¡Hola amigos! This week, Mexico is toughening its trade strategy to defend tequila in international markets, the economy grew faster than expected, new rules are now in effect for dogs entering Mexico from the U.S., and the government plans to sink a boatload of money into fighting record sargassum.

Plus, the rights and responsibilities of Permanent Residency, whether one health insurance policy is enough if you split your time between countries, and the woman who helped frame modern Mexico.

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Last week we launched The Insider's Guide to Spanish Teachers in Mexico, a free resource featuring teachers and schools personally recommended by our readers. Each listing helps you compare teaching styles, specialties, class formats, and locations — so you can find the teacher that's right for you.

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Which Mexican volcano was the first in modern history to have its entire life documented?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

🐶 Starting Aug. 3, dogs entering Mexico from the U.S. must have a screwworm inspection certificate signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and issued within five days of travel. Cats are not affected by the new requirement.

🥃 Countries that impose tariffs or trade barriers on tequila could face reciprocal trade measures from Mexico.

🥬 Laboratory tests found no Cyclospora or fecal coliforms in lettuce and water samples from Taylor Farms' Guanajuato facility.

📈 Mexico's economy grew 2.1% year over year in the second quarter.

🌊 Mexico will invest $2 billion pesos to combat record levels of sargassum along its Caribbean coast.

🇲🇽 President Sheinbaum responded to President Trump’s most recent criticism of Mexico’s security strategy, saying, “We are friends with everyone.”

🛍️ Mexico's Digital Consumer Confidence Index rose from 48% to 66% in the third quarter.

🧑‍🎓 Suspected widespread cheating during UNAM's first online entrance exam has forced thousands of applicants to take a new test in person.

📅 UNAM delayed classes for incoming students until Aug. 31 while it prepares a new in-person exam.

🇲🇽 Canada and Mexico agreed to facilitate agricultural trade and strengthen North American supply chains.

🤖 Japan and Mexico agreed to expand cooperation on artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and supply chains.

🌎 President Sheinbaum met with the World Bank president to discuss financing for private-sector projects under Plan México.

🛢️ Pemex oil exports jumped 23.5% in June, the largest year-over-year increase in eight years.

If you divide your time between Mexico and another country, do you really need two health insurance policies?

It depends on where you’re spending the rest of your time.

If your other country is the U.S. - It comes down to how much time you’ll spend there. If you’re only in Mexico for about three months a year, a short-term travel plan is usually the best fit instead of paying for a full comprehensive policy. But if you live in Mexico and spend only a couple of months in the U.S., you don’t need a separate policy – as long as your international plan in Mexico includes global coverage that specifically covers the U.S.

If your other country is Canada - Canada’s provincial care requires you to be there about 180 days per year to keep using that system. If you don’t meet that threshold, confirm with your international policy that you’ll be covered while in Canada. If not, a travel plan is a smart way to protect against major illness or accidents.

If your other country is neither the U.S. nor Canada - As long as your Mexican policy is global and the second country is not your passport country, there’s usually no need for two separate policies.

If you’re registered with IMSS - Your coverage only applies within Mexico. If you're traveling outside the country – even for a short trip – a travel policy is essential to make sure you're covered in case of emergencies.

Need help figuring out the right coverage mix? Whether you're looking for international health insurance, short-term travel coverage, or a second policy for time spent abroad, our vetted brokers can walk you through the options.

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Last week, we broke down the perks and limits of temporary residency in Mexico. But what about permanent status?

Holding a Residente Permanente card gives you indefinite legal status in Mexico, with fewer strings attached. Here’s what you get (and what you don’t).

Rights and responsibilities of permanent residents include:

There’s also no rule about how long you have to stay in Mexico to maintain your status – extended time abroad won’t affect it.

Just like temporary residents, you’ll receive a CURP, which you’ll need for banking, taxes, and other official matters.

But some limits still apply. 

You can’t vote. You can't obtain a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) for a foreign-plated vehicle. However, foreign-plated vehicles may still be driven in Mexico's designated Free Zones, including the Baja California peninsula, parts of Sonora, and Quintana Roo, where a TIP isn't required. That’s a big shift from temporary status, where a TIP is still an option.

Just like temporary residents, you’re required to notify INM within 90 days of big life changes – new job, marriage, divorce, address, nationality – or risk paying a fine.

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In the years after the Mexican Revolution, Mexico was reinventing itself.

Lola Álvarez Bravo was there to capture it on film.

She became Mexico's first professional female photographer to earn national and international recognition. Her work helped shape Mexico's new national identity.

Born in Jalisco in 1903, Lola came of age as Mexico embraced a cultural renaissance. Murals, music, literature, and photography all flourished.

Her husband, Manuel Álvarez Bravo, taught her the craft. After they separated in 1934, she needed to support herself and their young son. She turned her talent into a livelihood.

In 1936, she received her first major commission, photographing the colonial choir stalls of a former church.

She worked alongside many of the country's greatest artists, including Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

Lola's portraits of Frida Kahlo remain among the most intimate ever taken.

Her work ranged from portraits to scenes of everyday life.

She turned her camera toward market vendors, laborers, and ordinary families. Her photographs captured everyday Mexican life with dignity and honesty.

Her influence extended beyond the camera. She taught at the Academia de San Carlos and later led the photography department at Mexico's National Institute of Fine Arts. 

Lola opened her own gallery, where she organized Frida Kahlo's only solo exhibition in Mexico during the painter’s lifetime.

She also pushed photography in a new direction through photomontage. By combining multiple photographs, she created surreal scenes. 

Like the great Mexican muralists of her era, she used her art to challenge injustice and comment on the society around her.

Her 1935 work El Sueño de los Pobres (The Dream of the Poor) shows a sleeping child about to be crushed beneath a cascade of giant coins. The image criticized the power of money and the cruelty of capitalism during the economic crisis of the 1930s.

Take a look at some of Lola Álvarez Bravo's most iconic images.

One bite of cundeamor and you’ll understand why Mexicans call it melón amargo (bitter melon).

This knobby green fruit is one of the bitterest foods you’ll ever taste. Yet people have long valued it. Not for its flavor, but for its healing properties. 

Known botanically as Momordica charantia, cundeamor is a climbing vine related to pumpkins, cucumbers, and squash. When fully ripe, the green fruit turns bright orange and splits open to reveal seeds surrounded by brilliant red pulp.

Originally from Africa, bitter melon later spread to Asia, where it was domesticated, before becoming part of traditional medicine in Mexico. 

For generations, cundeamor has been used to treat diabetes and dysentery. The leaves are brewed into a tea for inflammation, constipation, and other digestive complaints. Traditional healers used the leaves and fruit to treat wounds, burns, and skin infections. Even the root is considered an aphrodisiac.

The fruit gets its sharp bitterness from naturally occurring compounds, including momordicin. It also contains charantin and polypeptide-P – often called “plant insulin” – compounds associated with blood sugar regulation and insulin-like activity. 

The fruit is also rich in vitamin C and antioxidants that help fight inflammation and protect cells from damage.

Although technically a fruit, in the kitchen, it’s cooked like a vegetable. Cundeamor is stuffed, stir-fried, pickled, or blended into juice. Soaking the slices in salt water first cuts some of the bitterness.

Please note: bitter melon can lower blood sugar and may interact with diabetes medications. It should not replace prescribed treatment and should be avoided during pregnancy.

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Feria Nacional Potosina (FENAPO) – August 7–30, San Luis Potosí
One of Mexico's largest state fairs, FENAPO combines free concerts, cultural events, and family attractions over three weeks. This year's diverse musical lineup ranges from Mexican favorites to international headliners, including Katy Perry and Mötley Crüe. More info here.

Feria Nacional del Cobre 2025 – August 9–17, Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacán
The National Hammered Copper Competition is the highlight of the annual Feria Nacional del Cobre.  Master artisans compete with handcrafted copper works ranging from cookware and tableware to jewelry, sculptures, and decorative pieces. The festival also features live hammering demonstrations, artisan markets, parades, and cultural performances. More info here.

Feria del Elote de Tesistán – August 12–17, Tesistán, Zapopan, Jalisco
Tesistán's annual corn festival celebrates one of the area's most important crops. Try traditional elotes, esquites, and inventive corn-based dishes and desserts. Browse stalls selling regional crafts and local products. Live music also runs throughout the festival. More info here.

Feria del Mundo 2026 – August 14–16, Coyoacán, Mexico City
Travel the world without leaving Mexico City at this free multicultural festival. Explore food, crafts, textiles, and traditions from more than 40 countries. Watch music and dance performances throughout the day. Meet exhibitors sharing the culture and customs of their home countries. More info here.

Costumbres, Tradiciones y Gastronomía de la Sierra Gorda – August 15–16, Xichú, Guanajuato
Discover the traditions of Guanajuato’s Sierra Gorda in the mountain town of Xichú. Sample local and regional dishes and browse local artisans crafts. Music, cultural presentations, and interactive workshops highlight the region’s identity. The Gran Xichú Trail Run adds a scenic outdoor element. More info here.

Natsu Matsuri 2026 – August 15–16, Mexico City
Experience the flavors and traditions of a Japanese summer festival at the Asociación México Japonesa. Enjoy Japanese food, cultural workshops, artist presentations, and stalls selling Japanese products. The program also includes family-friendly activities. More info here.

"Ya mero"
Translation: Almost / nearly there

In Mexico, ¡Ya mero! is the classic answer when someone asks if you're almost ready.

The catch? "Almost" is wonderfully flexible. It might mean 30 seconds... or another 30 minutes.

You'll hear it from the friend who's "almost" out the door, the contractor who's "almost" finished, or your spouse who's "almost" ready.

Just don't expect ya mero to mean "right now."

Want to keep building your Spanish? Explore The Insider's Guide to Spanish Teachers in Mexico to find trusted teachers and schools personally recommended by your fellow readers.

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A: Parícutin

At approximately 4:30 p.m. on February 20, 1943, a crack opened in farmer Dionisio Pulido’s cornfield in Michoacán. Smoke and ash rose from the ground, rocks began falling, and a mound about one-and-a-half meters high appeared. Parícutin had been born.

The volcano grew with astonishing speed. Within 24 hours, it stood 30 meters high. 

By the third day, it had reached 60 meters, and by the end of its first month, 148 meters. After one year, Parícutin had risen to 336 meters—most of its eventual height of 424 meters.

Scientists and journalists rushed to Michoacán, giving researchers an unprecedented opportunity to study a volcano from the moment it emerged. Mexican and American scientists documented its development through field records, photographs, films, and eyewitness testimony.

This was the first time in modern history scientists were able to study the birth of a volcano.

Parícutin remained active for 9 years, 11 days, and 10 hours. 

Its lava traveled nearly 10 kilometers and buried the communities of Parícutin and San Juan Parangaricutiro, forcing about 2,500 people to leave the area. Remarkably, there were no direct human deaths.

The eruption ended in 1952. Today, the church tower of old San Juan Parangaricutiro still rises above the solidified lava.

Watch rare 1943 footage filmed during Parícutin's first year.

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