MEXICO POST REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 61
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 22, 2012
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: June 1, 1984
• Content Type: MISC

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
United States Department of State /$.-
June 1984 _ ~G JL.'btA~cY
Mexico
host Report
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Table of Contents
1 The Host Country
1 Area, Geography, and Climate
1 Population
1 Public Institutions
2 Arts, Science, and Education
3 Commerce and Industry
4 Transportation
5 Communications
6 Health and Medicine
9 Employment for Spouses and
Dependents
11 American Embassy
11 Mexico City
11 The Post and Its Administration
12 Housing
13 Food
13 Clothing
14 Supplies and Services
15 Religious Activities
15 Education
17 Recreation and Social Life
20 Official Functions
20 Special Information
23 Consulate General (Ciudad
Juarez)
27 Consulate General (Guadalajara)
31 Consulate General (Monterrey)
35 Consulate General (Tijuana)
39 Consulate (Hermosillo)
43 Consulate (Matamoros)
45 Consulate (Mazatlan)
49 Consulate (Merida)
53 Consulate (Nuevo Laredo)
55 Notes For Travelers
55 Getting to the Post
55 Customs, Duties, and Passage
55 Firearms and Ammunition
57 Currency, Banking, and Weights
and Measures
57 Taxes, Exchange, and Sale of
Property
57 Recommended Reading
59 Local Holidays
Preface
Mexico City has been a world capital for
centuries. To drive from the Cathedral in
the Zocalo situated on the site of the an-
cient Aztec Temple, through the last
vestiges of the colonial city, and up
Avenida Reforma to Chapultepec Park, is
to experience one of the world's great ur-
ban environments. Mexico City's Zona
Rosa has moderately priced, first !rate
restaurants. Shopping in both Mexico's
small towns and major cities offers buyers
a wide variety of handmade goods. Mex-
ico is one of the world's few countries
which has not only preserved its handicraft
industry but is expanding it.
The climate in Mexico City, Guadala-
jara, Tijuana, and Mazatlan is delightful.
Mexican beaches are world famous. Its
colonial cities are unique. and its pre-
Columbian ruins are unmatched. Mexico
is a tourist paradise that surrounds the
everyday lives of Mission employees.
An assignment to Mexico can'be ex-
citing and rewarding and a high point in
a Foreign Service career.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE PUBLICATION 9128
Department and Foreign Service Series 187
Foreign Affairs Information Management Center
Publishing Services Division
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents
U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402
Cover: Popcatepetl Volcano, as viewed from
Tialmananco, State of Mexico.
Photos on Cover and pages 2, 17, 18, 19, 24, 28, 32, 38, 42, 50,
51, 53, and 54 appear courtesy of the Mexican Government Tourist
Council.
This is the official post report prepared by
the post. The information contained herein
is directed ' to official U.S. Government
employees and their families. Any other in-
formation concerning the facts as set forth
herein is to be regarded as unofficial
information.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Area, Geography,
and Climate
Mexico, about one-fourth the size of the
U.S., is Latin America's third largest
country. The terrain ranges from low
desert plains and jungle-like coastal strips
to high plateaus and rugged mountains. In
the high plateau of south-central Mexico
lies the Valle de Mexico, called
"Anahuac" or "Country by the Waters"
by the native Indians because of the area's
many lakes during the pre-Hispanic period.
Plateau regions are temperate; moun-
tain temperatures are cool; and seacoast
temperatures are hot. The country ex-
periences a rainy season from June to Oc-
tober and a dry season from November to
May. Southern and eastern Mexico receive
the heaviest rainfall. The longest of Mex-
ico's few rivers is the Rio Grande, known
in Mexico as the Rio Bravo. Small boat
harbors are numerous, but few are of ma-
jor importance, and many first-class
natural harbors are undeveloped.
Veracruz, on the gulf coast, is the main
seaport. Since June 4, 1976, Mexico has
enforced a 200-mile maritime economic
zone.
Although Mexico shares a 2,000-mile
border with the U.S., its history, people,
customs, and way of life are distinctly its
own.
Population
Mexico has a population of 68 million
(1980 census). It has the second largest
population of any Latin American coun-
try and is the world's most populated
Spanish-speaking country. Nearly 50% of
the population live in the central plateau
region (14% of the national territory).
About two-thirds are mestizo (mixed In-
dian and Spanish blood); Mexico has
avoided the division of other Latin
American countries by proudly consider-
ing its population a distinct Mexican race.
Mexico began an aggressive and far-
reaching national family planning effort in
1973 to reduce the population growth rate
from its all-time high of 3.5 % in 1973 to
its current 2.7% level. Mexico is one of
The 'Host Country
This map of Mexico shows the location of the Embassy in Mexico City and the other nine constituent
posts which make up U.S. representation in Mexico.
the most successful in reducing its popula-
tion growth rate. The target population
growth rate of 1 % is to be achieved by
2000.
Spanish is the national language, but
in some areas only Indian dialects are
spoken. The literacy rate is about 72%.
Mexicans are generally friendly and
courteous and usually act more formally
on social occasions. Handshaking is the
minimum greeting among both men and
women; more often the warm "abrazo"
is exchanged among close friends.
Public Institutions
The country's official name is the United
Mexican States (Estados Unidos Mex-
icanos). The Mexican constitution of
February 5, 1917, provides for a Federal
Republic composed of 31 States and the
Federal District, where the capital is
located. The constitution provides for in-
dependent executive, legislative, and
judicial branches of the Federal
government.
The executive branch is dominant; its
power is vested in the President, who pro-
mulgates and executes the laws of the Con-
gress and also legislates by executive
decree in certain economic and financial
'fields. The President is elected by univer-
sal adult suffrage for a 6-year term and
may not be reelected. In the absence of a
Vice President, when an incumbent Presi-
dent is removed from office, or dies, Con-
gress elects a provisional President.
However, if this occurs within the first 2
years of a term, new elections are held.
Congress is composed of a Senate and
a Chamber of Deputies. Sixty-four
Senators (two from each State and the
Federal District) are elected to 6- and
3-year terms. Under constitutional and
legislative reforms adopted in 1977, the
Chamber of Deputies was enlarged to in-
clude 300 Deputies to be elected in single-
member districts by a plurality system and
100 Deputies to be elected by proportional
1
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
representation from the minority parties.
This guarantees minority representation in
the Chamber.
The judicial system consists of local
and Federal courts, including a Supreme
Court. The President appoints Supreme
Court justices, upon Senate approval. The
Mexican judicial system is based on
Roman civil law.
State governments are headed by an
elected Governor and have unicameral
legislatures. The Governor serves for 6
years. Gubernatorial elections are not held
concurrently with Federal elections. The
President appoints the Regent who is chief
executive officer of the Federal District.
Local government is on a municipal
level. Mayors and city council members
are popularly elected for 3-year terms.
Arts, Science,
and Education
Mexico City is also Mexico's cultural
center. Mexican people have a high degree
of cultural awareness. To some extent this
is due to both official and private efforts
to foster and popularize Mexico's cultural
heritage. Several foreign cultural exchange
institutes and numerous. museums, galler-
ies, and other cultural centers support in-
tellectual and artistic activities.
Public and private efforts have been
made to bring cultural presentations to
areas outside the capital. Most cities have
facilities for performances of traveling
theatrical and musical groups.
Fifteen U.S.-Mexico binational cen-
ters promote friendship and understanding
Scientific research is pursued at the univer I sity level. Shown here is the Laboratory of Cosmic Rays.
between Americans and Mexicans. Call-
ed "institutos" or "centros," these self-
supporting, nonprofit institutions ac-
complish cultural exchange through
teaching English (more than 30,000 Mex-
icans learn English annually); teaching
Spanish to foreigners; maintaining a
library; and sponsoring concerts, art ex-
hibits, lectures, and seminars involving the
leadership and youth of their commdnities.
The oldest center is located in Mexico Ci-
ty at Hamburgo 115; the newest center is
also in Mexico City at Colonia del Valle,
Xola 416. USIS has information on these
centers.
Benjamin Franklin libraries, spon-
sored by USIS, are located in Mexico Ci-
ty and Guadalajara, and, under special ar-
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
rangement with the Binational Center, in
Monterrey. They are U.S.-style libraries
with free public services. The libraries also
sponsor cultural activities similar to the
Binational Centers.
Personnel at border posts can take ad-
vantage of cultural activities in U.S. border
towns, particularly in cooperation with
nearby universities, colleges, and second-
ary schools. They and their dependents
often attend these schools.
The National Autonomous Universi-
ty of Mexico is one of the oldest institu-
tions of higher education in the Americas.
It shares a prestigious reputation with the
Colegio de Mexico, the Autonomous
Technological Institute of Mexico, and the
Ibero-American University. Because in-
struction is in Spanish, Americans prefer
the University of the Americas where some
classes are taught in English. The univer-
sity's main campus is in Cholula, near
Puebla. A branch campus is in Mexico Ci-
ty near the Embassy. Dependents often at-
tend universities, private colleges, and
junior colleges in the U.S.
Commerce and Industry
Mexico's economy has undergone a period
of unprecedented crisis, resulting from 4
years of excessive government spending.
Although government spending generated
an economic growth rate of over 8% for
1978-81, it also created inflationary
pressures and an economically unhealthy
reliance on external borrowing.
The new administration's 10-point
"Immediate Program for Economic
Recovery" includes a reduction in the
growth of public sector spending, en-
couragement of production programs, and
the maintenance of a mixed economy, par-
tially state-owned or -dominated and par-
tially privately owned. The President also
supported negotiations for a 3-year
stabilization program with the International
Monetary Fund (IMF). The plan, ratified
in December 1982, includes a $3.9 billion
loan to Mexico over a 3-year period.
For the first time in 39 years, real
economic activity declined (by 0.2%) in
1982, and the 1983 output is also expected
to decline.
To complement adjustment programs,
a new exchange rate became effective on
December 20, 1982. A dual exchange rate
system was introduced. A third exchange
rate, established to cover the payment of
dollar-denominated debts within Mexico,
was abolished on March 14, 1983. The
dual exchange rate consists of a "free"
rate and a controlled rate, the latter for the
payment of principal and interest on the
public sector external debt, interest on the
private sector debt, and for improved
exports.
In order to ease the expected rise in
unemployment, the administration an-
nounced a job-creating project in
December 1982, which expects to provide
some 500,000-700,000 public works jobs
for both the urban and rural unemployed.
Public sector overall spending is pro-
jected to decline in real terms in 1983. A
reduction in real expenditures is expected
in all sectors, including the petroleum in-
dustry, which is a marked departure from
earlier spending patterns.
Severe shortages of foreign exchange
have characterized Mexico's economic
crisis. The government is arranging $2
billion in official credits to facilitate needed
imports of food, spare parts, and basic in-
du'trial inputs. The U.S. will provide 50%
of `e khcredits. The Mexican Government
has received trade-related loans from the
Wo ld Bank. It is also seeking additional
Wo ld Bank and Inter-American Develop-
met Bank funds. Mexico has also suc-
ces ully negotiated a $5 billion commer-
cial bank loan from the country's external
creditors.
inflation soared in Mexico, as
reflected in the national consumer price in-
dex, ~ by 98.8% from December 1981 to
December 1982, compared with 28.7 % for
the same period a year earlier. Such infla-
tion rates were unprecedented in Mexican
histo6. The dramatic change in the peso's
value'(which was devalued 83 % in dollar
terms during 1982) helped push prices up.
This also affected net financing in the
banking system, as banks were unable to
attract new depositors and private sector
demand for funds dropped steeply.
Mexico's balance of payments was
altered dramatically in 1982, due principal-
ly to the high costs of imports resulting
from the depreciation of the peso against
the dollar, higher tariffs, and from August
onward, the scarcity of dollars. Imports
fell 39.7 % from 1981 to 1982, and the
trade balance registered a surplus for the
first time in 39 years. Although a sharp
drop in imports was responsible for the
marked shift in the trade balance, the lower
import volume has severely affected the
country's productive capacity. Shortages
of imported goods are forcing slowdowns
or stoppage in many industries. The short-
ages, in turn, aggravate the unemployment
problem. Foreign exchange earnings have
been affected by a decline in world oil
prices, as petroleum is an important Mex-
ican export. Foreign tourists (a major.
revenue source) declined by 6.7 % in 1982,
in light of the unsettled economic situation.
On the other hand, the decline in Mexican
tourism to the U.S., brought on by the
peso/dollar parity change, has adversely
affected the U.S. border economy.
Mexico's economic outlook for the
next few years will reflect the administra-
tion's ongoing measures to adjust current
economic imbalances.
The most dramatic change resulting
from the economic crisis and adjustment
program has been in Mexico's external ac-
counts. The sharp decline in imports in the
second half of 1982 has continued. Imports
in 1983 are projected at $1-$2 billion less
than the $14 billion 1982 total. The
government is planning a significant im-
provement in nonpetroleum exports in
1983, to generate foreign exchange and
maintain production levels in the face of
declining domestic demand.
In order to encourage foreign invest-
ment, the administration has granted ex-
ceptions to the 1972 Foreign Investment
Law, which limits foreign participation in
a given enterprise to 49% of the equity.
Foreign investment could offset the sharp
decline in the level of domestic savings and
the decline in public and private
investment.
The former administration national-
ized the Mexican banking system on
September 1, 1982. Legislation passed in
December 1982 permits up to one-third of
the bank's shares to be bought by the
public, although no one person or company
can hold more than 1 % of a bank's equity.
Mexico has been the third largest
market for U.S. imports in recent years.
The $10 billion decline in total Mexican
imports from 1981 to 1982 is estimated to
have cost thousands of U.S. jobs. Accord-
ing to U.S. Department of Commerce
data, U.S. exports to Mexico declined
32% from 1981 levels to less than
$12 billion in 1982, In addition, the scar-
city and sharply higher cost of dollars have
meant payment arrears which have hurt
revenues and profits for many U.S. firms.
Mexican imports are expected to continue
to decline in 1983. Due to a severe
drought, food imports are expected to sur-
pass $2 billion in 1983, implying that food
will have a historically higher share of total
imports.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Transportation
Automobiles
An automobile is desirable at all posts. Air-
conditioning is recommended for lower
altitude posts where year-round
temperatures reach uncomfortable highs
and in Mexico City to filter pollution. In
the more temperate climates, like Guadala-
jara, air-conditioning is optional but
desirable.
GM, Ford, Chrysler, American
Motors, Datsun, Renault, and VW cars are
made in Mexico, and adequate repair serv-
ices are available for these makes. Good
auto service, especially for power steering,
power brakes, and automatic transmissions
is hard to find and expensive. Many peo-
ple find that the simplest cars get the best
service. However, traffic and parking
make power steering and automatic trans-
missions desirable. Costs for parts are
high, and Mexican products are not up to
U.S. standards; parts for late model
American cars (even though the same
model is manufactured in Mexico) often
cannot be obtained in Mexico and must be
ordered from the U.S., which delays repair
work. Install a locking gas cap before com-
ing to Mexico.
Some cars, especially large ones with
optional equipment, can lose up to 25 % of
their power at Mexico City's altitude; such
cars should have 8-cylinder engines. Many
single people and employees with small
families prefer compacts or midrange
models. To insure efficient operation of
your car in Mexico City, have it tuned for
high altitude either before or after arrival
at post.
Gas is sold only by the government
monopoly "Pemex." Keep tanks full when
traveling cross country, since gas stations
are not as numerous as in the U.S. How-
ever, enough stations on major routes can
supply most gasoline needs. Two grades
of gasoline are available: Pemex Extra, in
a silver pump, is 94 octane unleaded;
Pemex Nova, in a blue pump, is 81 octane
and leaded. Extra is becoming scarcer,
especially outside metropolitan areas.
Although diesel fuel is available, it is hard
to find away from the main highways.
Driving is on the right. Major U.S.
border points and Mexico City are linked
by hard-surfaced roads. The best route to
Mexico City and points south is Highway
85 which begins at Nuevo Laredo and pro-
ceeds south through Monterrey, then con-
nects with Highway 40 to Saltillo and
Highway 57 to Mexico City. However, the
road is mostly two lane, and traffic,
especially commercial, is heavy. Average
time from Laredo to Mexico City is 14 to
15 hours of hard driving; a good midway
stopping point is in Matehuala, which is
almost exactly halfway. A more scenic
route south of Monterrey but more time
consuming and arduous is via Ciudad Vic-
toria on a continuation of Highway 85.
Toll roads (cuota) are designated by the let-
ter "D"after the highway number and are
safer and faster than free (libre) routes.
Another route leaves the U.S. at
Nogales, Arizona, and reaches Mexico Ci-
ty via Mazatlan and Guadalajara. The road
from El Paso, Texas, through Chihuahua,
Hidalgo de Parral, Durango, Zacatecas,
Leon, and Queretaro is also good but not
as scenic. Good overnight accommoda-
tions exist on all routes. The Mexican
Department of Tourism provides a reliable
highway emergency assistance patrol, easi-
ly spotted by its green service truck.
When the Embassy receives your
assignment notice, detailed driving direc-
tions will be sent to you. Wandering
livestock is a serious nighttime driving
hazard on all highways. For this reason,
and as a security precaution, employees on
official travel are prohibited from driving
after sundown, and personal travel by car
at night is not advised.
City police officers often stop cars
with out-of-country license plates for
minor traffic violations.
All personal vehicles can enter Mex-
ico for the first time on a tourist basis by
obtaining a Mexican temporary import
permit at the border. You will need a U.S.
car title or other proof of ownership as well
as a valid drivers license. Upon arrival at
post, the Embassy General Services Office
(GSO) will document the car thrbugh the
Foreign Ministry. You must have third-
party liability insurance issued by a Mex-
ican company. This requirement must be
enforced since Mexican law requires the
driver of a vehicle involved in an accident
to show proof of financial responsibility.
In the absence of such a guarantee, a driver
may be held, pending court settlement.
You must carry proof of insurance in your
car. Several insurance companies offer
plans which automatically cover you for
30 days after crossing the border. Contact
one of these firms before entering Mex-
ico, to alert them to your travel plans. All
incoming personnel receive information on
liability insurance.
Comprehensive and collision in-
surance is available from both U.S. and
Mexican companies. The Foreign Service
Lounge has brochures of U.S. companies.
The Embassy assists employees and
dependents (minimum age 18) in acquir-
ing Mexican driver permits. A valid
license, regardless of origin, will suffice
until a Mexican permit is obtained.
Dependents aged 16-18 with a valid U.S.
license must take a short drivers education
course and have written parental approval
to obtain a valid Mexican license. The
GSO has further information.
The Mexican Government closely
regulates importation and operation of
privately owned motor vehicles and applies
special rules to personnel of foreign
diplomatic and consular establishments.
The following rules apply to all American
employees and dependents assigned any-
where in Mexico:
? The Mexican Government regulates
automobile manufacture and assembly in
Mexico, and diplomatic and consular
employees can import only those makes
and models similar to those made or
assembled in Mexico. These acceptable
cars are labeled Category A and are listed
for model year 1972 and later; all unlisted
makes and models, assembled in Mexico
or not, may not be imported. No car over
10 years old may be imported. A list of
cars acceptable for import is pouched to
all incoming personnel upon receipt of
assignment notice at post.
? Diplomatic and consular officers
and all members of the technical and ad-
ministrative staff of the Mission, including
constituent posts, may import only one
Category A vehicle during their tour,
regardless of the length of tour or transfer
within Mexico.
All employees may purchase, without
limitation, cars manufactured or assem-
bled in Mexico or fully eligible for sale in
the country, but they are expensive.
At times the Mexican Government has
interpreted its rules in different ways. GSO
must approve importation of any vehicle
before entry into Mexico. Cable approval
requests, including the vehicle's make,
model, and serial number.
Local and Regional
Air transportation is good between major
Mexican and U.S. cities. Seven U.S.
airlines, two Mexican, and several others
provide service from Mexico to the U.S.
and other countries. Service among the
Mexican cities where American Consulates
are located is acceptable.
Railroad service within Mexico and
between Mexico and the U.S. is slow but
adequate, and fares are low.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Traffic congestion adds to Mexico's severe pollution problems. Shown here is Paseo de la Reforma
on a smoggy day.
Mexico also has an extensive bus
system providing service throughout the
country and to and from the U.S.
However, buses are often overcrowded
and accidents are numerous. Alternate
ways of traveling are recommended.
Daily flights are available between
Mazatlan and Mexico City, as are several
flights each week to Los Angeles, Denver,
Tucson, Phoenix, Dallas, San Francisco,
Seattle, and El Paso. Mexican rail lines
connect Mazatlan with other cities in Mex-
ico, as well as with the border at Nogales,
Arizona, and Mexicali, Baja California.
Also, Route 15, an all-weather road, con-
nects Nogales, Arizona, with Mazatlan.
Bus transportation within Mazatlan is
adequate. To enjoy the post fully, as well
as many nearby beautiful mountain resorts,
you need a car.
Communications
Telephone and Telegraph
Local and international service is good,
and both national and international calls
may be dialed directly. Long-distance calls
are accepted in English. Rates for local
service are lower than in the U.S., but
long-distance rates (domestic and interna-
tional) are higher. Telephone credit cards
are accepted. All employees are eligible
for the 35 % tax exemption on long-
distance calls.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
At certain posts, including Mexico
City, obtaining a telephone for new
residences in suburban areas can be dif-
ficult and may involve a long wait. If possi-
ble, rent quarters with a telephone.
Domestic and international telegraph
service is good. Telegrams are accepted in
English and may be billed to home
telephone numbers.
Mail and Pouch
Letters may be sent by open international
mail, by Department of State pouch, or via
the post office box in Laredo, Texas.
Transmittal time by all three routes be-
tween Mexico City and Washington, D.C.,
averages. 10 days. The fastest, most
reliable service is through the Laredo,
Texas, address. Department pouch
facilities are recommended when sending
important documents. Parcel post,
periodicals, and letters can be sent through
either the pouch facilities or the Laredo
post office. Addresses are as follows:
All mail via Laredo
Full name
U.S. Embassy, Mexico City
P.O. Box 3087
Laredo, Texas 78041
Letter mail via pouch
Full name (Agency)
Post
Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
Packages and periodicals via pouch
Full name (Agency)
Post
Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20521
Parcels weighing up to 2 pounds are
sent via air pouch, as are all properly iden-
tified packages containing prescription
medicines, prescription eyeglasses, hear-
ing aids, batteries, prosthetic devices, or-
thopedic shoes, and other emergency items
for health and welfare, regardless of
weight.
Packages sent via pouch cannot weigh
more than 40 pounds, be more than 24
inches in length, or exceed 62 inches in
length and girth combined. Items cannot
be registered or insured. Liquids, fragile
items, perishables, explosives, and tobac-
co products are prohibited. Domestic
postage must be paid to Washington, D.C.
Customs declarations are not required. The
Department of State will accept no respon-
sibility for loss or damage to mail via
Department pouch facilities. In addition,
mail sent through Laredo can l?e registered
and/or insured only to Laredo, Texas. No
insurance or registration is possible once.
it crosses the border into Mexico if it has
been addressed to Laredo.
Merida. Address magazines and peri-
odicals from the U.S. as follows:
Full name
AmConsul, Merida
P.O. Box 3087
Laredo, Texas 78041
Radio and TV
Radio VIP, affiliated with CBS, is an
English-language FM radio station in Mex-
ico City. It provides music and world news
coverage 18 hours daily. Guadalajara's
English-language radio station also offers
music and major network coverage.;
Both color and black-and-white TV
programs are broadcast in Mexico and,
although most programs are in Spanish, a
few U.S. productions (mainly movies) are
broadcast in English with Spanish subtitles.
Cablevision is available in many parts of
Mexico City; a fee for installation is
charged and a monthly subscription costs
about US $180. Cablevision carries. most-
ly U.S. programs and broadcasts about 12
hours daily. Consular posts near the U.S.
border can receive U.S. TV broadcasts.
U.S. TV sets (both color and black
and white) can be used in Mexico and are
of better quality than those available here.
Mexico City has converted completely to
60 cycles, but voltage regulators; protect
TV's, stereos, and fine AM-FM equip-
ment against periodic current surges.
Voltage regulators are available locally.
Newspapers, Magazines,;
and Technical Journals
U.S. newspapers are sold in most large
Mexican cities, although prices are higher
than in the U.S. The News is a daily
English-language newspaper with adequate
world and local coverage.
Most U.S. magazines can be pur-
chased in local stores at higher than U.S.
prices, or may be subscribed to through
either the Laredo address or Washington,
D.C., at domestic rates. Each issue arrives
1-2 weeks late. Most people prefer to buy
weekly news magazines locally.
Several bookstores in Mexico City sell
books in English (mostly paperback) at a
15%-20% markup over U.S. prices.
USIS maintains Benjamin Franklin
Libraries in Mexico City, Monterrey, and
Guadalajara with books in Spanish and
English. Some people belong to U.S. book
clubs.
Health and Medicine
Medical Facilities
The Embassy Health Unit, staffed by the
regional medical officer and a Foreign
Service nurse, provides routine office care
and examinations and assists in emergen-
cies. An American contract staff psychol-
ogist works on a part-time basis. Medi-
cines and miscellaneous first-aid supplies
for treating minor illnesses and injuries are
available. All required immunizations, ex-
cluding yellow fever, are given at the
Health Unit. An office laboratory and a
regional psychiatrist are being added to
Health Unit services this year.
Each post maintains a list of English-
speaking doctors and dentists (most U.S.
trained). The regional medical officer for
Mexico and Cuba periodically visits each
Consulate and gives medical advice con-
cerning ongoing medical problems there.
Each post is familiar with recom-
mended local hospitals, clinics, and
laboratories. Consular posts have only
first-aid supplies. Local doctors provide
medical care unless the illness is.serious
enough to warrant medical evacuation to
The American-British-Cowdray Hos-
pital (ABC Hospital) in Mexico City treats
emergencies and is used for hospitaliza-
tions. Most major medical and surgical
problems are evacuated to Brooke Army
Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Border posts use the nearest U.S. medical
facility. All medical evacuations to the
U.S. are coordinated through the regional
medical officer.
Drugstores in all post cities carry a
complete line of drugs at reasonable prices,
but spot shortages have occurred. Most
drugs available are made in Mexico and
many. are manufactured by subsidiaries of
U.S. drug firms. Bring a sufficient supply
of any prescription medicine you regular-
ly take. Refills from your local pharmacy
may take a long time. Determine the pro-
cedure for obtaining refills before leaving
the U.S. Check with the Health Unit about
drugs prescribed locally to insure that the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration con-
siders the drug safe.
Ciudad Juarez. General practitioners,
specialists, dentists, oculists, optometrists,
and medical and surgical treatment ob-
tainable in El Paso are excellent. Services
6
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
of William Beaumont Army Medical
Center are available under the Department
of State emergency medical treatment pro-
gram. Army facilities at Ft. Bliss in El
Paso are also used for routine State Depart-
ment medical examinations. The William
Beaumont Army Medical Center does not
handle Consulate General personnel for
routine medical treatment as this is not
covered by the agreement between State
and Defense. However, with numerous
hospitals and medical specialists available
in Ciudad Juarez and El Paso, this presents
few difficulties. Staff members normally
locate a family doctor and dentist from
services are adequate. More sophisticated
medical advice and services in all fields of
specialization are available in Los Angeles
(a 2-hour flight from Mazatlan) or in Tuc-
son, Arizona (a 11h-hour flight from
Mazatlan).
Mazatlan can be an unhealthful post,
particularly during hot, humid summers,
when food contamination and spoilage can
cause digestive upsets. More difficult in-
testinal problems, amoebiasis and Giardia
are common, especially among children.
Occasional outbreaks of dengue fever and
other tropical diseases occur. Medicines to
treat these diseases are available locally.
among those already used by people at Merida. Merida is an unhealthful post,
post. . and although no salary differential is al-
Guadalajara. Several well-equipped
hospitals and clinics and numerous
English-speaking physicians, many U.S.
trained, provide adequate medical care.
Despite the latest diagnostic and treatment
equipment, laboratory and nursing care do
not meet U.S. standards. Several good,
English-speaking dentists are available. An
American nurse is contracted for 4 hours
biweekly to administer shots and offer
medical advice. The post also has contract
agreements with two U.S.-trained doctors
for exams and referral.
Hermosillo. Local medical facilities,
which include several privately owned
hospitals, are fairly diversified, reliable,
and adequate. Many doctors studied in the
U.S. Most medicines are available and are
of good quality but expensive. More
sophisticated medical services in all fields
are available in Tucson or Phoenix,
Arizona. Aeromexico Airlines has daily
flights to both cities.
Matamoros. For emergency treat-
ment, house calls, etc., several well-quali-
fied, highly competent doctors are avail-
able. However, hospital facilities are poor.
Medical facilities in Brownsville are ade-
quate but overcrowded. Excellent dental
care is available in Brownsville. Specialists
and excellent hospital facilities and diag-
nostic equipment are available in Har-
lingen, Texas, about 25 miles from
Brownsville. Harlingen is becoming a
recognized medical center with superior
facilities.
Mazatlan. Local medical facilities
available to Americans are inadequate by
U.S. standards. Several private hospitals
and clinics are adequate for routine
requirements.
Several U.S.-trained doctors and den-
tists practice in Mazatlan, and diagnostic
lowed, time-and-a-half is counted toward
ret.1rement. Amoeba and other digestive
up ets are common and care should be
talon to prevent infection from hepatitis
and
are are
tors
are
similar diseases. Although mosquitoes
numerous, malaria is rare. Local doc-
are competent, but medical facilities
inadequate. Several good dentists,
oculp'sts and opticians, and other specialists
practice here. However, postoperative care
is p or and evacuation to the U.S. is
reco ended for all but emergency
Burg ry.
Monterrey. Many of the city's general
practitioners and specialists are highly
recoiT.
Good
train
ended; many are U.S. trained.
dentists, some of whom are U.S.
, are available. Two large, modern,
well-equipped hospitals are used for
emergency care. Diagnostic labs are ade-
quate or ordinary requirements. Medical
services are usually adequate, except in
difficult and unusual cases which may re-
quire LIT. S. treatment.
Nuevo Laredo. Medical and dental
facilitie in Laredo, Texas, are reasonably
good, and employees at the Consulate
customarily consult doctors in the U.S.
However, dental clinics abound in Nuevo
Laredo, with many providing excellent
treatment at reasonable prices.
Tijuana. Many capable dentists and
doctors are in the San Diego area.
Employees and their dependents needing
hospitalization usually go to one of the
many first-class hospitals in the Chula
Vista and San Diego area. An American
contract medical adviser performs medical
examinations in Tijuana for the post. Re-
quired immunizations are provided free by
the Public Health Service in Chula Vista,
California.
Community Health
Air pollution is severe in Mexico City.
However, based on available information
no cause exists to suspect that exposure
during a tour here will increase the risk of
chronic disease or future illness in healthy
individuals. Pre-existing cardiopulmonary
disease, however, is aggravated here.
Tapwater is not safe to drink. The
treated water becomes contaminated dur-
ing distribution due to the antiquated pip-
ing and overuse. Boil water before
drinking.
A high incidence of tuberculosis is'
found in the general population. TB detec-
tion and treatment are in cooperation with
the World Health Organization. But,
because many people are not reached by
the program, screen all servants for TB
before hiring them.
Malaria has been eradicated from
most urban areas, but some rural areas
are still a risk. The Health Information
Booklet for International Travel lists
these areas. Before traveling to tropical
parts of Mexico consult with the Embassy
Health Unit about the need for anti-
-malaria drugs.
The combination of aridness related
to the altitude and the long dry season and
severe air pollution causes irritation of
the mucous membranes of the respiratory
tract. Upper respiratory problems such as
rhinitis, sinusitis, and bronchitis are the,
leading causes of medical attention in
Mexico. People prone to these problems
suffer greatly because of the ever-present
irritant environment.
Vaccination- for yellow fever is re-
quired by Mexico; however, the Embassy
Health Unit does not have the vaccine.
Intestinal parasites are prevalent in
Mexico. Exercise caution in selecting
food sources. Carefully clean and treat
fruits and vegetables with iodine or
chlorine before eating them raw. Most
dairy products are considered safe.
Drugs of all types are readily
available in Mexico City. Mexican laws
are strict with those who use and traffic in
narcotics, and teenagers are tried as
adults. Most drug-related offenders are
jailed for lengthy periods.
Preventive Measures
Due to the complexity of medical prob-
lems in Mexico City, all persons assigned
to post should report promptly to the
Health Unit for a medical briefing.
All adults assigned to Mexico City
must receive pulmonary function evalua-
tion before coming to post because of the
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Popular Mariachi folk music is performed throughout Mexico. Shown here are Mariachis a la entrada
del Fuerte de Loreto, Puebla.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
post's high altitude. In addition, anyone
with a history of cardiopulmonary disease
such as asthma, emphysema, chronic
bronchitis, high blood pressure, coronary
artery disease, and/or valvular heart
disease should have a thorough medical
evaluation of any of these problems
before proceeding to post. (Report the
history of any of these problems to
M/MED and Personnel if Mexico is be-
ing considered as a possible assignment.)
Routine childhood diseases are more
prevalent here due to inadequate vaccina-
tion programs. All dependent children
should have the usual inoculations com-
pleted in the U.S. Contaminated food and
water supplies cause an increased inci-
dence of hepatitis, typhoid, paratyphoid,
amoebiasis, Giardia, and intestinal
worms.
Pregnant women should not smoke.
Potential adverse effects of smoking on
the fetus are increased by the altitude and
air pollution.
Cigarette smokers increase the risk
of developing cardiopulmonary diseases
at Mexico City's altitude and should
greatly reduce the amount smoked, or
quit altogether.
During stagnation conditions when
there is an expected or obvious accumula-
tion of air pollutants, residents should be
cautious and avoid strenuous outdoor
activity.
Despite government efforts to con-
trol the source, i.e., stray dogs and other
rabid animals, rabies is prevalent
throughout Mexico. All pets require
health certificates and immunizations cer-
tified by a Mexican consular official resi-
dent in the originating area.
Parents should consider having their
children immunized against rabies before
coming to Mexico. The Health Unit
stocks the vaccine (a human product).
Joggers and individuals who may work in
rural areas should also receive the anti-
rabies shots.
Adults should have current immu-
nization
status for
typhoid
(every
3
years),
diphtheria,
tetanus
(every
10
years),
and yellow
fever
(every
10
years). Gamma globulin is given every 6
months to everyone over age 12 to pre-
vent hepatitis.
Because of Mexico's high altitude,
newcomers should allow for acclimatiza-
tion. Avoid overeating, alcoholic
beverages, and undue exertion for the
first few days and until you do not suffer
from lightheadedness, insomnia, slight
hea ache, or shortness of breath.
I.The Health Unit will provide
newcomers with helpful do's and don't's
regarding your health.
Employment for
Spouses and Dependents
~i.
Employment opportunities are limited
because Mexican law prohibits foreigners
from holding jobs which Mexicans can
fill. Spouses have successfully taken
positions in the fields of education and
English instruction. Finding other
employment is almost impossible.
Spousos and dependents at border posts
may choose to work in the U.S.
The Embassy and some Consulates
hire a few dependents temporarily, most
often in secretarial positions. These posi-
tions require at least 40 wpm and almost
always ~ working knowledge of Spanish.
The Embassy liaison officer would like to
emphasize to dependents that if you want
to work in Mexico, you should brush up
on your secretarial skills. They are often
in demand.
No employment opportunities are
available in Juarez. However, some
employment can be found in adjacent
El Paso, Texas.
Often, in summer and at Christmas,
the Para Consular Assistant (PCA) pro-
gram operates in the nonimmigrant visa
unit (NIV). Student/teen employment
programs provided limited employment
for students during the summers of 1980,
1981, 1982, and 1983. If funds are
available, the program will again provide
limited employment next summer for
high school and college-aged students
within the Embassy.
Matamoros. Although dependents
cannot currently work on the Mexican
side of the border, job opportunities do
exist in Brownsville. Particularly
noteworthy are positions in retail
marketing and real estate, two of the
area's most important industries. Profes-
sional career opportunities are more
limited. A wide variety of community
service and volunteer organizations exists
as well.
Merida. Only on rare occasions is
Consulate Merida able to provide tem-
porary employment.
Monterrey. The Consulate General
in Monterrey hires spouses to work on a
part-time, intermittent, temporary (PIT)
basis when the workload is very heavy,
and the Department authorizes such
hiring.
Nuevo Laredo. Employment oppor-
tunities in Nuevo Laredo are limited to
one seasonal (1-2 week) PIT position in
the NIV unit, during the peak season. A
variety of employment opportunities is
available in Laredo, Texas.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Mexico City
Mexico City is a cosmopolitan capital:
The glass-walled skyscrapers lining the
Paseo de la Reforma, the stunning archi-
tecture of the Museum of Anthropology,
the elegant restaurants of the "Zona
Rosa," the numerous deluxe hotels, the
Lomas residential area with its palatial
homes, and up-to-date supermarkets are
all signs of a world metropolitan center.
But underneath all this surface glitter re-
mains the capital of a developing country.
Mexico City lies in a long valley high
in the mountains of central Mexico.
Many of the peaks encircling the city are
extinct volcanoes, including the spec-
tacular "Iztaccihautl," (iss-tak-SEE-
wattle) or "Sleeping Lady," and "Popo-
catepetl," (po-po-ca-TEH-petal) or "The
Warrior. "
Although Mexico City is only 19? N.
of the Equator, the high altitude (7,349
feet) creates a fall-like climate all year.
The two seasons are the dry and rainy
seasons. The latter lasts from June until
October when 2-3 hours of rain fall every
day. The weather is coolest December
through February when nights and early
mornings can be quite cold, but daytime
temperatures are warmer. March, April,
and May are "summertime," but
because of the altitude the nights remain
cool; it is also especially dusty as these
months are at the end of the dry season.
Average temperature is 60?F, relative
humidity is 54%, and annual rainfall is 29
inches.
Air pollution is a problem in Mexico
City. Traffic congestion in the city also
makes driving hazardous. Fender
benders are common and defensive driv-
ing is an absolute must. Pedestrians must
exercise great care in crossing streets.
Mildew is not usually a problem
although some houses are particularly
damp and care should be taken when stor-
ing books. Bugs and insects, including
mosquitoes and flies, may be a problem
during the rainy season. Few homes have
screens.
American Embassy
About 46,000 of the Mexico City
consular district's residents are registered
with the Embassy. Around 44,000 of the
district's residents live in Mexico City.
Smaller colonies of British, French, Ger-
mans, Lebanese, Spaniards, Japanese, and
other nationalities are also present.
The Post and
Its Administration
The Embassy in Mexico City is one of the
world's largest diplomatic missions, due
principally. to the enormous amount of
tourist, official, and commercial inter-
change between the U.S. and Mexico.
The Embassy and constituent posts
employ over 1,100 people, some 60% of
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Mexico City's famous "Angel" on Paseo de la Reforma. The American Embassy is the white marble
building on the left.
whom are Mexican citizens. In addition
to the diplomatic relations between the
two governments, the Mission offices
foster closer relations through economic,
cultural, informational, commercial, and
agricultural activities.
Agencies within the Mission besides
State are Agriculture, the Battle
Monuments Commission, Commerce
(U.S. Travel and Tourism Administra-
tion, Weather Bureau, and U.S. Trade
Center), Defense, the U.S. Information
Service (USIS), Justice (Drug Enforce-
ment Administration, Immigration and
Naturalization Service, and Legal), and
Treasury (Customs and Internal Revenue
Service).
Most offices are in the Chancery, an
eight-story building with marble facade
and inner court completed in 1964. The
Chancery is at Paseo de la Reforma 305.
The mailing address is:
American Embassy
Apartado Postal
88 Bis
Mexico 1, D.F., Mexico
The telephone is [phone]. Hours
in most offices are Monday through Fri-
day, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.
A general duty officer and a consular
duty officer are on duty after hours. The
switchboard is always open, and a
Marine Guard is on duty at all times.
Upon Arrival at Post. Most persons
arrive by air or car. New arrivals travel-
ing by plane or train are met if they in-
form the Embassy in advance. Employees
are encouraged to arrive during office,
hours to streamline the settling-in proc-
ess. If you arrive after hours, call the
Marine Guard to find out whom to
contact.
Mexico City has an active Embassy
Liaison Office (ELO) which provides
direct personal information about hous-
ing, schools, shopping, dependent
employment, etc. The Embassy liaison
officer is a dependent of a U.S. employee
at post, and serves the Embassy com-
munity, as well as assisting new arrivals
and their families.
All employees should report to the
ELO on the third floor by 9 am for orien-
tation. Immediately following is in-
processing at the Personnel Office.
Housing
Temporary Quarters
Many hotels near the Embassy are ade-
quate for a temporary stay. Although
most housing is found within a month,
most new arrivals stay in suites or fur-
nished apartments with housekeeping
facilities. Very few accept pets. Mexico
City is 'a mecca of tourists and most hotels
fill up early, so give the Embassy as
much advance notice as possible of your
arrival time and temporary housing
needs.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Permanent Housing
The Ambassador's residence, owned by
the U.S. Government, is a modern, two-
story house. The DCM and Defense at-
tache have government-owned housing.
As circumstances dictate, the Ambas-
sador assigns housing for one other
senior officer. The State Department pro-
vides U.S. Government-leased housing
and major appliances (but not stoves and
furniture) for counselors of Embassy.
Senior representatives of other U.S.
agencies are provided housing, major
appliances, and furnishings according to
agency policy and directives. The Em-
bassy will provide detailed information
upon request.
Most employees live in government-
leased housing; in the near future, hous-
ing assignments will be made prior to an
employee's arrival at post. Any special
housing needs should be made known to
the General Services Office (GSO) as
soon as possible.
Most single people and some families
live in apartments. Be prepared to spend
up to 6 weeks finding permanent quarters
and then to invest in light fixtures, cur-
tains, and perhaps rugs.
Furnishings
Household furnishings used in the U.S.
are suitable here. Bring basic items you
own. People without furniture may wish
to wait until after arrival to decide
whether to buy items locally or order
from the U.S. Upholstered pieces (sofas,
easy chairs, etc.) and wool rugs are
expensive here, and quality and selection
are limited. The same is true for
upholstery fabrics. However, upholstery
work is reasonable and satisfactory, so
some buy fabrics in the U.S. and have the
work done here. Some colonial-style fur-
niture is sold, but buy only from
reputable outlets that guarantee their
work and use quality materials. A variety
of inexpensive drapery material is sold,
and curtains can be made at reasonable
prices. Contact the GSO for more infor-
mation concerning the post's policy of
procuring draperies for newcomers. Win-
dow sizes vary, so do not buy draperies
in advance. Many new apartments in-
clude carpeting and curtains. Household
linens and kitchenware may be expen-
sive, as is fine china. Local pottery is
attractive and inexpensive. If you have
them, bring plenty of wool and/or electric
blankets; homes are poorly heated, if at
all, and nights are cold. Thick wool In-
dian blankets in a variety of colors are
available locally and are popular among
handicraft enthusiasts.
Some household Hospitality Kits are
available on a first-come, first-served
basis. These kits contain basic items
needed to set up housekeeping-dishes,
pots and pans, bed and bath linens, etc.
They are not intended to replace air-
freight, but merely to enable an employee
to move into permanent quarters before
airfreight and effects arrive. Employees
are responsible for loss or damage.
Utilities and Equipment
Houses and apartments have electricity
and hot and cold running water. Water
pressure varies and is often low during
the dry season; most residences have
reserve storage tanks-don't rent a house
without one. Expect to be without water
occasionally for several hours or, more
rarely, for several days. Electricity is
expensive, especially if you have electric
heaters, and service is sometimes uncer-
tain during the rainy season. Gas is
cheap, so use gas stoves and clothes
dryers. However, most apartments and
houses have stoves; if not, the GSO will
provide one. Few Mexican ovens have
thermostats; bring an oven thermometer.
All gas appliances should have automatic
safety pilots.
The Embassy has refrigerators and
washers and dryers for State employees.
USIS usually furnishes a refrigerator and
washer and dryer.
Lamps and light fixtures are not pro-
vided. An interesting selection sold by
local merchants can be expensive. Elec-
trical current is 1lOv, 60-cycle, single
phase.
Central heating is rare and many
homes do not have other provisions for
heat (except perhaps a fireplace that may
heat one room). Electric heaters are quite
useful on cold winter nights but are
somewhat expensive to operate. Portable
gas or kerosene heaters are useful and can
be purchased locally; but exercise care in
their use. Try to find a home that gets
some sun.
Food
A wide variety of locally grown and im-
ported fresh fruits and vegetables is
reasonably priced. Supermarkets stock a
variety of meat and fish, dairy products,
fresh produce, and canned goods. Fresh
foods are measured and sold in kilograms
or fractions thereof. Several large
markets have unusual fruits and
vegetables needed in foreign dishes.
Most foods are obtained at prices
much lower than those in the U.S., but
imported items are expensive. Locally
produced packaged mixes and canned
foods are becoming more available, but
they vary in quality and are expensive.
Ham, fresh pork, eggs, and milk are
comparable in price and quality (although
only certain brands of milk are con-
sidered safe). Poultry and seafood are
good and plentiful. Beef is reasonable but
not aged and quality is lower than in the
U.S. Strained baby foods are expensive,
and of lower quality. Mexican beer and
rum are excellent and reasonable in price.
Most bottled soft drinks are sold (not diet
sodas, however, nor diet foods of any
kind). Frozen foods are practically
nonexistent. Although current food prices
are generally reasonable, due to inflation,
food prices are rising steadily. Because of
the lack of quality control, foodstuffs of
all kinds-fresh or canned, meat, dairy,
or vegetable-can vary from excellent to
inedible.
The Embassy U.S. Employees
Association's small commissary stocks
alcoholic beverages and wines, tobacco
products, a selection of groceries (dried,
canned, and frozen foods), and personal
items which are not readily available or
are expensive locally, including dog and
cat food. Individuals may order in case-
lots from a wholesale grocer in south
Texas through the commissary.
A Chancery cafeteria serves break-
fast, lunch, coffee, and snacks on
workdays.
Clothing
Clothing needs in Mexico City do not
vary a great deal during the year. Some
winter clothing is useful for cold spells;
be sure -to bring sweaters, raincoats, and
umbrellas. Light summer clothes are
essential for travel to low-altitude areas
where the climate is hot, but are only
needed in Mexico City from March
through May or June. Clothing of all
kinds is sold at prices comparable to or
less than in the U.S., and quality is
generally lower. Bring U.S. swimsuits
and underwear for children and adults.
Mexican-made stockings and pantyhose
do not generally fit taller women.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Mexican shoes are stylish and well
made. However, lasts often do not fit
American feet. They do not go beyond
American size 8 for women and 10 for
men, and narrow sizes are scarce.
Children's shoes of satisfactory price and
quality are available.
Men. In Mexico City men wear light- to
medium-weight business suits. At least one
dark suit is needed. A light-weight suit is
comfortable in April and perhaps May and
for traveling to lower altitudes. A light-
weight, all-weather raincoat is convenient
during the rainy season.
Bring informal sportswear (sport
shirts, sweaters, slacks, etc.). Bring or
order from the U.S. shirts, shoes, ties, pa-
jamas, underwear, and socks. They are
sold here but not in U.S. quality or vari-
ety. Several good tailors are available, and
some men have had suits made from im-
ported materials. Hats and shorts (except
for sports) are rarely worn.
Mexican Government officials wear
dark suits to all functions; Mexican
Government functions never require black
tie (tux). However, Mexican and
American business representatives and
diplomats sometimes specify black tie for
their dinner parties, so middle and senior
officers should bring such attire.
Women. Wool, polyester, knit, and cot-
ton suits, jacket dresses, and pantsuits are
recommended for comfort and versatility
for changes of temperature and occasion.
A light-weight coat is needed for chilly
nights and early mornings. Bring a rain-
coat for the rainy season. Bring an evening
wrap; a fur stole or cape is good for
dressier evenings. Full-length furs and
heavy coats are rarely worn. Except for
March, April, and May when it can be
quite warm, Mexico City has a fall-to-
early-winter climate; "layered" clothing
is best because temperatures may change
rapidly. Long-sleeved blouses, sweaters,
and jackets are useful. Suits are very
popular. Remember, homes and public
places are rarely heated.
Required dress for receptions, cocktail
parties, dinners, etc., varies according to
rank and representational activities. Most
Mexican women wear current U.S.
fashions for both afternoon and evening
social events. Evening dresses may be
short or long; currently, fewer long dresses
are seen.
Shorts are not generally worn except
for recreation and at resorts. Women's
readymade clothes, including sweaters, are
expensive. Some people have purchased
At street markets, shoppers can buy clothing, food, colorful baskets, and art objects.
attractive locally made dresses, some knit-
ted and crocheted, and some which are
representative of the Mexican culture.
Dressmakers charge medium to high
prices.
Good Mexican textiles are available
but often are not preshrunk, colorfast, or
drip-dry. Bring favorite materials, espe-
cially knits and miracle fibers which are
expensive and inferior here, for sewing or
for tailoring. Order fabrics from catalogs
and fabric clubs in the U.S. Patterns sold
locally cost twice those in the U.S. Selec-
tion of sewing accessories and notions
(particularly thread) is limited, and quali-
ty is often poor.
Well-crafted silver, brass, and copper
jewelry is less expensive than in the U.S.,
although prices are rising somewhat with
inflation. Native semiprecious stones such
as turquoise, opals, and topaz in silver or
gold mountings are reasonable if you shop
carefully.
Children. Children's clothes are expen-
sive. Most parents bring a complete ward-
robe for each child and order future needs
from the U.S. Dress is similar to that in
the U.S. Older boys and girls wear Levi-
style jeans and cords with appropriate tops;
girls occasionally wear dresses. Grade
school children dress as in the U.S. Levis
are available, but the selection of sizes and
lengths is not as wide. Some schools re-
quire uniforms. Bring diapers and baby
clothing.
Supplies and Services
Electricians, plumbers, and service people
are unreliable; sometimes several appoint-
ments are needed before anyone shows up.
Supplies
Most U.S. supplies and services are
available but quality varies. Imported items
are expensive. Many American firms have
branch factories in Mexico but the mer-
chandise is priced higher than in the U.S.
and is often inferior in quality. Some
employees bring their favorite cosmetics,
toiletries, special drugs, and other items
and restock during trips to the U.S.
Most medicines and drugs can be
filled at local drugstores at U.S. prices.
Some popular brands of toiletries and
cosmetics are sold, but quality may be
questionable. Hygiene supplies are
available.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Many U.S. toy companies are
represented here by local manufacturers;
a variety of U.S. name brands is sold.
Quality varies, but it is generally
acceptable.
Film and local developing are avail-
able. Engraving and printing can be done
locally. Cocktail napkins, English greeting
cards, stationery, birthday party supplies,
gift wrapping paper, and ribbons are sold,
but selection is limited and quality is often
low.
Small hardware and repair supplies
are hard to find. Bring clothes hangers with
clamps.
Basic Services
Drycleaning is adequate and cheaper than
in the U.S. Commercial laundries are few
as most washing is done at home. A few
Laundromats can be found. Beauty and
barbershops are numerous and compare
favorably with those in the U.S. in price
and service. Reasonably priced shoe repair
is available.
Radio, TV, and phonograph services
on some brands are satisfactory. However,
some parts are scarce, and repair work
may be costly.
Auto service and repair on U.S.
makes is fair. Parts, if available, are ex-
pensive but can be imported from the U.S.
Catering is available for large parties.
Domestic Help
Most U.S. homes have at least one maid.
Most speak no English. Maids are fre-
quently hired on a part-time, live-out basis
for laundry and cleaning.
Families with small children need
maids since babysitters are few, and a
house should not be left unattended.
Most homes and many apartments
have separate servants quarters. All live-
in servants expect 1 day a week off, and
the law requires they have 6 working days
off a year with pay. Many people grant
servants 2 weeks off with pay. Employers
provide food and uniforms.
Religious Activities
Mexico is predominantly Catholic. Serv-
ices are usually in Spanish, but several are
in English. Other English-language serv-
ices include Baptist, Christian Science,
Church of Christ, Episcopal, Jewish,
Latter-day Saints, Lutheran, Methodist,
Quaker, Seventh-day Adventist, Union
Evangelical Interdenominational, and
Unitarian. Church announcements are
printed regularly in The News and Esta
Semana.
Education
Dependent Education
Almost all American children attend
private schools. The caliber of education
is generally good, but acceptance standards
can be inconsistent. No child is guaranteed
admission to any school in Mexico City.
About half the Embassy children at-
tend the American School Foundation.
More and more Embassy families are us-
ing Greengates School. Colegio Junipero,
Lomas High School, and Sierra Nevada
are other choices. Some high school-aged
children attend U.S. schools.
The American School Foundation
at Calle Sur 136 No. 135, Colonia
Tacubaya, is a bicultural, bilingual school
which offers coeducational programs in
preprimary, elementary, junior high, and
high school. The school is accredited by
the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools. It receives some support from the
Office of Overseas Schools of the Depart-
ment of State, but the American School is
not affiliated with the U.S. Embassy and
Embassy children are not guaranteed ac-
ceptance. However, under the terms of our
grant to the school, it must accept all
dependent children who meet admission
standards. It has 2,500 students, about
40% Mexican, 40% American, and the
rest other nationalities. Classes in the grade
school are conducted half day in Spanish
and half day in English through the fifth
grade, after which Spanish is taught as a
second language. The school year starts in
early September with a 2-week vacation
Christmas and Easter, and ends late in
June. Uniforms are not required. Most
children must take a preadmittance en-
trance exam. No remedial facilities are
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
available, nor are special provisions made
for gifted students. The school tries to pro-
vide a bicultural education, but its program
does not duplicate U.S. schools.
Greengates School is a private, coedu-
cational school based on the British system
for kindergarten (age 4) through high
school. Its address is Av. Circunvalacion
Pte. 102, Balcones de San Mateo, Edo. de
Mexico, Mexico. Applicants are tested for
acceptance and placement. The school year
is from early September through late June;
it is divided into three terms. The fall term
ends at Christmas and the winter term ends
at Easter. Classes are taught in English;
Spanish is required as a second language
and French is offered beginning with grade
6. Uniforms and black shoes are current-
ly required and are available in Mexico Ci-
ty, though the gray pants for boys are of
better fit and quality in the U.S. About 30
nationalities are represented in the student
body. Expenses at Greengates fall within
the education allowance.
Colegio Junipero (Juniper School), at
Calle Bondojito 238, Colonia Tacubaya,
is the only Catholic bilingual, parochial
school in Mexico City. Affiliated with St.
Patrick's English-speaking Church, it ac-
cepts pupils from kindergarten through
grade 6. Classes through grade 6 are taught
half day in English, half day in Spanish.
Its vacation schedule is similar to that of
the American School. Locally sold
uniforms are worn.
The Lomas High School, at Reforma
1530, teaches in English; Spanish is a
foreign language. It is coeducational from
grades 9 to 12. Uniforms are not required.
The schedule is similar to the U.S. system.
Except for Greengates School, most
schools must conform with Mexican
Government requirements that all elemen-
tary grades be taught in Spanish at least
half of every schoolday and that the ap-
proved curriculum be observed. Special
Spanish classes are provided for the non-
Spanish speaker.
In addition Montessori, French, Ger-
man, and Mexican schools are available,
as are several small schools teaching the
Mexican-American curriculum. Many
nursery schools and kindergartens are
available. Most schools have bus service.
Special Educational
Opportunities
The University of Mexico (Universidad
Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, or
UNAM) has an estimated enrollment of
100,000 (including 50,000 in the
"preparatorias," equivalent to the last 3
years of an American high school) and of-
fers many degrees, including economics,
law, medicine, architecture, dentistry,
engineering, and the humanities. Most
classes are in Spanish. It has a school for
foreigners offering master's degrees in dif-
ferent Latin American specialty subjects.
Undergraduates can transfer credits to
U.S. colleges.
The National University of Mexico,
the National Polytechnical Institute, the
Ibero-American University (Jesuit
directed), and the graduate-level Colegio
de Mexico and Anahuac are among the
city's leading institutions of higher learn-
ing. However, most students receive
graduate training abroad (largely in the
U.S.). The Colegio Nacional offers a
free high-level lecture program by leading
Mexican intellectuals and scientists.
The University of the Americas in
Cholula, Puebla, near the state capital ci-
ty of Puebla, is an American-run college
with an American curriculum which trans-
fers credits to U.S. colleges. Tuition is low
and dormitories are available at reasonable
cost. Cholula is about a 2-hour drive over
good roads from Mexico City. A small
branch of the university is located in Mex-
ico City.
U.S. International University in
Mexico City is a branch campus of U.S.
International University of San Diego. It
is U.S. accredited and all classes are in
English. About one-third.of the 100 en-
rolled students are American. The univer-
sity grants associate (AA) degrees in vari-
ous subjects, with a BS/MS/MBA business
program and a BA/MA psychology
program.
Post Orientation Program
On arrival U.S. employees assigned to
Mexico City are processed through the
Embassy's Personnel Office and receive an
informative welcome kit. A check-in pro-
cedure provides for interviews and orien-
tation in various Embassy offices. In ad-
dition, the ELO offers assistance with
housing, shopping, and finding your way
around Mexico City.
Periodically, the Embassy has an
orientation program for new American
personnel and their adult dependents to
brief them on U.S. objectives in Mexico,
host country conditions, and the Embassy's
organization.
The Aztec Calendar, the Embassy's
news bulletin, is published weekly. It con-
tains official and unofficial an-
nouncements, information on the
American Embassy Association (AEA) ac-
tivities, and classified ads. Submit newslet-
ter material to the Personnel Office.
The American School Foundation offers a bicultural, bilingual, coeducational program. About 40%
of those attending are American.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
The AEA hospitality committee
members provide additional assistance to
new arrivals and their families.
The Embassy and consular posts of-
fer Spanish-language classes at govern-
ment expense to official personnel and
adult dependents of agencies with
agreements for language instruction with
the Foreign Service Institute. The Person-
nel Office coordinates the Embassy
program.
The Embassy issues photo ID cards to
all U.S. employees who need them. ID
cards are issued to dependents over age 13.
Photographs are taken on Mondays.
Recreation and
Social Life
Sports
Several private country clubs operate in
Mexico City, but diplomatic memberships
are limited and dues are high. Consequent-
ly, few members of the Embassy com-
munity belong.
A few sports clubs offer swimming,
tennis, soccer, and jai alai. Among these
are the Reforma Athletic Club, the Cen-
tro Deportivo Israelita, Club Arturo
Mundet, and the Junior Club. Limited
diplomatic memberships are available, and
some accept applications from other em-
bassy employees. However, dues are high,
and many are far from downtown.
A YMCA, about 1'h miles from the
Embassy, has facilities for all racquet
sports, swimming, weight lifting, basket-
ball, and volleyball. Exercise classes are
also held. An initial membership fee and
monthly fee must be paid to use the
facilities.
The Maria Isabel Sheraton (near the
Embassy) also has some athletic club
facilities, including exercise classes.,
Runners must adapt to Mexico City's
high altitude. Heavy traffic and air pollu-
tion dampen some runners' enthusiasm,
but Chapultepec Park and other locations
provide pleasant settings.
Bowling is popular. Over 100 people
compete in the Embassy Bowling League,
which meets weekly almost year round.
Other sports include swimming,
bicycling, and horseback riding, but
facilities are limited. Although sports
equipment is sold in Mexico it is usually
higher priced than in the U.S.
As in most Latin countries, soccer is
a favorite spectator sport. Others include
horseracing, jai alai, American football,
baseball, softball, basketball, and polo.
Bullfights are held almost every Sunday in
the world's largest arena.
Riding is popular among Mexicans,
and many riding clubs are available in
Mexico City and its environs. Some allow
hourly riding, but most require "pension-
ing" or owning a horse which is expen-
sive. Horses may be rented to ride "Mex-
ican saddle" in the country around Mex-
ico City.
Mexico offers quail, dove, duck, and
big game hunting. Good bird hunting is
found near the capital but bigger game is
too far away for weekend hunting. The
Mexican Government requires special per-
mits to possess firearms or to use them for
hunting or sport shooting. The regional
security officer will obtain necessary
firearms and hunting permits for assigned
personnel (see Firearms and Ammunition).
Freshwater fishing for trout and bass
is good, and some of the world's best deep-
sea fishing is off Acapulco, Mazatlan, Los
Cabos, and Guaymas on the west coast and
Veracruz and Tampico on the gulf.
Mountain climbing at nearby
Popocatepetl and Iztaccihautl is popular for
the hardy and those accustomed to high
altitudes.
Touring and Outdoor Activities
Touring and sightseeing possibilities are
good. The Mexico City area has several
archeological ruins, excellent museums,
glass factories, old cathedrals, and color-
ful markets. The Museum of Anthropology
is world renowned for its anthropological
tour of Mexico and displays of modem In-
dian cultures; the building's architecture
is a real treat. English-language courses
and guided tours through the museum are
offered several times a year.
Chapultepec Park is a popular lagoon-
centered woodland, several miles square,
located in the heart of Mexico City. It of-
fers a zoo, bridle paths, picnic areas,
playgrounds, a miniature train, botanical
gardens, rental bicycles, boating, and a
colorful amusement park.
Mexico City's central location makes
weekend trips to lower altitudes and to
scenic resorts and towns possible. Car,
train, or plane travel is relatively easy.
Hiking and picnicking amid impressive
scenery can be enjoyed 30-90 minutes
from the city.
Summer activities for children are
limited. Summer jobs are unavailable for
high school- and college-aged students, so
most families spend a few weeks travel-
ing during summer.
The following are among the better
known tourist spots in Mexico:
Acapulco. An hour by air or 7 hours
by car from Mexico City, Acapulco's
scenic bay attracts visitors from around the
world. The climate is tropical, and swim-
ming, boating, skindiving, deep-sea
fishing, - and water skiing are favorite
sports. It is expensive and crowded in
season.
Yucatan Peninsula. Chichen Itza, the
most extensive archeological' zone un-
covered on the Yucatan Peninsula, is 77
miles over good roads from Merida and
can be reached in about 1'h hours by car.
The ruins of Uxmal are 48 miles from
Merida on the road to Campeche, about a
1-hour car trip. The island resorts at
Swimming is a popular sport in Mexico City.
Shown here is an Olympic swimming pool.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Leisure time activities can include scuba diving near Puerta Vatlarta (above) or touring such sites as
the San Juan de Ulua Castle (below).
Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, and the new resort
at Cancun are beautiful and offer many of
the same sports as Acapulco.
Cuernavaca is about a 11/2 -hour drive
from Mexico City by four-lane highway.
The 5,000-foot altitude makes it a pleasant
getaway.
Oaxaca, situated in a valley about
5,000 feet above sea level, is a day's trip
by car or an hour by air from Mexico Ci-
ty. Archeology buffs find it fascinating
since the ruins of Monte Alban and the
temples of the ancient Zapotecan civiliza-
tion are nearby.
Taxco is a 3-hour drive from Mexico
City and is a colorful stopover en route to
Acapulco. Taxco, an old mining town
where Jose de la Borda mined 40 million
pesos of silver when a peso was worth half
a dollar, is now a national monument. By
law its cobblestone streets may not be
changed and new buildings must conform
to the old architecture.
18
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Chapultepec Park offers bridle paths, botanical gardens, and an amusement park in downtown Mex-
ico City. Shown here is the Flower Market (above) and the impressive umbrella-type ceiling of the
park's Museum of Anthropological History (below).
Other interesting places are Guan-
juato, a charming mountain mining town
with cobblestone streets and red-tiled
roofs; Puebla, a town of colonial Spanish
architecture which provides a good view
of "The Warrior" and "The Sleeping
Lady" volcanoes; and San Miguel de
Allende, one of the most famous places in
Mexico for its atmosphere, art, and
climate.
Several of the consular posts are also
popular vacation spots. These include
Guadalajara and Mazatlan.
Entertainment
During 1976-82 First Lady Carmen
Romano de Lopez Portillo placed unusual
emphasis on the plastics and performing
arts and Mexico City became one of the
world's most active, culturally vibrant
capitals. It is assumed that the arts will con-
tinue to flourish under the new administra-
tion, but perhaps not at the same intensity.
The National Institute of Fine Arts
(INBA) provides audiences with a broad
range of cultural activities at its numerous
concert halls, theaters, museums, and
other facilities. World-class symphony or-
chestras, modern dance companies,
chamber ensembles, opera companies, jazz
groups, and ballet companies periodically
perform at INBA's Palace of Fine Arts.
Superb art exhibits, both Mexican and
foreign, frequently are held at the Palace.
Mexico's famed Ballet Folldorico also per-
forms each Wednesday and Sunday.
The National Autonomous Universi-
ty of Mexico (UNAM) administers an ex-
tensive cultural program which often in-
cludes first-rate American orchestras,
soloists, and dance companies. Most of
UNAM's activities are held at their new
Centro Cultural. Tickets for INBA and
UNAM programs are moderately priced.
Mexico City also boasts one of the
world's foremost museums: the National
Anthropological Museum. Inaugurated in
1964, this handsome building houses the
world's most extensive collection of pre-
Columbian art. Lecture tours spread out
over several weeks are available. The
Anahuacali Museum, which contains
Diego Rivera's pre-Hispanic collection,
has a smaller pre-Columbian art display.
Near the Anthropological Museum, in
Chapultepec Park, is the Museum of
Modem Art, which provides an overview
of 80 years of Mexican art, as well as
numerous excellent, rotating foreign and
Mexican exhibits. Closeby is the Rufino
Tamayo Museum, inaugurated in 1980,
which displays a good collection of paint-
ings and sculpture by 20th-century artists
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
from Mexico, the U.S., Europe, and
elsewhere;
Other fine museums include the San
Carlos, the Pinacoteca Virreinal, the Frida
Kahlo Museum (where she and Diego
Rivera lived for many years), Chapultepec
Castle and, in nearby Tepozotlan, the Na-
tional Museum of Religious Art.
For those interested in Mexico City's
active art scene, the city offers over a
dozen fine commercial art galleries which
periodically show the best of Mexican-
and, to a lesser extent, foreign-artists. A
few of the most outstanding include the
Galeria de Arte Mexicano, the Galerias
Ponce, del Circulo, Arvil, Pecanina, and
Juan Martin.
Mexico City has many modern movie
theaters which offer recent foreign and
Mexican films. U.S. films are in English,
with Spanish subtitles. Prices are con-
trolled and inexpensive. Cablevision pro-
vides programing of all three major U.S.
networks for a moderate monthly fee.
A broad range of restaurants and
cuisines is available. Several restaurants
offer dancing, and a few good discotheques
are available. Prices are moderate.
Social Activities
Within the Embassy. The Embassy has an
independently managed social club/bar,
open Wednesdays and Fridays after work
in the Chancery cafeteria. The Marine
Guard Detachment periodically holds open
houses at the Marine House, located
several miles from the Embassy.
Among Americans. The American Em-
bassy Association (AEA) is active.
Monthly meetings feature programs
oriented toward a wider knowledge and ap-
preciation of Mexico. The group raises
money to provide scholarships for Mex-
ican students. It also keeps a list of
charitable organizations requesting
volunteers.
Some senior Embassy members
belong to the University Club, primarily
a luncheon club.
Well-known organizations with
branches in Mexico City include the
American Legion, Boy Scouts, Girl
Guides, Daughters of the American
Revolution, Junior League, Kiwanis,
Knights of Columbus, Lions, Navy
League, Rotary, Shriners, and various
U.S. college alumni clubs.
International Contacts. Although Mex-
icans are friendly when met socially, close
personal relationships are hard to establish.
A good knowledge of the language and a
real effort to make friends, as in most of
Latin America, help to develop friend-
ships: Business contacts and official social
occasions offer chances to meet the local
people.
The Newcomer's Club is open to all
English-speaking women who have lived
in Mexico City 2 years or less. Monthly
coffees feature speakers on all aspects of
life in Mexico, from the practical (legal
responsibilities if involved in an
automobile accident) to the colorful
(traveling the Pacific coast). In addition,
the club sponsors numerous interest
groups-book club, bridge, tennis, tours,
gourmet cooking, etc.-which are open to
all members.
Official Functions
Nature of Functions
Official functions in Mexico City follow
the pattern of most large embassies. Most
entertaining is at home with receptions,
cocktail-buffets, dinner parties, or lunch-
eons. However, more restaurant entertain-
ing is used for a working breakfast or
luncheon.
The size of the Embassy staff makes
it impractical to include all commissioned
officers on the diplomatic list. Inclusion is
limited to the Ambassador, the minister-
counselor, counselors of Embassy, mili-
tary attaches, and heads of agencies with
diplomatic titles. Officers with consular
titles are put on the consular list.
Standards of Social Conduct
Protocol generally follows the rules in
Social Usage Abroad, published by the
Department of State. The following pro-
cedures are adhered to by officers of all
agencies assigned to Mexico City with
diplomatic and consular titles:
The Ambassador does not require use
of calling cards. Cards for the Ambassador
are left with the Ambassador's secretary
soon after arrival.
The Personnel Office makes appoint-
ments for new officers of their sections to
meet the Ambassador.
Employees invited to representative
functions of the Ambassador and other
senior officers should arrive 15 minutes
early and assist in all ways to make the
gathering a success.
Officers should bring an initial supply
of calling cards with them; 200 in the offi-
cer's name and 100 "Mr. and Mrs." cards
for married personnel are sufficient. Cards
can be engraved in Mexico City.
All personnel will find a supply of
"informals" useful for invitations.
Special Information
Overland Surface Shipments
For personnel assigned to Embassy Mex-,
ico City, consign and mark shipments as
follows:
American Embassy Warehouse
620 Logan Street
Laredo, Texas 78040
Mark for
Full name
American Embassy
Mexico, D.F.
Shipments via Sea
Since the Embassy uses a customs broker
for shipments entering at Veracruz, Tam-
pico, Acapulco, Manzanillo, or Mazatlan,
consign and mark all sea shipments for
personnel assigned to Embassy Mexico
City as follows:
Villasana y Cia., S.A.
Av. Independencia 848
Veracruz, Ver.
Mexico
Villasana y Cia.,,S.A.
Edificio Luz
Tampico, Tamps.
Mexico
Villasana y Cia., S.A.
Edificio Alvarez
Acapulco, Gro.
Mexico
Villasana y Cia., S.A.
Venustiano Carranza 12
Mazatlan, Sinaloa
Mexico
Villasana y Cia., S.A.
Juarez 236
Manzanillo, Colima
Mexico
All shipments must be marked
Full name
American Embassy
Mexico, D.F.
Unaccompanied Baggage
Small lots of unaccompanied baggage,
which must consist solely of clothing and
minor personal effects initially needed by
the traveler, may be cleared at the port of
entry or at Mexico City with a free-entry
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
permit. Otherwise, passport and keys are
required. Do not include such items as TV
sets.
Address airfreight as follows:
Full name
American Embassy
c/o Agencia General de Carga
Aerea, S.A.
Aeropuerto Internacional
Mexico, D.F.
See Notes For Travelers, Customs and
Duties, for further information on shipping
effects.
U.S. Defense Attache Office
The Defense Attache Office (DAO) is
located in Room 465 on the fourth floor
of the Embassy. The Mexican Secretariats
of National Defense (for Army and Air
Force) and Marine Affairs (for Navy) are
the primary host country military contacts
of the DAO.
Uniforms for Military Officers
Attaches and assistant attaches wear
uniforms for appointments or calls on the
Secretariats of National Defense and
Marine Affairs, when making calls to
Mexican military installations, and on cer-
tain other official occasions as prescribed
by the Defense attache (DATT). Dress
uniforms are required for some social
events. Authorized ribbons/medals and
aiguillettes are worn, and a set of miniature
medals is required as directed by service
regulations for the uniform worn. Light-
weight uniforms are suitable, but not
mandatory.
Army. The Defense/Army attache
and assistant Army attache need at least
two Army green uniforms, one Army blue
uniform, and one field (fatigue) uniform.
The Army blue and white mess uniforms
are optional`, and neither the Army eve-
ning dress nor cape is required. The Army
warrant officer needs one Army green
uniform, and the dress blue uniform if
already owned.
Air Force. The Air attache (AIRA)
needs two combination 1 uniforms and a
mess uniform with both black and white
jackets.
Navy. The Naval attache (ALUSNA)
needs the full bag required by U.S. Navy
uniform regulations. Formal dress uniform
is not required and tropical dinner dress
B uniform is not worn.
Marine Corps. The assistant Naval
attache (USMC) should have the full bag
required by USMC uniform regulations to
include dinner/mess dress uniforms.
Uniforms for Enlisted
Personnel
Enlisted attache personnel are rarely re-
quired to wear the uniform but should
bring those indicated below. Light-weight
uniforms are suitable but not mandatory.
Army. One Army green uniform,
with both a green and a white dress shirt
and both standard and black bow ties are
needed. The Army blue uniform should be
brought if already owned.
Navy. One service dress blue
uniform and one summer blue are needed.
If you already own a full dress blue
uniform, bring it.
Air Force. One combination 1 uni-
form and a white shirt and black bow tie
are needed.
Civilian Attire
Duty Wear for All Personnel. Civilian
business suits; slacks, sports coat, and tie;
or appropriate dress are worn for duty in
the Embassy. Female personnel may also
wear appropriate pants/blouse combina-
tions for duty.
Evening Wear for Attaches/
Assistant Attaches. Civilian clothing
(suits, sports coats and slacks, or appro-
priate dress) are worn to most informal
receptions and social occasions in the
home. A tuxedo or formal gown may be
worn occasionally but is not required.
Evening Wear for Warrant Officer
and Enlisted Personnel. Business
suit, sports coat with slacks, or appropriate
dress will meet all social requirements.
Dependents of All Personnel. See
Clothing-Mexico City.
Calling Cards and Invitations
for Defense
Attaches and assistant attaches need some
calling cards and invitations which may be
purchased locally at reasonable cost. Call-
ing cards for other personnel are optional.
Defense Housing
The DATT occupies a government-owned
and furnished four-bedroom house, and all
other personnel occupy privately leased
houses or apartments.
Defense Household Goods/
Unaccompanied Baggage
The DATT has weight restrictions imposed
since government furnishings are pro-
vided. Detailed listings of the items fur-
nished are on file in DIA/ATT-7 and
should be consulted prior to sorting items
for shipment and storage. All other per-
sonnel should bring a complete assortment
of furniture and appliances, as no items are
available from government sources. In-
dividuals should read the Personal Proper-
ty Consignment Identification Guide
(PPCIG) carefully and insure that all
shipments are handled as directed therein.
You are encouraged to either telephone or
cable the DAO as soon as you learn of a
pending assignment. A DAO sponsor will
be assigned and will give you a copy of
the Mexico portion of the PPCIG and other
documents to facilitate planning for your
assignment.
Travel and Transportation
Travel to Mexico is either by privately
owned car or commercial air. Individuals
arriving by air are met with government
transportation if the DAO has advance
notice. Individuals arriving by car should,
upon reaching the outskirts of Mexico
City, call the Embassy switchboard
(555-33-33) and ask for the DAO (exten-
sions 3775/3776) to get directions to the
Embassy and/or to the hotel. The DAO
also has a direct line (525-2845) during
normal duty hours. If you arrive on a
weekend, holiday, or after normal duty
hours, ask the Embassy switchboard for
the DAO duty officer.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Ciudad Juarez
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Ciudad Juarez
With a population of over 750,000, Ciudad
Juarez (commonly called Juarez) is Mex-
ico's fifth largest city and the largest of all
cities along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Juarez is a blend of old and new, is tourist
oriented, and has strong cultural and'
economic ties with the U.S. Yet it is proud
of its Mexican heritage and its history
as chief city of the State of Chihuahua,
"Cradle of the Revolution." Consulate
General personnel find opportunities to
make close and lasting friendships among
the bankers, lawyers, doctors, manufac-
turers, and merchants, many with close
family, business, and educational links
with the U.S.
Under Mexico's border industrializa-
tion program, designed to raise the stand-
ard of living along the entire border,
several industrial plants, many of them
wholly owned subsidiaries of American
firms, have been established here to take
advantage of low labor costs. The "twin
plant" concept, with plants in Ciudad
Juarez performing labor-intensive work in
cooperation with mechanized operations in
their counterpart plants in the U.S., has
developed industrial links between this city
and El Paso, Texas, just across the border.
In recent years the national frontier
program (PRONAF) center with its his-
torical museum, convention hall, nation-
wide arts and crafts display, private shops,
and modem hotels has added much to the
city's cultural and tourist attractions. The
large Chamizal Park along the border op-
posite El Paso, Texas, is being developed
into a beautiful area of gardens,
playgrounds, and parkways which are
transforming the northern approaches to
the city.
Ciudad Juarez is situated 3,700 feet
above sea level in an and desert region sur-
rounded by treeless mountains. It is a
region of cloudless days, low humidity,
and an average rainfall of under 10 inches.
The climate consists of four seasons: sum-
Consulate General
mer is long but its heat is tempered by low
humidity; fall is brief but pleasant; winter
temperatures fluctuate from below freez-
ing to moderate with infrequent light
snowfall; and spring is brief and pleasant.
Duststorms, which can occur any time of
the year, are the weather's most unpleas-
ant feature.
The Post and
Its Administration
The Consulate General is a two-story
building located just off the PRONAF
center at Avenida Lopez Mateos 924. The
telephone number is Juarez 3-40-48. A
recorded message gives the telephone
number of the post's afterhours answering
service.
Postal addresses are:
P.O. Box 10545
El Paso, Texas 79995
Apartado Postal 164
Ciudad Juarez
Chihuahua, Mexico
The U.S.-postal system is used for
most incoming/outgoing mail.
Work hours are from 8 am to 4:45 pm
all year, with 45 minutes for lunch. Ciudad
Juarez operates on central standard time
throughout the year, but El Paso operates
on mountain standard time during winter
and daylight saving time in summer.
can normally expect to move into perma-
nent housing shortly after arrival.
Post housing is normally centrally
heated and air-conditioned. Electrical cur-
rent in Juarez is 120v, 60-cycle, AC.
Public utilities are adequate, but gas
pressure may fall and electrical current
fluctuates during high use periods. Some
water pressure loss may occur during peak
usage periods. Local and long-distance
telephone service is good, and calls are
easily made to the U.S. All types of
household appliances and furnishings are
available in El Paso furniture and depart-
ment stores. The post can include in an ini-
tial free-entry request items bought in El
Paso.
Furnishings
The principal officer's home is complete-
ly furnished. All other personnel are issued
a refrigerator and washer and dryer. You
must either ship all other furniture or pur-
chase it here. Free entry can be obtained
for furniture purchased in El Paso after
arrival.
Food
Modern supermarkets are numerous in
both Juarez and El Paso, and shopping for
food presents no problems. Food costs are
somewhat less than in the Washington
D.C., area, especially fresh fruits and
vegetables which are often plentiful. Many
Americans prefer to buy these items and
some meats in Juarez.
Housing
Temporary Quarters
Newly arrived personnel may stay in one
of several hotels either in Ciudad Juarez
or El Paso. Most recent arrivals have
stayed at Hotel Plaza Juarez, a comfortable
motel just 2 blocks from the Consulate
General.
Permanent Housing
The principal officer is provided
government-leased and -fin-nished housing.
All other employees are provided
government-leased, unfurnished housing.
Housing quality is good, and employees
Clothing
A seasonal wardrobe is necessary in Juarez
with emphasis on light-weight clothing in
view of the long summer. In winter,
medium-weight suits. for men are ap-
propriate as are knit or woolen skirts and
dresses for women. Although subfreezing
temperatures are rare, penetrating winds
make lined coats, hats, and gloves com-
fortable. Formal wear is seldom worn.
Because of infrequent rain, little rainwear
is needed, but bring umbrellas.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Theater is popular throughout Mexico. Here is the
Juarez Theater in Guanjuato.
Fashion trends in Juarez follow those
in the western U.S., except that shorts are
rarely worn in public. Women's slacks and
pantsuits are worn for home entertainment,
as are long dresses and skirts. El Paso has
good department stores and high-fashion
specialty shops.
Religious Activities
Both Protestant and Catholic churches are
in Ciudad Juarez and El Paso. All services
are held in Spanish in' Ciudad Juarez. El
Paso has a synagogue and temple.
Education
Dependent Education
At Post. Americans with school-aged
children may use El Paso's good public or
private schools. The post's education
allowance is based on the cost of tuition
at El Paso public schools, plus daily
transportation costs to and from Juarez.
Currently, the post has three children at-
tending public junior and high schools in
El Paso, and two younger children attend
a private school.
Schools in Juarez offer instruction in
Spanish with English taught as a second
language. Several good Mexican private
schools, mostly church operated, are
available.
The University of Texas at El Paso
(UTEP), with an enrollment of 10,000 day
students, grants bachelor of arts and
sciences and master of arts degrees, with
night and summer school courses
available. Tuition for out-of-state residents
is expensive.
Away From Post. Currently, no children
are studying away from post.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Recreation and
Social Life
Several public golf courses are in the El
Paso area. Bowling, tennis, and horseback
riding are popular. Bullfights, greyhound
races, and "charreadas" (Mexican rodeos)
in Ciudad Juarez, and horseracing in
Juarez and nearby Sunland Park, New
Mexico, are seasonal. attractions. The El
Paso YMCA, YWCA, and Museum of Art
offer various evening and weekend classes
(swimming, arts and crafts, music, etc.)
for adults and children. Concerts, plays,
and other cultural offerings are frequent in
El Paso and, to a lesser but increasing ex-
tent, in its sister city. The Consulate
General currently obtains free guest
memberships for officers at the Juarez
Country Club. The country club offers two
swimming pools, several tennis courts,
golf, racquetball and handball courts, and
a weight room, in addition to restaurant
facilities.
Juarez has many good restaurants. El
Paso restaurants are good, with steaks and
Mexican dishes the specialty. Several
restaurants offer Chinese, Italian, French,
and other cuisines. Prices range from
moderate to expensive. Alcoholic
beverages are served in many popular
establishments.
Reception of Juarez's two TV chan-
nels and El Paso's five, in both black and
white and color, is excellent.
Nearby touring attractions include the
state capital of Chihuahua, about 4 hours
south by rail or car. The Big Bend National
Park and Davis Mountains in west Texas,
Carlsbad Caverns, Elephant Butte Lake,
and the Ruidoso-Cloudcroft Highlands
(with excellent skiing facilities) of southern
New Mexico are destinations for a
weekend or longer.
Your social life depends largely on
your initiative. Official functions are few,
except for the principal officer. Consular
personnel need at least some calling cards.
Special Information
Your household effects will remain in the
hands of the shipping agent or customs
broker, depending on origin of shipment
and packing instructions, until you find
permanent quarters in Ciudad Juarez.
Household shipments should be addressed
as follows:
Full name
American Consulate General
c/o Armstrong Moving and Storage
5A Zane Grey
El Paso, Texas 79906
As this is the shipping agent's
warehouse address, send GBL's and other
documents to:
Armstrong Moving and Storage
3800 Buckner
El Paso, Texas 79906
Unaccompanied baggage and small
shipments suitable for handling by railway
express should be addressed to the ship-
ping agent's warehouse address above
through the El Paso customs broker.
For shipments originating outside the
U.S., the U.S. Despatch Agent in New
York or San Francisco will be used,
depending upon point of origin. Cases
should be addressed:.
Full name
American Consulate General
c/o Armstrong Moving and Storage
5A Zane Grey
El Paso, Texas 79906
See Notes For Travelers, Customs and
Duties, for more information on shipping
effects.
25
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
.nom
A~GIILO Li " Li
nnaa
o[n
oo
oo
r
^ nnn .o
A
a Q AEfOAMP
oa~Qosoooon~nangnnnmC7
'~ -~ o o nn DP ~n C
LJ 0,
nnnnnnnnn^
oo^^o?a ^oo^a0U
an
o EJ
anC.l Ln U
EE1EL
, =g5= m C7 .m= ratio
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Guadalajara
Guadalajara, with a population of over 2
million, including 8,000 resident
Americans, is on a broad tableland almost
surrounded by mountains cut by deep
gorges. Its people, the Tapatios, are proud
of their city and its history and traditions.
The climate is temperate year round. At
5,092 feet, Guadalajara is high enough to
escape the coastal heat and dampness in
summer. Average temperatures are similar
to Los Angeles. The atmosphere is dry ex-
cept during the mid-June to October rainy
season, when brief showers occur daily.
From mid-April to mid-June daytime
temperatures are often in the low 90's. The
many varieties of flowers and trees which
bloom all year in Guadalajara contribute
to allergies and upper respiratory prob-
lems. Increasing air pollution also ag-
gravates these problems. The altitude is
high enough to require adjustment and to
cause temporary fatigue, shortness of
breath, and lack of energy.
The city has been modernized: widen-
ed and paved streets, new water and
sewage systems, new parks and buildings,
shopping malls, etc.
The Post and
Its. Administration
The Consulate General is a large, two-
story, air-conditioned building at Progreso
175 in the Zona Rosa section of Guadala-
jara. Office hours are from 8 am to
4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. The
telephone number is 25-29-98 or
25-27-00. A recorded message gives the
number of a paging service which contacts
the duty officer after work. The staff in-
cludes members of USIS, the Immigration
and Naturalization Service, Social Security
Administration, Drug Enforcement Ad-
ministration, and Department of
Agriculture. All offices, except that of the
USDA, are in the Consulate General
Consulate General
building. The Consulate General also has
a support agreement with the binational
Screwworm Commission. The post office
address is Apartado Postal 1-1 Bis, 44100
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
The post's Community Liaison Office
(CLO), staffed by a volunteer, encourages
arriving staff and families to write to the
community liaison officer or administrative
officer for additional information.
Housing
Temporary Quarters
Guadalajara has many hotels, motels, and
furnished apartments adequate for a tem-
porary stay. Incoming personnel are nor-
mally offered accommodations in one of
the furnished apartments called "suites,"
which usually include a furnished kitch-
enette. Most have play areas for children
and swimming pools. Very few allow pets.
Notify post immediately of your arrival
date, as suites and hotel rooms are scarce
during the winter "high season."
Permanent Housing
The principal officer has government-
leased housing with major appliances
(stove, refrigerator, upright freezer, and
washer and dryer). The house is a four-
bedroom, ranch-style with a swimming
pool. The administrative officer has more
detailed information. All other employees
are notified of housing availability through
Personnel (State) or parent agency chan-
nels when the post receives notice of
assignment.
Most families live in single-family
houses, but single employees often prefer
apartment living. Adequate housing is
usually found within 6-8 weeks.
Furnishings
Guadalajara is a full shipment post. Bring
most household furnishings. The Depart-
ment of State provides refrigerators and
washers and dryers. Some houses and
many apartments are furnished with
stoves. Furniture and appliances are
available locally but are not of U.S. quality
and are more expensive.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved
Utilities and Equipment
Electric service is I lOv, 60-cycle, AC, as
in the U.S. Dryers and other heavy ap-
pliances should be 110v as 220v lines are
not common and are expensive to install.
Bring converters to convert natural gas ap-
pliances to bottled gas (liquid propane).
Voltage regulators to protect TV's and
stereos from electrical surges are available
here.
Domestic Iielp
Maids are available, though good ones are
increasingly hard to find. Salaries have in-
creased along with the inflation rate. Some
personnel employ part-time maids mainly
for cleaning. Maids do not speak English.
Food
Supermarkets, "tiendas," and specialty
food stores are available in the Guadala-
jara area, in addition to independent
butchers, fish and chicken markets,
bakeries, and open markets. Kosher foods
are not available.
Food stores stock a wide variety of
items, including many U.S. brands
manufactured in Mexico. Quality is
uneven, however, and items are sometimes
out of stock. Very few food items are im-
ported from the U.S. Frozen foods are
nearly nonexistent. Sugar substitutes, low-
calorie foods, and sugar-free items are also
practically nonexistent. Certain baking in-
gredients are hard to find. Dairy products
must be purchased with care; not all brands
have been pasteurized and if not, are un-
safe. Also, processing and preserving
techniques differ from those in the U.S.,
and foods often spoil faster.
Fruits and vegetables should be
soaked for at least 20 minutes in
chlorinated water or iodine water. The
Consulate General has iodine tablets.
City tapwater is safe for bathing and
clean ing but not for drinking. Bottled
water, necessary for drinking and most
cooking, is sold from neighborhood trucks.
In order to obtain grocery items not
found in Guadalajara, personnel place
cooperative duty-free, caselot orders from
wholesalers in Texas four times a year.
Personnel also buy smaller quantities of
such items on visits to border cities (about
600 miles away).
Clothing
Clothing needs in Guadalajara are
seasonal. Heavy winter clothing is not
needed. Light-weight materials are com-
fortable from April to August, medium-
weight from September to November, and
medium-weight with an added sweater or
light topcoat from December through
March. Even in cooler months, Guadala-
jara is warm by midday and then even
medium-weight clothing is uncomfortable
until sundown. Bring raincoats and um-
brellas for the mid-June-October rainy
season. Very light summer clothes are
necessary for travel to low-altitude, hot
areas.
Bring a plain dark suit or appropriate
dress for official occasions. Formal social
occasions are rare, but a white or black
tuxedo jacket is appropriate at some func-
tions. Cocktail dresses are useful.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 L!AII
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
PIP
Guadalajara is the city of beautiful fountains and
year-round flowers.
Religious Activities
In addition to the many Catholic churches
(one has services in English), several Prot-
estant churches offer English-language
services. A Jewish congregation offers
services in Spanish and Hebrew.
Education
Most children enroll in the American
School, located in a good residential area.
It offers a coeducational program from
prekindergarten through high school, with
bilingual instruction in the first six grades.
It is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization
with an American school director. It is ac-
credited by the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools. Schoolbus service
is available. The school year begins in ear-
ly September and ends in mid-June with
2-week vacations at Easter and Christmas.
Prekindergarten, elementary, and some
high school-level courses have summer
sessions. No uniforms are required.
The John F. Kennedy School offers
instruction from kindergarten through
grade 6. It is incorporated with the State
of Jalisco and is bilingual with English one-
half of the day and Spanish the other half.
Bus service is available.
riculum equivalent to most U.S. schools.
It is built on Christian principles, with
mandatory 15-minute devotions each
morning. Classes are in English with
Spanish lessons provided. The grades are
prekindergarten through high school. No
bus service is offered.
Recreation and
Social Life
The climate encourages a wide variety of
outdoor sports. Swimming pools, tennis
courts, horseback riding, and bowling
alleys are available. Four 18-hole golf
courses and several 9-hole courses are in
the Guadalajara area. Greens fees are
about the same as at better U.S. courses.
Both private clubs and city recreation
facilities offer swimming, tennis, racquet-
ball, basketball, and other sports.
Special interest clubs such as bridge,
American Society, and Pro-Musica are ac-
tive here.
Special Information
Mail Facilities
Three methods are available for sending
letters and packages to post. The official
international postal address is:
Full name
Apartado Postal 1-1 Bis
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Letters may be sent by mail to this ad-
dress. The Mexican postal system is effi-
cient and reliable for letter mail, but do not
send packages to that address.
For packages the post has two other
mailing addresses. The Department of
State address is:
Full name
American Consulate General
Guadalajara
Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20521
Full name
American Consulate General
Guadalajara
P.O. Box 3088
Laredo, Texas 78041
Shipping Effects
Surface Shipments. All surface shipments
should be consigned and marked:
American Embassy Warehouse
620 Logan Street'
Laredo, Texas 78040
Full name
American Consulate General
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Shipments of household and personal
effects arrive by truck via Nuevo Laredo.
Do not send any shipment collect. Since
some loss from breakage or pilferage oc-
curs, insure and itemize everything on the
packing list.
In order for the Embassy GSO to ob-
tain free-entry permits for household and
personal effects, submit the following
information:
? Name, title, and address of ship-
per(s).
? Mexican port of entry and means of
shipment to that point. .
? Specific number of trunks, suit-
cases, liftvans, cases, cartons, barrels, and
crates or packages and detailed list of con-
tents. It is imperative that this information
be supplied as soon as possible to prevent
unnecessary delays in importation of per-
sonal and household effects. Unpacked
household effects arriving by van are
described as a "lot," but the number of
pieces contained therein should be
specified. If information is not known,
overestimate rather than underestimate.
Documentation. The correct mailing
address for documentation papers is dif-
ferent from the addresses and markings for
surface shipments. All documentation,
i.e., waybills, including letters, etc., must
be airmailed to the:
American Consulate General
P.O. Box 3088
Laredo, Texas 78041
See Notes for Travelers, Customs and
Duties, for further shipping information.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Monterrey
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Monterrey
Monterrey, with a metropolitan area
population of 2,116,000, is Mexico's third
largest city and second most important in-
dustrial and financial city. The area's
geography and history have given the peo-
ple of Monterrey, "Regiomontanos" as
they call themselves, an individual
character. Although the city is heavily in-
dustrialized, the surrounding area is
primarily agricultural and pastoral. The
area's diversity provides an interesting tour
of duty.
Monterrey is in a semiarid valley at
an altitude of 1,765 feet, surrounded on
three sides by rugged mountains. Southeast
of the city is one of Mexico's most'impor-
tant citrus-producing areas. Most of the
surrounding area, nonetheless, is semiarid
and covered with growth.
Most rain falls from September to
December, accompanied by high humid-
ity. Summer often begins in early March.
Winters are short and not too severe,
lasting from December through February.
Dust can be a problem, especially in the
dry season. The city has developed a
serious smog problem; some limited ef-
forts are being made to control pollution.
Respiratory ailments are common.
Monterrey has grown rapidly during
the last decade. Its rapid expansion has
placed strains on public utilities. Much
construction is now underway, including
a 6-block long pedestrian mall downtown.
The city is credited with contributing more
than 10% of Mexico's industrial produc-
tion. It is also headquarters for nationally
prominent insurance and banking con-
cerns. As ' a result, the atmosphere is
noticeably different from that in other areas
of Mexico. The tone-setting business com-
munity is conservative in its politics and
religion; advanced in its approach to
technical innovation and?economic oppor-
tunities; closer to American than traditional
Latin concepts in business practices; and
devoted to the family, hard work, and the
expansion of the family, enterprise.
Consulate General
Thousands of U.S. tourists. visit the
city annually. This creates heavy work-
loads for the Consular Section. Every offi-
cer can expect to become well acquainted
with visa, protection, and citizenship prob-
lems during a tour.
The Post and
Its Administration
The Consulate General has its own two-
story, air-conditioned building located at
Constitucion Poniente 411. Housed on the
ground floor are the Consular. Section,
USIS, and the Immigration and Naturaliza-'
tion Service (INS). On the second floor are,
the offices of the consul general, the
Economic/Commercial Section, the Legal
Office, the Drug Enforcement Administra-
tion Office, and the Administrative Sec-
tion. A modern auditorium/projection
MM=
room in the basement seats 100. Office
hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am
to noon and 1 pm to 5 pm. The telephone
numbers are 43-06-50 and 43-06-59. The
mailing address is Apartado Postal 152,
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, 64000 Mexico.
Housing
kTemporary Quarters
Monterrey has several hotels and motels
which are adequate for a temporary stay,
but they lack kitchen facilities. Furnished
apartments with kitchenette facilities are
not available.
Permanent Housing
The principal officer is provided
government-leased, furnished housing in-
cluding major appliances (stove, refrig-
erator, upright freezer, and washer and.
S 31
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
dryer). The BPAO is provided an unfur-
nished house. No other government hous-
ing is available for Consulate General
employees, although nine officers now live
in government-leased quarters.
While suitable housing is available, it
may take,4-8 weeks to find, and rents are
high and continually rising. Since most
apartments and houses require the tenant
to furnish stoves, refrigerators, space
heaters, kitchen cabinets, hot water
heaters, washers and dryers, air-
conditioners, and light fixtures, be
prepared for substantial initial expenses.
The government currently provides all new
arrivals with refrigerators, washers and
dryers, and stoves. Furnished housing is
hard to obtain and is expensive.
Since lengthy delays in telephone in-
stallation are common, rent quarters with
a phone. Make sure that the owner will not
remove the phone during your tour.
Furnishings
American-style furniture, at prices much
higher than in the U.S., is sold locally. In-
expensive, durable wicker and reed fur-
niture and custom-made furniture by local
crafters are also available, particularly of
the Spanish colonial influence. Stoves, hot
water heaters, light fixtures, and household
items can also be bought here. A complete
range of furniture and major appliances
can be bought at shops in U.S. border
towns. Piped natural gas or bottled gas is
commonly used for cooking, water heat-
ers, and space heaters. Electric fans or air-
conditioners (220v models preferably) are
used in at least one room. Electrical cur-
rent in Monterrey is 1lOv, 60-cycle, AC.
Occasionally blackouts last several
hours. In addition, the voltage fluctuates.
Voltage regulators, although not absolutely
necessary, are good to have for sensitive
stereo equipment. Water is cut off
sometimes for several hours a day,
especially during drier periods.
Food
Some American foods are sold locally, but
frozen foods are rare and expensive. Most
fruits and vegetables familiar to
Americans, as well as tropical and
semitropical fruits, are available. Meat
prices are generally lower and the meat
tougher than in the U.S. Better cuts of meat
are expensive here also. A freezer is
useful, especially for large families.
Strained and junior baby foods,
canned by U.S.-affiliated firms in Mexico,
now sell at nearly twice U.S. prices.
Clothing
Generally, clothing worn in spring, sum-
mer, and fall in Washington, D.C., is
worn in Monterrey. Clothing may be pur-
chased here and on trips to U.S. border
towns.
Men. The consul general (and perhaps
others to a lesser extent) may occasional-
ly need a dinner jacket (tux, black or
white). If you own these, bring them to
post. Hats are seldom worn by men in the
city except with informal outdoor wear for
protection against sun and rain. In summer
men often wear guayaberas (white cotton
shirts with handsewn tucks). Local
readymade men's suits are inferior to
equally priced U.S. products. The style
differs from that worn by Americans.
Shirts and other accessories are sold
locally. A trenchcoat or light overcoat is,
appropriate for the short winter.
Women. A variety of women's clothing
is worn-pantsuits, woolen suits, cocktail
dresses, full-length informal dresses or
skirts, knits, cottons, and linens. Light-
weight dresses are the most practical for
the mild climate. Bring a winter coat,
spring coat, raincoat, and umbrella.
Although Mexican shoes are stylish and
reasonably priced, narrow feet and heels
are difficult to fit. Attractive sandals for
summer are available.
Religious Activities
English-language services are held in the
Chapel of the Franciscan Convent (Roman
Catholic) and the Union Church (nonde-
nominational Protestant). A synagogue and
an Episcopal Church (Holy Family) are
also available.
Education
Dependent Education
Most children attend the American School
of Monterrey, a private coeducational
school offering classes from nursery
through grade 12. Instruction is in English
with intensive Spanish courses for
Americans and intensive English courses
available to Mexican children. The school
is a fully accredited member of the
Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools and of the Texas State Department
of Education. Course material is based on
Texas educational standards.
The school year runs from mid-
August to mid-June. Current enrollment is
about 1,400, including 228 U.S. students,
1,125 Mexicans, and 42 children of other
nationalities. Elementary (kindergarten
through grade 6) enrollment was about 948
and secondary (grades 7-12) enrollment is
447. Most Mexican high school students
leave after grade 9 to attend the local
preparatory schools, and others transfer to
the Bachillerato system, leaving grades
10-12 with a total current enrollment of
42 students.
Recreation and
Social Life
Sports
A tennis club at the military camp on the
north side of town (about 15 minutes from
the Consulate General) offers I1 clay
courts. Two public courts are on the edge
of downtown Monterrey (V. Carranza and
Aramberri) and two are in the suburb of
Fuentes del Valle. They are cement and
free. Public soccer fields, tennis courts,
and basketball courts are located in a
several mile-long section of a dry riverbed.
Also, on a par course you dan jog and
follow a marked pattern of suggested
exercise.
Several stables in the area offer
horseback riding.
The Circulo Mercantil, an organiza-
tion of office workers and professionals,
run somewhat along the lines of the
.YMCA, has bowling alleys; billiards and
Ping-pong; two gyms; basketball,
volleyball, and handball courts; swimming
pool; steam baths; etc. Dues are minimal.
Two members must sponsor your
application.
Bass fishing is available in a few
public lakes and many ponds. In order to
fish in most ponds you must know some-
one whose club has fishing rights. You can
fish from banks or in a boat, but rental
.boats are scarce. Fishing and hunting
licenses may be obtained gratis through the
Embassy.
Nearby attractions include: Chipinque
Falls (picnic area, small zoo, hotel, swim-
ming pool, scenic view); Horse Tail Falls
(picnics, waterfall, hotel, pool); Presa de
la Boca (picnics, fishing, boating, water
skiing); Garcia Cave (cave tour); the city
of Saltillo (higher elevation, cooler
climate, cleaner air, nine-hole golf course);
Huasteca Canyon (hiking, camping, pic-
nics); and Bustamante Canyon (hiking,
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved
camping, and spelunking nearby). Addi-
tional pools are found at Balneario el
Allamo, a restaurant with three pools
which is about 25 miles away on the old
road to Mexico, and at the Restaurant
Rodriguez, some 12 miles from the city on
the road to the airport.
Horse shows and rodeos (charreadas),
presented by Mexican cowboys (charros),
are announced in advance in the
newspaper. Bullfighting is one of Mexico's
favorite spectator sports. The Plaza
Monterrey features big name "toreros" as
well as "novilleros." During the season
(October-May), bullfights are held on
,Sunday afternoons and holidays. Monter-
rey has a Mexican Baseball League team,
For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
The consul general often attends these For shipments entering through Vera-
functions personally and sometimes sends cruz, Tampico, or Acapulco, the follow-
a representative. ing marks are used:
Much of the social life of the junior
officers revolves around informal dinners,
barbeques, etc.
A few official calls must be made. A
supply of 150 official calling cards is
adequate.
Special Information
Mail Facilities
Letters and periodicals may be received
through international mail, which is often
the fastest, or through the Consulate
similar to the AA class in the U.S. Games General's post office
are played at night and on Sundays.
Monterrey has several bowling alleys
and roller skating rinks. The Consulate
General has a men's softball team and a
women's volleyball team, both of which
compete in leagues.
Educational and artistic activities in-
clude live music and dance concerts.
Several modern movie theaters (many
showing year-old U.S. films with subtitles)
exist, as do good restaurants.
Local tourist attractions include the
Cathedral, Obispado (Bishop's Palace),
several museums, and tours of the brewery
and crystal factory. There are some art
galleries.
Monterrey has five TV stations and
U.S. TV is available by cable in several
neighborhoods. One of the local stations
televises U.S. college football games and
professional football games each Saturday
and Sunday during the season.
Six Rotary Clubs in the Monterrey
metropolitan area meet on different days
of the week. An American Society, a
square dance group, and a choral group are
also active.
The Monterrey consular corps (of-
ficers of the U.S. Consulate General be-
ing the only resident career consular of-
ficers in the city) was organized in 1946.
Its social program has been limited to
monthly dinners and annual conventions.
box in Laredo,
Full name
American Consulate General
Monterrey
P.O. Box 3098
Laredo, Texas 78041
Pouch facilities are also available for
letters and parcels:
Full name
Monterrey
Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520 (for letters)
and 20521 (for parcels)
Shipping Effects
Shipments from the U.S. are usually crated
and forwarded to Monterrey via Laredo,
Texas. Shipments originating in Europe or
Africa generally enter through Tampico,
sometimes through Veracruz. Shipments
originating in the Orient generally enter
through Acapulco. If shipped from a pre-
vious post, autos should be consigned to
the Villasana y Cia. at the port of entry.
Most cars are personally driven from the
U.S. to Monterrey via Laredo, which is
150 miles away.
Consign and mark all overland
shipments to Monterrey as follows:
U.S. Embassy Warehouse
620 Logan Street
Laredo, Texas 78040
For
Full name
American Consulate General
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Tampico
Villasana y Cia.
Edificio Luz, 2o. Piso, Desps.
204-207
Tampico, Tamaulipas
For
Full name
American Consulate General
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Veracruz
Villasana y Cia.
Landero y Coss 31
Veracruz, Veracruz.
For
Full name
American Consulate General
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Acapulco
Villasana y Cia.
Edificio Avarez, ler. Piso
For
Full name
American Consulate General
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Upon shipment of effects, send all
shipping documents and bills of lading to
either the American Consulate General for
Laredo, Texas, entry or to Villasana y Cia.
for entry at Tampico, Veracruz, or
Acapulco so that they may begin the
clearance. Submit a detailed packing list
and inventory to the Consulate General and
to the Embassy. If you desire early entry
of unaccompanied baggage or household
effects, give the following information to
the administrative officer at this post: your
full name and title; type, date of issue, and
number of passport and visa; your
estimated time of arrival and port of en-
try; contents' value; the port of entry of
the shipment (for Monterrey this is usual-
ly Nuevo Laredo); and means of shipment.
See Notes For Travelers, Customs and
Duties, for further shipping information.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Tijuana
d states of America
Benito
Calle
a United i'States
Mexico
Mexico_
Hipodromo
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Tijuana
The city of Tijuana, whose principal
economic activity is tourism, lies just south
of San Diego, California, and the natural
vegetation and physical environment is vir-
tually identical to that of southern Califor-
nia. The city is 5 miles from the Pacific
Ocean at about 75 feet above sea level. It
is built in and around a group of rather
large hills which are part of the Pacific
Coast Range of mountains.
Tijuana's estimated 1 million people
live in a modern city. Recently, however,
a tremendous influx of new residents from
other parts of Mexico has severely taxed
its municipal services.
The climate is identical to that of San
Diego, with no temperature extremes.
Winter temperatures can drop to 40 ?F at
night and remain in the 50's during the
daytime in winter months; temperatures
seldom reach freezing. Summer tempera-
tures rarely go above 80 ?F. Sunny days
and the lack of perceptible humidity help
maintain comfortable conditions year
round. Rainfall, which normally occurs
only between October and March (the
main rainy months are December and
January), averages 11 inches yearly. Un-
fortunately, vegetation is sparse on the
slopes surrounding the city, resulting in
year-round dusty conditions in the city.
This lack of vegetation also leads to
problems during periods of heavy rain with
minor mud slides, sudden appearance of
deep ruts and potholes in streets, and
clogged gutters.
The population of the Tijuana consular
district is mainly Spanish-Indian, and
Spanish is the common language. How-
ever, English is widely spoken and under-
stood. More than 25,000 Americans reside
in the consular district, apart from the
many thousands of tourists who cross the
border every day (some 14 million a year).
No other large foreign colony exists.
Although Baja California seems to be
a geographical extension of the U.S., the
Consulate General
border definitely exists. There can be long
lines of cars waiting to enter the U.S. at
rush hour (many Mexicans live in Tijuana
and commute to work in the U.S.) and dur-
ing weekends and holidays, when many
tourists return from various sporting events
and outdoor activities.
The Post and
Its Administration
The Consulate General is located at Tapa-
chula 96 and is a modern, two-story build-
ing. Consulate General office hours are
Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm.
The telephone number is 86-10-01 (from
the U.S. dial direct 706-686-1001). The
Department of Agriculture (Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service), maintains
offices in the Consulate General.
The Consulate General's postal ad-
dresses are:
Apartado Postal 68
Tijuana, B.C.
Mexico
and
P.O. Box 1358
San Ysidro, California 92073
U.S. employees receive their mail
through the San Ysidro box number. New
employees may safely send regular sized
packages in advance of their arrival and
mark them "hold for arrival." However,
please note that the post office forwards
packages shipped by UPS to a UPS storage
facility in San Ysidro. Therefore, incom-
ing personnel should be prepared to pay
for storage of their packages or to reim-
burse the administrative officer for any
storage fees paid by the Consulate General
in advance of their arrival.
Housing
Temporary Quarters
Temporary quarters are available on both
sides of the border. Many motels and
hotels on the U.S. side have kitchenettes
and connecting rooms. Some will permit
pets. Temporary lodging in Tijuana is most
convenient at the Country Club Hotel,
which is a block from the Consulate
General. The hotel does not have cooking
facilities, but it has a restaurant on the
premises. Pets are not permitted.
Pleasure boating is a popular pastime in Mexico.
Cabo San Lucas is a favorite spot for boating.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Permanent Housing
The principal officer is provided a short-
term, government-leased furnished home.
The administrative officer provides details
on request.
The post also has other unfurnished
houses on short-term government lease
which are assigned by the post according
to family size and availability.
The Consulate General's goal is to
provide short-term government-leased
housing to each officer on arrival to avoid
possible lengthy periods in hotels while
searching for permanent quarters. Houses
will be supplied with refrigerators, wash-
ers, and dryers. If necessary, household
furniture, including stoves, may be pur-
chased in California and imported duty free
into Tijuana. Security can be a housing-
related problem in the city. Many houses
have high fences and window grills.
Burglar alarms can be installed to forestall
would-be thieves, but the Consulate
General currently does not supply them.
Food
Most foods available in California are also
sold in Tijuana, but most personnel shop
in California supermarkets. Milk spoils
quickly, and you are advised to carefully
wash most produce and any leafy, green
vegetables purchased here. Tijuana is
developing new and attractive shopping
centers, such as the Rio de Tijuana shop-
ping center, which offer a wide variety of
shops and services.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Clothing
Because it is chilly in winter, persons un-
familiar with the area are advised that
warm sweaters and other layered clothing
are necessary, particularly because houses
are frequently colder than outdoors and not
all houses have heating. Light- to medium-
weight overcoats are also advised.
Raincoat-weight overcoats are ideal,
especially for children.
Formal wear is seldom needed and can
be rented, if required, inexpensively in San
Diego. On rare occasions a dinner jacket
or other formal attire may be worn. Suits
and sports jackets and ties are worn in the
evenings.
The women of Tijuana are very
fashion conscious and closely and tastefully,
follow latest styles. Mexican women wear
dresses for official daytime events and all
evening affairs. Occasionally, official
functions, such as those hosted by the U.S.
Navy in California, may require cocktail
dresses. Formal evening gowns are seldom
required. Children wear casual clothing
such as jeans and slacks, casual skirts, and
blouses. Everyone needs at least two heavy
outdoor sweaters for cooler months.
Religious Activities
Although Mexico is predominantly
Catholic, Tijuana has several Christian
denomination churches and a Jewish
synagogue. No English-language services
are held in Tijuana. Timely access to
churches in the U.S. is uncertain due to
crowded weekend conditions at the border
crossing in San Ysidro, California, after
10 am.
Education
Dependent Education
All American children are normally en-
rolled in U.S. schools in Chula Vista,
California. The Consulate General does
not provide transportation beyond the daily
busing service. As a result, parents nor-
mally spend many hours shuttling their
children to and from afterschool activities.
Recreation and
Social Life
Because of Tijuana's nearness to Califor-
nia, most consular officers spend much of
their leisure time enjoying the myriad
recreational activities on the U.S. side of
the border. Consequently, home entertain-
ing (for other than recreational purposes)
is infrequent, compared with other Foreign
Service posts.
The Tijuana Country Club, with an
18-hole golf course, swimming pool, ten-
nis courts, restaurant, sauna, racquetball,
etc., offers courtesy memberships to U.S.
employees of the Consulate General and
their families. Nonmembers may use the
golf course for a reasonable greens fee.
Camping, fishing, hunting, ocean
bathing, and sailing opportunities exist on
both sides of the border. San Diego also
has many public tennis courts. Tijuana of-
fers such spectator sports as horse and dog-
racing, jai alai, and bullfights. San Diego
has professional football, basketball,
baseball, tennis, and soccer teams.
A new cultural center, currently under
construction in Tijuana, will offer the full
range of theater arts, art galleries, exhibits,
and musical events. The new Rio de
Tijuana Plaza is a vast complex of depart-
ment stores, boutiques, restaurants,
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
bakeries, and specialty shops located near
downtown. Both Americans and Mexicans
shop there.
Other recreational facilities include the
San Diego Zoo, possibly the world's
finest, Wild Animal Park, and Sea World,
not to mention Disneyland, which is an
easy 2-hour drive from Tijuana. Numerous
movie theaters and fine restaurants are in
Tijuana, San Diego, and vicinity. Radio
and TV reception in Tijuana is good and
includes San Diego channels. Cable TV is
also available for a small fee, making Los
Angeles channels available as well. Near-
by Chula Vista boasts an excellent library.
Senior Consulate General officers,
particularly the consul general, hold of
ficial meetings on both sides of the border
with government officials, business and
professional people, and military command
officers. The principal officer will need
about 700 calling cards during a 2-year
tour. Engraved cards are available in San
Diego with prices comparable to those in
Washington, D.C. Section chiefs and pro-
tection officers require business cards,
printed locally at reasonable prices. Other
officers rarely need them. Calling cards are
rarely used by junior officers.
Special Information
Pets
There is no difficulty in bringing pets into
Tijuana. Proof of shots is required.
Veterinary care is available on both sides
of the border. Many families have large
dogs to discourage burglars.
Shipping Effects
No special packing, marking, wrapping,
or limits on liftvan sizes are necessary for
the shipment of household effects. Since
you must live in Mexico to receive the
housing allowance, the ultimate destination
will be Tijuana. Consign your airfreight
and household effects shipments to either
of the following addresses:
Consulate General
Tijuana
c/o Sullivans Van and Transfer
Company
(United Van. Lines)
4660 Alvarado Canyon Road
San Diego, California
Consulate General
Tijuana
c/o Hutchinson Brokers
330 Calle Primero, Suite L
West San Ysidro, California 92073
U.S. storage and transfer companies
are not licensed to haul into or unpack
shipments in Mexico. The Consulate
General will arrange with a Mexican firm
to pick up from the storage company and
haul effects to Tijuana. Residence-to-
residence shipping should not be used for
shipping effects to Tijuana. The Ad-
ministrative Section will arrange for
customs clearance into the Tijuana free
zone after you arrive.
Because of Tijuana's unique free-zone
status, free-entry clearances from AmEm-
bassy Mexico City for personal effects
destined for Tijuana are unnecessary.
Therefore, contrary to Notes For Travelers
in this post report, you do not need to pro-
vide the detailed information on your
household effects and airfreight shipments.
Automobile Shipment. Special
information concerning importing private-
ly owned vehicles to Tijuana, which dif-
fers substantially from the Notes For
Travelers section, is forwarded to incom-
ing personnel immediately on receipt of the
assignment notice.
See Notes For Travelers, Customs and
Duties, for further shipping information.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Hermosillo
Hermosillo is a "pretty little place," as its
name implies, and a modern city with a
population of about 350,000. It is located
in the middle of a semidesert, nearly 800
feet above sea level. It is 180 miles south
of Nogales, Arizona, and 60 miles from
the Gulf of California.
Hermosillo is the hub of a small
transportation network which provides the
city with excellent bus, rail, and air
transportation north to the U.S. and south
to Central Mexico. Air traffic, served at
an international airport 7 miles west of
town, offers daily flights to Mexico City,
Guadalajara, and the U.S. Thousands of
Americans pass through the city en route
to and from points farther south. The small
American colony is so integrated into the
local community that it is not recognizable
as a group.
Hermosillo is the capital city of
Sonora, the second largest state of Mex-
ico, which is part of the great southwest
desert of the North American Continent.
Geographically, it has the same soil group
and climate as southern Arizona, New
Mexico, western Texas, and the desert
regions of California. The climate is hot
and dry, yet healthful. Summer, from May
Consulate
to October, brings daily temperatures of
100 ?F or more; rainfall averages 8 inches
a year with a rainy season in July and
August and some rain in December and
January. Winter months, from November
to April, are cool and spring-like.
The consular district has grown rapid-
ly with respect to both population and out-
put. The economy is farm based in the
large irrigated lowlands of western and
southern Sonora. Cotton and wheat are the
most important crops. The region is also
a major producer of copper, cattle, shrimp,
poultry, and winter vegetables. The district
has traditionally had close economic ties
with Arizona.
Eradication activities. The post office ad-
dress is:
Apartado Postal 972
Hermosillo, Sonora,
Mexico
Housing
Temporary Quarters
The northern approaches to Hermosillo
have several motels suitable for temporary
quarters. Among these are the motels Valle
Grande, El Encanto, Gandara, and Bugam-
bilia. If you prefer a more central location,
the Hotel Internacional and the Hotel San
Alberto are only 2 or 3 blocks from the
Consulate.
The Post and
Its Administration
The Consulate is on the third floor of the
ISSSTESON Building on Boulevard
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla No. 15.
Telephone 2-20-36, 2-20-97, or
2-21-95. Office hours are Monday-
Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm. Representatives
of the Drug Enforcement Administration
are located in the Consulate. The Depart-
ment of Agriculture is represented by a
district supervisor in charge of Screwworm
"Popocatelpetl," the "Warrior," as seen from
Mexico City on a clear day.
Permanent Housing
Most houses for rent are single-family type
dwellings with three bedrooms. Fur-
nished houses and furnished or unfur-
nished apartments are not available. All
employees are currently in government-
leased housing.
The Embassy GSO provides housing
details upon request. Employees are
notified of housing availability through
Personnel (State), or parent agency chan-
nels when the post receives assignment
notice.
Furnishings
All State employees are furnished a
refrigerator, washer, dryer, and some win-
dow air-conditioners. Most houses for rent
do not come equipped with water heaters
and stoves, but lessors will usually provide
them after negotiation. Space heaters are
useful during winter months.
The electrical current is the same as
in the U.S., l lOv, 60-cycle, AC. Electrici-
ty is expensive here, especially during
summer.
Other furnishings and appliances may
be purchased easily in Arizona after you
arrive at post.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Food
Foods of all types are available in Her-
mosillo. Meat products are good, and fresh
vegetables are safe to eat. Fresh milk and
baby foods are also plentiful. Several
supermarkets in Hermosillo are similar to
those in the U.S. In addition, you may
shop in Nogales, Tucson, and Phoenix.
Clothing
Summer clothing is worn most of the year
with fall suits, sweaters, shawls, and coats
.needed only in evenings in December
through February. Dress is generally
informal.
Men rarely wear jackets during hot
months. Dress at social functions is
business suits and simple cocktail dresses.
A tuxedo or formal dress is needed for the
annual Black-and-White Ball. Wash-and-
wear materials are recommended.
Religious Activities
Several Catholic churches have Spanish
services and several small Protestant
churches are available. There is no
synagogue.
Education
Hermosillo has one school for kindergarten
to grade 6. All classes are given in English
and Spanish. After grade 6 students must
attend school away from post or study
through Calvert correspondence courses.
The educational allowance almost covers
costs 'of away from post schools in U.S.
border states, Guadalajara, and Mexico
City.
Recreation and
Social Life
Swimming, water skiing, skindiving, and
scuba diving are among the water sports
available at beaches at Kino Bay and San
Carlos and Guaymas near Hermosillo.
Hunting and fishing are popular, with
excellent game fishing in the Gulf of
California and freshwater fishing in,
Sonora's mountain lakes. A free public
sports complex in Hermosillo offers ten-
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Opposite-Mexico's beautiful architecture is
represented by this cathedral in Zacatecas.
Above-Mexicans and tourists enjoy "charreadas"
(rodeos) and bullfighting.
nis, volleyball, and an Olympic-size
swimming pool. Country club members
can play the nine-hole golf course. To
become a member, you must purchase a
share. An athletic club also offers swim-
ming, tennis, racquetball, jogging, track,
sauna and steam room, Jaccuzzi, etc.
Memberships, available from 1 to 30
years, expensive.
Special Information
Shipping Effects
All unaccompanied surface shipments of
effects originating in the U.S. or routed
through the U.S. should be addressed as
follows:
Agencia Joffroy,
For American Consulate,
Hermosillo
158 Bankard Avenue
Nogales, Arizona 85621
Employee's full name
Sea shipments are handled by the Em-
bassy in Mexico City. See Notes For
Travelers, Customs and Duties, for further
information.
Small packages and magazines may be
addressed:
P.O. Box 1090
Nogales, Arizona 85621
Mail for the Consulate is picked up at that
address every 2 weeks.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Matamoros
Y/( }~O /\/ / Gateway
/Bridge
International
Bridge ,
Golf
Course
42.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Matamoros
Matamoros is located on the south bank of
the Rio Grande River about 20 miles in-
land from the Gulf of Mexico. With
Brownsville, its sister city in Texas,
Matamoros forms a metropolitan area with
almost 425,000 inhabitants. Matamoros,
the larger of the two cities, has over
350,000 residents.
The climate is tropical but tempered
by gulf sea breezes. Temperatures at mid-
day in summer can range well over 90 ?F
with high humidity. Spring and autumn
days are mild and brilliant. Winter is sun-
ny and warm except for an occasional
"norther" when temperatures can drop
suddenly to near freezing.
Matamoros developed principally as
an agricultural processing center, and
"agribusiness" is still the area's largest
employer and income earner. Recently,
some 50 "border industries" have been
established here, ranging from electronics,
chemicals, and plastics operations to tex-
tiles and garment plants. Large-scale heavy
industry is still lacking, but further
development of the city's potential as a
processor, distribution center, and com-
munications hub for the region is expected.
Matamoros also has a thriving tourist
industry, providing facilities to American
winter visitors and retirees coming in ever-
increasing numbers to the Texas Rio
Grande Valley. Several high-quality
restaurants are among Matamoros chief
attractions.
The Post and
Its Administration
The Consulate, one of the oldest, con-
tinuously active U.S. Foreign Service
posts, occupies its own modern building
at Avenida Primera #232, Colonia Jardin,
a residential/commercial area near the In-
ternational Bridge. The Consulate is open
Consulate
to the public from 8 am to noon and from
1 pm to 5 pm. When the office is closed
during lunch, personnel are available to
handle emergencies. Consulate telephone
numbers are 25250 (answering machine),
25251, and 25252 (direct line). The post
has two post office boxes: P.O. Box 633,
Brownsville, Texas 78520, and Apartado
Postal 451, Matamoros, Tamaulipas. The
Brownsville address is used for all mail
originating in the U.S.
Housing
Temporary Quarters
Hotels, motels, and apartments are
available in both Matamoros and Browns-
ville, but rooms become scarce during the
winter tourist season. In Matamoros, the
El Presidente, near the Consulate, is
usually preferred. Brownsville offers many
motels of similar quality. Brownsville has
some rooms with kitchenettes. The tem-
porary living quarters allowance applies to
either side of the border.
Permanent Housing
Both the principal officer and the vice con-
sul are provided air-conditioned,
government-leased housing with major ap-
pliances. The principal officer occupies a
four-bedroom, three-bath house with some
entertaining space. The vice consul has a
three-bedroom, two-bath apartment. Both
are within easy walking distance of the
Consulate. The Embassy GSO provides
housing details on request. All other
employees receive notice of housing
availability through parent agency
channels.
43
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Furnishings
Climate conditions do not require special
furniture, but special care must be taken
of any goods stored, as the climate pro-
duces rapid deterioration due to rust,
mildew, etc. Only air-conditioned facilities
should be used for storage. American fur-
niture is available in the Rio Grande
Valley, but selection is somewhat limited
and prices are above average. Corpus
Christi, 3 hours from Brownsville, and San
Antonio, 6 hours from Brownsville, offer
a wider selection of furniture.
Food
All food needs can be met at modern
supermarkets in Brownsville, and some
goods are available in Matamoros. Local
produce is of excellent quality, but usual
precautions for the tropics should be taken.
U.S. produce is abundant in Brownsville
and virtually all vegetables are available
fresh, year round. Seafood, especially Gulf
shrimp, is also of high quality. Matamoros
city water is not potable, but sterilized
drinking water is inexpensive and
available.
Clothing
Usual business dress is informal; sports-
wear is acceptable year round. During
summer the "guayabera," an open-necked
shirt/jacket, is popular. Light spring- and
fall-weight clothing is worn 'during the
short winter season, although occasional
cold spells make heavier clothing practical.
Few social events will require black tie or
formal; black tie dress can be rented in
Brownsville.
Religious Activities
Most faiths are worshipped in Brownsville,
which has many churches and a
synagogue. Although Roman Catholic
churches predominate in Matamoros,
small congregations of Evangelical and
Protestant denominations are also
available.
Education
Except for some special language classes,
all instruction in Matamoros schools is in
Spanish. Consular children usually attend
public or private schools in Brownsville.
A full range of classes and subjects is
available to more advanced students at
junior and 4-year colleges in Brownsville.
Brownsville has a modern, medium-sized
library with an excellent selection of
periodicals and journals.
Recreation and
Social Life
Social life at post is international in
character and includes events on both sides
of the border. Official functions are fairly
frequent and most ceremonies are brief and
pleasant. Most other social activities
revolve around civic organizations,
business luncheons, Rotary, Lions, etc.
Although the State of Tamaulipas has
little to offer in tourist facilities, it is ex-
tremely popular with those who enjoy its
excellent hunting and fishing, especially in
the Lake Guerrero region, about 200 miles
south of Matamoros.
The Texas Rio Grande Valley is
becoming famous as a recreational area for
winter and summer tourists. South Padre
Island, about 25 miles from Brownsville,
offers excellent swimming, surfing, sail-
ing, and deep-sea fishing. Golf is popular
here, and it can be played year round at
the numerous public and private courses.
The Rio Grande Valley also offers
restaurants and first-run movies. The Con-
federate Air Force, an impressive collec-
tion of World War H aircraft in flying con-
dition, is a favorite tourist attraction in
nearby Harlingen.
Matamoros and Brownsville are
served by five TV channels, including all
three U.S. networks and two Spanish-
language stations. The Public Broadcasting
System also now broadcasts in
Brownsville.
Special Information
Travel
Frequent service by several airlines is
available from three airports in the Rio
Grande Valley to Dallas, Houston, and San
Antonio. National and international con-
nections are good from these points.
Matamoros to Mexico City flights are
available twice a day.
Shipping Effects
Competent packing and shipping services
are available in Brownsville, where several
large American moving companies are
represented. Shipments to Matamoros
from the U.S. are usually sent by truck for
entry to Mexico at Matamoros. Shipments
from overseas should be sent to a major
U.S. port, such as Houston, for transship-
ment through the U.S. by truck to
Brownsville and Matamoros. This is safer
and quicker than sending shipments
through Mexican seaports.
See Notes For Travelers, Customs and
Duties, for further information.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Mazatlan
Mazatlan is an old, Mediterranean-style
port city on Mexico's west coast. Located
780 miles south of Nogales, Arizona, it is
situated on a peninsula surrounded by
water. At the harbor's entrance, the highest
recorded lighthouse in the Western
Hemisphere rests atop one of Mazatlan's
few hills. The city's history goes back to
the beginning of the 19th century, but its
growth is recent. The population numbers
around 350,000 full-time residents, in-
creased by large numbers of Americans
and other visitors who come throughout the
year. The weather is excellent, particularly
during winter, November through March.
In these months the temperatures range
from 85?F in the daytime to 65?F at night.
The tropical summer, lasting from April
to October, is hot and humid with frequent
thundershowers.
Mazatlan's economy is influenced
most directly by the commercial fishing
dock, which makes it a shrimp capital of
the world, and by the Pacifico Brewery.
Agriculture is also an important industry;
the northern part of Sinaloa has become the
chief supplier of winter vegetables for the
U.S. Since Mazatlan is the biggest and
busiest seaport between San Diego and
Panama, U.S. Navy ships call every year.
The Post and
Its Administration
The Consulate is located at Circunvalacion
#6. Office hours are from 8 am to 1 pm
and 2 pm to 5 pm, Monday through Fri-
day. Telephone numbers are 1-26-85,
1-26-87, and 1-29-05. A recording
device connected to 1-26-85 and 1-26-87
gives the telephone numbers of the consul
and the vice consuls when the office is
closed. Three means of sending mail to
post are used. The Department of State
pouch is the slowest. Using the Laredo ad-
dress averages 10 days transit time. Inter-
Consulate
national airmail arrives in a week or less.
The Laredo address is:
AmConsul Mazatlan
P.O. Box 3087
Laredo, Texas 78041
U.S. Consulate
Apartado Postal 321
82000 Mazatlan
Sinaloa, Mexico
Drug Enforcement Administration
representatives are located at Calle Rio
Baluarte and Arroyo Jabalines. Postal ad-
dresses are the same as for the Consulate.
The Department of Agriculture is
represented in Mazatlan by a group from
the Screwworm Commission. The
Screwworm Commission's offices are
located at Rafael Buelna Airport. The
postal address is:
Apartado Postal 265
82000 Mazatlan
Sinaloa, Mexico
U.S. personnel may also use the Con=
sulate's address.
Housing
Temporary Quarters
Several hotels and motels along the beach
front are adequate for temporary stays dur-
ing your search for permanent housing.
Costs are covered by temporary quarters
allowance. Some excellent beach-front
hotels are good for vacation visits but they
are more expensive. A few one-bedroom
furnished apartments with maid service are
available. During the heavy tourist season
(mid-November to mid-April), make res-
ervations as far in advance as possible.
Permanent Housing
The principal officer is provided
government-leased housing with major ap-
pliances (stove, refrigerator, upright
freezer, and washer and dryer). The Em-
bassy GSO will: provide housing availabil-
ity details through Personnel (State) or
parent agency channels when the post
receives notice of assignment.
The Consulate also provides
government-leased quarters for the post's
two vice consuls. One is a two-bedroom
apartment, about 1 mile from the Con-
sulate. The other is a three-bedroom, two-
story house with some yard space appro-
priate for a family with small children. The
post provides a gas stove, refrigerator,
freezer, washer and dryer, and air-
conditioners in each bedroom.
Food
Most foods are available, and prices are
less than or compare favorably with U.S.
prices. Very few diet foods are available
locally, so bring what you need. Fish and
seafood are abundant. Drugstore items are,
generally, not expensive, but some items
cost more than U.S. equivalents and some
cost less. Bring any special brands from
the U.S.
Clothing
Light-weight clothing is worn year round.
Coat and tie or formal dress are not usually
worn at the office, but are needed for
periodic trips to Mexico City. Casual wear
is popular.
Religious Activities
Five Catholic churches and several Protes-
tant churches hold services. The Christian
Church has services in English from
December through April.
Education
Mazatlan has no American schools, but
one school, Instituto Anglo-Americano
(grades 1-12), teaches in both English and
Spanish. Enrollment is small, and
American students are often the children
of American citizens who are part-time
residents during winter. Before planning
to enroll children in a school in Mazatlan,
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
write to the Consulate for current informa-
tion on the particular school or schools.
Most American children in Mazatlan at-
tend U.S. boarding schools. The four
schools which American children have at-
tended in Mazatlan are ICO (Instituto
Cultural de Occidente), a private coeduca-
tional school run by Italian Catholic priests
for grades 1-12; Colegio Remington (girls
only) run by nuns for grades 1-9; Colegio
El Pacifico, a nonsectarian school for
grades 1-12; and Instituto Anglo-
Americano.
Recreation and
Social Life
Mazatlan's beaches are beautiful, and
ocean temperatures seldom dip below
65?F. The surf is well suited for swimming
and surfing. Fishing for marlin, sailfish,
and other large fighters is popular. Hunters
may march through the nearby foothills in
search of duck, dove, goose, and quail.
Mazatlan means "place of the deer" in
Nahuatl, and deer still abound near here.
The. Club Campestre and El Cid both
have beautiful golf courses, and paid
memberships are available. El Cid also has
a swimming pool and tennis courts. The
city itself is more than 300 years old, but.
it was not incorporated until 1837. A few
remnants still remain of the old colonial
section which you may find on a walking
tour of the town's streets and alleys.
Mazatlan has several air-conditioned
theaters, a large baseball stadium, and a
bullring. Three TV channels and seven
radio stations provide news and entertain-
ment in Spanish. Social activities are in-
formal, but both the American and the
Mexican official communities are active.
Mazatlan has several Beta-format video-
tape clubs.
Formal calling cards are not used at
post, but bring about 200 business cards
for courtesy calls and exchange with
callers of professional standing.
Special Information
Shipping Effects
Personal effects are shipped to post
overland from the U.S., via the U.S. Em-
bassy Warehouse in Laredo, Texas. Free-_
entry permits can be solicited from post
before the officer arrives to expedite the
6-week process. Once the free-entry per-
mit has been approved by the Mexican
Government and received in Laredo, ship-
ment of effects to post takes 2-3 weeks.
Have your car rustproofed or under-
coated to prevent corrosion by the sea air
and mist. Do not bring brass, chrome, and
metallic furnishings as these are also
affected.
See Notes For Travelers, Customs and
Duties, for further information.
47
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Merida
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Merida
The Yucatan Peninsula is noted for the
friendliness of its inhabitants and its im-
pressive archeological zones. Home of the
ancient Mayans, it is strewn with ruins and
relics of their culture. Merida itself is built
on the site of the old Mayan ceremonial
center of T'Hoo. The city has a long tradi-
tion of separatism which is reflected even
today. The Yucatan habits, culture, and
outlook differ widely from those of the rest
of Mexico.
Merida's population of 500,000 is
mostly of mixed Mayan and Spanish
descent. Foreign colonies are small.
English is widely understood. Several
thousand American tourists visit the district
annually. New resorts on the peninsula's
east side have become very popular with
U.S. tourists.
Merida is about 19 miles from the sea
and 25 feet above sea level. The climate
is tropical with three seasons: rainy season,
early June through September or later; cool
or winter season, through the end of
February; and the dry season, March,
April, and May.
The Post and
Its Administration
The Consulate is at Calle 56-A No. 453.
Taxi drivers recognize the address as Paseo
Montejo No. 453. Phone numbers are
5-54-09 and 5-50-11. Office hours are
8:30 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 5:30 pm.
Postal address is Apartado 130, Merida,
Yucatan, Mexico.
Housing
Temporary Quarters
Merida has several modern hotels suitable
for a temporary stay.
Permanent Housing
The principal officer and deputy are pro-
vided government housing in the same
compound as the office building.
The principal officer's house is ample
with basic furniture, stove, refrigerator,
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Consulate
freezer, and washer and dryer provided.
Dishes, glassware, and kitchenware are
adequate. The deputy's home also has
basic furniture, stove, refrigerator,
freezer, and washer and dryer. The com-
pound has a small swimming pool.
Electricity is 1lOv, 60-cycle, AC. Use
voltage regulators with expensive elec-
tronic equipment.
Food
Food is adequate but below U.S. stand-
ards. Fish, pork, chicken, and turkey are
of good quality and are readily available.
Fresh beef is sometimes scarce, and lamb
is unavailable. Excellent fruits and
vegetables are available locally in season.
Supermarkets carry a complete line of
foods and staples. Specialty foods sold in
U.S. supermarkets are expensive. Fresh
milk is unsafe, though reconstituted
substitutes are good and readily obtainable.
Baby foods are expensive. You can get
limited food orders from the Embassy
commissary, but orders generally take 2-3
weeks to transit from Mexico City. Most
food is expensive by U.S. standards.
Clothing
Coat and tie or formal dress are rarely
worn at the office but are needed for
periodic trips to Mexico City. Men wear
slacks and a guayabera, a casual
shirt/jacket common to the region.
Although formal wear is rarely used, a
summer-weight tuxedo or formal may be
brought. Women wear cotton or light-
weight dresses and pantsuits like those
worn in the U.S.
Bring all clothing and shoe needs for
the entire tour, except shirts. Guayaberas,
which are worn to work and most social
occasions, are manufactured locally. Ex-
tra care protects winter wear and leather
goods against damage by vermin and
mildew.
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
In Las Monjas, Uxmal, the Yucatan (facing page)-an artisan working with clay molds.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Religious Activities
Many Catholic churches and several Prot-
estant churches are in Merida. Some have
services in English.
Education
Merida has no American schools. Most
private primary and secondary schools are
run by Catholic religious orders. All in-
struction is in Spanish.
Although the level of instruction is
considered excellent, note that class size
ranges from 30 to 50 students. Teaching
methods vary from U.S. schools in that
more emphasis is placed on memorization,
tests, etc. Although students may need
private Spanish tutoring initially, parents
and students are satisfied with progress
when language fluency is achieved.
The major difficulty encountered is
finding a school with space available.
Almost all private schools in Merida have
waiting lists. If possible, register children
in March or April for the September term.
Personnel assigned to Merida should
quickly contact the post for assistance in
enrolling their dependents.
Recreation and
Social Life
Bring tennis racquets, fishing tackle,
shotguns, rifles, golf clubs, and other
sports equipment. Boating, fishing, and
hunting are quite good. The Club
Campestre has tennis courts and a swim-
ming pool. La Ceiba Country Club has an
18-hole golf course. The beach at Pro-
greso, where cottages may be rented, is
about a 30-minute drive. The archeological
ruins are the principal points of interest for
sightseers. Scuba diving and snorkeling are
popular at Isla Mujeres, Cancun, and
Cozumel.
Merida has many air-conditioned
theaters, a large baseball stadium, a bull-
ring, and a small museum. Four channels
of color TV and two FM stations also
operate.
Social life is informal and not
strenuous. You may belong to the Club
Campestre, the Golf Club, the Rotary
Club, and the Lions Club. New Year's Eve
dances and dances at carnival time in
February call for black tie.
A hundred calling cards are enough
for a tour here. Business cards can be
printed locally.
Special Information
Shipping Effects
Sea shipments of household effects to
Merida enter Mexico through Veracruz.
Overland shipments from the U.S. enter
through Nuevo Laredo, where an Embassy
agent is in charge of clearances. Mark
shipments as follows:
Nuevo Laredo
American Embassy Warehouse
620 Logan Street
Laredo, Texas 78040
For
Full name
AmConsul
Merida
Villasana, S.A.
Landero y Cosa 31
Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico
For
Full name
AmConsul
Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
See Notes For Travelers, Customs and
Duties, for further shipping information.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Nuevo Laredo
nde
Rio Gra
1g de
Bravo
Junio
MEk/
F
Victoria
C~ \
S~
Market
idal o Te~- \+@r
gv
~~A
es
Dr.
Mier
M
0
Federal
C
Building
Canales
Mina
Gutierrez
Railway
Inde end
encia
Station
Avenida
erne
de
Nacat
az
Plaza
d
e Torosr
F
Bolivar
m
C
?
,?
m
"
V
o
N
?
F
-
a
a
u
m
D
v
u
m
a
g
?
o
E
c
Stadium
?
m
m
O
Q
5
de
Feb
o
r
o
Nuev
o
Leon C
?
a
N
m
I
Chihuahua
Sonora
m
Cam he
m
Z
u
Oaxaca
m
N
Guanajuato 0
tF 4
m Q0~
m
E
b
Consula
te ? Q
Paseo
IF
cc
i
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Consulate
Nuevo Laredo
Because of its border location, Nuevo
Laredo offers a challenge not normally
found in the Foreign Service. Americans
at this post are in the unusual position of
serving abroad and yet being part of the
official and social community of Laredo,
Texas. Nuevo Laredo combines the con-
veniences of shopping in the U.S. with the
attractions of living abroad.
Nuevo Laredo is the most important
port of entry on the U.S.-Mexican border
for shipping and travelers to the interior
of Mexico. Of its estimated 240,000 in-
habitants, 10% speak English; the rest
speak Spanish. It is located on a gently roll-
ing plain with mountains skirting the
southwestern boundary of the consular
district. Brush, cactus, and scrub desert
vegetation abound. The city itself is 342
feet above sea level, and the climate is hot,
sunny, and semiarid. It is hotter than
Washington, D.C., but much less humid.
High temperatures are usual from March
through October, although occasional high
temperatures in winter are not uncommon.
The rainy season is not well defined,
but May, June, and September usually
have the greatest precipitation.
The Post and
Its Administration
The Consulate occupies its own office-
residence compound located at Avenida
Allende 3330, Col. Jardin, near the
southern end of the city, one block west
of the main-highway into Nuevo Laredo
(Ave. Reforma). Official Consulate hours
are Monday-Friday as follows:
? Regular-8 am to 5 pm with lunch
from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.
? Summer (April-October)-730 am
to 4:30 pm with lunch as above.
A Mexican Christmas tradition, the children's
pinata party.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Telephone is 40512 or 40618. The men often wear, sport shirts and slacks, and
U.S. postal system is used for most mail. women favor airy cottons. For more for-
The address is: mal occasions, men wear white or black
American Consulate
Nuevo Laredo
P.O. Box 3089
Laredo, Texas 78041
Housing
Nuevo Laredo has two modem, air-
conditioned motels which are comfortable
for a temporary stay. Laredo, Texas, also
has numerous motels and hotels which
newcomers may use. Temporary
allowances apply only in Mexico.
The principal officer's official home
is supplied with all major appliances, fur-
niture, furnishings, and tableware. The
vice consul's home, an integral part of the
office complex, is equipped with major ap-
pliances (stove, refrigerator, freezer,
washer and dryer, and central air-
conditioning) and basic furniture.
All furnishings are available in
Laredo, Texas. Electrical current is 1 lOv,
60-cycle, single-phase, AC. Natural gas is
used for cooking and central heating
systems.
Food
Adequate food supplies are available local-
ly and at chain grocery stores.in Laredo.
Clothing
During the hot season, light-weight
clothing is a must. In the office men usual-
ly wear the traditional Mexican guayabera
or light summer suits. The guayabera
doubles as informal evening wear for men.
Women wear cotton dresses. At parties
dinner jackets and women wear cocktail
dresses in washable fabrics. During
winter, custom occasionally requires for-
mal, attire-dinner jackets for men and
gowns or very dressy cocktail dresses for
women. Fall- and spring-weight suits,
dresses, overcoats, and rainboots are used
during winter when temperatures can drop
into the 30's. All wearing apparel needed
for this climate is available in Laredo,
Texas.
Religious Activities
Roman Catholicism is the predominant
religion in both Laredos. Most Christian
denominations are represented in Laredo,
Texas, and services in English are
available.
Education
Schools in Nuevo Laredo are overcrowd-
ed and instruction is in Spanish. For these
reasons most persons prefer to enroll their
children in public and private schools in
Laredo, Texas. Laredo Junior College and
Laredo State University in Laredo, Texas,
offer full curriculums for undergraduate
and some graduate-level degrees.
Recreation and
Social Life
Swimming pools;, public tennis courts;
bowling alleys; golf courses; and rifle,
pistol, skeet, and trapshooting clubs are
available in Nuevo Laredo and Laredo.
Laredo has excellent hunting and fishing
for dove, gamebirds, deer, and a variety
of freshwater fish. Entertainment in the
two Laredos is similar to that in any small
American town with occasional cultural
programs, fairs, Little Theater programs,
etc. The usual form of entertainment is a
cocktail party with buffet supper to which
both Americans and Mexicans are invited.
Calling cards are useful. The principal of-
ficer should have 200, which can be
printed locally.
Special Information
Shipping Effects
Shipments entering Mexico from other
countries via the U.S. should be addressed
as follows:
Full Name,, American Consul
c/o U.S. Despatch Agent
(U.S. Despatch Agency address)
For forwarding to
American Embassy Warehouse
620 Logan Street
Laredo, Texas 78040
Shipments originating in the U.S.
should not be loosepacked and should be
consigned as follows:
Full name, American Consul
American Embassy Warehouse
620 Logan Street
Laredo, Texas 78040
Bills of lading should show Laredo,
Texas, as destination. Mail regarding ship-
ments, including copies of government
bills of lading, should be sent to:
American Consulate
P.O. Box 3089
Laredo, 'Texas 78041
Inform the Embassy immediately of
shipments scheduled to enter Mexico
overland from Central America or by sea
at Mexican ports. Additional instructions
will be issued for such shipments.
See Notes For Travelers, Customs and
Duties, for further shipping information.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Getting to the Post
Normally employees travel to posts in
Mexico via commercial airlines or per-
sonal automobile (See The Post and Its Ad-
ministration: Upon Arrival at Post).
Notify your post of your travel plans,
including date and means of arrival, so that
temporary housing may be arranged and,.
if appropriate, you can be met. See Special.
Information for each post for specific ship-
ping information.
Customs, Duties,
and Passage
Customs and Duties
Most American personnel, excluding resi-
dent employees, are entitled to duty-free
entry of personal belongings, household ef-
fects, and automobiles for their personal
use. These privileges, are designed to
enable employees to furnish their homes
adequately; under no circumstances should
personal property be imported for sale.
Effective June 1, 1978, the Govern-
ment of Mexico instituted a new require-
ment for detailed information regarding the
contents of shipments before it will
authorize free entry. You are now required
to attach a detailed list of the contents of
shipments to the request for free entry
before it can be processed. Therefore,
,those assigned to any post in Mexico
should send a detailed, legible packing list
as soon as possible to Embassy Mexico,
Attention: GSO. This information is re-
quired for both airfreight and household
effects.
Clothing, books, records, kitchen
utensils, etc., may be listed as one box of
books, two boxes of records, etc.
Since the Embassy must translate
lists and since free-entry permits take 4-6
weeks to process after being submitted,
supply this information as soon as possi-
ble to prevent unnecessary delays in im-
portation of personal and household
effects.
Make sure no discrepancy exists be-
tween the address on the vans or cases
Notes For Travelers
shipped, the bills of lading covering the
shipment, and the information given the
Embassy to effect free entry. Any.
discrepancy means that free entry will
have to be requested again from the Mex-
ican Government. Shipments must be ad-
dressed in English.
The correct mailing address for
documentation is different from consign-
ment address shown for surface and sea
shipments. All documentation, i.e., way-
bills, including airway bills, packing
lists, personal letters, etc., should be
pouched to the Embassy, Mexico City.
Automobile Shipment. Employees
coming from a tour of duty in the U.S.
are reminded that Foreign Service regula-
tions require personally owned vehicles
be driven rather than shipped, since a
connecting all-weather, hard-surface
highway is available. However, the
Department of State will usually amend
orders to authorize shipment of the vehi-
cle when a hardship would result (e.g., a
person driving alone, a family with small
children traveling in the heat of summer,
etc.).
For cars to be shipped, send the GSO
in advance full details of routing a com-
plete description of the vehicle (make,
model, year, type, serial number, and
motor number) and a list of all extra
equipment (radio, heater, etc.).
The Embassy has no storage facilities
for vehicles that arrive before you do.
Any storage expenses incurred are your
responsibility.
Household and Personal Effects.
Shipments arrive by truck via Nuevo
Laredo or by sea via Veracruz, Tampico,
Acapulco, Manzanillo, and Mazatlan. All
shipments must be in liftvans. Itemize
and insure everything on the packing lists
since loss from breakage or pilferage may
occur.
The Consulate warehouse in Laredo
is not a long-term storage facility, nor can
it accept "loose-pack" shipments. It is
neither pest nor moisture controlled, and
goods are shipped to their final destina-
tion as soon as possible.
For the Embassy GSO to obtain free-
entry permits for household and personal
effects, the following must be airmailed
or air pouched to the GSO:
? Name, title, and address of ship-
per(s).
? Mexican port of entry and means
of shipment to that point.
? Specific number of trunks, suit-
cases, liftvans, cases, cartons, barrels,
crates, or packages. If information is not
known, overestimate.
Passage
You and your family should have valid
official or diplomatic passports with cur-
rent official or diplomatic Mexican visas.
Tourists may enter with a tourist card
instead of a visa. If you or your family
members cannot obtain Mexican visas
before leaving the U.S., you can enter
Mexico as tourists and be issued proper
papers later, but this is time consuming.
If a child is born in Mexico, contact the
Consular Section and State Department
concerning special documentation prob-
lems which may arise.
Pets
Your pet will need a veterinarian's cer-
tificate of good health and evidence of
antirabies sots within the past 6 months.
These papers must be certified, for a fee,
by a Mexican consul.
Bring your pet with you by car or as
"excess baggage" if you are traveling by
air, to avoid duty fees, excessive customs
brokerage fees, and the need to leave it in
customs overnight or longer. Even for a
big dog, it is cheaper to pay excess bag-
gage than customs fees. If you must ship
the pet, notify the post of its arrival date
at least 3 weeks in advance so free entry.
may be secured.
Firearms and.Ammunition
Firearms must be included with house-
hold effects, and ammunition is limited in
quantity as noted below. A special permit
from the Mexican Government is re-
quired for use of firearms in Mexico.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
Procedures to follow when applying for
the permit are available from the regional
security officer.
The following quantities and types of
nonautomatic firearms and ammunition
may be imported by each person over
18 years of age:
Maximum Caliber
Item Quantity Limitations
Pistols and 2 Not to exceed 38
revolvers caliber special
(.357 magnum
not authorized)
1 Not to exceed 30
caliber (30 cal.
M-1 and M-2
carbines and
30 cal. Garands
not authorized)
Shotguns 2 Not to exceed 12
gage (barrel
length must be
at least 635
mm-25')
Ammunition:
Pistols & revolvers 100 rounds
Rifles 100 rounds
Shotguns 1,000'rounds
Currency, Banking, and
Weights and Measures
The monetary unit in Mexico is the peso,
and at this writing, the value of the peso
has been fluctuating between 140 and 150
per US$1. Each peso contains 100 cen-
tavos. The mark used to designate pesos
is the same as the dollar symbol, except
that is has only one upright line. Banking
facilities compare with those in the U.S.,
except that canceled checks are not
returned with monthly statements. The
First National City Bank of New York is
the only American bank with a branch in
Mexico City, and it has an office in the
Embassy.
The First National City Bank office
in the Embassy performs all banking
accommodation exchange. A U.S. check-
ing account is recommended. Some
employees also have local checking ac-
counts. Cashing checks locally is more
complicated than cashing them in the
U.S., so cash them at the Embassy
branch. Travelers checks are almost
universally acceptable, and they are sold
at the Embassy bank branch.
Most American credit cards (e.g.,
Sears, Diners Club, American Express,
Visa) are accepted in Mexico. Gasoline
credit cards are not accepted.
If you are driving, buy enough pesos
at the border to get you to post. Dollars
and travelers checks are accepted at
motels and hotels, but a service charge is
often levied for the exchange.
The metric system of weights and
measures is used and distances are fig-
ured in kilometers. One kilo (kilogram) is
equal to 2.2 pounds; one kilometer is .62
miles.
Taxes, Exchange, and
Sale of Property
In late 1982, the Mexican Government
increased the Value Added Tax (IVA or
VAT) to 15 % on most goods and serv-
ices, and the Embassy's efforts to obtain
an exemption for Mission personnel have
not been successful. .
All employees can obtain an exemp-
tion from the tax on long-distance tele-
phone calls by applying through the
Communications Programs Office once
permanent quarters have been rented and
telephone number is known.
The sale of reasonable amounts of
personal property, such as old items you
are replacing or items you want to sell
when transferring, is permitted.
Recommended Reading
These titles are provided as a general indication of
the material published on this country. The Depart-
ment of State does not endorse unofficial
publications.
Economics
Bancroft, H.H. Resources and Develop-
ment of Mexico. Golden Press: New
York, 1976.
Camp, Roderic A. The Role of Econo-
mists in Policy Making. Univ. of
Arizona Press: Tucson, 1977. A
comparative case study of Mexico
and the United States.
Glade, William P. The Political Economy
of Mexico. Univ. of Wisconsin
Press: Madison, 1963.
Greene, Graham, Another Mexico. Vi-
king Press: New York, 1981.
Looney, Robert E. Mexico's Economy: A
Policy Analysis With Forecast to
1990. Westview: Boulder, 1978.
Mancke, Richard B. Mexican Oil and
Natural Gas: Political, Strategic and
Economic Implications. Praeger:
New York, 1979.
Meyer, Lorenzo. Mexico and the United
States in the Oil Controversy,
1917-1942. Univ. of Texas Press:
Austin, 1972.
Mosk, Sanford A. Industrial Revolution
in Mexico. Berkeley, 1950. Reprint
1975.
Ross, John B. The Economic System of
Mexico. Calif. Inst. of International
Studies: Stanford, 1971.
Thompson, John K. Financial Policy, In-
flation and Economic Development:
The Mexican Experience. Vol. 16
Edward I and Walter Ingo, eds. Jai
Press: 1979.
Vernon, Raymond. The Dilemma of Mex-
ico's Development: The Roles of the
Private and Public Sectors. Harvard
Univ. Press: Cambridge, 1963. .
William, Edward J. The Rebirth of the
Mexican Petroleum Industry: Devel-
opmental Directions and Policy Im-
plications. Lexington Books: Lex-
ington, 1979.
Fine Arts
Cranfill, Thomas. The Muse in Mexico.
Univ. of Texas Press: Austin, 1959.
History and Political Science
Bazant, Jan. A Concise History of Mex-
ico: From Hidalgo to Cardenas
1805-1940. Cambridge Univ. Press:
New York, 1977.
Brenner, Anita and George B. Leighton.
The Wind That Swept Mexico: The
History of the Mexican Revolution of
1910-1942. Univ. of Texas Press:
Austin, 1971. (New ed.)
Brunhouse, Robert Levere. In Search of
the Maya: The First Archaeologist.
Univ. of New Mexico Press: Albu-
querque, 1973.
Camp, Roderic A. Mexico's Leaders:
Their Education and Recruitment.
Univ. of Arizona Press: Tucson,
1980.
Cline, Howard Francis. The United
States and Mexico. Rev. ed. Harvard
Univ. Press: Cambridge, 1963.
Cline, Howard Francis. Mexico From
Revolution to Evolution. Oxford
Univ. Press: New York, 1962.
Condon, John C. Interact: Mexico -
United States. Renwick, George W.
International Cultural Press:
Chicago, 1980.
Cumberland, Charles C. Mexico: The
Struggle for Modernity. Oxford
Univ. Press: New York, 1968. .
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
'Fehrenback, T.R. Fire and Blood: A
History of Mexico. Macmillan: New
York, 1973.
Gyles, Anna B. Of Gods and Men.
Harper & Row: New York, 1980.
Hansen, Roger D. The Politics of Mex-
ican Development. Johns Hopkins
Press: Baltimore, 1971.
Hellman, Judith Adler. Mexico in Crisis.
Holmes & Meier Publishers, Inc.:
New York, 1978.
Hibben, Frank Cummings. The Lost
American. T.Y. Crowell: New
York, 1968.
Hill, Larry D. Emissaries to a Revolu-
tion: Woodrow Wilson's Executive
Agents in Mexico. Louisiana State
Univ. Press: Baton Rouge, 1974.
Johnson, Kenneth F. Mexican Democ-
racy: A Critical View. Allynard
Bacon, Inc.: Boston, 1971.
Leonard, Jonathan M. "Ancient
America." Time: New York, 1967.
Meyer, Michael. The Course of Mexican
History. Oxford Univ. Press: New
York, 1979.
Newlon, Clarke. The Men Who Made
Mexico. Dodd, Mead & Co.: New
York, 1973.
Prescott, William Hickling. The Con-
quest of Mexico. Modem Library
Inc.: New York, 1931.
Scott, Robert E. Mexican Government in
Transition. Univ. of Illinois Press:
Urbana, 1964
Shapira, Yoram. Mexican Foreign
Policy: Under Echeverria. Sage:!
New York, 1978.
Simpson, Lesly Byrd. Many Mexicos.
Univ. of Calif. Press: Berkeley
1961.
Smith, Peter. H. Labyrinths of Power:
Political Recruitment in Twentieth
Century Mexico. Princeton Univ.
Press: Princeton, 1979
Smith, Peter M. Mexico: The Quest for a
U.S. Policy. Foreign Policy Associa-
tion: New York, 1980.
Smith, Robert F. The United States and
Revolutionary Nationalism in Mex-
ico, 1916-1932. Univ. of Chicago
Press: Chicago, 1972.
Starr, Frederich. Mexico and the United
States. Gordon Press: New York,
1976.
Tannenbaum, Frank. Peace by Revolu-
tivn: An Interpretation of Mexico.
Arno Press: New York, 1972.
Reprint of 1933 ed.
Thompson, John Eric Sidney. The Rise
and Fall of Maya Civilization. Univ.
of Oklahoma Press: Norman, 1977.
Taxco, 3 hours by car from Mexico City, is a colorful old mining town. ("Taxco" an oil painting by
Colleen Sussman, Bureau of Public Affairs.)
Vaillant, George C. Aztecs of Mexico.
Rev. ed.. Penguin: New York.
Wilkie, James Walle. The Mexican
Revolution: Federal Expenditure and
Social Change Since 1910. Univ. of
Calif. Press: Berkeley, 1970.
Wilke, James E. and Albert L. Michael,
eds. Revolution in Mexico: Years of
Upheaval, 1910-1940. Knopf: New
York, 1969.
Sociology and Social Literature
Azuela, Mariano. The Underdog. Tr. by
Enrique Munguia, Jr. New American
Library: New York, 1963.
Calderon de la Barca and Frances Er-
skine. Life in Mexico During a
Residence of Two Years in That
Country. AMS Press: New York,
1955. (rev. of 1913 ed.)
Davidson, John. The Long Road North.
Doubleday: New York, 1978.
? Fogel, Walter. Mexican Illegal Alien
Workers in the United States. In-
stitute of Industrial Relations. Univ.
of Calif. Press: Los Angeles.
Gonzales Pena, Carlos. History of Mex-
ican Literature. Southern Methodist
Univ.: Dallas, 1968.
Harmon, Mary. Efren Hernandez: A Poet
Discovered. Univ. Press of Miss.:
Jackson, 1972.
Lewis, Oscar. The Children of Sanchez.
Random House: New York, 1964.
. Five Families. Random House:
New York, 1964.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3 11
. Tepoztlan, Village in Mexico.
Holt,. Rinehart and Winston: New
York, 1960. Reprint of one of Lewis'
earlier works and reputedly his most
scientific. A study in depth of a small
town near Cuernavaca.
,Northrop, F.S.C. The Meeting of East
and West. Macmillan: New York,
1946 and 1963. Chapter II, pp.
15-65. An interpretation of Mexican
civilization and culture.
Paz, Octavio. The Labyrinth of Solitude.
Tr. by Lysnader Kemp. Grove: New
York, 1963.
Paz, Octavio. Early Poems, 1935-1955.
Tr. as elsewhere from Spanish and
pref. by Muriel Rukeseyer. New
Directions: New York, 1973.
(Original title: Selected Poems, rev.
ed.)
Ramos, Samuel. Profile of Man and
Culture in Mexico. Univ. of Texas
Press: Austin, 1962.
Ross, Stanley R. Views Across the
Border: The United States and Mex-
ico. Univ. of New Mexico Press:
Albuquerque, 1978.
Wilson, Irma. Mexico: A Century of
Educational Thought. Greenwood
Press: Westport, 1974.
Miscellaneous
Fodor's Mexico 1982. McKay: New
York, 1981.
Franz, Carl. The People's Guide to Mex-
ico. John Muir Pub.: Santa Fe, 1975.
Robinson, John. Camping and Climbing
in Baja. La Siesta: Glendale, 1978.
(4th ed.)
Simon, Kate. Mexico: Places and
Pleasures. Rev. ed. T.Y. Crowell:
New York, 1971.
Toor, Frances A. A Treasury of Mexican
Folkways. Crown: New York, 1947.
13th printing, 1973.
Wilhelm, John. Guide to All Mexico. 4th.
ed. rev. & enl. McGraw-Hill: New
York, 1973.
Regional
Stevenson, M. "Capital of Underdevelop-
ment." Harpers. May 1981.
"Discovering Mexico Again." Business
Week. October 1, 1979.
Casanova, P. Gonzalez. "Economic
Development of Mexico." Scientific
American. September 1980.
"On Mighty Mexico." Town and Coun-
try. November 1980 (an entire issue).
Benson, Elizabeth P. "Mexico: 100th
Century B.. C. - 20th Century A.D."
Smithsonian. May 1978.
"Mexico." Current. History. November
1981 (special issue).
"Mexico." Fortune. May 1981.
"Mexico-A Profile." Department of
State Bulletin. March 1979.
"Mexico City: Omens of Apocalypse."
C. D. Geo.- May 1981.
Street. J.H. "Mexico's Economic Devel-
opment Plan." Current History,
November 1981.
Bizzarro, S. "Mexico's Oil Boom."
Current History. February 1981.
Alisky, M. "Population and Migration
Problems in Mexico." Current
History. November 1981.
Gordon, B.F. "Tamayo Museum." Ar-
chitectural Record. September 1981.
Local Holidays
The following Mexican holidays are
observed by the Embassy and consular
posts:
Anniversary of Mexican
Constitution Feb. 5
Juarez's Birthday Mar. 21
Good Friday Friday before Easter
Mexican Labor Day May 1
,Anniversary of the
Battle of Puebla
Anniversary of the
Proclamation of
Mexican Independence Sept. 16
All Soul's Day Nov. 2
Revolution Day Nov. 20
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/22 : CIA-RDP09M00049R000600340012-3