While Temzcals are often spiritual experiences, the Goddess Ixchel is celebrated by one special site on Cozumel. (Photos by Bel Woodhouse)
I’ve done a fewtemazcal — traditional Mexican sweat cleansing ceremonies — in different locations in Mexico, but the one I attended in Cozumel was by far the best. I was invited to take part in a special ceremony to enjoy a temazcal with Ixchel, a Mayan goddess.
When you travel through southern Mexico and the Yucatán, you will encounter the beautiful Mayan culture all around you. Vibrant street murals depict Mayan warriors, gods, and goddesses. Smiling locals wear t-shirts adorned with Mayan deities. They are proud of their heritage.
The islands of Isla Mujeres and Cozumel are both tied to Ixchel. As the Mayan goddess of fertility, healing, childbirth, and medicine, she’s a part of everyday life.
Who is Ixchel?
Ixchel mural on Cozumel with the arch to her temple in San Gervasio ruins in the background.
On Cozumel, I had a life-changing experience. I connected with the goddess in a temazcal. We were the only foreigners. My friend and I joined Mexican and Mayan women at Pueblo del Maiz. It was a special temazcal honoring the goddess Ixchel.
What’s a Temazcal?
A traditional temazcal. (Oleg Anisimov/Shutterstock)
Not to be confused with mezcal, the delicious drink, a temazcal is a sweat lodge. A small stone structure where people place hot rocks in a pit in the middle. Herbed water is then splashed onto the rocks to produce steam. It feels like aromatherapy in a sauna.
Mesoamerican people have been using Temazcals since pre-Hispanic times. The ceremonies are an integral part of Mexico’s history and tradition. These temazcal ceremonies are used for holistic health. They promote wellness of the mind, body, and soul.
Greeting from Ixchel
A long, powerful conch call sent shivers down my spine. Goosebumps broke out, making the hair on my arms and neck stand up. It’s exactly how I imagined it would feel to be in the presence of a deity.
Our guide was dressed as a Mayan warrior. He calmly smiled and greeted us. Then, he led us through lush gardens to a statue of Ixchel. Here, we make offerings and cleanse ourselves in the hearty smoke of copal incense.
I stepped forward, placed my offering — some white maize kernels — into a bowl on the altar, and sprinkled copal into the chalice.
Plumes of thick white smoke billowed up. I cupped my hands and wafted the smoke over my face and head, purifying and cleansing my energy before the temazcal ceremony began.
The Shaman
Our shaman guide for the temazcal.
Following a jungle pathway, a clearing opened in front of us. Birds sang overhead, and a huge statue of Ixchel stood before us. Then I saw her. Our shaman was a heavily pregnant woman, holding a wooden staff adorned with a sea turtle skull and a flaming torch.
The fire ceremony
Outside the temazcal, a fire heated the rocks. Gathering around, each of us was given a local herb leaf. One by one, each woman stepped forward and told the group why she was there and what she hoped to gain from the temazcal. They all spoke from the heart.
Despite the multitude of reasons, one main thing stands out: love. I scrunched my leaf and gave thanks. I hurled it into the fire, along with my intentions for the temazcal.
The temazcal & the sweat
It was dark in the temazcal. Then the heated rocks started coming in. A chorus of “Bienvenidos abuelita” or “welcome grandmother” greeted every stone entering.” It was an ancestral connection to the earth. Things started to warm up and I felt the first prickles of sweat. Then someone closed the door.
It was as black as midnight on a moonless night. Then, woosh! A cloud of fragrant steam hit my face. A herbal tea splashed on the hot rocks, producing a welcome, homely smell. When the door opened the first time, it felt like it had been five minutes, not forty.
Sweat trickled down everywhere, sticky but not unpleasant. Things were about to get stickier.
Chocolate and honey scrub
A statue of the goddess Ixchel.
Ground cacao beans mixed with honey were passed around. Rubbing it all over my face, arms, and legs felt amazing. Best of all, it also smelt amazing. It was hard to resist licking it off before the honey and chocolate could do their detoxification work.
Using the last of the herbal tea to wash the honey and chocolate off at the end, I must say, my skin has never felt so soft. It was incredible. The best beauty treatment of my life from sitting in a sweaty temazcal.
Lastly, the bath
Stepping out into the cool jungle, a large container of cold water was dumped over us, completing the ceremony. It was refreshing. A new awakening. Plus, it was nice to wash away the sweat and stickiness of honey.
That completes the Baño de Ixchel temazcal and it’s hands down the best I’ve done so far.
Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with 500+ articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over 7 years now she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon.
ArcelorMittal's steel plant in Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán. (ArcelorMittal)
After a grueling 55-day strike, nearly 3,000 workers at ArcelorMittal Mexico resumed work at the company’s steel plant in Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, over the weekend.
An agreement brokered by the Labor and Social Welfare Ministry (STPS) led to the reactivation of the plant around midnight on Friday night, which is expected to positively impact related industries and the broader economy.
Workers from section 271 of the miners’ union had blocked the steel plant’s facilities since May 28, initially due to dissatisfaction with profit-sharing (PTU) payments.
ArcelorMittal, which is based in Luxembourg, operates six facilities in three Mexican ports and has a capacity of 6.5 million tonnes per year. It also runs three iron ore mines in Mexico: El Volcán in Sonora, Las Truchas in Michoacán and Peña Colorada in Colima, the latter through a joint venture with Ternium SA.
The agreement, reached on Thursday through STPS mediation in collaboration with the Federal Center for Conciliation and Labor Registration (CFCRL), mandates an 8% wage increase, grocery vouchers worth 17,000 pesos (US $949) and full compensation for lost wages.
Additionally, an external audit of the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years will be conducted to ensure the accuracy of PTU payments.
ArcelorMittal steelworkers on strike earlier this month in Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán.
ArcelorMittal and STPS both reported that the proposal to end the strike was approved by a majority of section 271 of the National Union of Mining, Metallurgical, Steel and Similar Workers of the Mexican Republic (SNTMMSRM) in Michoacán.
Even so, some members of the union opted to continue blocking the plant after the ratification vote, BNamericas reported.
“Regrettably, a group of dissidents has chosen to continue the illegal blockade with acts of violence, putting at risk the safety of those present and the population of the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas,” ArcelorMittal said in a statement.
The last-ditch blockade eventually ended, and once it was certain that health and safety conditions were in place, workers began preparing the furnaces and other equipment to restart operations.
Earlier this month, a federal labor judge declared the strike, after which the company announced it was already in the process of dismissing union workers for this reason.
ArcelorMittal estimated its losses in steel production to be 1 million tonnes: 800,000 tonnes during the stoppage and an expected loss of 200,000 more tonnes during the restart process.
“Order cancellations and loss of customers have been very significant,” the company said in a statement. “It will be difficult to recover the market.”
The agreement stipulates that the company will pay any outstanding balance in favor of workers within 20 business days following the completion of the audit.
In urging workers to reassess their demands during the strike, CEO Víctor Cairo emphasized that ArcelorMittal had adhered to legal provisions regarding PTU payments. He noted that expecting a 32% PTU payment was outside the law and that the company’s proposal of a 10% PTU payment exceeded current legislative limits.
Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla applauded the plant’s reactivation, noting that ArcelorMittal is a critical player in the state’s exports and the most important company in Lázaro Cárdenas, a port city of 84,000 people in western Michoacán.
The agreement also includes a commitment from ArcelorMittal to avoid any reprisals against workers and to halt proceedings aimed at ending individual and collective labor relations.
There are some questions that people love to ask over and over again: Here are some of the most frequent. (Lydia Carey/Instagram)
What do you think the most frequently asked questions about living in Mexico City are? I have been running food and history tours in the capital for about eight years now. Giving tours evolved organically from my writing about food and travel in the city and what used to be a one-off occasion has now become a business. We all think of ourselves as special butterflies, but in my years as a tour guide I’ve learned that human beings, or at least the ones who hire me — mostly U.S. citizens — are more alike than we think.
So I tend to get the same questions over and over and over again and if you are headed to Mexico City and wondering the same things, here are a few answers for you in advance.
What about the water?
The vast majority of the tap water in Mexico City is safe to drink, although most locals still buy bottled water. (Cuartoscuro)
This is by far the most constant question I hear on my tours: I would say 95% of people ask me about water in Mexico. Various questions are always folded into this one, but the most interesting to me is “Do you drink the tap water now that you’ve lived here for so long?” People from the United States seem to be terrified of the idea of not being able to drink tap water, and the fact that I could still be unable to do so after 16 years in the country makes them very upset.
Here are a few things to keep in mind about the water. First, according to the official statistics, 90% of Mexico City’s tap water is drinkable. See this map created using Mexico City Water System (Sacmex) statistics: all the areas in blue reportedly have potable tap water.
I just had my water tested at my apartment. The kitchen tap water was below all thresholds for harmful bacteria, though the bathroom tap water was slightly above. But hardly anyone in Mexico City drinks tap water if they can afford to buy it, a trend born of years of marketing from water bottling companies and fear stemming from real issues in the city’s water system during the 1985 earthquake which left generations of locals hesitant to drink from the tap.
The pipes are old, no doubt, and I’m sure there are plenty of heavy metals, but the water running into Mexico City taps is not toxic sludge and brushing your teeth with a little of it won’t make you instantly sick. Also, no restaurant in popular areas of Mexico City is going to serve you ice made from tap water, so please don’t embarrass yourself by asking. Now before you get on your tap-water-drinking high horse, remember that according to the CDC only about 50 countries worldwide out of 195 have drinkable tap water and even then it can be iffy.
Can I eat street food?
Streetfood is normally safe, delicious and an amazing way to connect with Mexican culture. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
The water question inevitably leads to questions about street food and other “will this make me sick” questions. This probably happens a little less on my tours than in other settings because almost all of my outings include food, so my clients are already a little more adventurous than your average traveler.
I tell people a resounding yes on street food! Eating on the street is such an important part of Mexico’s culture and it’s where the best food is. If you miss it you will miss out. You also have just as much of a chance of getting sick eating on the street as you do getting sick in a fancy restaurant as you do getting a cold: it’s all about averages.
I always like to remind people that generally when you’re traveling you’re eating several more times a day than you are accustomed to, eating new food and having spicy or rich foods that you don’t regularly try, so your stomach has lots of reasons to revolt. I usually get a tiny bit sick myself when I visit my hometown in Illinois — traveler’s belly is pretty normal.
Do you feel safe?
Personal safety in Mexico City is generally no worse than in any other major capital. (Wikimedia Commons)
I am not a Pollyanna about Mexico, I recognize that there are many dangerous places in the country. But do I feel safe in Mexico City? Absolutely. And do I think you should feel safe too? Absolutely.
This is a big city, so the same kind of things that could happen to you in New York or Chicago can happen to you here — except probably a random shooting, since owning a gun as a private citizen is rare.
I tell people to keep their wits about them, pay attention to their surroundings, and try to blend in, but don’t worry about being caught in the crosshairs of a narco battle. And when you see protests on the streets in Mexico City, it’s normal. This is the country’s capital and the seat of its government: the most appropriate place for people to come and march and protest. Demonstrations are not a sign of chaos but of citizens exercising their rights.
Should I take public transportation?
Public transport in Mexico is quite modern and easy. It’s also much safer than the rumors suggest. (SCT/Twitter)
People outside of Mexico hear all kinds of nasty things about public transportation in Mexico City, both from non-Mexicans and locals. While it is often crowded — and that might be reason enough for you to avoid it while you are here on vacation — it’s not the hellscape that many people describe. What’s more, most of them don’t ride public transportation regularly, or ever.
Public transportation is often the quickest way to get from point A to point B in a city with stop-and-go traffic almost everywhere. Millions of people ride Mexico City’s Metro and Metrobus routes every day and taking public transportation here is an incredible peek into the life of the city. But just like other kinds of safety issues, keep your wits about you, carry your phone in your front pocket and be aware of your surroundings: if you can get pickpocketed on the New York City subway you can get pickpocketed on ours.
Are your friends foreigners or Mexican?
I always find this question to be a strange one, though I suppose people are trying to imagine what life is like living in Mexico City, especially for a non-Mexican.
I usually explain that while in some smaller cities and towns, you have a much more united foreign community — in San Miguel de Allende or around Lake Chapala, for example — in Mexico City the community is more dispersed. Part of the reason for that is that immigrants here tend to skew younger: they come for work, they start families and they marry locals.
Non-nationals are also only 4% of the population, so in a city of over 20 million that’s a pretty tiny group. My friends are a mix of my paisanos from the United States, Brits, Colombians, Mexicans and a few other nationalities thrown in for good measure.
Do you ever think about moving home?
I am home! While I know plenty of foreigners come to Mexico for just a stint and then move back home, I’ve been living in Mexico for 16 years and no longer feel like going back to the U.S. is going home. I live here, I work here, my life is here. I love to go back and see family and friends, but that’s it.
What kind of visa do you need to live here?
Getting a visa is quite straightforward, with a range of non-working and working permits available to foreigners looking to settle in the country. (Shutterstock)
Visitors are always interested in my status in Mexico and how I attained it — I assume because they wonder how they would do it themselves if they wanted to. While I am a permanent resident, I got that residency several years ago and many things have changed in the system since then.
Currently, a temporary non-working visa is possible for various reasons, including having family members here or a stable income in your home country for the time you are in Mexico. To secure a temporary residency with permission to work, you have to have an offer of work and the company who is hiring you completes the visa process for you. Once you’ve had temporary residency for four consecutive years you can apply for permanent residency — which does not expire — and then for citizenship two years after that.
I’ve had a handful of people over the years nervously ask me if I’ll ever give up my U.S. citizenship and become a Mexican national. I have no idea why this idea is so terrifying to people, but just to allay fears, you don’t have to give up your U.S. citizenship to become a Mexican one: you can be a dual citizen of both countries at the same time.
What do Mexicans think about…?
What do Mexicans think about the president? It depends on the Mexican, of course. (lopezobrador.org.mx)
What do Mexicans think about their president? What do Mexicans think about our president? What do Mexicans think about foreigners? What do Mexicans think about narco violence?
I realize that I am a point of contact for many people, especially people who speak English, and so I try to answer these questions as best I can based on my conversations with Mexican friends, colleagues and other folks I’ve interviewed for articles, but I am not the person to give you a definitive answer on what Mexicans think about anything.
Those things you have to ask Mexicans yourself, and they, like every society in the world, are not a monolithic group. That would be like asking what people in the U.S. think about Trump, and we all know that depends very much on who you are talking to. So go ahead and ask a Mexican yourself! If the language barrier is stopping you, it’s just another excellent reason to learn Spanish.
Lydia Carey is a freelance writer and translator based out of Mexico City. She has been published widely both online and in print, writing about Mexico for over a decade. She lives a double life as a local tour guide and is the author of Mexico City Streets: La Roma. Follow her urban adventures on Instagram and see more of her work at www.mexicocitystreets.com.
The Finance Ministry, led by Rogelio Ramírez de la O, said Moody's analysis is lacking key information related to Mexico's 2025 fiscal plans. (Presidencia)
Mexico needs to review its trade relationship with China because it isn’t “reciprocal,” Finance Minister Rogelio Ramírez de la O said Saturday after pointing out that Mexico’s imports from China far exceed its exports to the East Asian nation.
President López Obrador met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time last year, as global economic dynamics increasingly test the countries’ trade relationship. (Andrés Manuel López Obrador/X)
“In 2021, President López Obrador … asked me to develop what he called Plan Mexico. This is a plan to create awareness that Mexico, like North America [as a whole], needs to produce more than it consumes, that we’re depending too much on basic products from China for our homes,” he said.
“… Mexico has to carry out its own review because … we buy US $119 billion [worth of products] per year from China and we sell $11 billion [worth of goods] to China. China sells to us but doesn’t buy from us and that’s not reciprocal trade,” said Ramírez, who will stay on as finance minister after Sheinbaum is sworn in as president on Oct. 1.
The finance minister said that Mexico has “great opportunities to produce more” and by doing so will “maintain our industry, our jobs and our salaries.”
Previous advantages of manufacturing in China, such as low labor costs, have “disappeared,” Ramírez said, adding that shipping costs from the Asian nation to North America “have exploded upward.”
A growing trade deficit with China
Data from China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) shows that Mexico’s trade deficit with the East Asian economic powerhouse has more than doubled between 2018 and 2023.
The data — which differs from the figures cited by Ramírez — shows that Mexico imported goods from China worth a record high $81.5 billion last year. Mexico exported products to China worth $18.8 billion in 2023, leaving it with a record high trade deficit of $62.7 billion.
Mexico’s trade deficit with China was just under $30.1 billion in 2018, according to the GAC.
Car models on display at Chinese vehicle manufacturer BYD’s Mexico City showroom. (BYD Global/X)
China’s exports to Mexico — among which are raw materials, capital goods, consumer products and cars — increased 85% between 2018 and 2023, and 152% between 2014 and 2023.
In contrast, Mexico’s exports to China only increased by 33% over the past five years and 68% over the last ten.
Ramírez said Saturday that China’s share of the global market for exports has increased to 14% from 3.8% in 2001, the year it became a member of the World Trade Organization.
“This increase was to a large extent at the cost of North America,” he said.
“The North American participation [in the global export market] … declined from 19% in 2000 to 13% in 2022,” Ramírez said, referring to Mexican, U.S. and Canadian exports.
Products on sale in Mexico City’s “barrio chino” or Chinatown, ahead of Chinese New Year. (Cuartoscuro)
“The United States depends on China for 16.5% of its total imports, Canada depends [on China] for 13.5% and Mexico depends on China for 19.6% of its total imports,” Ramírez said.
“This is a situation that has led to a feeling [that there is a need] to further protect our industries, and this sentiment has grown both in the United States and in Mexico,” he said.
Ramírez also noted that China’s share of global GDP has increased significantly over the past two decades while North America’s share has decreased.
“It’s logical that both Americans and Mexicans are demanding our fair share of this global demand [for exports], and that’s why we have Plan Mexico,” he said.
Will Mexico increase tariffs on Chinese imports?
Ramírez didn’t make any specific announcement about a plan to increase tariffs on Chinese goods, but he did say that officials were “busy doing our job to bring industry back.”
One way to help Mexican industry would be to make their products more competitive by imposing higher tariffs on Chinese imports.
In an interview with Mexico News Daily in June, former Mexican ambassador to China Jorge Guajardo said that imposing higher tariffs on Chinese imports to protect Mexican industry was a pressing and important task for the incoming government.
In April, the current government implemented new tariffs that impacted more than 500 Chinese products, but Guajardo told MND that Mexico needs to do more to “help Mexican industry withstand this tsunami of Chinese imports” — and quickly.
A Hong Kong ship waits to unload Asian goods in Mexico. (SSA México)
The former ambassador said that “ideally,” Mexico, the United States and Canada would all “mirror each other’s tariffs” on Chinese products.
In May, the United States announced that its tariff rate on Chinese electric vehicles would increase to 100% from 25%.
A change of investment policy on the horizon for Mexico?
President López Obrador said in March that Chinese investment in Mexico “will continue.”
However, while speaking about Mexico’s relationship with China on Saturday, Ramírez said that the government is “considering” changing its investment policy. Without providing specific details, he suggested that Mexico could seek to prevent or limit Chinese investment in some sectors.
The plan appeared to be motivated to a large degree by a desire to stop problematic Chinese investment in Mexico, although United States Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen said at the time that her investment screening talks with Ramírez were “not just China-focused.”
A major reason why Mexico attracts Chinese companies is that it allows them to ship their products to the United States tariff-free. Mexico has consequently been described as a “backdoor” to the U.S.
Sheinbaum — who will become Mexico’s first female president when she takes office on Oct. 1 — said earlier this month that her governments’ aim will not just be to attract investment, but to ensure that money flowing into Mexico leads to development across the country and generates “well-being” for all Mexican people.
Quintana Roo’s sargassum monitoring agency announced it expects a sargassum-free summer. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
Quintana Roo’s sargassum monitoring agency forecasts that the remainder of the year will be sargassum-free, boosting the state’s economic outlook and pleasing the tourists who flock to the state’s beaches.
Esteban Jesús Amaro, a hydrobiologist and director of the agency, said favorable marine currents suggest a course that will exempt Mexican Caribbean beaches from the unsightly seaweed infestations that have troubled the tourism industry for more than a decade.
The sargassum forecast for Mexico is good news for Quintana Roo beachgoers. (Arkadij Schnell/Shutterstock)
Amaro said Hurricane Beryl was responsible for dumping the most recent sargassum landfall but that was likely the last of it. His team’s forecast is based on studies of satellite images of the Caribbean and its prevailing currents.
“The masses of sargassum that were on a path toward [Mexico] have been dispersed to the north and are headed into the Greater and Lesser Antilles and in the direction of the Dominican Republic,” he said. Trade winds have also shifted, further redirecting the biomass away from Mexico’s southeast coast.
“We might go six or seven months without sargassum [landing on Quintana Roo’s beaches], perhaps not until February,” Amaro said.
Climate change is also a contributing factor affecting the sargassum forecast, Amaro told the newspaper La Jornada Maya. Ocean temperatures have significantly altered marine dynamics such that unexpected patterns can develop quickly.
Should sargassum be seen as an economic opportunity for Quintana Roo?
And there was plenty to track. The Quintana Roo monitoring agency reported 190,865 tonnes of sargassum in the Atlantic, 70,000 tonnes in the eastern Caribbean and 1,318 tonnes in the Mexican Caribbean. Even so, this amount was considerably less than last summer, according to Amaro.
The vessel Jorge Carranza Fraser spent the first part of the year tracking clumps of the seaweed from its origin near Africa to Mexico’s shores. (@ASIPONA_Man/X)
The state-of-the-art ship is hoping to transform sargassum from an eyesore that must be removed into an economic opportunity. Research suggests sargassum can be used to produce biogas that can generate electricity and biofertilizers; other studies indicate the algae might have industrial applications.
Beginning in 2011, huge quantities of sargassum began to pile up on Caribbean coastlines, including the Yucatan Peninsula. The brown slimy mess is an economic and ecological problem, affecting tourists who prefer a clean coastline while also disrupting marine and coastal ecosystems.
Researchers propose collecting the sargassum out in the middle of the sea while it is still alive to better study its qualities. Scientists admit that early findings are positive but effective application of the strategy could take years, especially since the impact of large-scale sargassum collection on local ecosystems remains unknown.
The new Kaizen plant, inaugurated on July 15, will create 400 jobs. (Siemens)
German technology conglomerate Siemens inaugurated a new plant in Querétaro last week that the company says will enhance its ability to provide energy distribution solutions in Mexico and North America.
Siemens will invest 940 million pesos (US $52.4 million) over five years with the aim of strengthening its position in the medium and low-voltage energy market, while also contributing to economic development and job creation in the region.
The Querétaro government and Siemens have agreed to collaborate on supply chain decarbonization through the SiGREEN platform. (@makugo/X)
At the inauguration, Alejandro Preinfalk, CEO of Siemens Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, said the Kaizen plant is “not only an operational expansion, but also a step toward a more sustainable future.”
“The inauguration of Kaizen underlines the agreement … to reduce carbon emissions through the implementation of Siemens’ SiGREEN technology,” Preinfalk said.
SiGREEN is a Siemens platform that helps manage product-level emissions, known as a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF). PCF measures in carbon dioxide equivalents the total greenhouse gas emissions generated by a product, from extraction of raw materials to end-of-life.
Siemens and the Querétaro government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoA) that aims to accelerate supply chain decarbonization through the SiGREEN platform and slash greenhouse gas emissions across Queréetaro’s business landscape.
Siemens recently celebrated 130 years of operations in Mexico. (@mdelprete/X)
Preinfalk praised the collaboration as a win for Mexico’s industrial ecosystem and sustainability goals. “This solution enables precise carbon footprint tracking based on industry standards, enhancing supply chain transparency. It also enables companies to share emissions data, facilitating assessment and implementation of measures such as renewable energy adoption, resource efficiency and transport optimization,” Preinfalk said.
A day after the inauguration, Marco del Prete, head of Querétaro’s Sustainable Development Ministry, spoke about emissions reduction and industrial sustainability initiatives at an event celebrating Siemens’ 130 years of operations in Mexico.
“We are continuing to analyze the benefits of the SiGREEN platform to continue with the decarbonization of the industry in the state … [the platform] tracks the carbon footprint of products that arrive or are produced in Querétaro,” del Prete said.
Milton Morales Figueroa was head of the Mexico City strategy, tactics and special operations unit of the Mexico City Security Ministry (SSC).
A Mexico City security official who was set to take up a position in the federal Security Ministry was shot and murdered while shopping in México state on Sunday.
Milton Morales Figueroa, head of the Mexico City strategy, tactics and special operations unit of the Mexico City Security Ministry (SSC), was murdered outside a chicken shop in Coacalco, a municipality just north of Mexico City.
The murder of Milton Morales occurred at midday outside of a chicken shop in Coacalco, México state. (@gizelaglp/X)
He worked alongside former Mexico City Security Minister Omar García Harfuch, who was wounded in a 2020 attack allegedly perpetrated by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
According to a report by the newspaper Reforma, Morales would have become a member of García’s team once García assumes the position of security minister in the incoming federal administration to be led by Claudia Sheinbaum, who will be sworn in as president on Oct. 1.
García acknowledged Morales’ death in a post on social media.
“Rest in peace our friend and colleague Milton — an extremely generous man, an extraordinary investigator, a great Mexican and above all a great friend,” he wrote on X.
García pledged that authorities will hold those responsible for the murder to account, “as we have always done,” he wrote.
Elementos del Ejército resguardan el sitio donde fue asesinado Milton Morales Figueroa, coordinador general de la Unidad de Estrategia Táctica y Operaciones Especiales de la Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana de la Ciudad de México, en el municipio de Coacalco, Estado de México.… pic.twitter.com/4XJQKbemt2
A lone gunman shot Morales in the head before fleeing, according to an SSC statement. He was also shot in the back, according to a police report cited by the newspaper El Universal. He had no vital signs when paramedics reached the scene, the SSC said.
Morales, who lived nearby, was with his sister-in-law and a 77-year-old man at the time of the attack, according to reports. The elderly man was shot in the leg and taken to hospital for treatment.
Security camera footage showed that the aggressor was wearing a green sweater, grey pants and a cap. He was in one of at least two cars that were following Morales’ vehicle before his murder, police sources told El Universal.
Mexico City Security Minister Pablo Vázquez Camacho called the attack “cowardly.”
“In this case, as in other cases we deal with at the SSC, there will be no impunity,” he wrote on X.
“We will work in coordination with the México state Attorney General’s Office and the México state Security Ministry to identify and detain the culprits and bring them to justice,” Vázquez said.
Quintana Roo is Mexico’s tourism powerhouse and maybe the most successful vacation development story in the Americas. Today, half of Mexico’s 40 million “overnight” visitors land in Quintana Roo. And for good reason, but does that necessarily mean you’ll be happy living here?
Quintana Roo is Mexico’s tourism capital – and while it might not be for everyone, it offers an almost unparalleled level of convenience to those who choose to make their home there. (Wikimedia)
As a state, Quintana Roo was only formed in 1974; it wasn’t even a Mexican “territory” until 1902. It was scantily populated and more a string of coconut palm plantations and isolated fishing villages than a coherent development. Today, the entire 500 kilometer long Caribbean coast has long been taken over, sliced up, and plotted for some form of actual (or future) tourism or residential development. The only exception to this is the magnificent Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. The southern cruise port town of Mahahual, the Maya Train, and the new international airport in Tulum ensure that the push south will march on until Mexico runs out of land at the Belize border.
Now home to two million residents and a tourism economy so famous it has eclipsed vacationer interest in going anywhere else in the Caribbean, Quintana Roo just might be your new beach living paradise. We’ve rated seven places where foreigners are flocking to experience a form of Mexico living quite unlike anywhere else in the country.
In Quintana Roo, it is important to be mindful of how the global tourism economy has been calling the shots here for the past four decades (and much more so than the Mexican government). This has undeniably caused environmental impacts but also investment, higher living standards, and generational socio-economic opportunities for hundreds of thousands of your new Mexican neighbors. Bravo for that.
But you can sometimes feel a detached “along for the ride” living experience. This is certainly true in Cancún and Playa del Carmen, where foreign-owned resort after resort has a free hand in plowing ahead (literally) in response to unquenched demand for bigger and bigger all-inclusive, walled enclaves for the world’s vacationers. You’ll have to turn inland in the state’s southern region (or an island) to find anything resembling genuine cultural authenticity.
You’ll need to get comfortable with the idea of living where others come to party and do vacation things. The cost of living (housing, food, energy, entertainment) is higher here. Across a tortilla flat landscape of Caribbean, Mayan, and modern Mexican influences, Quintana Roo has more beach community living choices than in any other Mexican state. If you want luxury, convenience, and the comforts of home, it’s hard to argue that anywhere else in Mexico is better for you.
When it comes to weather, this is Hurricane Alley, with 51 inches of annual rain and a daily mean temperature that approaches 80 degrees. April and August are the two hottest months and air-conditioned living prevails statewide. Cooling Caribbean breeze helps, but the heat and humidity should be taken into account when deciding whether to live here.
Cancún
The beaches of Cancún are world famous for good reason. (Shutterstock)
Cancún and Playa del Carmen earn higher scores (see chart), assuming living in an urban resort is your thing. Cancún (population around one million) has two physical spaces: the mainland city and the number “7-shaped” island resort (home to over 32,000 hotel rooms and surprisingly few residential living options). You’ll more likely be making your home on the mainland, in gated residential communities, a high-rise condo tower, or a private home in Cancún’s sprawl. Air connectivity to get you back home or away (Europe or South America, anyone?) is unsurpassed, with better connectivity to many European cities than even the capital.
What’s not always easy is connecting with fellow foreigners (reflected in Cancún’s low “Community” and “Culture” scores). Cancún’s civil society has been more focused on tourism careers than cultural institutions or creating communal bonds that you would expect to find in cities of comparable size and prosperity.
Puerto Morelos
Puerto Morelos offers a taste of the old Quintana Roo, retaining much of its previous fishing village charm. (Playa del Carmen)
Puerto Morelos may be a better shot at a more intention-focused full-time living experience for some. It’s got a fishing town vibe and under 30,000 residents. Hemmed in by mangroves that confine inland sprawl, you can live along the narrow beach-facing corridor for a truly scenic, small-town experience or across the main highway in the “city.” Puerto affords local mobility with a Maya Train station (while Cancún City is 42 km north), a semblance of less urban living, and (mostly) avoids the daily hoards that can overwhelm other Riviera Maya locations.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen’s legendary 5th Avenue, home to the hustle and bustle of the thriving town. (Top Adventure)
Playa del Carmen (population exceeding 300,000, if anyone is counting) has a different vibe and more pockets of genuine connections between folks from around the world and their Mexican neighbors. Since almost no one can make every day a “beach day,” you’ll find ways to learn Spanish (or maybe even Mayan), volunteer, recreate, and move about the Mexican Caribbean with so much above (and below) ground natural wonderment, found in nearby Isla Cozumel, mainland forests, jungle savanna, mangroves, cenotes, reefs, and eco-parks.
The small business scene has flourishing expat run enterprises, Mexicans from across the country, superb dining options, bars, mega-shopping options, and of course, hordes of day visitors who have made Playa’s La Quinta Avenida and nearby ferry pier a 24/7 beehive of commercialism.
Party animals will also appreciate the vibrant nightlife on offer throughout the city, second only to nearby Cancún.
Isla Cozumel and the Quintana Roo islands
The beautiful beaches and calm seas of Cozumel are just a small part of the reason it is so popular with expats. (Fernando Jorge/Unsplash)
Ah, Isla Cozumel, so close to being a true confluence of the best of Mexico, the Mundo Maya, and the Caribbean. It sits just 30 minutes offshore by ferry and is home to a mere 88,000 souls. But alas, it’s one of the world’s most visited cruise ports of call, and staying clear of the invasion is harder and harder. Mega-vessel dockings are daily and can average over 50,000 weekly visitors. Still, finding quiet spaces in the morning and early evenings might be enough compensation. The island’s west-facing beaches (clear of the seaweed that takes over QR during part of the year) are truly idyllic; it’s where those Corona beer commercials used to be filmed. Cozumel is a very friendly place that keeps its rhythm alongside Mayan, familial cultural connections with the mainland.
Two other islands draw the attention of the “gotta-have-a-beach” transplants. Of course, there’s Isla Mujeres, forever lingering on the horizon north of the Cancún resort zone. Isla’s fall to the all-inclusive resort trend was, I guess, inevitable. But it’s still a very cool place for “life-in-a-golfcart” mobility and there are still Mayan fishermen here. Drinking water shortages and ferry-only access keep the place a reasonable option for the hearty Caribbean Island fanatic.
The Bacalar lagoon calls to those wanting to live a more sustainable life, although there is much less available to those looking for a more convenient lifestyle. (UNAM)
On the edge of the border with Belize, Bacalar presents the opportunity to live in closer harmony with nature than anywhere else in the state. The tradeoff, of course, is that there is significantly less in the way of creature comforts. This results in the second lowest score given to any of the destinations on the list (after Tulum), but do not let this mislead you — there is plenty to love about Bacalar.
While the overarching theme of our guide to Quintana Roo has been one of development, luxury and a loss of character, this is not the case in Bacalar. Known as the “Maldives of Mexico” for good reason, life around the lagoon strikes a delicate balance between respecting nature and providing a modern standard of living.
While fine dining and international airport access are in short supply, pristine waters, plenty of engaging activities and sense of peace abound in Bacalar.
Tulum
Tulum has been an icon of Quintana Roo (and Mexican tourism in general) for decades, but unfettered growth has ruined much of the charm that once attracted visitors. (Shutterstock)
Sitting adjacent to the remarkable Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is Tulum, the two-headed (beachfront and inland city) place that may someday take over as Quintana Roo’s most troubling example of unfettered growth. Its Mayan archaeological site, silky Caribbean waters, and wellness-themed small hotels contend with becoming QR’s next pole for uncontrolled development and environmental impacts. The new international airport now provides connectivity. Anyone who’s lived here for more than a few years laments what’s gone wrong. But how can you deny the appeal of a place consistently named the best beach in The Americas?
Also consider, your family and friends will find just about any reason to come down for a stay. You’ll need that spare bedroom. Where I live now in central Mexico, my kids have had enough. They all want to party in the Mexican Caribbean. Bringing compatible lifestyle intentions, many of those migrating here can’t imagine living elsewhere.
Author Greg Custer lives in Mexico. He’s worked for over 40 years in international tourism, educating travel advisors around the world about Mexico and other Latin American destinations. He helps folks explore Mexico for living at www.mexicoforliving.com.Greg first visited Cancun in 1979. He has worked on behalf of Quintana Roo tourism marketing agencies for decades, allowing him to see what it has become: the good (great!) and the head-scratching “What happened?!”
Now that many of Jalisco's beaches are super popular, why not plan an escape to the quiet paradise many of us first came in search of? (Playas Mexico)
If you’ve been to Puerto Vallarta’s beaches in the last few years, you’ve noticed one thing: they are all crowded. Tourism to Puerto Vallarta is higher than ever, with a total of 6 million visitors who arrived in 2023, which is up 10 percent from 2022. And while (for better or worse) business is booming in PV, it’s leaving much to be desired among beachgoers looking for peace and quiet and far fewer all-inclusive resorts.
But for the adventurous set who don’t mind a long drive in search of idyllic, untouched shorelines and more palm trees than people, the Costalegre has been providing a welcome respite from the rattle and hum of Puerto Vallarta’s now “big city” energy. We’ve combed the best beaches of the Costalegre to bring you this handy little guide to where to go for a slice of that slow life.
If this isn’t to your taste, why not head for the calm sands and empty shores of Costalegre? (Tripadvisor)
Where is the Costalegre?
The Costalegre is the stretch of coastline that runs south of Puerto Vallarta towards Manzanillo. These 150 miles are a paradise for nature lovers, peppered with rustic fishing villages, rimmed by mountains, and bordered by vast stretches of uninterrupted crashing Pacific shoreline.
Punta Perula
Sleepy Punta Perula offers visitors the chance for some quiet enjoyment of almost pristine beaches. (Tripadvisor)
Two and a half hours south of Puerto Vallarta, you’ll come to the turnoff for Punta Perula. A few minutes off the main road will put you along the dusty main road of this little village that borders the beach. Perula is a sleepy community, but that’s what locals and visitors love most about it. They also love the spectacular stretch of pristine shoreline that wraps around the Bahia de Chamela, where golden sand, gently rolling waves, and mountain ridge views set the scene for this idyllic paradise halfway down the Costalegre.
While exploring Punta Perula, you can hire a panga to visit the islands in the Bahia de Chamela. One of the most popular island excursions is Isla Cocinas, an undeveloped island with a spectacular swath of white sand, perfect for sunbathing and snorkeling.
A handful of rustic, palapa-topped beachfront restaurants line the shorelines. Mariscos Chee Chee is one of the best for its fresh fish and shrimp, served at tables overlooking the beautiful beachfront. The guacamole is a must here. For casual pizza, visit Las Pérula, an open-air wood-fired pizza restaurant just off Avenida Independencia.
Playa Careyitos
Playa Careyitos offers sun, food and luxury – as well as an unbelievable sunset. (Solycoco)
This small crescent-shaped beach is about five minutes south of the entrance to the Careyes community of villas, restaurants, and beaches. In fact, the two candy colored Ocean Castles that sit like sentries on the cliff tops at either end of the small bay are two of the most luxurious accommodations at Careyes. However, while the majority of the clientele at the beach is part of the Careyes community, Playa Careyitos is open to the public.
Stunning any time of day, I like going to this beach for sunset, when an orange glow is thrust across the golden sand and the sky explodes with swirling pink and purple. I love watching the fishermen return home for the day and park their boats on the sand by driving as far out into the bay as possible and cruising in at high speeds, flying across the sand to land perfectly in a row on the shore.
The boho chic beach club you see here is called Lilo, and while pricey, it is worth the splurge. Pizzas here are made in an Italian-imported wood-fired oven. The wine list is vetted, and the cocktails are sublime.
Playa Grande, Arroyo Seco
The rugged rocks of the Arroyo Seco make for a surfer’s paradise. (Michael Fitzgerald/Flickr)
And then there is Arroyo Seco — a very different kind of scene from Playa Careyitos, swapping a bougie beach scene for wild, rugged rock formations and a lonely restaurant made out of bamboo. Turning off of Highway 200, you’ll follow a long, weathered road out to the very small town of Arroyo Seco, population 400. Past the town the road spills out to a sprawling stretch of untamed shoreline, Playa Grande, where surfers come to answer the call of the churning Pacific’s gargantuan waves.
There isn’t much going on in Arroyo Seco, but that’s part of its magic and beauty. It’s a place for people who need no gimmicks or frills to simply enjoy the natural beauty of one of the best beaches in Costalegre.
There is the Capacha Center, home to a turtle sanctuary and Military Macaw rehabilitation center. Captcha Center invites visitors and residents to participate in surfing, standup paddle boarding, biking, and birding.
Rojo Restaurant, a stunning beach house built entirely of bamboo, serves cocktails, cold beer, and fresh seafood. You can even rent two of its bungalows that sit directly on the beach.
Tenacatita
Visit Tenacatita before development strikes – it’s one of Costalegre’s best kept secrets but may not remain that way for long. (Playasde)
Turning off Highway 200, a very long road passes through the thick, palm shrouded villages and farmlands of villages like Agua Caliente de Apazulco and El Rebaslito de Apazulco. The drive is lengthy, but absolutely beautiful as you feel the main highway slip away behind you. At the end of the road, the view opens out to the running beaches of Tenacatita, a palm-fringed broad crescent strip with strings of ramshackle beach restaurants and bars. Sadly the area has been burdened with a land title dispute, which may threaten the undeveloped nature of the beach, but for now it remains one of the Costalegre’s best-kept secrets.
The energy here is lively and full of good vibes as music blares from underneath colorful umbrellas. Kids snorkel in the calm waters, while adults sip cold beer and snack on freshly caught seafood and oysters. Tenacatita is a far cry from a quiet beach, but it’s full of the spirit that most of us came to chase in Mexico in the first place.
Boca de Iguanas
Camp under the stars at Boca de Iguanas after a hard day of eating some of the best seafood in Jalisco. (Playas Mexico)
Many visitors to Costalegre know the small (but growing) village of La Manzanilla, home to one of the best beaches in the state. The perfect spot here is at the north end of the bay, called Boca de Iguanas. The bright, soft sand here seems to stretch for miles, while a thick grove of palm trees adds a backdrop of vibrant green. Boca de Iguanas is popular for beach camping, but it also has lovely bungalows and villas scattered along the sand and up in the hills.
For entertainment and activity, La Manzanilla is a quick drive at the other end of the bay. The village is busy compared to other towns in the region, but that’s not saying much. The best things to do in La Manzanilla are to post up at a beach bar or restaurant and spend the day enjoying the ocean. I love Bahia Azul for its plump, juicy shrimp and colorful ceviche. It’s simple, fresh, and has beautiful beach views.
Are there any of your best beaches in Costalegre that didn’t make the cut? Let us know in the comments.
Meagan Drillinger is a New York native who has spent the past 15 years traveling around and writing about Mexico. While she’s on the road for assignments most of the time, Puerto Vallarta is her home base. Follow her travels on Instagram at @drillinjourneys or through her blog at drillinjourneys.com.
From daring dates to romantic reunions, Mexico City has everything a lover could need. Go heavy on the atmosphere, sensual on the movements or deep into the history at some of these incredible spots. (Tripadvisor)
They call Paris the city of love, but we beg to differ. With its mix of lush romantic greenery, poetic architecture and exquisite gastronomic delights, Mexico City takes the cake. Add a climate that delivers a cinematic flair — oscillating between misty mornings, ripe sunny afternoons and balmy evenings — and you’ve got a backdrop worthy of a García Márquez novel. But where are the best dates in Mexico City to be found?
It’s not unusual to see lovebirds sharing a kiss — and sometimes more — on street corners all around the city, and it’s easy to see why. For the amorous and adventurous, CDMX offers infinite opportunities for unforgettable trysts.
The (very thin) air of the capital brings romance at every turn. (Alice Mortiz/Cuartoscuro)
Whether you’re wooing a new flame or rekindling an old one, we’ve compiled just a few curated date ideas that will set hearts aflutter, offering a hefty dose of fun, bonding and adventure — in whichever theme your heart desires.
Late night fiesta
For those who believe love is best expressed through rhythm, CDMX’s nightlife awaits. Start with drinks at the jungle-like Jardin Paraiso, then slip into Patrick Miller, where disco never dies and the crowd — ranging from septuagenarians to Gen Z-ers — mingles to high-energy music.
Or try Departamento, a speakeasy-style club where the beautiful people come to see and be seen — and occasionally even dance. If the weather is amenable, check out Supra Rooftop, where the crowd skews on the younger side, but the music is fire, as the youngins say.
Literary liaisons
Book lovers can read and romance at the same time, amongst the stacks of classic literature in El Péndulo. (El Péndulo/Facebook)
Grab a scholarly coffee together and impress your beau with your literary prowess at El Péndulo, a bookshop-cum-café with locations all around the city, where you can browse tomes and pretend you’ve actually read Octavio Paz. Then, conduct your own walking tour through some of the city’s coolest alternative bookstores.
For a true architectural biblio-paradise, venture to the Biblioteca Vasconcelos, a mega library that looks like something out of a dystopian sci-fi novel. Pro tip: Link hands under the suspended whale bones as you gaze up in awe for extra points.
Tacubaya trysts
Museo Casa de la Bola offers foreign fancy for dates. (cdmx.gob)
For a truly unique experience, visit the Museo Casa de la Bola in Tacubaya. This 18th-century mansion, once owned by Antonio Haghenbeck y de la Lama, a Mexican businessman with impeccable taste, houses an eclectic collection of European and Mexican art and antiques.
Stroll through the estate’s lush, leafy gardens dotted with Greek statues and bond over its curious mix of architectural styles and interiors. As you wander through the rooms, each more sumptuous than the last, play a game of “If we lived here” with your date. Who knows? It might just spark some domestic fantasies of your own.
After your foray into Mexico City’s gilded past, take a walk through Parque Lira next door, where you can switch gears and watch skateboarders tear it up on the park’s skate ramps.
Lights, camera, attraction
Film snobs can smooch in front of the big screen. (Cineteca Nacional/Facebook)
Ditch Netflix and chill for something more cinematic. Mexico City is home to an endless number of niche and commercial theaters of all size ranges and comfort levels, with distinct amenities. The Cineteca Nacional in Coyoacán offers a curated selection of arthouse and classic films in a striking modernist setting.
For a more intimate experience, try Cine Tonalá in Roma Sur, where you can enjoy indie flicks and craft beer in a cozy atmosphere. Cinemex Platino theaters in the city offer the most comfy and private experience, while Cinepolis and Cinemex Imax theaters around the city offer more immersive viewing, giving you the excuse to clutch at your date during a particularly action-packed scene.
Channel your inner Antonio Banderas or Salma Hayek with salsa or bachata classes in beautiful Parque México. Grupo Esencia offers a chance to spice up your midweek with Bachata lessons every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, they’ll have you swaying your hips to salsa at 12 p.m., followed by bachata at 1 p.m. Just show up, no pre-registration necessary.
Whether you’re a dance floor diva or have two left feet, just remember: it’s not about perfection, it’s about connection. And maybe a little hip action. Liquid courage is available from nearby mezcal carts. In the evening, test your salsa skills at Mama Rumba in Roma Norte, which offers an uncrowded dance floor and a live band.
Rhythm & romance
Embrace some sensuous saxophone with a night of live music at Jazzatlán. (Jazzatlán/Facebook)
For a more clandestine rendezvous, slip into Parker & Lenox, a sophisticated speakeasy-style jazz bar that channels 1920s New York with a Mexican twist. Hidden behind an inconspicuous American restaurant façade, this velvet-draped den serves up classic cocktails as smooth as the jazz floating from its stage. Arrive early to snag a cozy booth, and let the tunes transport you to the Gatsby era.
Foodie flings
For some culinary courting, why not try one of Mexico City’s best eateries? (Pujol)
Surprise your palate — and your date — with Mexico City’s brilliant culinary offerings. Indulge in an omakase experience at Rokai, where the sushi rivals Tokyo’s finest. Yes, we said sushi in Mexico City. Trust us on this one.
If you’re looking to impress, head to Enrique Olvera’s Pujol, which offers an omakase-style taco bar. This is just a rumor, but we’ve heard that Pujol’s mole madre, aged over 2,500 days, has aphrodisiac properties.
For a more adventurous and decidedly more Mexican date, consult our meticulously curated list of the best tacos in Mexico City and embark on a taco-hopping expedition. And remember, a couple that can handle habanero salsa together, stays together.
Flexible flirtations
Yoga makes for a mystical meeting with your date – try Luna Studio for a touch of magic. (Luna Studio/Facebook)
For those who like their romance with a side of om, studios like Mukta Yoga in Condesa and Luna Studio in La Juárez offer relaxing candle lit classes that will have you bending in ways you never thought possible. Feel the tension melt away as you stretch and breathe in sync with your partner. Then let the flickering flames cast a flattering glow, as you sink further into downward dog.
Afterward, try some of those new moves at home. Maybe that “happy baby” pose will come in handy, or perhaps you’ll find a creative use for those yoga blocks. We won’t judge.
Libations & love
Dazzle your date by pretending you know about alcohol at Casa Prunes. (Opentable)
Impress your date with your knowledge of obscure spirits at Casa Prunes, a cocktail bar set in a gorgeous Art Nouveau mansion. Sip on innovative concoctions while pretending you’re extras in a Wes Anderson film. Don’t forget to dramatically pose on the grand staircase.
Art, architecture and amor meet at Lago Algo. (cdmx.gob)
For the active and aesthetically-inclined, Tours en Bici offers architectural neighborhood bike tours with stops at renowned galleries throughout the city. Take in some of the stunning neighborhood gems and the artistic treasures they hold, then walk off the sore bike bum with a trip to Lago Algo, a stunning gallery in the heart of Chapultepec Park. At Lago Algo’s restaurant bar overlooking a beautiful lake, toast to your cultural sophistication and discuss conceptual art while gazing at the sunset.
There you have it, lovebirds. Ten fabulous date plans in Mexico City. Now go forth and fall in love — just remember to pace yourselves with the mezcal. After all, you want to remember these moments, don’t you?
What have you done on your favorite dates in Mexico City? Let us know in the comments.
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.
