Bart van Zwieten's Avatar

Bart van Zwieten

@bvzw.bsky.social

Latin America expert and aficionado. Retired Dutch diplomat and UN expert, postings in Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Barbados, Suriname, Bangladesh, the Netherlands. Fan of Feyenoord, Rotterdam, music. Home is Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca, Mexico

15,108 Followers  |  373 Following  |  2,079 Posts  |  Joined: 12.11.2024
Posts Following

Posts by Bart van Zwieten (@bvzw.bsky.social)

Museo de Sitio de El Zapotal in Ignacio de la Llave, Veracruz, Mexico

01.03.2026 19:51 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

Over 2500 years old! Head of Life and Death,300-600 BCE, Veracruz stone sculpture symbolizing duality, both life and death in the same face. It shows the region's rich artistic traditions, merging elements of spirituality and mortality, symbolizing the eternal cycle of existence and transformation.

01.03.2026 11:59 — 👍 32    🔁 4    💬 3    📌 0
Post image

Map of major Maya cities, as far as we know today. The three periods of Maya civilization:
Preclassic: ~2000BCE–250CE, early villages/ceremonial centres;
Classic: ~250–900CE, the height of Maya, large cities/pyramids;
Postclassic: ~900–1500CE, northern cities important like Chichén Itzá and Mayapán.

01.03.2026 11:55 — 👍 5    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Adiós a las pensiones de 1 millón de pesos al mes con dinero público La iniciativa de reforma constitucional para regular las pensiones en el gobierno federal pondrá fin a los pagos millonarios.

President Sheinbaum revealed that former high-ranking government employees receive pensions from US$200,000-770,000 anually. A reform will cap pensions at $48,000, eq. to half of the president’s salary, a much needed reform. Public pensions are 22% of the budget. contralinea.com.mx/interno/sema...

01.03.2026 11:44 — 👍 3    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

Analyzing 155 years of GDP per capita in Venezuela: after a century of ascent that made it the richest country in Latin America, the recent crisis wiped out decades of progress, returning the average income to levels from the 1940s decade. A structural change, curing the "Dutch Disease" is needed.

01.03.2026 11:43 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

You are right that this is not from Veracruz: after some research I found that this is Lintel 25 from the Maya site of Yaxchilan. It dates to around 709 CE. Although it’s not from Bonampak, you were geographically closer than I! My apologies for the mistake.

01.03.2026 13:14 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
Post image

Over 2500 years old! Head of Life and Death,300-600 BCE, Veracruz stone sculpture symbolizing duality, both life and death in the same face. It shows the region's rich artistic traditions, merging elements of spirituality and mortality, symbolizing the eternal cycle of existence and transformation.

01.03.2026 11:59 — 👍 32    🔁 4    💬 3    📌 0
Post image

Map of major Maya cities, as far as we know today. The three periods of Maya civilization:
Preclassic: ~2000BCE–250CE, early villages/ceremonial centres;
Classic: ~250–900CE, the height of Maya, large cities/pyramids;
Postclassic: ~900–1500CE, northern cities important like Chichén Itzá and Mayapán.

01.03.2026 11:55 — 👍 5    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Adiós a las pensiones de 1 millón de pesos al mes con dinero público La iniciativa de reforma constitucional para regular las pensiones en el gobierno federal pondrá fin a los pagos millonarios.

President Sheinbaum revealed that former high-ranking government employees receive pensions from US$200,000-770,000 anually. A reform will cap pensions at $48,000, eq. to half of the president’s salary, a much needed reform. Public pensions are 22% of the budget. contralinea.com.mx/interno/sema...

01.03.2026 11:44 — 👍 3    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

Analyzing 155 years of GDP per capita in Venezuela: after a century of ascent that made it the richest country in Latin America, the recent crisis wiped out decades of progress, returning the average income to levels from the 1940s decade. A structural change, curing the "Dutch Disease" is needed.

01.03.2026 11:43 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

The cycling season has ‘unofficially’ started with the Omloop Nieuwsblad in Flanders, Belgium! And what a start for Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel, winning this race in his debut at the Omloop in dreadful weather conditions. What a powerhouse! Dutchman Tim van Dijke took honourably second place.

28.02.2026 15:15 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

A detailed relief of Stela 1 from La Mojarra of the Epi-Olmec culture in Veracruz, 200CE. It portrays a dignitary with a ceremonial headdress that includes representations of deities and symbolic elements. The stela is famous for containing one of the longest known inscriptions in Epi-Olmec script.

28.02.2026 08:25 — 👍 63    🔁 12    💬 1    📌 0
Post image Post image

In July 1969 The Doors came to Mexico City. Among the places visited by singer Jim Morrison, was the archaeological zone of Teotihuacan just outside Mexico City. He climbed the Pyramid of the Sun and visited the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. touching one of the temple's masks, nowadays forbidden.

28.02.2026 08:23 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Comisión antimonopolio niega a Visa compra de 51% de Prosa Visa expresa su decepción tras la decisión del organismo; evaluará opciones disponibles.

Payment processing giant Visa wants to acquire 51% of Mexican competitor Prosa. The deal is struck down by Mexico’s antitrust authority: it would have limited competition. The antitrust authority is functioning, despite previous fears of political interference www.eleconomista.com.mx/sectorfinanc...

28.02.2026 08:20 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

Latin America and the Caribbean lead the fight to eradicate hunger. According to the FAO, IFAD, PAHO, UNICEF and WFP, malnutrition and food insecurity have decreased, although concerns remain regarding the cost of a healthy diet and high rates of obesity. www.diariomarca.com.mx/2026/02/lide...

28.02.2026 08:18 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

The location of Mayan cities, from Palenque to Chichen Itza, follow a design based on the stars. The Maya were great astronomers, whose precision continues to amaze the modern world. They built their ceremonial centers in alignment with the stars, including cities like Tikal, Copán, Chalco and Cobá.

27.02.2026 06:44 — 👍 7    🔁 4    💬 0    📌 0
Post image Post image

The upper slab of Pakal's sarcophagus in Palenque, Tabasco, represents the Mayan cosmic tree emerging from the underworld. The ruler is in a reclining position over the jaws of a being associated with the underworld. From his body sprouts the sacred tree that connects heaven, earth and underworld.

27.02.2026 06:37 — 👍 8    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Brazil Goes From Big Loser to Winner in Trade Showdown With Trump Once facing the harshest of the US’s import taxes, Brazil gets off easier in Trump’s revised strategy

Brazil’s average tariff plunged by 21% — to 10% from 31% — after the US Supreme Court invalidated Trump’s sweeping global tariffs. Brazil’s earlier refusal to retaliate against the US tariffs, up to 50%, make President Lula into perhaps the world’s biggest winners. www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

27.02.2026 06:34 — 👍 0    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Trump exenta del arancel de 10% a productos que cumplan con el T-MEC En declaraciones preparadas para un discurso en Dallas, el secretario del Tesoro, Scott Bessent, afirmó que los aranceles implementados bajo la Sección

The US announced a new set of tariffs. Trump later anounced Mexico would be exempt under USMCA. It’s the second time Trump exempts Mexico, a clear message: Mexico is essential to the US. This should show Mexican USMCA negotiators that Mexico isn’t powerless. www.eleconomista.com.mx/empresas/tru...

27.02.2026 06:34 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

Only in Mexico.

26.02.2026 21:37 — 👍 6    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Correct, but as it is officially part of France, it is not Caribbean also (and not a member of Caricom).

26.02.2026 14:06 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

The Guyanas and Surinam are geographically in South America, but are not part of Latin America, because of their languages (LatAm is Spanish/Portuguese) They are part - and they themselves consider so - of the Caribbean, also member of the regional organizado CARICOM. See the different America’s:

26.02.2026 12:21 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
Post image

Teotihuacan-style incense burner, Escuintla, Guatemala, 300–600 CE, with an iconographic composition linked to the Teotihuacan tradition and its influence on the South Coast of Guatemala, confirming the cultural and ideological links between Teotihuacan (near CDMX) and the southern Mayan regions.

26.02.2026 07:40 — 👍 75    🔁 14    💬 0    📌 1
Post image

The famous Latin American hospitality: what you're likely to be served as a guest. Of course you have to eat!

26.02.2026 07:37 — 👍 7    🔁 1    💬 1    📌 0
Post image

Of the nearly 15 million migrants in Latin America, one in four is a child or adolescent—the highest proportion of migrant children and adolescents in the world. It is even more critical considering that, in 2023, 70% of migrant children were under 11 years old. www.lasillavacia.com/red-de-exper...

26.02.2026 07:32 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Sheinbaum anuncia reforma para modificar el nombre del Instituto Nacional de Migración: así se llamará la dependencia La presidenta reconoció el trabajo de Sergio Salomón como titular del INM, aunque precisó que él no creó la iniciativa

Mexican president Sheinbaum will send a reform initiative to the Congress related to the country’s National Migration Institute (INM). This includes changing the institution’s name to the “Human Mobility Institute.” Reform should include demilitarization. www.infobae.com/mexico/2026/...

26.02.2026 07:30 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

My pleasure!

25.02.2026 16:16 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

Election watch: in Brazil, a recent poll shows a virtual tie between current president Lula Da Silva and his main contender Flavio Bolsonaro for the presidential election to be held October 2nd, effectively closing the race that had placed Lula up to 12% ahead in electoral preferences last December.

25.02.2026 15:13 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Feline Claw = Royal Predatory Power.
The scorpion’s sting represents piercing, bloodletting, and lethal strike. Venus as Morning Star was believed to “shoot darts” at the earth, not romantic. Venus is an aggressor deity. The star glyph in his hand confirms it is specifically tied to Venus cycles.

25.02.2026 15:05 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 3    📌 0
Post image

Huge, this 4x3.6 m. 12-ton 15th-century Aztec sculpture of Tlaltecuhtli, Lord/Lady of the Earth, found in 2006 at the Templo Mayor in CDMX. According to the Mexica worldview, Tlaltecuhtli's body gave rise to the sky and the underworld. It devours the sun at night to give birth to it in the morning.

25.02.2026 10:07 — 👍 62    🔁 11    💬 2    📌 0