August 2003

Millions of Mexicans were glued to their television screens on Wednesday afternoon as the country’s current sporting heroine, Ana Guevara, 26, became the first Mexican to win a gold medal in her sport at the world championships or the Olympics.

Guevara draped the tricolor around her shoulders then took a call from President Vicente Fox, who had been one of those who watched her race live on television.

The gravely-voiced Guevara, who is from Nogales on the Mexico-US border, won the 400m in a personal best 48.89 seconds, the event’s fastest time since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The manner in which the Mexican destroyed her rivals in the eighth fastest time ever makes her a favourite for Olympic gold in Athens next year.

I have to admit to a craving for Vanilla Coke, which debuted here in the UK in late spring. Apparently, they use natural vanilla (phew! now I feel a lot better), buying it from several locations around the world. Regular ‘classic’ Coke has a smidgeon of vanilla in it as well.

Last year, Coca-Cola enjoyed a successful launch of Vanilla Coke. Sales of the much-hyped product were solid enough to provide a boost in Coke’s growth, including an increase in US market share for the first time in 4 years, with unprecedented levels of consumer take-up (28.5 per cent of US households bought the brand in its first 9 months on the market).

While latest figures show that some of the fizz has gone from Vanilla Coke’s sales, this has not put off arch-rivals PepsiCo, who began distributing Pepsi Vanilla in North America a fortnight ago.

So, why am I interested? Well, vanilla originally came from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The Totonaca of Papantla were probably the first to cultivate it, in present-day Veracruz state. At one time Mexico produced the world’s finest vanilla and had the monopoly on vanilla production until the latter part of the 19th century.

So, with vanilla enjoying a bit of a renaissance, the question is whether farmers from the vanilla-growing region on the Gulf of Mexico will once more benefit from the Vanilla Wars. Best check out the Vanilla.COMpany website, culinary historian Patricia Rain’s (aka ‘The Vanilla Queen’) socially conscious, product-driven information and education site dedicated to the promotion of pure, natural vanilla, and the support of vanilla farmers in Mexico and beyond.

While we’re on the subject of our tastebuds, there’s an article about Mexican food markets (California-style) in yesterday’s Santa Cruz Sentinel that is worth a read. An accompanying piece does a pretty good job of demystifying some common foodie terms, popular ingredients and cheeses.

Customs officials seized 500 tarantulas at Mexico City’s international airport on Thursday.

The Mexican environmental prosecutor’s office said the owner of the spiders failed to file the necessary paperwork to allow the Chilean rosehair tarantulas into Mexico. The rusty red and pink-haired arachnids are (relatively) docile and can be safely handled, making them among the most popular spiders in the pet trade.

The environment ministry said 135 of the tarantulas died. Of those that survived, 20 have been donated to the city’s Chapultepec Zoo and the rest transferred to a wildlife sanctuary.

Research into venom from the skittish Rosehair has shown promise as a drug to treat a common heart condition called atrial fibrillation.

“Aztec Two Step”, Turista… it can strike even the most seasoned traveller. Diarrhoea is the most frequent health-problem affecting travellers to ‘high risk’ countries, but clinical trials will shortly begin in Britain on an oral vaccine that could help prevent almost two thirds of the more than 400 million cases of diarrhoea each year.

The research is being carried out by scientists at a UK-based company Microscience, and about 40 healthy volunteers will soon be taking the new pill – the Travellers’ Diarrhoea (ETEC) Vaccine – to test its effectiveness and safety.

Most ‘over-the-counter’ rehydration solutions (e.g. Pepto-Bismol, Imodium, Lomotil) can help reduce the number of bowel movements and effectively relieve diarrhoea and cramps, but they may prolong the time it takes the body to rid itself of the toxin.

In Mexico, my mother-in-law will prescribe a traditional remedy like rosemary tea or agua de guava. Also effective if you suffer an upset stomach on the road or feel dehydrated is to mix refresco de manzana (an apple-flavoured soda) with agua de Tehuacan – a widely available mineral water. Almost any small store will prepare this for you on the spot (ask for the nearest ‘tienda de abarrotes’).

For well-balanced advice from The People’s Guide to Mexico, read Staying Healthy in Mexico

Alternatively, if you’re preparing for a trip, take a peek at the Pepto-Bismol Travelling Healthy Guide.

São Paulo-based journalist Bill Hinchberger has re-launched his eclectic BrazilMax website – a really smashing site for all Brazilianists, with a focus on what Bill calls “roots tourism” – eco, cultural, historical, rural, adventure, mature and business. A great way to start exploring the world’s fifth most populous country and cultura brasileira.

The Brazilian Embassy site is another good resource.

Jo Tuckman writes of an obesity epidemic sweeping Mexico in The Guardian today. “Even in remote villages,” she says, “it often seems easier to find a bag of potato chips than a banana.”

A longer version of her article appeared in the Houston Chronicle last week.

Each year on the night of 14th August – La Noche en que nadie duerme (“the night when nobody sleeps”), residents of Huamantla, Tlaxcala prepare the streets leading to the main church with 7km of ‘carpets’ made of sawdust and cut flowers. These ephemeral prayer rugs are as beautiful as they are colourful. The Huamantla fair lasts from the 8th-24th August. Thanks to Ron Mader for the tip-off.
Photo courtesy WorldExperience.com

An article on BBC Online today follows our story from Thursday.

Mexico City police officials are expected to release Rudolph W. Giuliani’s crime-busting recommendations for Mexico City today. Last October, Giuliani Partners was hired as a security consultant for US$4.3m by a group of private Mexican businessmen. They included billionaire magnate Carlos Slim who owns Mexico’s telco giant Telmex. Last week, the firm submitted an analysis of policing efforts in the city and how it can be improved.

The former New York City mayor rebuilt his own flagging political image with the no-nonsense manner in which he directed the rescue and recovery at the World Trade Center after 9/11.

In January, Giuliani himself made a highly publicised visit to Mexico City riding in dawn convoy through some of the most violent parts of the sprawling capital. Giuliani, aides and security guards toured the crime-ridden Tlatelolco neighbourhood in a convoy of 12 armoured Suburbans with blacked-out windows with a police motorcycle escort.