City shutters hotel that made waves with Frida mural
Valladolid, Yucatán — City officials closed the El Terminal Hotel for operating without permits. If the name sounds familiar, there’s a good reason.
The tiny hotel was already in trouble with the city for painting a modern-style mural on its facade, despite being in a historic zone where walls must conform to Colonial colors.
The facade was also vandalized by someone who splattered the Kahlo portrait with black paint.
City workers, who already pasted over a mural of Frida Kahlo with violation stickers, returned with another sticker declaring that the hotel is closed to new guests.
Guests already checked in were allowed to stay, but new check-ins are not allowed.
The hotel’s owner received the closure notifications by Urban Development and Public Works inspectors, who posted the closure notices after sending two written warnings, a local newspaper reported.
Zacarías Méndez lamented the attitude of the municipal officials because, saying she had never encountered problems with the city before. Moreover, the move will financially affect five people working in El Terminal.
In mid-July, the Kahlo mural was ordered painted over, but the owner has not yet complied with that directive.
Source: Diario de Yucatán
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