Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Trouble in paradise...





Our blogger friend at Imagine Mérida just reported this. Yes, potential Mérida homeowners, things do go wrong in this delightful slice of heaven in Yucatán.  I just spoke with our property manager and he informed me that the studio air conditioner was not performing well enough for the current guest. I thought this was supposed to be the cooler time of year, when ceiling fans and open doors and windows are enough to stave off drenching sweat. I mean, I spent a week there in July and never once turned it on. I did, however,  spend an inordinate amount of time in the pool. Alan and I were both there in November and used no A/C.  Ruben informed me that the guest complained of dampness and I do know that it has been unusually wet this 'dry' season. The A/C's were all checked in the spring and were in good working order. I thought perhaps it could be a freon (or whatever gas they now use) leak. He tells me that the repairman took the unit to be repaired. Let's hope that it is repairable!

I haven't received the bill for this yet, but I can tell you that normally the costs of repair in Mérida are considerably less expensive than back at home. That is some consolation because the frequent breakdown of any electronic device in this heat and humidity can be frustrating.

Another consolation. The guest pays for any electricity over and above a set usage that is considered adequate. This is a policy that many rental casas use and one that we adopted after a particularly nasty electric charge by another guest.

The moral of this story? Go with the flow, expect the unexpected, and enjoy your slice of heaven.


photoArt by John Bradshaw

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Fun diversions...

Although not part of my photography course, I've had fun ( and some frustration ) working with slideshows in Lightroom. Navigating through these software programs is not for the impatient type.
I've managed to create various slides, but can't seem to figure out how to get the quality I want with the uploaded slideshow through Blogger.

Here's a small sample of the shots I took on Sunday, some from the previous post, but with a filter added to produce a different effect.  I'll keep working on the slideshows.
































Sunday, January 22, 2012

Black and White

Today (Sunday) was cold, gray and misty - a perfect day for a few colorless photographs. I found a street downtown, with few people to get in the way, and captured these images. Digital photography is amazing. You have a choice of color or black and white without having to change the film.  And no time spent in a darkroom or sending to a film processor. Sweet!

is this tree really as tall as a 25-story building?




the library window




lion heads and fleur-de-lis




someone mutters and the street lamp gutters...





...and a bit of color


Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Yucatán Today - Happy Anniversary

I just received an e-mail announcing the latest edition of Yucatán Today, which is celebrating 24 years of publishing a very fine magazine and on-line site containing everything you need to know about Mérida and Yucatán. If this site is not on your favorites list, be sure to add it. And if you need a detailed map of the area, look no further. They have over twenty maps that will help, immensely, with your travels throughout the area. The on-line site does a wonderful job of keeping its readers up to date on all the happening events in Mérida, like Carnaval  Nueva Era 2012, which we will unfortunately miss this year. The restaurant reviews are excellent as well, with great photos. Look for the monthly magazine at various sites throughout the centro.




all images from Google