Vázquez had been diagnosed with stage 4 sarcoma in November 2024. (Israel Vázquez/Facebook)
Legendary Mexican boxer Israel “Magnífico” Vázquez lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 46.
World Boxing Council (WBC) president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed Vázquez’s death, paying tribute to the pugilist in a social media post: “Thank you Israel for the so many great memories that you have given us through your actions inside the ring but most importantly outside of it,” he wrote. “You are now eternal, rest in peace.”
“Magnífico” was known for his punching power and hand speed, according to ESPN. (Israel Vázquez/Facebook)
Vázquez, a native of the Mexico City borough of Azcapotzalco, began his boxing career in 1995 at 18 years of age. He compiled a 44-5 record with 32 wins by knock-out.
According to the sports network ESPN, “Magnífico” was “[k]nown for his punching power and hand speed,” describing Vázquez as “one of Mexico’s most celebrated boxers.”
Freddie Roach, widely regarded as one of the best boxing trainers of all time, also offered his condolences: “Always a world champion and a legend in boxing. One of the best boxers I have had the privilege to work with, a world champion. … My condolences to the Vázquez family and to all those who called Israel their friend.”
Israel Vázquez with President Claudia Sheinbaum during a 2023 visit to Los Angeles, California. (Israel Vázquez/Facebook)
Vázquez held the International Boxing Federation world championship in the super bantamweight division from March 2004 to May 2005 and won the WBC super bantamweight title on two occasions, holding the belt from December 2005-March 2007 and again from August 2007-March 2008.
Vázquez is fondly remembered for his fantastic ring rivalry with fellow Mexican Rafael Márquez. The boxing pair met four times, splitting the series 2-2.
A strange Greek-style monument on a hill outside Zihuatanejo holds both a troubled history and a symbol of civic rebirth. (Jessica Devnani/Pink Plankton)
In the almost 30 years I have lived in Zihuatanejo, a beautiful port town in the southwestern state of Guerrero, I have always been fascinated by a building known as the Parthenon, located high on the hills above the town.
Patterned after the Greek Acropolis Parthenon in Athens, the Greek capital, it was a majestic Hellenistic structure. Today, the Parthenon of Zihuatanejo is a ruined structure, much like that of its Greek counterpart.
Built during the 1980s by Mexico City’s infamously hedonistic Chief of Police, Arturo Durazo Moreno, the Parthenon is a testament to corruption, greed and power. (Jessica Devnani/Pink Plankton)
Over the years, I was lured by friends to visit it several times, sometimes able to enter without a guard in place but usually stopped by military personnel or a caretaker, who, for a “fee,” would allow us to look around. The late Dennis Johnson, a former expat and Canadian publisher, accompanied me on one of my visits, and the following is a combination of his notes and my research. The history is dark.
A troubled past
Built during the 1980s by Mexico City’s wickedly excessive Chief of Police, Arturo Durazo Moreno (otherwise known as “El Negro” Durazo), the Parthenon is a testament to the corruption of the man.
It began when Durazo’s boyhood friend, José López Portillo, became the president of Mexico in 1976. As one of Mexico’s most corrupt presidents, López Portillo turned to loyal Durazo for his security and appointed him to be his chief of Police, knowing that he had been under investigation in the US for almost a year for drug trafficking.
During Durazo’s six-year tenure (from 1976 to 1982), he turned the police force into a racketeering organization and built his empire of corruption. He extorted money at every turn and lived a lavish lifestyle. He made a fortune from the bribes paid by the rank-and-file police officers under his command, and he used them as his construction labor force to build the Parthenon in Zihuatanejo, one of Guerrero’s most visited beaches. But that was not all. Canadian writer Jessica Devnani wrote, “he used it as his own personal playhouse with extravagant parties fueled with drugs, prostitutes and other sinful activities”.
The entrance to the ruins of the Parthenon. (Jessica Devnani/Pink Plankton)
Although Durazo was lauded for his work in lowering the crime rate in Mexico City and was even honored with a prestigious award in the Soviet Union for doing so, his methods were discovered to be beyond brutal when the tortured bodies of 12 Colombians suspected of bank robbery turned up in a river. An investigation into his practices began, ultimately revealing his elaborate pyramid scheme of bribes and payoffs.
Durazo’s fortune changed once again, this time not for the better, with the arrival of a new presidential administration, Miguel de la Madrid, whose campaign theme was “Moral Renewal.”
Durazo fled the country, and an international search ensued. After charging him in absentia with racketeering, Mexican and U.S. authorities tracked him down in Costa Rica in 1984 and brought him back to trial in Mexico. Durazo was charged with a long range of offenses, from corruption to extortion, tax evasion, drug kickbacks and possession of illegal weapons. He was given 25 years in prison; though he was released after less than eight, in 1992 due to ill health and good conduct. He lived out his final days in Acapulco, redeeming himself a bit by working with recovering alcoholics. He died of cancer in 2000.
Before his death, Durazo’s chief bodyguard, José González, wrote a runaway bestseller in 1980 about his evil boss, entitled “Lo Negro Del Durazo”. A movie quickly followed. Never allowing himself to be out-maneuvered, Durazo won a defamation lawsuit against his former aide from behind prison bars.
The restoration of Mexico’s version has been completely revitalized into a breathtakingly beautiful monument, thanks to the former administration of mayor Jorge Sánchez Alec and the city of Zihuatanejo.
Today, the Parthenon reflects its appearance in all its former glory. The once-chained tigers and the disco used for wild parties are gone, and the swimming pool has been removed. The gates have been refurbished, weeds have been pulled, and gardens have been tended to. Statues and murals have been replaced and repainted, and rooms that were once bedrooms complete with hanging beds will now be used as special events rooms, functions and exhibitions, five halls in all, according to Tourism Director Jesús Gallegos Galván.
There will be concerts and other cultural events but, says Gallegos, no private events such as weddings and no alcohol will be served. General seating will hold up to 500 people. There will be a small fee — 100 pesos for outside tourists, 50 pesos for locals and free for handicapped and older adults. Students will be charged just 20 pesos.
There will also be a small café where you can purchase coffee and other beverages and relax. At the same time, you admire a view that is as spectacular as the bay of Zihuatanejo itself.
The inauguration, which happened recently on November 6 to much fanfare, was presided over by Guerrero state Governor Evelyn Salgado Pineda and Zihuantanejo’s current mayor, Lizette Tapia. Following this, the first major cultural event of the year, known as Tropifashion, was held on November 29 of this year and is sure to set the stage for an exciting year ahead for other cultural events.
The writer divides her time between Canada and Zihuatanejo.
Queueing in Mexico. It's an art - and like all arts, entirely imprecise and subjective. (Damián Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)
Queuing in Mexico is a dark art. A fine art. An art that takes years to hone, like Dutch master before an easal. Yesterday at Sanborns, I stood patiently in front of the pharmacy counter, waiting to be helped.
It’s like I never learn.
If you’ve been in Mexico any amount of time, you’ve surely noticed that the concept of waiting your turn can be…different. (Cuartoscuro)
What’s something else thatgives us away as North Americans? We stand in line, and we expect others to stand in line, too. We also expect to be noticed and rewarded for our good standing-in-line behavior. Order, foolishly for me, is the expectation. But it’s not necessarily a fair one.
Back to Sanborns. Admittedly, I was pre-irritated. I’d taken my daughter and her extremely hyper, scream-y best friend to the mall for video arcade and movie theater fun, and they were wearing on my nerves. When a woman stepped directly in front of me and proceeded to be helped, I piped up.
“Excuse me, where is the actual line here?”
“Oh, we’re getting to people as they come.”
“But how do you know who’s come first? Where should I stand to make it clear?”
The only rule is that there are no rules. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)
At this point, the woman who’d stepped in front of me stepped aside and said, “Oh, I’m sorry, were you waiting on her?”
I thanked her, happy she understood and feeling a little sheepish about my visible bad mood. I was finally able to buy the face cream I’d been clutching, and we went on our way.
If you’ve been in Mexico any amount of time, you’ve surely noticed that there are different rules when it comes to waiting one’s turn. The rule is mainly that the rules are not strictly observed. Those serving people say, at a counter, will typically help whoever has put themself in front of them and begun speaking.
If you need to be helped, this is a tough country to be shy in. “The squeaky wheel gets the oil”, so sometimes you’ve got to start squeaking!
The correct way to stand in line in Mexico
Fortunately, there are polite ways to “squeak”. Let’s start with pharmacies and consultorios (doctor offices), though it can work anywhere with a reception area. When there’s a counter or a reception desk, simply make eye contact with someone on the other side and say “buenos días” (or tardes or noches, depending). This is what I should have done at Sanborns, by the way.
For longer lines (especially when it comes to dreaded trámites) things can get a little more complicated. (Cuartoscuro)
Anyway! You’ve made contact and let them know you’re there. If they look at you expectantly, that’s your cue to start asking for what you want. Once they know, they can either help you or give you instructions to be helped. Easy!
For longer lines, especially when it comes to dreaded trámites, things can get a little more complicated. At both my local immigration and Hacienda offices, for example, lines are visible. However, getting in back of them right away is not the best move, and could waste a lot of your time.
If you have an appointment especially, but even if you just want information, find the security guard. Not only are they helping to keep order, but they let you know where to go and what to do. They’re often the first line of defense for information-giving, so let them be your first stop!
At my immigration office, for example, they direct me to sign a book and write down the purpose of going; only then do I get in line. At Hacienda, the guard will direct you to which line you need to stand in, or where to go and simply sit down to wait.
Do’s and don’ts in customer service offices
At banks and other customer service-oriented offices, there might be a number system. This means you’ll be given, often by a machine that’s sometimes human-assisted, a number that will be called, similar to when you dine in for fast food. When your number is called, it’s your turn! If you think you missed it, though, be sure to ask someone who works there; they can usually help.
The longer the line and the more impatient the people in it, the less likely it is there will be “cutters”. (Cuartoscuro)
The general rule is this: the longer the line and the more impatient the people in it, the less likely it is there will be “cutters”. But if the line is short and there’s a counter-type situation, people are liable to butt in if they can. And if you think that’s bad, just look at people’s behavior inheavy traffic, which is where the above rule does not apply at all: cutters driving cars are rampant, especially when they’re impatient.
Finally, don’t be afraid to stick up for yourself. Some people really are oblivious and in a hurry and just don’t notice others. “Disculpe, estamos formados” (Excuse me, we’re in line) will usually work. Sometimes it won’t, and you can choose whether or not you want to start a fight about it. When you yourself are unsure about the existence of a line — this often happens in bathrooms — simply ask, “¿Están formados?” (Are you in line?)
So remember: squeak with the best of them, and ask for help when you need it. Just don’t cut in line; we’ve got a reputation to keep up!
A recent New York Times report and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump took center stage at President Sheinbaum's Monday press conference. (Presidencia)
Claudia Sheinbaum has now completed two full months as Mexico’s first female president.
And with the swearing in of Rocío Nahle as governor of Veracruz on Sunday, 13 of Mexico’s 32 federal entities are now led by women, more than ever before.
At her morning press conference on Monday, Sheinbaum heaped praise on Nahle, who served as energy minister for almost five years during the administration of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
She also commented on a New York Times report and noted that United States President-elect Donald Trump asked her how the U.S. could help Mexico with security issues.
Sheinbaum suggests NYT report was inspired by ‘Breaking Bad’
“Do you have information about that?” inquired the reporter.
Sheinbaum dismissed the NYT report, suggesting it was inspired by the fictional television series “Breaking Bad.” (Breaking Bad/High Bridge Entertainment Gran Via Productions/Sony Pictures)
The president said that she asked members of her cabinet about the Times’ reporting before declaring that “there is no information about this.”
“… There is a [television] show … that takes place in … New Mexico, … a very well-known show that got a lot of awards about a chemistry teacher,” Sheinbaum added, referring to the Emmy-award winning series “Breaking Bad.”
“I saw some episodes, I didn’t see all of it … but maybe that’s where they got [the report] from, right?” Sheinbaum said.
“Because we don’t have information [about chemistry students making drugs for cartels]. And, in any case, chemistry students shouldn’t get involved in that, right?” she added.
“… I explained to him that we have a very competent security cabinet, coordinated by [Security Minister] Omar García Harfuch. I even told him about Omar’s history, the attack he suffered and how he has a history of a lot of professionalism in the Mexico City Security Ministry and now at the federal level,” Sheinbaum said.
At her Monday presser, Sheinbaum continued to field questions about her recent call with Trump. (Mexico News Daily via Cuartoscuro/Twitter)
The president said she told Trump that it is very important for Mexico and the United States to share information with each other, but emphasized that they must respect each other’s sovereignty when collaborating on security issues.
“And he agreed, he said he thought … [my proposal] was very good,” Sheinbaum said.
Even if a person is convicted of corruption and serves jail time, the money and/or assets they obtained as a result of their crime are not usually recovered in Mexico. (Shutterstock)
The Mexican government wants to make living in a corruption-free environment a constitutionally enshrined human right.
Senator Javier Corral, a lawmaker with the ruling Morena party and a former governor of Chihuahua, said last week that in the coming months, he would present an initiative to create a General Law for the Investigation and Punishment of Acts of Corruption.
Senator Javier Corral is spearheading an initiative to classify corruption as a human rights offense in Mexico. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)
Speaking in the state of Morelos at an annual meeting of Mexico’s anti-corruption prosecutor’s offices, Corral said that President Claudia Sheinbaum had entrusted him with the task of examining the best ways that corruption can be combated. While governor of Chihuahua, he made bringing his predecessor César Duarte to justice on corruption charges a central aim of his government.
The proposed law Corral is slated to present to Congress would enshrine in the constitution a new human right: the right to live in a corruption-free environment and to enjoy responsible and lawful public administration by Mexican authorities.
Allow the creation of a uniform nationwide anti-corruption investigation and prosecution policy.
Establish a national system that assists anti-corruption collaboration between federal and state governments, including in the realm of intelligence gathering.
Seek to ensure that acts of corruption are effectively punished and that those found guilty of the crime don’t continue to benefit from their wrongdoing.
Seek to ensure that misspent public resources are recovered.
Create new anti-corruption prosecutor’s offices and courts.
Allow people who report corruption to participate more closely in the criminal prosecution of the case if they demonstrate they have a legitimate interest in it.
Recognize people involved in the investigation and prosecution of corruption as defenders of human rights.
Former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador made combatting corruption a central aim of his administration, and less than a year into his six-year term declared that there was “zero corruption” in the federal government as a result of his dedication to “sweeping away” what had developed over the previous 30 years.
But Sheinbaum believes there is more work to do, such as disbanding a number of autonomous government agencies. She recently said that the elimination of seven such agencies — as approved by the Senate last week — would lead to “more transparency” in government and help to eliminate corruption.
Corruption has long been a problem in Mexico, with various scandals plaguing the 2012-18 government of former president Enrique Peña Nieto. Despite López Obrador’s determination to eliminate corruption — and his declarations that he had achieved his goal — his administration also faced accusations of corruption, including ones related to Mexico’s food security agency Segalmex and the Youths Building the Future apprenticeship scheme.
While corruption is common in Mexico, so too is impunity for that crime — and various others.
Even if a person is convicted of corruption and serves jail time, the money and/or assets they obtained as a result of their crime are not “normally” recovered, El País reported.
As mentioned above, one of the objectives of the proposed General Law for the Investigation and Punishment of Acts of Corruption is to change that situation.
In Morelos last week, Corral — who was affiliated with the National Action Party until joining Morena this year — described corruption as a “social cancer” that weakens Mexico’s democratic institutions and the rule of law.
According to the statement issued by the Senate last Wednesday, he also said that his proposed law would seek to stop Mexico’s “culture of impunity” from being an incentive for the proliferation of corruption. Corral noted that Mexico’s anti-corruption prosecutor’s offices have a central role in the fight against corruption and in restoring citizens’ confidence in Mexico’s institutions.
“But let’s not fool ourselves,” he added. “Combating corruption is not and never will be a simple task.”
The mission will be led by electrical engineer Katya Echazarreta, who became the first Mexican astronaut and the youngest female astronaut at age 26. (Katya Echazarreta/X)
A top official in the Sheinbaum administration stated last week that Mexico is working to create a 100% Latino mission to space in 2027 — led by Mexican-born astronaut Katya Echazarreta — as part of an overall plan to advance the Mexican aerospace industry.
The announcement was made by Altagracia Gómez Sierra, an influential business leader in Mexico and currently the coordinator of the Advisory Council for Economic, Regional Development and Business Relocation (CADERR) under President Claudia Sheinbaum.
CADERR, led by Mexican businesswoman Altagracia Gómez, seeks to advance nearshoring opportunities, develop industrial parks and promote infrastructure projects to support regional economic growth. (@inaoficialmx/X)
During an Oct. 27 presentation, Gómez Sierra pointed out that a key goal of Sheinbaum’s government is to lead the first all-Latino space mission.
CADERR, a new entity under the Sheinbaum administration, aims to capitalize on nearshoring opportunities, develop 100 industrial parks nationwide and promote infrastructure projects to support regional economic growth in Mexico.
Its strategies include partnering with businesses, government agencies and communities; simplifying investment procedures; and promoting sustainability and innovation.
Mexico’s plan to expand its aerospace industry
One of CADERR’s goals, Gómez Sierra said, is to increase the regional content of aerospace industry exports by at least 10% by 2030.
Other keys, she added, include the integration of an aircraft engine fully manufactured in Mexico by the France-based aerospace company Safran and the launch of the first 100% Mexican satellite.
As for the all-Latino space mission, the newspaper El País pointed out that “no further details are yet known [and] it has not been specified whether it will be a crewed mission [or] the sending of a space probe, a satellite or another type of initiative.”
A crewed or uncrewed space mission could spur growth in the Mexican aerospace industry, a sector whose strategic value has increased 14% over the last 20 years. (Richard Gatley/Unsplash)
Echazarreta, 29, said last month she wants to do whatever she can to help.
“My goal is to contribute to the growth of the aerospace industry in Mexico,” the first Mexican-born woman to fly into space said at a summit organized by the news magazine Expansión. “It is time for our country to position itself as a major player in this field.”
As of now, Mexico’s aerospace industry is underdeveloped, Echazarreta said, because “there are no laws that regulate it.”
She said there are agreements in place to build launching pads in Mexico, but the lack of legislative reform prevents these projects and others from moving forward. Though international companies are interested in investing in the Mexican aerospace industry, she added, efforts remain limited.
“There are agreements in the works, but we cannot move forward due to current laws,” she said. “That is why we are working on a reform that will allow this industry to find an outlet.”
Born in Guadalajara, Echazarreta spent the first seven years of her life in Mexico before moving with her family to San Diego. In 2022, she became the first Mexican-born woman — and, at 26, the youngest woman ever — to fly into space when she was aboard a craft built by Blue Origin, a company started by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Echazarreta earned an electrical engineering degree from UCLA in 2019 and was an intern at NASA, where she worked on the ground on five missions. She also has a master’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from Johns Hopkins University.
The trilogy follows the impact of border policies on not just migrants but also local residents of the border region and families of missing people. (Damián Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)
Amid tension between Mexico and the United States ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump, Mexican immigration authorities broke up two small migrant caravans headed for the U.S. border.
However, on Monday a new caravan of roughly 2,000 migrants left the southern border city of Tapachula, intent on reaching the United States.
Tapachula, Chiapas, has become the origin of many caravans due to its location near the border with Guatemala. (Damian Sánchez Jesús/Cuartoscuro)
Migrants rights activist Luis García Villagrán said the breaking-up of the two caravans appeared to be part of an agreement between the president of Mexico and the president-elect of the United States, the Associated Press reported.
The action came shortly after President Claudia Sheinbaum and President-elect Trump discussed Trump’s threat to impose 25% tariffs on all Mexican products entering the United States unless Mexico does more to stem the flow of migrants to the U.S. border.
While Trump insisted Sheinbaum had agreed to stop all unauthorized migration to the United States, Mexico’s president disputed that claim, saying “Mexico’s position is not to close borders but to build bridges between governments and between peoples.”
Instead, Sheinbaum wrote on her social media accounts, “migrants and caravans are taken care of before they reach the border.”
Blocking the caravans
Undocumented migrants have been detected in record numbers so far this year. Mexican authorities reported finding 925,085 migrants from January through August of this year, an increase of 132% over the 398,991 during the first eight months of 2023.
The AP reported that immigration authorities and the Army had dismantled the two caravans — comprising approximately 4,000 migrants — by bussing them to cities across central and southern Mexico while also offering 20-day transit documents.
Rights activists are warning migrants not to be deceived by the INM offer, reported the publication Infobae.
Pastor and prominent migrant advocate Luis García Villagrán accused Mexican officials of tricking migrants into accepting bus rides to far-flung cities. (File photo)
García Villagrán, the migrant rights activist, has accused the INM of lying to migrants by promising them shelter and transit documents. Instead, García told Infobae, they are abandoning them in cities outside of migrant routes with the intention of eventually deporting them.
The warning has reached the new caravan preparing to leave Chiapas this week.
One migrant in Tapachula told Sin Embargo that they don’t trust the authorities. “We have seen [INM] agents lie about helping us,” he said. “Some have been detained for three days then released without any documents.”
A Guatemalan migrant told the newspaper La Jornada that he would prefer the transit documents to be validated as they advance north. “The only thing we ask is that they let us continue on our way,” he said.
Revenue from port fees charged to cruise ship passengers are usually earmarked for enhancements and updates to port facilities and infrastructure. (Especial/Cuartoscuro)
Last week, Mexico’s lower house of Congress voted to impose a US $42 immigration fee on every passenger of each cruise ship that docks at one of the country’s ports.
With the bill now in the hands of the Senate, cruise ship lines are pleading with President Claudia Sheinbaum to veto the legislation, should it be approved by the upper house.
Cozumel, the world’s busiest port of call, welcomed 4.2 million cruise passengers in 2023 who spent $392 million while in port, according to a report by the FCCA. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
The Florida and Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), which represents 20 cruise line companies, sent a letter to Sheinbaum over the weekend, notifying her of the group’s opposition to the proposed tax, according to the tourism industry website Reportur.com.
The Mexican Association of Shipping Agents (Amanac) has also voiced opposition to the proposal, according to the magazine Forbes. “If this measure is implemented, it would make Mexican ports among the most expensive in the world, severely affecting their competitiveness with other Caribbean destinations,” it said.
Cruise Radio reported that cruise lines could respond to the hefty fees by skipping Mexican ports of call, a move that could prove to be disastrous for several resorts and locations, such as Cozumel, that are heavily reliant on tourism.
The new immigration tax, once combined with the Quintana Roo state tax of $5, would bring the total cost to US $47 per cruise passenger. (Especial/Cuartoscuro)
What consequences might the new tax have for Mexico’s cruise tourism industry?
Cruise lines and their destination ports typically work together to decide what taxes and port fees are reasonable, and usually, these are directed to help finance enhancements and updates to port facilities and infrastructure.
Historically, cruise passengers have been exempted from paying immigration fees in Mexico because they are considered “in transit,” and not staying overnight on land.
The FCCA warns that cruise developments in Mexico, such as Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico private destination near Costa Maya, and other cruise port investments could be affected by the new tax.
According to the Amanac, 10 million passengers and 3,300 cruise ships are expected to arrive in Mexico throughout 2025.
The Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport in Tulum, Quintana Roo, celebrated its first full year of operations on Sunday, surpassing expectations for passenger traffic. Last year, it became the fourth international airport in the area surrounding the Riviera Maya, joining the Cancún, Chetumal and Cozumel airports.
“The International Air Transport Association projected that we would receive 700,000 passengers in this first year,” Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa said in a statement. “However, thanks to the joint work, vision and commitment to our state, we have far exceeded that goal, reaching more than 1,074,000 passengers and 8,500 air operations as of Nov. 21. And we still have one month left to close the year!”
The Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) recorded 942,093 travelers aboard 7,627 flights to Tulum between January and October. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
The Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) recorded visitor traffic of 942,093 travelers aboard 7,627 flights to Tulum between January and October, and by Nov. 4, visitor numbers had surpassed one million.
Tulum is located approximately two hours by car from Cancún. After the Mexico City International Airport (AICM), Cancún is the second most-visited airport in the country and the primary airport for incoming international travelers.
The “terminal sells itself by being in a privileged world destination,” said the general director of the National Institute of Legal-Aeronautical Research (INIJA), Pablo Casas Lías, in an interview with the newspaper Reforma. He added that due to its success, the airport may soon face saturation problems.
Rogelio Rodríguez, an air sector specialist, stressed the importance of carrying out better marketing to attract visitors who are thinking of traveling to the Riviera Maya via Cancún.
Con 673 operaciones aéreas el sábado ✈️, y alrededor de medio millón de visitantes nacionales y extranjeros, nuestro estado se sigue consolidando como destino mundial 🌎.
Works began on the Tulum airport in 2022, and were completed on Nov. 30, 2023. Construction is estimated to have cost 19.2 billion pesos (US $939.3 million).
There are currently 11 airlines operating out of Tulum, serving 15 destinations. Nationally, Aeroméxico, Viva Aerobús and Mexicana de Aviación connect with the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) in Mexico City, while Viva Aerobús also flies from Tulum to Monterrey and Guadalajara.
International routes include:
JetBlue to New York City
American Airlines to Miami, Charlotte and Dallas
Air Canada to Montreal and Toronto
Delta to Atlanta
United Airlines to Houston, Chicago and Newark
Copa Airlines connects Tulum with South America via Panama
Sunwing to Montreal
Four airlines will open new routes to Tulum in December, improving connectivity between the Mexican Caribbean and Canada, as well as South America. Discover Airlines will also launch the first direct flight from Tulum to Europe, connecting with Frankfurt.
Polvorones are the perfect sweet for Christmas time. Here's the only recipe you'll need to bake up your own. (Canva)
It’s Christmastime, time for those traditional, nuttery-buttery, melt-in-your-mouth Mexican recipes that we all love — like polvorones! But how did wedding cookies in Mexico become synonymous with Christmas?
Mexican wedding cookies, also known as polvorones, can be traced back to medieval Arabian culinary tradition, where cookies were made with rich spices, butter, sugar, and nuts. The recipe, and its variations, then traveled the trade routes and made its way to Europe and ultimately to Spain.
Also known as polvorones, can trace their history back to medieval Arabian culinary tradition. (Marianne Perdomo/Wikimedia Commons)
The name polvorones comes from the Spanish word polvo, or dust, that is evident in the cookie’s crumbly texture and the powdered sugar that’s used to “dust” them. The cookies became very popular, and the Spanish brought the recipe with them to Mexico with the colonizers in the 16th century. Because they symbolize happiness and unity, they naturally became traditional wedding treats, but they also exemplified joy, and therefore became a perfect sweet to serve at festive occasions, especially Christmas.
The term “Mexican Wedding Cookie” gained traction in the U.S. in the 1950s, when the recipe became a favorite of American cookbooks, replacing the similar Russian Tea Cake (due to Cold War sentiments). It was also given this moniker in the States because it was known for its popularity at Mexican weddings. However, the first known mention of the cookie as “Mexican” appeared in a 1937 issue of American Cookery, meaning the cookie had gained recognition long before they became popular.
The Mexican Wedding Cookie, however, is different in texture than the Russian Tea Cake, due to its higher flour-to-nut ratio, making it more crumbly and sandier to the bite. It also tastes butterier and is often infused with vanilla. Some variations may even include cinnamon and anise. The Tea Cake, however, is denser because the nuts (traditionally, walnuts) in the recipe are finely ground, making the cookie chewy, giving it a pronounced nutty taste.
Once again, these cookies, like so many other foods in Mexico, represent an incredible blending of cultures, that are treasured today for their rich, wonderful flavor and for their symbolism of happiness, unity and joy that they have come to embellish.
Mexican wedding cakes: the recipe
Recipe adapted from wenthere8this.com. (Tamorlan/Wikimedia Commons)
Ingredients:
½ Cup (115 g) unsalted butter* (softened) (mantequilla sin sal)
½ Cup (115 g) salted butter* (softened) (mantequilla)
Best Mexican brands: Lala; Gloria; Alpura; Aguascalientes; Flor de Alfalfa.
½ Cup (50 g) powdered sugar plus ½ Cup (50 g) for coating (azúcar glas)
1 tsp. (4.2 g) vanilla extract* (extracto de vanilla)
Mexican brands noted for their intense flavor: Villa Vainilla; Vainilla Totonac’s; Molina Vainilla
2 Cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
Use only U.S. flour, available online.
½ tsp. (1.5 g) coarse sea salt (sal gruesa)
1 Cup (100 g) pecans toasted and finely chopped (nueces pecanas)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Next:
Combine softened butter, ½ Cup powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
Add flour and salt and mix until a dough starts to form.
Once the flour is about 80% incorporated, add the chopped pecans.
Mix together, but do not over mix.
Roll the dough into 1 ½ inch balls and place 2 inches apart on baking sheet.
Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the bottoms of the cookies are lightly browned.
Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes on baking sheet.
Place cookies on a wire cooling rack to finish cooling.
In a container with lid, place ½ Cup powdered sugar.
When cookies are cooled completely, place several in the container at one time. Cover with lid, and gently turn the container to coat the cookies with sugar.
You can repeat this step for additional coating.
Disfruta!
Deborah McCoy is the one-time author of mainstream, bridal-reference books who has turned her attention to food, particularly sweets, desserts and fruits. She is the founder of CakeChatter™ on FaceBook and X (Twitter), and the author of four baking books for “Dough Punchers” via CakeChatter (available @amazon.com). She is also the president of The American Academy of Wedding Professionals™ (aa-wp.com).
