Using indices to sort it all out
The problem with finding information about Mexico on the Web isn't so much the lack of good websites, but the difficulty of locating them. There are two ways of finding materials on the 'Net: by performing keyword searches from sites such as Hotbot ( http://www.hotbot.com) or Metacrawler ( http://www.metacrawler.com), or by scanning indices for subject matter.
What's covered? Commercial businesses, sports teams, political parties, weather updates and basically everything under the sun. Best of all, if you have a related page, you can easily submit your link to the each of the following directories.
Mexico Web Guide
http://mexico.web.com.mx/english/
Rating: ***** (out of 5*)
Only its homepage is translated into English, but this site is one of the most comprehensive and user-friendly catalogs of Mexico on the Web.
The design borrows freely from the grand-daddy of indices, Yahoo ( http://www.yahoo.com), but puts the spin on Mexico. Highly organized by categories and subtopics, the Guide provides easy access to museums, Mexican universities, expositions and doctors via index pages. Want to see what's been newly added? Check out "Lo Nuevo" ( http://mexico.web.com.mx/nuevo.html).
Mexmaster
http://www.mexmaster.com/
Rating: ****
Another Spanish language site, Mexmaster is similar in subject matter to Mexico Web Guide. Among its useful pages are indices of ecology sites, Mexican businesses and general finance issues. A compendium of Mexican laws can be consulted free of charge, including the state laws from Nuevo Leon. There is even a database for job seekers. Mexmaster hosts several public interest sites, including CHOP, a center for kids with cancer, and the Mexican Red Cross. Best of all--there is an open offer that Mexmaster will host educational sites for free.
Mexico's Index
http://www.trace-sc.com/
Rating: ****
Sponsored by Trace, a Mexico City management consulting firm, Mexico's Index was one of the first English-language catalogs of Mexican websites. As a general index of Mexico's websites, this is one of the best. The best reference page is the menu ( http://www.trace-sc.com/cgi-bin/mxndx?menu1). The website continues to excel with pages on Mexican history and culture as well as government and legislation. Again, if you have a website with related materials, it's easy to add your link to this site.
LANIC
http://lanic.utexas.edu/la/Mexico/
Rating: ****
Based at the University of Texas at Austin, LANIC is short for the Latin American Network Information Center, which just about sums up the breadth of this site. One of the 'Net's first attempts to catalog information about Latin America, LANIC specializes in providing links to academic resource materials. It also has good links to Usenet groups such as soc.culture.mexican for those who want to engage in discussions.
The Mexico page is a well-designed, no-frills portrait of information ranging from political parties to arts and culture. It also links to a page on NAFTA ( http://lanic.utexas.edu/la/nafta/index.html). If you are searching for information on how Mexico interacts and compares with the rest of the Americas, LANIC is an obligatory stop on the Web.
Directory.com
http://directory.com.mx/
Rating: ****
Last but not least is the eclectic Directory.com which is an offshoot of Mexico City business Jefferson Technologies. It has a diverse group of pages, ranging from Afores (pension funds) to Mariachis to weather updates, Be sure to check out the list of Mexican cybercafes ( http://www.directorio.com.mx/ciber-cafes/). The most popular page on the site offers real-time chat sessions ( http://www.directorio.com.mx/chat).
