What's New?
March & April, 2008

SPECIALIZED EXCURSIONS
Yucatan Connection offers you the opportunity to visit Mayan archaeological sites that are know to few. Enjoy a relaxed day tour without the crowds! Tel. 922 0556 and cel: 9991 63 82 24. Take $100 pesos off all our tours. Valid April & May ’08. www.yucatan-connection.com

WHALE SHARK WATCHING
Whale shark watching time is once again upon us! From May to the end of September, these impressive, gentle, enormous (30 by 50 foot long) sea creatures hang out around Holbox. Read more about this wonderful experience

SPRING EQUINOXES
March 19, 20 and 21 are the days you can see the equinox at Chichen Itza. To watch the shadows of the plumed serpent slither down the huge Kukulkan pyramid is a mystical experience. Plan to the be there at 3 PM for the 4:45 PM happening. Visit Dzibichaltun at 5 AM on March 21 to see the astrophysical event at the House of the Dolls.

BENITO JUAREZ
March 21st is Benito Juarez birthday. It will be celebrated on Monday, March 17th, creating a long weekend. The first president of Mexico, he is known for his famous saying “el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz” (respecting others rights brings peace.) This is a federal holiday meaning there is no work or banks.

BLACKBOARD SPECIALS
Casa de Piedra at Hacienda Xcanatun is offering their blackboard specials from Thursday to Sunday. These special are recipes that the executive chef José Vazquez (recently arrived from Absinthe restaurant in San Francisco) tries out every week, and are not on the normal menu. www.xcanatun.com

MARGARITA TERRITORY
It is stated in our article on page 20 that “good margarita territory starts at Hacienda Xcanatun.” With this in mind, Hacienda Xcanatun says that anyone who brings in the March 15 issue of Yucatan Today gets a free one with lunch or dinner during the month of March. Sounds like a good deal to us!

5X4 PLAYA DEL CARMEN
From March 23–30, when you reserve tour nights at the Holiday Inn Express Playacar in the Riviera Maya, they will give you the 5th night free. Tel + 52 (984) 206 3402.

WIRELESS INTERNET
Hotel Intermaya in Progreso now has wireless internet in all the rooms. This is great news!

HOLBOX HOTEL
Casa Maya de Jose Lime Hotel in Holbox, now has free Internet for its guests. They are now considered a Bed & Breakfast with a continental breakfast included in the daily rate. If you arrive with a copy of Yucatan Today, they will give you a 20% discount on the room rate. www.casamayadejoselimaholbox.com

STUDY SPANISH
Study Spanish at the downtown Centro de Idiomas School – CIS. They have Total Immersion Classes, private classes, cultural activities, excursions, a conversation club, home stays and volunteer placement available. Du-ring March and April they are offering Spanish class for foreigners for $195 for 5 hours daily – the regular price is $355 US.
www.cisyucatan.com.mx

CUBAN ART
Galeria La Luz is presenting the show Fisonomía del Silencio by the contemporary Cuban artist Douglas Arguelles Cruz (1977) from February 29 – March 29. Arquelles stu-died in the Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes San Alejandro and the Instituto Superior de Arte, both in Havana, Cuba and has had shows in the US, Spain, Mexico and Cuba. Calle 60 No. 415A between 45 and 47, Centro, Santa Ana. www.laluzgaleria.com

COPPER CERAMICS LAQUERWARE
MedioMundo’s gift shop has a new selection of unique earrings made with exotic semi precious stone beads and silver. They also have a new shipment of Guatemalan textiles. This season, the store is featuring fine artisan crafts from Michoacan including copper, ceramics and laquerware. Calle 55 between 62 and 64. Centro Open daily 10 AM – 9 PM.
www.hotelmediomundo.com

ADVENTURE SPORTS
Hotel Mision Uxmal has some great new options of things do to after you visit the nearby Mayan pyramids. These adventure sports include Gotcha!, batting cages, 4x4 motos, archery, rapel, and zip-line. For more info and reservations call 923-9500.

FREE FRIDAY NIGHT
Mision Uxmal will give you a free Friday night stay when you reserve and stay Saturday night. Food and beverage is not include in this great deal. Tel. 923-9500.

HOUSE & GARDEN TOURS
The House & Garden Tours offered by Merida English Library on Wednesdays meet at MEL at 9:45 AM with the walking tours starting at 10 AM. They visit three interesting houses, en-ding the tour at the new Casa Catherwood in Santiago Park. $200 pesos per person.

CHURCH IN ENGLISH
The Jesus Presbyterian Church in Progreso is offering worship services in English till Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008. All denominations are invited to attend the 8:30 AM service. Calle 35 #154 between Calle 80 and 82. From Merida, head towards Progreso, pass the Telchac highway, Pemex gas station and Aurrera Bodega all on Calle 78. Take a left onto Calle 35, cross Calle 80 - the church is located on the corner of 35 and 80. Pastor David Correa iglesiajesus@prodigy.net.mx

MERIDA CITY TOUR
What better way to get a feel for a city or town than to take a city tour? We the people at Yucatan Today, experienced travellers, always make it a point to take the city tour when we go to a new place. We are firm believers in city tours. With that in mind, we recommend Carnavalito City Tour that departs from Sta. Lucia Park (Calle 55 and 60) daily at 10 AM, 1 PM, 4 PM and 7 PM, except on Sunday just 10AM and 1 PM. This two hour trip will get you all over Merida into many neighborhoods you’ll never see otherwise.

ARCHITECT
If you own property in southeast México and want to build a new building or remodel an existing one, check out local architect Afonso Lopez and his group. They have the knowledge and expertise to make your vision a reality. Call (999) 169 4377. His offices are located in Montecristo on Calle 2 No. 135-A between 11 and 13.

TELCHAC BEACH RENTAL
Las Tunas, a beachfront home in Telchac Puerto is available for rent by the week or month. With 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, wireless internet, a pool, Skye TV and caretaker, Las Tunas is fully furnished…all you need to take are your clothes, toothbrush and food. www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-
rentals/5269.html

CITY TOUR VALLADOLID
Yay! There is now a city tour bus in Valladolid. This is great news. The oldest city tour company from Merida has taken one of their fun, colorful, open-air buses to Valladolid where they will offer a 45 minute trip to 6 neighborhoods, 11 sites of interests including the Zaci cenote, the San Bernardino Monastery, the Calzado de los Frailes avenue and the Main Plaza. There is a bi-lingual guide and the cost is $75 pesos. Five daily departures at 10 AM 12 noon, 2 PM, 4 PM and 6 PM. A city tour is always a great way to see the city and one of the first things Yucatan Today thinks you should do anywhere you travel in the world. It’s what we do.

FOOT MASSAGES
Have your feet had it with all the walking, lugging luggage, climbing Mayan pyramids, and being closed in hot shoes or sneakers? Call Nena for a wonderful reflexology foot massage. Her hands are magical and her
being radiates tranquility.
Cell phone (044) 999 140 0387.

HACIENDA KAUA
This newly restored hacienda is available not only for wedding receptions and parties, but also for business and corporate meetings, artistic, touristic and cultural events. Large gardens, covered terraces, open terraces around the pool and two air-conditioned rooms are the possible settings for your event. Parking, bathrooms, wireless internet and ramps make the Hacienda a comfortable place for all. Tel. 983 0401
Email: info@haciendakaua.com
Website: www.haciendkaua.com

CASA YUCATAN REAL ESTATE
Gaby Cornelio and Casa Yucatan Real Estate represent the finest properties for sale in and around Merida and the Yucatan Peninsula. They offer colonial homes in Merida’s historical center, modern residences in gated communities like La Ceiba in northern Merida, and beach houses along the Gulf coast in Progreso, Chelem and Telchac Puerto. They also do renovations and remodeling. Their staff includes bilingual architects, designers and contractors who can help you select a property that will satisfy your vision and then help you fully realize its potential. They can also assist you with the legal process of becoming a Mexican resident and purchasing Mexican real estate. www.casayucatanrealestate.com

COMFORTABLE HOTEL
Technotel is a comfortable hotel with two locations – one on the Itzaes Avenue which is convenient to the airport and hospitals and the other on the Merida-Progreso highway which is convenient for being in the north part of town.

100% MEXICO
Is a Fonart franchise that helps Mexican artisans to preserve their domestic and traditional art form. Merida is lucky to have one of these shops at the entrance to the Paseo Montejo in the Hotel Casa San Angel. Come see the finer, hand made, unique creations of the artisans from 32 states in the Mexican republic. They offer black pottery from Oaxaca talavera from Puebla, alebrijes from the state of Mexico and hammered copper from Michoacan to name a few.

Tell your story
We are interested in articles, stories, experiences, knowledge and advice! Tell our readers where you've traveled, what you've learned, what you love and what you think other people need to know about to make the most of their trip to the Yucatan. Send to info@yucatantoday.com We will give all writers credit for their submissions. Contact us!

Write of us
We are always open to articles from our readers. If you have gone on a special trip or have something to share that will be of interest to our readers, contact us at info@yucatantoday.com with up to 500 words. Our readers love up-to-date info on prices, distances, schedules, experiences. Our deadline is the 25th of the month. We will give you credit if and when we publish your article. Contact us!

www.yucatantoday.com
Did you know that Yucatan Today comes in two versions? We have the printed version with 15,000 copies a month and the online version with 90,000 visits in February. The online version is kind of like the archives of the printed version and is a wealth of info.

What's New - last month
Click Here for a complete description of all the new happenings in the city of Merida and the Yucatan Peninsula.

Events & Activities Calendar
Click Here for a complete description of the activites, events and attractions in the Yucatan.

To read in Spanish click here