What's New
July - August, 2006

MAYA ROMANCE MASSAGE
Hacienda Xcanatun is going all out this summer with their summer specials. The one-night getaway includes a Maya Romance massage for two in the privacy of your suite or in the spa, plus a bottle of French sparkling wine. Valid till Sept 30.

GALERIA MERIDA
All new works of painting and sculpting will be presented by the of prolific artists, David Sierra and Jorge Casares at Galeria Merida through July. Jorge Sobrino, Manual May Tilan and Eduardo Ortegon will open their abstracto collectivo on Friday, August 25 at 8:00PM. The exhibition will show through September 16. Cash bar. Photographer Carlos Ramirez is now on display at the Galeria. Juan Pablo Mier y Teran’s series of ten beautiful prints based on numerology of the Maya ruins, Signos de Pakal, is available for view and/or purchase at the Galeria Merida on Calle 53 between 66 and 68 in Centro. www.galeriamerida.com

OTHER ART HAPPENINGS
Photographer Ivan R. de Leon, will have a one-man show at PhotoPro opening August 4th. Sylvia Madrid, Professora en Ceramica, is teaching all levels of ceramics at her studio on Calle 43 #544 x 76. Call 925-4026 for further information. Stephanie Schikora, painter, is now showing Mujers in Sala 2 at the Olimpo. Also at Olimpo Secretos para tus Ojos, groupo fotografico by Barbara Bravo Paul and seven other photographers, through August 13. For further information, please call Paula Sievert at Galeria Merida at 924-1117.

TOO MUCH SUN?
When the sand and the sun and the noise of temporada (the local word for the summer season) at the beach get to be too much, pamper your skin at the Spa Xcanatun by taking advantage of the 10% discount on massages and complimentary herbal teas through September 30.

FREE HOTEL NIGHTS
For two nights booked at the Mayaland Resorts hotels in Chichen Itza or Uxmal, get the third night for free. Valid for travel between July 1st and August 31st 2006 on reservations made during the month of July. www.mayaland.com

BUFFET BREAKFASTS
Hotel Los Aluxes on Calle 60 is known for its good buffet breakfast from 7 AM to noon daily. Start your day of with this great breakfast for just $110 pesos including taxes.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
If it’s your birthday or someone you know, consider celebrating it at Hotel Los Aluxes. When you make reservations to have your day at Los Aluxes they will give you the cake, include the traditional mañanitas birthday seranade and even add a photo of the event. Valid during July.

NEWEST HOSTEL IN MERIDA
Conveniently located in downtown Merida Hostel Faby is a new lodging concept. It has luxurious rooms with home facilities. Special prices and cortesies for our guests during this summer. Stay more than 3 nights receive 10% off when you show them your copy of Yucatan Today. www.hostelfaby.com.mx

FREE MARGARITAS
When you show the waiter at the Casa de Piedra Restaurant at Hacienda Xcanatun a copy of Yucatan Today, you will receive a complimentary margarita with your lunch or dinner.

DIAMOND STAR AWARD
For the fifth year in a row the Casa de Piedra Restaurant at the Hacienda X-Canatun has won the coveted Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences. They are the only restaurant in the Yucatan to receive this award. It should be noted that you have to be recommended to the Academy, it is not something you can join and hope to win.

BOAT TOURS
Come and have a great time enjoying the various options that Paseos Ecoturisticos La Ria offers in Progreso. They have kayaks, canoes, water tricycles, trips into the mangroves (zero ambiance impact), fishing tours and sightseeing. They are located on the road that goes from the Merida-Progreso highway toward the Yucalpten harbor. Open Monday to Sunday 8 AM to 6 PM. Tel 999 199 3816 and 01 969 935 3586.

GERMAN DELI
With two locations now these little restaurant and deli shops are located near the Buena Vista shopping center and San Antonio Cinta. They offer real German sausage hand made by owner Tom Meyer, a certified master butcher from the fatherland. They also offer fresh-baked, homemade bread to die for. Stop in for a bocadillo (sandwich), a pickle, and some real German potato salad. Take home a kilo or two of Westphalian ham for snacking later and the stuffed bacon is unbelievable... when they can keep it in stock! Tom also offers chips, cheeses, and a wide variety of lunch meats to pick from. Prices are very reasonable and the food is very good. Tel. 926-0117.

YALAT
Fine quality handcrafts is what you will find in Valladolid at Yalat Arte Mexicano. This gallery on the park is where you will experience the difference between art and artesania and see different, unusual, finer crafts. Treat yourself to the pleasures of art and beauty.

DOUBLE DECKER BUS
The red double decker hop-on hop-off city tour bus is offering discount coupons on Tuesdays and Sunday from July 15 to August 15. The normal price is $100 pesos per adult. Show them your copy of Yucatan Today and you will get your ticket for just $50 pesos. Do take advantage of this deal and see the city from a bird’s eye view on the top deck of the bus!

FIVE STAR CELESTUN HOTEL
What a pleasure to find a brand-new five-star hotel in Celestun. While small and quaint, you will find the installations to be first class, from the bedding to the furniture, curtains, air-conditioning, paint job, etc. Los Manglares is on the beach and just a few blocks from the town square. You will find 24 luxurious rooms and 4 bungalow suites plus a fun bar right on the beach. The pool should be ready in August.

IZAMAL FOLKART
When you visit the painted yellow colonial city of Izamal, we suggest you stay for the Light and Sound show at 8:30 PM (Tues., Thurs, Fri and Sat). And as you wander the quaint streets of Izamal, we highly recommend that you visit the craft store Hecho a Mano on the Main Plaza. Owned by Hector Garza, a native Texan from Harlingen, Hector has had an interesting life that brought him to Izamal. He is a wealth of info on the area plus a collector of unique folkart that he collects on his twice yearly trips around Mexico.

REAL ESTATE
The Real Estate Professionals at Mexico International Real Estate have 10 years of experience in Yucatan, 16 top-notch agents, 5 administrative assistants, the best attorneys on the Yucatan Peninsula, a verifiable USD earnest money account, an excellent reputation and beautiful offices in Merida (in The Fiesta Americana Plaza) and Majahual. For the best real estate services and experience contact the Pros. or call 920-6856 www.mexintl.com

HACIENDA LIVING
Amigo Yucatan Travel Company offers haciendas in rental for days, weeks or months. All haciendas are close to Merida to be able to enjoy the city and also country living. They also offer Mayan Life Experience Tours. Contact us to find out more about these unique tours. Telephone: (999) 920-01-04

ROOF TOP LOUNGE BAR
The wonderful Hacienda Hotel Puerta Campeche has a new option – their new roof top lounge bar where while sitting in very comfortable sofas and chairs, you can enjoy a fantastic view of downtown Campeche. Now not only do they have their interesting pool, but now also this new lounge.

CELESTUN VILLAS
Playa Maya is a new resort complex in Celestun where the units are owned by mostly Canadians and Americans. When they are not in use, usually May to November, the units are put into a rental pool and rented at very attractive rates. The one and two bedroom units have full baths and kitchen so you can arrive with your clothes and food and you are all set.

ECLECTIC GIFT SHOP
Hotel MedioMundo in El Centro is famous for its gift shop. Every month they have new shipments of goodies that include lots of Guatemala textiles – pillows, bedspreads and tablecloths. Stop in an see what new things they have. Calle 55 between 62 and 64. Centro. Open 10 AM to 8 PM.

FIFTH ANNUAL BIRD FESTIVAL
From Nov. 30th to Dec. 2nd the Fifth Annual Bird Festival will take place throughout the Yucatan. Festival events include an incredible photo exhibition of birds, the popular 30 hour long bird marathon Xoc Chi’ich, and conferences by renowned birders. This year there has been a special emphasis on getting children interested in birding. One event will be the “sling shot for a boat ride exchange” – all the kids who turn in their sling shots will be given a ticket to go on a boat ride into the ria of Celestun. The Yucatan is a special place for birders in that it has 536 registered species.

ADVENTURE TOURISM
Want to go snorkeling in a cenote? Rapel down a cliff? Enter some of the most incredible caves in the Yucatan crawling on your stomach? Does the idea of a mountain bike excursion meet your fancy? Cima & Sima is the company you should contact. Owners Mr. Raul Espejo, a certified medical technician, and his wife Connie Leal, have turned their passion for extreme sports into a business! Cel: 999 116 5424, email: cimasima2003@yahoo.com.mx

CENOTE TRIPS
The well-known cenote trips to Cuzuma, where there are three cenotes that you get to on a horse drawn cart, has new installations for your comfort. Installations include stair for easier entrance, bathrooms and the the last cenote, there are thatched roof palapas with shade for the people that don’t want to enter the cenote.

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Events & Activities Calendar
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