You may need to choose a specific size drill bit to make sure that it’s the same size as the anchor. (Freepik)
You’re finally in Mexico, and it’s time to start making your new place your own. Now, what were those measurements for the living room curtains you’ll need again? And how exactly do they need to be installed?
Honestly, it’s best not to guess.
If you’ve spent much time in Mexico, you’ve probably noticed something about the uniqueness of dwellings down here: when it comes to “standard” sizes for pretty much anything construction-wise, there is no rule of thumb. That goes for doors, windows, and (both comically and dangerously) staircases.
Another change to the equation? Concrete walls. Trust me, everything you think you know about hanging stuff up will come crumbling – literally – down (the first time you drive a nail into one, you’ll see what I mean.) Many homes often typically have less storage space than you might be used to up north, so if you’re handy, this is your chance to show off your skills!
This might be exciting news for DIY-ers (DIY: do-it-yourself): quite a few things will need to be customized by necessity.
For the rest, take heart: a well-stocked tool chest will help you stay prepared for the minor issues that come up. So, without further ado…
Some of the tools you will need for your Mexican home DIY project. (Unsplash)
Measuring tape
In Spanish: “cinta para medir” and sometimes simply “metro”. A good measuring tape (a long one, that kind that winds up in a plastic-protected spool) is, in my opinion, the most essential tool to keep around. Without the measuring tape, you should do nothing. You’ll need it for measuring pretty much anything: the space you have for the furniture you want to put in your home (and the furniture itself before you buy it), the length and width of curtains you may need, the amount of length you must have for extension cords, where you want to center pictures on the wall…you name it!
Related bonus tools: a level (“nivel”) to make sure things are getting hung evenly (you may very well discover while using one that the house itself is not level) and a carpenter’s pencil (“lápiz de carpintero”) for lightly marking the walls where things will be hung.
Hammer and (concrete) nails
In Spanish: “martillo” and “clavos para concreto”. After the measuring tape, my hammer is my most-used tool. I love decorating, and wind up hanging quite a few things on my walls, even if I only rent a place for a year or two.
One thing to be aware of when hanging things up is that the walls of most Mexican constructions are made of concrete blocks. If you’ve previously lived in North(er) America, you’re likely used to the kind of construction that accommodates central climate control: a skeleton of wooden studs covered in insulation and dry-wall. Sticking a nail into those types of walls is easy. You’ll need a little muscle to really drive nails through these concrete walls, though, and they can behave pretty dramatically: depending on the area’s humidity, it’s not at all unusual for some of the concrete on the surface of the wall around the nail to simply fall off while you’re hammering. Related bonus tools: A spatula (it’s the same word in Spanish!) and “resanador” – basically a filling paste to patch up little holes that nails leave in the wall. The spatula evens it out after filling, and once it dries, it can be painted over.
Drill
In Spanish: “taladro”. For aesthetics (like curtain rods), storage installations (hello, extra shelving!) and safety if you’ve got little ones running around – you don’t want a kid pulling a TV or bookshelf on top of themselves – all kinds of things need to be anchored to the wall. And with all this concrete, that’s not going to happen without a drill – and preferably a high-powered one. Related bonus tools: drill bits (“brocas”). Depending on the size of the anchors and screws you use – many things, like TVs that come with wall mounts, come with their own screws and anchors – you may need to choose a specific size drill bit to make sure that it’s the same size as the anchor.
Screwdriver
In Spanish: “destornillador”. Once you’ve got the holes where they go – thanks, taladro! – you’ll need to get the hardware in there. I cannot recommend enough a good quality screwdriver that comes with different bits that can be changed out and that aren’t easily stripped. You’ll also want one with a mechanical function that allows you to choose the side to rotate so that you don’t have to take the screwdriver out of the screw with each turn. Like the above, it’s going to take some muscle.
Bonus: screws (“tornillos”) and anchors (“taquetes”). To ensure the safest grip, it’s always best to use anchors and screws for anything heavy that needs to be mounted to the wall.
Happy tool hunting!
Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.
Hurricane Otis strengthened very rapidly, reaching Category 5 before making landfall near Acapulco. (@StormCenter410/X)
Hurricane Otis made landfall near Acapulco as a powerful Category 5 storm early Wednesday, bringing extremely strong winds and heavy rain to the Pacific coast resort city and surrounding areas.
The storm was stronger than Hurricane Pauline, which claimed hundreds of lives in Guerrero and Oaxaca in 1997.
Category 5 Hurricane Otis made landfall just after 12 a.m. on Wednesday Oct. 25, causing blackouts, flooding and terror throughout the night. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
Otis, which strengthened very quickly into a major hurricane after being upgraded from tropical storm status on Tuesday morning, flooded homes and roads, toppled trees and caused significant damage to buildings in Acapulco, but no deaths had been reported as of 11 a.m. Wednesday.
“The hurricane hit Guerrero very hard,” President López Obrador said at his Wednesday morning press conference, noting that Acapulco, Coyuca de Benítez, Benito Juárez and Técpan de Galeana were among the municipalities most affected.
He said that no deaths had been reported, but acknowledged that communication “had been completely lost” in the area, where electricity, telephone and internet services were cut off.
The United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that satellite imagery showed that Otis made landfall near Acapulco at about 12:25 a.m. Mexico City time.
“The maximum sustained winds are estimated to be 165 mph (270 km/h),” the agency said a short time after the hurricane hit.
At 9 a.m., Otis was a Category 1 hurricane with maximum winds of 130 km/h, according to the NHC. It was located 160 km north-northwest of Acapulco near Ciudad Altamirano.
The powerful winds brought by the hurricane shattered windows and sent objects flying through the air in Acapulco, according to a report by Aristegui Noticias. The newspaper Reforma reported that hotels were among the buildings damaged, while the Associated Press said that “downed trees, persistent rain and flooding made it difficult to move” in coastal areas of Guerrero.
A photograph showed that the Galerías Diana shopping center in Acapulco sustained major damage.
An image circulated on social media of major damages to the popular mall Galerías Diana in downtown Acapulco. (@SVElClarin/X)
Dozens of vehicles were stranded in floodwaters on major roads that run through Acapulco, including the seafront Miguel Alemán Avenue, according to Reforma, while the Autopista del Sol highway was closed near the La Venta tollgate due to a landslide.
Videos posted to social media showed wind howling through buildings in Acapulco, including an IMSS public hospital.
Guerrero Civil Protection Minister Roberto Arroyo Matus said early Tuesday that authorities hadn’t been able to establish contact with regional Civil Protection officials. There are dozens of small towns along and near the Guerrero coast where significant damage likely occurred.
Shelters were set up in numerous towns in Guerrero and authorities had warned residents to take measures to protect themselves. However, the rapid strengthening of the hurricane likely caught many people by surprise.
Los pacientes no estaban seguros en los hospitales en #Acapulco, Guerrero, durante el paso del huracán #Otis categoría 5.
The New York Times reported that “forecasters were alarmed by the speed of Otis’s intensification.”
“… Just how much devastation it will wreak, experts say, will depend both on the storm’s force and the rapidness of emergency response,” the Times said.
The National Meteorological Service (SMN) said Wednesday morning that Otis would cause “extraordinary” rain of over 250 mm in Guerrero as well as “intense” precipitation of 75-150 mm in Michoacán and southwest México state. Heavy rain is forecast for Morelos and parts of Puebla and Oaxaca.
Meanwhile, the Federal Electricity Commission said on the X social media site that power went off for over 504,000 customers, but service had been reestablished for just under 203,000.
Acapulco was caught off guard by the pace at which the storm strengthened over only 12 hours on Tuesday. (Carlos Alberto Carbajal/Cuartoscuro)
Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado said on X that authorities were working to reestablish telephone service as soon as possible in areas where it was cut, including Acapulco and Chilpancingo, the state capital.
“From the first hours of the morning, we’ve met with representatives of the three levels of government to evaluate the damage caused by the impact of Hurricane Otis,” she said, adding that assistance was already being provided to those who need it.
A Russian contingent participated in a Mexican military parade celebrating independence on Sept. 16, which Arturo Sarukhan views as one of many recent diplomatic blunders by President López Obrador. (Embajada Rusa en México/X)
Our country undoubtedly faces enormous public policy challenges – some of them existential – as well as an inevitable debate about the vision of the Mexican state on the road to next year’s presidential elections.
As is the case in most countries (except at particular historical moments), foreign policy will not define how Mexicans end up voting at the polls. But it does have an essential impact on Mexico’s well-being, prosperity, security, and national interests.
That is why what we have witnessed these past weeks is alarming.
Mexico’s aimless foreign policy
There were 10 days in September in which President López Obrador once again turned his back on the world, ignored foreign policy, and gave the finger to both the rules-based international system and to international relations. His is a foreign policy adrift, with the unavoidable consequence of sending Mexico’s world credibility hurtling towards rock bottom.
First, the President did not attend (once again) a key summit of a mechanism to which Mexico belongs – the G20, in India – and missed his fifth United Nations General Assembly in a row. There will be no shortage of supporters of the 4T (López Obrador’s “fourth transformation” movement) who will argue: What difference does it make? Nothing happens in these forums.
López Obrador himself has taken to affirming the same in his increasingly contentious rhetoric against the U.N. But let’s see what actually did happen at two of these forums.
At the G20, the chess game of global governance is being decided as other groups coalesce, such as the expanded BRICS.
And both at this summit and in the U.N. General Assembly, what sometimes matters more than anything else are the bilateral meetings of leaders that take place in parallel. The absence of the Mexican head of state means that our country lost opportunities for dialogue.
What is López Obrador’s international vision?
The last month seems to have come full circle in our country’s current international vision, with Mexico’s return to the G-77, an international forum that we abandoned as irrelevant in 1994 when we joined the OECD, and with a photo-op of the Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretary with her Russian counterpart in New York. Body language says a lot about the utter tone-deafness in this government when it comes to foreign policy and current events.
The cluelessness with which our president operates culminated in reversing himself, announcing that despite having previously confirmed his attendance, he wouldn’t be attending the APEC Summit in San Francisco in November (he since has pulled a U-turn on this, affirming a couple of weeks ago that he has reconsidered and would, after all, participate). The reason he gave at the time? The participation of Peru, a country with which “we have no relations”, according to López Obrador, though the two countries continue to have diplomatic relations.
This last invective leads us to the cherry on the cake of these shocking 10 days of foreign policy blunders.
Is López Obrador provoking the U.S.?
It is not entirely clear whether the real reason for López Obrador’s about face regarding the APEC Summit had to do with Peruvian participation, or if in reality, this is nothing more than a smokescreen to cover up the fact that U.S. diplomats may have at the time nixed a bilateral meeting between López Obrador and Biden on the sidelines of the summit. This is perhaps not surprising in the context of the shameful and unjustifiable decision to permit a Russian contingent to participate in the Independence Day parade on Sept. 16.
The president claims that critics have made “a lot of fuss” over the Russian presence in the parade. But let’s take a step back.
There is no doubt that the parade was an endorsement of authoritarian regimes with the contingents – Nicaraguan, Cuban, Venezuelan – that marched in it. But the Russian issue is a separate one: it is a provocation, international bravado directed against our main trading partner and neighbor, and against the European Union and the nations that have supported Ukraine in confronting and repelling the Russian aggression.
Since the last time Russia participated in a National Independence military parade during the bicentennial of our independence in 2010, Moscow has twice – in 2014 with the illegal annexation of Crimea, and now in 2022 with the attack on the rest of Ukraine – violated international law and the U.N. charter, invading without justification and in a premeditated manner an independent and sovereign nation. And for good measure, Putin has an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Russian troops on Ukrainian soil.
This latest cascade of mistakes is like a torpedo below the waterline of Mexico’s reputation and credibility in the main diplomatic capitals of the world.
What these 10 fateful days of Mexican diplomacy – or the lack thereof – have shown is a president and an administration without a moral compass and a geopolitical north star. Above all, this reveals that this particular “style” of stale, clumsy presidential diplomacy does take its toll on our country.
Biden will ensure that the relationship with Mexico is not derailed at a time when migratory flows to the U.S. are once again increasing in a vertiginous – and electorally dangerous – manner. But in a US presidential campaign where the GOP and GOP presidential contenders are resorting to Mexico-bashing as if the country were a piñata, perceptions can become reality.
With Lopez Obrador’s evisceration of security, intelligence and law-enforcement cooperation with the U.S., his narrative that fentanyl is not produced in Mexico and that it is “not Mexico’s problem”, and now – in the immediate aftermath of the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas against Israelis – his refusal to condemn Hamas and call it what it is, a terrorist organization, the president is stirring up hurricanes in the relationship with the U.S., with members of Congress of both parties, and with public opinion in general.
If we take into account that in a summer survey of U.S. voters who identify themselves as Republicans, 46% (compared to 18% in 2021) say Mexico is “perceived” as an “enemy” of the U.S., and that in a new poll out last week, a strong majority of people in the United States believe that the U.S. and Mexico have equal responsibility for stopping illegal immigration and drug trafficking, yet only 16% see Mexico as a “close ally”, I can’t tell you what images of Russian soldiers in the Zócalo will do to our major trading partner’s perceptions of Mexico, in the run-up to a presidential election.
This article was originally published in El Universal newspaper.
Arturo Sarukhan has had a distinguished education and career, serving as Mexico’s ambassador to the U.S. (2007-2013), and in additional advisory roles in both Mexico and the U.S. Currently based in Washington, D.C., he writes about international issues for various media outlets and is a regular opinion columnist published on Mexico News Daily.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mexico News Daily, its owner or its employees.
Public investment, such as this hospital in Chiapas, has buoyed the Mexican construction sector. (IMSS/Cuartoscuro)
Buoyed by work on public infrastructure projects such as the Maya Train railroad, Mexico’s construction sector is booming.
The value of construction sector production surged 45.8% annually in seasonally adjusted terms in August to reach its highest level since President López Obador took office almost five years ago, according to data from the national statistics agency INEGI.
The Maya Train, which is expected to open in December, is one of a number of public infrastructure projects pushed during López Obrador’s administration. (Tren Maya)
Construction sector activity was worth an estimated 63.16 billion pesos (US $3.45 billion) in August. Just over 37% of the total came from residential, industrial, commercial, educational and healthcare building projects – whose value increased 20.5% compared to August last year – while 33.2% came from “transport and urbanization projects,” including rail, highways and airports, whose value increased by an impressive 133.7%.
Almost 10% of the total came from oil and petrochemical projects, including work on refineries, but the value of construction in that sub-sector declined 2% in annual terms.
Published Monday, the results of INEGI’s National Survey of Construction Companies also showed that the number of people employed in the construction sector increased 1.9% compared to August last year, hours worked rose 9.8% and average wages grew 5.5%.
Private sector projects contributed to 52.4% of the overall value of construction sector production, while the other 47.6% came from public projects, with transport ones generating the lion’s share of the total. Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Mexican bank Banco Base, said that the public sector share of the construction value total was the highest on record.
The petrochemical industry also accounted for almost 10% of construction production value, despite a 2% decrease from August 2022. (Edgar Negrete/Cuartoscuro)
The federal government is currently working on a range of infrastructure projects including the Maya Train railroad in southeastern Mexico, the modernization of tracks across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the new Pemex oil refinery on the coast of Tabasco. The newspaper El Economista noted that those public projects, and others, were to a large extent responsible for the positive construction sector results in August.
President López Obrador has pursued an ambitious infrastructure-building agenda since taking office in December 2018. In addition to undertaking work on the aforesaid projects, his administration has built the Felipe Ángeles International Airport north of Mexico City, water infrastructure in several states and over 2,000 state-owned “Wellbeing” banks, among other projects. The new Tulum airport and the Mexico City-Toluca passenger train line are scheduled to be completed soon.
Month-over month construction growth
The total value of construction sector production in August was up 5% compared to July, continuing a month-over-month winning streak that began in March. Construction sector worker numbers increased 0.9%, hours worked rose 1% and average salaries jumped 3.3%.
The number of construction workers in Mexico also rose by 0.9% in response to the increased demand. (IMSS/Cuartoscuro)
Which states drove the positive results in August?
Quintana Roo, the Caribbean coast state where work on the Maya Train and the Tulum airport is nearing completion, captured the largest share of the construction pie in August, with 15.8% of the total value of production.
Ranking second to fifth were:
Campeche (8.2%) – another state through which the Maya Train will run.
Nuevo León (7.9%) – a leading destination for foreign investment.
Jalisco (5.3%) – one of Mexico’s most industrialized states.
Mexico City (4.9%) – the national capital.
Quintana Roo, which has seen major construction with the Maya Train and new Tulum Airport projects, had the biggest share in total production value in August, almost 15.8% of Mexico’s total. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
Almost 43% of the total value of transport and urbanization projects was concentrated in Quintana Roo in August, while Tabasco accounted for 38% of the oil sector construction value.
Julio Santaella, an economist and former president of INEGI, said on the X social media site that the value of construction projects in Tamaulipas was up 77.4% in August compared to a year earlier, while increases of 41.1% and 39% were recorded in Coahuila and Chihuahua, respectively.
Santaella said that those gains were “congruent” with the nearshoring phenomenon, in which foreign companies relocate to Mexico to be closer to the United States market.
The outlook for the construction sector
There are questions over whether construction growth will continue after 2025, as government spending in the sector slows. (Shivendu Shukla/Unsplash)
Gabriela Siller said on X that construction sector growth is expected to continue in 2024 due to the government’s increased expenditure on its signature infrastructure projects.
However, she warned that the value of construction sector production could “plummet” in 2025 due to a lack of government resources for large infrastructure projects.
Private sector construction could potentially offset a decline in infrastructure spending during the term of the next government given that large amounts of foreign investment are expected to flow into the country as more companies set up shop in Mexico as part of the nearshoring phenomenon.
About one-third – 33.9% – of total private sector construction production in August came from industrial and commercial building projects, whose value increased 23.3% on a year-over-year basis.
Those figures could grow in the near term given that many foreign companies – including Tesla, Ternium and Kawasaki – have announced plans to build plants in Mexico, but have not yet acted on those plans.
Clinical studies have shown promising results regarding the use of psilocybin in treating depression and anxiety disorders. Research conducted at Johns Hopkins University and Imperial College London has demonstrated that a single dose of psilocybin, when administered in a controlled therapeutic setting, can lead to significant and enduring reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety. Patients have reported profound experiences, increased emotional openness and a sense of connectedness.
A 2021 study conducted on 59 patients with major depression by the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, in the United Kingdom, compared the efficacy of the antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro) with psilocybin. The study revealed that just two doses of psilocybin appeared to be at least as effective as daily escitalopram pills when administered alongside psychological therapy. Patients receiving psilocybin experienced greater improvement, with double the number achieving remission compared to the antidepressant group. While researchers consider these findings encouraging, they emphasize the importance of further research to understand the role of psilocybin as a therapy for depression. It is strongly advised not to self-medicate with psilocybin, as professional psychological therapy is an integral part of the treatment process.
Psilocybin alleviating end-of-life distress
Psilocybin-assisted therapy has shown promise in addressing the psychological and existential distress often experienced by individuals facing terminal illnesses. Studies have found that psilocybin can facilitate a shift in perspective, helping patients confront their mortality and find meaning and acceptance in their circumstances.
A 2021 study conducted on 59 patients with major depression by the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, in the United Kingdom, compared the efficacy of the antidepressant escitalopram with psilocybin. (Unsplash)
Psilocybin for managing addiction
Research suggests that psilocybin may hold potential in the treatment of addiction, particularly for substances such as tobacco and alcohol. Studies conducted at New York University and Johns Hopkins University, have shown that psilocybin-assisted therapy can lead to higher rates of smoking cessation and reduced alcohol consumption. The psychedelic experience induced by psilocybin may help individuals break free from habitual thought patterns.
Psilocybin boosting creativity and well-being
Psilocybin has also been linked to enhanced creativity, increased openness and improved overall well-being. Research has indicated that psilocybin can induce a state of heightened perception, increased sensory awareness, and novel cognitive insights. This altered state of consciousness can unlock new perspectives, stimulate creativity, and facilitate personal growth and self-exploration.
Psilocybin’s potential to boost neuroplasticity and neurogenesis
Emerging studies suggest that psilocybin may have the capacity to promote neuroplasticity and neurogenesis — the growth and development of new neural connections and brain cells. These findings have implications for the potential treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and cognitive decline. However, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and long-term implications of psilocybin on brain plasticity.
Psilocybin to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Preliminary studies have indicated that psilocybin could have a positive impact on reducing symptoms of OCD. Further research is needed to understand this potential use better.
It’s important to emphasize that while these preliminary findings are promising, more research, including larger and well-controlled clinical trials, is necessary to establish the safety and efficacy of psilocybin for these medical uses. Additionally, psilocybin should only be used under the guidance of trained healthcare professionals in controlled and supervised settings.
*This article is part of a series about psilocybin and its uses, both traditional and modern. We will also discuss its legal status around the world and explore the physical and mental health benefits that these mushrooms offer.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. Individuals should always consult with qualified professionals regarding the use of psilocybin or any other substance for medical purposes, taking into account the applicable laws and regulations of their jurisdiction.
Camila Sánchez Bolaño is a journalist, feminist, bookseller, lecturer, and cultural promoter and is Editor in Chief of Newsweek en Español magazine.
The tropical storm has strengthened into a hurricane, and will reach the coastal state of Guerrero by Wednesday. (Conagua)
Tropical Storm Otis has strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane off Mexico’s Pacific coast and is predicted to make landfall early Wednesday near the resort city of Acapulco, in the state of Guerrero.
At midday on Tuesday, the U.S.National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Hurricane Otis was centered about 235 kilometers southeast of Acapulco, moving northwest at 11 km/h.
Otis is expected to make its way up the Guerrero coast towards Zihuatanejo before losing strength. (NOAA)
It already has maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h with higher gusts, and is predicted to strengthen further before reaching land.
A Hurricane Warning is in place for the Guerrero coast, between Punta Maldonado and Zihuatanejo, meaning that hurricane conditions are expected within the next 24 hours. Authorities recommend that “preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.” Hurricane conditions are also possible on the coast of Oaxaca north of Laguna de Chacahua.
Mexico’sNational Meteorological Service (SMN) predicts torrential rain (150-250 mm) in Guerrero and heavy rain (75-150 mm) in Oaxaca. The NHC warns that this rainfall “will produce flash and urban flooding,” with possible mudslides in mountain regions.
A storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding in the center and east of the affected area, along with life-threatening rip currents and waves 3 to 5 meters high.
The Guerrero coast, already battered by Hurricane Max earlier this month, has been told to prepare for further flooding and storm surges. (Carlos Carbajal/Cuartoscuro)
After hitting land on early Wednesday, the hurricane is predicted to weaken rapidly as it moves northwest along the coast of Guerrero.
Otis will hit Mexico just days after Hurricane Norma battered the state of Baja California Sur. Norma made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane near the resort towns of Los Cabos on Saturday, forcing around 60,000 tourists to take shelter in their hotels.
Although Norma weakened to a Category 1 shortly after making landfall, and then to aTropical Storm before moving eastwards over Sinaloa, it still caused significant flooding and disruption to infrastructure in both states, leaving tens of thousands of people without power.
Molcajetes serve a variety of purposes: grinding spices, making salsas and smashing up local avocados for a giant bowl of crowd-pleasing guacamole. (Unsplash)
Whether you’ve moved to Mexico or simply want to create Mexican masterpieces in your kitchen, a few special tools are essential to your success.
I recently embarked on a mission to find out exactly what is required in an authentic Mexican kitchen. I enlisted the help of my friend Mich, born and raised in Mexico City, and his mother. I admit there is one vital tool missing from this list that I personally deem the most important of all – jícaras for mezcal. Because you’ve got to sip while you slice, right?
If you’re in Mexico, many of the items below can be found at your local tianguis, or market. Admittedly, I’ve succumbed to ordering from Walmart and Ikea on occasion, which carry nearly everything needed for a Mexican kitchen. If you’re not in Mexico, it will be just as easy to stock up with the assistance of almighty Amazon.
Ready to fill up your cart? Here are the 10 essential items you will need to become Mexico’s next top chef.
Molcajete
Known in English as a mortar and pestle, the molcajete was the number one utensil that each of my interviewees suggested when I asked for the most essential Mexican kitchen items. Molcajetes serve a variety of purposes: grinding spices, making salsas and smashing up local avocados for a giant bowl of crowd-pleasing guacamole.
However, it’s crucial to research your molcajete options thoroughly before making any purchases. Many “knock-off” pieces have surfaced in recent years, made of cement instead of volcanic stone.
If you’ve walked the streets of any Mexican town or city, you’ve likely seen a comal sizzling with quesadillas and gorditas. They’re usually round, flat and quite thin griddles made of clay or cast iron, and are used to fry tortillas, meats and tortas. A comal is also great for toasting chiles and spices.
A comal is also great for toasting chiles and spices.
The comals used by street vendors can be several feet in width, though there are options of 18 or 24 inches across which are better suited for home kitchens. Be sure to ask whether or not your comal is “pre-seasoned” and remember always to wash it by hand.
Cazuela
Traditional cazuelas are made by hand in states like Hidalgo, where clay is extracted locally.
“Cazuela” is a word that can refer to both a “stew” or “casserole,” as well as the recipient the cazuela cooks in, oftentimes a shallow clay dish painted with delicate flowers or vines. A cazuela can come in a variety of sizes and can be used to hold soups, stews or even cocktails.
Traditional cazuelas are made by hand in states like Hidalgo, where clay is extracted locally. They can be used directly on a stove top, in an oven, on a grill or even in a microwave if the size is right. Make sure to cure the pot before usage.
Keep your tortillas warm.
Tortillero (tortilla warmer)
Regardless of whether you choose to make or buy them, tortillas are a staple in any Mexican household and a tortillero will save you both the time and energy required to reheat them continuously. If you’re in Mexico, you can buy a colorful tortilla warmer on any street corner for a modest price.
Keep your hands clean while squeezing those lemons.
Lime squeezer
Some locals may gawk at the idea of using a squeezer instead of your fingers and a fork, but for those dishes that require lots of lime juice, a squeezer is a game changer. I suggest buying a stainless steel squeezer, because despite the visual satisfaction of a colored plastic one, the paint often chips off from the acid and can fall into your dish. There are much better seasonings to choose from.
Tortilladora (tortilla press)
If buying fresh tortillas from the tortillería (tortilla shop) isn’t an option, or if you enjoy the process of making your own, a tortilladora will be all but necessary in your kitchen. These presses can be made of cast iron, aluminum or wood, and come in a variety of sizes. Have a look at this article in Epicurious, which rates and ranks a handful of tortilla presses that can be ordered online.
Olla de barro frijolera (ceramic black bean pot)
Similar to a cazuela, the “olla de barro” is a stout clay pot generally used to make beans, and can be used on a stovetop or in an oven. Since the pot is made of clay and generally comes with a lid, your culinary masterpiece will keep warm for a much longer period of time. When purchasing your olla de barro, double check that it is not coated with any toxic substances and make sure to cure it before use.
Wooden spatulas
Wooden spatulas. (wondrwood)
Wooden spatulas are a staple in any Mexican kitchen since they will not scratch your cooking pots and pans while sauteing. Over time, they tend to absorb flavors and spices so it’s good to replace spatulas about once a year. While on the topic, allow me to also suggest investing in an “escobetilla”, a small bristle brush used to clean everything from fruits to cooking pots without leaving a scratch.
Vaporera (steamer)
As we enter the never-ending Mexican holiday season, now is a good time to purchase a “vaporera”. Why? Because if you are the lucky guest to end up with a tiny baby Jesus figurine in your slice of Rosca de Reyes on Three Kings Day, you will be expected to host a tamal feast on Día de la Candelaria (Feb. 2). And how will you make tamales without a steamer?
Well, you could order them, but what’s the fun in that? If you’re not located in Mexico where you can buy a vaporera at your local market, check out Bustle’s list of The 4 Best Tamale Steamers and order online.
Molinillo de chocolate
I actually left this one off the first draft, thinking nobody actually made hot chocolate at home. Well, apparently I was wrong.
When I showed my original list to my friend Mich, he immediately identified this tool as the missing link. A “molinillo”, or little mill, is a wooden whisk that will, and I quote, “mix and melt it without leaving big pieces of chocolate.”
With this little gadget you are guaranteed an even distribution of chocolatey flavor in your mug, impressing even the most experienced of abuelas.
But wait! There’s one more!
Specifically for readers moving, or recently relocated, to Mexico, I highly suggest investing in a good quality water filter. Plastic water bottles, and garrafones (jugs), are available and affordable, but with the safety of drinking from plastic constantly in question (see the Clean Water Action Organization’s article, Bottled Water: The Human Health Consequences of Drinking from Plastic), it’s good to know that there are options. Eco Filtro is made in Guatemala and comes in a beautiful variety of colors, designs, and sizes. It filters tap water naturally through a system of activated carbon, clay, and colloidal silver, leaving clean and fresh drinking water – without the plastic waste.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.
National Guard members and forensic investigators at the scene of the crime in Guerrero. (Cuartoscuro)
A group of armed men killed a municipal security secretary and 12 police officers in a coastal area of the southern state of Guerrero on Monday, according to authorities.
An unidentified criminal group ambushed the town of Coyuca de Benítez’s municipal police on the highway between Acapulco and Zihuatanejo shortly after midday, according to reports. At least 30 armed men participated in the attack, the El Financiero newspaper reported.
The ambush occurred in El Papayo, about 50 kilometers from Acapulco, Guerrero. (CARLOS CARBAJAL/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Security Secretary Alfredo Alonso López, Local Police Director Honorio Salinas and five police officers were reportedly murdered at the scene of the ambush in El Papayo, a community about 20 kilometers northwest of the municipal seat of Coyuca de Benítez and just over 50 kilometers from Acapulco.
Six other officers were reportedly kidnapped and taken to a nearby location where they were tortured and killed.
In addition to the 13 murders, the Guerrero Attorney General’s office said on Monday that two people were injured during “the events today in the municipality of Coyuca de Benítez.” It said in a statement that investigative police and forensic experts were present at the crime scenes to collect “the evidence necessary” to solve the crime.
Deputy Attorney General Gabriel Hernández said earlier on Monday that authorities were considering two possible “lines of investigation” in relation to the crime. He noted that Coyuca de Benítez authorities hadn’t reported any threats against local officials.
According to officials, at least 30 gunmen ambushed the police officers. (CARLOS CARBAJAL/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
While the attack hasn’t been officially attributed to any crime group, the newspaper El País reported that state authorities have been aware for months of the increased presence of La Familia Michoacana in the Costa Grande region of Guerrero, which includes Coyuca de Benítez. Nearby, the notoriously violent Tierra Caliente region of Guerrero, Michoacán and México state is the stronghold of that criminal organization.
The massacre on Monday came some 10 months after former Coyuca de Benítez security secretary David Borja Luciano was targeted in an armed attack that claimed the lives of three police officers. Borja, who was injured, subsequently resigned his post.
Among Mexico’s 32 federal entities, Guerrero has recorded the second highest number of police murders in 2023 with 34, according to Causa en Común, a Mexico City-based non-government organization that tracks killings of officers. Guanajuato, Mexico’s most violent state in terms of total homicides, ranks first.
At least 341 police officers have been killed across Mexico this year, while more than 400 were murdered in 2022.
Guerrero is one of the biggest producers of opium poppies in Mexico. (Archive)
Eduardo Guerrero, an intelligence consultant, attributed violence in Guerrero in recent years to turf wars between rival drug cartels. Opium poppies and marijuana are grown in mountainous areas of the state, which also includes popular coastal resort cities such as Acapulco and Zihuatanejo.
Guerrero, who was quoted in a New York Times report, said that some criminals in Guerrero have been targeting security forces ever since the federal government built a new military facility in the state last year.
“We have attacks [in Guerrero] every week,” he said, adding that cartels there appear to “specialize in killing police officers.”
A federal and state prosecutor were killed in the state last month, the former in the capital city of Chilpancingo, and the latter in the Tierra Caliente region.
Shortly after the police killings, academic and community leader Rigoberto Acosta González was murdered in Chilpancingo in a separate incident.
In the neighboring state of Michoacán, five people including a police officer were shot dead on Monday in an attack in Tacámbaro that targeted the brother of the municipality’s mayor.
President López Obrador with the leaders of Colombia, Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti and Honduras. (Presidencia de la República)
The federal government’s employment programs could be rolled out across multiple Central American, South American and Caribbean countries as part of a plan agreed to by the participants in a regional migration summit in Palenque, Chiapas, on Sunday.
The governments of 10 countries, including those of Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba and Colombia, also sent a clear message to the United States in a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the summit: “lift unilateral coercive measures imposed on countries of the region,” such as the embargo against Cuba that has been in place for over six decades.
The president convened the summit to address the regional migration crisis. (SRE/X)
President López Obrador, who convened the “Palenque Meeting for a Fraternal Neighborhood with Wellbeing,” was joined by four other presidents – Xiomara Castro of Honduras, Gustavo Petro of Colombia, Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba and Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela – Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, and high-ranking officials from El Salvador, Costa Rica, Belize and Panama.
Representatives of Guatemalan president-elect Bernardo Arévalo also attended the summit, but Guatemala wasn’t one of the 10 countries that issued the joint statement. Ecuador was invited, but no officials from that country made the trip to Chiapas.
The governments of the United States and Canada asked to attend the meeting as observers, but their request was rejected, according to an El País newspaper report.
What was the purpose of the summit?
Invitees to the summit comprised of leaders of countries that have been severely affected by the migration crisis, including President Xiomara Castro of Honduras. (lopezobrador.org.mx)
López Obrador announced Oct. 9 that he had invited the leaders of Ecuador, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, Costa Rica and Panama to a migration meeting in Palenque “because they are the countries that have the most involvement in everything related to migration,” either because large numbers of their citizens are leaving or because they host migrants as they pass through en route to Mexico and the United States.
He said earlier this month that the aim of the summit was to reach agreements “to attend to the migration phenomenon while respecting human rights, providing options [and] protecting migrants.”
“… We need to come to an agreement because we can do a lot of things. And also, if we agree, we can seek the cooperation of the United States government, ask them to help. They already are, but they should apply themselves more to attending to the causes [of migration], and not just think about walls, about militarizing the border,” López Obrador said.
The summit was held as large numbers of migrants continue to travel through Mexico to the United States border, where they either attempt to enter the U.S. illegally or present themselves to immigration authorities with the hope they will be allowed in legally.
Migrants attempt to Cross the Rio Grande. 2022 was the deadliest year for migrants on record, according to U.S. government statistics. (Pedro Anza / Cuartoscuro.com)
The 10 countries agreed to 14 points to “jointly confront the migration reality” they face.
Before the points were outlined in a joint statement, the nations identified “political, social and economic” factors as well as “the negative effects of climate change” as being the main “structural causes” of migration.
They also said that “external factors such as indiscriminate unilateral coercive measures negatively affect entire populations and, to a greater extent, the most vulnerable people and communities.”
The first and most elaborate point agreed to by the 10 countries was to draw up “an action plan for development … to attend to the structural causes of irregular migration in the region.”
Climate change was also identified as a major issue during the summit. (Michael Balam/Cuartoscuro)
The nations identified seven “priority areas” for the plan:
Self-sufficiency and food sovereignty.
Protection, conservation and restoration of the environment.
The provision of “decent” employment and education opportunities.
Energy security, including through renewable sources.
Self-sufficiency in health matters
Trade and “intra-regional investment for socio-economic development.”
Security cooperation, including on the fight against transnational organized, human trafficking and corruption.
Mexico is poised to play a leading role in the plan, according to the joint statement, which said the Mexican government will immediately offer “cooperation and technical assistance in these areas” to the other countries.
The Mexican government is set to advise its regional counterparts on the implementation of its Sembrando Vida (Sowing Life) reforestation/employment program and its Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro (Youth Building the Future) apprenticeship scheme, according to the statement.
López Obrador asserts that those programs, which have already been rolled out in Honduras and El Salvador, can help stem northward migration. He frequently says that migrants don’t leave their countries “for pleasure,” but due to necessity stemming from a lack of economic opportunities.
The joint statement said that Mexico will also offer its cooperation on oil, gas, electricity and renewable energy matters, and on a “platform of regulatory harmonization” for the creation of a Latin American and Caribbean medications agency.
President López Obrador also praised the efficacy of social programs aimed to reduce northward migration through Mexico. (Damián Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)
Among the other 13 points agreed to by the 10 countries was one to “urge” the removal of “unilateral coercive measures imposed on countries of the region” given that “they are contrary to international law and have serious repercussions beyond the target countries.”
The statement didn’t name the United States, but it was clear that was the country it was referring to. López Obrador has repeatedly called on the United States to lift its trade embargo on Cuba, while the U.S. has also imposed sanctions on Venezuela, although those on the South American country’s oil sector were eased last week after the Venezuelan government and opposition parties reached an agreement for next year’s election.
Additional key points outlined in the statement were agreements to:
Call for “countries of origin, transit and destination” to implement “comprehensive migration policies that respect the human right to migrate.”
Call for “destination countries” – the United States and Canada, for example – to adopt migration policies and practices “in accordance with the current reality of our region” and to avoid “inconsistent and selective ones,” such as the “regularization” of people from “certain countries.”
Support Haiti with the aim of “reestablishing an environment of human safety” and normalizing “the political, economic and social situation” in that country, the poorest in the Americas.
Promote “coordinated efforts” aimed at sovereign debt relief, “for the purpose of allowing countries … to obtain greater levels of development, close social gaps and reduce the intention to migrate.”
Ask destination countries to expand “regular, orderly and safe” options for migration.
Propose to the governments of Cuba and the United States that they promptly hold “comprehensive” talks on their bilateral relationship.
What did the leaders say?
López Obrador pointed out during the summit that funding provided by the United States government for development projects in Western Hemisphere nations is easily exceeded by the resources it allocates for “armaments for wars,” such as those between Ukraine and Russia, and Israel and Hamas.
López Obrador pledged to discuss the results of the summit with U.S. President Biden during November’s Asia-Pacific summit. (lopezobrador.org.mx)
“We cannot wait for substantive initiatives to be taken by the United States government. We have to act [on the migration issue] and we can do it, we can help each other,” he said.
On the X social media site, López Obrador described the meeting as “very productive” in a post that included a video showing him touring the Palenque archaeological site with other leaders and officials.
On Monday, he said he would raise the issues discussed in Palenque with U.S. President Joe Biden when he meets with him in San Francisco next month during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ meeting.
Speaking to the press at the conclusion of a summit marked by considerable anti-United States sentiment, President Maduro took the opportunity to rail against “criminal, immoral” sanctions imposed on Venezuela by the U.S. government.
He characterized the sanctions as the biggest driver of migration out of Venezuela and asserted that large numbers of Venezuelans would return to the country if they were lifted.
Maduro said that he received unanimous support from the other countries represented at the summit for the “complete and permanent lifting” of “more than 930 illegal sanctions.”
Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro also called for the lifting of U.S. sanctions against his country, which he called “illegal”. (Nicolás Maduro/X)
“Lift all the sanctions … without extortion, without blackmail, without conditions and Venezuela … in less than a year will be reversing all the causes [of migration],” he said.
On X, President Díaz-Canel asserted that the United States incites “the irregular migration of Cubans” with its “measures of economic suffocation” on the island nation and “facilities for migrants from our country.”
“This conduct affects Cuba, Cuban migrants and the United States and has consequences for countries of transit in the region, which face their own irregular emigration challenges,” he wrote.
“We reiterate the firm commitment of Cuba to regular, safe and orderly migration.”
Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan will be a contributing opinion columnist at Mexico News Daily. (Courtesy)
Get a comprehensive insider’s take from Mexico News Daily’s new opinion columnist, who has 30 years of diplomacy experience, about Mexico’s rising place on the world stage.
The grandson of Catalan and Armenian refugees in Mexico, Arturo Sarukhan has had a distinguished education and career, serving as Mexico’s ambassador to the U.S. (2007-2013), at the forefront of international strategic decisions in advisory roles in both Mexico and the U.S.
Currently based in Washington, D.C., he writes about international issues in a biweekly column for El Universal newspaper, contributes op-eds in U.S. media, and has a weekly radio show on Enfoque Noticias and a program on Milenio TV in Mexico.He was also included on the list of global leaders published by Monocle magazine, and was on “The 300 Most Influential Mexican Leaders” list of Líderes Mexicanos magazine for five years.
What makes your point of view unique as an expert on Mexico-U.S. relations?
I have spent most of my academic and diplomatic life dedicated to understanding and studying the US and, as an emissary, seeking to turn the Mexico-U.S. relationship into a true strategic association for both peoples and nations.
Why are you so passionate about Mexico-U.S. relations?
No two nations are so singularly relevant to each other’s wellbeing, prosperity and security than Mexico and the US. And we will succeed or fail as nations together.
What excites you about Mexico’s rising visibility & prominence on the global stage?
The sheer potential, particularly when you put it in the context of North America’s promise as a region in the 21st Century. But I am nonetheless concerned about Mexico’s global prominence due to important mistakes and miscalculations in the international arena by the current Mexican government.
How do you hope the world sees Mexico differently in the coming 1-2 years?
That the real strength and resilience of Mexico lies in its people. The country has significant and real challenges, no doubt about that, and the country, its institutions and its people need to tackle them head on. And it will always face a tension between continuity -with its history, traditions, identity- and change, as it continues to modernize and hopefully take advantage of the once-in-a-generation opportunities that lie ahead, particularly in the North American space.
Why is it important that people living in Mexico follow the U.S. presidential election?
The U.S. is Mexico’s number one trading partner, with US$1.5 billion dollars of trade per day going in both directions, we have a 3,000 km contiguous land border, there are 37.2 million people of Mexican origin living in the US. And because contrary to Las Vegas, what happens in the U.S. doesn’t stay in the U.S.! Should I go on?
Why is it important that people globally follow the Mexico presidential election?
As the 13th largest economy in the world today and poised to be the 7th by 2050 (if it, of course, makes the right policy decisions), Mexico will face a critical and stark choice; to double down, or to correct course and pull a U-turn on a number of public policies issues that will ensure that Mexico stops punching below its weight in the international arena and meets its true potential.
What inspired you to contribute to Mexico News Daily?
It has a fresh and forward-leaning approach in explaining Mexico to the world, and it is nimble, lean and hungry to make an impact in terms of how Mexico is viewed and understood among English-speaking and international audiences.
Why do you recommend that someone read Mexico News Daily?
Mexico is certainly not for beginners. So it’s one-stop-shopping for anyone interested in a whole-of-Mexico approach to the country, and it is driven by a genuine and deep mission to translate Mexico — and all things Mexico — to international and in-country expat audiences.
What are you most optimistic about for Mexico in the coming year?
Geography (despite the wishes of some on either side of the US-Mexico border, you can’t press Control Alt Delete and make one or the other country disappear) is destiny; the resilience of its institutions; and the huge potential of its people.
Why should people globally spend time in Mexico, or spend time learning about Mexico?
Well, I am most likely not going to be objective here, but as one of the millennial cultures in the world, it is one of the most fascinating, culturally and historically significant, rich and biodiverse nations on the globe.
Where are your favorite places to visit in Mexico and why?
Mexico City, for any art and architecture lover and foodie is a must, but I have a weak spot for both the city and state of Oaxaca. It is a microcosmos of the nation at large.
If you could describe your career in two words, what would they be and why?
Rule-breaker; combative. I suffer those who address any challenge or problem with the phrase “that’s not the way things have been done”, and have always fought for what I believe in.
Do you have a favorite quote or mantra?
Maybe two: ‘Be vulnerable, be courageous, and find comfort in the uncomfortable’.
And, ‘You only fail when you stop trying’.
Hear from Ambassador Sarakhan in his upcoming regular opinion column on Mexico-U.S. relations for Mexico News Daily. Don’t miss his take as an expert at the forefront of Mexico’s progress on the international stage – starting Tuesday, Oct. 24.
