Valladolid is a superb town to devote your day discovering the real history and tradition the Yucatan peninsula provides. From colonial era chapels and structures to organic miracles like the Yucatan Cenote, significant places to go to in Valladolid include be the colonial era cathedral and the chapel “Convent of San Bernardino Siena”, named after Saint Bernardino, which was constructed by Franciscan missionaries between 1560 and 1552. A brief 10 second stroll from downtown and the Sisal area reveals a fantastic playground where you are able to lay back and appreciate peace and serenity. Additionally, visitors may appreciate fantastic locations just like the Cenote , Chichen Itza, a couple of historical zones; and additional places of importance sites such as San Felipe, Merida and Izmal. Artistic meals, crafts and many funny traditions, are some of the nice treats that you can discover in Valladolid. There’s a lot to see here, so you’ll be well advised to book a trip that lasts for at least a couple of days.

Valladolid includes an organised street plan that makes it simple to journey around. Vacationers moving through the peninsula have the choice of getting to street or the river path to proceed through Valladolid. In the town you will find cab providers at sensible prices and public transportation that will be common for residents although not suggested for vacationers. There’s an “Autobuses Oriente” coach service located in the heart of the town which caters to vacationers in all grand towns in the Yucatan peninsula, such as Merida, Cancun, Playa andel Carmen and Tulum as well as in ancient sites such as Chichen Itza Coba and Ek’ Balam. Full of appealing tastes, colors, customs and natural splendor, the town of Valladolid in Yucatan, is encircled by northeastern structures and the great Mayan culture that is enclosed by the mysticism demonstrated in its historical areas. Valladolis is just two hours from Merida and Cancun and is one of the most stunning and significant vacation towns of this Mexican state.

A few royal temples like the Church of St. Servatius (San Gervasio), the stunning former convent of San Bernardino Siena, the Candelaria Church, amongst others, are spread in the communities with homes of historic and colorful facades. Its celebrations and main occasions contain the Feast of Manhattan project Candelaria (February second) with social, gastronomic, animals and creative activities; the efficiency “First interest of the Revolution”, the processions focused on the patron saints of the chapels and the workplaces, the Fiesta of Cristo Rey (Christ the King) and Hanal Pixhan with its test of altars and choices for the lifeless.

A few royal temples like the Church of San Gervasio, the stunning former convent of San Bernardino Siena, the Candelaria Church, amongst others, are spread in the communities with homes of historic and colorful facades. Its celebrations and main occasions contain the Feast of Project Candelaria with social, gastronomic, animals and creative activities; the efficiency “First Interest of the Revolution”, the processions focused on the patron saints of the chapels, the Fiesta of Cristo Rey and Hanal Pixhan with its test of altars for the dead.

Explore this beautiful city to discover Mexico’s richness and the engaging history of its liberation. Valladolid, Yucatan is a fascinating place full of peace, history and traditional architecture that will captivate your senses and make your trip unforgettable. The cathedrals, 1500s buildings and catholic towns are unforgettable. Also, if you enjoy people, make sure to book your travels for an extended period of time so that you can get to now the inhabitants. They have a very particular culture that slightly differs from Mexican standards. Also, be very careful with the food (very spicy at times) and follow the general guidelines given in the prior paragraph. You’ll love Valladolid Yucatan!

The height of the walls must be minded, and restorers should understand that old colonial homes typically have high ceilings that will double the cost of stucco repairs, painting and require use of scaffold just to cover the entirety of the walls. It’s also important to find out whether or not the walls of the colonial home are made from stone or cement block. Stone construction is locally referred to as ‘mamposteria’, and are typically smaller and shorter than comparable block walls. Humidity problems call for the old plaster to be replaced with fresh plaster, and is a notoriously messy process causing excess dust. Restorers are also advised to pay mind to where the walls of the colonial home are placed, because although walls made out of cement block can be build-on or moved with relatively little headache, the stone walls, the ‘mamposteria’, are harder to move and harder to alter with windows and doors because mamposteria walls are too often built lacking reinforcement and supporting columns.

The problems with the difficulty of mamposteria extend to the contractors, who can’t give any realistic bid for that type of project since it would be too difficult for the contractor to know whether or not the prospective walls can be moved or altered successfully, if at all. When restoring your colonial home in Merida Mexico many walls are painted with lime base paint called ‘cal’ paint, which leaves behind a fine dust on the exteriors that tend to flake and stain, and restorers should expect to have to repaint these cal painted walls every few years. And while there are vinyl paints, acrylic and other types pf paints available, if they are used on mamposteria walls they have a chance of ‘bubbling’ the wall as the humidity gathers over the course of time.

Once the walls are investigated the roofs must be paid their due mind, and a personal inspection is just as important for the roofs as they are for the walls when restoring your colonial home in Merida Mexico. Pay mind to the water storage units located on the rooftops, as a traditional cement storage until called a ‘tinaco’ is aesthetically pleasing but unhealthy and unhygienic. Colonial roofs need to be sealed, and restorers should be concerned about the number of cracks in any given roof, as even small cracks can translate into leaks for the home. Sealed colonial roofs in good condition will typically look clean and be painted white, while the appropriate sealing for colonial roofs will be dual coats of sealant and cloth to reinforce the roof layers and typically feel rubbery and thick. Restorers need to be cautious when considering potential contractors who treat roof sealing as an uncomplicated task equivalent to painting, as this is a common misunderstanding with local workers in Merida.

The Merida does not utilize city sewers like other cities, and restorers should understand how the Merida’s reliance on individual septic systems effect the construction and architecture, as it is always important to understand the local systems in place. Renovated colonial homes in Merida Mexico usually won’t have these problems, but old colonial homes in Merida Mexico that have undergone very little renovation require specific considerations, such as whether or not the home shares its septic system with another house. Old colonial homes in Merida Mexico are also susceptible to problematic plumbing and electrics, and it’s likely the electrical wires will actually be visible outside the walls. It’s also likely the home will employ galvanized pipes and a single hard wire, which will typically cause problems for usage with modern appliances and will need to be replaced.

Experienced home restorers and contractors in Merida have warned that new restorers typically have some unpleasant surprises in store when first exploring  or restoring colonial homes in Merida Mexico, and some colonial homes that have not been renovated will require a decent amount of renovation.

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From Sacred to Playgrounds: Cenotes of Yucantan Near Cancun Mexico tourists find the Yucatan Peninsula and its Mysterious Cenotes. Cenotes are sinkholes that have formed in the natural limestone over millions of years of rainfall. Limestone is soft and porous so the rain waters carved out these phenomenon over millions of years. The bottoms of the caverns are lakes that grow and flow under-ground. Cenotes that eventually fill all the way up with water, collapse to become part of the Mexican Caribbean. Others drop lushly to beautiful lakes filled with fresh water, salt water, or a combination of both. Tourists know they have arrived when waterfalls can be heard. The sights are magnificent as some Cenotes have lush forest growth from top to bottom. Tourists come to swim, explore underground caves, and snorkel. The ancient Mayan’s had different uses for the caverns.

The Ancient Mayans thought the Cenotes were portals to the underworld and deemed them sacred. They cut steps into the limestone walls so they could reach the water. These stairs were slippery and dripped with the musty wet air. The waters were said to have healing properties and bathing or drinking it would cure disease. The Mayans also performed ritual sacrifice in the Cenotes. People living around Chichen Itza have found skeletons floating in wells that prove Mayans used the Cenotes as ritual sites. In modern times, the Cenotes have been used in Hollywood movies and have such amenities as restrooms, changing rooms, food services, and over-night accommodations. Modern visitors can enjoy wooden stairways that are maintained year around in the more popular Cenotes

There are more than 7000 Cenotes dotting the Yucatan Peninsula. Ik-Kil, or The Sacred Blue Cenote, is located near Cancun. There are also ancient Mayan archeological surveys near the area. This Cenote of Yucatan is 85 ft. deep, oval in shape, and crystal clear. Access is a precarious stairway tourists can hike down. The walk is well worth it once the lake is reached. The green blue water shimmers in the dim light; its depths unknown. Stalactites hang from the walls and hikers need to duck under on the way down. Divers and swimmers have to be careful not to hit their heads on them, as well. Snorkelers and swimmers out-number the divers at this Cenote. By way of luxury, shelters are rented out for over-night stays.

The Dos Ojos Cenote (two eyes) is near Ik-Kil and was the location for the IMAX film Journey to the Caves. There are two circular green blue lakes at the bottom of this Cenote which account for the cavern’s name. The stalagmites hang from the mouth of the Cenote to the lakes that rest 500 ft. below. There are also numerous other caverns running under the limestone here. Exploring this mysterious underground world has become sport for many tourists who come to dive and enjoy the retreat areas provided in the caverns. Divers and snorkelers are treated to several varieties of fish here. The adventurous can search for the famous Bat Cave. The Dos Ojos Cenote is the most popular of all the Cenotes of Yucatan. Once a year, a beam of sunlight shines into the cavern and illuminates the tip of the massive stalagmite. The ancient Mayan people were witness to this same site two thousand years ago.

The Grand Cenote is the largest Cenote and boasts turtles as one of its attractions for divers and swimmers. This Cenote is the easiest to get to and lies near the city of Tulum. Many tourists claim this as their favorite because of its grand size. The gorgeous waters are inviting and ready for deep water adventurers. Wooden walkways and piers surround the massive lake. So, the non-adventurous can take it easy and bask in the world the ancients found irresistible as well. Some go to the Cenotes for insight into the ancient world of the Mayans. Wanting a feel for the people we know so little about and their ways of life. How much different their lives must have been from ours. Imagine being the first people to look into one of these giant holes and see the wonder of a lake 500 ft. below them.

The tenaciousness of the stalagmites in their growth toward the clear water makes a statement about the perseverance of nature and the respect the ancient Mayans had for the Cenotes. They are special, mysterious. It is no wonder that the Mayan people made them areas of worship and sacrifice. There was no better place to honor their God than at His very front door.

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The height of the walls must be minded, and homebuyers should understand that old colonial homes typically have high ceilings that will double the cost of painting and require the painters to scaffold just to cover the entirety of the walls. It’s also important to find out whether or not the walls of the colonial home are made from stone or cement block. Stone construction is locally referred to as ‘mamposteria’, and are typically smaller and shorter than comparable walls. Humidity problems call for the old plaster to be dug out and replaced with fresh plaster, and is a notoriously messy process causing excess dust. Homebuyers are also advised to pay mind to where the walls of the colonial home are placed, because although walls made out of cement block can be build-on or moved with relatively little headache, the stone walls, the ‘mamposteria’, are harder to move and harder to alter with windows and doors because mamposteria walls are too often built lacking reinforcement and supporting columns. The problems with the difficulty of mamposteria extend to the contractors, who can’t give any realistic bid for that type of project since it would be too difficult for the contractor to know whether or not the prospective walls can be moved or altered successfully, if at all. When buying your colonial home in Merida Mexico many walls are painted with something called ‘cal’ paint, which leaves behind a fine dust on the exteriors that tend to flake and stain, and homebuyers should expect to have to repaint these cal painted walls every few years. And while there are vinyl paints available, if they are used on mamposteria walls they have a chance of ‘bubbling’ the wall as the humidity gathers over the course of time.

Once the walls are investigated the roofs must be paid their due mind, and a personal inspection is just as important for the roofs as they are for the walls when buying your colonial home in Merida Mexico. Pay mind to the water storage units located on the rooftops, as a traditional cement storage until called a ‘tinaco’ is aesthetically pleasing but unhealthy and unhygienic. Colonial roofs need to be sealed, and homebuyers should be concerned about the number of cracks in any given roof, as even small cracks can translate into leaks for the home.

Sealed colonial roofs in good condition will typically look clean and be painted white, while the appropriate sealing for colonial roofs will be dual coats of sealant and cloth to reinforce the roof layers and typically feel rubbery and thick. Homebuyers need to be cautious when considering potential contractors who treat roof sealing as an uncomplicated task equivalent to painting, as this is a common misunderstanding with local workers in Merida.

The Yucatan does not utilize city sewers like other cities, and homebuyers should understand how the Yucatan’s reliance on individual septic systems effect the construction and architecture, as it is always important to understand the local systems in place. Renovated colonial homes in Merida Mexico usually won’t have to worry about these problems, but old colonial homes in Merida Mexico that have undergone very little renovation require specific considerations, such as whether or not the home shares its septic system with another house.

Old colonial homes in Merida Mexico are also susceptible to problematic plumbing and electrics, and it’s likely the electrical wires will actually be visible outside the walls. It’s also likely the home will employ galvanized pipes and a single hard wire, which will typically cause problems for usage with modern appliances and will need to be replaced. Whether or not the colonial home uses a single hard wire or not can be discovered by simply unscrewing any outlet to see the single wire tucked among the bristle. Experienced homebuyers and contractors in Merida have warned that new homebuyers typically have some unpleasant surprises in store when first exploring buying colonial homes in Merida Mexico, and some colonial homes that have not been renovated will require a decent amount of renovation.

Gabriela Cornelio

Casa Yucatan  – Merida Mexico – Tel 999-926-7705

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Personal testimonies promise land that sells for a thousand pesos every square meter, which translates into an affordable eighty two US dollars for a construction job which typically lasts only three months. The market gestation period in Merida is less than half a year, which is up to four times as fast as comparable markets in the United States.

These bonuses can’t truly be appreciated until the health of the Merida market is fully understood, and what a healthy state for estates it is – well beyond comparable examples in the United States. Merida is the twelfth most popular Mexican metropolitan area, and has become an attractive destination for residents throughout the country. Because real estate markets rarely improve in a bubble, the health of the real estate market in Merida is a good indicator for the relative health of the surrounding economy and livability. Despite the turmoil in the border towns that is so well known to residents of the United States, Merida enjoys a safe lifestyle and boasts sixteen higher education institutions.

The city’s schools have been praised as the best performing public schools in Mexico since 1996, and all of these elements come together to increase the real estate market for curious investors. Homebuilders can purchase lots of land that can house nearly ten homes alone, and with quick work times, in addition to very few large established homebuilders monopolizing the land and its worker resources, prospective builders have a more accommodating schedule and atmosphere than they are used to stateside.

Merida is an emerging real estate market, and terms like ‘emerging’ should perk the ears of all savvy homebuilders who recognize the goldmine that is new markets. The city has grown into a metropolitan area filled with numerous public and private hospitals and medical centers, an international airport, and accommodating public transportation systems that rival larger metropolitan competitors like those found in Mexico City. Merida is situated in a similarly golden time when the market is ripe and healthy, but has yet to be monopolized and exploited by larger construction organizations. With cheap costs and quick equities, building a house in Merida Mexico insists upon itself. An exotic city that is uniquely isolated from the cultures of the larger Mexican countryside, Merida has become a choice destination for people seeking a genuine Mexican experience in a steadfastly native city, and as such Merida hosts a wide variety of authentic restaurants to entice buyers with the spice of the region.

When arranging homebuilding in Merida it is important to choose from local architects and construction firms, as most of them speak English and are experienced in working with prospective homebuilders. Building a home in Merida Mexico will teach you the essentials of renovation and remodeling, and while the total cost of home construction tallies at around ninety thousand dollars, additional home perks such as pools can be added for less than five thousand dollars at most reputable construction firms. For these reasons Merida in Yucatan Mexico compels homebuilders to take advantage of its market and prune the budding market. Located in the northwest of Mexico near the Gulf, Merida is a cost-effective alternative for prospective homebuilders searching for financially rewarding plots in exotic locations. Whether you can afford the building personal or in a business investment, building a house in Merida Mexico will offer one of the most cost effective solutions in the entire Americas. Alternatives to homebuilders include a real estate market will many properties ripe for renovation, such as smaller colonial houses scattered throughout the old town district of Merida.

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Es un legado de la gente y el gobierno de Mérida que estos edificios históricos estén aun en excelente forma, y no es de extrañar que gente de alrededor del mundo deseara poseer una casa en la maravillosa Mérida. La ciudad en si misma fue diseñada al estilo colonial, con exquisitos boulevard (Paseo de Montejo), plazas y la Plaza central o Plaza Grande como es localmente conocida,  que ofrece a sus visitantes residentes y turistas abundantes espacios verdes y bellísimas vistas.

Las Casas Coloniales en Mérida México han atraído por mucho tiempo a compradores extranjeros y turistas por su belleza sin igual. Cuando los españoles se asentaron trajeron con ellos Su Arquitectura Colonial Española, que fue rápidamente adaptada al clima de México. Es por esta fusión, que México cuenta con estos únicos edificios coloniales, muchos de ellos en Mérida plagados de su diseño ornamental. Aunque muchos han tratado de copiar la Arquitectura colonial de las casas en Mérida México, es imposible para muchos  copiar la belleza de vivir el paisaje original de México, que complementa este estilo original de arquitectura  como ningún otro paisaje en el mundo.  La ciudad de Mérida esta tan llena de casas coloniales que es conocida como “La ciudad Blanca”, por la cal con la que pintaban muchos de los edificios históricos.

Las muchas casas coloniales en Mérida México son conocidas por características claves que definen el estilo de su arquitectura. Techos altos, cuartos espaciosos, y patio central le dan a muchas de estas casas coloniales una envidiable planta libre perfecta para dar la bienvenida a la brisa en la caliente ciudad de Mérida. Los espaciosos cuartos fluyen  de la mano con los techos altos y columnas, muchas veces atreves de arcadas muchas veces ornamentadas o minimalistas, dependiendo de la época en la que la casa fue construida. Ocasionalmente, los cuartos están separados por enormes puertas de madera  tallada, lo que provee no solamente estética a las paredes, pero también protección de los inoportunos visitantes y de los vientos tropicales que cruzan el Golfo de México. Situados en calles coloniales, estas increíbles casas se sienten como si hubieran estado ahí por siglos, porque muchas de ellas lo han estado!.

Y entonces, por supuesto, están los  mundialmente famosos pisos de pasta que definen la Arquitectura Histórica de la ciudad de Mérida.  Es casi imposible encontrar una casa Colonial en Mérida México que no tenga  los pisos de pasta que se han estado haciendo en Mérida por siglos de generación en generación por familias locales. Definidos por sus interesantes figuras y patrones  que forman exquisitos dibujos  hasta en la más humilde casa de Mérida, los pisos de pasta fueron traídos a la ciudad Histórica de Mérida durante la época de la colonia. Como la Bella arquitectura Colonial que prevalece hasta el día de hoy, los pisos de pasta se fusionaron y adaptaron al clima de la Tierra y la Cultura de los Indígenas Mayas, dejando unas raíces firmes en la herencia de la cultura Meridana y creando una forma única d Arte en Yucatán. Los residentes de Mérida estamos tan orgullosos del trabajo hecho con los pisos de pasta como de cualquier otro aspecto de nuestra bella ciudad Colonial.

Hasta las casas que no presentan pisos de pasta contienen alguna característica con reminiscencia de ellos. Los pisos de concreto pulido en la intimidad de los jardines, las terrazas en el segundo piso dan una vista sin precedentes a las calles del Centro Histórico de la Ciudad de Mérida México en donde el tiempo parece haberse detenido. Un asolead ero  con piscina que contenga parte de un muro de piedra antiguo no es difícil de encontrar ya que los residentes de Mérida acostumbramos a refrescarnos por la tarde del calor del día. La belleza de la ciudad de Mérida no solo ha sido conservada por sus orgullosos residentes  y de los extranjeros, la ciudad de Mérida por si misma ha declarado muchas de sus casas coloniales Sitio Histórico y les paga a quienes los posea el esfuerzo de mantener la belleza de la ciudad. Las casas coloniales de Mérida México realmente ofrecen una arquitectura que te quita el aliento y merece ser vista!

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The typical Yucatan Hacienda was practically a village in its own right. It consisted of the casa principal, where the landowner lived in the lap of luxury. With high ceilings, expensive furniture, and servants to wait upon every need, the casa principal resembled nothing so much as a medieval manor house. The casa principal became a symbol of wealth and power, home to extravagant entertainments, lavish decoration, and elegant aristocrats. The rest of the buildings were not so fortunate, and tended to be spare and functional: servant’s quarters, warehouses, kitchens, jails, factories, and dozens of thatched houses sprawled across the hacienda, housing the army of workers that farmed the surrounding countryside to support the Hacienda. These workers were mostly native Americans, and although technically ‘free,’ the landowners kept their workers in perpetual debt, unable to leave until it was paid. For all intents and purposes, the workers were slaves.

For awhile, life was great at the top: owners of haciendas had the power of life and death over their slaves, and grew rich from their labor. This all began to change with the Mexican Revolution. The hacienda system was rife with abuse, and created the very revolutionaries that would overthrow it. Most notably, it created Poncho Villa, one of the most powerful generals (or its most feared bandit, depending on who you talk to.) According to Villa, he turned outlaw after murdering the owner of a hacienda for assaulting his sister. Although this story has been called into question, it’s no secret that many hacienda owners abused their powers. However, during the Mexican revolution, many haciendas were ransacked as slaves turned on their former masters, and haciendas were abolished by law in 1917 during the Mexican revolution. The ruins of several destroyed haciendas serve as reminders of that turbulent time. However, revolutionaries cannot be completely blamed for the disappearance of the Haciendas. Hacienda’s main source of income was henequen, used to make rope, fiber, and twine. But when synthetic fibers became widely available after World War 2, the few remaining haciendas were abandoned and allowed to fall into ruin.

However, in 1996, interest in haciendas revived when Roberto Hernandez, a wealthy financier, began buying and renovating haciendas with the intention of turning them into luxury hotels. Roberto Hernandez His efforts resulted in the Starwood hotels, a chain of five restored haciendas famed for their natural beauty and privacy. Haciendas were originally designed to be entirely self-sufficient, as they were located in the wilderness, far from any city. In modern times, this makes them ideal for any vacationer who truly wants to get away from it all. Hernandez remained faithful to the original design of the haciendas, although a few upgrades, such as private bathrooms, are welcome, if modern, additions.

Hernandez’s renovation sparked a tide of interest in haciendas, and dozens of small hotels and private owners have taken the challenge since. Some of them have chosen to preserve the haciendas as museums, such as the half-ruined Yaxcopoil hacienda, such as the for-mentioned Starwood Hotels, modernized and updated them while still maintaining their private characters. One thing hasn’t changed: haciendas are not for the weak of wallet. A single night in a Starwood hotel costs anywhere from $200-$500, and the challenge of restoring haciendas to their former glory has largely been left to foreigners with the bankroll to support such a project. However, there are many foreigners willing to do so, as land in Mexico is still far less expensive than comparable land in the United States. Mérida, Mexico, is home to a formidable community of expatriates who have renovated at least a dozen haciendas within 30 miles of the city.

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A demás de su belleza, Campeche es uno de los sitios menos conocidos por su Arquitectura Colonial española en México. De hecho, el área es mucho más popular entre los turistas para ver los sitios Mayas Arqueológicos que abundan a sus alrededores que por la Ciudad de Campeche en sí.

Los edificios Históricos de la ciudad están protegidos por decreto, y la construcción nueva está restringida para que no se dañe la belleza de su Arquitectura. En el Siglo XVI, Mármol, Cristal y otros artículos de lujo, se derramaron sobre Campeche, provenientes de puertos de toda Europa. Con la riqueza vino la construcción de mansiones espectaculares para los ricos mercaderes. Los Piratas fue la importación de Europa menos deseable.

Famosos capitanes Ingleses como Francis Drake, John Hawkins and Henry Morgan, recorrieron  el área de la ruta de los Españoles en la búsqueda de tesoros. Piratas y privados, atacaron el puerto en sí.  En el siglo XVII la ciudad edifico un fuerte qué    aumento la seguridad ya que los ataques se intensificaron. El peor de los ataques fue en 1685,  cuando el pirata holandés Laurens de Graaf saqueo la ciudad por cerca de un mes, eliminando cerca de un tercio de la población.  Adicionalmente al fuerte se construyo una  muralla.

Hoy, el beneficio de su privacidad lo tienen los turistas. Muchos de los fuertes están aun de pie y miles de metros de la muralla permanecen erigidos. Estas fortificaciones se mezclan extraordinariamente con la belleza de los otros edificios históricos. Dado el tiempo en que la ciudad floreció –hasta aproximadamente principios del Siglo XIX  cuando la influencia española en el área empezó a decaer-  la construcción incluyo una gran variedad de estilos arquitectónicos incluyendo Barroco, Neoclásico y otras escuelas de arquitectura. Por la bella mezcla de Arquitectura Histórica, la ciudad fue declarada por la UNESCO Patrimonio de la Humanidad. Además de las fortificaciones de la ciudad, otros sitios despliegan bella arquitectura colonial incluyendo las Haciendas en el centro de la ciudad. La Hacienda Uayamon y Hacienda Puerta Campeche  ambas se han convertido en hoteles de lujo, y representan una fantástica oportunidad para el interés de los turistas.

Como la mayoría de los asentamientos españoles,  la mayor belleza de su arquitectura es visible en  aéreas cívicas y edificios religiosos. La Plaza principal, y su adyacente Catedral de Campeche, es un lugar que hay que visitar. La Catedral se empezó a construir a principios del Siglo XIV. Con una fachada de piedra labrada y pilastras. La Iglesia de Sanfrancisco es Históricamente importante ya que fue la primera Iglesia Católica en la que se oficio una misa en Norte América. Las atracciones cívicas incluye la réplica del viejo edificio gubernamental en el centro de la ciudad, que se encuentra cerca del mar, y que actualmente habita la Biblioteca de Campeche. Opuesto a este edificio se encuentra un pórtico en el que habitaba el Palacio de Gobierno y que en la actualidad lo ocupan diferentes establecimientos. A lo largo de la ciudad hay infinidad de edificios coloniales, incluyendo La Plaza Cuatro de Octubre, que conmemora la fundación de la ciudad por el explorador Español Francisco de Montejo, y la escultura de Pedro Sainz de Baranda, un patriota local de la Guerra de Independencia contra los españoles.

Además de los edificios que aún permanecen en su gloria original, muchos tesoros arquitectónicos se han conservado  en el interior para que los turistas disfruten. El Fuerte Baluarte de San Carlos y el Museo de la Ciudad son ambos excelentes ejemplos, y ahí losvisitantes pueden ver objetos  mayas y Coloniales desplegados en fotografías y maquetas que ilustran el camino del desarrollo de Campeche. Cualquiera que sea el principal interés para el visitante, la belleza de la Arquitectura Colonial de Campeche no puede hacer más que capturar el corazón y la mente de aquellos que tienen la suerte de experimentarla.

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by”Gabriela Cornelio”

In 1909, writer Winter Nevin wrote about his eyewitness experiences with pirates in Belize, then known as the British Honduras, and its “numerous coral reefs” and “beautiful harbor”. He wrote of how the area was a massive gathering spot for groups of pirates, most if not all of whom were European, from Holland, France, Spain, and England. He spoke about one particular Scottish pirate by the name of Peter Wallace, who sailed along with a mere eight shipmates. He was the founder of the pirate settlement in Belize. They built small houses and crude fortifications amongst the tropical cays, and used them as a launching point for raids on merchant ships bringing supplies to the new world. However, money eventually took the best of him when he realized that there was a larger and safer profit to be had in trading the valuable local resources, mostly rare kinds of wood, and began selling selling it for the manufacture of ships and dyes in Europe. His colony began to prosper on the riches of his new found lumber trade, until in 1733 the Yucatan sent troops to evict the Scotsman by force to keep him from gaining too much influence over the region. Additionally, before the wealthy colony was more than a gang of roving pirates, the British attempted to colonize the Mosquito Coast, now a part of the Republics of Honduras and Nicaragua, which was at that time populated only by the primitive tribe of natives known to them as the Zambos. But Belize was not the only area where Europe and the European pirates spread their influence.

The region of Isla Mujeres, or Death Island, is rumored to be home to treasure buried by the likes of Morgan and Lafitte, but the most infamous inhabitant was the pirate Fermin Mundaca, a slave trader who had made his fortunate transporting African slaves to Antilles. He was a native of the former Basque country, a region now divided amongst Spain and France, and in an earlier life had made a living as a pear farmer. Later in life he joined the Imperialists coming from Europe to Africa in the trade of native captives brought to the new world to perform slave labor in plantations. In 1860 the British began to see the err of their ways and campaigned in opposition of the slave trade, and Manduca fled to the white beaches of the region to seek refuge and begin work as a pirate. From his camp there he rented his boats and his crew out to the Yucatan government to aid in their bloody struggle with rebel forces in the region, who he then sold illegally as slaves to sugar platations in the island nation of Cuba, making him hated and feared among the local populace. He used the wealth gained from his illicit slave trade to build a grand hacienda by the name of Vista Alegre, which can still be visited today. He fell in love with a local girl by the name of Martiniana Gomez Pantoja, 37 years younger than he, and lived out the rest of his days in the region as a slave trader until, still unnoticed by his love, he died at the age of 55. Nonetheless, Manduca was hardly the only prestigious pirate who worked in this diverse and beautiful region.

John Lafitte was a pirate born in Haiti, famous for liberating New Orleans through his smuggling to avoid the British Tax Men and then through a violent battle with the US government in 1812. He was known to the American Government as a “thief and a rogue”, but the locals of New Orleans thought of him as a patriotic gentleman who fought for their independence. Soon after the battle which he won against the United States, he was named governer of the territory of Galveston, then under Mexican control, but his problems with Andrew Jackson’s government were still far from over. Policies and regulations laid out by the government quickly made it difficult for Lafitte to continue his trade as a smuggler and pirate, and shortly before disappearing into the Caribbean aboard his ship, he famously set Galveston alight. It is rumored that he too stopped on Isla Mujeres before moving into the Gulf of Mexico to work as a privateer and pirate along the Yucatan coast. These are far from the only pirates working in the region, and surely there are untold thousands of rapscallions and privateers who fought and died on the historical Yucatan coast.

Central America’s beautiful Yucatan coast is rich with a violent and fascinating pirate history. Along this tropical paradise, many bloody battles were fought and many lives lost in the pursuit of treasure, the fulfillment of greed, and the expansion of European colonies. These pirates, many of them poor or exiled from their home countries for countless reasons, sought a new home along this scenic coast of modern Belize to continue their lives, be it as a privateer, a freedom fighter, or a slave trader. The area was home to many famous pirates, such as Governor Lafitte, and played host to a rich and diverse history of seafaring thieves and rapscallions. Even today, the many colonial houses and haciendas built by these men can be visited by any tourist with a love of history and desire to learn the local lore.For those in the area with a desire to learn firsthand the pirate heritage of the area, one need only stop by the Subacuatico-CEDAM musem of Peurto Aventuras, the Museo de la Cultura Maya in Chetumal, or the Posada del Capitan Lafitte. Those interested in central American pirates but unable to visit can learn more about the pirates and their illicit colonies from the Pablo Bush Romero’s “Under the Waters of Mexico”.

The market for housing in Merida has stayed strong considering the steady rise and falls of housing markets from different regions of the globe. The reason for this is due to the influence of growth trends set by many attributes that living in Merida has to offer. With the high rise of cost of living within the United States and other countries, people are looking for flexibility in the cost of living. Due to internal growth within Mexico, the cost of living is lower and can appeal to those who want to afford a cheaper lifestyle within a tropical setting. There is a strong demand for real estate in Merida due to the influx of global regions seeking property that includes higher tax breaks, lower taxes and cheaper household expenses.

Buying a standard home for a family of four people in the Yucatan can cost from $100,000 to millions of dollars. However, renting a new home can cost $500.00 monthly. These numbers are still one half to two thirds the cost of living in big cities of the states, such as Texas. Purchasing, or even the rental of real estate properties at these prices make living in Merida cheaper and appeals to almost anyone at reasonable price ranges. Mexico’s currently considers Merida one of three top cities known for relatively low real estate prices. Merida within the Yucatan is known for its safety factors and healthcare services which is appeals to those who don’t want to feel secluded and outdated in the world. With 25 million baby boomers facing retirement, the cheap economic opportunity of living in low cost areas can be irresistible. There can be a likely addition of at least 20,000 people to Merida’s population. With the growth of population the cost of living can afford to stay low and there will be better opportunities for low real estate prices.

Purchasing real estate in Merida can not only be cost effective, but can be a safe plan to owning a home without having to worry about the government taking away the property without proper reason. The real estate laws of Mexico are in place to protect home owners. There are many realtors than can help with laws governing home ownership. Making sure that taxes are paid and the proper documents are in place are key components to living in a safe country where anyone can live freely without government interference. It is important to know the laws that govern home ownership. Finding a realtor with experience is beneficial because is key to know about where to find the potential market opportunities for your investment.

Merida is a beautiful city that is safe with cultural diversity. Miles from the ocean and opportunistic economic growth potential is waiting for those who are tired of hustling to buy property in sub-standard lands. Real estate is in its prime in the Yucatan. Global economy continues to fall in other regions however the flow of foreigners toward Merida is increasing. People want to live in a safe environment that offers low cost living. As the Merida population grows, business opportunities grow meaning there is a good flow of positive economic development. People who move from other countries to Merida can live in a land of opportunity under affordable living conditions and still feel they are not secluded from the outside world. The chance for the Yucatan market to grow is better now than ever. Foreigners are welcome and the land of opportunity and real estate gain in Merida is there for the taking to those who want paradise and culture within the safety of a non “big city”.