Mexicanist Newsletter: From Ruins to Riches

Welcome back to the Mexicanist newsletter, where we delve into the… well, Mexico. And let me tell you, this week’s lot is a bit like finding a perfectly cooked taco al pastor after a day of driving through a monsoon.

From “21 Underrated Destinations” – because apparently, there are still bits of Mexico you can go to without bumping into a bloke in socks and sandals – to “How to Avoid Being Kidnapped While on a Family Holiday.” Essential reading, that one. Especially if you’ve got the sort of kids who think throwing sand at iguanas is hilarious.

Then there’s the usual guff about expensive cities – San Miguel de Allende, apparently, where a tamale costs more than my first car – and how the super-rich do Baja. Which, let’s be honest, probably involves more champagne than actual Baja. We’ve even got some proper nerdy stuff about restoring old buildings and the word ‘mañana’. Honestly, ‘mañana’. It’s practically the national motto, isn’t it? Means “not today, mate.”

And for the literary types, we’ve got a reading list. Because apparently, just drinking tequila isn’t enough. You have to read about it as well. And finally, some proper gritty stuff about drug cartels and schools where they teach kids how to grow poppies. Bit like my old geography lessons, really, but with more AK-47s.

So, this week’s newsletter is a right old mixed bag. A bit like a Mexican market, really. You’ll find some gems, some tat, and probably end up with something you didn’t even know you wanted.