Welcome to Ochilandia!
Last week, the entire in-house staff at Yucatan Living took the occasion of Beatriz's birthday to get out of the office and enjoy a little Yucatan themselves. After a morning of work, we all piled in the car and headed down to Hacienda Temozon for a lovely lunch in the amazing Beatriz's honor. Beatriz and Joseph have spent their entire lives in Merida, with a few months elsewhere in the world, but neither one had ever been to Hacienda Temozon or Hacienda Ochil.
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We parked in the parking lot at Temozon, and weren't stopped until we started to walk up the stone pathway to the commanding steps leading to the Casa Principal. Did we have a reservation? No, we had called but they wouldn't let us make a reservation. Well, you can't eat here today without a reservation. We gazed at the lovely arches in momentary frustration, and then, as they say, we were over it. Hacienda Temozon was not the adventure today; apparently it was fully booked.
It's an easy drive back to the main highway and south for a few more kilometers to Hacienda Ochil, our other option. Hacienda Ochil has always been a favorite of the Working Gringos, and we expected nothing but good food and a quiet afternoon in a lovely setting. We were not disappointed, but we were in fact, surprised by the changes that Ochil has undergone in the last six months... surprised and pleased enough to tell you about it!
Hacienda Ochil was renovated as part of the Grupo Plan hacienda renovations six or seven years ago, along with Temozon, San Jose Cholul, Uayamon and Santa Rosa. The architect of our first house here, Salvador Reyes Rios, was the architect for the renovation of Ochil. It is a small group of buildings, as Yucatan haciendas go, and he did a lovely job of renovating them to the point of beauty (and safety) without losing the antique feeling. Ochil's walls exude character and history. After parking in the parking lot, a path to the right leads past a few block buildings that house talleres (workshops) for artesanias creating works in stone, henequen and bone. All of this is sponsored by Cultura Banamex, the foundation that Banamex sponsors to preserve the culture and artisans of Mexico.
As you walk further, you'll turn left and walk through a parallel stand of palm trees that lead up to the casa principal, which is the main building. Underneath the open roof of the building is a rather spacious outdoor restaurant, a gift shop with locally-made items, a small henequen and hacienda museum and a lovely lily pond. At least, that is all that used to be there!
We took a short cut, and turned left just past the parking lot, passing through the small henequen field on one side and the example of a drying field (azotea, we think) on the other. As we walked, we heard the sound of a jackhammer, not the kind of thing you usually hear out in the Yucatan countryside! All of us frowned with dismay, thinking our idyllic lunch was going to be interrupted by construction noise. Then, noticing that we were walking along train tracks, Joe said, "I hope we're not going to get run over by a train!" Seconds after he said that, around the corner came a tiny little steam engine pulling a flatbed with benches on it... the Ochil Train!
We walked on, deciding to postpone the train-riding adventure til after lunch, and walked up to the restaurant. For the last six years that we've been coming here, the restaurant at Ochil has always been practically deserted, with only a few staff people walking around rather ghost-like in their white uniforms. Not this time. The restaurant was not full, but not empty. There were at least eight waiters milling around, and a host. We asked Beatriz to choose our table, and following her, we walked all the way to the back of the restaurant. Past the central fountain and behind the bar, there is a terrace that used to be empty and overlooked the jungle. Not anymore! Now the terrace was filled with tables and chairs, and hammocks were strung up for after-meal siestas. It wasn't overlooking jungle, either. Down below the terrace, a natural amphitheatre that leads down to a small cenote in a cave is being turned into a cement and stone amphitheatre that leads down to a swimming pool surrounding a stage, all at the entrance to the small cenote. No, we did not take a photo of the construction area, but we're guessing that in about four months, it will be completed and it will be spectacular. We imagine that they are planning to hold shows there, probably about Maya culture or history.
The waiters gave us shiny new menus that listed a lot more options than we remember being served at this restaurant, but they were also serving a sumptuous-looking buffet of Yucatan traditional dishes, and we all chose to indulge in the buffet. The buffet cost $140 pesos and we had our fill of cochinita, panuchos, pavo en relleno negro, tik'in chik fish, pochero, frijoles con puerco and way too much more. We were attended by two white-clad waiters with excellent service skills, who kept the Coca-cola, beer, wine, jamaica, limonada and even two Flaming Cucarachas coming. (No, these were not bugs on fire, but shots of kahlua, brandy and tequila set aflame). As we were eating, the heat abated and it started to rain, treating us to a lovely mid-jungle downpour and reminding us of that old Mexican saying about how lovely it is to watch the rain when you are dry. We were dry, and satiated and some of us even took advantage of those convenient hammocks for a few minutes, vowing that we really ought to get OUT more!
The adventure wasn't over yet. After lunch, we moseyed over to the noria, a deep cistern on the side of the Casa Principal that had originally been created to store water for the animals and for irrigation. We passed by a lovely new orchid terrace, boasting many different colors and types of flowering orchids hanging from the walls and trees. Beyond the well to the cenote below, we were surprised again. The noria has now been turned into a swimming pool, with a raised wooden deck around it and lounge chairs. Since it was still raining, we weren't inclined to jump in, but we can imagine that on hot days, that pool is a welcome sight!
On our way out, we stopped at the gift shop, which hasn't changed much. It still doesn't carry a lot of items, but what it has are quality and all made by hand. Our favorite thing to buy at this gift shop, by the way, are the natural cotton hammocks, which are our favorite kind. Nothing is cheap in this shop, but it is all a way of supporting the people of the Yucatan who still know how to work with natural materials and keeping their know-how alive. As we started toward our train-ride, the host of the restaurant pointed out a curiosity in the lily pond. There, among the green disc-shaped leaves, we saw a baby crocodile, rescued from someone's backyard cenote, apparently. He looked passive and content, but we wondered what happens when he gets bigger.
The train pulled up and we climbed on. The benches were stiff and the train was designed to pull loads of henequen, not ladies after lunch, but it was fun and made us laugh. We drove past the mini-henequen field and right up to the entrance and got off. There, on what appear to be ancient carved stones arranged there for just this purpose, we took a few photos to commemorate the day. Joseph did his best Chac Mool, with Beatriz trying hard not to laugh. And then Joseph, Beatriz and the Working Gringa posed for their next album cover. Working Gringo was behind the camera, por supuesto!
As we drove back to Merida, the day ended with a downpour and we remarked at how enjoyable the afternoon had been. Ochil, the sleepiest of the renovated haciendas, has evidently found its purpose: as a pitstop on the way to and from Uxmal, and as an alternative to eating at Hacienda Temozon. They have created a mini Yucatan theme park, complete with playgrounds for kids, train rides, a pizza oven (we forgot to tell you about that...), two pools, hammocks, a sun deck, a big restaurant, a bar, a theatre, a museum and shopping. A perfect place for anyone to stop on a lovely Yucatan afternoon. Come one and all! Welcome to Ochilandia!!
Comments
Yucatan Living - Hacienda Ochil 15 years ago
[...] Type: Yucatecan Neighborhood: On the Road to Uxmal Telephone: 924-7465 Address:Km. 27 Uman-Uxmal, Abala How to Get There from the Centro: Head towards Uxmal. After you pass the signs to Hacienda Temozon, look to your right for signs to Hacienda Ochil. Turn right off the highway into the parking lot. Parking: Yes AirConditioned: No Outdoors: Yes Drinks: Full Bar Hours: Every Day, 10 am to 6 pm (no need to call ahead) Website: http://www.haciendaochil.com/ Facebook: Notes : A great place for lunch. Also includes a giftshop, a small hacienda museum, artisans shops (where you can sometimes watch them working), a sometimes-working original hacienda railroad, a cenote and a pool. Bring your bathing suit! Read more here in our article about Ochilandia! [...]
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rebecca 15 years ago
thanks so much! I'm looking forward to a great afternoon.
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CasiYucateco 15 years ago
Combis gather in a small square near the Centro market and old post office/new city museum (Calle 56 x 65). I wish I could recall the exact spot. It could be the little square right in front of the City Museum, but that sounds too easy. (It looks different know since being remodeled so that's part of my hesitation.)
A Meridano friend took me there once after we walked much of downtown and needed to catch a ride. He explained that the combis generally gather in that area and "everyone" knows which one goes where.
My suggestion: Ask the locals where to find the combis. They will direct you.
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Working Gringa 15 years ago
We're sure you can get a combi (small van) to take you there, but we're not sure where to direct you to pick it up. You could certainly contract with a taxi to take you there... we're guessing they would probably do it for $200-300 pesos (less than $30 US).
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rebecca 15 years ago
This sounds great - how do you get there if not by car? Any idea how much a taxi from Merida to here would be, or if there's a bus?
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Karen Ferguson 16 years ago
Well. you've done it again, Ellen....I'm so there when I return.
I can't wait...thanks for including me in your trip. I really enjoyed it...btw, my birthday is in agusto. :-)
Best,
Karen
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John Venator 16 years ago
We too have been a bit turned off by the "attitude" of the staff and mamagement at Hacienda Temozon. They are starting to act like some Eastside New York City restarurant. While we have very much enjoyed their food and the ambinace of their restaurnat in the past - we are thinking twice about whether we should go back or not. Maybe a few too many empty tables will convice them to again be more customer friendly.
As far as Ochil - my wife and I could not agree more with your entire article about your most enjoyable experinece there. We especially enjoy watching the guest artists in the workshops that have been chosen by the Banamex Foundation to demonstrate their craft and to teach local young people the craft.
John Venator
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Jose A Herrera & Family 17 years ago
I have been looking for place to go work & retire. I am very much impressed with everything I've heard and read about the Yucatan. For some reason or another I would like to find out more about the Golf of Mexico area west of Merida. Would be extremely appreciative if this information may be obtained through e-mail or direct mailing it to me. Thank You !! I am an American Citizen born in Santa Barbara of Mexican American parentage. I have been in various parts of Mexico but have never been in Yucatan. Thanks for whatever help you may be able to provide. !!!
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Irene 17 years ago
Awesome! Thank you Suzette! I agree w/ you about the buses. When we were in Vallarta we took the buses after doing a little TOO much shopping, & being a native mexican, it did not intimidate me as much as it did my well-suburbanized-daughter! :) We are planning well ahead & do plan to visit again soon. You are right about the sight-seeing for visitors too! It also speaks to the quality of life one can find there; I would much rather be around the arts, music, plaza festivities, "locals" beaches, and of course the history of the ruins, cenotes & Yucatan forests. (I think I just made our decision!). Thanks again!
And, by the way, WG's: It IS good to put a face to the name! Keep up the the great work!!
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Joseph 17 years ago
I LOVE this job ;)
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Suzette 17 years ago
Hola Irene, I have never stayed in either Merida or Manzanillo but I have visited both of them on day trips from smaller beach locations. Obviously Manzanillo is right on the ocean and Merida is a 20 minute ride from the ocean so that might be a consideration for you. You might also find that generally the ocean in the gulf is calmer then the Pacific ocean.
The people in both areas are wonderful but Merida is much older (as far as European immigration goes) and the old buildings, churches and casas are beautiful. I believe that there is probably more art related activities in Merida then Manzanilla.
You should visit them both (and towns close to them) I recommend using buses to get around as they allow you to get the feel of the place and the people.
The Yucatan definetely has more ruins, cenotes and other wonders then the states of Colimal y Jalisco to take your guests to.
After one trip to the Yucatan and 3 trips to Jalisco and area we are leaning towards Merida and or area.
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