Monday, January 3, 2011

My first post...

I'm attempting to set up my very first blog site in order to chronicle my adventures discovering Merida, Yucatan. Merida is a city of almost a million, located in Mexico on the Yucatan peninsula. I first took notice when viewing an episode of House Hunter's International, which featured a couple searching for a renovated colonial home in the historical section of the city known as Centro. My partner and I spent some time in Oaxaca a few years back and loved the people, the ambience, and the colonial homes. Although it was tempting, we decided that Oaxaca was not the place in which to retire.  Intrigued by what I saw of Merida on that episode of HHI, I began an exhaustive search of any and all things Merida. I've learned an awful lot about the city and it's history (the good and the bad) for someone who has never visited. However, in just 12 days we are headed to warm, sunny Merida to give it a thorough looking over, including staying in a fantastic, award-winning renovated colonial home in Centro.  Not cheap, but hey, this is our first real vacation in about 3 years! The relative proximity to Houston (family there) and the fact that we can transport our entire family of dos humans, dos perros, and un gato by vehicle makes the possibility of relocating there a reeeaallly neat idea. (More about driving through Mexico later- not as scary as many may think).  Plus the fact that I have always wanted to become fluent in Spanish...at least better than my two years of study eons ago afforded me.  And then there are those colonial homes! I'll try to post some pics and/or videos later so you can understand this obsessive attraction Alan and I have developed.
   John



So, I hope you will follow my journey and enjoy the postings as much as I have enjoyed reading many Merida bloggers.

6 comments:

  1. You've done your homework, now it's time for the test! Have a great trip, and I look forward to reading all about your adventures along the way.

    PS - You know how I love HP's work. Which Ponce rental did you choose? Or, do I have to wait and see? :-)

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  2. Hi Susan. You are right, it is test time. Before we visited Oaxaca a few years back, we had no idea of what to expect. Arriving late at night and taking a taxi into town, we looked at each other and thought ...hmmm! Then suddenly on that narrow, dark street we saw our hosts standing in front of a colonial home with an unassuming facade. Inside... well, you know, it was a different story. The next day, the sun was shining, the streets were bustling with smiling, happy people. We loved it.

    The rental we chose is Casa 64. Will let you know how it "lives".

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  3. I love the title of your blog! I'm looking forward to reading all about your trip. We enjoyed Merida in March 2010 and are returning this March also.

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  4. Hi Nancy,

    Thank you. Funny thing, I first selected 'Paz y Serenidad en Merida', but then thought no, I'm not there yet, so that doesn't really fit the bill. Instead of just deleting that title I somehow created a second blog site with the Los Colores title. Then when I submitted the first post, it was signed as posted by, you guessed it...Paz y Serenidad! I still haven't figured out how I did that. So for the time being I'm 'Paz' and Alan is 'Serenidad'.

    Paz (john)

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  5. You guys picked such a cool house! The lighting is amazing and so dramatic at night. It really makes the place seem magical.

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  6. I think he does an amazing job of creating a completely contemporary space yet retaining traditional colonial design elements. Those huge beams are wonderful and the wall of glass in the poolside bedroom is incredible. Wake up, start the coffee, take a plunge, have a relaxing breakfast, get to the market before it's too hot, get food for tonight's dinner, plan the remainder of the day, swim, read or write, siesta!!

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