Yucatan News: Some Sad News This Week
RIP David Sterling
Somber news this morning as we have received unofficial reports of the passing of local celebrity, David Sterling, at the age of 65. Chef David Sterling was a man of many talents. He was the award-wining author of Yucatan: Recipes from a Culinary Expedition. He was the owner and instructor at the award-wining Los Dos Cooking School in downtown Merida. Martha Stewart and Rick Bayless were among his peers. Together with partner, Keith Heitke, he was a founder and principal of Worldstudio International, a cross-cultural, multidisciplinary design firm. You can read an amazing if incomplete summary of his accomplishments by visiting his five page curriculum vitae online (pdf).
Stabbing at the Beach
More loss to report this week with the tragic death of Canadian expat, Roger Corbett, the alleged victim of a stabbing by fellow Canadian, Brian Slater, in Chicxulub Puerto. The local newspaper, El Diario de Yucatán, described the incident as a crime of passion. Neighbors reported that alcohol and possibly drugs were involved.
Heavy Lifting in Merida
Did you know that the 2016 FISU World University Weightlifting Championships are being held in Merida even as you read this? From November 13th to the 17th, you can watch a live stream online. Both male and female competitors participate in these events. All must be between the ages of 17 and 28.
New Problem for a New Wonder
Many of our readers will recall that in 2007, a European company named New7Wonders conducted an online vote that designated seven historical sites or monuments as the new seven wonders of the world. The Temple of Kukulcan, also known as El Castillo, was among those that won. Not Chichen Itza, mind you, only the pyramid at the center of this important Maya archeological zone. We have recently learned that New7Wonders is proposing to add conditions in order for this landmark to maintain its status. These conditions include removing or relocating the Maya vendors who set up puestos inside the park. Another reported condition is that tourists be allowed to climb the pyramid for a fee. Whether or not the government bends to these demands, we are certain that Chichen Itza will continue to be one of the most important attractions in the country as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
El Buen Fin
Another thing that happened in 2007 was the creation of El Buen Fin, which literally means “the good end” but refers to “the good weekend”. Inspired by the “Black Friday” following Thanksgiving in the United States, El Buen Fin is organized and supported by numerous trade and commerce entities in Mexico to promote consumption. The idea, presented formally by then president Filipe Calderon, was to help boost the national economy, hopefully protecting it from external economic calamities, such as the global mortgage meltdown that began around the same time. El Buen Fin is a time to go shopping for promotions and discounts while doing your part to grow the Mexican economy. When is El Buen Fin? It’s the weekend that precedes Revolution Day. This year, it’s November 18th through the 21st.
