Yucatan News: Horses and Hurricanes
Lenny Sanchez Named Voice of the Mexican Bolero in Cuba
When we write our weekly events column, it is sometimes hard not to go a bit overboard with excitement when describing some of Yucatan’s international stars for our readers. Such was the case this week when we had to keep calm when suggesting the Friday, May 23, 7:00 PM, Teatro Daniel Ayala Perez performance of Lenny Sanchez. After six years of participation in the International Boleros de Oro Festival, in Cuba, this well-established lady of Yucateca song has been named the Voice of the Mexican Bolero in that island nation. Lenny Sanchez says that it is her own love of the romantic music of Yucatan that has led her to work so hard to research, rescue and disseminate the music of Yucatan. We know that it is her immense talent that keeps Lenny Sanchez in a group of international stars that all have a heart for their state and its music. Congratulations to Lenny Sanchez, Voice of the Mexican Bolero, and we hope to be the beneficiaries of her talent for many years to come.
Merida: Centro de Investigación de Crudo Extrapesado y Recuperación Mejorada
The Science Park, plus several well-known research universities, plus Merida’s proximity to oil partners in Texas and distribution pipelines throughout Mexico and Central America, as well as newly proposed shipping routes throughout the Caribbean have all come together and resulted in the new Center of Investigation for Extra-Heavy Crude and Improved Recovery. For some time now, Yucatan has been educating a workforce in the professional and technical career fields necessary to make Yucatan a strategic hub for energy, including electrical energy, in all of Latin America. It looks as if the place to be, for many years to come, will be in and around the Science Park just outside of Merida, Yucatan.
Tourism: Welcome to the Germans
There are two reasons this story is important to those who live in Yucatan. First, of course, there is the fact that growing numbers of Europeans, especially Germans, are now visiting the Peninsula of Yucatan. They are most welcome and we hope their stay is enjoyable enough to bring them back again and again. Second, we want to commend whomever it was who came up with the concept of billing the entire peninsula of Yucatan as the perfect combination of both a beach and cultural vacation. In some places on the Yucatan Peninsula, there is little to do except fish and/or dive. In Yucatan, one can fish, visit a variety of ruins and cenotes, and then enjoy world class performances and art in Merida, Cancun and Playa del Carmen. With direct flights now coming to Cancun from several points in Europe, German tourism was up 11% in the first quarter of 2014, enough to open tourism offices in other European nations, such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. State governments in Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Chiapas, Campeche and Estado de Mexico are working together with tourism operators to bring the wonders of Mexico to all of Europe. If the increase in German tourism is any indication, there can be little doubt that Yucatan and Europe will be well connected once again.
AMA Yucatan Donates to Sueños de Ángel A.C.
Amigos Multiplicando Alegría – aka AMA Yucatán – has made a significant donation to Dreams of Angel, A.C., which supports underprivileged children who have cancer and are hospitalized in O’Horan Hospital. They provide treatment for emotional problems among these sick children, as well as providing them with celebrations for such events as their birthdays and first communions. Above all, Sueños de Ángel tries to keep the children excited and hopeful during their treatment and do their best to fulfill their dreams. While we are here today to give public thanks to AMA Yucatan for their donation to Sueños de Ángel, we also want to give everyone else an opportunity to meet or support them. You can always reach them through their website, Sueños de ángel A.C, on Facebook at Sueños de ángel A.C, or by calling Atenea Evia at (999) 178-4879. AMA Yucatan is also on Facebook. We have a number of community service programs supported by expatriates, but these are two local organizations that do such wonderful work that they deserve all the help we can give them.
Izamal, City of Light, Goes Solar
The State of Yucatan is investing $98 million pesos in a two square hectare photovoltaic plant that will make Izamal the first magical town with sustainable electricity. There will be a total of 10,000 square meters of solar panels to support the generation of all of the electricity currently consumed by Izamal, as well as plans for future growth of the project. People will still pay an electric bill because the $98 million pesos must be repaid and plans to remodel the system, in 30 years, must be in the budget, but this is far better than wondering what the price of electricity will do on a month-by-month basis. This project alone is expected to increase tourism as more and more people who are interested in a greener, safer planet, come to Izamal to see how such a project works.
Semana de Yucatán en México: May 25 – June 1
The week of May 25 through June 1 will be the Week of Yucatan in all of Mexico. This is an important way to showcase the best of Yucatan throughout the nation. It is especially important to those who own or work in restaurants in Yucatan. This year, the goal is to sell four tons of cochinita pibil and the Cámara Nacional de la Industria del Restaurante y Alimentos Condimentados en Yucatán (Canirac) (National Chamber of the Industry of Restaurants and Spicy Foods in Yucatan) says the local vendors are ready to meet the challenge. Also on the menus will be panuchos, sopa de lima, escabeche, queso relleno, vaporcitos, and more. As we all know, Yucatan is unique in all of Mexico and so is our food. Statistics point to an approximate 15% increase in visitors to this event this year, which means an influx of approximately 120,000 people and $400 million pesos. Not a bad week for dining in Yucatan! We hope everyone takes advantage of this opportunity to sample the best of Yucatan’s food and culture during the last week in May.
The Chamber Orchestra of Motul
On Saturday, May 17, at 8:00 PM, a dream was fulfilled in Motul. The Chamber Orchestra of Motul performed its first concert at the first anniversary celebration of the Imagine Cultural Center in that city. This event has been a long time coming. Maestro Chan Sabido has given his time and talent to developing youth orchestras throughout the state and the children have responded with more talent and dedication than anyone could have imagined. The State System of Youth Orchestras is growing and we continue to ask everyone to, please, come out and show the children and young people of Yucatan how much they are appreciated. This is the beginning of successful lives for all of these young musicians and congratulations are due to them, to their teacher, to their parents, and to their cities.
First Peninsular Horse Fair, Tizimin: May 29 through June 1
Believe it or not, Yucatan is not all about the Arts and the Beach. If you are all about horses, we are happy to report that you could live quite happily in Tizimín, Buctzotz, Colonia Yucatán, Uayma or Sucilá. If you love polo, this horse fair will feature a competition between a team from Cancun and one from Yucatan. What you may not know is that this area produces some of the finest horses anywhere in the world. If you are looking for a horse for any activity, or just looking period, there will be exhibitions of thoroughbreds, quarter horses, a cross between the two, as well as native Aztec breeds. This fair has it all, including a competition featuring dancing horses and, of course, a parade. By the way… maybe you need a tractor or a truck? Look to this fair for familiar brands, such as John Deere, Caterpillar and Komatzu, as well as Ford, Chevrolet and Nissan. There will also be handicrafts available for sale. This is an area where saddlery is an art, so don’t overlook this opportunity if you are in the market for one. Overall, anyone who loves horses is missing a treat if they miss the first ever Feria Peninsular del Caballo in Tizimin.
Hurricane Season: 2014
Most of us are used to hurricane season being defined as falling between June 1 and November 30. Few are aware that there is another hurricane season, in the Eastern Pacific, that has the potential to affect us as well. That hurricane season begins on May 15 and there are already signs of disturbances on the way. Although most of these storms will affect only the western coast of Mexico, some will cross the country at its narrowest point and enter the Gulf of Mexico at Campeche. It is these storms that have the potential to cause flooding and mud slides that can affect those expats who drive down in the early Fall. The Governor of Yucatan has just returned from the 2014 National Civil Protection Convention, in Acapulco, where issues of evacuation and rescue, as well as communication and legislation on emergency and risk were discussed. Wherever you are, and whatever hurricane season affects you, please be prepared. Now is the time to bookmark and read the entire Yucatan Civil Protection site online. We want everyone to stay safe this year so that expat life in Yucatan will be as good as always.
Dengue Fever Expected to Rise with Rain
For a while, Yucatan had fallen to the number five spot, in Mexico, for new cases of dengue fever. Now, with all of these rains, it has risen to fourth place and the numbers do not seem to be dropping. Part of the problem with these numbers is that every case of fever and/or suspicious death is, initially, considered for inclusion in the dengue numbers. This means that you are likely to see lots of suspected and/or probable numbers that can vary widely with confirmed numbers. Since the beginning of the rainy season, there have been 1,374 probable cases, but only 337 have been proven. In another example, of 70 deaths that were likely dengue hemorrhagic fever in Mexico, only 10 were in Yucatan. Six have been dismissed and four are still in the process of study. In other words, none have been confirmed. This gives confusing impressions to the public, but it is the best that can be done at this time. No one wants to hide the risk, so an over-abundance of information is given and the public has to sort it out for themselves. Confusing though it may be, it is better than having no warning at all. Please, especially during this season of rain, do all you can to eliminate standing water from your property and keep mosquitoes out of your home.
