Paseo de la Reforma is Mexico's most famous street, with a history to match. Here are 10 facts you didn't know about this grand promenade. (Fernando Paleta/Unsplash)
Related Group, one of Florida’s largest real estate developers, is backing a 43-story skyscraper in Mexico City that will include luxurious condominiums and a Hyatt Hotels Corp Thompson-branded hotel.
Designed by Miami-based Arquitectonica, in collaboration with Related Group and three Mexican partners — Pulso Inmobiliario, Grupo MRP y Moises Farca — the skyscraper will have 104 luxury condominiums and 115 furnished hotel suites, Related Group President Jon Paul Pérez told Bloomberg in an interview.
A rendering shows the finished tower, center, which looks down over Angel of Independence. (Related Group)
The developers began working on the project last year and are now commencing sales. Total sellout is expected to be roughly US $190 million, the company said.
With interiors from the New York branch of Italian designer Piero Lissoni’s firm, the Thompson Mexico City Reforma Hotel & Residences will overlook Reforma, the capital’s main avenue and the Angel of Independence monument, one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
“We’re known for creating world-class buildings in world-class cities,” Pérez said. “So this project was an exciting opportunity to do that in the most important city in Mexico and the most important location in Mexico City.” The project will bring the “sexiness of Miami” to the heart of the capital, he highlighted.
Related’s portfolio in Mexico, including future works, totals around US $1.3 billion, the company said, with another project in Mexico City in the pipeline. (Roberto Lozano/Pexels)
Related already has 60 reservations, Pérez said. Prices for units start at US $8,000 per square meter, with the exception of the penthouse, which is expected to sell for over US $6 million. The tower is scheduled to be completed in 2027.
Pérez told Bloomberg he would be opening the tower’s sales center during a trip to Mexico on Nov. 6, where he would encourage wealthy Mexicans to buy property in Miami. “There’s always a demand from Mexicans coming to Miami,” he said.
The election of left-leaning former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in 2018 triggered a significant outflow of capital from Mexico, particularly to southern Florida. Pérez explained that the landslide congressional victory by the ruling party coalition in June increased interest among wealthy Mexicans in buying property in Miami.
However, no matter the country’s politics, “Mexicans still invest in Mexico. Even during these times, they don’t completely divest,” Pérez said.
However, no matter the country’s politics, “Mexicans still invest in Mexico. Even during these times, they don’t completely divest,” Pérez said. (Óscar Domínguez/Pexels)
Related Group’s founder and CEO is Pérez’s father, Cuban-Argentinian billionaire Jorge Pérez, who has been dubbed Miami’s “Condo King” due to his influence in the real estate market. In Mexico, the company began operations two decades ago.
In 2017, Related started a round of projects in Riviera Maya. According to Jon Paul Pérez, Mexicans bought around 95% of the company’s developments in Cancún, and he expects to see a similar proportion in the Reforma Avenue tower.
Related’s portfolio in Mexico, including future works, totals around US $1.3 billion, the company said, with another project in Mexico City in the pipeline.
Los Tigres del Norte are part of a Kamala Harris campaign effort to get out the Latino Vote in the U.S. (Gabriela Pérez Montiel/Cuartoscuro)
With the U.S. presidential election less than a week away, the iconic Mexican band Los Tigres del Norte joined Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for a concert and rally in Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday afternoon.
Los Tigres del Norte, one of the most recognized acts in regional Mexican music, has previously voiced its support for the U.S. vice president, according to the newspaper Infobae.
Democratic candidate for president Kamala Harris at a recent rally in Michigan. (Kamala Harris/X)
“The United States is our second home. Today more than ever, we invite you to defend the rights of all our immigrants. Join us on Oct. 31 in Phoenix, where we will share great music and a clear message to Latino voters so they can express themselves at the polls.”
The norteño band was originally founded in 1965 in the small town of Rosa Morada in the northwestern state of Sinaloa. When all the members were still in their teens, Los Tigres del Norte moved to San Jose, California, where the band began its recording career in the late 1960s.
With sales of approximately 32 million albums, seven Grammy awards and 12 Latin Grammys, the band is one of the most recognized acts in regional Mexican music.
The rally in Arizona is part of a series of campaign events in which Latino artists are demonstrating their support for Harris with her campaign slogan, “Cuando votamos, ganamos” (“When we vote, we win”).
The Arizona Republic newspaper reported Thursday that Harris and former U.S. President Donald Trump are in a “contentious battle” for Arizona’s 11 electoral votes.
For her path to victory, Harris needs Latino voters to back her in swing states like Arizona and Nevada. (Kamala Harris/X)
The Harris campaign is attempting to engage and mobilize Latino voters in swing states, including Arizona and Nevada, with a 30-second radio ad in Spanish that features music with a cumbia beat, according to the Spanish-language media giant Univision.
The ad will air on Spanish-language radio stations through Election Day, asking listeners in Spanish to vote for Harris.
After the Phoenix stop, Harris was also in Las Vegas Thursday, where the Mexican pop-rock band Maná performed at another rally, where actress Jennifer Lopez, who has Puerto Rican heritage, was featured.
From Day of the Dead themed celebrations to superstar DJs, here's what's on in the Guadalajara and Lake Chapala area this month. (Calaverandia/Facebook)
November is not all about the Day of the Dead. The event calendar in Guadalajara and Lake Chapala Ribera for November is wide and varied to satisfy every craving — from wine festivals to book fairs, world-class concerts (and of course, some Day of the Dead events, we are in Mexico after all).
To help you stay entertained in the run up to the holiday season, we’ve selected the most exciting events in Guadalaja and Ajijic (and Tequila) to keep everyone in the family entertained.
Miktlán, México Sensacional
Spend a night in the underworld at Miktlán. (UAG)
The Autonomous University of Guadalajara (UAG) will celebrate Mexico’s Day of the Dead with a festival featuring music, dance, and sensory activities inspired by Mictlán, the pre-Hispanic underworld.
According to Mexica legend, the souls of the dead had to travel four years and overcome a series of obstacles before entering Mictlán, where they were welcomed to the afterlife by the god and goddess of death.
Recorrido Día de Muertos Bosque Los Colomos – November 1-2
A Day of the Dead stroll through a spooky park? Sounds fantastic. (Revista Central)
Bosque Los Colomos, Guadalajara’s largest urban park, will host four whimsical night tours for the whole family in celebration of the Day of the Dead. Picture the wood’s pathways aglow with flickering candles, the aromatic smell of copal incense and glowing cempasúchil flowers all around. At the end of the tour, a surprise await the attendees.
When? Nov. 1 and 2, from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. and from 10:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Where? Bosque Los Colomos.
Tickets: 150 pesos.
Cardboard and Toy Fair – November 1-7
Nothing says “holidays in Mexico” like papel picado, so get down to the craft fair and get decorating! (Bullfrag)
Marking its 70th anniversary, the Cardboard and Toy Fair brings together some 300 small businesses and artisans in a traditional tianguis (open-air market) setting. Here, you’ll find everything from cardboard figures to sugar skulls, papel picado (engraved paper) clay figures, and a wide variety of decorative items related to the Day of the Dead. Food stalls will also be available.
When? Every day until Nov. 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Where? Calzada Independencia.
Grupo Frontera concert – November 2
If you’re going to see one Mexican group this year, make it Grupo Frontera. (Viagogo)
Grupo Frontera, Mexico’s musical group ensemble of the moment, will offer a concert in Guadalajara as part of its Jugando a Que No Pasa Nada (Let’s Pretend Nothing Is Happening) international tour. The band grew in popularity thanks to its cumbias norteñas, a subgenre of norteño music within the broader category of Mexican regional music genre.
The alcohol capital of the world is celebrating its first-ever Day of the Dead event. (Pinterest)
For the first time ever, the town of Tequila (58 km west of Guadalajara) will host a Day of the Dead festival. Dubbed Tequilero Hasta Los Huesos (Tequila Lover to the Bones), the free festival will feature a parade, a performance by the Papantla flyers, a catrina contest, a folkloric dance show, video mapping, a mariachi performance, and more. The event will also exhibit tequila brands that offer Day of the Dead editions.
When? Nov. 2, from noon.
Where? Main Plaza of Tequila.
More information: Here.
Steve Aoki at Fiestas de Octubre – Nov 4
Guadalajara’s epic October party will be soundtracked by DJ Steve Aoki. (Steve Aoki/Instagram)
As October comes to an end, so does Guadalajara’s traditional Fiestas de Octubre. To wrap up the month-long festival, U.S. DJ Steve Aoki is set to perform at the Auditorio Benito Juárez, also known as the palenque. The palenque is an intimate arena known for its lively concert ambiance. It’s a staple of the festival and a must-visit attraction for anyone looking for an authentic concert experience in Mexico.
General admission to the Fiestas de Octubre includes free entry to the show from the stands. Access may be limited if the auditorium reaches full capacity.
Admire artists of every medium at the Art Masters Fair. (Feria Maestros del Arte)
Back for its 17th edition, the Art Masters Fair brings together artisans from across the country to exhibit and promote their work. The fair, one of Mexico’s largest of its kind, features classic to contemporary pieces that range from fine jewelry to wood, pottery, ceramics and all types of textiles. Besides shopping, visitors can also attend one of the many artists’ presentations.
Picture yourself surrounded by lush greenery, sipping wine and savoring gourmet food as you gaze out over Lake Chapala. That’s the setting at the Vinart Ajijic wine festival, an event that features workshops, tastings, pairings, and an impressive array of wines from 40 prestigious wineries. Tickets include access to the festival, a complimentary drink and a ticket to the after party.
When? Nov. 16 and 17.
Where? Nimue Marina Residence & Hotel Boutique, Ajijic.
Rides? Check. Art? Check. The spirits of departed loved one? Uh, also check. (Calaverandia/Facebook)
Calaverandia, the world’s first theme park inspired by Day of the Dead, is back once again. With colorful and immersive attractions that mesmerize kids and adults alike, visitors will find exciting rides, multimedia shows, art installations, video mapping, live music and a wide variety of food stalls. As well as buckets of fun, the park aims to educate visitors about the importance of the celebration.
There’s no party like a patron saint party. Ajijic is no different. (Lakeside Guide)
Most towns in Mexico have a patron saint or a virgin who is celebrated every year with an elaborate multi-day festival. To celebrate Saint Andrew, the town’s patron, Ajijic hosts a nine-day-long festival filled with music and shows. The fiesta patronal (patron’s party) features daily processions through Ajijic’s colorful streets, ending in the main plaza with rides, food stalls and fireworks.
When? Nov. 21 to 30.
Where? Ajijic, Chapala.
Tickets: Free entrance.
Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog Dunas y Palmeras.
November in San Miguel de Allende is about so much more than just Day of the Dead. It's art, culture and international music tours - and everything else besides. (Visit Bahrain)
San Miguel de Allende is one of the most exciting cities in the world — what can visitors and residents look forward to in the coming month? MND Local has collected the very best of the best city in the world, so you never need to miss a minute.
Without further ado, here’s what’s on in San Miguel de Allende this November:
Day of the Dead Program in San Miguel de Allende – November 1-2
(Traveler Broads)
There’s nothing anywhere in the world like Day of the Dead, but what’s San Miguel de Allende doing to mark the occasion?
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s planned for Friday: At 8:00 a.m., schools, NGOs, and other associations will set up their ofrendas in the Jardin Principal. Expect a crowd of eager kids, proud teachers, and creative displays. At 9:00 a.m. there’s a massive ofrenda exhibition in Colonia San Rafael.
Take a nap and return to the Jardin Principal at 6:00 p.m. for the blessing of the ofrendas, then stay to watch the Indigenous dance group “Tlaloc” bring crowds to the square. At 8:00 p.m., enjoy a performance by the Ballet of San Miguel de Allende. At 9:00 p.m., “Rondalla del Amor” brings romance to the celebration, followed by a “Concheros” vigil at 11:00 p.m., filling the night with ancient rhythms and reverence.
On Saturday at 10:00 a.m., the Patitas de Humanidad ofrenda takes over the fountain at Teatro Angela Peralta. At 6:00 p.m., the Catrinas parade kicks off from Cardo, filling the streets with towering skeletons, elaborate face paint, and costumes that will make you question your own Halloween efforts. The parade ends at the corner of Correo and Corregidora, just in time for Tlaloc’s return with another electrifying Indigenous dance performance in Jardin Principal, closing with the Ballet Folklórico Juvenil Mazatl.
Requiem en do menor by Luigi Cherubini – November 2
(Pinterest)
As they do every year, the Coro de la Ópera de San Miguel de Allende, under the direction of maestro pianist Mauro Ledesma, continues the tradition of presenting a Requiem in honor of Day of the Dead. The Church of San Francisco, one of the most treasured gems of the city’s colonial architecture, will host the concert at 6 p.m.
Requiem in C minor was composed by Luigi Cherubini in 1816 and premiered at a commemoration service for Louis XVI of France on the twenty-fourth anniversary of his beheading. The piece was greatly admired by Beethoven, and even performed at his funeral in 1827. This concert will feature a full orchestra and choir, offering a reflective and moving musical experience.
Mexican Art and Design Festival – November 2-3
Don’t miss this festival at Foro del Obraje, on Calzada de la Presa, near the Live Aqua Hotel, which offers a feast for the senses. Over 40 designers, gourmet food stalls, a beer & wine garden, live music, and kids activities to the live tunes of flamenco, electronic cello, rock covers, and a bit of country to keep you grooving. Try your hand at any of the many workshops! Painting, macramé, orchid care, and even some sound healing. There’s a picnic zone, Day of the Dead activities — including Catrina makeup — and fun for the whole family. It’s the perfect way to support artists, enjoy amazing food, and soak in the spirit of San Miguel. Free entry and pet-friendly!
Art and Crafts Fair – November 2-3
(San Miguel Live)
On a similar note, the Instituto Allende is hosting its annual arts and crafts fair to celebrate life, art and tradition for Day of the Dead! From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., enjoy stunning art pieces with live music and a variety of stalls offering tasty treats. This is an event for the whole family to enjoy local creativity while honoring the spirit of the season. Come for the art, stay for the fun and leave with something special!
Royale Gala 2024 – November 7
(San Miguel Live)
Prepare for an evening of glitz, glam and giving back at the Royale Gala in support of the charity “Patronato Pro Niños”! From 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Club de Golf Malanquin, kick off the night with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and the smooth saxophone of Bruno Galicia. Savor fine wines from Dos Buhos and Cuna de Tierra and mezcal by Mata de Monte. The night kicks off with a special number by Arthur Murray.
Bid in the online auction to score trips, artwork, jewelry, dinners, excursions and more, or feel the adrenaline rush of the exciting paddle raise auction led by auctioneers Eli and Joseph. Explore gourmet food stations curated by Parvada and dance to the music of Patrick Herlin. Proceeds help provide essential care to children in need. Don’t miss this night of fun and meaningful giving!
At 6:30 PM on both nights, Casa Europa is hosting Operísima México for a vibrant Spanish Night of Zarzuela! Imagine if opera and a musical had a lively Spanish lovechild! This unique genre blends opera, spoken dialogue, popular songs, and dance, making for an experience that is as accessible as it is thrilling. Known for its lively, often humorous plots and passionate music, zarzuela dives headfirst into the themes of Spanish life, love, and folklore. Think of it as the original telenovela, but with more singing, costumes, and a whole lot of drama! Get ready for a rollercoaster of drama, humor and plenty of Spanish flair!
Tickets are available at www.casaeuropamexico.com or via WhatsApp +52 415 181 2464.
Inna Falik Piano Concert – November 10
Sundays Live—Inna Faliks, piano
Pianist extraordinaire Inna Falik is bringing her virtuosity to San Miguel de Allende! Prepare for an unforgettable evening as this acclaimed musician, celebrated for her brilliant and emotionally charged performances, takes the stage with a captivating repertoire featuring works by Chopin, Beethoven, Corigliano, and Brahms. The concert will be held in the magnificent ambiance of St. Paul’s Church, where the historic architecture and rich acoustics will elevate every note. Whether you’re a classical music lover or simply ready to be swept away by the magic of her piano, mark your calendar for November 10th, 5:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, Cardo #6, Centro.
San Miguel de Allende weclomes The City of Jazz, bringing four unforgettable nights of live music to the Jardín Principal. The festival kicks off with the San Miguel Jazz Alliance on Nov. 14, followed by the soulful voice of Lucía Gutiérrez on Nov. 15. The excitement peaks on Saturday, Nov. 16, with none other than the legendary Gipsy Kings filling the air with their iconic rhythms. The festival wraps up on Nov. 17 with Big Band Jazz and the powerful Concha Buika. Best of all? It’s completely free, with concerts starting at 8 p.m. each night. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to experience world-class jazz in the heart of San Miguel!
Sandra Gancz Kahan is a Mexican writer and translator based in San Miguel de Allende who specializes in mental health and humanitarian aid. She believes in the power of language to foster compassion and understanding across cultures. She can be reached at: sandragancz@gmail.com
As the Condesa/Roma set are quickly discovering, life in Escandón offers all the fun of the center without the same hefty price tags (or hipsters). (FP/Wikicity)
Of the 26,600 residents that live in this lively neighborhood south of Condesa, the majority are long-time residents, as well as middle-class families and young professionals looking for an affordable alternative to Condesa and Roma. Escandón’s location and agreeable cost of living attracts real estate investors with an eye for up-and-coming neighborhoods.
Cine Hipódromo as it appeared in the mid 20th Century. (Colonia Escandón/Facebook)
Escandón has a very local feel, with residential buildings interspersed among small businesses and traditional markets. Still relatively undiscovered by the expat crowd, visitors might notice a stronger sense of community here than in the neighboring colonias.
A brief history of Escandón
The neighborhood is named after the Escandón family. The aristocratic Escandóns acquired wealth through business ventures in transportation, mining and real estate, becoming one of Mexico’s richest and most powerful families in the 19th century. In 1869, a family patriarch purchased part of the former Hacienda de la Condesa, which was broken up into what would eventually become neighborhoods including the present-day Condesa and Escandón. In the late 1800s, it remained part of the town of Tacubaya, on the outskirts of Mexico City, and the family’s personal estate.
Escandón became part of the Federal District (what is now Mexico City) in 1929. With the culmination of the Mexican Revolution, Escandón transitioned into a residential neighborhood, largely occupied by military officers and their families. The construction and expansion of major thoroughfares like Eje 4 Sur and Viaducto in the mid-20th century gave the neighborhood the shape we know today.
A guide to Escandón today
Quiet and full of families, Escandón’s strategic location provides easy access to other popular areas like Condesa and Roma while maintaining its own sense of self. It’s known for its affordability, cultural richness and local charm.
Escandón is bordered by Eje 4 Sur Benjamín Franklin and Avenida Baja California to the north, Viaducto Río Becerra to the south, Avenida Nuevo León to the east and Avenida Revolución to the west.
The neighborhood is divided into two sections on either side of Avenida Patriotismo. Section I is the western half of the colonia, bordering Tacubaya along Avenida Revolución. It’s a slightly more residential mix of historic buildings with modern developments. The population is noticeably older and quieter when compared to its eastern counterpart, which has more mom-and-pop shops and family parks and borders Roma Sur along Avenida Nuevo León. The crowd is a bit younger and diverse, likely attracted to the denser concentration of cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops. Both sections share a northern border with Condesa in the form of Eje 4 Sur.
Escandón is great if you love: Exploring sides of CDMX that are less commercial than Roma and Condesa but equally brimming with history, tradition, and life. It’s a safe pocket showcasing a genuine slice of local life, with small shops, markets and eateries that reflect the everyday culture of Mexico City.
What to do in Escandón
Parroquia de San José de la Montaña: The small church on Eje 4 Sur seems unassuming from the street, but a pop inside reveals a gorgeous display of stained glass windows.
San José de la Montaña has an interior definitely work checking out. (Yelp)
Centro Cultural Roldán Sandoval: With a full lineup of unique shows and artsy events, the quirky 1970s theater is considered one of the neighborhood’s most important cultural spaces.
Edificio Martí: The iconic Art Deco building designed in 1931 by architect Francisco J. Serrano is one of Escandón’s most beautiful. It can be found on Calle Sindicalismo, close to the corner with Calle José Martí.
Mercado Escandón: For over 30 years this center has played a role much larger than a community market. It’s a gathering place for locals, making a stop here more of a Mexico City immersion than a shopping experience. Have a bite at Playa Escondida Market.
Guadalajara90210: Jalisco’s unique nomadic art gallery has a permanent space, but not a permanent collection, in Escandón.
Pulquería la Pirata: Channel your inner bohemian when you step through the saloon-style swinging door of this no-frills pulque bar, a neighborhood staple for 80 years.
Tuesday tianguis: From 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. the charming Calle José María Vigil plays host to an open-air market selling everything from embroidered baby clothes to fresh spinach.
Sombrerería Escandón, a traditional hatmaker that is still doing business. (Melbarellano/Instagram)
Sombrerería Escandón: Need a hat? Step inside Escandón’s premier hat shop, where Don Ignacio will find for you the perfect style and fit.
What to eat in Escandón
Terraza Micheviche: The beer, seafood, and large, lively terrace at this casual dining spot is the perfect way to end a day of wandering.
OPPA: This highly-rated, Korean-owned restaurant is cool, casual, and known for its authentic home-cooked meals and charming atmosphere. Fill up on a steaming bowl of flavorful ramen on the cozy outdoor patio.
(Via Sol/Instagram)
Via Sol: Who knew delicate and juicy dumplings could pair so well with wine? Be sure to check the events calendar, as the little restaurant has a lot going on.
Cantina El León de Oro: It has all you could possibly want in a classic cantina: formica tables, bright lighting, flatscreen TVs and the occasional mariachi appearance. However, it’s the hearty menu and lively ambiance that keep the locals coming back again and again.
Conejo Rojo Coffee: When it’s time for a pick-me-up, why not stop for an organic coffee in the Red Rabbit? Admire the alternative art on the walls while the barista whips up a French press brew.
Café Escandón: Overflowing with trinkets and snacks, you simply cannot come to this side of town without peeking in. While perusing Mexican handicrafts, sip on a hot chocolate bubbled over with marshmallows.
One hidden gem in Escandón
There is something about the quiet energy of Calle José María Vigil that will sweep you away to a Mexico City of the past. Tiny and leafy, stroll past pops of street art, dangling hummingbird feeders, multicolored facades, a lone bakery and the occasional friendly neighbor on the way home from the market.
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.
Guadalajara has worked hard to turn it's parks into a national treasure. It has succeeded beyond measure. (John Pint)
You don’t have to look far to find the locations of Guadalajara’s thirteen urban parks plus info on what they offer. Just check their website and you’re on your way! But if you’d like to know why these city parks keep winning awards — like the green flags fluttering over some of them — you will have to dig a little deeper.
To get the story, I visited biologist Karina Aguilar, award-winning Conservation Manager of Guadalajara’s Metropolitan Urban Park Agency (AMBU), at her headquarters tucked away inside the city’s Parque Agua Azul.
Karina Aguilar and denizens of Parque Agua Azul. (John Pint)
“This city park system didn’t exist a few years ago,” Aguilar told me. “Parks were operated independently, which meant that those located in affluent neighborhoods were clean and well run, while those in poorer neighborhoods were often in bad shape.”
“However, in 2018, a project to upgrade one park was so successful, it sparked a kind of revolution,” Aguilar says. “The renovation of the beautiful Parque Colomos, located in the northwest corner of the city, turned out so attractive and popular that it was decided to create an umbrella organization for all the parks in all the municipalities making up Greater Guadalajara. So now, every one of our parks has the same standards of cleanliness and services: not only services for people who visit the parks but also services for the wide variety of animals who live in them. On top of that, today, admission to all city parks is free.”
Pollinator gardens attract bees and bats
Parque Agua Azul is well known for its orchidarium, aviary and butterfly house, but upon arriving at the park, Aguilar’s first project was to dig up a seldom used parking lot and transform it into a pollinator garden.
This garden is filled with flowering plants and trees, all of them hardy species that can survive without a lot of care. These include lavender, rosemary, milkweed, sage, plumbago, petunias, azaleas and dahlias.
The pollinator garden at Parque Agua Azul, part of the Conectando Con Alas program. (John Pint)
At the moment, the Guadalajara metro area has 23 pollinator gardens. Their plants attract bees, wasps, butterflies, moths and ants, as well as larger animals like hummingbirds and bats.
“It would be wonderful if the animals in our city parks could get from one park to another via green corridors,” Aguilar told me.” but that’s not the case. However, flying creatures don’t need corridors. All we have to do is fill the city with pollinator gardens and they will go from one to another… and that’s just what we are doing. We call our project Conectando con Alas; Connecting with Wings.”
From disaster site to urban forest
Another concept Karina Aguilar is experimenting with is rewilding: returning a piece of land to its natural, uncultivated state.
Rewilding is happening right now in what could be called Guadalajara’s most unlikely park. This is Bosque Urbano Tlaquepaque, which started as a huge gully filled with the debris left over from the horrendous 1992 gasoline explosions in the city’s sewers, a disaster which killed and injured hundreds.
The main building at the Bosque Urbano Tlaquepaque, which is in the very first stages of rewilding. (Agencia de Bosques Urbanos)
The site, which covers ten hectares, lay abandoned for years. “Then,” Aguilar told me, “the city decided to turn the place into an impounded vehicle yard. When the people of Tlaquepaque found out about that, they weren’t happy. We don’t want an impound yard here, we want a park, they said.”
The result was a rewilding project in which 4,000 trees, all native species, have been planted.
“It’s a long-term project,” Aguilar told me. “It will take 20 years. But people living all around the park bring water to those trees from their homes. In their minds, they can already see that bosque they’re dreaming about.”
Five Guadalajara parks won Green Flag awards this month. (John Pint)
Green flags over Guadalajara
In recent years both the park system and Karina Aguilar have gained numerous awards and. Then, Aguilar proudly told me, “We finally decided to try for international recognition. We heard about the Green Flag Awards which began in the UK and are now recognized both in Europe and the U.S., and we said, ‘Let’s go find out how it works.’
“We discovered that they have a standard of eight principles and 27 criteria,” she says. “If you can prove that you live up to all these standards, you are allowed to fly the green flag in your park. To see if you qualify, a group of judges — they could be national or international — come to you and verify that your park follows all the rules. If so, they give you a green flag which you are allowed to display for one year. The next year, of course, you have to prove you are still following all those norms!”
Last year two of Guadalajara’s parks — Colomos, famed for its genuine Japanese garden and the Metropolitano, a favorite for jogging and cycling — were entered in the competition. Both were accepted.
The Japanese garden at Bosque Los Colomos celebrates the sister city relationship between Guadalajara and Kyoto, Japan. (John Pint)
“This year, Aguilar continued with a broad smile, “we again requested green flags for those first two parks, plus three new ones… and I just got word that, yes, we succeeded! Five of Guadalajara’s parks will now fly the coveted green flag.”
Canyon views and steam trains
Want to know which are the three new winners? Maybe one of them is Parque Puerto de la Barranca, the city’s tiniest park, but the one with the best view, looking out over the 500-meter-deep Huentitán Canyon. Or perhaps one of those flags is flying over
Parque del Deán, which features a real steam locomotive you can climb around on. Better yet: how about checking out all 13 parks while you’re at it? You can’t go wrong!
John Pint has lived near Guadalajara, Jalisco, for more than 30 years and is the author of “A Guide to West Mexico’s Guachimontones and Surrounding Area” and co-author of “Outdoors in Western Mexico.” More of his writing can be found on his website.
President Sheinbaum asks reporters on Thursday for calm after expressing her opinion on a controversial reform that passed Congress the day before. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Thursday Oct. 31 is the 31st day of Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo’s presidency and the final day of her first month as Mexico’s first female president.
Claudia Sheinbaum made history on Oct. 1 when she took office as Mexico’s first female president. A protege of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Sheinbaum has kept his tradition of daily press conferences. (Cuartoscuro)
Sheinbaum’s morning press conference, or mañanera, on Thursday was her 22nd as president. Here is a brief summary of some key parts of this morning’s presser, a return of sorts to a previous Mexico News Daily series where we documented the former president’s press conferences.
A new medication procurement model
Deputy Health Minister Eduardo Clark García outlined the government’s new model for purchasing medications for Mexico’s public health system (read MND’s report here).
Sheinbaum said that the government will spend some 130 billion pesos (US $6.5 billion) annually on medications and medical supplies.
There will be “transparency” and “zero corruption” in the medication procurement process, Sheinbaum pledged.
López Obrador’s legacy is several constitutional amendments he pushed through Congress and a few he left for Sheinbaum to shepherd through. They have sparked fierce opposition, with critics saying López Obrador and Sheinbaum are eroding Mexico’s democracy. (Cuartoscuro)
The president expressed her support for the “constitutional supremacy” reform that was approved by the Senate last week and the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday (read MND’s report here) and has already been ratified by enough states to become law.
The constitutional reform will prevent legal challenges against constitutional amendments that have been approved by Congress and ratified by a majority of state legislatures.
“The opposition has been talking about this constitutional supremacy issue as if it were something new or something bad,” Sheinbaum said at her press conference Thursday.
“All of us who study, even if we haven’t studied law, know that the constitution is the maximum law,” she said.
The “constitutional supremacy” reform, Sheinbaum argued, is simply reinforcing the fact that the constitution is the supreme law of the land.
‘We’re going to support Cuba for humanitarian reasons’
“We’re going to support Cuba for humanitarian reasons. And, in addition, Mexico has never been in favor of the blockade,” she said, referring to the United States embargo against the Caribbean island nation that has been ruled by the Communist Party of Cuba for around six decades.
“Just to provide perspective,” Sheinbaum said, 400,000 barrels of oil “is not even the production of one day,” given that “Mexico produces 1.6 to 1.8 million barrels per day.”
“… Even though there is criticism, we’re going to be supportive [of Cuba] and for humanitarian reasons,” she said.
Sheinbaum proudly announced Thursday that Mexico’s third-quarter growth, at 1.5% on an annual basis, had surpassed all expectations. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
Third-quarter economic growth
“It beat all expectations,” Sheinbaum said of the Mexican economy’s 1.5% annual growth rate in the third quarter of 2024 (read MND’s report here).
“… They said GDP wasn’t going to grow in that quarter. Well, it did grow, 1.5%,” she said.
Sheinbaum to attend G20 Summit in Brazil
The president told reporters Thursday morning that she will attend the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which takes place Nov. 18–19.
It will be Sheinbaum’s first overseas trip as president.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
* This is MND’s first “Sheinbaum mañanera brief,” but look out for more in this series soon. (The president won’t hold a morning press conference on Friday due to the annual Day of the Dead holiday.)
Dedicated altars and cremations for pets are becoming more popular. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
As Day of the Dead nears, altars around the country bear photos of beloved former pets next to mementos of dearly departed family members. And while including animals in Día de Muertos celebrations is not new, more and more people in Mexico now also appear to be using mortuary services like cremation for dead pets.
Manuel Ramírez, head of the J. García López funeral group and its pet division Bye Bye Friends, told newspaper El Financiero that sales of prepaid mortuary plans for pets increased by 48% compared to 2023.
For his part, Juan Rodríguez, CEO of funeral group Gayosso, and vice president of the Confederation of Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism of Mexico (Concanaco), predicted that the pet funeral sector will grow by double digits in the next 15 years, driven by greater awareness of the role of pets in Mexican families.
According to a study by the University of the Valley of Mexico, around 43% of Mexicans have a positive view on the idea of treating pets like children. Furthermore, roughly 70% of Mexican homes have at least one pet, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) found in its latest survey. INEGI estimates there are around 80 million pets in Mexico, including 43.8 million dogs, 16.2 million cats and 20 million other animals.
“We firmly believe that this sector will have a very positive evolution,” Rodríguez emphasized.
There are not enough funeral centers to meet the expected demand according to Rodríguez, and many of the existing ones operate in the informal market. At least in Mexico City, 85% operate informally, Ivan Pérez, operations manager of Funeral Pet, told El Universal.
Juan Rodríguez, CEO of funeral group Gayosso and Concanaco vice president expects demand for pet mortuary services to boom in coming years. (Joe Caione/Unsplash)
According to Pérez, these companies offer affordable prices ranging between 400 (US $20) and 450 pesos (US $22) — a figure that Pérez deems suspicious.
“At Funeral Pet, we use between 30 and 60 liters of LP gas per cremation procedure. Adding up all the supplies and salaries, it’s impossible to carry out a cremation process at such prices.”
Pérez said Funeral Pet charges between 3,500 pesos (US $175) and 4,000 pesos (US $200) depending on the size of the animal.
Using a mortuary service like cremation can also help prevent health risks. In the past, pet remains were often discarded in the trash or buried in family gardens. However, this may lead to bad smells and health risks for animals and humans.
If an animal dies from a disease like parvovirus, toxoplasmosis or salmonellosis, it could spread to other animals and even humans. Furthermore, pentobarbital, a drug used in euthanasia, can remain in the body of the deceased pet for up to a year. This poses a danger to other animals that might dig in the burial site, as they could be poisoned.
Commemorating deceased pets
Just as pet mortuary services are increasing in popularity, so are special Day of the Dead altars dedicated to pets.
These altars are not part of Mexico’s original tradition around Day of the Dead. However, they became popular in 2019 after Funeral Pet proposed commemorating Mexico’s deceased pets on Oct. 27, according to El Universal.
Though pets have often had a place on home Day of the Dead altars, some families are beginning to celebrate deceased pets their own altars on Oct. 27. (X)
The altar for a deceased pet includes the same elements of a traditional altar, including a picture of the pet and its favorite treats and foods.
Mexico's new government says it's betting on more consolidated, transparent purchasing practices to end the nation's continual issue with medication shortages in government-run facilities. (Nalidsa/Shutterstock)
Mexico’s federal government on Thursday presented a new medication purchasing model aimed at ensuring the availability of medications in the nation’s public health system.
Deputy Health Minister Eduardo Clark García outlined the new model at President Claudia Sheinbaum’s morning press conference, saying that the new system would manage the acquisition of pharmaceuticals in an efficient and cost-effective way.
Mexico’s Deputy Health Minister Eduardo Clark García outlines a new medications purchasing system for the nation’s government-run medical facilities. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
He explained that:
The Health Ministry will be in charge of the entire process.
Public health care providers, including IMSS and ISSSTE, will submit their medication and medical supplies requirements to the Health Ministry.
The Health Ministry will review and “validate” their requests.
State-owned medical company Birmex will make a “consolidated purchase” of required medications and medical supplies after asking suppliers to submit bids.
Birmex will seek the “best conditions” for its purchases in terms of “quality, efficiency and price.”
The medications and supplies will be delivered to public hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
“Digital systems” will be used in all stages of the medication procurement process.
“We’re seeking to guarantee maximum transparency and maximum participation [of pharmaceutical companies], both national and international, in order to promote competition and guarantee …[medication] quality … [at a good] price,” Clark said.
Former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador tried to solve Mexico’s recurring problem with medication shortages by introducing “megapharmacies,” like this one he inaugurated in 2023 in México state. (Presidencia)
On Thursday, Clark said the government was “evaluating different ways” to distribute medications “more efficiently.”
“… We’re also optimizing and digitalizing the delivery and reception processes at each delivery point, ensuring that there is not excessive bureaucracy or abundant paperwork,” he said.
Sheinbaum told reporters that the “so-called mega pharmacy” — located in México state, about 70 kilometers north of central Mexico City — will continue to be used. She noted that its processes will also be fully digitalized.
The president said that the government will spend some 130 billion pesos (US $6.5 billion) annually on medications and medical supplies and expressed confidence that her administration “will get even better prices” than those obtained by its predecessor.
There will be “transparency” and “zero corruption” in the medication procurement process, Sheinbaum pledged.
Health Minister David Kershenobich Stalnikowitz noted that the acquisition of medications and medical supplies is a “fundamental aspect in the realm of public health and that a reliable supply of medications “guarantees access to preventative treatments, primary care and treatment of illnesses.”
“We shouldn’t just think about curing illnesses, but also about prevention and primary care,” Kershenobich said.
President of the Chamber of Deputies governing board Sergio Gutiérrez Luna listens to debate on a constitutional reform to prevent the Supreme Court from reviewing constitutional amendments passed by Congress. It ultimately passed on Wednesday. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
The lower house of Congress approved a bill on Wednesday that will prevent legal challenges against constitutional reforms, such as the recently enacted judicial reform.
The so-called “constitutional supremacy” bill was backed by the ruling Morena party and its allies, which have a supermajority in the Chamber of Deputies that allow them to approve constitutional reform proposals without the support of opposition lawmakers.
Opponents in the Chamber of Deputies protested the legislation with a seasonal flair, holding up a mock book of the Mexican constitution with the title “The Political Constitution of the United Mexican States,” alluding to concerns that the government’s overall judicial reform plans are an attack on democracy in Mexico. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
A total of 340 deputies voted in favor of the bill, 133 opposed it and there was one abstention. The lower house’s approval of the reform came six days after the Senate passed it.
A majority of Mexico’s 32 state legislatures – most of which are controlled by Morena – have already ratified the reform, meaning that President Claudia Sheinbaum can sign it into law.
Once the reform is promulgated, not even the Supreme Court will be able to review or make rulings on constitutional amendments.
Congress’ approval of the bill came just five days before the Supreme Court is scheduled to consider a proposal to strike down the part of the judicial reform that allows all judges in Mexico to be directly elected by citizens. Under the proposal of Justice Juan Luis González Alcántara Carrancá, only Supreme Court justices would be elected and all other judges would continue to be appointed.
If the reform is promulgated before next Tuesday – as appears almost certain – the Supreme Court won’t be able to review the judicial reform as scheduled.
Mexico City’s legislature ratified the bill within hours of it passing the Chamber of Deputies. (Mexico City Congress)
‘The Supreme Court cannot modify the constitutional text’
Morena Deputy Leonel Godoy, president of the lower house’s Constitutional Points Committee, said during Wednesday’s congressional debate that the reform’s aim is to provide certainty and clarity regarding the inadmissibility of legal challenges against constitutional reforms.
The Supreme Court – the country’s ultimate legal authority – “cannot modify the constitutional text,” he said.
“There is no provision in the text that allows that to happen,” Godoy said.
President Sheinbaum made similar remarks on Tuesday.
“The Supreme Court cannot be a legislator,” she said.
The Supreme Court doesn’t have the authority to legislate or to strike down a constitutional reform that “followed all the [legislative] processes that the constitution establishes,” Sheinbaum said.
Godoy said that Justice González’s proposal to strike down an essential part of the judicial reform was an attempt to “arrogate,” or usurp, “legislative powers.”
Morena Deputy Olga Sánchez, a former Supreme Court justice and interior minister, said that the reform would “rescue” the “sovereign power” of the Congress to legislate without having its constitutional amendments subject to legal review.
The reform “supports the capacity of the people to define their future” and is in no way “contrary to the defense and promotion of human rights,” she said.
Ernestina Godoy, legal counsel to the president, said earlier this month that in her opinion, approved constitutional reforms are not subject to judicial revision. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)
At her morning press conference on Wednesday, Sheinbaum said that the “majority of Mexicans agree with electing judges, magistrates and Supreme Court justices.”
“If they didn’t they wouldn’t have voted as they voted,” she said, referring to the June 2 elections at which she and Morena won comprehensive victories.
The first judicial elections are scheduled to be held on June 1, 2025.
The president, like her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, argues that a judicial overhaul is necessary to ensure that Mexico’s courts are free of corruption and serve the interests of the majority of Mexican people, rather than an elite minority.
Critics of the reform argue that the direct election of judges will erode the independence of the Mexican judiciary and thus weaken or remove a vital check on government power.
PAN accuses Morena of ‘killing’ the judicial power, democracy and the rule of law
Monterrey Deputy Annía Gómez said that the passage of the reform is a “historical regression” for Mexico “|that will take years to reverse.” (Annía Gómez/Facebook)
National Action Party (PAN) deputies dressed in black, clutched candles and held up mock tombstones inside the Chamber of Deputies to demonstrate their opposition to the “constitutional supremacy” reform.
In a somewhat theatrical display, they “mourned” the “deaths” of the judicial power, democracy, autonomous organizations and the rule of law.
“Rest in peace judicial power. It died a victim of the authoritarianism of Morena,” said the epitaph on one of the mock tombstones.
“Democracy,” “autonomous organizations” and “rule of law” replaced “judicial power” on the other tombstones.
The “constitutional supremacy” reform will ensure that none of the reforms already passed by the new Congress, as well as those that will likely be approved soon, can be challenged.
PAN Deputy Annia Gómez asserted that Morena’s intention is to “end the rights of citizens by mutilating the Constitution,” copies of which she said should be placed on Day of the Dead altars.
“It is a historical regression that will take years to reverse and marks a before and after in the real balance of powers,” she said during a testy debate in the Chamber of Deputies.
MC, PRI parties also slam the reform
Before Wednesday’s vote took place, Citizens Movement (MC) Deputy Sergio Gil asserted that if the “constitutional supremacy” bill is approved, “constitutional reforms could even allow the reelection of a president or the establishment of a centralist government.”
There would be “no legal means to reverse them,” the MC lawmaker said.
The Mexican Constitution states that a president can only serve a single six-year term.
Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) Deputy César Domínguez asserted that Morena, in putting forward and supporting the reform, is going even further than former president and Porfirio Díaz – a virtual dictator for more than three decades – “dared” to go.
The PRI lawmaker said the reform was aimed at “perpetuating” Morena in power and “sending the institutions [of Mexico] to hell.”
