Ric Best in Mérida
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Ric Best talks about how Mérida has influenced his latest works in more ways than one

By Trey Speegle For years, Ric Best never really needed a physical art studio, as he did work strictly in the digital realm.  With space at a premium, Best says, “It was easier than painting while I was in New York City.” Four years ago, one of the main attractions in moving to Mérida was…

Yucatán’s Best Places to Eat and Drink: What Our Readers Say
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Yucatán’s Best Places to Eat and Drink: What Our Readers Say

We asked our readers to vote on their favorite places to eat and drink in Yucatán. We learned a lot as over 4,000 readers chose the Top 2 or 3 in each of over 20 categories. Some votes were soooooo close, and some were a total surprise. But here we go. Special thanks to Tracey…

Playa del Carmen Security Secretary Raúl Tassinari Gonzalez
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Why is Mérida so safe? Gossipy neighbors, goes one theory

Gossip is the fuel that powers Mérida’s reputation for safety. At least, that’s the theory posited by a top security official from a city dealing with violence and drugs. Not everyone is thrilled with that analysis. Raúl Tassinari González, Secretary of Public Security at Playa del Carmen, said in an interview that “there is less crime…

Yucatán’s cultural scene shifts under new government leadership

Yucatán’s cultural scene shifts under new government leadership

Expect to see the Yucatán Symphony Orchestra (OSY) perform free programs featuring Mexican composers at the Parque la Plancha amphitheater. This contrasts with previous programs at the regal Peón Contreras theater, with box-office sales, box seats, and music featuring Brahms and Mozart. State officials affirmed “unwavering support” for the orchestra. This commitment follows a period…

Laura Kirar’s Moroccan moment at Hacienda Subin
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Laura Kirar’s Moroccan moment at Hacienda Subin

In her own words, Hacienda Subin co-owner Laura Kirar dissects the details of her newly finished Morocco Room When I began the restoration of our hacienda in the Yucatán, I knew it would be a challenge to honor the history while bringing in my own design sensibilities. The house is over 300 years old, with…

Tonia and Robert Kimsey
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Floridian Robert Kimsey couldn’t stay away from Mérida for long

Editor’s note: Robert Kimsey was in his late 80s when we interviewed him for Issue 6 in 2022. After learning that he recently passed away, we searched our archive for the article so we could post it today. The story of his life with his loving wife, Tonia, is worth repeating. In their 80s, this…

Monica Rezman, Mérida artist
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Monica Rezman’s harmonious blend of art, architecture, and light comes to life

Artist Monica Rezman’s transition to Mérida was prompted by the growing challenges of maintaining her Chicago home while frequently traveling. “I went back to put my house on the market because I’m just going back too much to take care of it,” she explains. In 2018, after an extensive search, Monica found a property in…

Airbnb advice: 5 things hosts removed from their rentals
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Airbnb advice: 5 things hosts removed from their rentals

Previously, we asked people for some expert Airbnb advice. The question was about income-property essentials to include in a rental home. Now, we’re learning what not to offer in a short-term Airbnb. Here’s what they have removed and why: What would you add? Which piece of advice do you disagree with? Let us know at…

Pibes ready for Hanal Pixan
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Traditional Maya food staples becoming forgotten and going extinct

Magaly del Roció Pech Chuc learned the secrets of Maya food from her mother, Justina Chuc Can, a cook in the community of Xpichil, where the pair run a restaurant. But Magaly laments the difficulty in finding ingredients such as ibes, a type of bean grown in milpas, or corn fields. “There are ingredients that…

Tren Maya station in Tulum

Tren Maya now connects Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Felipe Carrillo Puerto

Starting Friday, Sept. 20, the Tren Maya, or Maya Train, will begin operating sections 5 and 6, connecting Playa del Carmen with Felipe Carrillo Puerto. This new rail service is designed to improve regional transportation and offers a range of fare options, including local and premier classes. Tickets are now available through the official Maya…

Mexican flag raised over Mérida's Plaza Grande
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Known by many names and for various roles, Plaza Grande is ever-changing

After its radical renovation over the last few months and ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, all eyes are on the Plaza Grande in Mérida.  This historic square has been a Maya shrine, a site for pledging allegiance to Spanish kings, where colonial gallows stood, and the epicenter of citizen protests and festive celebrations.  Its…

Bright red Target shopping carts.
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Target entering Mexico? Officials deny the rumor

Target, the famous American department store chain, put an end to rumors online that they are opening stores Mexico. The Target corporation has arrived in Mexico, and is hiring, but it’s just some small offices in Mexico City to handle logistical and strategic aspects of the company, supporting its main operation in the United States….

Rommel Pacheco vies to be mayor of Mérida n 2024.

Mexico’s Sheinbaum appoints athlete-turned-politician Rommel Pacheco for leadership role

One of Yucatán’s more personable public figures, Rommel Pacheco, has caught the eye of Mexico’s president-elect. Claudia Sheinbaum has picked the 38-year-old former Olympic diver and federal deputy as the next head of the National Commission for Physical Culture and Sports (Conade). On his popular social media accounts, Pacheco describes himself as an athlete, public…

The importance of cancer prevention and what is holding Yucatán back
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The importance of cancer prevention and what is holding Yucatán back

Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide, with cervical cancer being one of the most preventable yet still one of the most deadly, said Dr. John P. Díaz, a leading gynecologic oncologist at Baptist Health in Miami. While taking a break from a medical conference in Mérida, our conversation illuminated a global disparity in…

Snake in Mérida zaps power lines, causing outage to hundreds in Centro

A 10-foot-long snake climbing power lines in one of Mérida’s most crowded areas was electrocuted in the most public way possible. The boa constrictor left dozens of businesses without electricity and had to be taken down by an electric utility crew in the San Benito market area. The reptile was on the roof of a…

‘Blink Twice,’ a must-see for Yucatán filmgoers, earns raves as debut nears
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‘Blink Twice,’ a must-see for Yucatán filmgoers, earns raves as debut nears

The psychological thriller “Blink Twice,” Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut, has intrigued critics. “A seriously effective, incisive thriller which establishes Zoë Kravitz as a bold directorial talent, and shows you a side of Channing Tatum that you’ve never seen before,” wrote a top Rotten Tomatoes critic. “A marvelous psycho-thriller, packed with an amazing cast, astounding film…

Lea Garza concert will be a highlight at festival honoring Yucatecan actor ‘Cholo’
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Lea Garza concert will be a highlight at festival honoring Yucatecan actor ‘Cholo’

Lea Garza, a 16-year-old musical talent whose budding career we have enjoyed following since she was 12, will give a concert as part of the Festival Internacional Héctor Herrera Cholo. The tribute to the famed Mexican comedian “Cholo”, begins 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22 when Garza will perform at the Armonía-Cenit concert at the Palacio…

More than 200 baby hawksbill sea turtles released in Sisal
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More than 200 baby hawksbill sea turtles released in Sisal

More than 200 baby hawksbill sea turtles were released Saturday afternoon from the port of Sisal as part of the Yucatan government’s efforts to protect and conserve local wildlife and the environment. The release’s goal is to reintegrate the turtles into their natural habitat. Upon reaching adulthood, the turtles will return to the Yucatán coast…

Living outside the US is no excuse not to vote: Here are resources
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Living outside the US is no excuse not to vote: Here are resources

For U.S. citizens living in Mexico, there can be a sense of helplessness when observing the political process from afar. However, it’s crucial for those residing abroad to know that they are still eligible to vote in U.S. Federal Elections, regardless of where they live. With approximately 1.5 million U.S. citizens residing in Mexico, their…

With school holidays ending soon, it takes more than gray skies to discourage beachgoers
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With school holidays ending soon, it takes more than gray skies to discourage beachgoers

Saturday was mostly rainy and miserable, but Yucatán’s port city of Progreso saw many visitors on summer vacation’s penultimate weekend. Families, tourists, and friends enjoyed the sun and food at the port. Fruit cups were particularly popular among locals, a local newspaper reported. The Poseidon statue, which had been closed off by federal authorities, proved…

Boat burned in Telchac
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Tensions flare between legit fishermen and poachers

In response to illegal octopus fishing, local fishermen are organizing to address the issue, even resorting to burning their foes’ boats. Two nights ago, over 200 seamen met with Telchac Puerto Mayor Alfredo Marrufo Díaz to discuss the ongoing problem of illegal octopus fishing using unauthorized equipment. The mayor acknowledged his previous efforts with state…

Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico's president-elect, has vowed to address unfinished aspects of the Mayan Train.
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Next Mexican President Would Bring Tren Maya to Progreso

MEXICO CITY – President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum vowed to address unfinished aspects of the Tren Maya, or Mayan Train, and the Interoceanic Train projects following a meeting with Morena governors from the south and southeast of Mexico. She committed to an investment of 83 billion pesos to complete both initiatives within the next two years. Sheinbaum…

Mérida Author Explores Small-Town Life and Alien Encounters
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Mérida Author Explores Small-Town Life and Alien Encounters

Mérida Innkeeper Dave O. Dodge is embarking on a New England book tour to celebrate his two biographical novels set in that region.  Dodge, originally from New Hampshire, has lived in Mérida for the past decade. He and his husband run the Ochenta y Dos bed and breakfast. As they celebrate the start of their…

Billionaire Bernard Arnault Has Big Plans for Hacienda Katanchel
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Billionaire Bernard Arnault Has Big Plans for Hacienda Katanchel

Forbes Magazine’s “richest man in the world” has purchased Hacienda Katanchel in Tixkokob. He intends to turn it into an ultra-luxurious hotel. It was last renovated in the late 1990s. This 17th-century estate is 45 minutes east of Mérida and became part of the international luxury hotel chain Belmond, now that it’s part of Bernard…

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