The men's team dominated the stadium on Saturday, making 13 of the game's 15 shot attempts and scoring three goals. (Mi Selección MX/X)
The third era of Mexican men’s soccer coach Javier Aguirre started off on the right foot on Saturday as Mexico’s El Tri defeated New Zealand 3-0 in an international friendly in Pasadena, California.
Orbelín Pineda scored five minutes after the opening whistle while César Huerta and Luis Romo netted early in the second half to lead El Tri to a comfortable win in front of a lot of empty seats in the Rose Bowl.
Mexico established control early and attacked throughout the match. If not for the strong play of New Zealand goalie Max Crocombe, the final score would have been even more lopsided.
Mexico nearly doubled its lead 10 minutes later when Israel Reyes served up Santiago Giménez but Santi’s first-time shot from 8 meters out was blocked by Crocombe.
Romo missed a chance to get on the scoresheet just before the half when Julián Quiñones found him making an overlapping run into the box. Romo’s one-timer zipped past Crocombe but clanged off the far post and out of danger.
Head coach Javier Aguirre is back for this third go at leading the Mexican men’s soccer team. (Fernando Carranza García/Cuartoscuro)
Two minutes into the second half, El Tri hit the woodwork again. This time, Pineda ran onto a Luis Chávez cross but his side-footed flick volley banged off the near post.
Mexico’s luck changed shortly thereafter. From the top of the box, Pineda found Romo wide right and the 2020 Olympic bronze medalist fired a low cross into the goalie box where the onrushing Huerta redirected the ball inside the far post.
Just four minutes later, Romo increased Mexico’s advantage to 3-0, blasting a right-footer from just outside the box. The shot deflected off a New Zealand defender and bounced inside the right post.
Although continuing to create chances, Mexico would not find the net again. Aguirre’s men also displayed solid defense throughout, holding the Kiwis to two shots, neither of which was on target.
Mexico was 10-4-7 under Lozano who had replaced Diego Cocca in June 2023, but the team was playing poorly. El Tri was just 4-1-3 this year and had scored just seven goals, conceding 10 times.
El Tri’s stumbling performances of late help explain why only 25,271 fans showed up at the Rose Bowl (capacity 89,700).
Mexico will face Canada in their next game, another friendly schedule for Tuesday in Dallas, Texas.
The Ariel Awards, honoring the best in Mexican cinema, were held in Guadalajara on Saturday, Sept. 7. (Gobierno de Jalisco/X)
Already honored with more than 20 awards from film festivals around the world, Lila Avilés’ “Tótem” cleaned up Saturday night at the 2024 Ariel Awards, which were held in Guadalajara instead of Mexico City for the second year in a row.
The gripping drama nabbed five Arieles, or Mexican Oscars, including best picture, best director and best original screenplay, which Avilés wrote.
The movie also generated a best supporting actress award for Montserrat Marañón (in a tie with Ludwika Paleta for “All the Silence”), and a best new actor award for Naíma Sentíes.
In “Tótem,” Sentíes plays a 7-year-old girl, Sol, whose world turns upside down after she finds out her father has terminal cancer. Her performance has been praised for its authenticity and emotional depth.
“Tótem” — available on Netflix with English subtitles — was on the festival circuit much of 2023. It made its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in February before finally opening in Mexico on Nov. 30, 2023.
“It’s been crazy,” said Avilés, 42, a Mexico City native who got her start in the film industry as an actress. “[Tótem] has taken me to more than 100 international festivals, more than 40 countries for distribution, more than 35 award nominations” (and 24 wins).
Lila Avilés’ “Tótem” took home five Ariel awards including best picture, best director and best original screenplay. (Fernando Carranza García/Cuartoscuro)
Everywhere she went, the film was “heard and resonated,” she added. “Realizing that it is the same in China as in the United States or in Australia or in Peru … In the end, even in this universe of diversity, we are all quite similar.”
Avilés’ busy 2023 also included the release of a Barbie doll in her image, able to hold either a movie camera or a clapboard. Mattel’s “Role Models” line also honored actresses Helen Mirren (England) and Viola Davis (U.S), music stars Shania Twain (Canada) and Kylie Minogue (Australia), comedian Enissa Amani (Germany), model Nicole Fujita (Japan) and influencer Maira Gomez (Brazil).
The 66th edition of the Ariel Awards was held at Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara and presented by the Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences. Actors Michelle Rodríguez and Kike Vázquez were the hosts.
Naíma Sentíes, who plays the 7-year-old Sol in “Tótem,” won best new actor. (Fernando Carranza García/Cuartoscuro)
In pursuit of awards in 24 categories, 174 films were entered, including 69 feature films and 96 shorts from Mexico, plus nine films from other countries in Latin America.
“Tótem” led the way with 15 nominations and came away with five awards.
Another top winner was “Todo el silencio” (“All the Silence”), a moving film about hearing impairment that’s available on Amazon Prime Video. Nominated for six awards, it took home four: Adriana Llabrés for best actress, Ludwika Paleta for best supporting actress, director Diego del Río for best debut feature film and best sound.
David Zonana’s “Heroico” (“Heroic”) and Elisa Miller’s “Temporada de huracanes” (“Hurricane Season”) each had 11 nominations and three wins.
The wins for “Heroic,” which addresses the reality of military institutions, were Fernando Cuautle for best supporting actor, best costume design and best art direction.
“Hurricane Season,” which explores a mother’s tumultuous relationship with her estranged daughter, won best adapted screenplay, best makeup and best editing.
Best actor went to Noé Hernández for “Kokoloko,” a drama set on the Oaxacan coast.
Other notable wins included “El eco” (“The Echo”) for best documentary, “Humo” for best animated short and “Apnea” for best fiction short. “The Echo” depicts growing up in rural Puebla.
“Mexican cinema is very special,” said Avilés, whose 2018 “La camarista” (“The Chambermaid”) earned her an Ariel Award for best debut feature and a best director nomination. “Tótem” is her second feature film.
“Every year wonderful films are released that generate a lot of talk, but more initiatives are needed to produce them,” she added.
Mexican cinema is going through a difficult time, with budget cuts following the eradication of the Film Investment and Stimulus Fund (Fidecine) in 2020.
General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo will lead the Ministry of National Defense (Sedena) come October. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum announced Friday her picks to lead the Mexican Army and Navy during her government, which will take office on Oct. 1
Sheinbaum named Ricardo Trevilla Trejo as Mexico’s next minister of national defense, the country’s top Army official, and Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles as minister of the Navy.
Vice Admiral Raymundo Morales Ángeles, Mexico’s next Navy minister, is the current director of the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. (Government of Mexico)
Both posts are extremely powerful given that the military is now responsible for a wide range of areas beyond national defense.
The Army and Navy play a key role in public security, and during the current government were given responsibility for building major infrastructure projects, managing ports, airports and customs and running a new state-owned airline, among other non-traditional tasks.
The president-elect announced her picks for national defense minister and Navy minister in a statement, explaining that she chose Trevilla and Morales after an “exhaustive review of the best candidates.”
President López Obrador’s defense minister, Luis Cresencio Sandoval, and Navy Minister José Rafael Ojeda Durán will leave their posts at the end of the month. (Presidencia)
She acknowledged the “work and dedication” of outgoing National Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval González and Navy Minister José Rafael Ojeda Durán.
What are the backgrounds of the new Army and Navy chiefs?
Trevilla, 63, and Morales, 58, have both had long military careers.
According to Sheinbaum’s statement, the former is currently a divisional general in the Mexican Army, while the latter is an admiral in the Navy and general director of the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
Trevilla, originally from Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, graduated from the Heroic Military College in Mexico City as a second lieutenant and subsequently completed two degrees, including a master’s, in military administration.
His active service in the Army began in 1978 when he was just 17.
Among Trevilla’s deployments was one to the border region in Chiapas, which is currently plagued by cartel violence. He also served as military attaché to the Mexican Embassies in Germany and Poland.
Incoming National Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla has served the Mexican Army since he was 17. (Tomas Castelazo/CC BY-SA 3.0)
Morales, originally from the state of Oaxaca, joined the Mexican Navy as a cadet in 1983.
In 1989, he completed a degree in naval engineering, and subsequently earned master’s degrees in national security and in naval administration. Morales also studied at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., completing a course on defense policy and strategy.
Before becoming an admiral in late 2023, he served as a Navy commander and director of the Center for Higher Naval Studies. In addition, Morales served as a naval attaché to the Mexican Embassy in the United States.
Who else will be in Sheinbaum’s cabinet?
Before announcing Trevilla and Morales as the top military officials in her government, Sheinbaum named her civilian ministers, including Finance Minister Rogelio Ramírez de la O, who will continue in his current position.
Buttery soft cake and tough whisky might not seem an obvious pairing, but they make for an incredible cake. (Freepik)
A pound of sugar; a pound of flour; a pound of butter; a pound of eggs makes what? A traditional pound cake, hence, the name.
Pound cake has been around for centuries, first found in an English cookbook dating from the mid-18th century. And the fact remains that you didn’t have to be a brain surgeon to remember the recipe, which was critical when cookbooks and the internet weren’t around for easy access. Pretty easy, right?
Pound cakes are quick and easy to make, so you don’t need to be a Bake Off champion to impress your friends! (Annie Spratt/Unsplash)
Pound cake is versatile: you can eat it plain, or make variations like lemon, or top it with fruit and cream, or infuse it with caramel and bourbon, as in our recipe. But did it ever have a place in Mexican cuisine?
In fact, it did. While the Spanish are the invaders who most garner our attention for their 300-year-long occupation of Mexico, the French and their influence are often overlooked. France recognized Mexico as a country in the early part of the 19th century, and French settlers started to arrive around 1830. France also directly occupied Mexico in the 1860s, though only for five years. Despite the short stay, the French made their mark, most notably with their cuisine that influenced the Mexicans, especially when it came to baking and sweet breads called pan dulce.
In France, pound cake is called quatre-quarts, literally “four fourths,” referring to the four ingredients that are equally added to the recipe. It is believed that the French so influenced the Mexicans with their pound cake that the latter began featuring it in their bakeries, calling it panqué. Today, there are many variations on the pastry:
Panqué con nueces: Made with walnuts.
Panqué con pasas: Made with raisins to add sweetness and moisture.
Panqué de chocolate: Chocolate pound cake.
Panqué de nata: Made with cream from boiled raw milk, that makes the cake incredibly rich.
A traditional panqué de pasas. (YouTube)
One of the four ingredients in pound cake is butter and that’s the ingredient that gives it that awesome, melt-in-your mouth buttery flavor. And for the best pound cake, you probably can’t do better than to buy butter in Mexico!
Mexican butter is higher in butterfat than its American counterpart, meaning it has richer flavor and smoother texture. You can also find cultured butterhere that’s made more like European butter, with slightly soured cream that gives it a tangy texture. But we can’t forget to give credit to Mexican cows, who are fed mostly grass and greens which results in a butter with deeper color and one that tastes more natural and robust. Two Mexican brands of butter, Aguascalientes and Flor de Alfalfa, are known for their high quality.
Let’s combine the best of Mexico and Kentucky with this caramel bourbon pound cake with caramel bourbon glaze.
Bourbon pound cake with caramel bourbon glaze
Adapted from George Pyne’s recipes.
Ingredients
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour (I am yet to find proper all-purpose flour in Mexico and recommend ordering from the U.S.)
2 tsp baking powder (polvo para hornear)
1 cup butter, softened (mantequilla)
½ cup shortening 3 cups sugar (azúcar estándar)
5 eggs (huevos)
1 ½ cups milk (lecheentera)
½ cup Kentucky bourbon (use Wild Turkey, Evan Williams or Bulleit Barrel Strength Bourbon, or apple cider for teetotalers!)
2 tsp vanilla extract (extracto de vainilla)
Artisanal butter can take your baking to the next level. (Flor de Alfalfa)
Instructions
Heat oven to 325 F (163 C).
Grease a 10” Bundt or tube pan and coat evenly with a layer of bread crumbs. Unlike flour, bread crumbs do not leave residue or clumps.
Sift flour and baking powder together three times and set aside.
In a medium-size bowl, using a big wooden spoon, mash and mix the butter and shortening together until well combined.
Add 1 cup of sugar. Using the wooden spoon, mix everything into a smooth, thick texture.
Move the dough to the mixer. Add 2 cups sugar and beat on medium speed until well combined.
Add eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition.
Add one fourth of the flour mixture, beating on low speed until flour disappears.
Beat each of the following ingredients into the batter. After adding each ingredient, beat just enough to keep batter smooth:
Half of the milk called for.
Second fourth of flour called for.
Remainder of the milk.
Stir in third fourth of the milk.
Add bourbon.
Add remaining flour.
Stir in vanilla.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
Bake for 60-70 minutes, until cake is slightly browned, pulls from sides of pan and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
Place cake on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Invert onto a serving platter.
Caramel bourbon glaze
The last thing your delicious pound cake needs is this delightful whisky glazing. (Freepik)
Make while the cake bakes.
Ingredients
3/4 cup brown sugar (azucar moreno)
1/4 cup light corn syrup (jarabe de maíz)
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup heavy cream (crema para batir)
2 tbsp bourbon
Instructions
In a medium saucepan, over medium-high heat, stir together all ingredients. Stir until sugar dissolves.
Increase heat to high and stop stirring. The ingredients will form a caramel sauce. Allow the caramel to boil for six minutes.
Remove from heat and gently whisk in cream. Be careful, as caramel bubbles up quickly.
When the caramel is thoroughly blended, whisk in bourbon.
Poke holes in the cake with a long skewer, twirling slightly to create space for the caramel to soak into the cake.
While the caramel sauce is still warm, brush all over the cake, including the sides. Repeat until all the glaze is used.
Stir until sugar dissolves.
Deborah McCoy is the one-time author of mainstream, bridal-reference books who has turned her attention to food, particularly sweets, desserts and fruits. She is the founder of CakeChatter and the author of four baking books for “Dough Punchers” via CakeChatter (available @amazon.com). She is also the president of The American Academy of Wedding Professionals™ (aa-wp.com).
The Jaguar Park spans nearly 2,250 hectares and encompasses protected natural areas such as beaches, forests, the Tulum Archaeological Zone and the Tulum National Park. (@MaraLezama/X)
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum inaugurated the Jaguar National Park in Tulum, Quintana Roo, in a private ceremony held on Saturday during López Obrador’s last working visit to the Yucatán peninsula.
Government officials involved in the park’s construction, including Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama, attended the inaugural event.
¡Esto es el Parque del Jaguar: patrimonio natural e histórico de Tulum, que el mundo merece conocer! 🐆 🏝🌊 🌎
In a statement, Lezama thanked López Obrador for their joint work in restoring “dignity and respect to native cultures,” particularly to the Maya, who Lezama described as “the living legacy of [our] civilization.”
The Jaguar Park spans nearly 2,250 hectares and encompasses protected natural areas such as beaches, forests, the Tulum Archaeological Zone and the Tulum National Park. The area is home to at least 966 species of flora and fauna, including 60 endemic species that can not be found elsewhere.
The park also houses the Museum of the East Coast, which delves into the history of the Mexican Caribbean from the Late Pleistocene (40,000-10,000 B.C.) to the rise of the Maya (1,800 B.C.-250 A.D.), including their archaeological past, their encounters with European cultures and their present.
The new Museum of the East Coast delves into the history of the Mexican Caribbean from the Late Pleistocene to the rise of the Maya. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
According to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the museum is the largest of the cultural offerings along the Maya Train route. It features 1,200 square meters of museum space, over 300 original pieces and 50 reproductions. Most of the pieces have been sourced from INAH facilities such as the National Museum of Anthropology, the Maya Museum of Cancún and archaeological zones across Quintana Roo, Campeche and Yucatan.
At the ceremony, head of the INAH Diego Prieto Hernández said that the opening of the Jaguar Park is proof that the Maya Train is more than just a railway project. “We’re standing before a vindication of the Mexican southeast and the Yucatán peninsula,” he said. “The Maya Train is justice and balanced development, it is progress with equality and the recovery of historical memory.”
During the event, President López Obrador emphasized that these works will further enhance Tulum, and called on people to take care of nature, the jungle, the beaches and the archaeological sites.
Addressing his upcoming end of term, López Obrador stated that he feels satisfied with his time in office because he has fulfilled his duties and set the foundations of the so-called “fourth transformation,” which Sheinbaum has pledged to follow.
Later on Saturday, López Obrador and Sheinbaum also inaugurated the Historical Museum of the City of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, near Tulum.
Tropical Storm Francine formed over the Gulf of Mexico on Monday and is taking aim at the Texas-Louisiana border. (NOAA)
Tropical Storm Francine in the Gulf of Mexico brought extreme weather to Mexico’s northeastern coast on Monday, and is expected to become a Category 1 hurricane by the time it hits the north-central Gulf Coast of the United States on Wednesday.
As of 12 p.m. Mexico City time on Monday, Francine had maximum sustained winds of 95 km/hour and was located about 200 kilometers off the coast of Tamaulipas according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).
After nearly a month without a storm in the Atlantic Ocean — the longest streak since the 1960s — Tropical Storm Francine formed over the Gulf of Mexico on Monday and is taking aim at the Texas-Louisiana border.
Early Monday, the NHC still classified the system as Potential Tropical Cyclone No. 6, a designation that allows the NHC to issue tropical storm watches and warnings before the system becomes an officially named storm.
That changed quickly, however. As it strengthened into a named tropical storm, Francine began affecting Mexico’s Gulf coast. Mexico’s National Meteorological Service (SMN) issued a statement reporting “extraordinary storms” in Tamaulipas, “torrential rains” in Veracruz and “intense storms” in several other states.
Prior to that, the SMN issued its daily weather forecast still referring to Tropical Cyclone No. 6, explaining that the storm in the western part of the Gulf was being fed by weather front No. 1 (a cold front) and Tropical Wave No. 21, the latter of which had traversed southern Mexico, dumping considerable rain on Chiapas and Oaxaca.
Interacting with humid air from the Caribbean, the storm was poised to drench the Gulf coast and make it a rainy day across Mexico, according to the national weather agency.
The SMN warned Gulf Coast residents that high winds associated with the mass of cold air could potentially lead to storm damage in Tamaulipas, Veracruz and Tabasco.
The NHC also warned that Francine was generating surf swells along Mexico’s Gulf coastline , forecasting that they would spread north-westward across the coast through midweek. The swells pose life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, the NHC added, and minor coastal flooding in Tamaulipas is expected.
Tropical storm conditions could impact the northern coast of Mexico and extreme southern Texas beginning Tuesday, with total rainfall forecast between 101 mm and 203 mm, as well as along portions of the Texas and Louisiana coasts on Wednesday.
The NHC forecast shows Francine intensifying into a Category 1 hurricane before landfall, which is expected by Wednesday evening.
Two other areas in the open Atlantic have a moderate chance of developing into storms in the next seven days, according to the NHC.
There has been an increased presence of the Mexican armed forces in Culiacán since the arrest of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada in July. (Cuartoscuro)
Two soldiers were injured and one other person was reportedly killed during an outbreak of violence in Culiacán, Sinaloa, on Monday morning.
Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya said on X that soldiers came under fire at around 6 a.m. after detecting the presence of armed civilians in the La Campiña neighborhood, located east of downtown Culiacán. He said that two soldiers were wounded.
The governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha Moya, has called on the population to remain calm as violence has erupted in Culiacán, the state capital. (Cuartoscuro)
Rocha said that security forces from all three levels of government responded in “a coordinated operation” and seized two vehicles abandoned by the aggressors “in their escape.”
The governor said that the situation had been brought under control, and called on citizens to remain calm. As a precaution, classes were suspended at schools in the area, Rocha said.
Citing unofficial reports, the Culiacán newspaper Río Doce reported that one person was killed and another wounded in clashes in the eastern sector of the Sinaloa capital. It said that confrontations first occurred between rival criminal groups, but did not identify them or the person believed to have been killed.
Videos have been posted on social media showing abandoned vehicles and footage of the clashes in Culiacán.
Río Doce said that armed men were seen traveling in at least 40 vehicles equipped with weapons. The Milenio newspaper reported that armed men were also seen in the north of Culiacán, a stronghold of the Sinaloa Cartel.
No deaths or injuries were reported as a result of the chaos that unfolded Aug. 29 in a rural area north of the Sinaloa state capital where accused drug trafficker Ovidio Guzmán López — one of the sons of convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera — was arrested in January 2023.
There have been numerous incidents of violence in Sinaloa since alleged Sinaloa Cartel leaders Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García and Joaquín Guzmán López, another son of El Chapo, were arrested in the United States on July 25 after flying into an airport near El Paso, Texas, on a private plane.
One couple has made it their mission to visit every Pueblo Mágico in Mexico. This is their story. (All photos by Mexico Living The Dream)
What are Pueblos Mágicos? In a word, they’re where you can see the real Mexico: the diversity that truly represents this incredible country. The Pueblos Mágicos — Magical Towns — program is a two-decade-old initiative by the federal government designating towns that offer visitors an outstanding experience through their traditions. There’s magic for everyone in the form of gastronomic delights, incredible arts and crafts and stunning architecture.
I love the Pueblos Mágicos, which is is why I loved meeting Robin and Marty, two fellow adventurous souls who love getting out exploring and seeing the beauty of Mexico, then sharing it with the world.
Intrepid explorers Robin and Marty.
Robin and Marty are based in Cozumel, in the Mexican Caribbean. But summers are hot, so they travel around Mexico exploring as many Pueblos Mágicos as they can.
The couple started the YouTube channel Mexico Living the Dream, where they share their visits exploring and experiencing different towns, encouraging their audience to support these communities and the businesses in them. Robin blogs about the material that doesn’t make it into the videos on theMexico Living the Dream website. She shared her experiences as a Pueblos Mágicos devotee with Mexico News Daily.
There are 177 Pueblos Mágicos. Spread through all 31 states and the capital Mexico City. In fact, that’s the most Googled phrase about them: “Pueblos Mágicos near Mexico City.”
The scratch map that started it all.
It can seem like too much ground to cover, but Robin had a great idea: getting a scratch map ofall the Pueblos Mágicos across Mexico.
“So far we’ve explored a lot on our map,” Robin told me. “Scratching off a Pueblo Mágico each time we visit one. I also have the travel log to take notes so we don’t forget anything.”
Which is your favorite Pueblo Mágico so far?
Our favorite Pueblo Magico so far has beenJanitizio. It’s in Michoacan and has such a fascinating history. It’s a lake town in one of the little islands in Lake Pátzcuaro. The Routa de Vasco, named after early Spanish missionary and colonial master Vasco de Quiroga, is located around the lake and is a beautiful hike.
Lake Pátzcuaro and the island of Janitzio at sunset (Depositphotos)
Robin is an Oneida person, a Native American nation from what is now upstate New York. “We loved the message of how [Quiroga] supported the Indigenous populations. He was a positive change that is lasting to this day.” Which is why they decided to support and shine a light on the Pueblos Mágicos.
Each town is unique enough to qualify as a Pueblo Mágico. The regional specialties are what interested them most. “We want to see as much of the real Mexico with real traditional connections as we can,” Robin says.
The other reason they liked Janitizo is that it has three other Pueblos Mágicos nearby, so visitors can easily see four of the towns in a week.
What do Pueblos Mágicos offer?
Robin has a long list of fun things they’ve done visiting the Pueblos Mágicos. Her highlights include hot air ballooning over the ruins of Teotihuacán, meeting Groot and the Mad Hatter in the Christmas village at Tlalpujahua. And ziplining from one island to another in Lake Pátzcuaro — “where I got stuck and had to be rescued,” Robin tells me, laughing.
It’s not just the towns that are colorful – the people there are too!
In Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacán, Robin and Marty learned the process of hammering out copper. Music lovers will enjoyParacho, the guitar town, where Robin got to help make a guitar.
Pueblos Mágicos mean relaxing in nature too
Nature watching is one of Robin’s greatest passions, which meant that visiting Michoacan for the annual monarch butterfly migration was at the top of her list. Another highlight was ziplining down a waterfall in Palenque. Another great nature adventure was repelling into an underground cavern in Ocozocoautla de Espinosa, Chiapas. “Green parrots nest there, and we camped overnight watching them leave in the morning,” Robin recalls.
Where to next?
“Coming soon will be a Querétaro trip,” Robin says.” “We’ve loved the wineries and tastings in that region — as well as Jalisco and the tequila tastings.”
But ultimately, for the next video, the “Top of our list is a train adventure through Copper Canyon. Starting in Sinaloa and ending in Chihuahua. Tune in and enjoy our adventures with us!”
I know I’ll be looking forward to seeing that one!
Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with 500+ articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over 7 years now she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon.
The decline in Mexico's annual inflation rate came after the headline rate hit a 14-month high of 5.57% in July. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Inflation in Mexico declined for the first time in six months in August, falling to an annual headline rate of just below 5% as fruit and vegetable prices eased.
The national statistics agency INEGI reported Monday that consumer prices were 4.99% higher in August than in the same month last year.
La #inflación anual en agosto de 2024 fue de 4.99%, una reducción respecto al 5.57% observado en julio.
The 4.99% rate in August — just above the 4.98% reading in June — was lower than the 5.06% median forecast of banks, brokerages and research organizations surveyed by Citibanamex.
Mexico’s annual core inflation rate also declined in August, falling for a 19th consecutive month to reach 4.00%.
The Bank of Mexico board will hold its next monetary policy meeting on Sept. 26.
Inflation for fresh produce almost halved in 1 month
Prices for fruit and vegetables increased 12.61% annually in August. While inflation for fresh produce remained high, the rate declined significantly last month from a 23.55% reading in July.
Andrés Abadía, chief Latin America economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said that the impact of adverse climatic conditions on consumer prices, primarily drought, is gradually easing.
Prices for fruit and vegetables increased 12.61% annually in August, down significantly from a 23.55% reading in July. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Annual inflation for the broader agricultural products category — which includes fruit and vegetables, and meat — was 9.45% in August, down from 13.72% in July. Inflation for meat ticked up to 6.12% from 5.36% in July.
INEGI data also showed that annual inflation for services was 5.18% in August, while energy prices, including those for electricity and gasoline, increased 6.58% compared to the same month last year.
Processed food, beverages and tobacco were 4.13% more expensive than a year earlier while prices for non-food goods rose 1.71% on an annual basis.
Inflation outlook in the second semester
Abadía predicts that the annual headline rate in Mexico will continue declining to reach 4.4% in December, while core inflation will end the year at 3.9%.
“Lower private demand, the improvement in supply conditions and delayed effects of stricter financial conditions will support this trend,” he said.
“However, upside risks persist, derived from volatile external conditions and internal political uncertainty,” Abadía said.
September is the final month of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s six-year term in office. Claudia Sheinbaum will be sworn in as Mexico’s first female president on Oct. 1.
Inflation approached 9% in the second half of 2022, reaching its highest level in more than two decades. The headline rate declined for nine consecutive months last year, but the trend since late 2023 has been mostly upward.
From the Pacific ocean to the Yucatán peninsula, which Mexican cities have made the cut in our series highlights? (Get Your Guide)
As our Where to Live in Mexico Guide moves towards its final handful of cities, now is a perfect time to stop and consider the highlights that we’ve seen so far. To help you get a feel for everything we’ve covered so far, we’ve selected five of our highest scoring cities — and what you thought about them.
Each of the five cities covered here is in a different Mexican state and only the Bajío region sees more than one entry on the list — although Chapala, not included here, scored highly in its own right. Surprisingly, only one beachside destination makes the cut, with the rest of our cities set in the highlands, plains and jungles instead.
The picture painted by our ranking so far is one of a country that is truly diverse but also unapologetically Mexican, with four of five cities being major cultural centers. All benefit from great transport connections and a variety of big box stores to satisfy even the most homesick snowbird.
So, without further ado, we present the Mexico News Daily Where to Live in Mexico Guide 2024 highlights:
Mérida
Mérida ranked highly thanks to great food, culture, history and connectivity. (Like Where You’re Going)
With a score of 4.33, Mérida is the second highest-rated city on our list so far, thanks to full marks in the Culture and Costco areas of our rating system.
Increasingly considered Mexico’s best city — sorry, San Miguel de Allende — the “White City” offers colorful markets, lively music and delicious Yucatecan cuisine. Its safe, friendly atmosphere and proximity to stunning cenotes, ancient ruins and beautiful beaches make it an ideal destination for history buffs, food lovers and nature enthusiasts alike.
We said: “A uniquely Yucatecan look and feel permeate the historic downtown — parks, plazas, the once palatial Paseo Montejo, French and Italian-styled mansions, and leafy ‘colonias.’ Some call it ‘criollo,’ a syncretism over centuries of Spanish-Mayan cultural mash-up laced with a 19th-century flood of wealth from an agricultural boom that bejeweled the city with exquisite European architectural gems.”
You said: “I’ve had to use healthcare in Mérida, and the experience and care was phenomenal in every aspect.”
Puebla
In a way, Puebla is the ultimate suburb of Mexico City, and its score – especially for shopping access – reflect that.. (City of Puebla)
In some ways, Puebla feels like an extension of Mexico City — albeit a smaller, more charming one. History, culture, art and a sense of the real Mexico mix here, giving residents the chance to enjoy big city living with a small city feel.
With easy connectivity to the capital, Puebla affords a sense of isolation without having to deal with the consequences of it. A 1.5 hour drive returns Pueblans to Mexico City International Airport and the litany of connections that it provides. This proximity also means that shopping options are plentiful and Puebla scores a 5 for Costco access, marking the proliferation of big box stores available.
Puebla is also renowned for its vibrant festivals — most famously, Cinco de Mayo. The city combines traditional and modern elements, with contemporary museums like the International Museum of the Baroque and lively nightlife. Nearby, visitors can explore the Great Pyramid of Cholula and charming surrounding villages known for artisanal crafts. All of this adds up to a very respectable and richly deserved total of 4.0.
We said: “Puebla city is Mexico’s most agreeable urban landscape, home to almost three and a half million, but without the clogging traffic and urban chaos that characterize Mexico City. Its Historic Center — a Unesco World Heritage Site — has hundreds of cataloged historic buildings, English-language interpretive signage, museums, clean streets and ample public parking. The compact downtown is well preserved and conveys a distinctive decorative and architectural impression that sets it apart from other Mexican cities.”
You said: “Puebla has an eclectic mix of modern living and cultural heritage, without many of the hassles of living in Mexico City.”
Querétaro
Querétaro is going places, and that brings security, prosperity and a connection with the real Mexico that is hard to beat. (Turismo de Querétaro/X)
Querétaro is a historic city in central Mexico known for its well-preserved colonial architecture, vibrant plazas and charming Historic Center, a Unesco World Heritage site. It offers a blend of modern amenities and rich history, with landmarks like the Aqueduct, stunning churches and lively cultural festivals. Surrounded by vineyards and natural beauty, Querétaro is a dynamic, safe and growing city.
We said: “Querétaro holds several treasures, and a friendly sense of civic pride prevails. The historic city center is filled with lovely colonial mansions, immaculate pedestrian walkways and quaint plazas little changed since colonial days. Its 18th century Acueducto of 74 towering arches (some standing 100 feet tall) are dramatically lit at night, stretching for miles across a broad valley on the City’s eastern edge.”
You said: “Mexican-Americans who’ve never traveled into the colonial cities or so far into Mexico, are stunned by the beauty of the City, its place in history, and its booming economy. They are always very impressed.”
Los Cabos
Luxury living and hedonistic partying can be yours in Los Cabos. (Los Cabos Tourism Board)
The twin cities of San José and San Lucas, which together make up Los Cabos, are not known as a beachside paradise for no reason. Whatever you’re searching for — be that Michelin starred food, the best golf in the world, partying with celebrities or just kicking back on the beach — you’ll find it in Los Cabos.
Iconic landmarks include the Arch of Cabo San Lucas and beautiful desert landscapes. Los Cabos offers a blend of relaxation, adventure and upscale dining experiences. While Cost of Living scores are low, this is largely a reflection of the luxury now available to those looking to live in the Baja California Sur paradise.
We said: “There’s truly world-class golf, dining, sportfishing and desert and ocean living that nowhere else in Mexico can match.”
You said: “Cabo is really two cities, San Lucas, the heart of booming tourism, known for big time sport fishing, world class golfing and partying. Its sister city, San Jose, is more relaxed, smaller and less touristy with an artist colony.”
Guadalajara
The leader of the pack so far is Guadalajara, with a massive 4.50 out of 5. (Enrique Alfaro/X)
With a bold 4.50 out of 5, Mexico’s second city makes a bid for the top spot in our rankings. The birthplace of mariachi music, tequila, sombreros and charrería rightfully occupies the number one position — for now, anyway.
A good public transit network and well-connected international airport mean that getting around and out of Guadalajara is much less of a chore than other similar sized urban areas. Never scoring lower than a four out of five, Guadalajara takes full marks in the Care, Costco and Culture categories.
We said: “Who needs stuffy museums, when tapatios can rejoice at outdoors events and venues that host Mexico’s most diverse and robust monthly happenings: film, fashion, tequila (of course), microbreweries, sports — most notably soccer and baseball, but motorsport, athletics and even rugby have long traditions in the city — music, dance, books (the world’s second largest book fair), along with secular/religious happenings in stadiums, parks, expo centers, and historic buildings across the city.”
You said: “I’m very proud to call this city home. The weather is fantastic. The entertainment options rival any big city: it has excellent restaurants and bars, great shopping, and a vast cultural offering.”
Do you disagree with any of our rankings? Want to see somewhere else covered in our Where to Live in Mexico 2024 Guide? Let us know!
