Yucatan Living

Yucatan News: Snowbirds and Shoes

Snowbirds Fly Home – Soon to Return

It sure is quiet around here. Is Winter over already? Well, not quite. There are still a few Snowbirds left in Yucatan. They seem to come a little earlier and leave a little later every year… and the permanent expat population seems to be growing. This is an interesting mix we’ve got these days. Have you noticed? In addition to expats from Canada and the United States, Yucatan now has a significant number of expats from Spain, France, China, Germany, England, Argentina, and Norway! We think this is going to make for an interesting summer and an even more active fall and winter. For those of you who are going home, we hope you have a wonderful summer. For those who are here permanently, welcome to your new home!

Sharon Nicole Basulto Ayuso is National Motocross Champion!

Fifteen year old Yucateca Sharon Basulto has won first place in the female division of the Campeonato Nacional “Riviera Maya” y Campeonato Regional “Carmen 2013”. The race took place in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas. Her father is a former motorcycle racer and it is said that she inherited her taste for speed and adrenaline from him. She started racing at the age of six and soon proved herself in a sport that is considered to be just for men. She will go on to represent Mexico in the Latinoamericano Femenil, which will probably be held in Colombia. Our congratulations to Sharon Basulto and to her very proud parents, as well as to Yucatan for creating an environment in which young ladies are able to succeed at both national and international levels in whatever arena they choose.

CONCANACO joins Fight Against Hunger

It’s official! The National Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Services has joined the fight against hunger all across Mexico, including right here in Merida. The cooperative agreement was signed between CONCANACO and the Ministry of Social Development, and recognizes that social agencies cannot fight these problems alone. They must have support and assistance from the business community. They have already developed a list of ten factors by which to measure success, so everyone will be watching to see how these new, rural and urban programs are doing. Yucatan has always taken great pride in working hard on any project on which it embarks, so look for great things to be happening in the fight against hunger in Yucatan.

Galicia and Yucatan to Work Together

Galicia is an autonomous community on the northwest coast of Spain. This past week, the President of the Board of Galicia and Governor Rolando Zapata Bello agreed that their two entities will work together on large projects that will benefit both areas. The projects detailed for Yucatan include: fisheries, wineries, health, economic development, the environment, infrastructure, logistics, wind energy, education, and tourism. Both areas are working with Mexico to ensure that Yucatan develops as the Southeast Center of Mexico. We will all be watching to see how this develops in both the short and long-term for both areas.

Yucatan’s Ports Continue Expanding

As we go about our daily lives, we sometimes forget that Progreso is more than a tourist zone and certainly more than just a place for cruise ships to dock. The Municipality of Progreso has a commercial shipping center, in Yucalpeten, that is growing by leaps and bounds. Right after the President of the Board of Galicia made his visit, ambassadors from the Dominican Republic and Haiti came to visit the Port Authority to promote projects that strengthen business and commercial projects between their countries and Yucatan. With a strong network of goodwill and the infrastructure needed to be a world class port, Progreso is poised to leap forward as an international shipping center.

100 Year Old Turtle Died in Yucatan

Last year, a 100 year old white turtle appeared on the beach in Uaymitún. She was blind, had suffered a stroke, and had a spear wound on her head. The young specialists from UADY healed the wound on her head, but there was no way she could have survived in the sea. About that time, an 80 year old turtle appeared and Profepa gave permission for a pond to be built for the two elderly turtles. It was there that the 100 year old white turtle died last week. That her last year was spent in safety, with plenty to eat and with a new best friend is testament to the skill of the young specialists at UADY, to the kindness of the beach visitors who found her and called for help, and to the willingness of Profepa to allow the building of the pond. Turtle camp managers say they have seen turtles in Yucatan up to the age of 120, so please keep an eye out for these old folks of the sea and make sure to call for help if they appear to be in distress.

Did You Miss the Ticul Shoe Fair?

Not to worry. You have a second chance in Merida. The Ticul chapter of the National Chamber of Commerce has announced that at least twenty-five shoe factories, from Ticul, will show their wares at a Footwear Expo at Siglo XXI Convention Center in Merida May 1 to May 6. When that expo is over, they will head out for Quintana Roo and Campeche to show their wares in expos in those states. There are always competitors from all around Mexico at these expos, but the shoemakers of Ticul beat them all with great workmanship and better prices. Thousands are expected at the Footwear Expo in Merida, so do save at least one day between May 1st and 6th to attend this show.

Valladolid: 470th Anniversary: May 8 – June 4.

There will be more than 60 events in Valladolid from May 8 through June 4, each in celebration of their city as a Capital of Culture. The name of the IV Floral Games program is ZACI NICTÉ T´AN, or Valladolid Flor de la Palabra. Over the past two years, the Valladolid area has come a long way in establishing itself as a leader in commerce for the entire peninsula and, we might add, their expat population is growing as well. We hope everyone will take advantage of this celebration and make the trip to Valladolid during their 470th anniversary celebration.

Sweet Orange Prices Up

Last year, the price of a box of sweet oranges was around $20 pesos. Today, its $50 pesos because of a shortage of fruit in the fields. Recent hail storms in the south and east of Yucatan have done a great deal of damage to the citrus crop. One has to wonder at the nerves of steel it must take to be any kind of a citrus grower grower in Yucatan. First, they had the whole orange market to themselves, plus the Persian limón market is always good. Then other states jumped in, started raising citrus and drove prices down. After that, came the drought and now there is a shortage of fruit and prices are up. If that wasn’t nerve-wracking enough, high prices do not always translate into more money to take home. All too often, prices go up and sales fall off, or prices go up and past-due farm loans need to be paid. Either way, our hats are off to the citrus growers, as well as to all agriculture producers, throughout the State of Yucatan.