The Maya Train carried its first paying passengers last weekend, with trips between Cancún and Campeche. (Michael Balam/Cuartocuro)
Mexico’s Maya Train project, which links tourist areas and archaeological sites in five southern states, faced a few mishaps over its opening weekend following an inaugural ride by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Friday.
President López Obrador initiated the first operational portion of the 1,554-km route— a 473-km stretch between Cancún airport and Campeche that takes about 5½ hours to travel and has stops at 14 stations.
The inaugural journey was not without its challenges, as passengers waited for a delayed service in a station without functional toilets. (Michael Balam/Cuartoscuro)
However, even that route is only partially finished, with just a single line of a planned double-line track in place — meaning that one train has to wait in a siding while another passes.
For that reason, there will be only two trains per day each way at the outset.
However the limited schedule didn’t alleviate scheduling headaches. For the public opening on Saturday, the first departure from Cancún at 7 a.m. was 23 minutes late.
However, passengers lined up for the 11 a.m. train from Cancún had to wait a long time before it arrived from Campeche, with a delay of up to five hours reported by some outlets.
Amid rain and cold, dozens showed up early for the historic occasion. As minutes turned into hours, some napped on the concrete floor at the station, which is reportedly 85% complete – but does not yet have bathrooms (in its place were two portable toilets).
Officials apologized for the long delay and said it was due to trains being “reconfigured.”
“It is important to make it clear that this delay problem originated from a technical failure by Alstom, which is the company that provides us with the Maya Train,” a spokesman said. “We, the Tren Maya company, are not responsible for this breakdown. However, we apologize.”
While a major infrastructure project of the López Obrador government designed to increase development in Mexico’s poorer south, the Maya Train project has drawn objections from environmentalists, cave divers and archaeologists. Its route through the jungle crosses many environmentally sensitive areas riddled with caves and cenotes. The fragile ecosystem is also home to some of the oldest human remains in North America.
The Maya Train is perhaps the defining policy of the López Obrador government. (lopezobrador.org.mx)
The second phase of the railway will launch on Dec. 30, with the rest of the line ready by the end of February, López Obrador said. Unlike the remaining two-thirds, the part of the line inaugurated Friday already had an existing train line running over much of the route.
Ticket sales for the inaugural runs began on Dec. 1, with ticket prices ranging from 1,166 pesos (about US $68) to 1,862 pesos (US $108). A first-class bus takes about the same time for around US $58, although cheaper options abound.
The Maya Train tickets will be priced differently for Mexican nationals and local residents, with foreign tourists paying a higher fare. For the inaugural journey however, the only prices listed were for first class and tourist class.
One of the critical steps in settling down in Mexico is finding the right place to rent. (Freepik)
One of the critical steps in settling down in Mexico is finding the right place to rent. This year, Mexico News Daily published a few guides for expats navigating the rental landscape in this country.
Types of rental properties
Expats often find themselves choosing between apartments, houses, vacation rentals, or individual rooms within shared accommodations. Each option has unique advantages and considerations, catering to different preferences and lifestyles.
Despite all the controversy about foreigners’ role in gentrification, there are good reasons to live in places popular with them, at least at first. (Unsplash)
Navigating the rental process and understanding the legal aspects
From lease agreements to security deposits, navigating the rental process in Mexico requires a clear understanding of local customs and legalities. Expats might encounter requirements such as proof of income, Mexican guarantors, or specific documentation. Understanding tenant rights and obligations is vital.
Ask the landlord how to work the hot water heater. It might be very different from what you are used to. Check the temperature, too. (Drazen Zigic/Freepik)
Renting in Mexico as a foreigner presents an exciting opportunity to immerse in a rich and diverse culture. You can find your ideal home in this beautiful country with proper research, understanding the local rental market, and being mindful of legalities and cultural nuances.
Polls show Morena candidate Claudia Sheinbaum with twice the supporters of her only official rival, Xóchitl Gálvez. (Claudia Sheinbaum/X; Xóchitl Gálvez/X)
Ruling party presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum has twice as much support among Mexican voters as her main rival Xóchitl Gálvez, according to the results of a recent poll.
Just over half — 50.2% — of 1,600 eligible voters surveyed earlier this month by the Mitofsky polling company said they would vote for Sheinbaum if the election was held “this Sunday,” while 25.3% indicated they would cast their ballots for Gálvez.
Sheinbaum, Mexico City mayor until June, will represent the ruling Morena party as well as the Labor Party (PT) and the Ecological Green Party of Mexico (PVEM) at the June 2, 2024, presidential election.
Gálvez, a federal senator who took leave to campaign ahead of next year’s election, will represent the National Action Party (PAN), the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), which together form the opposition bloc called Strength and Heart for Mexico (formerly known as the Broad Front for Mexico).
The two women are the only confirmed candidates for the upcoming presidential election.
Nuevo León Governor Samuel García was all but confirmed to stand as the Citizens Movement (MC) party candidate, but he put an end to his 2024 presidential ambitions earlier this month amid a political crisis in the northern border state. The party has not yet endorsed a presidential candidate, but is expected to announce its choice in January.
Claudia Sheinbaum greets supporters in Chihuahua in September. (Gobierno de la Ciudad de Mexico/Cuartoscuro)
Mitofsky, which conducted its poll for the El Economista newspaper, found that 6.3% of eligible voters intended to vote for the MC’s candidate in 2024, while just over 18% of respondents didn’t nominate a preference or indicated they wouldn’t cast a ballot next June.
Among respondents who did nominate a preference, Sheinbaum had 61.4% support, well ahead of Gálvez on 30.9% and an as-yet undecided MC candidate on 7.7%.
More than four in five of those polled — 81% — said they knew who Sheinbaum was, while the figure for Gálvez was 68.5%.
Among those who know the former Mexico City mayor, 57.1% had a positive (very good or good) opinion of her, while 11.8% had a negative (very bad or bad) one. The remainder had a “regular” opinion of her, or declined to express a view.
Former PAN Senator Xóchitl Gálvez left her legislative post to be a presidential candidate, but trails significantly behind Morena candidate Claudia Sheinbaum. (Jorge Ortega/Cuartoscuro.com)
Among those who know Gálvez, 36.3% had a positive opinion of her and 25.6% had a negative one. Her positive/negative “opinion balance” was +10.7%, well behind Sheinbaum on +45.3%.
Among the other questions Mitofsky put to the 1,600 people it polled was: “What is best for Mexico at this time?”
Just over half of the respondents — 51% — said that the best thing was for Morena to continue governing, while 39.8% indicated a preference for a change in Mexico’s ruling party (or parties). The remaining 9.2% didn’t offer an opinion.
The 51%/39.8% split suggests that the election could be closer than the other poll results indicate. However, there are presumably MC supporters among the respondents who would like to see a party other than Morena in power, meaning that support for the PAN, PRI and PRD support is not as strong as it might seem.
In fact, only 26.5% of poll respondents indicated they would support the PAN, PRI or PRD at the election, while 48.6% said they would vote for Morena, the PT or the PVEM.
President López Obrador, who founded Morena, won the 2018 presidential election with over 53% of the vote, more than double that of runner-up Ricardo Anaya.
The president is constitutionally barred from contesting the 2024 presidential election, and formally ceded the leadership of the “fourth transformation” political project he initiated by handing over a symbolic “baton of command” to Sheinbaum in September.
Mexicans love going to the movies! In 2023, cinemas in Mexico saw a 33% increase in attendance over 2022. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico had the fourth-highest movie theater attendance in the world in 2022, according to figures from the Global Entertainment & Media Outlook (GEMO) 2023-2027 by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
With nearly 181 million annual moviegoers, Mexico came in fourth after India (986 million), China (710 million) and the United States (655 million).
Box office hits in Mexico this year included The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Barbie and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. (Victoria Razo/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico is consistently a top-performing country for commercial movie theaters, but the COVID-19 lockdowns dealt a significant blow to the industry. Starting in 2022, however, people have increasingly returned to cinemas – and this year’s attendance numbers have already surpassed those of 2022.
As of Nov. 27, cinemas in Mexico had sold 218 million tickets – a 33% increase over 2022, according to figures from the National Chamber of the Film Industry (Canacine).
The Canacine added that the industry’s profits have increased by 36% compared to last year, reaching 14.63 billion pesos (US $852 million).
As the year comes to an end, the most-watched movie of 2023 was The Super Mario Bros. Movie with 22.7 million viewers and 1.5 billion pesos in box office revenue (US $90 million).
As for Mexican cinema, Radical led the top 10, with 3.1 million viewers and $199 million pesos in box office revenue (US $11.5 million).
Mexican cinema contributed 4.8% of global box office earnings, and the annual number of commercially released films from Mexico increased 13% – to 92 movies, according to data from media and marketing agency Comscore.
Overall, the entertainment and media sector in Mexico has grown 65% in the past 10 years and is expected to grow at an average rate of 4.6% over the next five years, according to this edition of the GEMO. Mexico’s productivity in this sector is surpassed only by two countries: Brazil and Spain.
PwC’s GEMO is an annual study that comprehensively analyzes the entertainment and media industry around the world. It covers the business of internet, television, radio, newspapers and magazines, music, and video and audio streaming services across 53 countries.
State Power Investment Corporation's acquisition of Zuma Energía de México has confirmed the Chinese company as the second-largest private renewable energy producer in Mexico. (Jaguar Solar)
Chinese energy company State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) – the parent company of Zuma Energía de México – has acquired three solar power plants in northern Mexico. The acquisition makes SPIC the second-largest private renewable energy producer in Mexico.
The plants were purchased from an InfraRed and Invex investment portfolio in Chihuahua named “Jaguar Solar.” The remaining stake is managed by the Mexican private equity fund AINDA.
SPIC now has wind and solar generation options in a number of Mexican states. (Jaguar Solar)
The acquisition increased Zuma Energía de México’s installed capacity by 216 MW (megawatts), bringing the total to 1.3 gigawatts (GW).
According to a statement by Zuma Energía, the recent acquisition of “Jaguar Solar” is a testament to the company’s “trust in and commitment to Mexico’s renewable energy transition.” This move underscores Zuma’s investment in renewable energy production “for the benefit of society and the economy,” the statement said.
SPIC-Zuma Energía operates solar plants in the states of Sonora, Chihuahua and Jalisco, as well as wind farms in Tamaulipas and Oaxaca. The company is seeking investment opportunities for clean energy projects in Puebla, Querétaro, Yucatán and Monterrey, including storage solutions, electric vehicles, solar panels and smart cities.
In China, SPIC is a leading power company that invests in and produces clean energy around the world. It has an installed capacity of nearly 250 GW globally and operates in 47 countries and regions. Its services include renewable energy, intelligent energy, electric vehicle solutions, battery energy storage systems and solar panel production. In 2020, SPIC acquired Zuma Energía in Mexico through its wholly-owned subsidiary, China Power International Holding Limited (CPIH).
CPIH owns around 54 GW of assets globally, spanning various forms of power generation, including wind, solar, gas, coal, waste-to-energy, hydropower and co-generation.
Migrants ride above a freight train in northern Mexico. (Pedro Anza/Cuartoscuro.com)
United States authorities have suspended operations at two railway crossing bridges between Texas and Mexico in order to redeploy personnel to assist the detention of migrants.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a statement on Sunday that its Office of Field Operations would “temporarily suspend operations at the international railway crossing bridges in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas,” at 8 a.m. Monday “in order to redirect personnel to assist the U.S. Border Patrol with taking migrants into custody.”
The railway to Eagle Pass, Texas as seen from Piedras Negras, Coahuila. (Maneul Velez/Wikimedia Commons)
The agency said it had observed “a recent resurgence of smuggling organizations moving migrants through Mexico via freight trains” and that it was “taking additional actions to surge personnel and address this concerning development, including in partnership with Mexican authorities.”
“CBP will continue to prioritize our border security mission as necessary in response to this evolving situation,” it said.
Migrants frequently board freight trains collectively known as “La Bestia” (The Beast) to expedite their journeys through Mexico to the northern border. Hundreds if not thousands of migrants have sustained serious injuries while riding freight trains in Mexico.
The decision to suspend operations at the rail crossings in Eagle Pass and El Paso comes three months after railroad operator Ferromex halted the operations of 60 freight trains that run on routes to northern Mexico after a string of accidents, including fatal ones, involving migrants riding the rails.
Volunteers toss food and clothing to migrants traveling on “La Bestia” in Zacatecas. (Adolfo Vladimir /Cuartoscuro.com)
The El Paso Times reported that “the potential binational economic impact of the border railway closures was not immediately clear.”
Freight destined for Texas on trains could conceivably be put onto trucks, but it is still likely there will be some economic fallout from the rail crossing suspension, especially if it continues for a prolonged period.
The CBP said it was continuing to “adjust” its operational plans to “maximize enforcement efforts against those noncitizens who do not use lawful pathways or processes such as [the mobile app] CBP One [to enter the U.S.] and those without a legal basis to remain in the United States.”
“Over the past several weeks, CBP has made a number of operational adjustments in order to maximize our ability to respond, process, and enforce consequences,” the agency added.
As of Monday, the Eagle Pass and El Paso railway crossings remained closed, as well as the Lukeville, Arizona, port of entry and one of the San Ysidro West pedestrian crossing in San Diego, California. (U.S. Customs and Border Patrol/Flickr)
“In Eagle Pass, vehicular processing remains suspended at Eagle Pass International Bridge 1. In San Diego, California, San Ysidro’s Pedestrian West operations remain suspended. In Lukeville, Arizona, the Lukeville Port of Entry remains closed.”
NewsNation reported Monday that it was informed by a CBP source that the agency had about 167,000 encounters with migrants in the first 17 days of December, a 28% increase compared to the first 17 days of November.
Most migrants who attempt to cross illegally into the United States via its southern border are nationals of Central American, South American and Caribbean countries, but growing numbers of people from further afield, including Asian and African nations, have also recently sought to enter the U.S. between official points of entry after making perilous journeys through Mexico.
The officials agreed to draw up “an action plan for development … to attend to the structural causes of irregular migration in the region,” while López Obrador and U.S. President Joe Biden subsequently “discussed their joint commitment to address the root causes of migration across the Western Hemisphere and to expand lawful pathways for migration,” according to a White House statement issued after the two leaders met in San Francisco last month.
Is Mexico's opportunity in the semiconductor market about to open up? (Shutterstock)
This article was originally published by The Mexico Institute at the The Wilson Center.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s (AMLO) presidency will end on October 1st, 2024. His successor will inherit a country that is more financially constrained than when he assumed office. More interestingly, however, the country will face a series of enviable opportunities amid Washington’s ongoing “decoupling” from Beijing. Primarily, AMLO’s successor should take advantage of “de-risking” policy efforts by the U.S. government to try to insert Mexico into semiconductor manufacturing supply chains. Cooperation on this issue would revitalize North American integration while empowering Mexico’s geostrategic relevance.
Unlike other areas of untapped opportunity in the Americas, semiconductor development enjoys political backing and expanding partnerships. An aligned North American bloc holds the potential to advance hemispheric efforts in two areas: assembly, testing, and packaging (ATP) and research and development (R&D). Mexico can make a real difference in the foundational segments of this complex supply chain. Yet AMLO’s sexenio has illustrated a painful lack of progress on energy matters. Consequently, efforts such as the North American Semiconductor Corridor (NASC) remain undervalued. Without the adoption of a more inclusive approach to balancing Mexico’s energy sector, “ally-shoring” potential will be lackluster. To be precise, without the key integration of natural gas to feed forward-looking manufacturing, the country will find itself at a loss.
At the heart of growing great-power competition, semiconductor chips are one of the most critical elements of the global economy. This industry is central to the “new economic security state” proposed by the Biden administration. U.S.-China economic confrontation—and the risk of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) weaponizing its dominance over raw material inputs of chip production — has prompted countries to expand technological resilience. This phenomenon is captured by recent U.S. landmark legislation such as the US $52 billion CHIPS and Science Act, which, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) galvanized new investments worth more than $200 billion. Still, it is unclear how planned investment will be allocated across foreign markets.
Chip foundations have been built in East Asia for over 30 years, and will prove difficult to change. The substantial fixed investments that are needed for these projects, as demonstrated by the PRC’s industrial efforts, underscore that there is no guarantee of success in this high-cost industry. At the same time, U.S. officials are likely to augment already stringent export controls to try to harness their own position. That being said, if North America fails to design a geoeconomic strategy that enhances international links for both minerals sourcing and supply chain cultivation, the region could suffer from the harmful effects of economic nationalism.
A broader Mexico-U.S. strategy can preserve and even expand supply chain networks in the United States. Tens of billions of dollars of investment have already been directed into contiguous states, chiefly Arizona and Texas. Capitalizing “nearshoring momentum” and cementing chip projects in Mexico could enhance these initiatives. Success, however, will depend on the next administration’s ability to address growing energy insecurity. Until then, Mexican diplomats will struggle to sway U.S. officials and companies to allocate new funds for designated projects. A robust strategy will require facilitating the production of more sustainable and reliable energy sources—which will entail a smart capitalization of abundant natural gas supplies.
As emphasized during the 2023 North American Leaders Summit (NALS), a shared strategy to develop this vital realm is possible. Yet Mexico’s despotic attitudes and near-absence on the global stage, as demonstrated under AMLO, will not be easy to dethrone. Worse still, long before AMLO’s rise, Mexican authorities proved inadequate at elaborating a concise development strategy; this time, this could be enabled by tectonic, geopolitical changes. As previously argued, it is on Mexico if it fails to act on these once-in-a-generation nearshoring opportunities.
The reallocation of semiconductor supply chains closer to the U.S. market is not only about extricating away from China. It also represents a major opportunity for regional integration. Technological resilience and value-added manufacturing should be the focus of U.S. foreign policy in the Americas. All in all, a strategic approach to supply chain integration could be a powerful antidote for crude nationalism and isolationism, which, in the context of near-simultaneous elections in both countries next year, will be triggered by political actors both in Washington and Mexico City.
Gerardo is a policy analyst. He is currently working as an intern at the Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC, and will begin work with Albright Stonebridge Group in January of 2024.
The massacre occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning at an ex hacienda in Salvatierra. ( ESPECIAL /CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Gunmen killed 12 people and wounded 11 others in an attack at a Christmas party in the state of Guanajuato early Sunday.
The attack occurred at about 3:30 a.m. at the Ex Hacienda San José del Carmen, a property in the municipality of Salvatierra that is both a tourist attraction and event venue.
A photo posted to social media taken not long before the attack at the Christmas party in Salvatierra, Guanajuato on Sunday morning. (Social media screen capture)
A group of some 50 young people gathered at the property on Saturday night for a Christmas party known as a posada.
Citing survivors of the attack, the Reforma newspaper reported that a group of armed men entered the property via a side entrance and opened fire in the central courtyard.
Eleven people aged 17 to 35 were killed at the scene of the crime, while a 12th person died as he was being driven to a hospital in a private vehicle, Reforma said. That person was reportedly 17 years old.
The municipal government of Salvatierra – a municipality in southern Guanajuato that borders Michoacán – said in a statement that 11 people were killed and 12 people were wounded, but it was apparently counting the aforesaid victim among the injured.
No one has been arrested yet in connection with the massacre that killed 12 and injured 11. (Cuartoscuro)
The wounded were taken to nearby hospitals and two were reported to be in serious condition.
Both men and women were among the victims, with one identified as a young woman who was crowned “queen” of a local fair in 2017.
The newspaper AM reported that the attack was the 22nd and worst “massacre” of the year in Guanajuato. It considers the murder of four or more people in a single criminal event to be a massacre.
In addition to perpetrating the mass shooting, the gunmen set two cars and two motorcycles on fire at the property, the Salvatierra government said.
The Guanajuato Attorney General’s Office condemned the attack and said that a “multidisciplinary” team would carry out an investigation aimed at detaining the culprits. No arrests were immediately reported.
Citing unnamed federal sources, Reforma reported that the attack may have been perpetrated by the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, a crime group formerly led by José Antonio “El Marro” Yépez Ortiz, who was arrested in August 2020 and sentenced to 60 years imprisonment in January 2022.
The federal sources told Reforma that investigations indicate that one of the posada attendees had links to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which in recent years has been fighting the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel for dominance in Guanajuato, currently Mexico’s most violent state.
In a separate attack in Guanajuato on Saturday night, gunmen killed four people and injured two others when they opened fire at a barber shop in Salamanca, a city about 70 kilometers south of Guanajuato city.
The Guanajuato Attorney General’s Office also condemned that attack and said an investigation would be immediately launched.
Dec. 9: Celebrations were held across the country in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe this week, including here in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. (ISABEL MATEOS /CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Take a visual tour of Mexico – from the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City to the Diamond Zone in Acapulco – with this selection of pictures from the week.
Paso de Cortés, Puebla
Dec. 9: Hundreds of pilgrims came from across Mexico to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on Dec. 12. (MIREYA NOVO/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Acapulco, Guerrero
Dec. 10: Forty-six days after Hurricane Otis made landfall in Acapulco, the damage is still visible in the Diamond Zone of hotels and luxury residences. (CARLOS ALBERTO CARBAJAL/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Mexico City
Dec. 12: On the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, millions of pilgrims congregated in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. (GOBIERNO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Xonacatlán, México state
Dec. 14: A young artisan works on decorating glass Christmas ornaments. (CRISANTA ESPINOSA AGUILAR /CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Mérida, Yucatán
Dec. 14: The immersive art project called “La Peni” at the Parque de la Paz in Mérida was inaugurated. It includes projections and video mapping on the former penitentiary building. (MARTÍN ZETINA/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Mexico City
Dec. 15: The 20th season of The Nutcracker ballet is underway at the National Auditorium in Mexico City. (MARIO JASSO/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
San Francisco, Campeche
Dec. 15: Ticket in hand, Presidet Andrés Manuel López Obrador gets ready to board the Maya Train after inaugurating its first three sections. (PRESIDENCIA/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Parishioners at the San Antonio Abad church in Cholula, Puebla, watch their feathered friend get a blessing in early 2023, part of a celebration of the patron saint of animals. (Photo: Graciela López Herrera/Cuartoscuro)
While we’ve covered plenty of “hard news” and “bad news” at Mexico News Daily this year, we’ve also reported numerous stories that made us laugh, brought a smile to our faces, warmed our hearts, and even left us scratching our heads in bewilderment.
We hope that you, our readers, have not only been well informed about events in Mexico in 2023, but amused and entertained at times as well.
To bring you this second 2023 “year in review” article (read the first on the year’s biggest business stories here) we got out our virtual fine-tooth comb and looked back at all the stories we’ve published this year to find the amusing ones, the uplifting ones, the inspirational ones, the heartening ones, the gratifying ones, the strange ones, the surreal ones, the “only in Mexico” ones.
That job, as you might imagine, was quite time-consuming so naturally we got hungry, and as a result more than a few food articles caught our attention. For good measure, we threw a couple of those into this quarter-by-quarter compilation, whose most apt description might simply be México mágico.
Q1: A surreal identity crisis, ‘cocaine hippos’ and enamored elephants
Feral hippos, descended from those owned by drug lord Pablo Escobar, were relocated from Columbia to a new home in Mexico early this year. (UC San Diego)
The president shared the photo of a supposed alux (left) along with an ancient carving depicting the mythical creature. (Andrés Manuel López Obrador/X)
The second quarter of the year also gave us some curious drug-related stories: liquid methamphetamine disguised as tequila (now that would make a dangerous margarita!), and more meth hidden among a shipment of a licit — and infinitely healthier — product: Brussels sprouts.
Other criminals attempted — but ultimately failed — to get away with making and distributing counterfeit Coca-Cola. The Real Thing? “Possibly cloned,” said Mexico City authorities.
In May, photojournalist Anna Bruce gave us a peek into the world of lucha libre. (Anna Bruce)
Q3: The (really) big cheese, alien corpses and a delinquent Chucky doll
Mexico News Daily has a proud history of covering the setting of new Guinness World Records in Mexico, and 2023 was no different. On Sept. 1, we reported that a 558-kilogram ball of quesillo, or Oaxaca cheese, had been made in Pijijiapan, Chiapas, setting a new record in that niche Guinness category.
If your mind has wandered to quesadillas, you’ll need some tortillas! Haven’t got any? Paula Michelle De Jesús Marcos could get them to you fast — the 12-year-old won the annual Carrera de la Tortilla (Tortilla Race) in Tehuacán, Puebla, in August, carrying three kilograms of tortillas on her back as she ran the five-kilometer course.
Andy Altman-Ohr continued his third-quarter coverage of Mexican uniqueness (¡como México no hay dos!) with a report on the presentation in Congress of what a journalist and self-described ufologist claimed to be 1,000-year-old corpses of extraterrestrials. We’re still scratching our heads about that one.
Q4: A compassionate cop, a surfing dog and Mexican memes
“What a generous and compassionate act” and “So glad they recognized this super MOM!” were among readers’ comments on a heart-warming story we published in November about a police officer who was promoted after breastfeeding a hungry baby in Acapulco in the aftermath of Hurricane Otis.
Earlier in November, we reported on a giant Day of the Dead altar that was set up in Michoacán to honor the life of a deceased centenarian who was apparently the inspiration for the Mamá Coco character in the 2017 animated film “Coco.”
Continuing on the subject of honoring Mexican grandmothers (and great-grandmothers at that!), Gabriela Solís this month passed on three recipes and secret tips from her 99-year-old abuelita. The article — featuring recipes for frijoles refritos, enchiladas and chilaquiles — became one of the most popular pieces we’ve published this year.
It’s hardly Mexican, but if you’re too busy to cook, you could just grab a doughnut — or even several dozen, as federal officers did in Puebla, last month. While the police may or may not have been hungry, their visit to three doughnut stores in San Martín Texmelucan was strictly for law enforcement purposes — allegedly counterfeit Krispy Kremes were on sale.
Selling fake doughnuts is one way to fall foul of the law, and singing Mexico’s national anthem incorrectly, believe it or not, is another. But existing (rarely enforced) penalties are too lenient, according to a Morena lawmaker who proposed harsher ones. One of our readers described her proposal as “absolutely loco,” which sounds about right.
MND writer Gabriela Solís abuela’s enchiladas (and frijoles refritos, and chilaquiles) were a hit with readers earlier this month. (Unsplash)
Any instrumental accompaniment to Mexico’s himno nacional would no doubt be error-free if it were provided by a group of young musicians from a small village in Oaxaca who had the trip of a lifetime touring France this year. Gordon Cole-Schmidt told us their inspiring story in an article headlined “From violence to virtuosos in Oaxaca.”
Equally talented, albeit in a very different way, is Covid the surfing dog, who was given her memorable name after she was abandoned on a Veracruz beach during the pandemic.
We hope you enjoyed reading our quirkier stories this year, and perhaps found a few here that you missed. We’re already looking forward to another year of weird, wonderful and distinctively Mexican stories in 2024!
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
