Whether you’re drawn to the bohemian sound of singer-songwriters or the beat of Chicago house, August offers plenty of ways to stay connected to the culture of this coastal city. Here’s what’s on this month.

La Noche de la Guirnalda

Grupo de Teatro Dionisio is back with a new original production that reflects the voices and stories of the people who actually live in Puerto Vallarta year-round. “La noche de la guirnalda” (The Night of the Garland) is a tapestry of vignettes inspired by current events, whispered neighborhood rumors and the quiet resilience of everyday life. The play offers a thought-provoking and heartfelt portrayal of Vallarta’s identity beyond tourism.

Dates: August 2 at 8 p.m.
Location: Plataforma 322 Cultural Center, Alondra 103, Los Sauces
Cost: Tickets via Facebook: Grupo de Teatro Dionisio

Mesmo Rollo Tour 2025

If you’ve laughed at them on TikTok, now’s your chance to see them live. The Mesmo Rollo Tour brings together four of Mexico’s most viral comedy groups — Los Mesmos Show, K Rollo Show, Los Wapayasos and Horripicosos — for a night of hilarious sketches, slapstick antics and outrageous costume comedy.

It’s a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud event perfect for anyone who appreciates over-the-top humor and doesn’t mind a few ridiculous surprises.

Dates: August 3 at 5 p.m.
Location: Teatro Vallarta, Perú 1105-C, 5 de Diciembre
Cost: From 330 pesos

House Rules: The Rise of House Music

Take a break from the dance floor and learn how house music became one of the most influential genres in the world. Local PV personality Paco Ojeda hosts this immersive presentation that charts the genre’s roots in Chicago’s underground scene to its explosion in global clubs. Featuring iconic tracks and stories from the LGBTQ+ and Black communities who shaped the movement, this session will have you grooving in your seat.

Dates: August 7 at 7 p.m.
Location: The Joint Co-Work, Insurgentes 108, Zona Romántica
Cost: 300 pesos. Tickets available at The Joint front desk.

José Madero: Sarajevo Tour

Longtime fans of José Madero and newcomers alike are in for an intimate evening of raw emotion and powerful vocals. As the former frontman of Mexican rock band Panda, Madero has since carved out a deeply personal solo career with an introspective sound that merges rock, poetry and vulnerability. His Sarajevo tour features new material alongside fan favorites in a concert that promises intensity, connection and a whole lot of feels.

Date: August 8 at 8:00 p.m.
Location: Teatro Vallarta, Perú 1105-C, 5 de Diciembre
Cost: From 2,100 pesos. Tickets via Ticketmania and the Teatro Vallarta box office.

Strings of Light: The Musical Journey of Pat Metheny

In this beautifully curated listening session, Paco Ojeda dives into the life and music of Pat Metheny, one of modern jazz’s most prolific and genre-defying artists. From his early guitar work to his expansive compositions that mix classical music, folk and fusion, this talk is a deep dive for jazz lovers and curious listeners alike. It’s a warm and enriching evening at the Joint. that explores what makes Metheny’s music so timeless and moving.

Dates: August 21 at 7 p.m.
Location: Joint Boutique Hotel and Cowork, Insurgentes 108, Zona Romántica
Cost: 300 pesos, cash only; tickets available at Joint’s front desk

Elías Medina’s La Experiencia Tour

With a soulful voice and a knack for writing viral Regional Mexicano hits, Elías Medina brings his signature blend of ballads, humor and storytelling to Vallarta for the first time. Known for penning songs performed by artists like Grupo Firme and Pesado, Medina’s live show goes beyond music — it’s a relaxed, bohemian-style experience filled with emotion, laughter and sing-along moments.

Dates: Aug. 29 at 9 p.m.
Location: Teatro Vallarta, Perú 1105-C, 5 de Diciembre
Cost: Tickets start at 550 pesos

Hermanos de Leche Comedy Show

Podcasters, online influencers and comedy duo Iván “La Mole” Fematt and Adrián Marcelo are kicking off their world tour in Vallarta with Hermanos de Leche, a high-octane standup show that blends soccer fandom with sharp satire.

The two are known for their viral banter and unfiltered takes on everything from sports to pop culture, with a focus on hilarious and often absurd life lessons. This adult-only Spanish-language show is a must for fans of edgy, sports-laced humor.

Date: August 30 at 9 p.m.
Location: Teatro Vallarta, Perú 1105-C, 5 de Diciembre
Cost: From 400 pesos. Tickets via Arema and the Teatro Vallarta box office

Meagan Drillinger is a New York native who has spent the past 15 years traveling around and writing about Mexico. While she’s on the road for assignments most of the time, Puerto Vallarta is her home base. Follow her travels on Instagram at @drillinjourneys or through her blog at drillinjourneys.com.

The post What’s on in Puerto Vallarta in August? appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Cancún is hosting Mexico’s second largest Guelaguetza festival while Isla Mujeres is having a monthlong birthday party. So make the most of the last days of summer, and get out and about for these events in the Riviera Maya and Yucatán!

Oceanman Cozumel

Come cheer me on — yes, that’s right, I’m entered in Oceanman! This 10-kilometer open-swimming race is a fun activity that fills up fast with swimmers arriving on Cozumel from all over the world. Offering great beaches, awesome food at the beach club and, of course, the exciting atmosphere of an Oceanman event. All with gorgeous Caribbean views!

Dates: Aug. 1–3
Location: Playa Palancar Beach Club, Cozumel
Cost: free to attend, entries now closed 

Oaxaca festival in Cancún

I would be heading to Cancún for this festival if I weren’t going to be in Cozumel swimming in Oceanman. The Guelaguetza, one of Mexico’s most iconic cultural celebrations, will be celebrated in Cancún in August. 

With its vibrant offerings of Oaxacan folklore, music, dance and cuisine, this is an opportunity to feel like you’re visiting Oaxaca, with over 80 artists. Pooches are welcome too. In fact, they encourage you to dress your dog in honor of Oaxaca’s famous Guelaguetza dancing dog, Mazapán! Fun for the whole family. 

Dates: August 1–3
Location: Parque de las Palapas. See here for more details about events.
Cost: Free

Founding of Isla Mujeres celebrations

Feliz Cumpleaños Isla Mujeres! Celebrate its 175th birthday this August with a monthlong lineup of activities — everything from art, dancing and lucha libre to gastronomy and concerts. And, naturally, plenty of processions. There’s something going on all the time during the first two weeks of August.

But August 17 is the focal point, when Isla Mujeres officially honors its birthday with ceremonies and concerts. There is also the big Descent of the Virgin procession on August 5. 

Dates: August 1–17
Location: various places on Isla Mujeres. See the full schedule here
Cost: Free

National Bee Day in Coba

Explore a Maya relationship dating back thousands of years — between man and the Melipona, a tiny stingless bee found in the quiet jungle village of Cobá. Taking place in Coba’s cultural center, this free event will teach you about the sacred Mayan practice of meliponiculture and its delicious offerings.

Try local honey-based recipes, and attend a cooking contest highlighting dishes, drinks and desserts sweetened with it. Kids, there’s also a drawing competition to express the ecological importance of bees. 

Dates: Aug. 9, 2 p.m.
Location: Casa de la Cultura, Cobá, outside Tulum
Cost: Free

Pirate Scavenger Hunt

Grab friends and family and explore Playa del Carmen on a scavenger hunt. Fun for all ages, this event allows you to take as long as you want and see sites from ancient Mayan ruins to colorful local markets. Included are iconic local spots such as the Portal Maya, Parque Leona Vicario and the Palacio Municipal Bell Tower. Don’t forget your camera, there are points for the best photo, and it’s a great way to see Playa. 

Dates: Multiple; check available dates and buy tickets here
Location: Playa del Carmen
Cost: 280 pesos or US $14.99 

Cancún’s Beach Festival

It’s fun in the sun as each August, Cancún celebrates its beautiful beaches with La Fiesta de la Playa. I can’t blame them, sugary-white-sand beaches are worth celebrating. 

You’ll find beach parties going on all along the hotel zone with live music, great food and lots of cocktail options available. Most hotels sell a day pass with all-inclusive food and drink so that you can party the day away. Just choose which place takes your fancy and grab your bikini!

Dates: August 11–13
Location: Various hotels and beach clubs in Cancun’s hotel zone
Cost: Free entertainment, optional day pass options to all-inclusives at varying costs

Tulum Lobster Festival 2025

Seafood lovers, grab your bibs. It’s time to enjoy the flavor of local langosta at this year’s lobster festival. Open to all, it’s a celebration of the Caribbean’s spiny lobster, presented every way possible.

From rustic wood-fire cooking to elegant professional presentations, there will be cooking demonstrations, competitions and much more starting in the afternoons, showcasing the region’s culinary and cultural identity.

Pro tip: If you attend the Punta Allen events, be aware that this small, unspoiled fishing village has no banks or ATMs. Bring sufficient cash since most places in Punta Allen don’t accept electronic payments.

Dates: Aug. 15–17
Location: At Tulum’s Municipal Palace esplanade on Aug. 15, and in Punta Allen Aug. 16–17
Cost: Free to enter 

Last Dance of Summer

I’ve lived in this region for eight years, and dancing the night away is a perfect end to summer. So, head to Isla Mujeres’ Bahía del Rey beach club and make memories dancing to live acts — including local Afro-House electronica artist made good Katia Crown, now based in Miami — all in front of gorgeous ocean views!

This is a time of fewer tourists, warm waters and clear nights under the stars — the perfect time to enjoy with hot tunes and cold drinks. 

Dates: Aug. 16, 3 pm–midnight
Location: Bahia del Rey beach club, Avenida Rueda Medina, Bahía, Isla Mujeres
Cost: 432 pesos

Frida Kahlo Experience

Open to all ages, I’ve got this one earmarked next time I’m in Tulum. Not just because I love Frida Kahlo, but because it’s an immersive guided tour that requires you to “open your eyes, ears, and nose,” which I am curious about. What is there to smell? 

You just can’t beat a good sensory experience in my book! 

Dates: Aug. 20, 3 p.m.
Location: Frida Kahlo Museum, Crucero de las Ruinas de Tulum, Tulum
Cost: Foreign adults: 400 pesos; Mexican adults: 300 pesos; Q.Roo residents with I.D.: 200 pesos

Get Lost in Art…Literally!

I adore art and am officially putting this on the “fun things to do in Playa del Carmen” list. The 3D Museum of Wonders is fun no matter your age. Your guide will take photos, so there’ll be fun keepsakes like this to keep for free.

In these illusions, I got trapped in a bubble, played ballerina on top of a giant cake, stood on a rock pinnacle in the Grand Canyon, broke into a bank vault, drank wine poured by a god and much more! 

Dates: Any day between 8 a.m.—10 p.m.
Location: 10 Avenida between 8th and 10th street, Playa del Carmen.
Cost: Adults 700 pesos, kids 600 pesos

Bel Woodhouse, Mexico Correspondent for International Living, is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with more than 500 articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Having lived in the Mexican Caribbean for over seven years now, she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon.

The post What’s on in the Riviera Maya in August? appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Today, we delve deeper into the heart and soul of these traditional Mexican shops, moving beyond their economic challenges to discover why, despite the presence of globalized convenience stores like Oxxo and 7-Eleven, the local tiendita remains the true pulse of Mexico’s communities.

Adrián Balderas’ family has run a corner store — a traditional Mexican “tiendita” — for generations in Naucalpan, México state. After reading about the foreign fascination with Oxxo, Mexico’s ubiquitous, neon-lit, 24/7 answer to life’s cravings, Adrián spoke to Mexico News Daily about the real soul of Mexican snacking — and life — still found in the neighborhood shop down the street.

These little corner stores, the kind tucked under tin roofs and behind bars of sun-faded metal, do more than sell snacks — or toiletries or office supplies or any number of seemingly endless items. They connect people.

In working-class neighborhoods, the owner will know your name, your kids’ names and probably even your dog’s name — and, if you’re lucky, will have an appropriate treat waiting for your daily visit. In traditional areas, they’ve watched multiple generations of families grow up. 

These stores function as more than just retail, forming an organ of the community they find themselves in. In these stores, recipes are swapped, people debate soccer scores and local news — good or tragic — makes the rounds.

“My grandmother started one year ago,” Adrián explains. “Now, my aunt runs it. It’s the town square, the place locals drift to when something out of the ordinary happens. It’s the place everyone goes to find out what’s going on.” 

It’s not just a sort of living register of births, deaths and marriages in small-town Mexico either. The benefit of a personal relationship between customer and owner means that you can bend the rules a little bit if you’re ever in an hour of need.

“There’s a ritual to it — the ‘fiado’ is a kind of honor-system tab. You come up short, say ‘Can I pay you tomorrow?’ and the owner sizes you up,” Adrián says. “If the trust’s there, you’re good. Break it, and the door quietly closes. No second chance. Try doing that in a supermarket,” he laughs. “This sort of thing could never happen at a chain store.”

Still, there’s no denying the convenience of an Oxxo. It’s fast, it’s everywhere and its inventory is solid, with chips, drinks, toiletries, condoms, aspirin — you name it. What’s on the shelves varies by store size and location. Don’t expect miracles, but you’ll usually walk out with what you need — and possibly even something you didn’t.

A local guide to tiendita tips and tricks

Snacks 

Snacking on a budget is an essential part of life in Mexico. While the minimum wage may have risen under the previous government, so has the cost of living. This means that for most, getting the best bang for your buck is the number one consideration when hitting up the tiendita.

Even accounting for regional varieties, simple treats can be found in basically any one of the hundreds of thousands of tienditas in the country. 

For sudden cravings — especially the kind that hit mid-walk or late-night — go for the BitzJapanese-style peanuts. They’re salty, crunchy, cheap and addictive. Pick your poison: lemon, salted, natural, habanero or flaming hot. Good solo, even better with friends and beer.

Need something more substantial before a party? The microwavable burritos from Lonchibon, Del Cazo or Chata work are an absolute treat. They won’t change your life, but they’ll fill the gap. The Mega Burrito — filled with beans and beef — is my go-to. Warm it in-store, eat it on the move and you’re golden.

Throwing a party on a tight budget? Sabritones are your salvation. These beauties are spicy, tangy chili-lime puffs of pure Mexican nostalgia. Grab the family-size bag and a bottle of Valentina hot sauce — available everywhere, even from street vendors. If heat’s not your thing, there’s always Doritos Nacho or the eternally faithful Sabritas. These are the first casualties at any decent party, so plan accordingly.

Sweet fixes

Now for candy. Spicy tamarind classics like Pelón Pelo Rico are messy, sticky and totally worth it. But my personal favorite are Marimba, a hard cherry lollipop wrapped in spicy tamarind paste. It’s sweet, sour and hits with a slow burn. If tamarind isn’t your thing, then try the cherry lollipop from Rosa. 

A word about change

It’s been said before, but carrying only a 500-peso bill is an absolute rookie move. If you’ve been caught short, then spend at least 80 pesos and snag a drink before you leave. 

That’ll earn you smaller bills and coins, which you’ll want if you’re planning to buy something from a street cart later — you should be planning this. If you’ve gone for a chain store option, Oxxo always takes plastic, but outside of major areas, don’t bet on being able to use your card.

Be prepared

It’s a Boy Scout’s motto. If you’re planning on taking a road trip across Mexico, then know that Oxxo thrives in urban zones. Head out into rural areas, and you might be out of luck. Cash is king out there, especially in markets or local joints. And if you get the chance, buy from the mom-and-pop shops. You’ll find regional snacks and candies you won’t see anywhere else. You’ll taste something real.

Chris Havler-Barrett is the Features Editor at Mexico News Daily. 

The post My family runs a convenience store in México state: Here’s everything I’ve learned appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Coming across these ancient ruins can also happen when finding your way across the Metro. The Pino Suárez station is famous fthe Pyramid of Ehécatl, which was built in honor of the Mexica (Aztec) god of the winds and sits in the middle of the station.

Templo Mayor, the most important religious and political center of the ancient Mexica city of Tenochtitlan, the ruins of Cuicuilco and these other sites are a testament to how our pre-Columbian past has not abandoned us, despite the efforts made by European invaders to eradicate our ancient roots. Similarly, denizens of the capital keep some Mexica customs alive in our everyday lives. These are some of the most iconic.

Grocery shopping at a traditional market

The joy of grocery shopping at a traditional Mexican market comes from embodying a living, centuries-oldMesoamerican tradition. Mesoamerica’s largest market was built in Tlatelolco, near the present-day Historic Center in Mexico City, around 1337. This became the main market that supplied the population of Tenochtitlán with all the products that could be imagined at that time, as documented by the Institute of Historical Research of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Today, over 600 years later, markets and tianguis continue to be a form of social cohesion, where reminiscences of that Mexica past still resonate with the voices of the merchants. 

Training your palate to be resistant to spicy meals

Every time a foreign customer orders non-spicy salsa at a taquería, the great Mexica goddess Tlatlauhqui Cihuatl Ichilzintli, the Respectable Lady of Chilis, cries in desperation. But she finds solace when those of us who have found a home in this country bathe our daily meals with anything spicy. Hot peppers were a central part of Mexica cuisine and medicine and were even used to discipline unruly children. Be it having a bowl of salsa verde at the table or sprinkling chile en polvo on our freshly cut fruit, adding a spicy touch to whatever we eat is undeniably a Mexica heritage, which we have kept alive in our eating habits.

Eating bugs, mushrooms and flowers

Chapulines? Escamoles? Gusanos de maguey? Yes! Crickets, ant eggs and worms were at the center of Mexica tables,— and  if you’ve ever had lunch at a tianguis a taquero may have offered you one of these delicacies. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, as documented by the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry, over 96 different species of insects were a fundamental part of Mexica cuisine. Even the most upscale restaurants in Polanco offer these delights.

However, you don’t have to eat anything previously alive to embody a living Mexica tradition. You can go veggie, as well! For example, eating mushroom quesadillas is a must at any mercado de antojitos. And of course, if you haven’t tried pumpkin flower tamales at Xochimilco, you’re absolutely missing out.

Including native corn in your daily diet

I can’t fathom a Mexican table without tortillas.  Tortillas serve both as sustenance and cutlery at Mexican tables. As a key ingredient for main Mexican courses, per capita consumption is recorded at around 331 kilograms per year, as suggested by the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry’s latest figures. And how could we not? Our land has nurtured roughly 67 different species of corn for over 10,000 years. Tortillas — “tlaxcalli” in Nahuatl — were a staple food as important for the Mexica and other ancient Mesoamerican cultures as they are for modern day Mexicans.

Using a molcajete to pound grains, spices and veggies

If you ever go to a fonda serving comida corrida, an establishment where you can have a three-course meal for less than 100 pesos, you’ll probably see the cook making their own salsa in a molcajete. The term comes from Náhuatl words “molli,” which means sauce, and “caxtli,” or bowl: “mollicaxtli” therefore means the sauce bowl, as documented by the Exterior Relations Ministry (SRE). It’s usually made of volcanic rock, and traditionally has the face of an animal — usually, a pig — carved in the front.

If you live in Mexico and love to cook, a molcajete is an absolute kitchen must, especially if you’re into making your own spicy salsas. There is no bigger joy than smashing chilis and tomatoes against the pig’s volcanic back, and using the mortar to get the best of their juices. That, too, is a Mexica tradition that Mexican households have kept alive — and will probably persist through the passage of time. 

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

The post 5 Mexica customs you’ve adopted if you live in Mexico City (and you haven’t even noticed) appeared first on Mexico News Daily

We belong to a home-exchange organization, and an American who owns a condo in Cuenca had stayed at our Guanajuato city home a year ago while we were in California. Now, it was our turn to stay in his home.

I’m always curious about other international cities in which U.S. citizens retire. What would it be like had we chosen this town or that one instead of Guanajuato? Cuenca — along with Cusco, Peru and Medellín, Colombia, to name a couple of other South American cities — is a frequent retiree choice. In fact, Cuenca is so popular with expats that I thought it might be Ecuador’s answer to Mexico’s popular San Miguel de Allende.

Barry and I are so smitten with Guanajuato, though, that it’s hard to find other cities that come close. We love the friendly, warmhearted Mexican people.  We love color, and Guanajuato is the most vibrant city we’ve ever seen, with houses of every color imaginable — turquoise, magenta, orange and on and on.

The city’s pedestrianized areas, with much of the traffic underground, are ideal for us. Plus, the winding streets force the aboveground traffic to go slowly.

We can hike right from our front door, but when we want to range further afield, we love the fact that we can take a plush bus to other nearby beautiful cities like Querétaro, San Luis Potosí and Aguascalientes within half a day. Similarly, we can fly to Puerto Vallarta or Cancun, where we can visit Maya ruins dotted around the Yucatán Peninsula, in an hour.

Sixth, León’s international airport can fly us direct to Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Chicago, Los Angeles and  Tijuana, among other cities. It’s hard to top that! 

Our first hint that Cuenca might not be like San Miguel de Allende was just getting there. We flew from Mexico City overnight to Quito, Ecuador’s capital, where we stayed for a few days, and then flew directly to Cuenca. Quito is a long way from the United States or Canada, and Cuenca is even more remote.

Unfortunately, Cuenca didn’t meet our expectations, although we enjoyed a couple of its assets: a river with tree-lined paths on both sides, and the city’s hot springs, one of my favorites in the world, with pools of different temperatures and a eucalyptus-flavored steam room. 

Still, Cuenca, with a population of over 600,000, is much larger and busier than we realized. Drivers honked a lot, while buses seemed to careen down the city’s narrow streets, their fenders veering into the sidewalks, making even me — famous for my casual attitude towards oncoming traffic — shudder with anxiety.

Nor is Cuenca’s chronic rain like Mexico’s “monsoon” season, where a huge violent thunderstorm will last for a couple of hours and then clear the air. Cuenca’s spring weather is more like the U.S. Pacific Northwest: persistently damp and chilly.  

Ecuador is one of four Latin American countries that Barry and I have visited in the last ten years. The others were Panama, Colombia and Peru. 

Panama 

A small and easily navigable country, Panama has many hillside towns which, though charming, are too small or too far from an international airport to work for me. Boquete, for example, a popular coffee town in the north of the country, is seven hours from Panama City.  Also, as lovers of ruins, we were disappointed that the only archaeological sites we saw were right in Panama City.

Finally, Panama is heavily influenced by U.S. culture due to the construction of the Panama Canal; we want to live in a culture that feels significantly different from the United States.

Colombia

Colombia is our favorite of the four Latin American countries we’ve visited, and Medellín is the city we’d probably have picked if we’d moved. It’s a fascinating city with a once-traumatic history and creative, award-winning transit solutions to isolated, marginalized communities high in the hills around the city. We liked Medellín, but had to take taxis and Ubers everywhere, whereas we much prefer to walk as we can in Guanajuato. 

We were charmed by the Pueblos Patrimonios (Heritage Towns), Colombia’s equivalent to Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos, especially the nearby coffee towns of Jardín and Jerico, part of the state of Antioquia. But with a population of 2.4 million, Medellín is way too big and sprawling for us.

Perú

Our trip for my nephew’s wedding was not our first time in Peru. In 1985, Lima was a much smaller city, but today, its exhausting traffic makes that of Mexico City look like a small town.

Because we hiked the four-day Inca trail to Machu Picchu in the 1980s, we decided to forego Cusco and the nearby Sacred Valley region this time around. As my nephew’s father-in-law said to me, “Don’t worry about going to Machu Picchu if you’ve already been. The only thing that has changed there since 1985 is the number of tourists.” Indeed, my sisters said the crowds were overwhelming. 

If we’d moved to Peru, we might have picked Cusco to live, but my sisters told us that the traffic there is also horrendous. Plus, there’s the issue of flights to Lima. Several flights my family members had booked were delayed or cancelled outright, making connections very tenuous.

For Barry and me, the other Latin American countries we’ve seen, interesting as they are, simply don’t meet our criteria.  Still, I recommend that any foreign resident living in Mexico and interested in Latin America visit; it’s a much faster hop from Mexico City to any of these South and Central American capitals than from the U.S.

As Mexico News Daily readers know, Mexico has it all. Kind-hearted people, culture, archaeology, access — you name it. I’m forever grateful we found a home for ourselves in this magical country.

Louisa Rogers and her husband Barry Evans divide their lives between Guanajuato and Eureka, on California’s North Coast. Louisa writes articles and essays about expat life, Mexico, travel, physical and psychological health, retirement and spirituality. Her recent articles are available on her website, authory.com/LouisaRogers

The post I’ve seen Latin America, but Mexico’s still my favorite country for retirement appeared first on Mexico News Daily

“Our mission,” says director and cofounder Henry Miller, “is to do everything possible to prepare society for climate change. Over the last 15 years, we’ve worked with Indigenous communities throughout Mexico, collaborating with local, national and international organizations, including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.” 

“We’ve had the opportunity to develop an understanding of the problems facing children, parents and teachers, and with that understanding, we have created an educational model for climate change adaptation.”

The organization’s current initiative is called the Learning and Transition Laboratory for Climate Change (labAT). This educational tool helps teachers conduct community diagnostics, identify key problems, and develop school projects that address local circumstances.

“We have just completed our first full school year in the state of Querétaro,” explains Miller, “specifically in the Sierra Gorda region, where we work with teachers representing 26 schools in 26 communities.” 

“This tool is designed to help teachers work with students and parents to identify community problems, risks and vulnerabilities, as well as areas of resilience and available resources. Teachers are then able to bring this hyper-local information into their lesson plans for the development of school projects that address these specific community situations.” 

Think globally, act locally

While Miller affirms that the labAT educational model aligns with international standards such as the Paris Climate Accords, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as Mexico’s national educational standards, he also stresses that centering local conditions is its strength.

“I want to underline the importance of local information for climate change adaptation. Our work aligns with the Paris Accords and the UN 2030 agenda, and these international frameworks are very important — but the key is that adaptation has to happen locally. People need options at the local level, they need access to knowledge, and they need access to power structures.”

The organization’s diagnostic and educational tool, which has received certification from Mexico’s National Copyright Institute (Indautor), focuses on three reference points: each family’s domestic economy; the community’s territory, such as the local watershed; and good governance.

Empowering educators and re-centering them as community leaders 

El Maíz Más Pequeño aims to support and empower teachers, re-centering them as community leaders and sources of information and resources. “We definitely want to contribute to strengthening teachers,” says Henry Miller. “We remind them that they can be agents of change and that they are not alone.”

“Along those lines,” he continues, “our tool has an element of social cartography: we begin by asking students to draw their community, putting the school in the center as the information source. Then we ask them to note places or elements of their community that are considered resources and others that are considered dangerous or risky.”

Miller described seeing mosquitos drawn for the first time, and marked as a risk, on the community map created by a group of primary school students in the remote village of La Barranca in Pinal de Amoles, Querétaro. This community is located at such a high elevation that they’d never had to worry about mosquitos before. “But because of climate change, they’re now dealing with mosquitoes, a biological indicator showing that temperatures are warming. The increase in mosquitos in many areas has led to more outbreaks of dengue fever all over the country.” 

These children and their parents also identified forest fires, illegal logging and violence as threats to their community. Not only do these diagnostic exercises provide critical information, they also develop a language with which to talk about the problems, as well as uncover knowledge of actors who can help.

In today’s world, parents have less certainty about the future their children will face, notes Miller. “We no longer have the luxury of certainty, so we have to build resilience, in the form of knowledge, emotional intelligence and the ability to work with other local actors for the common benefit.”

The organization then helps teachers systematize their integration of climate change adaptation content into their lesson plans by defining climate-related vulnerabilities and sources of resilience in each layer of the community: at the level of a family’s domestic economy, in the physical territory and in government. “We exist to bring climate change into the national curriculum in a user-friendly way,” Miller says.

Building networks to support climate change adaptations

By working with parents of students in each school, El Maíz Más Pequeño aims to improve the quality of information available to community members, support healthy community decision-making and identify and expand networks of actors working to support climate change adaptation projects. 

Miller explained that the organization also hopes to contribute to a critical national risk management atlas, working with the National Institute for Ecology and Climate Change (INECC) and Civil Protection. This initiative aims to improve the quality of information available to national policymakers as well as local actors, enhancing the national government’s ability to prepare citizens for climate change adaptations. 

“Climate change adaptation is a form of risk management,” Miller says. ”It is crucial to reduce the time needed to respond to local climate-related problems and bring better tools to the fight.”

Support the innovative work of El Maíz Más Pequeño

Now celebrating its 15th anniversary, the organization hopes to greatly expand their reach in the coming years. In particular they plan to digitize their educational tools as an application and thereby make these valuable resources more accessible to teachers, parents, students and community leaders across the country. They are currently looking for corporate support to make this possible. To learn more about El Maíz Más Pequeño and support the organization’s important work, visit elmaizmaspequeno.org.

Based in San Miguel de Allende, Ann Marie Jackson is a writer and NGO leader who previously worked for the U.S. Department of State. Her award-winning novel “The Broken Hummingbird,” which is set in San Miguel de Allende, came out in October 2023. Ann Marie can be reached through her website, annmariejacksonauthor.com.

The post Meet the nonprofit preparing Mexico for climate change appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Much of Chagoya’s success to date has been through collaboration with other sectors of government, but also through his grassroots-minded initiatives, which directly involve residents. This has resulted in greater information-sharing with citizens and the strengthening of community relations.

Involving residents

Chagoya is focused on restoring Oaxaca’s identity as a heritage city by revitalizing the historic center and integrating conservation and maintenance teams. This includes an application for funds from the Association of Mexican World Heritage Cities. Key actions have included cleaning public areas with the involvement of residents, in community improvement events known as neighborhood tequios vecinales.

Tequios — an Indigenous word that embodies community values such as solidarity and teamwork — are groups of volunteers that are working with the government to plant trees, widen sidewalks and repair concrete and ironwork throughout the city.

Chagoya is particularly proud of the tequios’ success, which has gone a long way toward restoring areas in Oaxaca’s capital while at the same time bringing neighbors together.

Tackling Oaxaca city’s water issues

Chagoya has also been leading campaigns to dredge the city’s storm drains, essential work as Oaxaca’s rainy season arrives. 

The municipal government is doing its part by promoting drinking water and sanitation projects to ensure a sustainable supply and improve environmental conditions in Oaxaca de Juárez’s metropolitan area. This work coordinates efforts across various local government departments, with two key projects focused on water security, management and safety: Water for All and the Safe Rain Program. 

Chagoya said that water shortages in the city will not be solved by a single action but as a multistep plan that addresses issues with Oaxaca’s water sources — its rivers, reservoirs and wells. It also must deal with issues around water treatment, water distribution and, finally, water storage. Sewers must also be serviced during the rainy season to prevent flooding and further river contamination.

The Safe Rain Program includes preventive and immediate response actions to leaks and flooding in the city’s drainage system, in order to mitigate the rainy season’s effects on the capital. The priority is citizen safety.

Between this past June and November, monitoring of rain levels will be carried out throughout the city using a digital platform with an early warning system, coordinated with the regional meteorological radar and Mexico’s National Water Commission (CONAGUA). 

Water storage is a challenge, the mayor said, as space is limited and standing water poses a risk of harboring dengue-carrying mosquitoes. However, he has announced that studies are underway for the installation of rainwater harvesting systems, which he said will allow for the use of up to 56 million liters over the next three years.

So far, much of what has been visible in the media about efforts to address water shortages has been the donation of water tanks, known in Mexico as tinacos. The government has already delivered 3,500 water tanks to neighborhoods with the greatest water shortages. In addition, the government plans to install 36 new hydrants, 20 provided by the municipality and 16 by the state government. 

The wider, multifaceted water infrastructure plan underway seeks to strengthen the drinking water supply in strategic areas of the capital, with renovated infrastructure and increased operational capacity. This includes developing water treatment facilities, rehabilitating the city’s Trujano, Vincente Suárez and Candiani wells, developing complementary infrastructure such as an oscillation tower in Xoxocotlán to improve water pressure and providing water storage solutions via tinacos. 

Cleaning up the Atoyac River

Chagoya has highlighted the growing success of the wastewater treatment plant in San Juan Bautista La Raya, near Oaxaca International Airport, which will improve the water quality of the increasingly polluted Atoyac River, an essential water source that has been the subject of concern. There has also been collaboration with the Oaxaca state government to clean the river, and construction has started on the road alongside it.

In the heart of the city, where the Atoyac runs behind the Abastos municipal market, a major cleanup has been completed, which removed mountains of trash that were previously spilling down the banks.

Chagoya emphasizes the importance of collective awareness, of caring for water, not wasting it, and understanding that its scarcity is not just a technical problem but also a shared societal responsibility. He shared this sentiment in a recent social media post. 

“Water is life, it is health, and it is key to the sustainable development of our capital. Let’s reflect on its value and the responsibility we share to preserve it. Every drop counts. Every action contributes. Let’s continue building a more conscious, greener and more committed Oaxaca de Juárez,” he wrote.

The next few months will be telling about Chagoya’s government’s effectiveness at tackling these issues, since the rains in Oaxaca have only just begun. Chagoya also faces this month’s Guelaguetza festival, one of Oaxaca’s busiest seasons for cultural activities in the city.

These challenges will test the mayor’s primary goals — specifically maintaining community safety and cohesion while supporting a city that stays clean and healthy. 

The post Oaxaca Mayor Raymundo Chagoya is saving his city’s water with people power appeared first on Mexico News Daily

This isn’t a rebuttal. I don’t claim to speak for all Mexicans. But I do want to offer another truth — one rooted in experience, memory and place.

Just how expensive has Mexico City become?

I still remember when The Economist’s global cost of living report was published in 2024. Mexico City ranked as the 16th most expensive city in the world — ahead of Milan, Munich and Washington, D.C. My friends and I stared at the screen, speechless. And then we laughed. Bitterly. Now we knew why our wallets felt like black holes where money disappeared, never to be seen again.

Sarah is right: foreigners don’t set the prices. This inflationary spiral has been fueled by policies, incentives and market decisions made by us Mexicans — particularly those in power.

Tourism was always the objective 

The truth is, Mexico didn’t accidentally become a tourism magnet. It was a calculated move and part of a broader economic strategy that began during President Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration (2012–2018). The goal was to diversify our economy, shifting from a manufacturing-heavy model toward services and tourism.

The “Visit Mexico” campaign was everywhere: billboards in airports, glossy spreads in international travel magazines, glowing write-ups in art publications about how the city had become the “new Berlin.” Remember the opening scene from James Bond’s “Spectre,” set in the city’s historic center? It still makes me laugh that we now have an annual Day of the Dead parade inspired not by tradition, but by a James Bond movie.

We laid the groundwork. And now we’re reaping both the benefits and the consequences.

What does gentrification feel like?

My parents met in the early 1980s. At that time, suburban life was seen as the ultimate dream; with just a few years of hard work, one could afford a large home on a quiet street, creating an ideal environment for raising a family. I was born in 1990 and grew up in the south of Mexico City. I attended a private school, spent entire months on long family vacations and enjoyed a comfortable upper-middle-class suburban lifestyle. I was a “niña fresa.”

In 2008, I enrolled in Art History at Casa Lamm in La Roma, a neighborhood already undergoing gentrification at that time. To my parents, it was still a “barrio populachero” (a derogatory term for a working-class area), a far cry from the refined neighborhood they remembered before the 1985 earthquake completely leveled it. For them, my fondness for la Roma symbolized a descent into counterculture, as if I were auditioning for a role in a Kerouac or Burroughs novel.

In 2010, I found a tiny apartment on the corner of Jalapa and Álvaro Obregón. It was a 1970s building, poorly laid out but with a breathtaking view of Reforma’s skyline. Rent? 5,200 pesos, or around US $250 at the time. I rationalized it as a gas-saving strategy, though my parents were skeptical, of course. You’d have thought my sister and I had moved into one of the tenements from “Trainspotting.”

Those were golden years. Friends lived nearby in Condesa. We spent afternoons in cafés and libraries, haunted galleries and bookstores, drank mezcal in old cantinas where office workers, hipsters, artists and intellectuals mingled with a kind of bohemian ease. We felt part of something.

But by 2017, after the earthquake damaged my building, I had to move out.

When I tried to move back the following year, my landlord had turned the apartment into an Airbnb. The new monthly rate? 28,000 pesos, a shade less than US $1,400. Three times what I had been paying during my last year there.

Later, I found another place, on Puebla and Orizaba, and fell in love. One hundred and sixty square meters, two terraces, a dream kitchen, sunlit bathrooms. It cost 32,000 pesos (about US $1,600). I was ready to grow old there, but then came the pandemic. Six months without work and I had no choice but to leave.

The pandemic really marked a before and after in Mexico City’s dynamic. When I returned in 2021, my old apartment was listed at 42,000 pesos (US $2,100). Something had shifted. The neighborhood no longer felt like home.

Rents had exploded everywhere. Beloved buildings, like the iconic Balmori, saw prices triple. More foreigners arrived. My parents, once concerned, were now oddly reassured: the neighborhood looked better to them, more “whitexican” and cosmopolitan.

During the 11 years I lived in Roma, we didn’t just alter the demographics. We erased entire micro-economies, some of them operating since the 1950’s.

Hardware stores, shoemakers, corner bodegas, tailor shops, classic liquor and tobacco shops, tortillerías, fruit shops — all gone. They were replaced by bilingual cafés and curated restaurants, many backed by people like us: whitexicans with connections and capital, and a taste for aesthetic control. Gentrification didn’t descend on us. We caused it.

The protests were fuelled by xenophobia

Unlike Sarah, I didn’t see the “anti-gentrification protest” as a critique of capitalism or inequality. I saw it as something more visceral, more targeted. The majority of the signs didn’t read “Regulate Airbnb” or “Protect tenants’ rights.” They said:

• “Gringo go home.”
• “Kick out the gringo before he kicks you out.”
• “My city is NOT your Airbnb.”
• “Aquí se habla español.”

Why target Americans and not Spaniards, Germans, Argentinians or Colombians?

I think I know why. The perception — fair or not — is that particularly young Americans bring with them a certain kind of entitlement. They don’t try to communicate in Spanish, nor respect our culture, and treat the city like a party spot or a photo booth.

I don’t think this perception is accurate, but I have witnessed things that could be seen to support this.

In my apartment on Puebla, I lived across from an Airbnb that hosted a rotating cast of international visitors. Loud parties on weeknights were normal, and the visits of sex workers and drug dealers were occasional. That event that ended the building’s Airbnb era was a drug-fuelled rampage that culminated in the destruction of the furniture.

I haven’t seen it in a while, but there was a period when if you walked by Plaza Río de Janeiro, you would see a group of tourists sunbathing in bikinis. While they weren’t causing any harm, in a conservative country like ours, it felt disrespectful. Not criminal. Just off. Inappropriate.

Many of us are witnessing our neighborhood transform into something unrecognizable, not just in rent, but in spirit. Experiences like these create the fear that Mexico City will become “the next Tulum.” This fear might be totally misguided, but perception, as we know, can often outweigh reality.

Some friends — who now call me a “sellout”— have asked me in the Taste of Mexico videos we share on Instagram to stop promoting Mexico. I’ve fought with them and defended my work. Yet, I understand where the plea comes from.

I will always defend cultural exchange

Thanks to my multiple degrees in Art History, Journalism, and Sociology (I was unfocused as a student) I firmly believe that cultural exchange strengthens any society. Throughout history, I’ve seen how dedicated many foreigners are in their efforts to learn Spanish, integrate into our communities, show respect and gain a better understanding of this country than the average Mexican. Anita Brenner’s book “Idols Behind Altars” (1929) is one of many examples.

We, at Mexico News Daily and you, the audience, are living proof of the enormous effort and care that can be put into building this bridge between cultures.

So let me say this clearly: if you’ve been mistreated, insulted or made to feel unwelcome in these last few weeks, I’m sorry, not all Mexicans feel the same way. Sarah is right: fear often manifests as violence, but that will never be justification for xenophobia and violence.

These demonstrations — polarizing as they are — have struck a chord that will continue to resonate for some time. They reflect the growing tension points that define modern urban life: overpopulation, inequality, resistance to change, the fear of being displaced and the relentless precarization of, well, everything.

I was part of the first wave of gentrification. And so I find myself asking, not just as a citizen, but as an accomplice: How do you repair a community you fractured, without becoming patronizing or without offering cheap solutions and platitudes that might deepen the wound?

I believe that, like in any relationship, once you become invested, you start to care. This doesn’t mean that you have to agree on everything or always like each other — just ask anyone living with their partner. However, one thing is certain: you do not intentionally destroy or hurt what you truly love.

María Meléndez is a Mexico City food blogger and influencer.

The post Another side of the story: A Mexican perspective on gentrification appeared first on Mexico News Daily

In the comments section, many readers took issue with the phrasing, particularly. I’d sum them up like this: “We learned Spanish, we treat people well, we’re involved in the community, we do volunteer work. How crass to equate our way of life with cheating!”

One of the topics I addressed was the inherent unfairness of the economic systems that make living in Mexico a “good deal.” Here’s what I mean.

As a U.S. citizen, I have access to online jobs — albeit precarious ones — that are only open to U.S. citizens. Because these jobs are for U.S. citizens who presumably live in the U.S., the pay is adjusted to the cost of living there. Mexican jobs, on the other hand, are paid considering the cost of living here, which is much lower.

In neither place are most average salaries quite enough to live comfortably, which accounts for some of the migration south.

That means that as a professional in my field, I can earn much more than a professional Mexican in my same field, despite that professional Mexican being just as smart, just as educated, and just as hard-working as I am. While I might live like a queen, they barely scrape by.

Here’s an example: one popular Mexico-based online job is to work as a phone interpreter. To do this job, you must be completely fluent in both languages, which trust me, is no easy feat. You also have to be computer savvy, extremely sharp, and quick on your feet. I myself am fluent in both languages, but wouldn’t dream of trying to work as a live interpreter: it’s too hard, and I’m too spacey. The wage for this extremely high skill that takes years to master? About US $850 a month.

“That’s not a bad wage here,” you might say. I suppose not, especially if you don’t have to pay rent and there are other workers in your household. But it’s nowhere near comfortable, especially if you live in a large urban area. Ask yourself honestly: how well could you live here on that amount, especially if you didn’t already own a home or vehicle?

Now, Mexicans do have plenty of “home field” advantages that offset some of this. Immediate family support and property is a big one, for example. Still, none of us can escape the need for money, and the more you have, the easier things get.

By extension, it means I — we — often have much more economic power than they do, despite not being measurably “better” or more deserving than they. We can buy more. We can afford to live in the best areas.

And while this is, let’s be honest, an inherently unfair system, it’s of course not the fault of any one individual. Building and maintaining a system is one thing; taking advantage of it as a worker is another, very human by the way, thing.

Like, I’m sure, many of you, I watched with dismay as the “anti-gentrification” protests played out in Mexico City last week. Most of the protests, let it be said, were peaceful, if a bit rude. “Gringo go home?” Ouch. But some parts were scarier, with actual violence. One particular video clip haunts me: a blonde woman who looks a lot like me ducking in a restaurant as angry protestors lurched toward her.

Yikes.

Any therapist will tell you: the emotion behind anger is always fear born of deep pain.

The issue at hand here is principally the question of who gets access to scarce resources. In this case, the “scarce resources” are the trendiest neighborhoods of Mexico City.

The last time I went to that area of Mexico City was in 2021 to renew my kid’s passport. It was a gorgeous urban landscape with parks and cute cafes everywhere. There were white people everywhere I looked. A trip to the panadería for what would have cost 35 pesos in our own city cost over 200 there, leaving our eyes watering at the checkout counter. “Wait, where are we?”

A place where only the rich can afford to live and play, that’s where.

And that’s the kind of thing that can make lots of people mad — especially if they’ve recently been priced out, which, according to reports, did not make up the majority of the protestors.

Was there some xenophobia at play? Certainly.

But officially, those present were protesting “gentrification,” the process by which an area becomes desirable. Once it does, more people move and open businesses there. As the area increases in popularity, alas, so do its prices. This is true in popular cities all over the world.

Now, I feel there’s an important point to make here: no one is moving to an area and insisting on paying higher prices there. Consumers, as a rule, do not set the prices of what they buy; sellers do. And most of the sellers and business owners in these areas are Mexican.

Really, these angry young people are protesting not against foreigners, but against something much more insidious: unregulated capitalism. It allows prices for basic needs like housing to skyrocket. It allows wages to stay much lower on one side of the border than the other for the same work. It ensures that the nicest, choicest parts of any city are reserved almost exclusively for the well-to-do.

But the protestors can’t see the people who are deciding to evict current tenants in favor of those who will pay big bucks for short-term rentals. They don’t see those who decide that a piece of bread from the panadería will cost 30 pesos instead of five. Capitalists everywhere are clever: they mostly stay out of view, away from any potential wrath.

What they can see are people from other places blithely enjoying these things that they cannot. The fact that some are oblivious to the culture and language surrounding them does not help the matter.

You can’t yell at the concept of real estate speculation or capitalism in the street. But you can yell at a foreigner.

It is obviously not nice for anyone to treat anyone else as a villain because of the way they look or as a result of their foreigner status. It is wrong, and it is sad. And it’s 100% something that white people from North America are not used to dealing with. I’m not saying we’re cosmically due, but it does seem a little unfair, in the grand scheme of things, that one group should be indefinitely exempt from xenophobic treatment.

It’s worth remembering too that Mexico City, with Claudia Sheinbaum as mayor, rolled out the welcome mat for these foreigners by partnering with AirBnB and UNESCO in 2022. Overall, it wasn’t a terrible plan. After all, Mexico depends on tourism for a significant portion of its GDP.

But tourism money coming in is not spread about equally. While you could argue that a low-paid hotel maid benefits from having a job, the real winners are always those who own the places where they land and play.

And when enough people take notice that those left on the outside looking in far outnumber those benefiting, people get upset.

And when lots of people are upset together, rationality does not reign. Be careful out there.

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

The post The awkward truth behind Mexico City’s ‘anti-gentrification’ protests appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Somehow, this store has expanded across the country with 47 branches, bringing its extravaganza to every corner of Mexico. Mexico City alone has 19 stores.

@rubencarpinteiro Amé el último adorno. #humor #comedia #risa #galeriaseltriunfo #paratii #parati #foryou #muebles #ideas #decoración ♬ earthquake – JISOO

The chain’s penchant for — let’s call them whimsical — products has made it an easy target for TikTokers and Instagrammers, who love highlighting the odder items at Galerias El Triunfo.

Galerías El Triunfo started 50 years ago as a small crafts retailer. It was founded by Don Fermín, who was “one of the most visionary men to ever walk this planet,” as Ricardo López, the store’s community manager, proudly told me. 

“As Mexico began to open up its borders to international commerce, Don Fermín looked abroad for things that were unique,” López said.

And indeed, he found them: The store’s aisles are typically packed with decor items that range from perfectly normal or incredibly useful to extraordinary and, at times, otherworldly.

“Find everything to decorate your space,” El Triunfo’s Instagram handle reads. 

And when they say everything, they truly mean everything. There are thousands of items here suitable for homes, offices, hotels, restaurants, bars, beauty salons and every type of shop, business or event. But think of the most bizarre decorative item you can come up with, and you’ll likely find it there. 

A toilet seat with a sink included in the water tank? A pot shaped like a shiny two-meter-high heel? Yes to both.

“We’re always following fashion, colors and trends, and we only look for new, innovative designs that represent something no one has seen before and that make each space it’s used for look unique,” López said. “We base our work on the fashion industry and everything that’s happening around it.”

A visit to Galerías El Triunfo only confirms the store’s commitment to uniqueness. It truly caters to every taste and fantasy. And when clients stumble across some extravagant item, it’s not uncommon to hear them whisper, “Who on earth would buy this?”

This collective feeling among its shoppers has inspired the social media trend “POV: Shopping at Galerías El Triunfo.” With millions of views across TikTok and Instagram, the trend features two people pretending to be a shopper and a store employee.

“Excuse me, I’m looking for a dining table that has butterfly wings instead of legs,” the shopper asks. 

“Now that you mention it, we just got that in,” the store worker says, pointing to a dining table that indeed fits the bizarre request.

The reel then continues in the same format, displaying the most exotic items found in the store. 

This trend has prompted thousands of comments from shoppers who’ve had the same type of experience at Galerias El Triunfo, showing the store’s wide popularity among Mexicans. On Instagram, the store’s account has 128,000 followers. 

According to the site Data Mexico, Galerias El Triunfo is among the top five businesses in Mexico in what Mexico’s statistics agency INEGI calls the “retail trade of articles for interior decoration” sector. According to INEGI, the sector took in a total 3.37 trillion pesos (US $1.81 billion) in 2024. Other retailers included in this category include the crafts store Fantasias Miguel and Distribuidora Storehome (THS).

“We want to bring our customers new things every day, and make Mexico a more beautiful place,” López said. “We want people who don’t know what to look for to be amazed and turn their spaces or events into something spectacular.” 

Be it a party, a wedding or a quinceañera, if it calls for unicorns and baroque chandeliers, Galerías El Triunfo probably has exactly what your event needs — plus a couple of things you didn’t know existed. 

For a deeper dive on Galerias El Triunfo’s popularity and its offerings, watch this video by Mexican YouTuber Lalo Villar.

Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily.

The post Toilets with sinks and neon dog sculptures: The kitschy appeal of Galerias El Triunfo appeared first on Mexico News Daily