A few weeks ago, a new food venture opened up in downtown Xalapa, in an area of the city near the university with a high concentration of delectable cafes frequented by youthful couples Whenever anything opens in this part of town I’m excited to see what it’ll add to an already impressive culinary scene What I wasn’t expecting was for the cafe to predominantly — practically only — sell coconut-based beverages La Tierra del Coco is a boutique cafe billed as a “new tropical concept” in Veracruz’s lush capital is a local who spent the past five years studying in Mexico City where he both embraced the big city and missed the quaint tropics of his home state To understand Veracruz’s place within the sprawling context of Mexico, it’s important to know that this region has evidence of the earliest human organized existence on the continent, with a civilization in the Olmec dating back to 1200 BCE Veracruz is where the Spaniards initially landed when they reached modern-day Mexico During the Spanish colonial period, coconuts eventually made their way to eastern Mexico by entering through both coasts of Mexico around the mid-1500s Unlike the western edge of Mexico (whose Pacific shores brought imports from other parts of the globe) the coconuts in Veracruz hailed from West Africa via the Caribbean islands they’ve flourished as one of the region’s prominent crops the ever-delicious coconut hasn’t always been given its respect and proper due It is typically viewed as a roadside treat on the go or perhaps it gets incorporated into a side dish to accompany a larger plate the actual dish itself — let alone an entire cafe’s menu and purpose Imagine a panadería — with its different varieties of breads in an assortment of sizes There are the basic offerings: freshly poured coconut water in a ready-made to-go cup for convenience There’s also prechopped coconut prepared daily (and iron branded by the workers across the counter with a La Tierra de el Coco logo) Though I love coconut water as much as anyone else it’s the other stuff that makes me giddy: 100% vegan coconut ice cream Gratis toppings include shredded and candied coconut dehydrated coconut strips and peanut crumbles The scoops are gratuitously large and the prices generously low the tiny shop provides a variety of other coconut-based goods: chile de cacahuates with coconut oil and coconut bits mixed in (the coconut flavor is subtle but adds a refreshing touch to the thick spice); coconut-wax candles ; coconut soap; coconut toothpaste; coconut bowls and spoons; coconut flour; coconut sugar; even coconut deodorant — that must smell like coconut Everything is made locally for the shop in partnership with nearby artisans On a humid, steamy day in Xalapa — of which, due to climate change and dangerously rampant deforestation there is more heat here than ever — nothing really beats strolling down the block to get a scoop of coconut ice cream and sip on cold coconut water on a breezy covered patio surrounded by greenery Though coconut treats remain around the city and state in other forms (mostly at the parks where coqueros gather to chop coconuts on the spot where coconut candies can occasionally be had) I haven’t seen anything quite like La Tierre de el Coco elsewhere in Mexico Yet another reason Veracruz’s culinary offerings are worthy of more attention you owe it to yourself to check this place out Alan Chazaro is the author of “This Is Not a Frank Ocean Cover Album,” “Piñata Theory” and “Notes From the Eastern Span of the Bay Bridge” (Ghost City Press He is a graduate of June Jordan’s Poetry for the People program at UC Berkeley and a former Lawrence Ferlinghetti Fellow at the University of San Francisco Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC Chedraui currently accounts for 19.3% of national grocery market sales white and orange letters and logo of a young family strollering a baby forward announce themselves all over Mexico the supermarket can be found in 25 of Mexico’s 31 states under a variety of iterations: the more affordably-priced Super Chedraui grocery and department store Tienda Chedraui small and often self-service Chedraui Supercito and Chedraui Selecto Chedraui has even existed in parts of the United States Southwest under the monikers El Super and Fiesta Mart they could be found on what is now the corner of Xalapeños Ilustres and Carrillo Puerto the couple decided to rename their business into something more similar to what we know it as today: Casa Chedraui the original location of that Chedraui no longer exists Flatiron-esque building is now occupied by a variety of small clothing stores and food businesses Chedraui’s first expansion didn’t occur until 1961 34 years after his parents’ store first opened Lázaro and Ana’s son Antonio Chedraui Caram assisted in shepherding the business into the future by launching a supermarket known as Almacenes Chedraui a Facebook group dedicated to preserving local history Lucio was one of the first buildings to use escalators in Veracruz’s capital Grupo Chedraui slowly jettisoned former parts of its business plan over the years: the auto services and large department store offerings a recognizable chain store throughout Mexico in its own right Chedraui went from being a regional chain to a national outlet in 2005 when they attempted their entry into Mexico City a similarly-sized grocery market from northern Mexico that went on to gain a majority of Mexico City’s clientele Chedraui has been a mainstay throughout the nation as a go-to shopping option for families For most of my life visiting my extended relatives in Xalapa I’ve always assumed that Chedraui — both as a brand and as a family — were as integrated everywhere in Mexico as they are here I didn’t realize that their presence and familiarity was extra apparent in Xalapa the large home that the Chedraui family still owns in the city is converted into a nativity scene It’s customary to drive through the upscale neighborhood of Las Animas to see what the Chedrauis have set up and to enjoy the ostentatious architecture and lake views in the neighborhood My aunt claims that the family’s Christmas decorations keep expanding and taking up more lawn space year by year; this past year they even incorporated a small portion of the neighborhood’s lake 72% of Mexicans reported spending up to two hours at the supermarket per trip That tends to mean strong associations with these stores In Spanish Victor Muro Velásquez, a respected Mexican lighting engineer known for his work on Alfonso Cuarón's Oscar-winning film "Roma" (2018) was found dismembered in two separate locations shocking the film industry and the general public alike Authorities have apprehended a suspect believed to be connected to the crime which they have stated is linked to personal issues rather than organized crime Muro's death has left a significant void in the Mexican film industry He had an extensive career that spanned several decades contributing to substantial productions like "The Crime of Father Amaro" (2002) by Carlos Carrera and "The Sons of the Jaguar" (2019) by Arturo Sánchez del Villar His work on" Roma," which won several Academy Awards elevated his industry status and highlighted his cinematography expertise "Muro Velásquez" worked on other titles such as "Cero y van 4" (2004) and "Estoy todo lo iguana que se puede" (2022) #VíctorMuro fue asesinado en eracruz, fue reconocido por su colaboraci{on en la pel{icula #Roma de #alfonsocuarón Muro's dismembered remains were discovered on October 7 Authorities reported that one of the suspects was an acquaintance of the victim confirmed that a suspect has been detained and investigations are ongoing to clarify the motives behind the brutal crime A connection to organized crime has been ruled out Governor García's statements regarding Muro's death have sparked outrage on social media with many users accusing him of not taking Muro's profession into consideration in light of the heinous nature of the crime The remarks have been interpreted as insensitive El horrorAsesinan y descuartizan en #Xalapa a Víctor Muro Velásquez, ingeniero de iluminación que participó en Roma y el Crimen del Padre Amaro...Pero para Cuitláhuac García lo más importante era aclarar que "no es cineasta, es el que se encargaba de la iluminación" pic.twitter.com/QY6N6sj3n9 As the investigation progressed, authorities were led to Poeta Jesús Díaz Street, near the intersection with 5 de Febrero Avenue, where traces of blood were found in a room. At this location, detectives discovered a human torso and head. Reports indicate that Muro Velásquez had rented this place along with three other individuals with whom he was reportedly planning to make a short film. Three suspects were initially brought in for questioning, but only one remains in custody, with evidence reportedly suggesting his involvement in the case. Beyond his work on film sets, Muro had recently arrived in Xalapa to teach a workshop on cinematographic lighting at a private school—an endeavor he often engaged in to share his knowledge and experience with aspiring filmmakers. Aluxes, the production company that had worked with Muro Velásquez, expressed its condolences and lamented his untimely death in a public statement. His colleagues and friends will remember him not only for his professional excellence but also for his human qualities and the mentorship he provided on set. © 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. documenting the disappearance of journalists in Veracruz from 2010 to 2016 © the artist courtesy of the artist and Patricia Conde Galería the port of Veracruz and its neighbouring city of Xalapa were the gateways to New Spain all moved through this once mighty port on the Gulf of Mexico and the region’s misty inland rainforests to reach Mexico City the state of Veracruz is at the heart of the Mexican oil industry and maintains a privileged position in the country’s relationship to Cuba and the Caribbean while facing some of the highest rates of crime in the nation for kidnappings The setting of Fernanda Melchor’s unsettling blockbuster novel Hurricane Season (2017) Veracruz will have pride of place during this year’s Mexico City Art Week placing the state’s unique art scene firmly in the limelight A show at Muac explores the work of Myra Landau, who lived in Xalapa, including Ritmo de primavera (1974) Photo: Francisco Kochen; courtesy of MUAC “The general aim is to de-centre the contents of the fair and to display work being done by groups of artists and curators in the states,” says Zazil Barba, one of Salón Acme’s co-founders. news10 February 2022Music festivals, mezcal bars and moderate price points: Zona Maco spearheads lively marquee art week in Mexico CityThe week’s calendar of events is chock-full of parties and openings news8 February 2025At Mexico City’s Material and Salón Acme fairs, artists go out on a limbThe long-running satellite fairs—which champion experimental emerging and artist-run spaces—abound with adventurous works Prerace favorite Sovereignty appeared in position to produce another thrilling victorious stretch run in the March 29 $1.02 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park WinStar Farm, CHC, and Cold Press Racing's Tappan Street made his move under Luis Saez heading into the far turn and took the lead entering the stretch before charging to a 1 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds The Florida Derby awarded Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis to the top five finishers started for the first time since finishing second in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Feb 'Does he know enough?'" said trainer Brad Cox I think that put him in the race and really put him in a great position." ran four weeks after capturing the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Winner of last year's two-turn Street Sense Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs was carrying Manny Franco because regular rider Junior Alvarado had been sidelined with a shoulder injury suffered last weekend Sovereignty captured both of his two wins by storming in the stretch to overtake the leader and cross the line first WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden said he was not overly concerned at seeing Bill Mott-trained Sovereignty appearing behind Tappan Street in the lane "I thought we were traveling better," Walden said "But Sovereignty's a very good horse He's going to be a tough foe at a mile and a quarter it'll be a good race (in the Kentucky Derby)." Saez said he noticed who was trailing his colt "I saw (Sovereignty) and I let my horse go a little bit more and he gave me a good turn of foot," the jockey said "When he came to the top of the stretch I knew it was going to be tough to catch (us)." ridden by Mike Smith and trained by Bob Baffert Neoequos and rider Edgard Zayas edged ahead of Madaket Road entering the stretch before Tappan Street overtook the leaders and ran to victory in a winning time of 1:49.27 Tappan Street paid $6.80 to win, followed by Sovereignty, Neoequos, Madaket Road, and Disruptor The whole way I had a lot of horse," Saez said "We knew the speed was inside and we followed the speed Smith sounded impressed by the colts who finished ahead of Madaket Road those two or three horses in front of us are serious "I could hear him and I could feel him whose colt broke from the outside post in the 10-horse field "This doesn't have to be his (Sovereignty's) best race 'Maybe that's a good thing.' You don't want their best race before the big event but I think the fact that he ran very big last time and ran very well this time I don't think the fact that he didn't win doesn't mean he didn't run a good race." Tappan Street was purchased as a yearling for $1 million at the 2023 edition of Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale by CHC Walden said he wanted to name the colt after Siena Farm's owner Anthony Manganaro, who died in August 2023 just two weeks after the colt was purchased the connections chose to name the colt after the street on which Manganaro grew up "Into Mischief's been really good to us," Walden said The kind of horse that we envisioned being able to win races like this." the seven Florida Derby participants who were victorious in the Run for the Roses also captured the Florida Derby Harlan's Holiday, 199922s, SW, $3,632,6641,290 f, 107 SW, 1.53 AEI Harlan, 198930s, SW, $403,17499 f, 6 SW, 2.78 AEI Christmas in Aiken, 19926s, wnr, $31,62813 f, 12 r, 9 w, 1 SW Leslie's Lady, 199628s, SW, $187,01414 f, 10 r, 8 w, 3 SW Tricky Creek, 198637s, SW, $873,288407 f, 20 SW, 0.95 AEI Crystal Lady, 19906s, wnr, $13,49112 f, 12 r, 9 w, 1 SW Distorted Humor, 199323s, SW, $769,9641,934 f, 184 SW, 1.82 AEI Forty Niner, 198519s, SW, $2,726,000920 f, 57 SW, 1.97 AEI Danzig's Beauty, 19878s, SW, $205,80614 f, 8 r, 6 w, 2 SW Our Khrysty, 200618s, SW, $313,26010 f, 9 r, 6 w, 3 SW Newfoundland, 200022s, SW, $677,534364 f, 13 SW, 1.19 AEI The Hess Express, 199813s, wnr, $154,99313 f, 12 r, 9 w, 4 SW Sire: INTO MISCHIEF, b, 2005. Raced 2 yrs, 6 sts, 3 wins, $597,080. Won CashCall Futurity (G1), Damascus S; 2nd Malibu S (G1), San Vicente S (G2), Hollywood Prevue S (G3). Lifetime: 14 crops, 1,777 foals, 1,438 rnrs (81%), 1,041 wnrs (59%), 321 2yo wnrs (18%), 186 sw (10%), 2.01 AEI, 1.83 CI, 966 sale yrlgs, avg $303,587, 3.8 TNA. 1st dam: Virginia Key, ch, 2015. Bred by Blue Heaven Farm (Ky.). Raced 1 yr, 4 sts, 2 wins, $86,810. 3rd Gazelle S (G2). Dam of 3 named foals, 2 rnrs, 2 wnrs, 1 sw. 2021: Distorted d'Oro, b f, by Medaglia d'Oro. Raced 2 yrs, 8 sts, 3 wins, $98,500. 3rd Searching S. ($235,000 keesep yrlg; $325,000 obsapr 2yo). 2022: TAPPAN STREET, b c, by Into Mischief. ($1,000,000 ftsaug yrlg). At 3: Won Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1), 2nd Holy Bull S (G3). 2023: Weekend Glory, ch c, by Curlin. Unraced. ($1,400,000 keesep yrlg). * Statistical data included with this Stakes Recap is compiled though the day of the race, Saturday, March 29, 2025. XALAPA (LNBP) - Halcones Xalapa moved joint-top of the Mexican LNBP overall standings after joining Lobos Grises on a 19-5 record. \r\n\r\nOn Friday, Andrew Stoglin Lee's side saw off Venados 90-80 with 21 points by Victor Manuel Avila. \r\n\r\nThen on Saturday, Michael Johnson top-scored with 27 points to help Halcones Xalapa thrash Bravos 106-77 and move top of ... HomeNews MEX - Halcones Xalapa reclaim share of leadFIBA BasketballMEX - Halcones Xalapa reclaim share of leadXALAPA (LNBP) - Halcones Xalapa moved joint-top of the Mexican LNBP overall standings after joining Lobos Grises on a 19-5 record Andrew Stoglin Lee's side saw off Venados 90-80 with 21 points by Victor Manuel Avila Michael Johnson top-scored with 27 points to help Halcones Xalapa thrash Bravos 106-77 and move top of .. Two UNO students were awarded the Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant to support their summer 2024 study abroad experiences Hear more about their time in Mexico and France a sophomore majoring in Biology with minors in Spanish for Health Sciences embarked on an enriching journey to Xalapa as a participant in the 2024 Spanish Language in Xalapa Global Course Her aspirations to become a Pediatric Physician Assistant motivated her to immerse herself in a Spanish-speaking environment to better serve a diversified patient base "The 2024 summer study abroad program helped me to gain further confidence in my language skills and enables me to better understand and treat Spanish-speaking patients," Madison shared she is dedicated to providing high-quality care and this experience has significantly enhanced her ability to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients Madison's time in Xalapa was marked by cultural immersion She stayed with a host family and took classes at Universidad Veracruzana and workshops in Salsa and Mexican Folklore dancing She highlighted the diverse experiences she encountered: "In between school and immersed myself in the Spanish language and culture." "Our host family ran out of water for a week.. and I had to describe words to others instead of looking them up when I didn't know them," Madison recounted she cherished memorable moments such as kayaking and scuba diving in Veracruz is pursuing a triple concentration in Business Finance with secondary focuses in Marketing and Management Her passion for the financial sector led her to the 2024 Management in France Global Course where she studied French business culture in Paris and Dijon for two weeks "I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad through the ‘Management in France’ Global Course with fellow UNO students," Lauryn stated "One of the highlights was seeing how France’s business culture differs from that of the U.S I was particularly impressed by their emphasis on work-life balance." allowing Lauryn to explore France's rich cultural heritage "Alongside engaging lectures and insightful business visits A personal highlight for Lauryn was visiting the Eiffel Tower "I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity provided by UNO as experiencing life and culture beyond America is so important," she added Celebrating Global Learning and Cultural Exchange Both Madison and Lauryn's experiences underscore the transformative power of study abroad programs The Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant enabled these students to step out of their comfort zones and enhance their academic and professional skills Madison's adventure in Mexico and Lauryn's exploration of France reflect the importance of global learning in today’s interconnected world Their stories inspire other students to pursue similar opportunities broadening their horizons and fostering a deeper understanding of diverse cultures Learn more about the Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant at: https://www.phikappaphi.org/grants-awards/study-abroad Learn more about opportunities to study abroad through UNO at: https://www.unomaha.edu/international-studies-and-programs/study-abroad/index.php Emily Krueger, International Programsekrueger@unomaha.edu • 402.554.5933 International Programs Print XALAPA vinegar-laced scent of pickled jalapeños — and their little-known origin story — has been lingering under my nose I grew up with immigrant parents in California and at any gathering chiles en escabeche were as commonplace as bottles of tequila and Squirt to make palomas that I realized that my parents’ hometown has played a major role in the history of the pickled jalapeño My curiosity was ignited when my mother casually mentioned that the jalapeño is from Xalapa since the power of passionate exaggeration is something many Mexican moms have mastered Neither she nor any of my close family members had ever mentioned the connection before Saying the jalapeño is from your hometown is like claiming the Aztec pyramids were first discovered in your backyard Go to any sports game at a North American arena and you’ll find them on top of cheesy nachos Walk into just about any taqueria around the world and sliced pickled jalapeños are a likely complimentary side Are jalapeños really from Xalapa (formerly spelled Jalapa) It turns out that the plump green chile has indeed been marinating in this unlikely mountain-ringed region of southeastern Mexico for generations literally means “from Xalapa,” where the chile was largely cultivated because of the area’s fertile land Its history here is steeped in vinegar and spices Jalapeño means “from Jalapa,” or Xalapa where the chile has traditionally been cultivated (Alan Chazaro) A majestic placeThe capital of the state of Veracruz Xalapa (with a relatively small population of 488,000) is most known for its bohemian culture and verdant outdoors colonial city hidden near the base of a volcanic peak it’s easily overshadowed by the sprawling metropolis of nearby Veracruz one of the largest and most important ports on the Gulf of Mexico The city of Veracruz is home to the more famous son jarocho musical style (as in “La Bamba”) and such culinary traditions as pescado en escabeche and ceviche But Xalapa is a majestic place in its own right And despite being overlooked sometimes by outsiders Xalapa has made an outsize contribution to Mexico’s culinary reputation: the canned jalapeño Even modern Xalapeños seem to have forgotten — and some have never even known — about the pickled jalapeño factory that once thrived at the center of town This is all that remains of the former La Jalapena factory (spelling later changed to “La Xalapena,” which you can still see faintly printed on the walls) in downtown Xalapa The mayor at the time officially changed the city’s spelling from J to X in 1974 (Alan Chazaro) I wouldn’t have known either and via a network of WhatsApp group chats and Facebook direct messages I learned about the rise of jalapeño pickling in Xalapa Food The 10,000-year history of our favorite Super Bowl dip Jimenez Guerra’s specialty would eventually become one of the world’s spiciest addictions he trademarked his pickled jalapeños brand under the name of La Jalapeña and began to pack his chiles for public consumption you had to live in or visit Xalapa to encounter Jimenez Guerra’s style of chiles en escabeche Jimenez Guerra’s company quickly expanded and opened a canning factory in 1928 becoming one of the city’s most prominent enterprises An original label for La Jalapeña (Alan Chazaro) “That factory was truly emblematic of Xalapa in those times,” says Jimenez Guerra’s granddaughter buying a gift box from La Jalapeña was a sign of your visit to our city,” she says “After the 1940s, my family stopped using the heavy-duty process, and the brand became more personalized,” Jimenez Barradas says. “You would bring jalapeños as a gift to give your family, each batch carefully made.” We shared our favorite Cal-Mex restaurants in L.A Here are Times readers’ favorite places around the city for chile rellenos In the long run, however, it was an approach that didn’t work financially for the company. At least partly due to a shifting economic landscape in Mexico, La Jalapeña was sold in 1995. The factory closed its doors two years later. But make no mistake: This well-known Mexican specialty is as definitively tied to Xalapa as tequila is to Tequila in Jalisco state. You can’t separate the flavor and the tradition from its distinct point of origin. Yet, unlike Tequila, a pueblo that has capitalized on the agave-based liquor market, Xalapa has never cashed in on the jalapeño. My tío Enrique Chazaro, who grew up in the 1970s in Xalapa, recalls La Jalapeña’s significance while driving me around the city (and reminiscing about a time when every child in Xalapa would eat sandwiches that were nothing more than cheese and sliced jalapeños on a roll). At the site of the former factory in the city’s bustling downtown, an empty parking lot and corner store remain. There’s a barely discernible hint of what once stood there: La Xalapeña. The name is faded on the building’s dilapidated façade. (The city officially changed its name to an “X” spelling in 1974; La Jalapeña did so too to reflect then-Mayor Ruben Pabello Rojas’ mandate.) “A traditional jar of jalapeños from La Jalapeña had vinegar, garlic, spices, onions, carrots and leaves of laurel,” my tío says. “I remember that smell every day when I was growing up.” Los Angeles may be the best city in which to sip this complex agave spirit — but when does it become too much of a good thing There’s a taqueria in Xalapa that still bears the name from a former era My tío took me there as part of his ad hoc tour informing me that it’s where you can get what he considers the best tacos de papa the taqueria would sell freshly packaged jars of jalapeños from the once-neighboring factory is a vestige of La Jalapeña’s once glorious presence in the city And though no one thinks about Xalapa anymore when they eat jalapeños Pickled jalapeños from local food truck Carnitas El Momo (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times; Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) Somewhere a hardworking cook is serving Mexican food on a street corner a torta de tinga de pollo or a supremely sized burrito de carnitas Then the essential question is asked — “¿Picante?” — with the offering of a small bag of pickled chiles For more than a century jalapeños en escabeche have become standard with Mexican food The jalapeño has fed my understanding of the wonders of a uniquely Mexican — and Xalapeño — experience Chazaro is a poet and writer based in the Bay Area and author of “Piñata Theory” and “This Is Not a Frank Ocean Cover Album.” World & Nation Subscribe for unlimited access Site Map Confession: If you’d asked me a couple months ago to name the capital of the Mexican state of Veracruz I now know why some travelers rave about this mostly under-the-radar tourism destination Located less than four hours by first-class bus from Mexico City and about 90 minutes from the city of Veracruz Xalapa was founded in 1313 when four indigenous villages united Spanish explorer Hernan Cortes arrived in 1519 but the town didn’t play a major role in the Spanish colonial empire until the 18th century and in 1791 King Carlos IV of Spain declared it a town it’s a hub for higher education and culture and serves as an ideal base for exploring nearby towns and natural attractions It’s easy for visitors to immerse themselves in Xalapa’s historic ambiance while wandering its hilly Xalapa has no central “zocalo” (public square) but it’s graced with multiple verdant parks and impressive architecture has an oddly sloped floor that requires visitors to walk slightly uphill to get to the altar (whether that’s the result of geographic shifting or psychologically manipulative architectural design is unclear) soaring araucaria trees brought from Chile cast shade over Parque Juarez By far, the biggest single attraction in Xalapa is the Museo de Antropologia de Xalapa (Xalapa Anthropology Museum), the second most important facility of its kind in all of Mexico, after Mexico City’s immense Museo Nacional de Antropologia (National Museum of Anthropology) the Xalapa facility consists of a strikingly contemporary edifice that houses an extensive collection of centuries-old largely from the Olmec and Totonac civilizations This part of Veracruz state is also known for its local flavors; it’s one of Mexico’s three main coffee-growing regions and is also home to its own version of mole (Puebla’s mole poblano sauce may get more press but Xalapa’s mole verde is a delight for the senses is that the destination doesn’t make a bigger deal of its role as the birthplace of the world-famous jalapeno pepper (“jalapeno” is also what you call someone from Xalapa) It seems like the destination is ripe — if you’ll pardon the awful pun — for an entrepreneurial type to sweep in and set up jalapeno-themed restaurants, foodie tours, tastings, cooking classes and shops laden with spicy ephemera. Until then, it’s up to travelers to find their own ways to sample and celebrate the locally grown product. We enjoyed tasty jalapeno dishes at Tierra Luna a cultural center and restaurant that hosts guest chefs and varying menus throughout the year Xalapa is a convenient gateway for side trips to several interesting towns and naturally beautiful attractions — most notably, two designated Pueblos Magicos (Mexico’s “Magical Towns” is a program that recognizes smaller towns around Mexico with historic and/or cultural importance) Both destinations — Coatepec and Xico — are close enough for a quick day trip but may be worth considering for overnight stays which is less than 30 minutes by car from Xalapa has a charming downtown area with lots of arts and crafts shops and travelers can also visit coffee plantations and even an orchid museum The town’s centerpiece is the colorful San Jeronimo Church which was built between 1684 and 1743 and features architectural elements meant to evoke serpentine curves (in a nod to the town’s name a Nahuatl word that translates roughly to “snake hill”) Just a few minutes beyond Coatepec is Xico, a colonial town that attracts both nature and culture lovers. A must-see here is the Museo del Danzante Xiqueno— the Museum of the Xiqueno Dancer which refers to local residents who dress in colorful costumes to dance through the town during the annual patron saint festival which takes place (during non-pandemic times) in the month of July About 10 minutes by car from downtown Xico lie the region’s much-photographed natural attractions: the Texolo and La Monja waterfalls I felt a bit like I was entering Jurassic Park as I crossed a narrow footbridge and descended a sometimes-steep trail through lush vegetation to view the gorgeous Texolo waterfall La Monja falls is more easily accessible along a more even trail and provides wonderful photo opportunities Another noteworthy day trip from Xalapa is Hacienda El Lencero a former hacienda that dates to 1525 and is named for a soldier who traveled with Hernan Cortes with authentic furnishings and colorful gardens My traveling partner and I learned a valuable lesson after visits to the waterfalls and the hacienda however: If you’re headed outside the city of Xalapa or the nearby towns and are not taking a guided tour be sure to arrange for a driver to provide return transportation We ended up having to walk a couple miles in both cases since taxis aren’t easily found outside the heavily populated areas though; the region’s supremely comfortable climate and beautiful scenery make it a pleasure to walk and wander the city of Xalapa and the state of Veracruz were following pandemic-era safety protocols social distancing is encouraged and some facilities and attractions may be closed or operating with capacity limits Temperature checks and hand sanitizer are standard practices at the entrances of nearly every major attraction and business Be sure to check individual policies before planning a visit to any attraction The DetailsVeracruz Secretary of Tourism Copyright © 2025 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000 KQED Live Events PRX Podcast Garage Events Events Around the Bay Area Member Benefits with KQED Live Videos from KQED LiveWatch recordings of recent KQED Live events Featured That's My WordAn ongoing exploration of Bay Area hip-hop history See Senior Director of TV Programming Meredith Speight’s recommendations from this month’s KQED 9 Watch recordings of recent KQED Live events Support KQED by using your donor-advised fund to make a charitable gift for over a year; he's inviting Bay Area artists to join him as part of a new residency (Alan Chazaro)“Xalapa is a magical portal of colors It felt like my soul knew it was right at home.” It’s not every day that a Bay Area poet decides to visit Xalapa. I would know. It’s my parents’ hometown where my mother and grandfather currently live I’ve been there many times throughout my life and have always enjoyed its quaint historical vibe with narrow cobblestone roads But I’ve never encountered Bay Area artists there which was known as a grassroots hub for diverse voices until it shuttered about a year ago I read my work at several of their events.) he is now working down there to connect others through his growing network of local artists — and he has a slate of Bay Area writers muralists and multidisciplinary creators who are just beginning to enter Xalapa’s “magical portal.” I caught up with Fowler at his artist compound “Consider it your second home,” he told me as we strolled through a wondrous garden where he hosts events you can take some from here,” he said The thing about Fowler’s vision is that it doesn’t function like a simple Airbnb might It’s an integrated cultural exchange in which Fowler partners with artists from the region and fosters an international dialogue through collaborations and events which used to be located less than a 10 minute walk from the residency and offered an array of beverages and snacks He is currently in the process of moving the cafe inside of Huerto to give visiting artists an on-site dining option Huerto has high ceilings and earth tones that radiate a modern The lower portion of the living space has a total of five rooms with Fowler’s living quarters located beyond the courtyard’s garden I met two local artists lounging in the outdoor patio discussing their ideas in Spanish before switching over to English to introduce themselves to me It’s a bicultural space where artists of diverse backgrounds can intermingle and inform each other’s practices It also offers respite and privacy for those in need of a fresh environment Visiting artists from Northern California include Tempestt (who recently published her debut book with City Lights) Keenan Norris (a novelist who received the 2022 Northern California Book Award) Keith (a San Francisco-based poet) and Adrian Arias (a Bay Area writer This summer, Ayodele Nzinga (Oakland’s poet laureate) and Tongo Eisen-Martin (San Francisco’s poet laureate) have signed up for visits Nzinga is planning an anthology titled The Bridge in which she will gather poems from authors based in both the Bay Area and Xalapa And it’s not only for Bay Area artists Huerto is also a way-point for local Xalapeños and Mexican nationals from other parts of the country Huerto’s inaugural resident was Javier Peñalosa a screenwriter and children’s book author from Mexico City “The space is genuinely tranquil and inspiring,” Peñalosa wrote in Spanish on Huerto’s website “It’s like an oasis in the heart of Xalapa,” For first-timers in Xalapa — a small city that has virtually no foreigner presence, unlike Mexico City with its influx of U.S. transplants — the scenery and ambiance can overwhelm with its quiet positivity and reflective possibility There’s a certain synergy that artists can tap into in this off-the-radar destination whose population is slightly larger than Oakland’s Xalapa is ensconced in verdant greenery and often clouded and foggy like London but with much warmer weather and tree-lined avenues where friendly women sell banana leaf-wrapped tamales It’s the kind of unknown dimension that you might stumble into as a U.S citizen and return from with an altered sense of gratitude I walked out to the courtyard after dinner and stood in the lovely mist and appreciated the way the lamplight fell over the compound walls and into the courtyard tropical scene,” Norris shared in a testimonial “It really did feel like a caesura in time itself Huerto de Osos Perezosos (located in Xalapa’s historic center) is available for seven-day visits with varying price ranges Xalapa is roughly four and a half hours from Mexico City’s easternmost airport via bus and one hour via taxi from Veracruz’s international airport Julia Martínez was washing her two children when she turned on the tap She did her best to get rid of the soap and then used drinking water from the house’s 20-liter (5.3-gallon) jug Julia discovered that her neighborhood in Xalapa received tap water only twice a week as a result of tandeos a local government program that rotates water distribution among different areas of the city throughout the week Water deprivation has been particularly dire between April and October 2023 Mexico itself is facing water shortages in 30 of its 32 states forcing residents to purchase and recycle water postpone baths and protest against authorities Like many other Mexicans facing water shortages Martinez’s family has decided to skip showers recycle water when washing or cleaning and buy water when they run out They do not have 2,256 pesos ($132.23) to buy a water tank to save 1,100 liters (290 gallons) By 2050, between 40% and 80% of Mexico’s population will live with high water stress, according to the World Resources Institute The country is running out of time to reverse a water crisis that will only worsen in the coming years professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and a climate change expert He says this water crisis has been forgotten for more than 50 years causing a 70% decrease in water per capita at the national level In late July 2023, almost half of Mexico was experiencing moderate to severe droughts, according to Conagua Experts have been blaming climate change and extreme heat for the country’s ongoing water crisis which has allowed many companies to pay what they want for unlimited water use without considering the population and the use that companies make of it is not mentioned; for example “There is a serious conflict of interest in not addressing the situation urgently the economic and political situation,” Ordoñez Díaz tells Mongabay He attributes the worsening water scarcity to the government’s negligence in enforcing laws such as the Official Mexican Standards (NOM) — technical regulations to guarantee the conservation safety and quality of water use — and citizens’ unwillingness to recognize the environmental risk of water shortages Ordoñez Díaz has been warning about climate change as he witnessed threats against fellow activists “Companies work well where there is adequate legislation on natural resources and there is an opportunity for looting.” according to Xalapa’s Municipal Water and Sanitation Commission (CMAS) The commission has not responded to Mongabay’s request for information says Xalapa´s water shortage is mainly due to the loss of coffee plantations and 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) of mesophyll mountain forest a fog-rich ecosystem with an essential role in the water cycle Clearings began in 1992 to make way for development in the region insufficient rainwater collection and water body pollution has led to longer water crises in recent years “The Pixquiac River water levels have decreased in the last 18 years due to the diversion of dams that the CMAS built to store water and distribute it to neighborhoods in Xalapa,” Aranda Delgado says Deprived of water for about seven months in 2023 residents have suffered from a lack of water for up to two weeks and the only way to get a response from the authorities has been through demonstrations “We must protest to demand water from CMAS it is often not enough for the whole neighborhood We are not the only ones who have protested,” says Armida Ramírez a health worker and local resident of Cienaga In June, residents of Banderilla municipality blocked the federal highway. When the mayor, David San Gabriel Bonilla, arrived he explained to them that the drying of the Sedeño River was responsible for water shortages and assured them that authorities were looking for solutions the mayor sued some protesters for throwing eggs at him they were able to drink water from the springs but they were told to stop during a local town meeting where the mayor explained that a drainage pipe was polluting the water fill the water tanker and sell the water from house to house “You can see queues of trucks with tankers to fill and sell This whole situation can create more diseases,” she tells Mongabay Xalapa is known for its cold winter weather, fog and chipi-chipi, a faint rain that used to appear twice daily. However, the warming climate has pushed clouds and precipitation to form 200-400 meters (650-1,300 feet) higher in the atmosphere compared with the 1980s Ordoñez Díaz and Aranda Delgado agree that the 1992 change to the Constitution to allow privatization of ejidos — communal land mainly used for agriculture — to make way for property development has led to an increase in the local population while water sources have remained the same Deforestation for residential buildings and infrastructure has also increased “There is a gluttony of construction and real estate companies.” Real estate development in Mexico has promoted the deforestation of 1.5 million hectares (3.7 million acres) per year since 1992, says Ordoñez Díaz. At the same time, the country has lost the use and customs of traditional vegetation cover, such as milpas and home gardens which have low impact on natural ecosystems changes in Mexico’s climate and water supply have occurred due to deforestation of the highlands loss of restoration areas and urbanization creating an ecocide by not respecting minimum water balances caused mainly by real estate development,” he tells Mongabay via video call “People have to store water in whatever container they can find which favors the proliferation of the mosquito that transmits dengue fever which has caused countless cases in Xalapa,” explains Ramirez Health issues are compounded by economic ones Months of water shortages have forced people to purchase drinking water with prices sometimes doubling in shops on the outskirts of the city “We were used to having tandeos in the summer but now it seems that the problem is permanent the municipality doesn’t inform us that we won’t have water Xalapa’s water shortage has become a typical situation in other parts of Mexico too. In 2022 only 78 million of Mexico’s more than 120 million inhabitants had daily access to water at home; 6 million people didn’t have access to drinking water and 11 million had no access to sanitation The same report states that 71% of the national territory has high or very high water stress Ordoñez Diaz warns that water shortages in Mexican cities will likely increase “There is a negative balance in the water that we use and receive jeopardizing the development of life ecosystems and any industry that uses little water,” he tells Mongabay Rodríguez Curiel says the lack of water will only lead to more violent and frequent protests Ordoñez Díaz insists on the importance of paying and working with the communities already providing environmental services such as water harvesting “We need to start at the local level to increase action and monitoring but corruption and conflicts of interest with developers or beer or soft drink companies make this very difficult but a respectful understanding of how to develop ourselves to co-create Banner image: The Pixquiac River has been monitored by Global Water Watch researchers and local communities for 12 years FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] Curlin tops the 2025 Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa stallion roster leads the Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa stallion roster with a fee of $225,000. The sire of three Eclipse Award winners last year, he has three grade 1 winners and five grade 1 performers in 2024. He leads all sires with eight Breeders' Cup wins, and that accomplishment will be celebrated in the November issue of BloodHorse Magazine. The $225,000 fee for 2025 is down from the $250,000 fee for the 2024 season and matches his 2023 fee His 89 yearlings averaged more than $270,000 led by a $1.5 million Fasig-Tipton yearling—the highest price paid for a yearling by a freshman sire this year. Sign up for BloodHorse Daily Army Mule boasts 10% stakes winners to starters lifetime. XALAPA (Liga Nacional) - With a father who played professional baseball, Victor Mariscal Mata admits he could easily have ended up hitting home runs instead of shooting hoops. \r\n\r\nMariscal's father, Alfredo, played for Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1960s, but he could not transmit the affection for the game to his children with all the four of them opting to ... HomeNews MEX - Mariscal steps up to the plate for Xalapa FIBA BasketballMEX - Mariscal steps up to the plate for Xalapa XALAPA (Liga Nacional) - With a father who played professional baseball Victor Mariscal Mata admits he could easily have ended up hitting home runs instead of shooting hoops played for Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1960s but he could not transmit the affection for the game to his children with all the four of them opting to .. In case you haven’t heard, Xalapa — the Athenian, if not underappreciated capital of Veracruz — is a coffee lover’s paradise. Here, a calm pace of living invites plenty of cafe sessions around a bustling historic center saturated with sprawling parks mountainous climate is ideal for coffee bean cultivation Nowhere else in Mexico will you find such a heavy concentration of Veracruz’s caffeine offerings in so many varieties as you will in this lush university town. With a gorgeous view of both Cofre de Perote and the Pico de Orizaba Of course, Xalapa’s coffee prowess doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The nearby Pueblo Mágico of Coatepec grows high-altitude coffee beans that are nationally renowned with a coffee museum that actually serves coffee to prove it Coatepec is considered by many to be the premier coffee producer in all of Mexico Not much further east, in the much-larger port city of Veracruz you’ll find legendary mainstays like El Gran Café de la Parroquia: a coffee lover’s haven that epitomizes the hot-weather region’s love for black coffee with milk Jarocho-style coffee has been popularized over the decades extending out to other states that have attempted to recreate the Veracruzan flavors Though Xalapa’s legacy cafes — La Parroquia La Estancia de los Tecajetes and Don Justo to name a few — are certainly worth visiting for their charm and traditionalism there is a notable wave of younger coffee upstarts who are making their mark here right now I’ve gone to many and taken my notes to round up my absolute favorites Here’s why Xalapa might just be the nation’s pound-for-pound coffee champ A post shared by Pera Café (@peracafemx) This is where you’ll find your favorite barista’s favorite barista hanging out The coffees here impress with their purity of flavor and delicate preparation — the proper water amounts get weighed the temperatures get carefully checked and the exact blends of chemistry evoke a sense of reverence with each sip Stroll up to the open bar or take a seat in one of Pera’s small, street-facing rooms with a view of the busy Historic Center. Their Xalapeños Ilustres is a must-try; a fizzy, caffeinated drink with a tonic base, shot of espresso and housemade agua de jamaica extract the flat white is most emblematic of Veracruz’s bygone cafe traditions with a heavenly blend of concentrated black coffee and velvety white milk The quirky art and effortlessly chill vibes — in conjunction with a large, verdant back patio — highlight this recently-opened cafe The menu includes Mexican favorites but is highlighted by contemporary takes on Veracruzan staples like panuchos veracruzanos panela-stuffed nopal huaraches and pumpkin-flower omelettes In lieu of a traditional Americano or espresso, which just about anywhere in Xalapa serves extremely well, try Fauna’s Origami V60 drip — a coffee filter popularized by 2024’s World Brewers Cup champion, Jia Ning Du-san — or a rompope-spiked latte frio an iced coffee chilled for 48 hours then infused with strawberries and raspberries the more the mashed berries at the bottom of your glass begin to pronounce themselves which surprisingly maintain every bit of their sugary punch to balance any bitterness Bright red neon signage flashing across the restored walls of this 15th-century building will alert you that you have, indeed, reached Sin Título The small and simple — if not minimal — cafe and art gallery along Belisario Domínguez is just around the bend from the city’s beautiful lakeside neighborhood I go here for a refreshing splash of cold ginger brew or chilled zarzaparrilla mixed with mineral water toss in a hefty freshly baked chocolate chip and walnut cookie or housemade hummus if you’re in search of the savory It’s often filled with students and intellectuals from the nearby university’s music and theater program — a common thread throughout Xalapa’s cafes since the state’s largest campus attracts a diverse student population from around the country The building is beautifully constructed from stone A post shared by Casa Elo (@casa_elo) As with many of the cafes located in Xalapa, Casa Elo has a vernal flair and leans towards the photogenically trendy it’s the hot spot for weekend brunch in the city with young families and cool students congregating inside its historic mansion-like space to enjoy caffeinated brews — and at later hours This is the place to go for a nice sit-down breakfast with standouts like their cafe de olla and their signature latte de mazapán a liquified play on the famously crumbly Mexican candy On the edge of Xalapa’s upscale Animas neighborhood Inspired by the third wave coffee movement in Japan which emphasizes specialty coffees and direct trade with farmers for sustainability the shop has a hip youthfulness and funky aesthetic Priding themselves on their locally grown and sourced beans From their tostado clásico to their Coatepec Honey and Cafe Lavado de San Pablo they offer education on Veracruz’s bean cultivation and are passionate advocates for informing consumers on how the local coffee ecosystem functions Extra points for the retro Super Nintendo available to play in their comfortable lounge A post shared by Emilia Café (@emilia_cafe) With two locations, Emilia has become one of my go-to spots for coffee and pastries alike. Though the cafe’s ethos is largely driven by modern design elements, Emilia maintains a hint of an Old-World, Parisian haunt. The downtown location offers a small pay and take off without ever stepping foot inside the often-crowded — albeit miniature — cafe The menu is no frills and made for the purists and traditionalists making it an ideal place to grab a smooth Americano or espresso and perhaps a lemon-zested cinnamon roll to begin your day in the City of Flowers Reformanda’s flagship cafe opened near beautiful Parque Juarez — effectively Xalapa’s Zócalo — as a noteworthy newcomer they’ve expanded to Murillo Vidal with a flat-iron style corner shop on the opposite end of downtown the highest international recognition for a coffee taster He regularly speaks on podcasts about coffee in Veracruz while also providing classes for Xalapeño javaphiles Reformanda has a constantly rotating seasonal menu But the stars of the show at “R” are the drinks: a guajillo-chile infused cold brew; a housemade rice horchata infused with cinnamon and cold brew; an organic orange juice infused with orange peels orange bitters and cold brew known as the cold brew Old Fashioned and holiday specials like the apple latte for a taste of New Year In a city as saturated with exquisite coffee as Xalapa, you sometimes have to look for spots that offer something different and unique. That’s where Dos Gardenias a recently opened vinyl record shop that serves locally-sourced coffee hacienda-like compound complete with its own garden multi-room cafe overlooking the cobblestoned avenue below The breakfast dishes are worthwhile and extremely affordable and the coffee is as good as you’ll encounter anywhere Ask the barista to toss on their favorite vinyl of choice or dig through their diverse collection and put on something yourself to start off your day Oropéndola deserves an entire spread inside a modern architecture and design magazine polished concrete and wood are a cosmopolitan wonder Known for their excellent brunches and dinners Ask for the home-brewed kombucha by the bottle if you’re in the mood for an effervescent boost which contains all the desired notes of honey you’ll snag a limited balcony seat overlooking Oropéndola’s enclosed stone patio while huddled among the rooftops clustering the tight alley below It’s also just a staircase away from the city’s most beloved Get a carajillo while you’re there — the famed espresso cocktail made with Licor 43 — and enjoy an evening with nothing to lose Alan Chazaro is the author of “This Is Not a Frank Ocean Cover Album,” “Piñata Theory” and “Notes From the Eastern Span of the Bay Bridge” (Ghost City Press Charlatan at Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa the greatest representation among his sire class peers at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale Book quality is assessed using two metrics: the Comparable Index and the Class Performance Index The CI is an earnings-based ratio similar to the Average Earnings Index but instead looks at the average earnings of the runners by other stallions that are out of the same mares bred to Charlatan The CPI indicates the racing quality of the mares as a ratio comparing the mares' collective average earnings with all other runners of the same sex running in the same country during the same years The first mares bred to Charlatan led the freshman class in both categories with a 3.09 CI and a 5.34 CPI Essential Quality's first book ranks second with a 2.64 CI and a 3.50 CPI who won the 2018 Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) and was second in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). who won the Richmond Stakes (G2) at Goodwood. Photo: Courtesy Warrendale SalesThe Charlatan colt which will be consigned as Hip 57 by Warrendale Sales at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale "He is a really lovely colt who looks like Charlatan He is a smooth individual with a good mind who is correct and walks well," said Hunter Simms partner and director of bloodstock services at Warrendale Sales which is consigning Hip 57 on behalf of Stonestreet "We are very excited to offer him with the way Complexity is going He had a grade 2 winner recently and they are offering a share in him at this sale It really highlights the pedigree but people will be excited about the individual as well." The other Charlatan yearlings being offered during the Saratoga sale include: Charlatan had a brief but brilliant racing career he won the 2020 Arkansas Derby (G1) and Malibu Stakes (G1) He retired with more than $4 million in earnings "We try to be confined in our enthusiasm because you have to get them to market and people have to like them but in every respect he has been a buzz horse," said John Sikura with Hill 'n' Dale about Charlatan "With what he has accomplished so far—on the racetrack and response so far to his foals—I think he'll be a sought-after horse We are excited about watching them first sell at Saratoga and then building upon the enthusiasm and momentum on into Keeneland in September." World of Trouble at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa has been sold to a consortium of Brazilian stud farms according to a report by Turf Diario and confirmed by John Sikura president of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa World of Trouble began his career with trainer Kathleen O'Connell first for owner/breeder Darsan and then with owner Michael Dubb. In his debut at 2, the colt won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden claiming race on the main track at Gulfstream Park by 14 lengths He became stakes-placed in his second start as part of Dubb's stable with a second by a half-length in the FTBOA Florida Sire Affirmed Stakes World of Trouble finished second in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) by a neck to Stormy Liberal He compiled a 9-2-1 record from 13 starts and earned $1,263,300. A foot bruise derailed plans to race World of Trouble in the 2019 Breeders' Cup World Championships World of Trouble's promising stud career got scuttled by the indictment of Servis March 9 of that year on charges related to performance-enhancing drugs for violating misbranding laws regarding a compound called SGF-1000 and for a more potent version of clenbuterol The association to Servis chilled breeders' interest in World of Trouble prompting Sikura to issue an open letter to breeders in January 2021 that defended World of Trouble's natural abilities as a racehorse then they need to be punished," Sikura wrote in his letter then you need to be thrown out of the sport but this horse has been unfairly punished; to effectively burn him at the stake is unfair." a son of Kantharos out of World of Trouble's second dam Meetmeontime "I would suggest maturity was responsible for this progression not performance-enhancing drugs," Sikura wrote "It was a great disservice to the farm and our shareholders that the Servis controversy caused the horse to be shunned," Sikura told BloodHorse "I understand the reluctance by breeders World of Trouble now stand at Rio Iguassú in the Tijucas do Sul area of Brazil He is owned by a consortium headed by Rio Iguassúm The acquisition is being called a notable acquisition for Brazilian breeders who value speed on turf a Medaglia d'Oro full brother to Rachel Alexandra consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa is purchased for $1.35 million by Epic Horses at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale If you're planning to join the Thoroughbred racing industry and want to see immediate success purchasing a full brother to a member of the Hall of Fame is not a bad way to start That was the case for Epic Horses Sept. 9, when they went to $1.35 million at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale to buy Hip 112, a full brother to the sensational Rachel Alexandra by Bernardini; Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY) "(Epic Horses) loved him from the get-go," said Town and Country Farm CEO Shannon Potter who was acting as a consultant for the new ownership group Potter did not unveil the identity of his new clients from Las Vegas but said they are looking to increase their participation in the Thoroughbred industry Potter met them on the baseball field while coaching his son's travel team "They're new and excited about the game "This is the first time that they've stepped into Thoroughbred racing." Potter said that for now they just plan to pick up a couple of yearlings I'm just wading,' " Potter said The bay colt is the 11th foal out of Lotta Kim Rachel Alexandra defeated the boys in grade 1 competition on three occasions as a 3-year-old including in the 2009 Preakness Stakes (G1) and against older males in the Woodward Stakes (G1) She was named 2009 Horse of the Year and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016 "It is probably the last foal out of her we will ever sell," said Dede McGehee of breeder Heaven Trees Farm McGehee had received Lotta Kim from her friend and client Dolphus Morrison when he was dispersing his horses before his death in 2016 "It's extra special because the mare Lotta Kim was owned by my favorite client of all time (Morrison)." Asked on the comparison between the colt and Rachel Alexandra his look is right on with what she looked like he can muster up some of her magic on the racetrack." Rachel Alexandra's brother will likely receive his race preparations from another Hall of Famer Potter said the owners will race as Epic Racing The colt was not the only member of the family to go under the hammer in the Keeneland sales ring Monday the grade 1-winning daughter of Bernardini and Rachel Alexandra Consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck's Summerfield as an agent for breeder Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings the filly was purchased by North Hills' Hiroshi Fukuda Fukuda said he paid a little more than he was hoping for the filly Titansports Agenda de nuestros Atletas mexicanos (COPAME OFICIAL) Sigue a nuestros atletas mexicanos en París 2024 Calendario Oficial de los Paralímpicos Iniciar Sesión Soccer Football basketball Motor Bullfighting Baseball Adapted Box The Diablos Rojos lead the LNBP Grand Final 2-0 after defeating the Halcones de Xalapa 110-96 in Game 2 The next matchup will take place on December 3 in Xalapa The debut season of the Diablos Rojos del México in the National Professional Basketball League is shaping up to be historic they are now vying for the league championship a goal that seems closer than ever after the “scarlets” secured a 110-96 victory against the Halcones de Xalapa in Game 2 of the Grand Final the Diablos came out with a powerful offense they managed to tie the game 24-24 in the last minute turning the game into an intense back-and-forth the Reds emerged victorious in this battle of power thanks to their solid defense and their opponent’s mistakes the Diablos once again showed their determination to secure the win Despite the Halcones’ attempts to close the gap Also of interest: Incredible! The Diablos Rojos del México could consider entering the Mexican Stock Exchange The LNBP Grand Final will now move to Xalapa for Game 3 We strive to provide the best sports experience Phone Number: +52 1 55 8035 9375Email: redes@titansports.mxLocation: Enrique Pestalozzi 346 Mexico is bordered by more than 5,300 hectares of mountain forest a sprawling green sponge that soaks up rainwater and slowly A combination of climate change and deforestation is ravaging Xalapa’s protective tree cover This is threatening water supplies for around 600,000 people and leaving Xalapa’s bare slopes vulnerable to landslides Enter CityAdapt, an initiative led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and funded by the Global Environment Facility It is helping Xalapa’s residents build a protective buffer of plants and trees high in the city’s hills This defensive shield is being paired with the construction of rainwater harvesting tanks which are helping residents to contend with a surge in droughts https://youtu.be/-XPRdaCIf2A National Project Coordinator for CityAdapt The type of work being done in Xalapa is known as climate change adaptation and was a focus of discussions last month in Panama, where leaders gathered for Latin America and the Caribbean Climate Week. The event was a precursor to the UN Climate Change Conference which takes place later this month in the United Arab Emirates They now have access to just a fraction of that total That is one of the reasons the Xalapa effort which relies on a combination of low-cost natural and built infrastructure the city gets nearly 38 per cent of its drinking water from the cloud forests that loom above it But urban sprawl – Xalapa’s population has grown seven-fold in the last 30 years – is eating away at tree cover Experts say the cloud forest that surrounds Xalapa is one of the most endangered ecosystems in Mexico and is down to 1 per cent of its original coverage Since 2017, CityAdapt has been aiming to re-establish the balance between the forest and the city by protecting and restoring ecosystems. The project produced an assessment of Xalapa’s vulnerabilities to climate change which includes a hill named Estropajo and the Molinos de San Roque wetland increasing groundwater supplies and preventing floods Many of those trees were given to local households “We were delighted to work with UNEP on this project,” said Juan Carlos Contreras we are on the front line of the fight against climate change and nature-based solutions play a crucial role in protecting us.” Recognizing the greenery would take time to pay dividends CityAdapt also helped build 12 rainwater harvesting systems in schools and public buildings the systems provide more than 20,000 residents with a guaranteed supply of water Their success led the municipality to install more than 100 other systems “Rainwater harvesting systems can be make or break for vulnerable climate-hit communities and when combined with ecosystem restoration and protection the results are even stronger,” says Jessica Troni Head of UNEP’s Climate Change Adaptation Unit teamed with UNEP to build three rainwater harvesting systems The institution had long battled to provide students with water Xalapa often only had enough municipal water for a few days per week,” said Laura Bello who heads up the university’s sustainability group “We’ve seen just how important low-cost adaptation solutions El Salvador contend with the climate crisis it is aiming to increase the climate resilience of close to 100,000 people “With grey infrastructure the benefits can be more immediate while green infrastructure is more holistic with added benefits such as promoting biodiversity and urban amenities,” said Troni “A combined grey-green approach takes the best of both worlds.” The CityAdapt project is officially titled Building Climate Resilience of Urban Systems Through Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Latin America and the Caribbean. For more information on CityAdapt and UNEP’s work with the Global Environment Facility on Climate Change Adaptation, contact Jessica.Troni@un.org The Sectoral Solution to the climate crisis UNEP is at the forefront of supporting the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global temperature rise well below 2°C a roadmap to reducing emissions across sectors in line with the Paris Agreement commitments and in pursuit of climate stability The six sectors identified are: energy; industry; agriculture and food; forests and land use; transport; and buildings and cities UNEP's Climate Action Series Around the world, communities, individuals and entrepreneurs are stepping up with innovative climate action. Explore the new season of Climate Action Series by UNEP which features stories of leaders advancing scalable inclusive climate solutions that drive sustainable development. © 2025 UNEP Terms of Use Privacy Report Project Concern Report Scam Contact Us and a seemingly unending list of nearby ecological features this college town that was once dubbed the “Athens of Veracruz” is barely on the map from an international tourist perspective president and commander of the Union Army Ulysses S Grant once referred to this town as “decidedly the most beautiful place I ever saw in my life” and its climate as “the best in the world.” We’re talking about the birthplace of the king of peppers — the mighty jalapeño — Mexico’s hidden gem There’s a sense of kinetic energy as you stroll the downtown colonial streets with the scent of locally grown coffee pulling you up I’d like to share why this place has captured so many people’s imagination Start your morning with the famous latte-like lechero from La Parroquia sure to warm you up on a foggy xalapeño morning you’re treading on cobblestone streets steeped in history The city’s heart beats around the Anthropology Museum home to some of the world’s most significant pre-Hispanic Olmec artifacts mysterious in their origin and awe-inspiring in their execution are only the beginning of what’s on offer here Xalapa is a place where history isn’t just stored behind museum glass but is lived in the festivals and markets in the music that spills from the local jazz university’s windows and in the stories locals are more than willing to share if you ask Who’s hungry? Xalapa’s culinary scene mirrors its cultural diversity. Here, food is a narrative of Indigenous roots and Spanish influence, all served with a side of fresh, locally grown ingredients. You might find yourself savoring a breakfast of antojitos (literally “cravings”) at Cerro Gordo just outside of town Their wood-fired tortillas make for the most flavor-packed enchiladas you can find anywhere — thank me later Or try some huachinango a la Veracruzana — red snapper, Veracruz style — at La Perla oyster bar This dish features a whole snapper cooked in a sauce made from tomatoes It’s a testament to the Spanish influence on the region’s cuisine Another must-try is mole xiqueño. Coming from the Pueblo Mágico of Xico this variation of mole is less known than its Oaxacan cousin offering a complex and slightly sweeter flavor profile than most moles Xalapa’s natural surroundings could fill the pages of a nature journal with tales of misty walks through lush cloud forests that cling to the slopes of nearby mountains. These forests, shrouded in perpetual fog, create an almost mythical setting where epiphytes hang from every tree and the air is perpetually cool and moist It’s a stark contrast to the tropical imagery often associated with Mexico, offering a haven for those who find solace in the quietude and greenery. Don’t miss the Clavijero Botanical Garden; it’s on the way to the neighboring coffee capital Coatepec Looking for a unique night out in Xalapa? A few miles past the botanical garden is restaurant Futuro Primitivo, found on the second level of a reclaimed quicklime factory. While you’re there, stop by Calera a powerhouse of a restaurant whose sole cooking fuel is wood It perfectly combines traditional methods with new and locally inspired flavors to dance off the hearty meal you just devoured Another excellent option if you’re staying downtown is Mexican wrestling-themed restaurant and bar Doña Lucha which is is always full an eclectic mix of college students and regulars served in a glorious clay jar with no pretense Perhaps the most compelling reason to visit Xalapa is its people Xalapeños are known for their warmth and hospitality and for their willingness to share a piece of their world with you you’re not just a spectator; you’re a guest You might find yourself drawn into a discussion over a game of chess in the beautiful Parque Juárez that overlooks the urban hillside or offered a taste of something unfamiliar and delightful at the local Mercado Jáuregui Xalapa doesn’t clamor for attention or have the polished grandeur of bigger tourist spots it offers a chance to dive into an experience that feels more intimate — a slower pace of discovery that’s spiced just right Because in the quiet moments between the bites and beats you’ll find something unexpectedly profound This is a city for those who travel not just to see but to understand to immerse themselves in a place’s essence make a visit and get wrapped in the feeling of discovery — like the surrounding mountains wrap this hidden gem of a place called Xalapa Stephen Randall has lived in Mexico since 2018 by way of Kentucky He’s an enthusiastic amateur chef who takes inspiration from many different cuisines with favorites including Mexican and Mediterranean Mexico will host a World Para Athletics Grand Prix for the first time in April this year as the fourth stop of the 2023 GP calendar World Para Athletics has announced on Tuesday (7 March) that Xalapa will replace Monterrey which was initially set to be the host city of the Mexican Grand Prix this year with classification taking place from 24 to 26 April 2023 and the competition dates from 27 to 29 April The final entry deadline has been extended to the 20 March 2023 (CET 23:59). The competition programme and more information can be found on the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2023 page here The capital of the Mexican state of Veracruz The Grand Prix will be held at the Heriberto Jara Corona Stadium also known locally as the Estadio Xalapeño World Para Athletics has also confirmed on Tuesday the competition dates for the Jesolo 2023 Grand Prix The event is set to take place in the Italian city from 12 to 14 May The Grand Prix 2023 kicked off in the Tunisian capital Tunis from 6 to 8 February, followed by Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from 26 February to 1 March Morocco will host the third GP of the season from Thursday to Saturday this week (9 to 11 March) Switzerland will wrap up the season from 25 to 27 May Seeing Olmec colossal heads in photographs is one thing The best place to experience that presence is the Museo de Antropología de Xalapa (MAX) in Xalapa MAX is considered the second-most important anthropology museum in Mexico (the first being the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City) The first museum in Xalapa to exhibit pre-Hispanic artifacts to the public A larger museum was opened on the current site in 1960 only to be torn down in 1985 to make way for an even larger museum All of the 2,500 artifacts on display are from pre-Hispanic Veracruz civilizations: Olmec The building has one long gallery that connects to nine smaller galleries on one side Three of these are covered patios where prehispanic figures and altars sit among trees and plants Beautifully landscaped grounds surround the museum Colossal Head Number 8 greets visitors at the entrance to the museum (the numbers signify the order in which the heads were found) it has the same characteristics found on all of the heads: a flattened nose which may have afforded protection in pelota Olmec heads were carved from basalt boulders transported from the Sierra de los Tuxtlas mountains seventeen heads have been found and seven can be viewed at the MAX The heads range in height from 1.17 to 3.4 meters (3.8 to 11.2 feet) and weigh between 6 and 40 tons Although it’s not known with certainty when the heads were carved information at the museum dates them to between 1,200 and 900 B.C Although all of the heads share common characteristics Although the heads may be the most impressive of the museum’s pieces there are many others that are also fascinating Near the museum’s entrance are exhibits and information about the important role women played in pre-Hispanic cultures in Veracruz here are a few others that I found particularly interesting the fertility goddess and one of the most important gods of all pre-Hispanic cultures gazing serenely while Colossal Head number 5 watches from behind her El Señor de Las Limas is a beautiful figure carved from green serpentine with an interesting backstory It was found by two children in 1965 in Las Limas Veracruz (hence the name) who were looking for a rock to break open coyoles the children found a rock sticking out of the ground and used it to break open the fruits They brought the rock to their home where people realized it was an ancient sculpture the townspeople placed it in the local church it was stolen and eventually recovered in a San Antonio The figure is 55 cm (22 inches) high and depicts an adult sitting cross-legged and holding a limp baby in his arms it could also represent one that was sacrificed Another favorite is the small figure of the Dios del Fuego (Fire God) who appears happy as he rubs his hands together and drops offerings into a brazier the god of agriculture and human sacrifice the rain god who looks oddly like a WWI pilot One of the more disturbing exhibits is the gallery of deformed skulls a practice undertaken to show kinship and status The deformations were typically performed on infants; the exhibit displays ceramic sculptures depicting children strapped on beds to prevent movement while bands or boards were placed to deform their skulls Figure on taking a couple of hours to tour the museum take advantage of what Xalapa has to offer The historic center has lots of restaurants and cafés to check out park your car before heading to the city’s center and take taxis which are reasonably priced – the traffic is brutal Señor Google kept sending us to the commercial center when we asked the app for directions to the historic center which is a good starting point within the historic center The park has a huge statue of Quetzalcóatl with an extended tongue that children like to slide down there’s the beautiful Parque de los Tecajetes which is a short ride from the city’s center It has gardens and pools filled with fish and turtles and is a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the city do not leave Xalapa without trying a hot glass of lechero A glass of coffee is brought to your table and then a server CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE TDN FOR FREE! Remember Ben with a gift to Thoroughbred aftercare Subscribe for FREE to the Daily PDF or the News Alerts Home » Archive » Shared News » Taking Stock: Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa The farm's stallions have been putting on quite a show lately while Sikura quietly goes about the task–well the historically significant Bourbon County property near Paris that he acquired a few years ago Xalapa now houses Hill 'n' Dale's roster of 12 stallions and all of the farm's mares the farm's Ghostzapper was represented by GI Ballerina H Curlin was the star with two Grade l winners: champion Malathaat won the Personal Ensign and Cody's Wish the Forego " class="horse-link" target="_blank">Curlin's Nest easily took the GI Alabama S thumped colts by seven lengths in the $1-million Queen's Plate at Woodbine Violence is the sire of Lost Ark a 2-year-old half-brother to Nest who won the Sapling S at Monmouth Saturday by 7 1/2 lengths; Maclean's Music's champion sprinter Jackie's Warrior was a valiant second in the Forego to Cody's Wish; Curlin's Obligatory was third behind Goodnight Olive in the Ballerina; and freshman sire Army Mule had three winners over the weekend and ranks fifth on the first-crop list by progeny earnings (third by winners behind barnmate and champion Good Magic On the former Hill 'n' Dale property near Lexington he started out the careers of leading sires Candy Ride (Arg) and Medaglia d'Oro In between the two weekends of Hill 'n' Dale stallion fireworks I visited Sikura at Xalapa last Wednesday with WTC colleague and pedigree analyst Frances J isn't a typical elite Kentucky stud farm type; for one he doesn't wear the ubiquitous uniform of the pastel button-down shirt and khaki trousers and he looked as if he'd be as equally comfortable in the raucous stands of an ice rink (he played hockey) as he would in a tranquil art gallery (he owns several paintings by celebrated Lexington-based sporting artist Andre Pater) He spoke passionately of the unique history of Xalapa; next to his desk were two large bags of wildflower seeds strewn on the floor “I like flowers,” he said casually Xalapa is enchantingly covered with various species of unique flowers and Sikura has done his part to add to the foliage planting many more trees and shrubs to the clusters already mature on the land and has a red-tailed hawk that he trains to hunt housed in her own small building Aside from his acute eye for horses and the business of buying and selling them and they are dovetailing in his attention to detail at Xalapa “The history of a place is more important than the sales yearling averages and prices everyone writes about,” he said a series of interconnected stone and wooden structures that once served as the main residence we piled into Sikura's pickup for a trek around Xalapa It lasted close to three hours and was a magical mystery tour of unique landscaping with natural pools some of which once housed fish supplied by an in-house fish hatchery; stone and log buildings and barns; unique and meticulously crafted stone walls and statues; bridges; a famous limestone water tower; a millhouse next to Stoner Creek with a sculpture of Daniel Boone in bas relief affixed to its front façade a work of art by the important artist Henry Augustus Lukeman–his World War l bronze is celebrated in Prospect Park Brooklyn; remnants of a one-mile training track next to a historic and massive training barn that's now been converted to the stallion barn; and an 1827 Federal architectural brick home that Sikura and his family now occupy as their residence The newer barns that Sikura has constructed are in a style that melds harmoniously with the old and old and new structures alike have been made consistent with new slate roofs which is more than 100 years old and encompasses rolling hills and valleys had been originally designed with a sophisticated drainage system that empties into parts of Stoner Creek is mineral rich and fertile with this natural process of moving earth there isn't another farm in Kentucky with quite the physical presence and aesthetic beauty of Xalapa and the closest approximation to the awe I felt touring it came previously from a visit 30-odd years ago to the historic Argentine stud Haras Ojo de Agua another 100-years-plus facility now shuttered as a breeder of racehorses the sire of the great Forego; and Dorine (Arg) Both of those influential imports resided at Claiborne about seven miles away from the main gate at Xalapa Bull Hancock leased the training barn and track at Xalapa for the stock of Claiborne and its clients and he oversaw the breaking and early training of numerous champions at Xalapa Sikura pointed out a log cabin–“Bull's Cabin”–adjacent to the training barn and track that Hancock had used during his stays on the farm Hancock also leased part of the property as a Claiborne stallion annex–Bold Reasoning stood there–and Epsom Derby winners Nijinsky and Sir Ivor both of whom came to Claiborne in 1970 from Ireland quarantined at Xalapa before moving to the main Claiborne property photographer Barbara Livingston recently posted a rare photo on Twitter of Nijinsky at Xalapa next to the training barn is one of the most storied of farms and is more than 100 years old as well but there was a time in the 1920s and 1930s that its neighbor Xalapa was as equally well known as a stud farm and breeder–Xalapa bred 1950 Broodmare of the Year Hildene a foundation mare for Christopher Chenery's Meadow Stud and the dam of sire First Landing Two of the most well-known stallions in the 1920s the high-priced European imports Prince Palatine and Negofol perhaps the most successful sire at Xalapa was in the class of Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts. Copy Article Link Editor / News Stories:editor@thetdn.com Advertising:advertising@thetdn.com Customer Service:customerservice@thetdn.com Click Here to sign up for a free subscription My partner often compares me to levadura (yeast — specifically the kind we use to make beer): if the temperature is not exactly to my liking This heatwave in Mexico has me absolutely beaten You might have heard people declare themselves “Team Calor” or “Team Frío,” but I’m neither Put me in any conditions that aren’t in the range of 19-24 degrees centigrade with a slight breeze and perhaps a bit of refreshing afternoon rain I blame the root of my discomfort on the fact that I grew up in a place where every building and dwelling had climate control and have long theorized that the comforts one enjoyed as a child will always be bitterly missed if taken away later in life The absence of climate control where I live hasn’t been an issue is well-known for its mild temperatures — not too hot not too cold — daily afternoon showers and evening fog perfect for a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate to go with your pan Even around this usually drizzly cloud forest I’ve never even tried to build a backyard campfire in my city because the wood is forever damp If you’ve been following the news, you know how dire the situation is: we’ve had heat wave after heat wave hit us over the past two months I check my weather app hopefully and desperately daily And as you can probably guess — and have likely witnessed if you live here — the lack of rain is doing nothing for our water shortage problem so each “zone” gets water pumped to them once every five days It’s true that spring is typically the hottest season of the year at least in the southern half of the country; this has been true for a long time for most of us who come from north of the Mexican border as it brings the beginning of the rainy season I’ve experienced Xalapa during the springtime for 22 years now and can say this with certainty: the infernal heat (and drought before unheard of around here) that falls on us each spring is becoming more intense and hanging around much longer than it used to A week without rain used to be unimaginable Much of Mexico is currently trapped in a “heat dome,” which is as miserable as it sounds: the atmospheric pressure is essentially trapping the heat around us (think of it as an extended which tends to warm things up in general as well And let’s not forget our own collective contributions: climate change is coming for us all and is being felt worldwide somewhere between much quicker than the mildly optimistic predictions by climate scientists and slightly slower than the 2004 disaster movie The Day After Tomorrow Back when they were talking about an increase of 1-3 degrees over the next century We didn’t think about that having actual effects on the weather as it does preferring instead to imagine someone simply upping the thermostat a couple of imperceptible notches Spin our thumbs and whistle while allowing the seeds of our own destruction to be planted then act shocked when those inevitable fruits arrive These are the fruits, people. It’s probably not going to get better at this point, but it can definitely get way, way worse. Are we sufficiently panicked now? Monkeys are dying. Monkeys. In case you forget, we are also, basically, monkeys, and the heat has already come for plenty of us emergency measures: take some cold showers be strategic about air movement: keep the curtains closed when the sun is beating down lest you create an oven within an oven of your house open the windows to let a bit of freshness in You’ll likely need to do your best to conserve the rationed water Try not to flush the toilet more than necessary You might need to let a few outside plants go if they can’t be brought in and need water every day privilege the environment over Mexico’s state-owned electrical company Will she be the harbinger of a true transformación of Mexico’s energy and conservation strategy Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com Return to Applications and Reports to help simplify your business Register One of four ambulances the City of Omaha recently donated to Xalapa four much needed ambulances will begin their journey to Xalapa The ambulances are part of a donation from the City of Omaha The donation included seven Hurst Extrication Tools also known as “Jaws of Life,” and several self-contained breathing apparatus All the equipment will be transported nearly 2,000 miles via rail service provided free of charge by Union Pacific to the Mexican border where Kansas City Southern de Mexico will complete the journey The donation was facilitated by the Omaha Sister Cities Association a volunteer-run nonprofit organization that works to promote diplomacy global awareness and cross-cultural relationships between Omaha and six sister cities located in Europe “Omaha’s sister city relationships are championed by local groups who have an ethnic or business connection,” said John Murray who serves on the Omaha Sister Cities Association’s Board of Directors artistic and humanitarian exchanges with cities in Japan Mexico and China.” The Omaha Sister Cities Association was one of the first Midwest chapters of Sister Cities International The recent exchange was a continuation of an exchange that begun in 2010 when Omaha sent two ambulances to Xalapa “They’ve used them quite a bit and the equipment is still badly needed,” Murray said “When we found out Omaha had more equipment we asked if the city was willing to donate it.” Murray says humanitarian exchanges are unique; most exchanges are of a cultural or academic nature “Humanitarian exchanges show good faith,” Murray said “Omaha is blessed with a lot of wealth and I think it’s important that we share our resources in addition to sharing our culture.” Xalapa’s Mayor Américo Zúñiga Martínez at the May 24 ceremony Xalapa’s Mayor Américo Zúñiga Martínez was in Omaha for the May 24 ceremony held at the Durham Museum formerly known as Omaha’s Union Station “We are very proud to have this relationship with Omaha,” Martínez said culture and history of this beautiful city The Omaha Fire Department is not only a group of heroes in Omaha We are grateful for all they have given us.” Omaha Sister Cities Association President Cynthia Buettner Union Pacific Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations Scott Moore Mexican Consul Guadelupe Sànchez Salazar and Omaha Interim Fire Chief Dan Olsen also were in attendance Martínez says the emergency equipment is much needed by the city’s more than 700,000 citizens very far from the hospitals,” he said “We also have some very poor communities that are excited to receive this show of generosity.” The donation ceremony marked a decade of exchanges between Omaha and Xalapa “We are grateful for Union Pacific’s transportation,” Martínez said “We are honored to have Union Pacific on board this excellent project It’s a humanitarian project with profound and deep roots of international social responsibility.” but he still talks about the property with the kind of enthusiasm often reserved for a kid at Christmas with a new bicycle Sikura's commitment to his new farm exceeds anything on two wheels the entire Hill 'n' Dale Farms stallion roster was vanned 33 miles east from their former Lexington base to Xalapa Farm to take up residence for the 2021 breeding season and beyond Putting hundreds of millions of dollars worth of horseflesh on vans - including top sires Curlin and Kitten's Joy - might seem like a harrowing task but Sikura said the expensive cargo handled the process in stride "It was a very swift transition," Sikura said resident veterinarian - everybody was there Curlin just put his head down and started eating hay I think that's a testament to the natural beauty of the place The history in Xalapa Farm is apparent in its notable past residents Broodmare of the Year Hildene once called Xalapa home who sired winners of the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes but the history of the farm's architecture - that natural beauty - was what truly excited the horseman Sikura had been invited out repeatedly by an acquaintance tied to the farm to see it for himself but a packed schedule kept him from venturing out to the property he'd seen plenty of top-class farms around the world The fact that he immediately had to eat his words is part of the reason he remains so excited about Xalapa to this day I told them I’d like to come see it," he said ‘Oh my God.’ It wasn’t like anything I’d seen before even though a lot of it was overgrown or in disrepair All the architectural elements were just incredible." Hundreds of acres on the 1,100-acre farm needed to be fenced in and infrastructure to get from place to place on the property was scant at best beyond the main buildings He went back to visit Xalapa a few more times his plan was to use Xalapa as a base for Hill 'n' Dale's yearling operation while the stallions would remain in Yarnallton Pike Sikura had too many reasons to stay close to town so keeping the home base nearby made sense "All my kids are now away at school," he said "My youngest just accepted to go to a hockey academy in Rhode Island I could have never moved out here with my kids in school because they were in the Spanish immersion program in downtown Lexington and it’s too far to drive back and forth two or three times a day." Sikura fully committed to the Xalapa property He sold the Hill 'n' Dale property in Lexington to Don Alberto Corp. which not only married Sikura's operation to its new location but also gave it a "save the date." I didn’t have houses for my employees I didn’t have fencing for over 500 acres we’ve had 100 people out here constantly: Guys building stone walls but I didn’t realize what a challenge it would be The bones of Xalapa trace back to its founding in 1827 Bringing it up to shape to house one of the country's top Thoroughbred operations required a top-down makeover in order to preserve their historical integrity down to the hand-crafted hinges on the doors If a road needed to be made - be it asphalt for vehicles or rubber bricks for the stallions - it was made The breeding shed was created by John Howard of Lexington-based Four-H Construction Management who was the project manager at Keeneland for nearly three decades Howard's crew built the semi-circle saddling structure in the Keeneland paddock which Sikura said had an ambience he wanted to recreate on his own property When Sikura committed to making Xalapa Hill 'n' Dale's full-time base Stoner Mill presented its own unique challenges including the removal of 500 dead ash trees If the property was being built just to suit the horses' comfort but the Xalapa project also involved building or renovating 14 houses for Sikura and the farm's staff Even the smaller details on such a large property can feel "big picture" when it comes to where one's going to spend their days and nights "You drift between excitement and being proud of getting it done and then being overwhelmed," Sikura said "Those emotions will sometimes hit you in the same day Now that you’ve got to do the stallion paddocks How do you take a blank field and fit in 12 paddocks without them being too small Then you’ve got to figure out water lines and how the roads are going to go Sikura said there was probably another month's worth of work to do on the property until he considered it officially completed and breeders will be crisscrossing central Kentucky to inspect stallions for potential 2021 bookings Xalapa Farm is far-flung compared to most of its major contemporaries in Kentucky's stallion market It's about a 45-minute drive from Keeneland Sikura preached perspective when it came to the farm's location both in terms of its comparable distance to other Paris farms and having the kind of product that's worth the trip "The difference between 20 minutes and 50 minutes...You have 11 months of gestation," Sikura continued. "A 30-minute longer drive to get your mare in foal is really a non-factor." Sikura doesn't have sights on leaving Xalapa anytime soon, but he was aware of the value he's put into the land after all that work. Beyond all of the breeding and boarding facilities, there's a one-mile training track that also got a shining-up during the renovations, even if there aren't any immediate plans to use it. A stone bridge on the property was used during the filming of the 2003 "Seabiscuit" movie, which is an evergreen selling point, as well. "I didn’t buy it as an asset, but I think it’s the most unique, historically significant horse farm; at least that I’ve been on," he said. "I hope one or more of my sons have interest in the horse business and want to move it forward. If they do not, then somebody will then buy a one-of-a-kind, pristinely restored, massive, unique farm." Until that day comes, though, Sikura said the goal is to make Hill 'n' Dale's new home as welcoming as possible. Many months and many dollars later, and after the efforts of an army of people, Sikura is still thrilled with his purchase. One of the most fun parts about being excited about something is being able to share that feeling with others, and Sikura said that will be the goal with Xalapa Farm. "I’m trying to make the farm open and inviting, and the more people see it, the more I think they’re going to embrace it – sort of the way the community embraces Keeneland," he said. "It’s private to a degree, but the gates are open and we want to show you how unique the place is." By Joe NevillsJoe Nevills is the Paulick Report's bloodstock editor and creator of the Haiku Handicapper series It has been seven long weeks since the action at Marrakech came to a close we have seen the retirement of an athletics great in Jason Smyth and more success for a legend of Para athletics in Marcel Hug But they are two names we are so familiar with Let’s meet some new heroes at the Xalapa 2023 Grand Prix this week We know that it is a new name on the circuit Xalapa replaced Monterrey last month and will now play host to some of the finest Para athletes on the planet the Mexican city is the fourth stop on this year’s Grand Prix schedule too The three-day event will be held from Thursday to Saturday (27 to 29 April) at the Heriberto Jara Corona Stadium Over 500 athletes from 20 nations will be competing coming to Mexico from nations including USA how about a bit of Para athletics – and social media – royalty Hunter Woodhall (T62) will be part of the small-sided team travelling south A three-time Paralympic Games medallist in the 200m and 400m the 24-year-old has done as much outside of the sport as in it More than two million TikTok followers and a legion of supporters who have tracked his growth to the top Woodhall will be aiming to make more magic Cuba’s sprinting queen Omara Durand (T12) is back to add more gold to her impressive collection The eight-time Paralympic champion has already topped the podium in Dubai and Marrakech this season and will be running the 100m Amanda Cerna of Chile will be taking part too The Lima 2019 Parapan American Games silver medallist in the 400m T47 Cerna has her sights firmly set on topping the podium this time around as she prepares for the World Championships in Paris and the Parapan Am Games at home later in the year it would be that there may be a few medals going to the hosts 313 Mexican athletes are set up to compete in Xalapa making up well over half of the entire field (507 are set to take part in total A huge number of those 313 athletes will be relatively unknown currently on the international circuit but there are some names that promise to be in and around the podium World-record setting 1500m T11 runner Monica Olivia Rodriguez will travel almost from coast-to-coast as she kicks up her Paris 23 World Championships preparations Will she be able to keep the momentum running from her Tokyo gold medal Jose Rodolfo Chessani Garcia is another of those Tokyo success stories who will be back on the track In last year’s Mexican edition of the Grand Prix Jose emerged from Monterrey with a double success in the 100m and 400m T38 fresh from his success in the 400m at the Games a year earlier we have seen stunning successes for the likes of Switzerland’s Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner in Dubai whilst China also raced there to collect a whopping 42 gold medals while Brazil's Elizabeth Rodrigues Gomes and Nigeria’s Goodness Chiemerie Nwachukwu set world records in the process The three days of Xalapa 2023 will be streamed live on World Para Athletics Facebook page. Make sure you keep an eye on our social media channels as well - @paraathletics – where we’ll be bringing you coverage of the big moments. The turnaround is quick. From Xalapa finishing on the 29 April, we go almost instantly over to northern Italy for the penultimate Grand Prix, this one coming in Jesolo. report that 8 people died after heavy rain brought by Hurricane Grace on 21 August 2021 Secretary of Public Security of the State of Veracruz said that 7 people died after floods and mudslides caused buildings to collapse in Xalapa Six members of the same family died in the Brisas del Río Sedeño neighbourhood of the city A seventh victim died in the nearby 21 de Marzo neighbourhood where 3 people earlier reported missing were located alive Veracruz Governor Cuitláhuac García Jiménez reported another fatality after floods in the city of Poza Rica Strong winds from Hurricane Grace also caused power cuts and brought down trees Overall Veracruz Civil Protection reported damages in 22 municipalities in the state Flooding was also reported in Ciudad Madero in the state of Tamaulipas close to the border with Veracruz Mexico’s National Meteorological Service reported that 86.5 mm of rain fell in the port city of Altamira during the same period Grace had earlier brought strong winds to Mexico’s Caribbean coast causing widespread power outages but no fatalities further north, heavy rain of 60 mm in 3 hours fell in the state of Chihuahua One person died and another was reported missing Richard Davies is the founder of floodlist.com and reports on flooding news USA – 10 Dead, More Missing After Record Rainfall and Catastrophic Floods in Tennessee USA – Death Toll Rises in Tennessee Floods, Over 20 Still Missing Cookies | Privacy | Contacts © Copyright 2025 FloodList were killed Sunday in an armed attack in the port city of Veracruz Gunmen traveling in at least three vehicles opened fire on the Veracruz-Xalapa highway near the Veracruz International Airport killing five people in a pickup truck and a man in a taxi The Veracruz Ministry of Public Security (SSP) acknowledged the six deaths in a social media post noting also that one other person was wounded It said that state and federal forces were carrying out an operation to apprehend the aggressors and “guarantee order and social peace.” “… We urge citizens to keep calm,” the SSP added Reports have identified Fernando Pérez Vega his wife and their two children as among the victims of Sunday’s attack The pickup truck in which they and one other adult were traveling was riddled with scores of bullet holes known as “El Pino,” ran as a candidate for mayor in the Veracruz municipality of Coxquihui in 2021 and was allegedly a leader in a criminal organization according to a report by the news website Infobae kidnapping and homicides are among the crimes allegedly committed by “El Pino,” who reportedly attended a political event in Boca del Río before he and his family were murdered known as “El Pelón,” served as mayor of Coxquihui on two occasions and has also been accused of being the leader of a crime group Los Pelones of which Fernando Pérez was also allegedly a leader Veracruz Governor Cuitláhuac García said on social media that evidence indicated that Sunday’s attack was a “settling of scores between organized crime groups.” Those groups have not been formally identified but reports indicated that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel may have carried out the attack against Pérez According to the Defense Ministry (Sedena) Los Pelones are in a war for control of Veracruz with the CJNG and five other criminal groups When I moved to my current address a little over two years ago I was delighted to find the property filled with plants: bougainvillea and fragrant angel’s trumpets in the front and a thriving lime tree pomegranate tree and blackberry bush in the back My first memories of being in this house during those shocking first few weeks of the pandemic are of my daughter and I sitting on our back patio and eating blackberries right off the thorny vine This was a special privilege to me because while I’ve always loved having plants around I’ve never been very good with them; my thumb is blood red my plants have survived for a few months before perishing it’s just that I forget about them because they’re not jumping up and down around me and pretty much anything will grow and stay alive indefinitely Vanilla vines and even honeysuckle (not a common plant down here — it’s called My jasmine has been taken over by some other kind of vine I’ve planted a magnolia tree in the backyard Fragrant herbs (rosemary is my favorite) and the lavender and citronella plants haven’t fared quite so well as I put them on balconies leading into rooms in the vain attempt to prevent mosquitoes from coming in to feast on us (I’ve found a mosquito-zapping racquet to be much more effective and oh-so-satisfying) I think it’s too much sun and not enough water paired with general unintentional neglect: when you’ve got a kid and a bunch of freelance jobs plants just naturally file themselves into the back of the line and my attention span I used to joke that Xalapa was so fertile that you could let a few seeds fall out of your pocket accidentally and there’d be a tree there the next morning For the first time since I came here nearly 20 years ago Though the drought that’s caused Monterrey to restrict water use to six hours a day hasn’t been as bad down here we had more weeks of sunshine with no rain than I can remember It was also so much consistently hotter — I mean but still — than I remember it being in quite a while The dirt and gravel road in front of my house (trying to get it paved will be a subject for an entirely different article) dried out completely and the hot wind blowing in through the window has covered everything in my house with a layer of dust daily I needed to water my outdoor plants that were planted in the ground which normally thrives and spills over with life in late April and May its berries coming out more like raisins than the plump fruit I was used to All the plants I had in the sun were parched daily It’s what kept me from worrying too much at first as I knew there’d be a few weeks of not being able to sleep from a combination of the heat and the mosquitoes finding their way through my net I started to really worry; I have no memory of going more than two weeks without rain in Xalapa clouds rolling in around one or two in the afternoon a couple hours of light rain/drizzle (famously called chipi chipi in Xalapa) and then Leaving the house any day of the year without a sweater was never advisable It’s been years now since I’ve seen fog more than once a month but the drying out of those plants is what really freaked me out Could this beautiful city that’s spilling over with green everywhere soon become a desert Blessedly, the rain has returned to my city. My house is a little less dusty. But, like the rest of the country that’s been enduring drought this year Though things aren’t as dramatic as in Monterrey and our colonias are all taking turns going without water Whatever happened to the government’s promise to fix this with inventive rainwater collection systems While it wouldn’t get water to Monterrey right away having them in places with plenty of rain (well anyway) could at least ensure that unused water is diverted to the places that need it most and likely will continue to be so for a while It’s time to figure out how to deal with this now; not when being unable to flush a toilet will be the least of our problems compared to the prospect of not being able to keep our food growing I saw a meme the other day commenting on the growing heat “This is the hottest summer of my life,” says Bart Simpson “This is the coldest summer of the rest of your life.” Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sdevrieswritingandtranslating.com and her Patreon page The Mexican city of Xalapa is surrounded by ecosystems that not only harbor stunning flora and fauna but also provide crucial services to the city and its 580,000 people an indigenous mountain rainforest neighbouring the city provides 30 per cent of Xalapa’s water supply while the diverse soil and vegetation around it is a vital store of carbon But both these natural assets and the city itself are feeling the effects by climate change Fluctuating temperatures and rainfall patterns are destabilizing the mountain slopes around the city while intense rains in the mountains cascade into urban areas below “Human resilience to climate change depends on ecosystems and we need urgent measures to protect them," says Isabel Garcia author of a study examining the climate vulnerability of Xalapa Garcia’s study identified urban expansion–and its effect on the surrounding environment—as an exacerbating factor in the climate-related risks facing the city “We have a city that has approximately 20,000 uninhabited homes because they were built in inaccessible areas without potable water and drainage services,” Xalapa’s Deputy Director of Planning “We have irregular settlements in areas that should have never been urbanized Recognizing both the climate change impacts facing the city and the importance of Xalapa’s surrounding ecosystems for helping its people adapt to these changes, local authorities are now turning to natural solutions. Partnering with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), they are working to restore and protect large areas of cloud forest around the city under the Global Environment Facility-backed CityAdapt project CityAdapt is working across Latin America and the Caribbean to support cities in their efforts to adapt to climate change an issue that is increasingly a priority for municipalities around the region according to UNEP’s Director for Latin America and the Caribbean where 80 per cent of the population lives in cities we urgently need to shift from vicious cycles of degradation to the virtuous dynamic of resilient ecosystems,” Heileman says The CityAdapt project marks Xalapa as the first Latin American city to seize the potential of ecosystem-based adaptation–an approach that uses nature to adapt to climate change By leveraging the natural environment–like the role of trees in regulating water flow and preventing landslides and erosion—ecosystem-based adaptation can help reduce both flood and drought and is often much more cost-effective than engineered structures built to serve the same role The vulnerability analysis identified areas most at risk from climate change It also measured the adaptive capacity of the ecosystems that currently provide Xalapa with surface water supply Xalapa’s cloud forest—an ecosystem already reduced to just 1 per cent of its former range around Mexico—could see temperatures rise by as much as 1.8°C by 2039 as well as potentially increasing the spread and intensity of diseases in the nearby coffee plantations But by restoring the forest and working to limit the growing city’s negative impacts on the surrounding environment CityAdapt is helping Xalapa strike a vital balance between people and nature "We need to move Xalapa in an orderly way towards a new model of territorial development in which resilience is the key focus," Xalapa mayor CityAdapt is backing other adaptation initiatives Rainwater harvesting systems are being introduced in public buildings and schools ensuring adequate water supplies in the face of increasingly unpredictable rains while the project is also teaching climate-resilient agricultural practices to local communities “This is an opportunity to rethink the way we build a city,” says Angelica Moya Building Climate Resilience of Urban Systems through Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Latin America and the Caribbean (CityAdapt) is a five-year project working to support Latin American and Caribbean cities in their efforts to adapt to climate change with the support of the Global Environment Facility For more information on CityAdapt and UNEP’s work in Climate Change Adaptation, contact jessica.troni@un.org This case study examines payments for ecosystem services as a potential long-term sustainable mechanism to finance EbA in Xalapa Roberto Villanueva glances in the rearview mirror of his taxi as he turns onto a side street heading toward Macuiltépetl an ecological reserve on a mountain in the center of Xalapa He’s been driving a cab here in the state capital of Veracruz and has most routes through the city committed to memory “Almost muscle memory,” he says Xalapa’s streets evolved centuries before automobiles and are full of abrupt turns Taxi drivers are expert guides to this urban maze providing a service that bridges private and public transportation Villanueva says he regularly takes people there; in Xalapa hailing a taxi is often much quicker than calling an ambulance Taxi drivers are vital to the city’s residents but the job’s challenges can be as daunting as navigating its convoluted streets and the whims of local politicians have thrown up a range of obstacles for taxi drivers to overcome—all from behind the wheel of a Nissan Tsuru Mexico’s de facto taxi and one of the most dangerous cars ever made Villanueva’s Tsuru idles at the entrance to Macuiltépetl His passenger passes coins through an opening in a plastic sheet—a makeshift anti-virus barrier—and he counts them before giving a quick nod over his shoulder Then he follows another Tsuru taxi around the corner and out of sight Hundreds more of the taxis congregate around a traffic circle on the southwest side of Xalapa is one of the region’s major transit hubs The circle and adjacent streets are lined with bus stops giving drivers a chance to catch a quick bite of picaditas—Veracruz’s beloved saucy tortillas—while waiting for fares They’ll take passengers wherever they need to go The increasing willingness to take longer journeys reflects how the job is changing Xalapa’s veteran drivers remember when the profession could support a family and set a driver up for retirement; the limited number of available taxi licenses meant a driver leaving the profession could make a hefty sum selling his concession to the next generation But the halcyon days of driving a cab are gone They ended with the 2004 election of Fidel Herrera Beltrán as the center-right Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI)-affiliated governor of Veracruz a sociologist working for the Mexican government who has studied taxi driving in Veracruz extensively The Beltrán administration essentially privatized the taxi licensure process by allowing a variety of businesses to sell simplified taxi permits to the public at a lower cost than an official government concession a move the administration said would provide more jobs and stimulate the economy The result was an oversaturation of the market the total number of taxis in the state of Veracruz went from 17,000 to 75,000 in 20 years That figure has only increased since the report’s release thanks to factors such as cheaper concession prices in response to competition from Uber and other app-based transport services Xalapa and the surrounding towns have as many cabs as New York City—but less than a tenth of the population Much of what little money taxi drivers do make is gobbled up by daily expenses Fare prices are set by the regional government but are not updated frequently; most fares are under 100 pesos Gas prices continue to climb above $4 per gallon which require $10-15 per day for use of a vehicle Given the large numbers of drivers cruising the city “sometimes it costs less money just to stay home and not work,” says a driver who gives his name as Arturo and they will be on the road for 16 hours a day and barely sleeping means many drivers develop high blood pressure and heart and kidney problems Other occupational hazards include robberies and hijackings standard risks for taxi drivers around the world The Tsuru (“crane” in Japanese) is a small four-door sedan introduced to Mexico in 1984 and essentially unchanged since 1991 It was designed without crumple zone protection or stability control—a deliberate choice in an apparent attempt to keep costs low thereby providing a greater percentage of the population with access to cars Definitely not,” says driver Oscar Ortega with a grim laugh as he speeds down a section of the busy freeway that curves around Xalapa The model’s reliability and ease of repair helped the Tsuru overtake the Volkswagen Beetle as the Mexican taxi of choice by the mid-1990s More than 2.4 million Tsurus were sold over the course of its lifetime The importance of the automotive industry to Mexico’s economy has historically made lawmakers ambivalent about requiring stricter safety standards secretary-general of its New Car Assessment Program feels the startling crash test footage helped move the conversation forward The same day that LNCAP announced it would crash-test the Tsuru Nissan stated the notorious model would be retired by May 2017 especially considering how many taxis on Mexico’s streets and highways are Tsurus “The drivers are under pressure because they have to bring food to their families,” Furas says “Taxi driving is a job—having a safe [place to work] should be an important part of it.” the state of Veracruz decreed that no taxi could be more than 10 years old will technically be illegal to use as a taxi in 2027 Retiring the Tsuru means a new chapter in the long history of Xalapa’s taxi drivers the change will mean that fewer drivers and passengers will be injured or killed But upgrading to a safer vehicle will be a financial barrier for many perhaps turning people away from the profession and restoring the balance between supply and demand Xalapeño mechanic Mauro Hernández Rodríguez stands on Calle Lázaro Cárdenas including a few Nissan Marches and Chevy Sparks which are already emerging as the city’s next generation of taxis Hernández Rodríguez scoffs at how expensive yet unimpressive these models are “The Tsuru is a workhorse,” he says “Other cars only work best when they are going downhill!” Most of the vehicles that pass by Hernández Rodríguez’s shop are Tsurus most of them carry some personal touch to make the driver’s home on wheels feel more like or figurines of saints—one Tsuru was even spotted with a Batmobile steering wheel knock-off The personalization speaks to the drivers’ fondness for the Tsuru Villanueva and other drivers talk of the sense of freedom their profession affords aren’t going anywhere anytime soon—except on their usual journeys throughout the city We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world’s hidden wonders Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker we can expect both the class of world-beating Para athletes accompanied by a group hoping to be amongst the next generation in the months leading to the World Championships and the Paralympic Games Twenty-six nations have confirmed their participation in Xalapa comprising of a combined 495 athletes keen on putting up a brilliant show at the fourth Grand Prix of the season And you can be certain that when it comes to the medals table The host nation has a dominant-looking cast of 342 athletes set to take to the track and field with the good and great accompanied by the next wave of household names Standing out in the pack are some of the Tokyo 2020 gold medallists 1500m T11 athlete Monica Olivia Rodriguez Saavedra and Jose Rosolfo Chessani Garcia (400m T38) will both compete on home soil the hosts have a number of head and shoulders above any other nation But there are also strong delegations competing from the likes of Ecuador (19) in a German team with just two athletes in it Isabelle Foerder (T35) has been at the top of this sport for decades having first competed at a Games all the way back in 1996 there’s always space for more success in her life Xalapa is the fourth stop on the Grand Prix series of 2024 and if it’s anything like what we have seen already we are going to have some enthralling contests Tunis and Jesolo have all brought their fair share of drama with the very biggest names delivering once again on the international stage there were major triumphs for Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner whilst the likes of Hannah Cockroft and Tatyana McFadden Tunis was very much an area-dominated event led by the hosts’ Raoua Tlili and Morocco’s Youssra Karim a strong Italian team that included Monica Contrafatto staked big claims As with all our Grand Prix competitions, you will be able to follow the action along from home. We will have live streams of each and every second in Xalapa available to view here You can use the same link for the live results as they happen too Also keep an eye across our World Para Athletics social media channels where we will bring you big moments and the pick of the day’s action Xalapa is the penultimate stop on this stint of the Grand Prix events And Marrakech will be one final run out for many athletes because from there will come the long-awaited Kobe 2024 World Para Athletics Championships Elder Phillip Justin (PJ) Cook has been called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Mexico If you know PJ you can feel his excitement for life spirit and the Gospel with the people in Mexico Snow College will proudly celebrate the accomplishments of its 1,573 graduates during commencement ceremonies .. LLC | www.heraldextra.com | 1200 Towne Centre Blvd Home » TDN Videos » Stallions » The Hill 'n' Dale Stallions Arrive at Xalapa It was a monumental day for Hill 'n' Dale Farm as the entire stallion roster made the move from their Lexington location to the newly and extensively renovated Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa outside Paris A caravan of four massive Sallee Horse Vans journeyed from Fayette County to Bourbon County today to deliver the 13 members of the Hill 'n' Dale stallion roster to their new residence: Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa Two-time Horse of the Year and Hill 'n' Dale flagbearer Curlin (Smart Strike) settled in quickly in his new stall nearest to the barn entrance Read more on the TDN Triple Time's First Foals Impressing Stallion Insights: Gunite's First Foals Blazing Sevens Provides Value for Breeders in the Bluegrass an indigenous mountain rainforest neighboring the city provides 30 percent of Xalapa’s water supply Recognizing both the climate change impacts facing the city and the importance of Xalapa’s surrounding ecosystems for helping its people adapt to these changes local authorities are now turning to natural solutions Partnering with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) they are working to restore and protect large areas of cloud forest around the city under the Global Environment Facility-backed CityAdapt project where 80 percent of the population lives in cities The CityAdapt project marks Xalapa as the first Latin American city to seize the potential of ecosystem-based adaptation–an approach that uses nature to adapt to climate change “The main goal of this project is to enhance the capacity of local governments to face the adverse effects of climate change,” Sergio Angón two reports have already been produced for Xalapa on climate change vulnerability and potential climate scenarios for 2039 Xalapa’s cloud forest—an ecosystem already reduced to just 1 percent of its former range around Mexico—could see temperatures rise by as much as 1.8°C by 2039 This story was originally published by the UN Environment Programme © 2025 Global Environment Facility, All Rights Reserved. | Legal At least 50 women disappeared in the Veracruz capital of Xalapa over three nights in 2011 – just some of the thousands of victims in the 10-year battle against drug trafficking The following night, María de Jesús Marthen was among a dozen or so young women invited to a private party at a ranch about an hour east of the city centre. On her way to the event, Marthen messaged her boyfriend, pleading for help. The next night, Karla Saldaña and her friend Luisa Quintana went out for tacos. They were spotted leaving a bar in an unknown vehicle. None of them were ever seen again, but they were not the only women to vanish: over the space of three nights in November 2011, at least 50 women disappeared in similar circumstances from Xalapa, the capital of Veracruz state, which had been convulsed by cartel violence and political volatility. Most of the missing women were in their 20s and came from modest families. Some were single mothers, some full-time sex workers, others were students and wannabe beauty queens. According to documents from the official investigation seen by the Guardian, many of them worked as high-class escorts or hostesses contracted for political events – as well as more exclusive parties attended by government officials and leaders of the feared Zetas drug cartel. Their fate remains unknown, but they are believed to have been forcibly “disappeared” because they knew too much about corrupt relationships between Mexican politicians and cartel bosses. Mexico’s then-president Felipe Calderón deployed thousands of troops to fight against organized crime at the start of what became an all-out war on drug trafficking which has raged ever since Since then, more than 100 of the country’s most wanted drug traffickers have been captured or killed but the campaign has not ended the narcotics trade the decade-long war has had a devastating impact on the country’s social fabric: violent crimes perpetrated organised crime factions – and the security forces themselves – have spread amid almost total impunity The human cost has been catastrophic: about 200,000 people have been murdered and at least 28,000 “disappeared” since 2007 trafficked and targeted for particular brutality Official records indicate almost 7,000 women and girls have disappeared since 2007 But activists say the reality is much worse The government register of the missing includes 164 women from Veracruz yet a local monitoring group has documented almost 500 cases of girls and women who have vanished in the past three years alone Amnesty International’s lead investigator in Mexico until 2015 said: “In this climate of corruption and impunity – where security policies are determined by links between criminal networks party politics and business interests – opportunities for targeting women and girls are closely connected with the knowledge that no one will do anything serious to protect them.” almost 20,000 women were murdered – a 49% increase on the previous decade according to the National Statistics Institute (INEGI) an oil-rich state on the Gulf coast with a population of eight million The region’s strategic location and the vast port in its largest city has made it a historically important route for drugs and contraband; political power has long depended on deals with big landowners and crime bosses The previously unreported disappearance – and probable murder – of the 50 or so young women happened at a time when the Zetas were losing their grip on the state which they had previously controlled for several years which was founded by defectors from army special forces had established itself during the 2004-10 governorship of Fidel Herrera when military operations appeared to focus on the historically powerful Gulf cartel opted to carve his own path rather than honour existing political pacts Violence rose across the state; gun battles became commonplace and dismembered bodies were dumped on the streets of Xalapa Karla Saldaña Photograph: Courtesy of the FamilyAt the time Karla Saldaña She drove an expensive car and had undergone cosmetic surgery paid for by a local business owner Her parents now know that she worked as an escort at events frequented by politicians and Zeta leaders She and her friend Luisa Quintana were last seen on 29 November 2011 “I’ve been investigating my daughter’s case since the day she never came home and while at first I wanted to believe they’d been trafficked they saw and heard things at these parties The final location of Saldaña’s cellphone was traced to an isolated mountainside near the border with Puebla and the investigation into her disappearance has gone nowhere Mexico’s security forces are routinely accused of committing the very crimes they were supposed to prevent. Scores of innocent women have been illegally arrested and tortured in order to elicit confessions and boost prosecution rates Troops were deployed in the streets without proper training in non-combat situations, and according to the United Nations, state, local and federal forces have all committed torture and abuse A state police officer during a confrontation with members of a gang in the neighbourhood of Casa Blanca in Xalapa Duarte requested federal forces soon after taking power to arrest or kill everyone who they suspected of working with the Zetas human rights and international organisations interfered,” said a former prosecutor who asked to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions a small city near the border with Tamaulipas which had once been a centre of the state’s oil boom was detained in an operation targeting a man – a suspected Zeta kidnapper – who’d been her boyfriend for a few weeks For four days she was kept blindfolded at secret military bases “A man in normal clothes came saying he was from the human rights department and was going to photograph my injuries in the bathroom During the attack a uniformed marine entered the room Rosales was held for several weeks without access to a lawyer before she was charged as an accomplice She told doctors about the rapes; they prescribed a powerful cocktail of psychotropic medication which she has only recently managed to wean herself off The following year Rosales was sentenced to 39 years in prison despite an expert report confirming she had been tortured and left with chronic physical and mental illnesses Rosales said that one marine told her that he worked for the Gulf cartel “The armed forces are just criminals in uniforms.” violence gradually dropped as Zeta leaders were killed or captured defected to other factions or started their own groups extortion and the trafficking of drugs and people – has flourished in Poza Rica and the rest of the state “The whole drug war is a simulation which ignores the deep connections and agreements between organised crime and the Mexican state,” said Estela Casados a social anthropologist at Veracruz University who runs the local gender violence observatory “The number and way women are killed serves as a thermometer of violence and impunity.” Corruption is entrenched. Duarte, the former governor, is now himself a fugitive, wanted on organised crime charges. Coverage of Mexico’s drug war has highlighted the grotesque public shows of violence: the decapitated corpses The trend can be traced back to Ciudad Juárez where during the 1990s hundreds of young women were sexually tortured and murdered their bodies often left on display in the street but we didn’t deal with it – and impunity has consequences Now everyone is vulnerable; the whole country has been turned into Juarez,” Mariana Berlanga a gender-violence expert at Mexico City’s Autonomous University The femicides of Juárez, most likely linked to trafficking rings, provoked international condemnation, multiple investigations – and eventually Hollywood movies. The only criminal prosecution revealed a web of crime connecting criminal gangs, corrupt officials – and the very security forces deployed to the city to take on the cartels the disappearance of hundreds of victims has failed to elicit a comparable response in a leafy Xalapa neighbourhood fitted with security cameras neighbours discovered the asphyxiated body of retired teacher María de Guadalupe Palacios One neighbour said: “There’s no government It’s like living in Halloween – anything goes.” people have combed the sponge-like cloud forests around the city of Xalapa Mexico for edible mushrooms. But a combination of deforestation and climate-change-related drought have devastated mushroom crops an important source of income in a region beset by poverty That is starting to change, though, through an initiative called CityAdapt, supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with backing from the Global Environment Facility It is helping locals cultivate their own mushrooms while replanting 2.5 kilometres of riverside forests which do the dual job of protecting against landslides and capturing rainwater for Xalapa Strategies that use natural solutions to counter the effects of climate change, like those in Xalapa, are known as ecosystem-based adaptation Despite their benefits, these approaches are not widely used due to a variety of barriers To help address that, UNEP released this week the Guidelines for Integrating Ecosystem-based Adaptation into National Adaptation Plans The document aims to show national and local officials around the world how to integrate ecosystem-based adaptation into national plans designed to counter the effects of climate change The guidelines detail the benefits as well as the challenges of adopting ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation They also cover what information planners should collect what expertise is needed and which stakeholders they should engage to successfully integrate ecosystem-based adaptation into national adaptation plans The guidelines follow the release of a landmark report from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) It found that unless the world drastically reduces greenhouse gas emissions rising global temperatures could spark more extreme weather wildfires, drought and erratic rainfall, which would impact homes infrastructure and livelihoods. “In the wake of the devastating IPCC report, countries are waking up to the need to be better prepared for climate change impacts which is the core of national adaptation planning,” “Ecosystems provide a wide range of services vital to adaptation and resilience, and need to be protected and included in that planning.” The new ecosystem-based adaptation guidelines contain a tool that maps out where ecosystems, such as mangroves coral reefs, and seagrasses, overlap with human populations vulnerable to storms, flooding, and landslides This combination helps identify areas where ecosystem-based approaches will have the greatest impact “Integrating ecosystem-based adaptation in national adaptation plans generates a wide array of co-benefits in addition to climate resilience,” said Mozaharul Alam UNEP’s Climate Change Coordinator for the Asia-Pacific Office. “It is a win-win strategy” UNEP’s Adaptation Gap Report 2020 found that 72 per cent of countries have adopted at least one national-level adaptation planning instrument while a further 9 per cent are developing one Most developing countries are preparing National Adaptation Plans The guidelines were developed under the National Adaptation Plan-Global Support Programme implemented jointly by UNEP and the United Nations Development Programme assists least-developed and developing countries to identify technical institutional and financial needs to integrate climate change adaptation into medium- and long-term national planning The programme supports the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change it works with development partners to implement the Nationally Determined Contributions and promotes ambitious climate action in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals The guidelines were officially launched on 6 September at the 2021 IUCN World Conservation Congress Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors