Elena Poniatowska Celebrates her 94th Birthday with Fire Intact
Mexico’s most celebrated journalist and author marks her birthday with no particular ceremony planned — just a meal with her three children.
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From Mérida to Manhattan: A Yucatecan Actor Finds His Stage in New York
A kid from Mérida who grew up watching American movies decided, at 17, that New York was the place to find out what he was made of. That instinct has taken Manuel Zopiyaxtle from Yucatán classrooms to Off-Broadway stages and international film festivals — with plenty of hard lessons in between. Zopiyaxtle trained at the…
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Mexico’s Top Arts Medal Goes to Sculptor Gerda Gruber
A sculptor who left Vienna half a century ago and eventually found her artistic home in the Yucatán village of Cholul has received Mexico’s highest honor in the visual arts. Gerda Gruber received the Medalla Bellas Artes 2026 in Visual Arts from Mexico’s Secretariat of Culture and the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura…
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Mérida Painter and Writer Enrique Trava Díaz Dies at 69
Enrique de Jesús Trava Díaz, a painter and writer known for his contributions to the Yucatán art scene, died suddenly on Jan. 23 in Mérida. He was 69. Born Dec. 7, 1956, Trava Díaz came from a prominent local family and spent decades creating artwork that was exhibited across Mexico and abroad. His paintings hung…
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Joanna’s 50-Year Journey of Love and Life in Yucatán
Fifty years ago, what began as a work assignment became a life-defining decision. In January 1976, Joanna van der Gracht, a young Canadian woman, arrived in Mérida, Yucatán. She never imagined that this vibrant colonial city would become her permanent home — and the place where she would find love, build a family, and create…
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Christian Rasmussen: A Visual Explorer’s Legacy in the Yucatán
Christian Rasmussen has spent over five decades blending a sharp artistic vision with careful anthropological study. The Danish-born visual artist, photographer, and anthropologist, born in 1943, has dedicated his life’s work to documenting the landscapes and cultures of Latin America. His deep and lasting focus is on Mexico, particularly the Yucatán Peninsula. Rasmussen first arrived…
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Joann Andrews, Environmental Pioneer in Yucatán, Dies at 96
Joann Andrews, founder of Pronatura Península de Yucatán and a leading force in conservation across the Yucatán Peninsula for more than four decades, died Sunday in Mérida. She was 96. Andrews arrived in Yucatán in 1964 after marrying archaeologist E. Wyllys Andrews IV. After his death from cancer in 1971, she chose to stay in…
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Remembering Doña Homa: A Life of Bold Decisions and Sweet Success
The distinctive Persian-Mexican fusion that made Hotel Casa San Ángel a Mérida landmark has lost its guiding force. Doña Homa, as Señora Homa Banuet Abhari was affectionately known throughout the city, passed away Friday at 97, leaving behind a legacy that transformed a corner of Paseo de Montejo into something utterly unique. Her story reads…
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Gabriel Ramírez Aznar, Pillar of Yucatán Art, Dies at 87
Renowned painter and writer Gabriel Ramírez Aznar died today, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of Yucatán’s most influential visual artists and a central figure in Mexico’s modern art movement. He was 87 and active very recently. Ramírez Aznar was born in Mérida in 1938 and became part of Mexico’s “Generación de la Ruptura,”…
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Dr. Eddie Salazar Gamboa, 79, Revealed Chichén Itzá Mysteries
The scientific community of Yucatán mourns the loss of one of its brightest stars. Dr. Eddie Salazar Gamboa passed away on Thursday following a brief illness. He was 79. His death marks the end of an extraordinary life dedicated to unlocking the astronomical secrets embedded in Maya civilization. A Pioneer of Archaeoastronomy Born on March…
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Expat Interview: Annie and Murdoch Thread the NeedleAfter leaving London and raising a family in New York, two lifelong travelers find their happy place under the Yucatecan sun
With Murdoch Morrison and Annie Walwyn-Jones, stories unfold as naturally as a conversation over tea. Their life together spans decades, cities, and countries, woven with unexpected turns that have ultimately led them to a new chapter in Mérida. “I came to New York in 1975,” Murdoch begins, a faint smile crossing his face as he…
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Mexico’s President and the Vibrant Jewish Community She RepresentsClaudia Sheinbaum's historic presidency spotlights a thriving but insular Jewish population of 40,000 that has found remarkable success in Mexico
When she assumed office in October 2024, Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, made history on multiple fronts. Not only is she the first woman to lead Mexico, but she’s also the country’s first president with Jewish heritage. Yet her relationship with that heritage reveals the complex identity questions facing Mexico’s small but influential Jewish community. Sheinbaum,…
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Why 2025 Has Been Rommel Pacheco’s Most Transformative Year
Former Olympic diver and current Sports Commission director of Mexico’s National Sports Commission, Rommel Pacheco, celebrated a deeply personal milestone this past weekend. He and his wife, Lylo Fa, baptized their adopted son, Rommel Alberto, at the historic Ermita de Santa Isabel in Mérida. The morning ceremony, held at the colonial-era chapel south of Mérida’s…
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Nature | Environment | PeopleThe Cave Guardian: What Drives Roberto Rojo UndergroundSpeleologist documents the world beneath Yucatán—and fights to protect it from destruction
Roberto Rojo was 30 meters underground when the drilling started. Stalactites that had formed over millennia began tumbling around him as a massive industrial drill punched through the limestone ceiling above. The biologist ducked for cover, phone in hand, recording what would become some of the most dramatic footage of environmental destruction in Mexico’s recent…
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Yobaín Vázquez Bailón: La Travestiada, Rebellion, Mythmaking, and Forgotten Voices
Yobaín Vázquez Bailón work blends meticulous historical research, political purpose, and narrative ambition. The Yucatecan writer’s journey into literature and anthropology began as a rebellion against his family’s expectations. His parents envisioned him continuing their family’s teaching legacy, but Yobaín charted his own course. “I recognize how important teaching is, but it does not really…
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The Remarkable Rise of Mauricio Vila DosalYucatecan senator's academic leave reflects a decades-long preparation for Mexico's highest office
Senator Mauricio Vila Dosal’s decision to pause his Senate career and pursue a Master’s in Public Administration at Harvard University hints at his bold political ambitions. It’s also the latest chapter in one of Mexico’s most compelling political success stories—a journey from restaurant franchise manager to potential presidential candidate in less than two decades. The…
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US Consul General Reflects on His 1st Year at Mérida’s New ConsulateJusten Thomas oversees US$211 million diplomatic complex while embracing local customs
The 45-year-old diplomat oversees operations at the $211m Mérida Consulate, the largest US diplomatic investment in the Peninsula’s history.
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Ixil Grandmother Saves Up, Goes Abroad, and Trip Goes ViralLesson learned: You're never too old to slay on social media
Dreams have no expiration date, and here’s proof. A grandmother from the small Yucatán town of Ixil has captured hearts across social media after taking her first international trip at age 79. María Virginia Córdova Coba spent an entire year cooking to save money “peso by peso” for her dream trip to Colombia. The youngest…
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In Mérida, Marta Cabané-Navarro Lives In a Creative Haven
Marta Cabané-Navarro knew it from the moment she walked into a home for sale in Mérida. The mid-century modern home was perfect for an artist.
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Gary Sandblom, 80, Paved Way for Voters in Mexico
Mérida has lost a dedicated leader and friend with the passing of Gary Sandblom at age 80 at his home in Durango, Colorado.
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Henry Daniel: A Dancer/Scholar Choreographs the Future of AI
In some ways, Dr. Henry Daniel is exactly what you would expect from a professional dancer. He is fit and fills the room with energy. But then, on the other hand, his fascination with technology, philosophy, and performance, while at first a little bewildering, all begin to make sense once you realize dance is just…
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Yucatecan Boy, 7, in Bangkok to Compete for Muay Thai World Cup
Faraz Monroy Obledo has made history as the first Mexican 7-year-old to train and compete in Bangkok’s prestigious World Muaythai Organization World Cup.
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Assata Akil’s Journey to Authentic Self-Expression in Art and Writing
We have four questions for artist-writer-storyteller Assata Akil about her career and philosophy. And about her fierce fictional character, IFE.
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Artist Juan Pueblo Has the Most Open Studio in Mérida
When Juan Pueblo shares his canvas with other artists, he thinks about how rappers work. “In rap, there is always collaboration between artists. If musicians can do it, why not painters?” says the effusive Mérida-born painter, whose full name is Juan Pablo Quintal García. “I’ve always wanted to be an artist, and I think, more…
That’s all for now
That’s all for now