All aboard for ramen and rice at Parque La Plancha
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All aboard for ramen and rice at Parque La Plancha

When asked what makes him different from other chefs, Chef Yusuke Kogure does not miss a beat.  “I am obsessed with rice; it needs to be perfect — there is no middle ground.”  Kogure explains that, despite popular belief, rice preparation requires exceptional attention to detail at every step and can be extremely tricky.  …

How to avoid the excesses of Cancún airport’s outrageous taxi situation

How to avoid the excesses of Cancún airport’s outrageous taxi situation

After viral videos of verbal assaults and even attacks on tourists, Cancún airport authorities are cracking down on taxi drivers.  Confrontations at the airport have become so bad they have made domestic and international headlines.  The root problem relates to exclusivity rights granted to Cancún’s taxi union, which have allowed for price gouging and a…

Sand bags and sand traps: One full day of adventure in Campeche
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Sand bags and sand traps: One full day of adventure in Campeche

It all started at 3 a.m. in the darkness of the madrugada in Mérida.  The alarm blared, and for a moment, I questioned my life choices. But today was Spartan Race Day in Campeche, and I was ready. Well, as ready as anyone can be for running, climbing, crawling, and everything else they throw at…

Mérida’s 2nd periférico and what it could mean for the region
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Mérida’s 2nd periférico and what it could mean for the region

Plans to build a second ring road around Mérida have been floating about for years. But now that the initiative has been approved, residents of Yucatán’s largest city and surrounding communities ask, “How will this affect me?” As they are currently drawn, the boundaries of Mérida’s second periférico ring would surround parts or the entirety…

Rhythm and resilience: One coach’s journey is changing the face of indoor cycling

Rhythm and resilience: One coach’s journey is changing the face of indoor cycling

Ride the World, a three-day celebration of indoor cycling, has drawn 44 elite instructors and hundreds of enthusiasts from every corner of the globe to Mérida. With more than 35 classes set to take place, this event promises an exhilarating collision of athleticism, artistry, and community—spotlighting some of the most inspiring figures in the international…

Mexicana a de Aviación faces big challenges after 1st year
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Mexicana a de Aviación faces big challenges after 1st year

The state-owned Mexicana de Aviación is struggling to maintain operations just over a year after its launch, facing financial difficulties, legal challenges, and operational setbacks. The airline currently operates with only two aircraft and maintains a 45% occupancy rate, falling significantly short of initial expectations. In early January 2024, Mexicana suspended service to eight destinations,…

Eastern flavors are at home amid Mérida’s flourishing Asian food scene
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Eastern flavors are at home amid Mérida’s flourishing Asian food scene

Determined to venture beyond our comfort zone, we headed north to explore the culinary landscape outside Centro. Our journey led us to two hidden gems serving authentic Asian cuisine. Tama Shokudo Nestled a few blocks from El Parque de la Alemán sits a charming house adorned with Japanese lamps and striking kanji signs. This intimate…

Yucatan’s MACAY museum crisis deepens as artists declare institution ‘extinct’

Yucatan’s MACAY museum crisis deepens as artists declare institution ‘extinct’

The Ateneo de Yucatán Museum of Contemporary Art (MACAY) finds itself at a crossroads, with government officials and local artists presenting contrasting visions for its future. Anna Goycoolea Artís, director of the INAH Yucatán Center, maintains that MACAY will be integrated into the planned Yucatán History Museum project. “We envision it as part of the…

Inmates bake 1,300-foot Rosca de Reyes to celebrate holiday with families
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Inmates bake 1,300-foot Rosca de Reyes to celebrate holiday with families

The Mérida Social Rehabilitation Center (CERESO) hosted a gathering where inmates, their families, and authorities shared a massive Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings’ Bread) spanning 1,300 feet. The traditional ring-shaped bread, eaten throughout Latin America on Jan. 6 to celebrate Día de Los Reyes, commemorates the arrival of the Three Wise Men bearing gifts for…

Property damage is the most common crime committed in Yucatán
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Property damage is the most common crime committed in Yucatán

Property damage, threats, and theft were the most frequently reported crimes in Yucatán, according to federal security agencies. Drug dealing and domestic violence also increased compared to the previous year. The latest report covers data through November. Property damage led the statistics with 639 reports, peaking in February, April, May, and July with over 50…

Mérida Open makes historic jump to WTA 500 status
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Mérida Open makes historic jump to WTA 500 status

The Yucatan tennis landscape is about to transform as the Mérida Open Akron advances to WTA 500 status, tournament director Gustavo Santoscoy García announced Thursday. The elevation from WTA 250 marks a significant milestone for Mexican tennis and particularly for the Yucatán region. “This is great news for Mexican tennis and special in Yucatán,” said…

Chichén Itzá Airport shows signs of revival as more tourists arrive

Chichén Itzá Airport shows signs of revival as more tourists arrive

The Chichén Itzá Airport shows renewed activity in Yucatán’s Kaua municipality. The facility already handles small passenger aircraft from Quintana Roo and package delivery services. But this weekend demonstrated the airport’s potential when 23 passengers arrived from Toluca. They headed directly to the renowned Chichén Itzá archaeological site.  Armando Geded Lope, delegate of the Tourism…

The birth of the sandwichón: A Yucatan party tradition
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The birth of the sandwichón: A Yucatan party tradition

It’s not really a sandwich, not really a cake. Few stories capture the spirit of culinary innovation quite like that of the sandwichón, a beloved party staple that emerged from the creative mind of a baker-turned-troubadour in the Yucatán Peninsula. The tale begins with Petronilo Vázquez Madera (1900-1970), a visionary baker born in the small…

Fire & spirit: A night of Mexican whisky
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Fire & spirit: A night of Mexican whisky

At an open-fire restaurant in Mérida, five native spirits prove corn’s newest calling The late fishing writer John Gierach said coffee and whisky taste better in a tin cup. Around a campfire alongside a cold trout stream, sure. But in Mérida, when sipping artisanal Mexican whisky while held in the purgatory between a fire and…

Chichén Itzá Airport set to compete with Tulum and Cancún in 2025

Chichén Itzá Airport set to compete with Tulum and Cancún in 2025

Chichén Itzá Airport in Kaua is preparing to compete with Tulum and Cancún airports in 2025 with the anticipated arrival of its first two commercial airlines, according to airport director José Miguel García Vales. Currently, Chichen Itza Airport exclusively serves private flights carrying tourists from Quintana Roo and other parts of Mexico, handling a mere…

Recipes from Jeremiah Tower: Mezcal makes it better
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Recipes from Jeremiah Tower: Mezcal makes it better

Enjoying a sunset by the pool at our oceanside apartment in Puerto Vallarta, we were struck by thirst. “Let’s make Old Fashioned cocktails,” I suggested.  Then I realized we’d run out of bourbon but had mezcal on hand. The result was a smokier, more delicious version of the classic Old Fashioned. It’s been one of…

Building harmony: An architect’s vision for the future
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Building harmony: An architect’s vision for the future

Architecture is both an art and a science, requiring a sense of balance, responsibility, and collaboration to create meaningful and lasting structures, Francisco Javier Sánchez Román told an audience at the Merida English Library.  The architect, owner of Montea Arquitectos, introduced his book Architecture: Weakness and Strength while sharing his insights into the challenges and…

More visitors from the Arabian Peninsula are expected soon in Cancún
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More visitors from the Arabian Peninsula are expected soon in Cancún

Qatar Airways has announced plans to resume flights to Mexico City, with connections to Cancún, starting in 2025. This marks a significant milestone for Mexico, opening doors to new tourism markets in the Arabian Peninsula, according to local industry leaders. This new connection to Cancún would be Qatar Airways’ first direct entry into the Mexican…

Mérida architect presents his book at library meet-and-greet
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Mérida architect presents his book at library meet-and-greet

In the new book Architecture: Weakness and Strength, Mérida architect Francisco Javier Sánchez Román describes the problems and prescribes some solutions for anyone building a home from scratch in Yucatán.  The author will discuss his book at a Mérida English Library meet-and-greet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30. This event is free and open to…

Progreso malecón to reopen to vehicles in 2025 after 4 years as a pedestrian-only zone

Progreso malecón to reopen to vehicles in 2025 after 4 years as a pedestrian-only zone

The traditional Progreso malecón will reopen to cars four years after it was converted into a pedestrian-only zone. Since November 2021, the boardwalk — the most visited area in Progreso — has been officially closed to vehicular traffic. The closure, implemented on the orders of then-Mayor Julián Zacarías Curi, followed earlier renovation works and came…

Campeche begins construction on light rail to connect city and Tren Maya
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Campeche begins construction on light rail to connect city and Tren Maya

Local authorities in Campeche have announced the commencement of construction on the new Light Rail project, which will link the city’s Historic Center to the Tren Maya station. Spanning 15 kilometers with 14 planned stations, the project aims to enhance transportation infrastructure in the region and drive economic and tourism growth. Monterrey is the only…

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