cantina la Fuente is a no-frills, locals-only watering hole that’s been in operation since 1921. Its towering ceilings reverberate the nonstop laughter, chatter, and live music that fill the space. When in Jalisco, one must drink tequila, and within the yellow walls of this historic cantina an ideal spot to indulge in your first sip along with a bag of crispy potato chips and a taco or two.
Now is a good time to head back to your hotel to rest and freshen up for dinner. Before you do, take a peek in Limoncello, an artisan gallery in Colonia Americana with affordable and very beautiful Mexican-stye home items.
Tonight, dine on vegan tacos at La Flaca’s intimate deck, or try Navaja, a new Mediterranean-esque establishment across the street.
Saturday
These figures represent for the artist the daily life of Mexicans the way he sees them: humble, kind, loving, cheerful and hard working. (Talleres Rodo Padilla/Instagram)
Start your day with a traditional breakfast at the bustling Mercado Libertad before taking a 30-peso metro ride on the pink line to La Revolución. Walk through the quiet neighborhood until you reach Calle Independencia in the center of Tlaquepaque. It’s colorful and vibrant and home to many artisan shops, art galleries, boutique cafes, and trendy restaurants. Pop into the Rodo Padilla Gallery for fun sculptures of fat people riding miniature bikes and Augustín Parra’s golden display of religious relics that have graced St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
When 3:30 p.m. rolls around, park yourself at any of the restaurants in El Parián that surround its central gazebo flanked by papel picada.If they haven’t started already, an energetic mariachi band will perform from this stage. Eat, drink, and be merry while your neighbors, mostly tourists from Mexico, proudly sing along.
For dinner, relax in the garden at El Abajeño for something traditional or make a reservation at Casa Luna for something a touch more fancy.
The sun should be setting at this point. Back in colonia Americana is Avenida Chapultepec, flush with bars and nightclubs. If you prefer a low-key nightcap? Almacén de Botellas is a lively establishment with outside tables and organic wine.
*Alternatively, you could spend Saturday in Tequila by way of the Jose Cuervo Express. Read about my experience. In this case, I would highly suggest extending your trip to Guadalajara by one day.
Sunday
Jalisco is the the home of many of Mexico’s classic dishes, including the irresistible birria. (Unsplash)
Wake up at your leisure. Drive to colonia Tonalá, where somewhere between 3,500 and 4,000 vendors set up shop selling everything under the sun. Start at Plaza de Tonalá and wander, trying the street food and drink that Jalisco is known for:
Un tejuino – a chilled drink made of fermented corn masa, brown sugar, and lime
Una jericalla – a type of flan
Birria – a slow cooked goat stew, sometimes made with beef instead. Often eaten with tortillas.
Tortas ahogadas – a chopped meat sandwich drowning in chile de árbol sauce
Walk it off with a visit to the Bernabe Gallery’s incredible collection of handcrafted ceramics, a steadfast tradition held within the family for over 200 years. If you’re lucky, one of the 10 brothers who now run the place will invite you on a tour of the workshop. The Bernabe family is extremely well-known for their role in Mexican craftsmanship and photos of famous people from all over the world (including U.S. President Obama) can be found on the walls.
When you’ve had enough shopping, return to your home base to pack and prepare for your evening flight. Leave time to visit Avenida Chapultepec, where local artists gather on Sundays to showcase their work. Meander through lovely Lafayette, a peaceful colonia adjacent to Americana and cascading with flowers, en route to La Tequila on Avenida Mexicana for a farewell lunch.
The Bernabé family has dedicated several generations (more than 200 years of tradition) to the creation of petatillo pottery. (Bethany Platanella)]
La Tequila has been a staple in Guadalajara since the mid-90’s and currently boasts three locations. The sleek architecture weaves in regional design elements of stone and clay. Traditional Mexican dishes grace the menu, some with a modern-day twist like the vegan birria made with mushrooms that was to-die-for.
Your cheerful server will offer you a tequila flight, and my advice is to take it. It’s cheap, it’s fun, it’s educational — and come on, can you think of a more appropriate way to say hasta luego to Guadalajara?
Need hotel options? Here are some popular choices to consider:
Hotel Demetria, a design-forward boutique with a rooftop pool and sweeping city views
Quinta Real Guadalajara, a luxurious pink-stone villa covered in ivy and full of antique furniture in colonia Vallarta Norte
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 Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.
The best way to get to know Mexico is through it's winding bike trails, close to nature. Here is our guide to some must-ride paths across the country. (Clayton Cardinalli/Unsplash)
The words “nature” and “trails” sound like music to the ears of mountain biking enthusiasts. If you feel inspired, confident, and motivated to explore some off the beaten track travel experiences (literally) in Mexico, then look no further.
We have investigated the best nature biking trails out there, from the north to the south of the country. Biking routes in Mexico are as varied as the country’s rich biodiversity. From the stunning contrast of the deep blue Pacific Ocean and Sierra Madre mountains to the cenotes in the Yucatán peninsula, explore some of the top-rated nature trails for cycling in Mexico.
Part of your route in Yucatan must include a visit to a cenote – take a trail past the stunning Cenote Samulá. (CC)
Whatever your taste in biking-based exploration, you are guaranteed to find a trail near you with options that will enhance your understanding of Mexico’s topography and natural beauty. Welcome to this natural journey through our country!
Atotonilco Circuit, San Miguel Allende, Guanajuato
This trail is ideal for hiking, mountain biking, and running. It is a 26.6 kilometer loop near San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, where you can appreciate nature alongside the historical monuments and churches scattered across the region. The route is very peaceful and is considered to be of medium difficulty.
Pozas Huichichila, Puerto Vallarta
This route near Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco is best during the rainy season (June through July) to experience the pools at their maximum water level. It is a path that leads to a small valley nestled between hills at the base of the Sierra Madre, an old road to Puerto Vallarta. Dogs are welcome on this trail, making it ideal for hiking, mountain biking and running. Pozas Huichichila is a 5.8 kilometer round trip.
Santa Catarina River, National Park Cumbres de Monterrey
Fall in love with the views of the Santa Catarina River in Cumbres de Monterrey National Park. (Unsplash)
This route is an excellent choice if you wish to explore the nature of the northern state of Nuevo León and its eastern Sierra Madre mountain range. The views of the stunning cleft mountains are truly breathtaking. It is a 57.6 kilometer round trip route near Santa Catarina, Nuevo León, but is open to hikers, bikers and runners alike.
Diego Mateo Valley, National Park El Chico, Hidalgo
Set in a lush oyamel forest surrounded by cliffs, valleys and ravines, this route in central Mexico is truly stunning. The valley is situated in one of the most renowned areas of the national park, considered one of the most important in Mexico. Diego Mateo is a short ride, at just a 2.7 kilometer round trip. Near the municipality of Mineral del Chico, Hidalgo, home to several of the first Pueblos Mágicos. Here, you can enjoy camping, hiking, mountain biking and running, as well as the unique British-style towns constructed during the 19th century.
Guadalupe Valley, Baja California
Vineyards, pastures and high cliffs overlooking the waves of the Pacific Ocean characterize this stunning route, which is perfect for bikers. Located near Ensenada, Baja California, this incredible road offers a 9.8 kilometer round trip route through extraordinary landscapes. You may also want to consider stopping for a delicious drink and meal along the way, as the region is home to some of Mexico’s best wineries.
Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosí
The viewpoint at San Luis Potosí’s Real de Catorce affords some mindblowing views and a great ride. (Alltrails)
This 2.7 kilometer round trip route will lead you to a viewpoint with magnificent views of the famous and beautiful Sierra de Catorce. Here, you can (of course) enjoy mountain biking, but adventure junkies can also trade in their wheels for a horseback ride through the canyon. Part of the charm of this small town is its immersion in the beauty of the desert, creating a timeless atmosphere due to its history as a colonial silver mining center in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
San Nicolás Totolapan South, México state
Dogs are welcome on this beautiful forest trail. The scents and views are amazing, and it’s a 14.6 kilometer loop near Mexico City in the state of México. The vegetation is predominantly composed of oaks, pines and oyamel trees, creating a delightful environment where your dog can roam freely without a leash, and you can tear up the dirt trails on your mountain bike.
Cenotes X’Kekén and Samulá, Yucatán
From Sisal Park in the center of Valladolid to the cenotes of X’Kekén and Samulá, this cycle route takes riders through some of the Yucatán’s most picturesque jungle. You will traverse the Dzitnup Bike Path, and along the way, encounter La Cueva, a stunning cave with massive limestone formations and stalactites hanging from the ceiling. It is an 11.7 kilometer round trip near Valladolid, Yucatán.
Pista Bavisto, Sonora
Desert riders can check out Pista Bavisto, Sonora. (Alltrails)
What other Mexican mountain bike trails would you add? if you think there’s an amazing ride that we ought to know about – let us know in the comments!
Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator for various outlets including Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.
Mar. 8: Women marched in Querétaro and in cities across Mexico on Friday for International Women's Day. (CÉSAR GÓMEZ/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Take a visual tour of Mexico — from a butterfly release in Chiapas to marches for International Women’s Day in Mexico City — with this selection of pictures from the week.
Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas
Mar. 5: A total of 148 specimens of monarch and queen butterflies were released in a university greenhouse in Tuxtla Gutiérrez for conservation work. Butterflies play a significant role in ecosystems as pollinators and their populations have been affected by climate change and other environmental changes. (DAMIÁN SÁNCHEZ/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Jiutepec, Morelos
Mar. 5: Latex masks of the presidential candidates Claudia Sheinbaum (Morena) and Xóchitl Gálvez (PAN-PRI-PRD) made in the Caretas REV factory, located in Jiutepec, Morelos. This company, which has been in operation for over 70 years, manufactures masks for Halloween, but also of political figures, such as Carlos Salinas (which became very popular), Vicente Fox, Enrique Peña Nieto and Andrés Manuel López Obrador (the best seller). (Margarito Pérez Retana/Cuartoscuro)
Santa María Tonameca, Oaxaca
Mar. 5: Every day, people gather at Punta Cometa, Mazunte, to watch the sunset. (Tomás Acosta/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico City
Mar. 7: Mothers of victims of victims of femicide and forced disappearance held a vigil in the Zócalo in Mexico City to demand justice and an end to gender violence. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Candelaria, Campeche
Mar. 7: National and foreign tourists on their visit to the Pedro Baranda springs, located in the municipality of Candelaria in Campeche. This site extends for three kilometers, is famous for its crystal clear waters and the lilies that sprout from its depths. (Michael Balam Chan/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico City
Mar. 8: Thousands of women of all ages marched on International Women’s Day in Mexico City, and there was a robust police presence. A group of protesters gave female police officers white roses in an expression of solidarity. (VICTORIA VALTIERRA/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Oaxaca city, Oaxaca
Mar. 8: On the fourth Friday of Lent, in the city of Oaxaca the Day of the Samaritan is celebrated. In commemoration of the Biblical story of Jesus in Samaria, in which a woman gives him water from a well to quench his thirst, fruit waters are given away to locals in this tradition. (CAROLINA JIMÉNEZ/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Find out why Mexico News Daily CEO Travis Bembenek and his wife Tamanna are investing in a digital media outlet at a time when they are struggling worlwide. (Cuartoscuro)
They say you need a little bit of insanity to do great things.
You may have followed recent news about accelerating layoffs in both the print and TV news business. Just in the past few weeks, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Time Magazine, and National Geographic all announced significant layoffs. Making it more troubling, both the L.A. Times and Washington Post are owned by billionaires (who arguably did not have to do it for financial reasons). Facebook (now Meta) has also announced that it would be pulling back on its news coverage, and other social media platforms are doing the same.
Mary Louise Kelly, who hosts National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” recently wrote: “If you care about journalism — local news, national news, international news — every warning light should be blinking red.”
Those are not exactly words and developments that help us sleep well at night as we continue to invest significantly in Mexico News Daily.
But we knew about these industry trends when we purchased the company, and also that this would not be easy. What makes us think that we will be successful when so many others are failing?
To begin with, we feel that the “failure” of many news organizations is to a large extent their own fault for three important reasons:
Many media outlets got away from impartially covering the news and began to inject their own opinions into their news coverage
We have all seen this happening. Many media outlets now feel like a mouthpiece of either the right or the left. Most people find that to be tiring, frustrating, and often insulting to their intelligence. News seems to have been replaced with opinions. We at Mexico News Daily take very seriously the importance of impartiality, and the importance of analysis to help you connect the dots on the issues. We will bring you the facts of the news as best as we can, via an array of sources. We will have respected writers from Mexico and other countries share their analysis and opinions on important issues. And then we will leave it up to you, the reader, to form your own conclusions on the issues.
Many digital news organizations became too focused on “chasing clicks”
A profit-generating business is naturally always looking for ways to maximize revenue. Unfortunately for the digital media industry, that has far too often meant a hyper focus on “chasing clicks.”
Clicks that bring more eyeballs, eyeballs that bring more ad revenue, etc. The problem is that this strategy logically leads to news coverage becoming ever-increasingly sensationalized and shallow. Violence, car accidents, weather events, death, death, and more death…as the industry saying goes “if it bleeds, it leads.”
We at Mexico News Daily are trying very hard to not fall into this trap. The temptation to “go there” happens every day, but we will do everything we can to continue to bring you balanced, relevant, and important news that impacts Mexico — not just the stories that will give you a quick dopamine hit. We are striving to educate and inform the reader, not just provide sensationalist stories.
Ads, ads, and more ads
Many news publications have become too reliant on ads that have diminished the user experience. Along with the strategy of sensationalist stories, many news publications have filled their sites with “pop-up” and “crawler ads” that must be navigated through in order to be able to read the article. Although this generates ad revenue, we think it makes for a terrible reader experience. We at MND have cut back significantly on the amount and type of ads, despite the loss in revenue, to make for a better reader experience.
Which brings us back to the original question of “are we crazy?”
My wife Tamanna and I strongly believe Mexico’s importance in the world is becoming increasingly more apparent. We believe that it is a historically important time for Mexico and its relationship with the United States and the world. We believe that Mexico has an economic opportunity to seize that could dramatically reduce poverty and improve living standards nationwide. And we believe that there is a need for an English-language news outlet like Mexico News Daily to provide balanced and unbiased news and information about the country.
These beliefs lead us to think that operating MND is important work that will help our readers learn about and better understand Mexico.
If you want a front row seat to the changes Mexico is undergoing, Mexico News Daily is the platform.
We are very much aware that it will not be an easy task. This vision and business model requires our paid subscriber model to be successful.
Despite a doubling of our total unique viewers to over 1 million per month over the past year, we still have a very low percentage of our readers becoming paid subscribers.
As a result, MND continues to lose money each month.
Although we might be a little bit crazy, we truly believe that we can bring trust and optimism back to the world of journalism — at least for Mexico — at a time when so much trust has been lost. We sincerely believe that by doing that, we will be successful. But we need your support!
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Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for over 27 years.
Remember all those luxuries at home that you didn't dare splash out on? They're a lot cheaper in Mexico. (Rosa Rafael/Unsplash)
Why did you move to Mexico?
I imagine there are a variety of reasons. Weather, culture, family, the ability to live comfortably on less. As an expat you’re likely hyper-aware of the talk around gentrification. You may hear that we, as gringos, are single-handedly affecting prices by overpaying for services because they’re so expensive back home.
Concerns over gentrification aside, there are serious advantages to being an expat in Mexico. (Hotels.com)
This is another topic entirely and one that I will steer clear of in this article. Whatever your or your neighbor’s thoughts might be on the rapidly changing economic situation that has arisen post-pandemic in nearly every city in the world, you chose to live in Mexico because you’re seeking a better quality of life.
And now you have it. Enjoy it! Take advantage of items and activities that are now affordable and accessible. From indoor plants to Swedish massages, Mexico offers you the creative, relaxed and happy life you have always dreamed of.
The following examples are based on Mexico City costs. If you’re living in San Miguel de Allende, Mérida or Los Cabos, prices will vary.
Potted plants
The plant collection of your dreams is within reach thanks to Mexico’s very affordable markets. (Huy Phan)
In Miami, I once bought a basic rubber plant with a blue ceramic pot for US $75, and that was before inflation hit. To determine the current price difference, I looked at the cost of a 12.5 to 17-inch white ceramic pot at Home Depot and a plant to fill it in a boutique plant shop in the Historic Center. Then I asked friends who currently live in New York City, Los Angeles and Toronto how much the same things cost in their cities.
In New York, a pot that size ranged from US $66 to $139. In Los Angeles, it went for anywhere from $66 to $148, while the same pot in Toronto cost from CAD $87.41 to $140. In Mexico City, it costs about 350 pesos (US $21).
As far as the plant itself, a 10-inch majesty palm ranges from US $21 to $60 in my friends’ cities. In Mexico City? It’ll cost you between 100 and 400 pesos (US $6-24) — if you’re quoted 400 pesos, go somewhere else!
From teaching to partaking, exercise has always been a huge part of my life. Even though I’ve always known the importance of body work to counterbalance things like weight lifting and high intensity cardio, I’ve never been able to justify the cost.
In the United States, a one-hour private massage — and let’s be real, who wants to sign up for one measly hour? — hovered around US $150, and fancier spas could charge as much as $300. In Toronto, expect to pay at least CAD $130 for a 60-minute massage.
I don’t even have to consider the cost of a 60-minute massage in Mexico City. I immediately seek out pricing for a 90-minute deep tissue, and with a freelance masseuse you can expect prices between 900 and 1,300 pesos (US $54-78).
Creative classes
Unleash your inner Frida with art classes – or, well, classes in just about anything really. (Elena Mozhvilo/Unsplash)
I had always wanted to take painting classes. In Miami it just wasn’t a possibility — not only was the cost high, but I simply didn’t have the time. It felt like maintaining an average lifestyle in the U.S. impeded pursuing any hobbies.
Here in Mexico, I have the time and the extra money, and let me tell you, it’s one of my favorite activities.
If painting isn’t for you, consider lessons in:
Singing – Check out institutions like School of Rock or local music institutes for group or private lessons.
Dancing – Your local dance academy will likely offer classes, as will meetups in city parks like Parque México in CDMX. If you’re a member of a fitness class app like Fitpass, see what dance classes are listed.
Sketching – Art institutions, museums, and even local art galleries often host weekly or monthly sketch classes that are open to the public.
Ceramics – Ceramics shops and museums regularly host pottery classes. Try Airbnb experiences for one-day workshops.
Cooking – A great way to find cooking classes is through travel operators, like Airbnb or Tripadvisor. Culinary classes can be booked at hotels like Mesones Sacristia in Puebla or in official cooking schools like Marilau’s Cooking School in San Miguel de Allende.
Languages – Nearly every city and town in Mexico offers Spanish lessons, either through private schools or universities. Online classes are available on apps like iTalki and Preply. Private lessons are affordable and can be conducted online or in person with recommended instructors like my teacher, Pao Arley based in Mexico City. If you’ve already mastered Spanish and would like to brush up for your upcoming trip to Japan, expat foundations like Fundación Japón México host free language lessons.
Martial arts – Apps such as Fitpass and Gympass offer a host of martial arts classes, as will your local gym. If not, ask any of the trainers to guide you in the right direction. Look into foundations or expat groups from Brazil or Korea that may offer workshops.
I could go on and on. The point is, if you have an interest in something and never had the chance to pursue it, now is the time!
For private painting lessons, I pay 600 pesos (US $35) for two hours. Group classes cost me 1,800 pesos (US $108) per month which includes one three-hour class per week. Prices will differ depending on the activity, but I’m confident it’s more affordable than anything you’re used to in Canada or the U.S.
Personal fitness trainers
Speaking of personal, this one is personal to me. I taught yoga in Miami Beach for 10 years and charged anywhere from US $100 to $150 for a private, at-home, hour-and-a-half lesson.
I knew personal fitness trainers who charged upwards of US $200 per hour, even for repeat clients!
Personal training in Mexico City runs between 200 and 600 pesos (US $11-35), depending on the experience of the instructor and the location of the session. For private yoga classes, you’re looking at between 850 and 1,000 pesos (US $50-60) for an hour.
Fitness instructors are a fraction of the price of the U.S. – and every bit as effective. (Bruce Mars/Unsplash)
Alternative medicine treatments
I’m all about natural healing — give me all the herbs and all the reiki. Despite that, I never tried acupuncture until I moved to Mexico. I couldn’t afford it.
Consultations in New York and Los Angeles range from US $75 to $300, with subsequent sessions of 30 minutes running anywhere from $50 to $150. In Toronto, the consultation fee is CAD $150 and follow-up sessions are CAD $80. Since acupuncture is not a one-time experience, you’re looking at a minimum spend of US $275 or CAD $470.
In Mexico City, a consultation costs 600 pesos (US $35) with follow up sessions ranging from 400 to 550 pesos (US $24-32), or a minimum of 2,200 pesos (US $130) for a consultation and five 30-minute sessions.
Dental work
I don’t even want to tell you how long it had been since I’d seen a dentist before moving to Mexico for the sheer fact that a simple cleaning in the U.S. was hundreds of dollars before the upsell — and, in my experience, there was always an upsell.
A routine dental cleaning in New York or Los Angeles can run between US $127 and $150 when paying out of pocket. You might be thinking “no way, it’s double that,” but keep in mind that this is the lightest cleaning available. Deep cleanings can exceed US $1,200. In Toronto, dental cleanings start at CAD $200.
A cleaning in Mexico City ranges between 450 to 900 (US $26-54) pesos with a reputable, highly-rated clinic.
A good dentist is significantly cheaper than in the U.S. or Canada, even if you require treatments. (Caroline LM/Unsplash)
Housekeeping
What you pay domestic workers can be a contentious topic. I suggest keeping the rate to yourself or within the boundaries of a trusted group of friends.
Cleaning services in Miami weren’t outrageous by U.S. standards, but they weren’t cheap either. Pre-pandemic, I paid US $100 for a four-hour cleaning in a one-bedroom apartment. According to personal and internet sources, prices in New York and Los Angeles run from about US $200 to $300 for the same service.
In Mexico City, a four-hour cleaning for a one-bedroom apartment, which might also include cooking and laundry, falls somewhere between 300 and 600 pesos (US $17-35). Pro tip: always let the cleaner set the rate.
Concerned about contributing to prices rising? To avoid this as best you can, speak candidly with Mexican friends about what they pay for certain services. Not everyone will be willing to talk about pricing, but most will be happy to guide you in the right direction so you don’t overpay or push prices higher.
Remember: you moved here to enjoy life more. Things that were out of reach in your previous country don’t carry a hefty price tag here, so if what you want is better biceps or whiter teeth, rejoice in the fact that you can now have it.
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 Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.
Every year on March 8, the women of Mexico take to the streets in protest against rampant gender violence in the country. (Victoria Razo/Cuartoscuro)
On March 9, 2020, women all over Mexico did not go to work, stayed home, made no purchases and urged all their female friends and family to do the same. This strike, referred to as “Un Día Sin Nosotras” (A Day Without Us), was organized in response to the rise in femicide rates in 2019, a year that saw between 10 and 15 women killed in gender-based hate crimes every day.
International Women’s Day, celebrated a day earlier, was marked by extra fervor that year: the march in Mexico City gathered over 80,000 people and lasted around 8 hours. There was collective anger in the air, targeted specifically at authorities’ lack of action concerning justice for victims of femicide.
March 8 has become a symbol of resistance and protest for women in a culture where they are often victimized. (Ángel Hernández/Cuartoscuro)
For Latin American feminists, International Women’s Day represents solidarity and resistance. It also goes by a shorter, simpler name: 8M, pronounced “ocho eme.” The month of March is all purple and green, and every day leading up to the 8th is a buzz of anticipation. The color purple has symbolized the feminist fight since the English suffragettes of the Women’s Social and Political Union used it in the 1900s, next to a green and white color scheme. In Latin America, green also represents the “marea verde” (green tide), a common name for the regional abortion-rights movement that originated in Argentina. In recent years, some feminists have added pink to signify solidarity with trans women.
In Mexico, the strike of 2020 had an economic impact of 30 million pesos (US $1.8 million), despite the fact that only 10% of women participated in it. However, the social and psychological impact it had on women of all socioeconomic levels in Mexico was unprecedented.
For many, especially those from more conservative and privileged backgrounds, the strike was hard to understand. For them, a day like International Women’s Day is considered a celebration, rather than a politicized event. Why should they stop going to work? How come they had to give their female employees the day off? Why are feminists so upset, so incendiary, and why are they graffitiing national monuments? For some, it seemed like the first time they confronted the harsh reality that women in underserved and underprivileged communities face every single day. Some started to understand why we don’t “celebrate” 8M. Whether they participated in the 2020 strike or not, many later joined the march the following year, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The feminist movement has quickly become one of the most active political forces in Mexico. This means that political parties, corporations and special interest groups have taken it upon themselves to try and represent it. This is an impossible feat, of course, since the only people who can truly represent a movement like feminism are those who have nothing to gain from it but a better world and a more just society.
Last year’s march saw more than 30,000 women turn out in the northern city of Monterrey alone. (Gabriela Pérez Montiel)
Putting political and corporate interests aside, the strike of 2020 and the four 8Ms that followed since have undoubtedly paved the way for more inclusive, cooperative and community-oriented relationships between women.
The Women’s Day marches of 2022 and 2023 in Mexico City had over 10,000 more attendees than the prior years, close to 90,000 people. Ateneas — female officers of the Mexico City police deployed at protests in the capital — wore purple vests instead of blue to honor the cause of the march. This March marks another year where women and allies will unite to form organized marching blocs to protest safely together. Social media is filled with listings for different marches, events and other opportunities allowing women and their allies to get together throughout the week, and the days after International Women’s Day.
Additionally, there has been an important material change in Mexico: for the first time ever, half of all federal ministries are governed by women, according to the Mexico City-based think tank IMCO. Moreover, the fact that both presidential candidates in the upcoming elections are women is undeniably linked to the efforts made by the feminist movement to shine the spotlight on women.
Of course, the idea that having more women in positions of power immediately equals full parity is an illusion. As much as these appointments represent meaningful progress, they still have to deal with the wage gap, gender-based discrimination and unequal working conditions.
For the past five years in Mexico, however, women have been striving for the same thing: and end to femicide and the end to impunity for men who kill women. The difference between 2020 and today is that more and more women are seeing the positive ramifications of fighting for justice in the purest form of the phrase. If the strike was organized today, I’m convinced of a couple of things. Firstly, the percentage of Mexican women participating would be much higher than the 10 percent seen in 2020, and secondly the politicians and corporations using gender equality as a marketing tool would start to consider it a real and necessary value.
Montserrat Castro Gómez is a freelance writer and translator from Querétaro, México.
The best memes of the week are here to make you laugh.
What are the funniest memes making the rounds in Mexico? Honestly, we don’t know.
But hey – we do have some good ones!
So welcome, one and all, to this week’s installment of “What Does It Meme?”, Mexico News Daily’s bimonthly collection of humorous memes in Spanish, complete with Spanish to English translations and explanations.
So take a load off, learn some Spanish, and have a good laugh!
Meme Translation:“Alexa, whistle at the corn guy.”
What does it meme? Most of us are now familiar with Alexa, the smart home AI assistant. She’s starting to catch on (albeit slowly) in some Mexican homes, too!
Alas, there are some things Alexa can’t do, like stick her head out the front door and whistle to get someone’s attention.
That’s too bad, because the elote guy’s attention is something you want. If you don’t make it out of your house on time, he might just pass you by! Who is “al de los elotes”? He’s a guy who pushes around a cart of delicious corn on the cob (usually steamed), as well as kernelled corn for cups (in that presentation it’s called “esquite.”) An “elote” is corn on the cob with all the fixings, which in Mexico includes mayonnaise, lime, cheese, and picante (powdered spice; you can also ask for “el que no pica” – the one that’s not as spicy). Until Alexa grows legs, flagging down the elotes is up to you!
Meme Translation:“When I’m old I’m going to be super cool, not some bitter old man.” “Me, old: ‘Assholes.’” (“Al chile,” the symbol in the upper corner, means something like “for real” or “seriously”, by the way…don’t ask me what it’s doing there).
What does it meme? My partner sent me this one after an extended laugh; he’s not yet 40, but has often said he already feels like an old man in a young person’s body.
I’ve got to admit, I sympathize with the dude in the meme…my goodness is it easy to get frustrated with random people, especially when they’re driving terribly! I’m working on relaxing my face from a permanent scowl when I’m on the road, but only Botox could hide it at this point, I fear.
Meme Translation: “Humans around a campfire…it’s cold and I’m starving, I could ask for something to eat. What’s the worst that could happen?” “10,000 years later”
What does it meme? This is one of my favorite memes, like, ever; I’ve seen it in English as well (lots of memes actually get translated and republished these days, which to me is the internet working the way it’s supposed to: spreading good laughs). The pictures might change, but there’s always a wolf on top and an assortment of derpy-looking dogs on the bottom.
I think of it every time the temperature dips below 70 degrees Fahrenheit and all the dogs in my neighborhood are immediately outfitted with sweaters. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!
Meme Translation:“Lesbian: a woman who likes another woman.” “Gay: a man who likes another man.” “Puto: the one who’s reading this.”
What does it meme? Well, we’ve got to have at least one kind of offensive meme in the stack! The last line is a very old joke, similar to the “For a good time, call…” messages seen on US bathroom walls for decades. “Puto” is a derogatory term used for gay men, which is why I didn’t translate it to that above; it also connotes prostitution (“puta,” its female equivalent, means “whore”).
I don’t recommend that anyone use either of those words to insult someone, but I am proud to have introduced you to one of Mexico’s oldest vulgar jokes. You’re welcome!
Meme Translation: 🎶 “My first jooooob…” 🎶
What does it meme? Now let’s swim back up through the decades to arrive at a much more recent meme, usually shown in video fmemeorm; here’s a compilation of typical examples.
Here’s how it goes: there’s a kind of silly song called “Mi Primera Chamba” (My First Job), and it’s always set to videos of people failing spectacularly and hilariously at their jobs.
Cynicism about humanity and the state of the world right now seems to know no bounds, so God creating humans (unfortunately) seems to fit the genre just fine.
Meme Translation:“Good herb – yerba buena.” “The band – lavanda.”
What does it meme? In Mexico, we like to play around with terrible translations as much as anyone, and they can be extra funny when they’re literal.
“Yerba buena” is the Spanish name for the spearmint plant, which I find adorable – the person who named it must have either really liked it, or just not known much about botany (“yerba mala,” for the record, is what they call weeds). But “good herb” is indeed the literal translation and a good example of why you shouldn’t trust literal translations.
“Lavanda” is the word for lavender; “la banda” (pronounced the same, as there’s hardly a distinction in the way “v” and “b” are pronounced here) is a kind of funny and super casual way to say “the guys” or “the group,” in addition to, of course, an actual band…people even sometimes kind of narrow their eyes and slow their speech to say it, doing their best imitation of a hippie high on pot.
Meme Translation:“Tlaloc likes it when you offer your recently washed clothes to him in sacrifice.”
What does it meme? When it comes to hanging your laundry out to dry around here, Murphy’s Law seems to kick in every time. There might not be a cloud in the sky when you hang it, then an hour later, boom: it’s drizzling and the sky is threatening more.
But here’s a more fun way to look at it: a sacrifice to the old Aztec god Tlaloc, god of rain! Hopefully, all those freshly washed clothes please him and he’ll bless us by warding off drought and water shortages. Keep those sacrifices coming, people!
The frogs were found in Nezahualcóyotl, near Mexico City. (FGJ Edomex)
It was a ribbiting and infuriating heist, but one that fortunately has a hoppy ending.
Acapulco’s famous “mariachi frogs” withstood Hurricane Otis last October, but they were no match for opportunistic thieves who pilfered them from their natural habitat.
But the emblematic mascots of the Señor Frog’s chain of restaurants should be on their way back to the Pacific coast resort city soon as they were found by police hundreds of kilometers inland in México state.
The México state Attorney General’s Office (FGJ) announced Friday that two “frog figures” that were allegedly stolen from the Señor Frog’s restaurant in Acapulco were located at a property in Nezahualcóyotl, a municipality that borders Mexico City.
Police also found “presumed narcotics” at the same property — marijuana and a bag filled with blue pills.
In a statement posted to the X social media platform, the FGJ also announced that the owner of the property, Manuel “N,” was arrested on extortion charges. He is allegedly the leader of a group that calls itself Resistencia Civil Pacífica, or Pacific Civic Resistance.
Manuel “N,” owner of the property where the contraband frogs were found, was taken into custody by state police. (FGJ Edomex)
Two dozen members of the same group were arrested in Nezahualcóyotl earlier this week on charges including the possession of illegal firearms.
So why did Manuel have two “ranas mariachi” at his home? Is he a massive Señor Frog’s fan? Did he hope to sell them? Did he like to get high on drugs in their presence?
Unfortunately, the FGJ didn’t provide any answers. What we do know is that the two frogs disappeared from Acapulco shortly after Hurricane Otis made landfall in the resort city on Oct. 25.
Residents were initially surprised that the frogs hadn’t toppled over in the strong winds that accompanied the Category 5 hurricane. But their surprise turned to anger when they became aware that the hurricane survivors had been stolen — frognapped, if you will.
Video footage shows the frogs in the back of a green and white pickup truck being driven by one young man in the company of another young man. They apparently stole the smartly-dressed frogs at a time when law and order was minimal at best in the wake of the battering Otis unleashed on Acapulco. Widespread looting was reported in the days after the hurricane devastated the city.
Señor Frog’s confirmed the theft in a statement, announcing with “great sadness” that the frogs “were unfortunately taken without our permission.”
“We are sure that they will soon return to be part of this beautiful tourism destination, because Acapulco will come back stronger,” the chain said.
Those words appear to have been prescient, as the ranas mariachi should be back having a croaking good time on the Guerrero coast soon, making for a very hoppy ending indeed — especially considering the amount of beer that flows inside the frogs’ namesake restaurant.
