Alex Lora and El Tri: An unstoppable force of Mexican rock

Alex Lora and El Tri: An unstoppable force of Mexican rock

Given their longevity and the overwhelming stage presence of their frontman, El Tri is often referred to as the Mexican Rolling Stones. Here is why you should brave the crowds and check out this legendary band when they play the Xmatkuil fair on Nov. 29 Simply put, El Tri and its 71-year-old founder, Alex Lora, are…

Day of the dead Catrina in Mérida Yucatan

Day of the Dead celebrations: Simple fun or cultural appropriation?

The Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a vibrant Mexican holiday celebrating the lives of deceased loved ones. In recent years, the international popularization of this holiday has raised concerns that its celebration by non-Mexicans could be disrespectful and even a form of cultural appropriation.  Cultural appropriation occurs when elements of…

alebrije rooster
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Some of Mexico’s greatest living folk art masters brighten the Mundo Maya museum 

An exhibit featuring a wide variety of Mexican folk art is now open at El Gran Museo del Mundo Maya. Contemporary pieces from across the country offer a glimpse into the diversity of today’s folk artists.   The majority of the pieces are on loan from Fondo Cultural Citibanamex, and several have previously been shown at…

Mexico bullfights continue, and crowds go wild on both sides of the issue

Mexico bullfights continue, and crowds go wild on both sides of the issue

In 2022, a district judge ruled bullfights could no longer be held in Mexico City. Advocates for its complete abolition felt the tide of history turning in their favor.  It was not just in Mexico City. By then, the states of Sonora, Guerrero, Coahuila, Sinaloa, and Quintana Roo had all passed bylaws or constitutional state…

Playa del Carmen Security Secretary Raúl Tassinari Gonzalez
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Why is Mérida so safe? Gossipy neighbors, goes one theory

Gossip is the fuel that powers Mérida’s reputation for safety. At least, that’s the theory posited by a top security official from a city dealing with violence and drugs. Not everyone is thrilled with that analysis. Raúl Tassinari González, Secretary of Public Security at Playa del Carmen, said in an interview that “there is less crime…

Museum of light in Mérida Yucatan Mexico

New exhibit ‘Dialogue in the Dark’ arrives at Museo de la Luz, Mérida’s light-themed museum

“Dialogue in the Dark” at Mérida’s Museo de la Luz is more than an exhibit; it is a movement to promote inclusion and empathy for the visually impaired.  The experience has traveled to more than 130 cities in 35 countries and has been experienced by millions. The one-hour experience is designed to be an invisible…

5 colorful books to introduce Mexican culture to smart young readers
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5 colorful books to introduce Mexican culture to smart young readers

Kids’ books with Mexican themes are a great way to share your love for the culture. Here are some of the best titles for children to cherish. La Frontera: El Viaje con Papá / The Border: My Journey with Papawritten by Alfredo Alva and Deborah Mills, illustrated by Claudia Navarro This bilingual picture book tells…

Yucatán’s cultural scene shifts under new government leadership

Yucatán’s cultural scene shifts under new government leadership

Expect to see the Yucatán Symphony Orchestra (OSY) perform free programs featuring Mexican composers at the Parque la Plancha amphitheater. This contrasts with previous programs at the regal Peón Contreras theater, with box-office sales, box seats, and music featuring Brahms and Mozart. State officials affirmed “unwavering support” for the orchestra. This commitment follows a period…

Archaeological site of Kabah in Yucatán
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Guided tours of Mexico for this fall and winter

We are pleased to announce three upcoming tours guided by Carlos Rosado van der Gracht for the fall/winter season. The experiences range from excursions to uncover Mérida’s ancient past to day trips to the most underrated sites in Yucatán; as well as an adventure to Mexico City where we will dive into some of the…

Join us in December for a Mexico City archaeology extravaganza
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Join us in December for a Mexico City archaeology extravaganza

The metropolitan area of Mexico City is a treasure trove of archaeological wonders, but the vast majority of visitors only ever explore the Templo Mayor and the National Museum of Anthropology. In addition to these two unmissable spots, this tour will also be visiting impressive archaeological sites including Tlatelolco, Cuicuilco, Tenayuca, Santa Cecilia Acatitlán, Mixcoac,…

Royal Caribbean cruiseship
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A new cruise terminal in Chetumal could change the fate of Mexico’s most neglected capital city

Royal Caribbean has announced the construction of a Chetumal cruise terminal. Chetumal’s cruise terminal would be the third in Quintana Roo after Mahahual and Cozumel — Mexico’s most prominent cruise destination. Buy why? The reasoning behind the construction of this new terminal has many locals scratching their heads. Despite facing the Caribbean Sea, Chetumal is…

Sailor Moon the popular anime on a retro TV
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How Japan took over Mexico’s imagination and media market

Despite the powerful cultural influence of American media in Mexico, another nation has held sway over Mexicans’ imaginations for generations—Japan. Japanese TV shows, mostly animated series known as anime, entered the Mexican market in the 1980s due primarily to the low costs of their broadcasting rights. The media landscape in the 1980s and early 1990s…

Pibes ready for Hanal Pixan
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Traditional Maya food staples becoming forgotten and going extinct

Magaly del Roció Pech Chuc learned the secrets of Maya food from her mother, Justina Chuc Can, a cook in the community of Xpichil, where the pair run a restaurant. But Magaly laments the difficulty in finding ingredients such as ibes, a type of bean grown in milpas, or corn fields. “There are ingredients that…

Church with cablle cars in the sky in Zacatecas
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Despite travel warnings in Zacatecas, the sun shines, along with its silver

Government travel warnings tell us that Zacatecas is not a “safe state” like Nayarit or Yucatán, but to discount it completely would be a mistake. After all, Zacatecas can be seen as a microcosm of sorts regarding the ills that afflict Mexico in general.  Zacatecas is known for its baroque architecture, steep alleyways, historical sites,…

Mexican flag raised over Mérida's Plaza Grande
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Known by many names and for various roles, Plaza Grande is ever-changing

After its radical renovation over the last few months and ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, all eyes are on the Plaza Grande in Mérida.  This historic square has been a Maya shrine, a site for pledging allegiance to Spanish kings, where colonial gallows stood, and the epicenter of citizen protests and festive celebrations.  Its…

Mérida’s Plaza Grande facelift: Old shade trees out, modern benches in
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Mérida’s Plaza Grande facelift: Old shade trees out, modern benches in

Since its start last April, the remodeling of Mérida’s iconic Plaza Grande has raised eyebrows. One of the most surprising aspects of this project was how little it was publicized beforehand. From the air, the changes to the Plaza Grande seem relatively negligible. The main difference is the loss of several mature trees. Former Gov….

San Simón — Beyond Uxmal and Into the Wild
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San Simón — Beyond Uxmal and Into the Wild

Ten miles south of Uxmal’s majestic ancient Puuc capital is San Simón, a tiny community where people live off the land, much like their Maya ancestors. In San Simón, cell phone service and amenities are limited to a small shop selling the basics. The nearest options for anything more than that are Muna or Santa…

Why Durango may just be Mexico’s most underrated city
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Why Durango may just be Mexico’s most underrated city

Even for most Mexicans and the most intrepid explorers, swaths of the country fly under the radar, and this is a shame. Durango de Victoia, the capital of Durango state, is one of these places. Before last spring, if you had asked me what came to mind when I thought of Durango, my answer would…

What to look for and where to pick up the perfect hammock

What to look for and where to pick up the perfect hammock

Even the thought of hammocks is enough to get one in a relaxed mood. Hammocks have become synonymous in much of the world with exotic holidays, naps in the sun, and cocktails with those tiny umbrellas in them. But for folks in the Yucatán,they are much less exotic, especially for those in pueblos who sleep…

Maya Balloon festival lights skies over Tahmek
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Maya Balloon festival lights skies over Tahmek

The sky over Tahmek was alight with color as the Globo Maya Festival began, marking the start of a magical celebration in the heart of Yucatan. Dozens of vibrant balloons, each one a testament to the creativity and skill of artisans from Yucatán, EdoMex, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Morelos, Michoacán, and CDMX, soared above the excited crowds….

The collapse of a sacred ceiba tree into a cenote is seen as a sign
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The collapse of a sacred ceiba tree into a cenote is seen as a sign

Last week, the tiny town of Xocén made headlines after a 100-foot-tall ceiba tree collapsed under its massive weight into a sinkhole. However, being located in Yucatán, it soon became apparent that this was not simply a sinkhole but a previously undiscovered cenote.  Speleologists are just now beginning to explore the secrets of Xocén’s cenote…

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