The number of automobiles produced in Mexico during January was 2.38% higher than in January 2022. (Photo: Cuartoscuro)
Mexico’s automobile production increased 2.38% in the month of January to 280,315 units, according to the Administrative Registry of the Light Vehicle Automotive Industry (RAIAVL).
Light trucks represented 76.9% of that number, with the rest represented by passenger vehicles.
Meanwhile, production of heavy vehicles (e.g., tractor-trailer trucks and buses) grew 26% in January. The nation’s statistics agency INEGI reported that it was the highest figure in the first month of any year for that segment of Mexico’s automotive industry.
“In January 2023, the production of heavy vehicles in Mexico was focused on cargo vehicles, which represented 98.6% of the total,” INEGI reported. “The rest corresponded to the manufacturing of passenger buses.”
Leading companies in this segment included Freightliner, International, Kenworth and Volvo, INEGI said.
In terms of overall vehicle production in January, General Motors led the pack of Mexico’s 11 resident automakers, with 52,816 units produced, INEGI said. The brand Stellantis followed with 39,123 units, while Toyota took the No. 3 spot with 23,956 units. Ford and Kia rounded out the top 5 with 23,937 and 18,304, respectively.
General Motors México took the lead for numbers of automobiles produced in January, at 52,816 units, according to INEGI.
Mexico also did well in January with regards to export numbers, seeing a 9.93% overall increase in vehicles produced for export in the first month of the year to 238,135 units — a strong start following a record year for Mexico’s auto exports in 2022, when at US $34.9 billion in sales, it became the leading auto exporter to the U.S for the first time ever.
In 2022, Mexican automobile exports to the U.S. grew at an interannual rate of 23.3%, representing US $34.9 billion. Exports of auto parts saw a 15.2% increase of US $71.8 billion, and the category of heavy trucks, buses and special vehicles saw a 13.9% increase as well, for a total of US $43.6 billion.
Mexico’s share of the U.S. auto sales market also grew nearly a percentage point in 2022, to a 37.7% market share. Its share of the U.S. automotive market has increased almost without interruption since 2012, according to the nation’s statistics agency INEGI.
Yet, despite the high percentage of cars produced in Mexico for export in January, domestic production did well too: 94,414 light vehicles were produced in Mexico for national sales during the first month of 2023, a 20.1% jump compared to January 2021.
The National Association of Self-Service and Department Stores (ANTAD) said that sales at member businesses totaled 121.6 billion pesos in January. (Depositphotos)
Mexicans spent more than 120 billion pesos at retail stores in January, a large trade association reported Monday.
The National Association of Self-Service and Department Stores (ANTAD) said that sales at its member businesses – among which are the supermarkets Soriana and Chedraui, the department store Liverpool and the 7-Eleven convenience store chain – totaled 121.6 billion pesos (US $6.5 billion) last month.
The figure, which accounts for sales at over 47,000 individual stores, is 13.8% higher than that recorded in January 2022. It includes sales at businesses that were not ANTAD members a year ago.
Marisol Huerta, an analyst with the financial group Ve por Más, said that the retail data is “positive,” but noted that high inflation – 7.91% in annual terms in January – was a factor in the total outlay. Still, “in general it was a positive month,” she said.
Inflation has remained stubbornly high in Mexico despite successive interest rate hikes and efforts by the federal government to put downward pressure on prices.
The central bank last week lifted its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to a new record high of 11% after both headline and core inflation rose in January.
Querétaro city's iconic arches. This small city still has many traces of its long history dating back to before the conquest, but it also has all the modern amenities and food options you'd expect from a metropolis. (Photo: Government of Mexico)
When the magical chaos of Mexico City starts to grate on my nerves, I hop on a bus to somewhere. Knowing my preference for unbridled walking, interesting museums, bright colors and good food, I decided recently to spend a long weekend in the lovely, charming city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Full disclosure: I’m a fairly recent transplant to Mexico still donning rose-colored glasses. My Mexican honeymoon rages with crystalline palpability, but as a professional traveler, I remain acutely aware of its setbacks.
Otomis in Quéretaro still hang on to their heritage. (Photo: Government of Mexico)
Nonetheless, I would, without a shred of hesitation, suggest a getaway in Querétaro to even the most jaded of travelers. If you like:
flowers
history
museums
nature
wine
shiny, sequined quinceañera dresses
You’re going to enjoy Queretaro.
You really don’t need much time to adequately explore the city and its surroundings. I spent three nights here and felt that to be perfectly sufficient. My mood was lifted, creativity sparked and thirst for adventure quenched. If you’re looking for a great weekend away with friends or solo (like I was), Querétaro might just be the ticket.
The region’s background is worth a refresher. The 13th century saw its original indigenous inhabitants, the Otomí, conquered by the almighty Mexica (Aztecs). In 1522, the Spanish arrived in what is now Queretaro and struck an alliance with the Otomí to push the Mexica out. As a sign of loyalty, the Otomí leader Conin converted to Catholicism and founded Querétaro in 1531.
Ethnically diverse and economically sound, Querétaro grew alongside the Spaniards until the 19th century, when local revolutionaries planned a rebellion. As a result, it’s the official birthplace of Mexican Independence, which was finally won in 1821. Today, Santiago de Querétaro boasts about 2.3 million inhabitants and explodes with soul.
History lesson over. What is there to do?
Let’s start with food because, well, isn’t it an essential component of any meaningful experience? While I would be remiss to label Querétaro a foodie city, one should try its personalized, noticeably thicker version of mole and enchiladas Queretanas, filled with chicken and slathered in red sauce and crumbly cheese.
Queretaro is surprisingly full of vegetarian and even vegan options. (Vanggie)
Being pseudo-vegan, I was unable to try either of these dishes. However, being a taco LOVER, I was absolutely delighted by the handful of excellent vegan options sprinkled throughout town. Vanggie Restaurant is a must-try that can be found within the sleek walls of a stylish, floral courtyard. If you dig hipster vibes, TacoGreen is another fantastic option to fill your belly.
Since I start nearly each day of my life with fresh juice, I always beeline for the closest open-air market upon waking up. Mercado de la Cruz is the city’s main attraction, but Mercado Hidalgo captured my heart, and that’s largely due to the pleasant, friendly people.
I found myself unable to break free of one popular stall whose name never caught my eye. Entering from Calle Hidalgo, you will see a set of bar stools to your right and two to three jolly women selling café de olla, vegan tamales and not-vegan-at-all-but-couldn’t-care-less carrot cake that I dream about on the regular. It’s vibrantly local.
Once satiated, I meandered the quaint streets lined with colorful facades that positively dripped with bright bougainvillea trees. Querétaro is bursting with museums situated inside stunning historical buildings. The Regional Museum is in a former monastery, and the Museum of Art is in a former convent.
Take time to visit the city’s museum devoted to the calendar, MUCAL. (Photo: MUCAL)
Personally, I really enjoyed the MUCAL museum — a museum devoted to calendars — with its fun 1930’s pinup-girl throwbacks, and the haunting, lifelike paintings at Museo Fundacion Santiago Carbonell wowed me. For more examples of stunning historic buildings, check out the Casa de la Marquesa — an opulent mansion-turned-hotel that has hosted President Eulalio Gutiérrez and would-be emperor of Mexico, Maximiliano l —as well as the gorgeous Convento de la Santa Cruz.
Time for a coffee break. While I can’t speak for the quality of the coffee itself, one of my favorite moments was drinking tea by the open-air window at Cafeteria De Barrio. From here, I had unobstructed views of the square’s cathedral, surrounded by local families and spirited street vendors.
Once revived, I made my way to Cerro de las Campanas, a park that can be reached on foot or by Uber. Not only did I stumble on several wonderfully dramatic quinceañera photo shoots, I later realized that I was standing on the very grounds where Maximiliano l was executed in 1867.
Bernal’s monolith, the iconic Peña de Bernal, attracts many hikers.
By now, I could no longer ignore the city’s penchant for wine. Instead of tasting it in town, I went straight to the source, on a day trip to wine country.
My small group tour stopped at Freixenet, probably the most well-known of all the Querétaro-area wineries due to its cellar packed with Spanish-style cava. Not my fave, but my travel mates were happy.
Most tours offer the option to visit the traditional towns of Tequisquiapan, Bernal or both. I opted for Bernal because of its 100-million-year-old monolith that I ambitiously thought I’d be hiking. Pro tip: Make Bernal its own day trip if hiking is on your radar.
Because I chowed down on various tacos most of the day, my dinner consisted of my preferred Mexican delicacy (besides tortillas): mezcal. I spent two of my three nights snacking and sipping in Alquimia Cocktail Bar, where I felt comfortable alone, chatting with the bartenders in Spanish (which improved exponentially with each drink I downed).
By Day 4, I was ready to return to Mexico City, feeling thoroughly recharged and reenergized by my visit. While I didn’t have the chance to indulge in all of Querétaro’s offerings (I would have loved to partake in the nighttime tram tour and visit the El Cerrito archaeological zone), I felt wholly fulfilled by my four-day adventure.
Just outside the city, the state of Querétaro has a wine route with several wineries that hold tours, do tastings and during, harvest season, grape stomping. (Photo: Dreamstime)
Bethany Platanella is a travel and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. With her company,Active Escapes International, she plans and leads private and small-group active retreats. She loves Mexico’s local markets, Mexican slang, practicing yoga and fresh tortillas. Sign up for her (almost) weeklylove letters or follow her Instagram account,@a.e.i.wellness.
Several of the meningitis cases originated in the Hospital del Parque in Durango city. (Photo: social media)
Three people have been ordered to stand trial on homicide charges related to a meningitis outbreak in Durango that claimed 35 lives.
An anesthesiologist, the former head of Durango health regulator Coprised and an employee of that organization were arrested last week in connection with the deadly outbreak, which affected a total of 79 patients – mainly pregnant women – who had spinal anesthetics at private hospitals in Durango city in recent months.
Families of victims of the meningitis outbreak in Durango and supporters at a protest on Thursday to demand justice.
On Sunday, a judge ordered an anesthesiologist identified as Omar “N.” to stand trial on charges of homicide due to negligence. Following his arrest, Durango Attorney General Sonia de la Garza alleged that he used contaminated medication and “improper procedures” in administering spinal blocks.
The doctor allegedly used contaminated morphine at four private hospitals at which he worked. The tainted drug, which may have been improperly stored, is believed to have been the cause of most of the fungal meningitis cases and deaths.
Citing Durango authorities, the Associated Press reported that Omar “N.,” who is set to go on trial next month, “apparently carried his own morphine from one private hospital to another, spreading a fungal infection that contaminated the medication at the first clinic.”
Durango medical personnel wore white outside the arraignment of anesthesiologist Omar N. Sunday to show their support for the doctor who’s accused of homicidal negligence after morphine he gave to patients at multiple Durango clinics turned out to be contaminated with the Fusarium Solani fungus.
“… Some smaller hospitals or maternity clinics in Mexico don’t have their own dispensing pharmacies or are not authorized to handle controlled medications like opiates, and thus rely on anesthesiologists to bring their own,” AP said.
The Durango Attorney General’s Office (FGED) said in December that the meningitis infections were caused by the fungus Fusarium Solani.
Joaquín Antonio Gardeazabal Niebla is one of three suspects being held in preventative custody for negligence and corruption. Although he became the head of the health regulator Coprised in Durango in 2020, he did not hold a medical degree, the state Attorney General’s Office says. (Joaquín Antonio Gardeazabal/Facebook)
At a separate hearing on Sunday, ex-Coprised director Joaquín Antonio Gardeazabal Niebla and former health inspector Guadalupe “N.” were also ordered to stand trial on charges of homicide due to negligence. The former also faces a charge of corruption due to improper exercise of public office.
The ex-Coprised officials were allegedly aware of irregularities at the Hospital del Parque in Durango city, including that it didn’t have an adequate place to store medications, but allowed it to continue operating. Omar “N.” worked at that hospital and three others in the state capital.
Barring a successful appeal against the charges they face, the former health officials will go on trial in May. All three of the accused are currently being held in pretrial detention at the Altiplano prison in México state, the Durango Attorney General’s Office said in a press release.
Omar N., who identified himself as Omar de la Rocha in an online video he posted of himself talking about the case shortly before his arrest, said that he understood the perspective of the families of victims but that he felt scapegoated by authorities, who he said behaved “arbitrarily” and wanted to see him and the other suspects as “criminals, like murderers.”
Previo a su detención la madrugada de este martes, Omar “N”, anestesiólogo acusado como responsable en casos de meningitis en #Durango, publicó un video donde dijo sentirse acosado, intimidado y perseguido por la autoridad. pic.twitter.com/NXKOLX0gVZ
“I’ve felt as if pursued underwater,” accused anesthesiologist Omar de la Rocha said in a video posted online shortly before his arrest, “in the dark, rumors; in meetings [with authorities] where blaming me isn’t mentioned directly but, indeed, that’s how they want me to be seen.”
The FGED said in December that it had obtained arrest warrants against administrators and owners of four private hospitals in Durango where patients contracted fungal meningitis during operations, but those people have not yet been detained.
Members of the Mexican search and rescue team working in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes. (Marcelo Ebrard Twitter)
A Mexican humanitarian aid team has rescued three survivors from the earthquake rubble in Turkey, Defense Minister General Luis Cresencio Sandoval reported on Friday.
“Three people have been rescued alive along with 11 bodies recovered. They [Mexican rescuers] have also participated in medical consultations because our brigade also includes medical personnel,” the minister said.
Imágenes del rescate de una pequeñita de 8 años por parte de equipos locales y el enviado por la Secretaria de Marina en Turquía pic.twitter.com/bEh98MZ4Vq
The BBC has recognized Mexico’s aid teams as “highly specialized civilian and military teams which are often deployed to help when disasters strike.”
The Mexican government brigade is carrying out search and rescue work in 70 buildings in Turkey’s affected zone. Members of Mexico’s professional volunteer “Topos” search and rescue team — which famously was founded in the aftermath of Mexico City’s devastating 1985 earthquake — have also traveled to the region.
The Mexican government sent a total of 105 people and 16 search and rescue dogs, one of whom died on Sunday while on duty.
“Thank you Proteo for your heroic work. You fulfilled your mission,” the Defense Ministry published on social media in a tribute to the fallen German shepherd.
On Mexico News Daily’s Facebook page, a tribute post written in Turkish expressed heartfelt gratitude for Proteo and the Mexican rescuers:
“Our dear Mexican brothers and sisters. I am reaching you from Turkey. Thank you very much for not leaving us to our fate in such a difficult time and for being with us. We were very touched by your team that came to help, and your rescue dogs, who made a throne in our hearts. #PROTEO is a value that we will not forget for the rest of our lives. He died for us. We are so sorry. Proteo’s death made us all cry. Thank you dear Mexican people, thank you dear #PROTEO. We will never, ever forget you. Good luck and always be.”
Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard announced on Twitter today that on instructions from President López Obrador, Mexico would donate US $6 million to victims of the earthquakes in Syria via the United Nations.
Diego Cocca at the Feb. 10 press conference announcing his new position as head coach of "El Tri" (Cuartoscuro)
The by-all-accounts abject failure of Mexico in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has led to the inevitable hiring of a new head coach for the men’s national team, in this case Diego Cocca, who was introduced at a press conference Friday.
The 50-year-old Cocca is an Argentine, just like the man he replaces, Gerardo “Tata” Martino, whose ignominious departure two months ago followed Mexico’s elimination in the first round of the World Cup — marking the first time since 1978 that El Tri, as the national team is known, failed to make the final 16. Mexico tied Poland 0-0, lost to Argentina 2-0 and finished with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia that was too little, too late.
“El Tri” in their 2022 World Cup match with Argentina; they lost 2-0. (Selección Nacional Twitter)
Not that making it to the knockout round would have cured all that ails Mexican soccer. Mexico’s national team had lost its first game in the knockout round six straight times dating back to 1990, and besides appearances in the quarterfinals in 1970 and 1986, this soccer-mad country has never even had a whiff of a World Cup championship to get excited about.
Not every nation can be a world soccer power, but Mexicans sure are tired of NOT being one.
Ignacio Mier Velazco, a member of the Chamber of Deputies, and the coordinator of Morena in that lower house of Congress, announced this week that he is preparing a reform initiative in which Mexico hopefully will “stop making a fool of itself in the World Cups.”
Morena Congressman Ignacio Mier. (Cuartoscuro)
He called right now “the ideal moment to evaluate the panorama of Mexican soccer,” from problems such as security in stadiums to issues such as adequate practice facilities for the national team and having a bad business model.
“Being the venue for a World Cup for the third time” makes this the opportune time to start reversing years of “eminent decline at the competitive level.”
He added: “That is why we are going to work to avoid making ourselves ridiculous, as we have been doing lately. [The failure to advance in] Qatar cannot happen again, especially in a country with all the soccer tradition that exists in Mexico.”
Mier Velazco said that soccer managers are going to be invited to discuss his initiative, clarifying that “it is a matter that is on the agenda of the Sports Commission.”
Perhaps point one in the discussion will be whether Diego Cocca was the right choice to take over as the Mexican national team’s new head coach, or “manager” as it is called in many soccer circles.
ESPN soccer commentators Sebastian Salazar and Herculez Gomez both took a negative stance, with Salazar saying that Cocca lacks experience, especially on the international level, and Gomez saying that Cocca is not the right fit. (Salazar and Gomez’s hard-hitting views are presented in a 12½- minute ESPN FC video or heard as part of a 70-minute “Futbol Americas” podcast episode. Both are in English).
Diego Cocca’s most recent position was as head coach of the Liga MX team Tigres UANL. (Cuartoscuro)
“If you are Mexican and had hoped for a home-run swing, this is certainly not that,” Salazar says at one point. “Outside of Atlas, you’ve got to look really long and really hard to find anything that’s a sustained success” in Cocca’s coaching career.
Atlas F.C. is a Liga MX top-division team that plays in Guadalajara, but rarely gets as much attention as their municipal compatriots, Club Deportivo Guadalajara, more commonly known as Chivas — that is, until the last couple of years, when Cocca guided Atlas to back-to-back league titles in December 2021 and May 2022 (Liga MX plays two seasons over the course of each calendar year).
Cocca received much acclaim, for the championships ended a 70-year title drought for Los Rojinegros (“the red-and-blacks”). And when the prominent Liga MX team Tigres UANL needed a new head coach last year, the team based in the Monterrey metropolitan area hired Cocca.
His stay with Tigres began was a short one, lasting only since mid-November and including only five games as the team’s head coach on the sideline since the season started in January. To his credit, Tigres were in third place with three wins and two draws when Cocca departed this week.
“It is valid to go to fulfill a dream,” said Mauricio Culebro, president of Tigres. “We are not in a position to clip anyone’s wings…he told us that he had a vision of leading the team because he owes a lot to Mexican soccer.” Cocca played for Atlas, Veracruz and Querétaro in the Mexican league, and coached Santos Laguna, Tijuana, Atlas and Tigres.
A pro player in Argentina who got his coaching start there, Cocca was not considered among the favorites to take over as Mexico’s head coach. Names commonly mentioned included Miguel Herrera, who led Mexico to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and won the Gold Cup in 2015, and Uruguayan Guillermo Almada, who coaches reigning Liga MX champions Pachuca.
Cocca becomes the fifth Argentine to lead the Mexican national team. He was preceded by César Luis Menotti, Cayetano Rodríguez, Ricardo La Volpe and Martino — who stepped aside after the disappointing World Cup finish, but had long been under fire for years of uninspiring performances by the national team. Sometimes saying he felt like public enemy No. 1, Martino reportedly turned in his resignation last September, two months before the World Cup, but Mexican Football Federation (FMF) officials convinced him to stay a bit longer.
Will the FMF officials be any happier with the Cocca hiring? Only time will tell.
“I believe a lot in Mexican soccer players and their talent,” Cocca said on Friday. “But talent is not enough. You have to give them a whole lot of tools so they can take off, and that is my goal, I want to make them take off.”
Speaking of the national team, he said, “I want it to be a winning team and to be able to face whatever is thrown at it. The sky’s the limit.”
In this week's morning press conferences, AMLO covered the Turkey-Syria earthquake, "Mexican humanism" and the interest rate hike. (Cuartoscuro)
After delivering an address in Querétaro on Sunday to mark the 106th anniversary of the promulgation of the Constitution of Mexico, President López Obrador returned to Mexico City to start another working week.
The cataclysmic Turkey-Syria earthquake, the ongoing criminal trial of former security minister Genaro García Luna and alleged media misrepresentation of the National Guard’s security work in the Mexico City Metro were among the issues addressed by the president and his colleagues at this week’s morning press conferences, or mañaneras.
The president and members of his cabinet celebrated Constitution Day in Querétaro. (Cuartoscuro)
“They won’t have any problem – they won’t be displaced nor will they have fewer work opportunities,” the president said. “We are looking for balance and for the measures taken to benefit passengers … and workers.”
AMLO discusses the ongoing trial of ex-security minister Genaro García Luna. (Cuartoscuro)
Turning to the criminal trial in the United States of former security minister Genaro García Luna, the 69-year-old Tabasco-born “tropical messiah” declared that “regardless of evidence and responsibility … what’s being ventilated” in court “speaks of a political decomposition” in Mexico before he took office – “a conspiracy between authorities and crime.”
Under his rule, López Obrador said in response to a subsequent question, the government is implementing a model of governance that “we’ve christened Mexican humanism.”
“… There were people who said we weren’t going to be able to transform [Mexico] via peaceful means and those who thought [our government] was going to be more of the same,” he said.
“Now they’re surprised because a profound transformation is taking place.”
Toward the end of his mañanera, AMLO acknowledged the controversial phenomenon of young United States citizens coming to Mexico City to work remotely.
“We can’t close the border to those who want to come and work in our country. [That they want to come here] is recognition that Mexico City is one of the most important and safest cities in the world, that the capital of our republic is very beautiful,” he said.
“So a lot [of young people from the U.S.] have chosen to come here, but as they earn in dollars it turns out that prices are increasing in restaurants, I’m referring to Mexico City restaurants in [the neighborhoods of] Roma, Condesa. Prices are going up, it’s the same thing in the case of rents for apartments.”
Tuesday
In a security report at the beginning of the press conference, Navy Minister José Rafael Ojeda reported on recent drug seizures including those of 203 kilograms of cocaine in Tapachula, Chiapas, and 15 200-kilogram drums of fentanyl precursor chemicals in Manzanillo, Colima.
Deputy security minister Luis Rodríguez Bucio gives details on a recent seizure of cocaine in Chiapas. (Gob MX)
National Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval informed that the National Guard is currently made up of just over 128,000 troops and that an additional 13,000 were expected to be recruited in 2023.
He also noted that a Mexican team of rescue personnel had been dispatched to Turkey to assist the response to Monday’s devastating earthquake.
López Obrador returned to center stage to duel with reporters and in response to one question defended his decree suspending the operation of cargo airlines at the Mexico City International Airport.
“If the city airport moved 200,000 tonnes [of cargo] last year, the Felipe Ángeles airport [AIFA] has capacity for 400,000 tonnes, double [the amount]. But [AIFA] has other advantages. For starters it has rail tracks,” he said.
AMLO later noted that the federal government is “reviewing” the canceled Mexico City-Queretáro train link and aired a claim that it was scrapped due to opposition from the United States government.
“Do you remember that a Chinese company was going to build that railroad with a Mexican company? There’s a whole story about that. … There was a businessman who was very close to the government … and along with other businessmen they joined up with a Chinese company and got the contract to build the railroad,” he said.
“… According to the Chinese ambassador at the time, a very good person, … the agreement was done but it seems there was opposition from the United States government and because of that the Mexican officials reversed the agreement, which very much annoyed … the Chinese government,” López Obrador said.
Among other remarks, the president said that BMW’s investment in San Luis Potosí was “very important” and declared that Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity – a non-government organization that has exposed alleged corruption in the current government – has no “moral authority.”
He also said that the government would launch a new campaign to “inhibit the consumption of drugs, especially fentanyl.”
The “fentanyl situation” is “very serious, especially in the United States,” López Obrador said.
“Fortunately it’s not the same in our country. We have protection. With all respect, our cultures, our traditions protect us a lot. … A bastion that protects us is the family…”
Wednesday
Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard announced that a team of Mexican rescue workers had arrived in the Turkish city of Adana to assist the response to Monday’s catastrophic earthquake.
A Mexican rescue worker and dog in Turkey. (Marcelo Ebrard Twitter)
Another group of specialized rescue workers known as Los Topos (The Moles) for their honed burrowing skills was also headed to Turkey, he said.
Ebrard also noted that a second group of Mexican firefighters had touched down in Chile to assist the fight against wildfires in that country.
“Chile is fighting fires on a grand scale. Human lives, homes and thousands of hectares [of forest] have been lost and that’s why the support of Mexico has been welcomed,” he said.
Press monitor Ana Elizabeth García later took to the stage and asserted that the National Guard has been maligned by the media since it assumed responsibility for security in the Mexico City metro.
“Fake news, lies and constant attacks have been disseminated, this is a true disinformation campaign,” she said.
García said that a photo of National Guard troops carrying a person in a wheelchair down stairs in the Metro had been “taken out of context” by the Twitter account of a little-known news organization, which claimed the person was being arrested for sabotage.
“This is a falsification and an invention,” she said.
Back at the helm of his presser, AMLO launched a familiar attack on previous governments.
“For 36 years they dedicated themselves to reforming the constitution to hand over banks, public companies, mines, oil, the electricity industry, ports, airports, railroads, jails and [Mexican] Social Security [Institute] daycare centers to private interests. They dedicated themselves to increasing taxes on the people … and not taxing the tycoons at the same time,” the president said.
He was later asked whether claims made by former Nayarit attorney general Edgar Veytia at the U.S. trial of former security minister Genaro García Luna were credible.
Veytia on Tuesday asserted that former president Felipe Calderón ordered ex-governor of Nayarit Ney González to support convicted drug trafficker Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
“I believe there are things that cannot be hidden,” López Obrador began.
“… In matters that have to do with crimes or criminality it’s advisable to follow the trail of money to arrive at the truth,” he continued before being pushed to comment more specifically on the accusation leveled against Calderón.
“That has to be proven – whether he knew about and was a beneficiary of the illegal deals that led García Luna to accumulate a lot of money. We’re going to wait, I don’t want to get ahead of things,” López Obrador said.
He added that he had no knowledge of any investigation that had identified an “abnormal pattern” in the income of Calderón, who served as president between 2006 and 2012.
Thursday
After reports on Mexico’s assistance to the earthquake response in Turkey and Syria and firefighting efforts in Chile, officials provided updates on a range of housing initiatives.
Almost 49,000 credits were granted to government workers via the Fovissste housing fund in 2022, said official César Buenrostro Moreno. Between 59,000 and 70,000 Fovissste credits were expected to be granted this year, he added.
The head of the government’s Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) later appeared and proceeded to level damning accusations against García Luna.
“During the time that Genaro García Luna served as public security minister … and after that, he wove a web of corruption … for his own benefit and that of his close associates,” Pablo Gómez said.
He said that a family conglomerate operating “under the auspices of García Luna” obtained 30 contracts with various public security bodies in Mexico and used them to embezzle public resources totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.
Gómez noted that the federal government has filed a lawsuit in Florida in an attempt to recover the ex-security minister’s assets in the United States that were “purchased with resources extracted from the Mexican treasury.”
“The civil process is independent from the criminal trial to which García Luna is subject in Brooklyn, New York,” he said.
With the UIF chief giving an address that lasted more than an hour, there was no time for López Obrador to take questions from reporters. However, the president offered closing remarks during which he declared that the press conference – despite his limited speaking time – had been “very interesting.”
“… We have a lot of issues [to report on] and we still have a lot of days of press conferences,” added AMLO, who presided over his 1,000 mañanera last December.
Friday
AMLO declared that he was happy to be in the Jalisco municipality of Zapopan for his final press conference of the week before ceding the lectern to Governor Enrique Alfaro.
Enrique Alfaro, governor of Jalisco (left), shakes hands with Foreign Minister Ebrard. Interior Minister Adán Augusto López stands on the right. (Enrique Alfaro Twitter)
In 2022, “Jalisco managed to consolidate the downward trend in the incidence of crime,” Alfaro trumpeted. “Our state today, when we talk about total crime incidence, … is below the national average.”
National Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval later reported that Jalisco has been the sixth most violent state in terms of the total number of homicides since the current government took office in late 2018. In terms of homicides per 100,000 people in the four-year period to the end of December, Jalisco was the 11th most violent state, he added.
Data presented by the army chief showed that Guanajuato, Baja California and México state have seen the most murders since López Obrador was sworn in as president, while Colima, Baja California and Chihuahua have the highest per-capita homicide rates.
Sandoval also reported that Mexican rescue personnel and their dogs have saved three lives in Turkey and recovered 11 bodies from the earthquake rubble.
“This personnel has also provided medical consultations,” the minister added.
The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, is welcomed by AMLO in Campeche. (Gob MX)
“We’re going to have a meeting tomorrow, Saturday. The President [Miguel] Díaz-Canel arrives in the morning, we’re going to welcome him in Campeche and we’re going to visit the Edzná archeological zone in Campeche. We’re also going to supervise … the construction of the Maya Train,” he said.
AMLO added that he would discuss health with his Cuban counterpart “because there are Cuban doctors in Campeche and other parts of the country – more than 500 general doctors and specialists.”
“We’re going to thank him for the support … the fraternal government of Cuba is providing,” he said.
“We’re not going to stop fighting the inflation problem, it concerns us and it keeps us occupied but it’s not a cause for alarm. The [monetary] policy of the Bank of México is autonomous, they decide to raise rates and we respect its point of view,” he said.
López Obrador added that he would like the central bank to not just worry about combating inflation but stimulating economic growth as well. After offering that advice, AMLO stressed that his government would nevertheless continue to be “very respectful of the autonomy of the Bank of México.”
Veracruz-based writer Sara Tyler with husband Charly and children Sara and Sofía. The couple has been together for five years but believe the COVID years should count for extra! (Photo: Sara Tyler)
With Valentine’s Day upon us, I thought to look into a question many foreign singles here ask:
“What is it like to have a relationship with a Mexican?”
Spoiler alert: it’s pretty similar to any other, but with a good dose of culture clash.
My goal was to contact Mexican-foreigner couples here in Mexico together for 10 years or more. There are many more than you might expect!
So, let’s start with dating. It is almost cliché to talk about beach hookups, but few of the respondents started as whirlwind romances.
Kiki Suárez came to Chiapas in the late 1970s, finding herself pregnant and married within six months, but she admits more than 35 years later that it was “crazy.”
The rather informal wedding of Kiki and Gabriel Suárez in 1977 in Chiapas. More than 35 years later, they are still together and still happy!
Most couples met when one was working or studying abroad, either in Mexico or another country. Dating periods were most often at least a year, most taking their time, anticipating major life changes. Lawrence Statten and I both dated our respective initially reluctant husbands for over five years.
Mixed answers came with the question “Did dating prepare you for what was to come?”
“Nothing could have prepared us,” says Christie Olvera.
General issues — such as Mexicans’ sense of timeliness, personal space, tolerance for noise etc. — take on new dimensions with the start of a new household. What and when to eat is something that has to be sorted out. That can be difficult, according to Luis Alavez.
“There are many different flavors and ingredients in Mexico that my [Korean] wife was not used to,” he says.
Several non-Mexicans I interviewed noted the “weird” Mexican obsession with sugary drinks and tortillas with every meal, even meals heavy on carbs.
What language to use is an issue starting on the first date, but most respondents favored a bilingual model between Spanish and the foreign language, almost always English. This is because it is the foreigner’s native tongue or it’s the language that both learned in school. Children are almost always bilingual, either by osmosis or encouragement.
Depending on the generation and region, division of household chores can be an issue: Yves Laurent ironically notes that male partners can be more open-minded about such things than their female relatives. Sara Tyler agrees, stating, “Let’s just say [my husband] gets a fair amount of crap from his family, friends and even strangers.”
Interestingly, no one reported having problems with the Mexican partner’s family simply for being foreign. The Alavez-Lim family says that there is some staring and questioning, but “nothing out of what’s normal.”
Kathy Mulrenan Solorzano says that her father-in-law’s jaw dropped the first time he saw her, but that was because of her hippie dress.
One possible issue is that the foreign partner often needs support for many bureaucratic and economic interactions. Laura Martínez understands why she needs to intervene for her husband but admits it can get “wearisome.”
Last, but certainly not least, is the relationship with Mexican in-laws once the relationship has progressed far enough. Krystal Loverin and David Dennstedt claim that when you marry a Mexican, you marry their whole dang family!
Mexican model Monserrat Oliver, left, has been with Slovenian Yaya Kosikova with since 2015.
The foreigner is often expected to adapt to the family’s — well — “idiosyncrasies.”
Boundary definitions in Mexico are different, at the very least, noted by Glenda Peroni and others. Mexican families can feel that they have the right to comment on the couple’s household, especially if there are children. The sources of childcare disputes can range from opinions on the danger of eating cold foods when sick to demanding a say in major medical and educational decisions.
Fortunately for Lawrence and his partner, José Luis, Mexican culture has become more accepting of homosexuals. Despite being in rural Ciudad Hidalgo, Michoacán, José Luis and Lawrence are accepted by family and community — but this sort of acceptance is not always guaranteed.
In long-term cross-cultural relationships, both sides need to find a way to support each other. The foreigner is dealing with culture clash, and the Mexican is dealing with the fallout. Flexible personalities are important; not all need be like Gail O’Brien, who finds that the Mexican culture suits her laid-back lifestyle.
Suárez and I believe that it is very helpful if both partners are not “stereotypically X” — neither of them fitting exactly into their native cultures. Helen Harper and others find that husbands willing to help with “women’s work” is a good sign. My husband Alejandro is a great cook, but his biggest virtue is patience.
Whether more foreign men or women chose to follow spouses to Mexico long-term is unclear. Ensenada-based David Dennstedt sees more foreign men, but here in Mexico City I see both evenly.
However, there is a Facebook group specifically for Women Surviving Rural Mexico, most of whom are U.S. women following deported husbands to their hometowns.
For the Mexican partner, that often comes about because his/her family of origin has a more international outlook. The family may have a history of immigration to or from Mexico, or they may have economic or other ties and experiences outside the country. Some couples, like Susan and Ramón Guerrero, have split their time together between the countries.
In the end, the Mexican/foreigner couple has “… find a way to come together…” like any other couple, says Suárez.
“Embracing the culture” and enjoying Mexico itself is important, says Kathy Mulrenan Solorzano. Both partners need to give the other space to be themselves, she adds. I agree, realizing there are times I need social circles where I can “be unreservedly gringo” from time to time.
But when it works, it works. According to Peter Stanziale, “I admit that a Mexican marriage and a Mexican life have been good for my patience and my arteries…”
Thanks to the many, many people who responded enthusiastically to my call for couples for this article, especially if your name does not appear!
Leigh Thelmadatter arrived in Mexico 18 years ago and fell in love with the land and the culture in particular its handcrafts and art. She is the author of Mexican Cartonería: Paper, Paste and Fiesta (Schiffer 2019). Her culture column appears regularly on Mexico News Daily.
One thing you'll almost certainly need to do in your new Mexican home is figure out a way to buy drinking water. Some companies deliver — just look out for the trucks in your neighborhood and flag one down. (Illustration: Angy Márquez)
Last week, we talked about all things related to Mexican addresses: how to write them, how to find them, and how to actually get people and packages to them (executive summary: don’t forget the colonia, and remember that there can be lots of streets with the same name in your city).
This week, it’s time for another lesson in practicality: getting water to your home.
The first thing to remember is that you’ll be needing two types of water: the kind that comes out of the faucet and the kind that you drink.
Drinking water is usually obtained from garrafones, those big five-gallon jugs common in offices. It’s not that the water that comes out of your faucets hasn’t been treated; it has. The problem with its cleanliness has more to do with the condition of the pipes that it runs through.
That said, I’ve found that the water that comes out of faucets is mostly okay: I myself use it to brush my teeth, as well as for tea and coffee, since the water gets boiled. I have never had a problem with it (and it’s been 20 years); if you accidentally swallow a bit, there really is no need to rush to the doctor. Also, if you live in a part of Mexico where they’re drilling very deep for water, your supply may have levels of minerals like fluoride or calcium that aren’t going to hurt you in the short-term but can cause problems in the long-term.
For gulping down big glasses of water, you’ll want to make sure it’s extra clean. Though there are filtration systems that may come installed in a few of the fancier homes you rent or buy (you could also have them installed if you like), most people rely on the simple garrafón.
Where do you get them? There are typically an array of options. Many of the big beverage companies keep them stocked in Oxxos and other convenience stores, as well as in supermarkets. Many smaller mom-and-pop stores (tienditas) have them as well. There are also often smaller “mom and pop” local water purifying companies, which are usually cheaper.
Garrafones are returnable (retornable); this means that when you get a new garrafón, you’ll turn in your newly emptied one. If you’re brand new and don’t already have one in the place you’re living, you’ll need to buy one or two initially; where I am, a new filled garrafón is less than 100 pesos. After that, you simply exchange your empty for a new one and are only charged for the water inside.
If you buy from a major water brand like Ciel or Bonafont, then you’ll only be able to exchange your garrafones for others of the same brand. Major brands shouldn’t be hard to find in most stores, and larger local brands (there’s one called Xallapan where I live, for example) should be available in most places too.
If you exchange your garrafones at a mom-and-pop water purification place or refill them yourself (there are self-serve places to do so in most cities), then the brand pasted on the container won’t matter. However, if you decide to start using a brand later on, then you’ll need one of that same brand.
Another thing to remember: your garrafones must be clean if you want to exchange them. If you’ve put anything besides water inside of it and it’s obvious by either the looks or the smell of it, they won’t be accepted back and you’ll need to buy a new one. Make sure, too, that when you get new garrafones, they aren’t leaking anywhere, as that can also be grounds for refusal when you try to exchange it (and can mean a big mess).
To get these bottles to your house, you’ve got a couple of different options: you can either go to the store physically to exchange them or you can have them delivered.
If you’ve just moved to a new place, stick your head out the door when you hear honking outside or someone yelling something — could be some kind of service like water delivery! If you’re in an established neighborhood, there will probably already be some delivery truck or other that’s coming regularly with water (on my street I hear “Agua Cieeeeeeel!” a couple times a week, which is when I go outside with my empty garrafón and 45 pesos).
Since they’re fairly heavy and awkwardly-shaped when filled with water, I prefer to get them delivered. Once in the house, I typically turn mine over into a receptacle for water dispensing (give the bottles a quick wipe-down first — they get dusty easily). There are also other solutions for dispensing your water — the most common are little removable water pumps that simply fit on the top, or little holders for them that can make them easier to tip upside down for serving.
OK, so what about the water that comes out the faucet?
As in other countries, you’ll need to pay your home’s water bill. Water is typically delivered by pumping it through pipes in the ground, the pressure of which sends it up to what’s called a tinaco, a large container for water that very likely sits on top of your house or building. When you turn on the water faucet, it opens the valve, and gravity causes the water to come down through it.
I give you all these details so that you might understand why you may not have water sometimes — and what you can do about it.
As you probably know, there are certain areas of Mexico where water is scarce. Because of this, some cities, including mine, have tandeos de agua when supplies get low, which means that there are certain days when the city water system does not deliver water to homes (in my own city, different colonias basically take turns going without when needed).
Unless you’re using a ton of water that day, you might not even notice; but if you’ve recently emptied your tinaco or are planning to, say, do a bunch of loads of laundry or fill a big kiddie pool, it might be a problem. But otherwise, most tinacos are big enough for everyone to get their showers in, toilets flushed and dishes done for a couple of days without emptying them.
If your tinaco does turn up empty, some homes have an additional reservoir underground called a cisterna (cistern); if you do, then there should be a bomba — an electrical water pump — that you can turn on (usually a switch inside or outside your home) to pump some of that water up to the tinaco (usually just leaving it on for 20 minutes should do it).
Bear in mind also that some houses don’t have a tinaco and rely on a cisterna alone. Your pump will send the water in the cisterna directly through your house pipes instead of up to the tinaco.
Happy drinking, showering and washing, everyone!
Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sdevrieswritingandtranslating.com
You don’t need to go to a fancy restaurant to enjoy these Molten Chocolate Cakes — it’s easy to make them yourself.
Those who’ve been in Mexico on Valentine’s Day know that it’s celebrated in high style, with giant stuffed teddy bears, extravagant flower arrangements, balloons and boxes of chocolates and candies.
It surprised me at first; now it’s charming, rather sweet and often amusing. Día de San Valentín is a “festivity” holiday, an official designation that includes other special days like Mother’s and Father’s Day, Teacher’s Day and Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe.
Rich shortbread paired with toasted coconut equals a decadent melt-in-the-mouth cookie.
The origin of Valentine’s Day harkens to the third century, when a renegade Italian bishop officiated at weddings for couples who were not permitted to marry for various reasons: the parents didn’t approve of the match; one member of the couple was a slave; or the man was a soldier. Valentine performed the weddings and gave the couple flowers. Not surprisingly, the emperor disapproved of this, and on Feb. 14, A.D. 269, Valentine was beheaded.
His love of love, however, lives on in the holiday, and St. Valentine is the patron saint of lovers everywhere.
The commercialization of Valentine’s Day — and the introduction of chocolate as representative of true love — came centuries later. In the late 1300s, Chaucer wrote a poem heralding “seynt Voantynes day” as the time when“every bird cometh to choose his mate.”And in Europe, especially Britain, people were rapidly becoming addicted to cacao, a new imported delicacy, and discovering so many things that could be done with it.
The first big chocolate company to make “eating chocolates” was the British firm Cadbury, who in 1861 paired them in heart-shaped boxes for the newfangled Valentine’s Day, to instant success. That was in 1861.
Meanwhile, over in America, chocolate candies were off to a slow start, but then in 1907, Hershey’s hit the jackpot with its production of tear-drop shaped chocolate “kisses” – the perfect symbol of love for a Valentine’s Day gift. (The name came not from the shape but from the ”smooching” noise the machines made as the kisses were extruded.)
As chocolate became more affordable, other companies sprouted up, including Russell Stover Candies. What started in Clara Stover’s Denver kitchen in 1923 eventually became the number-one manufacturer of boxed chocolates — particularly for Valentine’s Day — in the U.S.
Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
1qt. strawberries, with green leaves if possible
1-1/3 to 1½ cups milk chocolate, semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
Wash and dry berries; have at room temperature. Place parchment paper, foil or waxed paper on baking sheet(s) big enough to hold berries in single layer.
Heat chocolate in microwave for about 1 minute until soft and shiny. Using a spoon, stir till melted and smooth. Grasp a strawberry by its stem; swirl in melted chocolate, coating all sides. Place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining berries.
Refrigerate dipped berries for 20 minutes to set chocolate. Remove from refrigerator; let harden completely at room temperature. Serve the same day, if possible.
Molten Chocolate Cake
½ cup unsalted butter, plus more for buttering molds
4 oz. bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces
4 eggs
¼ cup sugar
2 tsp. flour, plus more for dusting molds
For serving: ice cream or whipped cream
Put butter in medium bowl. Melt in the microwave, then add chocolate and stir until melted. In another bowl, crack 2 eggs and add 2 more yolks (discard the extra whites). Add sugar; beat or whisk until light and thick, about 1 minute. Mix egg mixture and 2 tsp. flour to melted chocolate.
Butter and flour four (4 oz.) molds or ramekins. Make sure not to miss any spots or cakes will stick. Tap out excess flour. Divide batter among molds. (At this point you can refrigerate them up to 3 hours; just bring them back to room temperature before baking.)
When ready to bake, heat oven to 450 F (230 C). Put molds on rimmed baking sheet; bake until cakes puff up a bit, tops are barely set and they jiggle slightly when shaken, 7–9 minutes (better underbaked than overbaked). Let sit for 1 minute.
To unmold, put a dessert plate on top of each ramekin and (with a potholder to protect your hand) carefully invert. Let sit for 10 seconds, then lift ramekin. Serve immediately.
Toasted Coconut Shortbread
1 cup + 2 Tbsp. cold salted butter (2¼ sticks), cut into ½-inch pieces
½ cup granulated sugar + more for dipping outside of cookies
¼ cup light brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1¾ cups flour
½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut, plus more for sanding
¾ tsp. cinnamon
1 egg (beaten) for egg wash
In medium bowl with electric mixer, beat butter, both sugars and vanilla on medium-high until super light and fluffy, 3–5 minutes. Slowly add flour, then ½ cup coconut. Beat just to blend.
Divide dough in half; place each half on large piece of plastic wrap. Sprinkle each half with cinnamon. Roll to form a log. Each half should form a log about 1½-2 inches in diameter. Chill until firm, at least 1½ hours.
Heat oven to 350 F (177 C). Line baking sheet with parchment. Brush outside of logs with egg wash; roll in coconut. Slice each log into ¼-inch-thick rounds. Dip one side of each round into sanding sugar. Arrange on baking sheet, sugar-side up, about 1-inch apart. Bake until edges just begin to brown, 10–12 minutes. Cool slightly before eating them all.
Tip: Cookie dough can be made 1 week ahead. Tightly wrap in plastic and chill or freeze up to 1 month.
These no-bake chocolate-and-peanut butter treats taste just like — you guessed it — Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolates
1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup unsalted butter, melted
2½ cups confectioners’ sugar
1 cup peanut butter, crunchy or smooth
1 cup chocolate chips
In large bowl, thoroughly mix graham cracker crumbs, butter, confectioners’ sugar and peanut butter. Spread mixture in lightly greased 9×13-inch pan. Chill in refrigerator 10 minutes.
While peanut butter layer is chilling, melt chocolate chips in a microwave or a double boiler on the stove. Remove chilled peanut butter layer from refrigerator; spread melted chocolate over evenly over top. Chill another 10 minutes to set before cutting into squares or shapes with a cookie cutter but leaving cut cookies in the pan. Return to refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour before removing from pan.
