Yucatan Living

Yucatan News: Rain and ATM Scams

19 September 2015 News 1

Heavy Rain in Merida

This week, anyone outside of Merida might have read a prediction of heavy rain almost every day of the week. As it turns out, there were heavy rains, but usually for about 20 minutes at a time. Some streets did flood, but only for a few minutes at a time. Temperatures were cool in the morning and evening, with the sauna effect still with us following the brief storms. Yucatan is very lucky. Tabasco, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz and parts of Campeche are not so lucky. These sorts of flash storms cause flooding and mudslides in more mountainous areas, resulting in severe property damage and, all too often, loss of life. As beautiful as those other states may be, time has shown that the weather in Yucatan is just one more reason for making one’s home here.

CICY Concludes Research on Three Crops for Export

The Scientific Research Center of Yucatan has completed its research and written its production protocols. October 1, producers will begin full scale production with coconut, agave and stevia. Within three years, Yucatan will be a world leader in the production of these crops. Yucatan has the best seeds and the best plants. Now, they will begin to train workers, in the field, to maintain very strict sanitary controls, manage everything that goes in and out of the fields, and automate processes as much as possible. CICY is working on developing self-sustaining housing projects for field workers, and also on finding ways to use inorganic waste to create new products. This is yet another project that is moving Yucatan forward on an international stage.

Yucateca Fashion Designer Going to Dubai

Yucatecan designer April Cervera will represent Mexico at the Latin America - Middle East - South Asia International Meeting in Dubai, from November 24 through 26. She has won awards around the world and has been exposed to the work of the greatest fashion designers in history, but confesses that it is the fashion themes of the early 20th century in Paris that inspire her own work. Her designs are young and energetic, while evoking memories of a more graceful era. This young lady, and her success, underscore the depth and range of talent to be found in Yucatan.

Yucatan Representing Mexico in Milan

The 2015 edition of the World Expo in Milan brings together representatives from 142 countries on five continents. This year, on Día Nacional de México, Yucatan represented Mexico in Milan. The Folkloric Ballet of Yucatan was there, along with traditional Maya healers and priests. Of course, everyone was dressed in spectacular traditional costumes. The applause and number of photographs taken tell the tale of just how much everyone loved what Yucatan brought to the Expo. This is the first time Yucatan has represented Mexico at such an event, but look for many more to come!

New Canine Dog Squad in Yucatan

The State of Yucatan is proud to announce the creation of Escuadrón Canino “K9” de la Fiscalía General de Estado (FGE). We love that the members of this squad are not all of one breed. Instead, there are German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Malinois Belgian Shepherds, and Dutch Shepherds. The dogs are trained to locate drugs, people, cadavers, and explosives, as well as to carry out patrol duties. Eight trainers will be responsible for the care and training of the dogs. Their first day of official work was spent marching in the parade commemorating the independence of Mexico. These are beautiful animals and Yucatan is fortunate to have them and their trainers.

First Serious Pit Bull Attack

It had to happen sooner or later. There is a new group of pit bull breeders forming in the Oxkutzcab area. When these dogs come face to face with the young men who carry out home robberies, the young thief is going to lose. Such was the case this week in the western part of Merida. A young man robbed a house and came down a wall face to face with the neighbor’s pit bull. He nearly lost his life. We know that all of our canine pets will raise the alarm if they feel their homes or their people are in danger. The pit bull, however, seems predisposed to go after the source of the problem. We are not “for” or “against” pit bull ownership. We know pit bulls who have been best friends with newborn infants. We also know how foolish it would be to threaten a pit bull’s happy home. Pit bull incidents are going to grow in numbers unless care is taken now to educate breeders and buyers on the responsibilities of pit bull ownership. We hope all of the pit bulls in Yucatan get a happy, safe home with a family that loves them dearly and that there is never another pit bull incident anywhere in Yucatan. Most of all, we would prefer that everyone adopt, not buy, your loyal family pet from one of the local shelters.

Spaceport Talk Resumes

For a while, all we heard was talk of the new spaceport coming to Quintana Roo. Then, we heard nothing. Now, plans are underway to not only build the spaceport, but to have it completed within three years. This came from the Russian Ambassador to Spain on a visit this week to Chetumal. The spaceport is to be built with Russian support and technology. Evidently, there are political forces at work that either smooth the way or act as stumbling blocks to large projects like this, but – sooner or later – the spaceport will come. This will be an exciting time for Quintana Roo and for all of the people who live on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Rural Tulum Gets Health Care in Valladolid

What does one do if they live in the rural part of one county, and are actually closer to the hospital in the next county than to their own? Tulum and Valladolid have solved that problem for hundreds of rural residents in the Municipality of Tulum. They have signed an agreement that makes it possible for these Quintana Roo residents to receive medical care from the hospital and doctors in Valladolid. Universal health care is fine until some fall through the cracks and end up with no health care at all. Congratulations to both Yucatan and Quintana Roo for this creative solution to an age old problem.

New Flight: Merida to Rome!

Everyone was excited when Merida got the new flight to Milan, but now there is going to be something even more spectacular for travelers. Beginning in December, Italian airline Blue Panorama will be winging its way between Merida and Rome! Both the Merida-Milan and the Merida-Rome flights will have a stop in Havana. This will be a change from the current stop in Cancun for the Merida-Milan flight. This will connect Merida with the two most important airports in Italy and two of the most important airports in all of Europe. We can’t wait to see schedules and prices!

ATM Skimming Scam

We've been reading about this all week on a blog published by a security investigator. One of the scams this writer is especially interested is ATM scams, where someone plants a device in an ATM machine which "skims" the card number and pin of an unsuspecting customer, and then either uses it or sells it for illegal use. The writer traveled to Cancun and, using a special Bluetooth device, scanned ATMs in various places in Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum to see if the ATMs had these devices installed. As it turns out, quite a few of them did. Please understand that this skimming process is happening around the world... if you read more on this blog, you can read articles about the same kind of scam in Europe, for instance. But this particular article is about his investigations on the Yucatan Peninsula. You can read more about it here, starting with Part One of a (so far) three-part series. Our takeaway from reading these articles: only use bank-affiliated ATMs to get cash, wherever you go. And in Mexico, do not go near any ATM with the Intacash logo on it. This isn't a guarantee, but is likely to keep you out of harm's way for the most part.

The Texans Came to Town

While the hot air of politics blows through the media, the business of business continues. This week, the president and vice president of the Latino Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Houston, Texas, came to Merida and met with officials of the Ministry of Economic Development, as well as with about 70 local business men and women. The quality of Yucatan’s products ensures that they are valuable in the international market and both sides agree that relationships forged between these two groups are necessary to bring success to them all and to grow the economies of both regions. Most of the products discussed were food related, as well as being related to the “nostalgia factor” for the Mexicans and Hispanics living in the United States. It is wonderful to see that real life goes on, no matter what kind of noise is blaring from the media.