Staying in a Colonial Home is not for Everyone…

Living in a Colonial home instead of staying at a hotel can be an exciting, adventurous experience. It can provide the benefits of value, privacy and the opportunity to live like a local. You will experience the culture and community more deeply and have a higher degree of interaction. You will get to know your neighborhood and meet the shop owners while you enjoy a more natural, authentic experience. In choosing to stay in a Colonial home over a hotel you will likely enjoy much more living space and property character.

But what sounds like a great experience might turn out to be something else. And having a good experience starts with aligning your expectations with what you will find. The best way to do that might be to talk about what living in a Colonial is NOT! Most importantly it is not a hotel and does not include the services or attention that you would expect of a hotel…unless of course you ask!

Living at Casa La Barenda is designed to be a simple, rustic experience with emphasis on living life. The casa is suited to providing comfortable and basic needs. You might however experience elements of the home and local living that could either add to the charm or distract depending on your disposition or cultural bias.

If you want your beds made with sheets and towels changed every day—you can. It’s just not included in the published rates. And so it goes with all the other hotel-like amenities and service such as housekeeping or laundry, etc. You simply must ask for this level of service to be provided—or expect, and even enjoy doing it for yourself.

With your own kitchen, you will have the opportunity to do your own cooking and shopping or have these services provided. Most guests enjoy the independent living and prefer to be left alone. Those who appreciate this autonomy tend to have the best experiences idiosyncrasies and all.

Choosing to stay at a Colonial home should take a little more thought than you might otherwise give to staying at a hotel. For some, it may be intimidating to experience the local culture more directly. And for others, the ‘hotel’ might be the destination, to which a Colonial won’t likely measure up—it’s far from an all-inclusive experience. Whatever your preferences, budget should not be the driving force to staying in a Colonial.

As owner of Casa La Barenda, I want you to have a good time. It is far more important for me to make a good match than it is for me to just fill vacancies. The best places for a person to start is by looking around the webpage and learn about the casa and what to expect. Then email your questions and let’s open a dialog—especially if this is your first experience.

The Policies can be viewed here: http://www.casalabarenda.com/policies.html
And the Amenities can be viewed here: http://www.casalabarenda.com/amenities.html
The location can be viewed here: http://www.casalabarenda.com/maps/Merida_centro.jpg

I’m looking forward to hearing from you…and having you stay at Casa La Barenda!

Readers may also be interested in an earlier related post:
“Alas…Merida Is Not For Everyone”
Until next time…may all your travels be easy and enjoyable.

Christmas Shopping In Merida!

Yep!…this is the place to get those stocking stuffer’s! Some of the most appreciated gifts are the ones you likely never thought of. Shopping here for some of the local Mayan handcrafts will get you started…

Check out these terrific key chains–little colorfully beaded stuffed animals that are Rooster’s, chickens, snakes, parrots, alligators, bluebirds and other artfully hand made creatures.

Colorful Parrot Keychain

Or Women’s hand bags–great for the casual elegant to shabby-chic occasions. Hand-stitched indigenous patterns in terrific colors in tiny to large sizes.

Or silver bracelets and expertly designed handcrafted earrings, necklaces and pendants too.

You’ll find fabulous turquoise rock specimens and other semi-precious stones both in and out of settings.

Or hand painted plates and pottery that rival’s some of the most intricate Italian designs.

You can find all of these items in the various outdoor markets or the more permanent shops found in the Historic Centro and near the main plaza. All within walking distance from the Casa.

Be gentle, patient and friendly, but don’t forget your bargaining skills! Try to bundle items, start at around 50% of what you hear and don’t be afraid to walk away. You can always come back later.

Avoid ‘agents’ standing around asking if you are interested in something they can find for you. They will just lead you to a local shop and take a commission. Just say ‘no gracias’ and keep moving. Know too, that prices get better the further away from the Main Plaza you go. But there are always exceptions—some items like the hand bags I mentioned are always a good deal and they are in the same shop as the key chains. I love this place. It located on C62 at C61 on the North West side of the Main Plaza. It’s about 2 or 3 shops away from the corner.

The MONTH of Christmas widely celebrated in Merida and the Historic Centro lights-up pretty good–of course that’s relative to your individual collective experiences and expectations. Streets have arching displays over each block, and the main plaza is as good as any you will likely see. Many residents have elaborate displays in their living rooms or parlors open for passersby to view. There are festivities, church services, and seemingly always something going on for the whole month of December.

Shopping in Merida is great for Christmas, Birthdays, friends back home or whatever…I never know who I’m buying for most of the time but the items always seem to disappear.

Have a great time…and maybe I’ll see you in the Plaza!

Would You Like to do a House Swap?

I’ll trade my place for yours…wherever it is! Well, almost! I’m interested in covering a little more of eastern EU, China, S. America, India or Africa. But if you have something else available, I’m open to it. My dates and durations are flexible.

Just email me at mail@CasaLaBarenda.com.

Hmmmmn…What Should I Pack?

Ahhh, yes…the dreaded pre-trip packing dilemma!

Many travelers simply tend to pack too much wherever they go. Travelers from colder climates tend to have an even greater difficulty with this, especially if they are returning to their home when it is still cold—they need to bundle up to get out-of-town, and bundle up to get back home. Travelers coming from these colder areas might consider renting a storage locker at the climate-controlled airport to store their heavy clothes. Once in the airport, you can put on a lighter jacket or sweater to take with you to Merida.

Try traveling with a carry-on sized bag, check it in and consider buying anything you might need locally.

Knowing I don’t have a bunch of heavy bags to lug around at each leg of the journey makes the trip that much more enjoyable. In fact, once I drop my bag at the casa I still have enough energy to walk to the exotic, rustic and tropical-feeling Pauncho’s for a cocktail—it’s my arrival ritual and sets the tone for my stay!

Taxi’s are easier to hail too. Most taxi’s here are small and struggle with room for big bags. You might find yourself waiting for a larger vehicle to arrive if one is not readily available. Even worse, you might end up hiring two cabs–one for you, and one for your bags.

If you need or want something in the way of clothing, say shoes, leather jackets, belts, pants, dresses, shirts. It’s pretty much gonna be available at a fraction of the price you are likely used to. Of course to get the best prices you must shop outside tourist zones. Know too, that your purchases will be appreciated and help contribute to the well-being of the local community.

I’ll add too that you can do your laundry here for a very reasonable price. You can have it picked up and delivered to the casa too. Or you can just walk to the park and drop it off yourself, then explore the park and surrounds, have lunch, shop or do whatever and pick it up later. You can also do your little clothing items at the casa while taking a shower–there is a clothes drying rack available.

As an aside, I take my shoes to MX to be resoled for about $12 dollars versus $70 dollars in the San Francisco, Bay Area. Now that’s more like it!

So between buying local and doing laundry you really only need a few days worth of clothes.

Don’t forget to take care of yourself prior to, and during travel. Get plenty of rest. Be aware of fatigue and the lingering effects it may have in a warmer climate than you are used to. Check the weather before you go and pack accordingly. And if you have to take a USA connected route on your way down, don’t forget with the dreaded TSA, less is more. Things that go BEEP are bad and cost you valuable time and energy.

Please feel free to chime in with your luggage, packing and travel ideas…

Till next time…safe and happy travels!

Best Food…Best Values Anywhere…

If I mentioned that you could have some of the most delicious food at the best prices anywhere, would you mind if the décor was a little funky or plain?

The best values in Merida can be found at Cocina Economica’s! Little Mom and Pop restaurants in the neighborhoods all over town. A lunch for two might set you back about 8 to 10 bucks. That’s not a misprint! Here you’ll find hearty, three to five course home-cooked meals. Mom will be in the cocina (kitchen) cooking away and working her magic while a family member will be out front greeting, seating and serving you. Service is prompt and the food is always good–the ultimate fast food! Most cocina economica’s are nondescript and take a trained eye to see. But once you know what to look for and you’ve tried a few, you’ll see them everywhere. In fact, you’ll start to WANT to see them everywhere! They can be spotted by looking for informal hand-written signs, or wooden clapboards on the sidewalk. You might also find a simple paper post at the front entry too. Look for an open front, possibly roll-up doors or sliding doors. You’ll notice about 3 to 5 usually plastic tables and chairs inside, and some with tablecloths. Most serve about 1 to 3 items for the day and the food changes frequently. Lunch is the only meal of the day served and hours vary from roughly 11 am to 3 pm. Cocina economica’s work double-duty as both a home and business. When you are walking around and stumble across one one that looks good to you, it is best to just remember the address. And while that might seem obvious, addresses are a little tricky in Merida. Different Barrios can have different numbering sequences. One constant is that even numbers run north to south and odd numbers run east to west. It’s best to get oriented before venturing out–get both cardinal directions to find your way back. Remember which Barrio you are in. Take a picture with your phone camera too…It helps!. And when you find a favorite, you’ll find your way back, I’m sure.

Don’t be shy…check what’s on the menu and have a seat…you will not be disappointed! You don’t need language skills either, but what a great place to practice!

One of my all-time favorites is “El Cangrejito” just a couple of blocks from Casa La Barenda. See what I wrote about it in this Blog…

Cheers!

Where will You Be When the Mayan Calendar ‘Runs-Out’ in 2012

Yes, it’s true that on December 21, 2012 the Mayan calendar ‘runs out’. But does that mean it’s the end of the world? Well there’s certainly no shortage of opinions out there…and no fewer concerns.

How will it look on this day…a flash of light…a ball of fire? A huge alien ship to fill the sky in the early hours of dawn? Perhaps Hollywood’s ‘2012’ has it right featuring earthquakes, meteor showers and a tsunami dumping an aircraft carrier on the White House.

At Cornell University, Ann Martin, who runs the “Curious? Ask an Astronomer” Web site, says people are scared. “It’s too bad that we’re getting e-mails from fourth-graders who are saying that they’re too young to die,” Martin said. “We had a mother of two young children who was afraid she wouldn’t live to see them grow up.”

Archaeologist Guillermo Bernal of Mexico’s National Autonomous University suggests that apocalypse is “a very Western, Christian” concept projected onto the Maya, perhaps because Western myths are “exhausted.”
And author John Major Jenkins says his two-decade study of Mayan ruins indicates that “If we want to honor and respect how the Maya think about this, then we would say that the Maya viewed 2012, as all cycle endings, as a time of transformation and renewal,” said Jenkins.

A significant time period for the Mayas does end on the date, and enthusiasts have found a series of astronomical alignments they say coincide in 2012, including one that happens roughly only once every 25,800 years. But most archaeologists, astronomers and Maya say the only thing likely to hit Earth is a meteor shower of New Age philosophy, pop astronomy, Internet doomsday rumors and TV specials such as one on the History Channel that mixes predictions from Nostradamus and the Mayas and asks: “Is 2012 the year the cosmic clock finally winds down to zero days, zero hope?”

It may sound all too much like other doomsday scenarios of recent decades – the 1987 Harmonic Convergence, the Jupiter Effect or Planet X. But this one has some grains of archaeological truth.

One of them is Monument Six.

Found at an obscure ruin in southern Mexico during highway construction in the 1960s, the stone tablet almost didn’t survive; the site was largely paved over and parts of the tablet were looted.
It’s unique in that the remaining parts contain the equivalent of the date 2012. The inscription describes something that is supposed to occur in 2012 involving Bolon Yokte, a mysterious Mayan god associated with both war and creation.

However – shades of Indiana Jones – erosion and a crack in the stone make the end of the passage almost illegible.

Archaeologist Bernal interprets the last eroded glyphs as maybe saying, “He will descend from the sky.”
Spooky, perhaps, but Bernal notes there are other inscriptions at Mayan sites for dates far beyond 2012 – including one that roughly translates into the year 4772.

And anyway, Mayas in the drought-stricken Yucatan peninsula have bigger worries than 2012. “We have real concerns these days, like rain.”

The Mayan civilization, which reached its height from 300 A.D. to 900 A.D., had a talent for astronomy.
Its Long Count calendar begins in 3114 B.C., marking time in roughly 394-year periods known as Baktuns. Thirteen was a significant, sacred number for the Mayas, and the 13th Baktun ends around Dec. 21, 2012.
“It’s a special anniversary of creation,” said David Stuart, a specialist in Mayan epigraphy at the University of Texas at Austin. “The Maya never said the world is going to end, they never said anything bad would happen necessarily, they’re just recording this future anniversary on Monument Six.”

If it were all mythology, perhaps it could be written off.

But some say the Maya knew another secret: the Earth’s axis wobbles, slightly changing the alignment of the stars every year. Once every 25,800 years, the sun lines up with the center of our Milky Way galaxy on a winter solstice, the sun’s lowest point in the horizon. That will happen on Dec. 21, 2012, when the sun appears to rise in the same spot where the bright center of galaxy sets.

Another spooky coincidence? Hmmmm…

Where ever you will be on this fated date, you can be sure the Yucatan, home of the Maya will likely be an exciting place.

Excerpts of this article appeared on page A – 13 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Alas…Merida Is Not For Everyone

Merida is a beautiful city by every measure—but she is also very REAL. And while there are tourists here, Merida is not touristy. If you are looking for the pop and sizzle of a resort town, skip-it, this isn’t it. Merida is not an in your face, action-packed sort of place. Merida is a large city of about one million people that feels small yet is still generally unknown and off the radar. And that’s one of the reasons I like it!

Still some visitors complain and subsequently leave confused or disappointed. But why is that? Perhaps some didn’t do their homework prior to coming to the city, or maybe they read a fluff-piece that did not adequately cover all of Merida’s ‘realness’. Perhaps the weather was too hot and humid when they arrived. Or perhaps they were expecting the conveniences of home, or a hotel while staying at a colonial house. The reasons could be infinite.

I come to Merida to enjoy the culturally rich heritage, history and uniqueness…the differences! I come to Merida to explore the ancient and mysterious Mayan culture, the pyramids, the Spanish and french influenced architecture, the Cathedrals, Museums and the Cenotes, the wildlife, the people, the food and the music—-all of the elements that breathe life into this gentle and friendly city.

The ugly truth about Merida is that in all her beauty she can also be noisy and gritty. Some sidewalks are narrow and broken. Buses can rush by inches from your face on bus routes. Trucks spewing exhaust in heavy traffic can periodically crowd streets with noise that can distract and frustrate. In various areas of the city overhead utility lines still hang and cross-route everywhere. And while that may sound off-putting to some, it’s absolutely what attracts me to this place. It’s real! Merida works! This is a functioning, thriving economy where people from all over the world make their way in life. Merida is a dichotomy of sorts that can be beautiful and unsightly; clean and dirty; refined and coarse all at once.

But Merida listens and she is constantly improving.
Now on weekends in the Historic Centro traffic is rerouted and free for pedestrians to roam the streets. Streets and parks are well-manicured and clean. Overhead lines are fast disappearing underground and bus and truck routes are being rerouted to minimize congestion. Though Merida is not perfect, nor is she gentrified. And while tourism is an industry here, Merida does not depend on tourism to make it work like so many others.

But the best way to see and appreciate Merida and surrounds is to toss your schedule! To really ‘SEE’ Merida, you have to ‘get-slow’. Slow down and feel the rhythm of the city. Start by sleeping away the afternoon and stay up late in the Historic Centro. Relax and enjoy the plazas and parks where they are alive with activity reminiscent of Europe. Sit for awhile and watch the world go by. Merida has heft and she has soul and you can feel it in the air…but only if you can slow down.

So please do come to Merida… Come for the differences! Come and ‘get slow’ with us. We’d love to have you stay at Casa La Barenda too. (email: mail@casalabarenda.com)

I Little About Me…And What Hooked Me on Merida

I am a fourth generation Californian, traveler based in the San Francisco, Bay Area. I’m fascinated by ancient advanced culture where from the oldest Sumerian writings that speak of other-worldly visitations, to Atlantian myths and the Mayan connection with lost treasures beyond—the Yucatan plays a world-class role. While visiting here for the first time in 2003, I discovered even more.

Merida is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city that retains much of its French and Spanish colonial charm. While travelers whisking through the city will see it, others taking their time will feel it as they begin to sync to her rhythm. Underneath the hum of the city, Merida is subtle and elegant. Like peeling away the layers of an onion, Merida will reveal herself to you slowly. And like much of the city, the people here are gentle and warm.

But what of the food you might ask? You’ll be happy to know that it’s a foodie’s delight! And much like the people, the food is diverse—from the Maya, Spanish and French influences to the Americas and Lebanon and beyond. While any reasonable mention can’t be fully reviewed here, know that at its best, the local cuisine is subtle, textured and sophisticated. Here you’ll taste local spices such as achiote paste made from annatto seeds that are earthy, savory and mouthwateringly delicious. From the freshest seafood to fire-pit roasted pork, it’s my new soul-food.

Of course it’s true too, that since the Mayas (and Aztecs) were the discoverers of chocolate over 3,000 years ago, it is only fitting that I have a home here. The chocolate crafted here will delight.

In the streets, evening comes alive in the Centro! In various restaurants in the Historic Centro you’ll hear a wide range of music genres from 4-part Cuban-influenced Trova bands with expert harmonies and acoustic guitars singing ballads and love songs. You’ll find modern Latin rhythms and jazz and the thumping, throbbing music of the discotechs. It’s all here, and it’s just an evening stroll away.

Best of all, Casa La Barenda is right in the middle of it all in one of the most charming historic districts, Santiago. Casa La Barenda makes an excellent base to explore the many Archeological sites and natural wonders of the region. And if you are anything like me, you might be thinking Merida makes a terrific location to jump to other areas on the planet too. Think Cuba…

If you’d like to learn more about the many things to do here in Merida, check out the Activities page: http://casalabarenda.com/activities.html

Tell me what you think…

Tacos at “El Cangrejito”…

It’s off the charts delicious here!… I have to sit down just to talk about this place. El Cangrejito is a tiny restaurant that specializes in seafood tacos…and as a good friend says, ‘just the best, hot habanero natural sauce’.
You’ll want to take your time with this local fast food delight. Tortilla’s are hand-made and topped with the catch-of-the-day fish, delicately prepared and mixed with onions, avocados, tomatoes, salsa and cilantro. A seemingly simple amalgamation of freshness, yet so complex! Served two or four to a plate, these Yucatecan tacos are heaped with pride…and this is real love baby, real love!
While you’re enjoying lunch, you’ll want to study the eclectic décor spanning what looks like about 60 years of family memorabilia, Matadorial fame and lore. And of course while you have a few of these terrific Tacos, you’ll want to wash them down with your favorite beverage. And just to round out the afternoon, you can saunter home to Casa La Barenda just a block away from the restaurant for a long siesta—a sure-fire way to bring a smile to the day and courage to face the evening hunt for an equal or better value for dinner.
Typical of these small, great value family owned establishments, El Cangrejito is non-descript and hard to find. Good thing it’s close to the Casa! El Cangrejito is on Calle 57 #523 between 64 and 66 and is usually open serving lunch from 1 pm to 6 or 7 pm. It’s about mid-block on the north side of the street and about the only thing to look for is the brick-red colored awning.

Ahhh the life…enjoy!

P.S. Go on Tuesday just to be able to say it…’Taco Tuesday’!

Mayan 2012 Apocalypse Debunked

It’s a good news/bad news situation for believers in the 2012 Mayan apocalypse. The good news is that the Mayan “Long Count” calendar does not end on Dec. 21, 2012 and the world will not end along with it. The bad news for prophecy believers? If the calendar doesn’t end in December 2012, no one knows if it will end at all, when it will end, or if it already has.

A new critique, published as a chapter in the new textbook “Calendars and Years II: Astronomy and Time in the Ancient and Medieval World” (Oxbow Books, 2010), argues that the accepted conversions of dates from Mayan to the modern calendar may be off by as much as 50 to 100 years or more. That would throw the supposed and over hyped 2012 apocalypse off by decades and cast into disrepute the dates of other historical Mayan events. (The doomsday worries were based on the fact that the Mayan calendar was originally thought to end in 2012, much as our year ends on Dec. 31.)

The Mayan calendar was converted to today’s Gregorian calendar using a calculation called the GMT constant, named for the last initials of three early Mayanist researchers. Much of their early work used ambiguous dates recovered from colonial documents that were written in the Mayan language in the Latin alphabet, according to the chapter’s author, Gerardo Aldana, University of California, Santa Barbara professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies.

But according to Aldana, Lounsbury’s evidence is far from irrefutable.
“If the Venus Table cannot be used to prove the FMT as Lounsbury suggests, its acceptance depends on the reliability of the corroborating data,” he said. That historical data, he said, is less reliable than the Table itself, causing the argument for the GMT constant to fall “like a stack of cards.”

No one has any answers as to what the correct calendar conversion might be, preferring to focus instead on why the current interpretation is wrong. Looks like end-of-the-world theorists may need to find another ancient calendar on which to pin their apocalyptic hopes.

Article From The Trans Caribbean Times Dec.08, 2010