News: Vacation and Vochos
Yucatan Living Has a New Baby!
Congratulations to Yucatan Living's amazing assistant producer, Beatriz Echeverria, on the birth of her new baby girl, Catalina. Congratulations as well to Dad and big brother Emiliano. Beatriz is an invaluable employee to Yucatan Living, as well as a dear and precious friend to everyone who knows her. This new baby is a lucky little girl and we wish a wonderful future for the entire family.
Vacation Season Begins in Yucatan
The official start of “vacation,” in Yucatan is July 12, which is the date that public schools end their school year. However, some of the colleges, as well as the rest of Mexico, begin their semester breaks on July 1. This means that both domestic and foreign visitors to the beach, as well as to inland destinations, are already rapidly increasing in numbers. As we do every year, we want to make a special request that drivers be especially careful when driving through smaller towns and villages, where children and pets often view streets as an extended playground. We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday.
Weather Report
The weather report for Yucatan is just about the same on a daily basis: Hot, windy, high waves with gusts of wind, and scattered showers. The worst of the wind and waves are on either side of Yucatan – in the Bay of Campeche and in the Yucatan Channel – so Yucatan state is spared the worst of that kind of weather. Unfortunately, the southern cone of the state is often struck by rain from the tropical storms that cross the neck of the peninsula, between the Caribbean and Campeche. Many of Yucatan’s southern farmers are flooded and waiting to see how much damage has been done. Please keep these farmers in your thoughts as the majority of Yucatan’s expats enjoy better weather at the beach.
Scouting to Begin Again in Progreso
The Asociación Nacional de Scouts Independientes, A. C. (ANSI) is a member of the Federación Mundial de Scouts Independientes (WIFIS) región América. There has been a marked increase in aimlessness among young people since scouting ended in Progreso and both adults and officials see the revival of the scouting movement as a means of teaching values to children and young people. Everyone would love to see scouting return to Yucatan in a big way. Yucatan’s children are active in every phase of social and political life here and scouting can help to reach more young people than ever before. We wish them all the best as they get ready to launch their summer activities.
Valladolid Expects Increased Tourism
Valladolid is developing a very productive relationship with the major tourism destinations in Quintana Roo. These include not only visitors from Cancun, but mainly from the Rivera Maya. With their staple tours coming from Merida, it looks as if July and the first half of August will be a tourism success for Valladolid and for Chichen Itza. There has been so much growth and development in the Valladolid area in the past few years. The city is a much more attractive and comfortable place for visitors. One must not overlook the wonderful concerts and cultural events that are held now in Valladolid as well. All in all, Valladolid is a great destination for anyone who comes to Yucatan any time of the year. Preview Yucatan Living’s take on Valladolid, Sultaness of the East
Meridas of the World United
In late October, a number of Yucatan’s successful young entrepreneurs will travel to Merida, Spain, to attend the Segunda Feria Internacional de las Méridas del Mundo (FIMMM). This international relationship was formed in 2011 to help expand trade, especially if technology is involved, and tourism between the cities of Merida in Yucatan, Spain and Venezuela. In 2014, this entrepreneurial fair will take place in Venezuela and return to Yucatan in 2015. This fair gives entrepreneurs a means of networking they never could have otherwise had. So far, it has been a great success and everyone can see what determination and the will to work together can accomplish. Congratulations to all of the participating entrepreneurs in all three Meridas.
Viva el Día Mundial del Volcho
What a great idea! In honor of World Volkswagen Beetle Day, 20 Volkswagens carried 30 participants in the Primera Ruta Costera Yucatán 2013. What they did was begin in Celestun and drive coastal roads all the way to Sisal, picking up trash and cleaning beaches all the way. At the end of the day, there was a small festival and an exhibition of the Volkswagens. Do mark your calendars and keep an eye out for next year’s Viva el Día Mundial del Volcho and Segunda Ruta Costera Yucatán 2013.
Coming Soon: Beach Repairs
Over the past few years, there have been some problems at times with beach erosion and there have been difficulties in finding a remedy for this situation. While there are complex reasons for it, the fact remains that quite a few homeowners find their homes sitting closer to the water with each passing season. This past week, however, surveyors appeared at the beach and began measuring to see how much beach each house in Chelem and Chuburna actually has. Once this is done, enough sand will be added to each property to make certain that each house has at least 20 meters from their back wall to the end of the beach. If there is no back wall, the sand will be added from a line drawn across the property between the next available back walls. While this seems like a short-term fix, everyone hopes that the authorities have a plan to keep the sand in place once it is delivered. No matter what happens, homeowners will still enjoy a bit of rest from the damage the sea has the potential to do.
New Highway Projects in Progreso
Through the years, there have been many auto accidents when people attempt to enter and leave the City of Progreso. The increase in the number of automobiles on the road has only compounded the problem. What is needed are two traffic circles (distributor roads) and a bridge over the highway to Yucalpeten. While these improvements have been necessary for some time, they have been held up because SEMARNAT is concerned about the damage the projects will do to the mangroves. The increase in the number of accidents in these areas seems to be pushing the decision in the other direction and the current administration is confident enough that they will get permission to go ahead that they made the announcement of the project this past weekend. We do hope that all goes well and that everyone who travels into and through Progreso will be safe on the highways throughout this summer holiday.
Proyecto Itzaes Gears Up for Summer
Proyecto Itzaes provides support for students and families in four villages in Yucatan and they need your help to purchase supplies for an ever growing number of children. Please visit the Proyecto Itzaes website to see what they are doing and how you can help. What struck us about the work that Proyecto Itzaes does is how fast the children grow. This year, Proyecto Itzaes students who are now at UADY are back at home and serving as mentors for younger students. Where does the time go? We would also like to welcome Federico Becker from Stanford University to Yucatan for the summer. He will also be helping to strengthen the math, English and even painting skills of Proyecto Itzaes students. We hope he has a wonderful time and always thinks of Yucatan as his own. Please take the time to visit Proyecto Itzaes’ website and/or the Proyecto Itzaes’ Facebook page.
