Micaela Mar & Leña scooped the top prize at the Mexico Gastronomic Guide awards with its modern interpretation of traditional Yucatecan cuisine. (Micaela Mar & Leña/Instagram)
The Mexico Gastronomic Guide 2024 has named Micaela Mar & Leña in Mérida, Yucatán as the best restaurant of the year.
The awards, chosen by publisher Larousse Cocina, recognized Micaela Mar & Leña as the best out of 250 restaurants included in the guide.
The restaurant is nestled in the heart of the colonial city of Mérida. (Micaela Mar & Leña/Instagram)
Micaela Mar & Leña opened in 2018 and is located in Mérida’s historic center. The menu includes fresh oysters, shrimp tacos, dried noodles, pig’s ear tostadas, banana molotes (fried banana with cheese), duck tamale, grilled octopus, and black mole sauce.
Founders Alberto Nacif and Vidal Elías, received the award during a ceremony that marked the 10th anniversary of the guide, at the Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana in Mexico City. Some 900 people attended the event.
“More than an award, it is an important and serious commitment that we continue to give the best of ourselves for the state, our diners, collaborators, and all those who make our work possible,” Nacif told newspaper La Jornada Maya.
This is the first time that the Mexico Gastronomic Guide has recognized a Yucatán restaurant as the best of the year.
The restaurant is named after Micaela, the daughter of a Louisiana man and a Mexican woman, who fled to Veracruz when she was 13. (Micaela Mar & Leña/Instagram)
“We are grateful and also aware that this celebration is not a product of chance, but rather the result of passion and perseverance,” Nacif added.
The restaurant was named in honor of a woman named Micaela, born in Louisiana in the 19th century to a formerly enslaved New Orleans man and a Mexican woman.
After her father passed away and her mother tried to force her into a marriage at age 13, Micaela ran away and worked as a nanny for a wealthy family in Veracruz, where she learned how to write, and recorded her wood-fired seafood recipes in a diary.
I’m so happy to be back to share the monthly tarot reading for your astrological sign.
For many people, February will finally feel like a true beginning. Joy will be present, and so will money. Don’t spend it making unnecessary purchases that may later keep you up at night, but rather invest in experiences that make you smile and will teach you something.
February is a month to create new memories. Have fun and know that you truly deserve it.
To get the most out of your tarot horoscope, be sure to read your rising, sun and moon signs. And in case you missed it, discover your full 2024 astrological reading…the year is just beginning!
See you in March,
Xiomara
Aquarius
January 20 – February 18
New income sources will be available to you this month. “Innovation” is your keyword, so use that as a superpower to co-create with people who think like you. Check your finances, have a monthly budget and find new ways to increase your passive income. Remember, as we say in Mexico; “Dinero llama Dinero” (money attracts money). Invest for the long term.
Pisces
February 19 – March 20
Responsibility will increase this month, which is reason enough to look for new ways to reduce any stress that might accumulate. Spend time having fun with friends or plan a short trip to the mountains as a way for you to renew yourself, recharge your energy and free yourself. ¡A darle que es mole de olla! (Shake a leg).
Aries
March 21 – April 19
“Patience” and “Temperance” are your keywords this month. Start taking action now because what you begin in February will bear fruit towards the end of spring. Take time to think about what you really want to bloom. You can’t speed up the harvest, so breathe, plan and choose wisely. As we say in Mexico, Al buen entendedor pocas palabras (Wise people take the hint).
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
Be mindful of any excesses this month. You will have many invitations to hang out, go to dinners with friends, and join celebrations. Although “Lo bailado nadie te lo quita” (Nobody can take back what you’ve already achieved), save your energy. You will need it as many changes are coming in your life, and a clear mind and rest are required to manage it all. Trust that you know how to deal with everything coming your way.
Gemini
May 21 – June 21
Amar!! February is the month when romance will soon come your way. If you are single, open yourself up to meeting new people, so that through them you can see yourself again. You might be surprised by how much you have changed. You may receive criticism for it, but know that it will have no influence on you. As Don Quijote said “Deja que los perros ladren, es señal de que estamos avanzando” (If the dogs are barking, that means we’re making progress).If you are in a relationship, be creative and plan a special date with your loved one — let “fun” be the focus of your relationship.
Cancer
June 22 – July 22
Abundance and creativity are the energies most present for you this month. Let your creativity flow by spending time alone with yourself. This is a great time for you to see new ideas emerge that will help you solve past issues. Esa es harina de otro costal (That’s another kettle of fish). It’s time to move forward. Celebrate by spoiling yourself!
Leo
July 23 – August 22
This month you may experience some challenges. It is important that you clear your head and distance yourself from the situation to better see the big picture. Look for a woman who will extend her hand to you and offer help to get you out of the situation that is troubling you. Listen carefully to her advice and trust it. Remember, Dios aprieta pero no ahorca (God will always provide).
Virgo
August 23 – September 22
This month will bring you the realization that the old structures on which you built your life no longer work for you. You have recently experienced a process of evolution and transformation, so “the usual” will leave you feeling stuck. You will feel compelled to live and act in a different way, but take it easy. Make time to rest and don’t make hasty decisions about the changes you need to make to move forward.
Libra
September 23 – October 22
February is a month of materialization. Choose a project or business that can generate more income for you in the long term. There is an energy of new beginnings for you to harness. Release any thoughts of guilt or defeat that you may be carrying. The new energy needs space to thrive so leave those feelings in the past. The only thing that is real is the present. By being present you will create your future.
Scorpio
October 23 – November 21
Ask yourself if what you are seeing is real or just a product of your past experiences. You are very likely seeing people through the lens of your past, and not as they really are. Do your best to avoid entering into conflicts and spend time in self-reflection about your part in any disagreements you find yourself in. This month healing energy is available for you. Make peace with that member of your family that you have distanced yourself from and that you miss a lot.
Sagittarius
November 22 – December 21
Be less hard on yourself and lighten up about your self-imposed rules. This month you will feel an intense need to protect yourself. Remember that nothing external can harm you any more than your negative thoughts can. It’s important to let laughter and joy be part of your journey in February.
Capricorn
December 22 – January 19
Remember to be careful with your words this month – there is so much power in them! Be open minded with people around you. There is so much value in our different points of view. Listen better and speak less, because you have so many things to learn. Be open to being the student, and not the teacher, as you usually are. It is time to learn from those who think differently because they probably have a key to unlock something you’ve been looking for. “El que a buen árbol se arrima, buena sombra le cobija” (It’s not what you know, but who you know).
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice.
Xiomara Zetina is a Mexican professional therapist specializing in holistic and energetic tools based in San Miguel de Allende. She studied psychology at the Universidad Latinoamericana in Mexico City and is certified in many energy tools including Reiki, Access Bars, and Family Constellations. You can work with her in person at Florsser in San Miguel de Allendeand connect with her on Instagram @xiomarazetina.
Campaign video or pyramid scheme? Claudia Sheinbaum's voice and image appear in a video asking people to participate in a get-rich-quick scheme. (Screen capture)
True or false? Presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum is promoting a kind of pyramid scheme to the very citizens she hopes will vote for her on June 2.
You guessed it.
Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum is representing the governing Morena party in the upcoming presidential elections. (Claudia Sheinbaum/X)
A video in which the former Mexico City mayor purportedly invites Mexicans to make a relatively small investment that will bring them extremely healthy returns surfaced on social media this week, but the Morena party presidential hopeful promptly denounced the clip as a “complete fraud.”
“What madness! It’s a video that they’re doing with artificial intelligence because you’ll see that it’s my voice, but it’s a fraud, they’re saying that we’re going to hand over money,” Sheinbaum said in an Instagram live video on Wednesday.
In the video — described as a “deepfake” by Wired magazine — the apparently digitally manipulated Sheinbaum impersonator presents a “marvelous opportunity” in which an initial investment of just 4,000 pesos (US $233) can be turned into income of 100,000 pesos or more per month.
“You’ve heard well. This isn’t a dream, it’s a reality that you are invited to take advantage of,” says the Claudia copycat.
“… Here’s the best part: I will personally reveal methods to increase your income. … Click the link below this video and see for yourselves how amazing these results are.”
In her video message, Sheinbaum warned citizens to be “very careful” and said that she had reported the fake footage to social media companies.
“If it’s necessary we’ll have to file a criminal complaint, but it’s very important that no one is fooled,” she said.
While the main aim of the video appears to be to defraud people of money, another objective could be to hurt Sheinbaum — the clear favorite to become Mexico’s next president — in an electoral sense.
Technology now allows political opponents to quickly and easily create false or incriminating videos – known as “deepfakes” – which appear as genuine messages from candidates. (Max Duzij/Unsplash)
Néstor Wario, the CEO and co-founder of the Mexican company Brita Inteligencia Artificial, predicted in late 2023 that videos, photos and audio purporting to feature Mexican politicians would emerge in the lead-up to the June 2 elections, at which Mexicans will vote for a new president, renew both houses of federal Congress and elect thousands of people to state and municipal positions.
“On the internet there are now platforms for the development of deepfakes, where anyone can forge the identity of someone by changing their face,” he said.
“This could generate false information or fake news to confuse the population, even more so in electoral times in Mexico. [Fake videos and audio] could be used to manipulate public opinion, as they have already been used in other countries. We’re going to start seeing images or videos of supposed politicians in compromising situations or audio manipulated for the same purpose,” Wario said.
Senator Alejandra Lagunes of the Ecological Green Party of Mexico said in November that she was very worried about deepfakes and “the power they have to distort reality” and affect the democratic process.
North of the border, “The deepfake era of US politics is upon us,” a CNN headline asserted this week.
“One distressing headline out of New Hampshire as voters preparedto cast in-person primary ballots was that a fake version of President Joe Biden’s voice had been used in automatically generated robocalls to discourage Democrats from taking part in the primary,” CNN’s report began.
The official year-end unemployment rate for 2023 was 2.6%, the lowest on record for the month of December. (Isaac Esquivel/Cuartoscuro)
Unemployment in Mexico declined to the lowest end-of-year level on record in December, according to official data, while the percentage of the economically active population engaged in informal work fell to the lowest level since 2020.
The national statistics agency INEGI reported Thursday that the unemployment rate was 2.6% in December, the lowest level since March, when an all-time low of just 2.4% of the economically active population was jobless.
Mexico reached an all-time low of just 2.4% unemployment in March 2023. (Pedro Anza/Cuartoscuro)
The rate is the lowest end-of-year rate since INEGI began keeping comparable records in 2005.
The percentage of the economic active population in informal work was 53.6% in December, the lowest level since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions left many informal workers without jobs.
An additional 1.2 million people in jobs
INEGI reported that 59.14 million people had jobs in December, up from 57.94 million in the same month of 2022. An increase in formal sector employment was responsible for the net growth in the number of people in jobs as the number of informal sector workers declined by close to 100,000 in the 12 months to the end of December.
Women make up around 40% of Mexico’s workforce. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Almost 60% of the 59.14 million workers are men, while just over 40% are women.
The economically active population — people aged 15 or over who are working or looking for work — was 60.73 million in December, up from 59.59 million a year earlier.
Just under 1.6 million people were unemployed last month, INEGI said, while 4.5 million were classed as underemployed, meaning they would like to work more hours. The latter figure accounts for 7.6% of the employed population.
The average unemployment rate across the 12 months of 2023 was 2.8%, the lowest average rate on record.
“Previously, the best annual performance was in 2022 with an average [unemployment rate] of 3.2% across 12 months,” said Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Banco Base.
Which states have the lowest and highest unemployment rates?
The central state of Morelos has the lowest unemployment rate in the country with just 0.9% of the economically active population out of a job in December, according to INEGI.
Southern and southeastern states have the next lowest rates: Oaxaca, 1.2%; Chiapas, 1.4%, Yucatán, 1.4%; Campeche, 1.5%.
Aguascalientes has the highest unemployment rate, with 4.2% of the economically active population out of a job last month.
The central Mexican state of Morelos had the lowest unemployment rate, at just 0.9%. (Margarito Pérez Retana/Cuartoscuro)
Coahuila has the second highest rate at 4%, followed by Tabasco, 3.9%; México state, 3.8%; and Zacatecas, 3.6%.
Most Mexicans work in the informal sector, but that could soon change
Of Mexico’s 59.1 million people with jobs, 31.7 million, or 53.6% of the total, work in the informal sector. Informal workers don’t pay income tax and don’t have access to formal employment benefits such as holiday pay and access to the Mexican Social Security Institute health care program.
The percentage of informal sector workers declined 1.3 percentage points from December 2022, INEGI said.
The only time when the percentage of people working in the informal sector was lower was in 2020, when an increase in unemployment among such workers early in the COVID pandemic caused a decline in the informality rate to 47.9%.
Siller said that the decline in the informal employment rate could be related to an increase in foreign investment as a result of nearshoring and a consequent increase in demand for formal sector workers.
Most Mexicans still work in the informal economy, but the percentage has declined to its lowest recorded level except during the pandemic in 2020. (Cuartoscuro)
She said that if Mexico takes better advantage of the nearshoring opportunity, the percentage of workers in the informal sector could go below 50% for the first time ever.
Still, the current “labor market balance” is “quite positive,” Siller said.
The Economy Ministry said in late 2023 that over US $106 billion in investment is expected to flow into Mexico in the next two to three years based on announcements made by foreign companies in the first 11 months of 2023.
Mexico’s largest employer is the service sector
Over 60% of Mexicans with jobs — 37.34 million people — work in the tertiary or service sector, INEGI data shows.
That figure represents an increase of over 982,000 compared to December 2022.
The secondary sector, which includes manufacturing and construction, employs 15.18 million people, or about 25% of workers, while 6.23 million Mexicans work in the primary or agriculture sector, a figure equivalent to just over 10% of the workforce.
The secondary sector added over 652,000 jobs in the past 12 months, while the primary sector lost more than 439,000. Some of the agricultural sector job losses were likely related to the drought conditions affecting a significant portion of Mexico’s territory.
The outlook for 2024
Banorte is forecasting that job creation will remain strong in the first half of the year, partially due to government spending as it pushes to complete infrastructure projects such as the Maya Train railroad.
The bank anticipates that unemployment will remain low in the first six months of 2024, but creep up in the second half of the year due to a “moderation in economic activity.”
Large infrastructure projects like the Maya Train contributed to strong employment numbers in Mexico in 2023, and will likely continue to in the first half of this year. (Cuartoscuro)
It forecasts that the unemployment rate at the end of this year will be 3.4%.
Juan Carlos Alderete, Banorte’s executive director of economic research, predicted that job creation in the first half of 2024 will be concentrated in the secondary sector — especially construction — and the tertiary sector.
He said that “buoyant internal demand” and “structural changes” in the economy “mainly related to the nearshoring effect” supported job creation in 2023.
According to the results of Manpower Group’s latest Employment Outlook Survey, 48% of over 1,000 employers polled are planing to hire new workers in the first quarter of 2024, while only 14% expect to reduce their staff numbers.
How the heck to you use the word “pedo” in Mexico?! (Canva)
What the heck? Or, do I mean, what fart — ¿qué pedo?
“Pedo” is one word in Spanish that showcases the complexity of Mexican vocabulary. While originally associated with flatulence, in Mexico, this versatile term has taken on a variety of meanings, making it a linguistic curiosity worth exploring.
“Pedo” in Mexico is a linguistic chameleon, adapting easily to various contexts, so let’s dive into its usage in different situations.
Difficulty or problem
In Mexico, “pedo” is often used colloquially to refer to a difficulty or problem. For example, someone might say, “es un pedo” when they want to express that something is a real problem or a rather difficult task to complete. You’ll also hear “me metí en un pedo,” which translates as “I’m in trouble.”
Fight or conflict
“Pedo” can also signify a conflict or fight. If someone mentions being in a “pedo,” they might be describing a heated argument or altercation. For instance, “anoche, hubo un pedo en el bar” — It went down at the bar last night.
“Hacerla de pedo,” on the other hand, means making a stink or giving someone a hard time — “se pasó un rojo y el poli se la hizo de pedo” (he ran a red and the cop gave him a hard time about it).
Describing someone or something
Another common usage of “pedo” in Mexico is to describe being drunk or intoxicated. Saying “estaba bien pedo anoche” — I was really drunk last night — or “estoy medio peda” — I’m a bit tipsy — is a casual way to convey the state you’re in. On the other hand, the word “peda,” is used to describe a party or a night out with heavy drinking, which comes from this sense of pedo “estuvo buena la peda” (the party was great/last night was great).
You can call someone “mal pedo” to show that they’re a mean person, while a situation described with the same term is a bad one. Lost your keys? “Qué mal pedo!” Conversely, a good-natured person or a fortunate situation can be described as “buen pedo.” In English you can say an exceptionally good movie or meal was “something else” — in Mexican Spanish, it’s “otro pedo.”
If someone says, “ni pedo” they’re expressing resignation in regards to a situation, in the same way an English speaker sighs “oh well.” But when adding the preposition “de,” the meaning changes to “there’s no way!” — ¡ni de pedo! — hinting that the speaker wouldn’t do what they’re being asked even if they were drunk.
Greetings and expressions of surprise
In some cases, “pedo” is used as an expression of surprise or disbelief. For example, upon hearing unexpected news, someone might exclaim, “no mames, en serio? ¡Qué pedo!” (No way, seriously? What a surprise!), or “qué pedo, qué pasó?” (What is going on?). In addition, it is a very common way to greet your friends just by saying “Qué pedo!”
Understanding the various uses of the word “pedo” will add depth to your comprehension of Mexican Spanish. It’s essential to consider the context in which the term is used to grasp its intended meaning fully, and you should always keep in mind that it is an informal word. Don’t use it with your parents, your in-laws, your teachers or any person to whom you would normally speak in a formal way. Save it for your very close friends.
Paulina Gerez is a translator-interpreter, content creator, and founder of Crack The Code, a series of online courses focused on languages. Through her social media, she helps people see learning a language from another perspective through her fun experiences. Instagram: paulinagerezm / Tiktok: paugerez3 / YT: paulina gerez
As water shortages in Mexico City's primary reservoir continue, hundreds of neighborhoods will see disruption in their water supplies. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico City officials have implemented water restrictions in 284 neighborhoods, across 10 of the city’s boroughs. Residents in these areas will now only receive water on certain days of the week and for limited periods of time, according to municipal authorities.
These neighborhoods represent roughly 15% of the capital’s 1,837 neighborhoods. Affected areas are mostly located in the boroughs of Iztapalapa, Tlalpan, and Gustavo A. Madero.
Water levels at the Cutzamala dam system that supplies Mexico City continue to drop. As a result, 20 million people in the capital and surrounding areas will see disrupted water supplies. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
To compensate residents for the water shortages, the local government announced discounts of up to 95% on water bills.
Some of Mexico City’s most affluent neighborhoods, including Polanco and Lomas de Chapultepec, are among those affected by the water shortages.
Residents of Polanco told newspaper Excelsior that this water shortage is like “nothing they’ve experienced before.” They have been without water supply for six days and rely on tanker deliveries that take several days to arrive.
The water crisis has also reached Polanco’s public schools, and authorities have called on parents to keep their children at home, as schools cannot provide clean water to pupils.
As a result of shortages, residents of affected boroughs are required to receive refills from water tankers – which can take several days to arrive. (Gob MX)
According to Excelsior, although residents in Polanco have previously been notified of shortages due to problems with the Cutzamala dam system that supplies water to over 20 million residents of Mexico City and the Valley of México, they weren’t warned this time.
According to the National Water Commission (Conagua), in late 2022 the Cutzamala system supplied 14,100 liters of water per second. However, due to the recent reduction in water levels, this has now been reduced to 8,400 liters per second — a decrease of approximately 40%.
The most significant water supply cut came in November last year when Conagua implemented an almost 25% reduction in Mexico City and México state, in response to the abnormally low water levels in the Cutzamala reservoir.
Martí Batres, Mexico City’s mayor, said that an 800 million peso (US $46 million) investment by city authorities aims to increase water supply to 2,000 liters per second by May.
Batres called on residents in the capital to “change water consumption patterns and prioritize human consumption.” He recommended that non-essential activities, such as watering gardens, washing cars, patios, and sidewalks, be avoided, and water usage be minimized in homes. Additionally, he asked residents to detect, repair, and report any leaks both inside and outside of homes, as well as on public roads.
With these measures, the Mexico City government hopes to reduce water consumption by 10%.
Why does it cost more to fill up your tank on the Mexican side of the border right now? (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Taxes on gasoline in Mexico are five times higher than in the United States, making fuel at least 60% more expensive, according to an analysis by newspaper El Economista.
By comparing data from the consulting firm PETROIntelligence and the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), El Economista calculated that 46% of what consumers currently pay for a liter of gasoline in Mexico goes to taxes, compared to 15% in the U.S.
Volaris, Mexico’s largest airline, says 35% of operating costs are related to the cost of fuel. Transport companies across the country have reported struggling with the increased costs. (Volaris)
As a result, the average price of a liter of gasoline in Mexico was 22.13 pesos per liter (US $1.28) on Monday, while gasoline in the U.S. sold for $3.058 per gallon, or $0.81 per liter.
The taxes on a liter of regular Magna gasoline in Mexico comprise 6.18 pesos in the federal Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS), 0.55 pesos in state IEPS and about 3.54 pesos in value-added tax. This adds up to 10.27 pesos of taxes (US $0.60) on each liter, compared to 2.06 pesos (US $0.12) on an average liter in the U.S. — although the final price paid by U.S. consumers varies depending on local state taxes.
The fuel tax in the U.S. is updated every six months, while in Mexico, fuel prices are controlled through the IEPS, which varies each week depending on the fiscal stimulus applied by the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP).
In times of hardship, such as the oil price spike following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the SHCP can cushion the blow to consumers by reducing IEPS or even applying an additional subsidy. It can later use the IEPS to recoup these subsidies, helping to reduce the impacts of fuel price volatility over time.
As global oil prices spiked in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Mexico reduced the IEPS tax as a subsidy to offset the price increase. (Sonia Dauer/Unsplash)
As global oil supply chains adapted during 2023, Mexico steadily restored IEPS andreduced fuel subsidies. This pushed fuel prices up 3.21% over the year, while they fell by 2.37% in the US and in many other countries around the world.
“The collection of the IEPS did not allow the low prices seen internationally to be observed in 2023, because the government had to recover the revenues used to prevent the price from reaching levels of 30 pesos per liter (US $1.74) last year [2022],” Alejandro Montúfar, director of gasoline market research firm PETROIntelligence, told El Economista.
These comparatively high fuel prices have presented challenges for Mexican businesses. For instance, low-cost airline Volaris and transportation firms such as Grupo México Transportes and Traxión all reported struggling with higher costs.
For Volaris, this was one factor leading to a 25% fall in share price over the first nine months of 2023, as fuel represents about 35% of its operating costs.
The cave is located in Rancho Quemado, in Cadereyta de Montes, Querétaro. (INAH)
Hunting weapons and other items dating back approximately 1,900 years have been found in a cave in the central state of Querétaro.
The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) announced the discovery of the objects this week, which were found last year by four members of the Querétaro Cavers’ Association (GEQ) and then further explored by INAH.
A team of amateur cavers made the initial discovery before archaeologists from INAH were sent in to further study the finds. (INAH)
The spelunkers located the items in a remote ravine inside the Cueva del Tesoro (Treasure Cave), located about 40 kilometers northwest of Bernal, a popular Pueblo Mágico lying east of Querétaro city. The group notified INAH’s Querétaro Center, which put its team of archaeologists and speleologists into action.
To reach the trove of items from the cave floor, the INAH team had to ascend 200 meters from the bottom of the ravine to the cave, and then another 200 meters through a narrow passage.
The findings included wooden hunting instruments that, according to the results of a radiocarbon study, date from A.D. 7 to 132, meaning they were preserved for about two millennia. They were used by hunter-gatherers who lived in this semi-desert region for at least 9,000 years, INAH noted in a press release.
One of the objects is an atlatl measuring 51.5 centimeters. Sometimes called a spear-thrower, an atlatl is a tool that lets its user propel darts or arrows at high velocity. Alongside the atlatl were the remnants of two darts measuring 79 and 66 centimeters. Two pieces of crafted wood that INAH identified as probable digging sticks were also found with the hunting tools.
Detail image of the atlatl, which is a hunting weapon that was used to propel arrows or darts. (INAH)
All the items are well-preserved thanks to the dryness of the cave, INAH noted. Why the instruments were left in such a remote and hidden area is a mystery that will be clarified by future studies, the agency added. The agency’s most recent advances in analyzing the items will be made public at a conference this Saturday at the Templo Mayor museum in Mexico City.
INAH said that amateur spelunkers and its own archaeologists notified the agency of a dozen “hunting scenes” in Querétaro last year. Full sets of hunting equipment, however, are rarer: the agency described the items found in the Tesoro cave as “one of the few sets of pre-Columbian hunting tools found to date in Mexico.”
One of the first known discoveries of hunting tools in the area was in the late 1950s by American Cynthia Irwin-Williams, a pioneer among female archaeologists. Her findings, including projectile arrows dating to 7000 B.C., were made in the El Tecolote cave near Tequisquiapan, Querétaro.
Although finding hunting tools is fairly rare, discoveries inside caves are somewhat common occurrences around Mexico. Just last month, INAH announced it had found human remains, pottery fragments dating back 500 to 800 years and other objects in two caves in the state of Quintana Roo. One finding was made in Tulum and the other was nearby.
Another noteworthy find announced by INAH early this year included human remains, 1,500 utensils, spearheads and other artifacts between 2,500 and 4,500 years old in a cave in the state of Nuevo León.
Civil Protection authorities in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, have raised warning flags forbidding swimmers from entering the ocean. (Protección Civil Jalisco)
Many short-term visitors to Puerto Vallarta this week haven’t been able to experience their dream beach vacations.
All of the city’s beaches have been conspicuously dotted by red flags to indicate “rough seas, stay out of the water” — and also by purple flags due to sightings of crocodiles.
The red and purple flags have both been raised in Puerto Vallarta, denoting heavy seas and the presence of dangerous marine life. (Protección Civil Jalisco)
The purple flags run from Playa del Holi to Playa del Oro. They were placed there after the presence of crocodiles was reported near the Puerto Vallarta malecón (seafront walk) and elsewhere.
The red flags were raised on authority of Civil Protection, Risk Management and Firefighter operations in Jalisco because of choppy seas or mar picado, characterized by the presence of higher and more frequent waves — usually irregular, fast and with sharp crests, generating strong currents and dangerous undertows.
The red flags mean it is prohibited to enter the sea, either to swim or just to have fun. The flags went up on Tuesday, and there are no media reports to suggest that they have been taken down as of early Thursday afternoon.
The mar picado phenomenon generally occurs due to adverse weather conditions over the ocean, such as strong winds and storms.
In addition, the area has been jostled by some recent crocodile incidents — including the appearance of a crocodile on the popular strip of beach between Playa del Holi and Playa del Oro.
Like many other beach areas in Mexico, nearby there are streams and rivers that serve as the crocodiles’ natural habitat. According to marine animal experts, the crocs use the ocean only as a byway to reach estuaries and freshwater ponds, where they like to hunt.
Biologist Helios Hernández, who is in charge of the Puerto Vallarta reptile house operated by the University of Guadalajara, told the newspaper El Financiero that the probability of a crocodile attacking a human is very low; they only do so when they feel that their space is invaded.
For months now, the appearance of crocodiles has been recorded along the municipality’s coastline.
Crocodiles, such as this one seen in Ixtapa, Guerrero, often use the shoreline as a way to get between their hunting grounds in nearby rivers. (Screenshot)
One crocodile in particular is said to be seen regularly by tourists and merchants at the mouth of the Cuale River, under the bridge that overlooks the malecón. Locals have named him “Pancho,” and because he is usually stationary, he (or maybe she?) has become something of a tourist attraction.
Also, in the last week of December, a crocodile was captured wandering the streets of Marina Vallarta, an upscale planned development. Earlier that month, a shrimp fisherman had his arm taken off by a crocodile in the Ameca River, which feeds into the Pacific Ocean just north of Puerto Vallarta.
Data storage firm KIO has acquired a large new site in the Asia Pacific Park in Pesquería, which will serve as its second Nuevo León data center. (KIO)
KIO, a United States-owned provider of IT infrastructure services, has announced it will build a second data center in Nuevo León.
The company announced its “thrilling” 2024 expansion plans in a statement posted to its website, revealing that it has acquired a 14,000-square-meter site in the Asia Pacific Park in Pesquería for its second Nuevo León data center.
KIO already operate a major data center in Monterrey, but will now open a second site to meet growing demand. (KIO)
Pesquería, a municipality about 40 kilometers northeast of Monterrey, is home to the Mexican operations of companies such as South Korean automaker Kia and Argentine steelmaker Ternium.
KIO, founded in 2002 with 100% Mexican capital but sold to Miami-based private equity firm I Squared Capital in 2021, said that its second Nuevo León data center “will initially feature two 1,200 m2 Data Halls with enough energy to supply 2 MW of energy in its first phase.”
The facility will have “a growth capacity of up to 8 MW, with plans to expand to eight halls in a later phase,” the company said without citing any investment amount.
It will be known as KIO MTY2 in acknowledged that it is the company’s second data center in the Monterrey area. KIO MTY1 is located in San Pedro Garza García, an affluent municipality immediately west of the state capital.
KIO MTY2 “will offer robust connectivity with triple-route redundancy for carrier connections,” said Santiago Suinaga, CEO of KIO Data Centers.
“Our focus is also on proximity to the North American market, attracting clients and sectors needing specific connectivity with U.S.-based companies,” he said.
KIO also announced that it is on track to complete construction of its second data center in Querétaro this year. The company is also planning a third data center at the El Marqués Industrial park, located in the municipality of El Marqués, located immediately east of Querétaro city.
Construction of KIO QRO2, as the second Querétaro facility is called, is “a major leap forward for both us and our clients,” Suinaga said. “We’re growing stronger every day.”
KIO is also building a new campus in Querétaro. (KIO)
KIO said that its Querétaro “mega-campus” of “three interconnected data centers” – in which it is investing hundreds of millions of dollars – will offer “enhanced connectivity and high availability for clients needing extra space for growth or new ventures across various sectors.”
The company has 13 “core data centers” in Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and Spain. In addition to Querétaro and Nuevo León, KIO has data centers in Mexico City, México state, Sonora and Yucatán.
The company says on its website that its data centers have “the highest security, availability and density in the region to administer and monitor public, private and hybrid Cloud services, cybersecurity, business applications, automation and artificial intelligence.”
In its statement announcing the new Nuevo León data center, KIO said that over 1,000 clients from a range of sectors including telecommunications, banking, media and retail have used its services.
