What's New
October - November, 2006

7 NEW WONDERS - VOTE
Chichen Itza, along with 20 other sites, is being considered as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. To vote, check out www.new7wonders.com There are several options – free voting or becoming a paying patron. Whatever you choose to do, please do something and vote for Chichen Itza!

PIGUA NEW HOURS
Typically open just for lunch, this oh-so-famous seafood restaurant is extending their hours from Wednesday to Saturday when they will be open from 12 noon to 11 PM. Sunday to Tuesday they will have their normal hours of 12 noon to 6 PM.

BEACH HOUSE FOR RENT
Looking for a beach front home in a quiet fishing port? Las Tunas in Telchac Puerto has 3BR, 2B, fully furnished, pool, phone and caretaker. Call Judy at cel: 9999 683 687. Weekly prices are $600/Oct, $700/ Nov and $750 Dec, Jan & April. Special monthly rates.

ECLECTIC GIFT SHOP
Hotel Medio Mundo has the coolest gift shop! With something new all the time, they are now boasting a shipment of goodies from Oaxaca. Shop hours are from 10 AM to 8 PM. Calle 55 No. 533 between 64 and 66 Centro.

BIRD WATCHER’S FESTIVAL
The 5th Annual Bird Watcher’s Festival of Yucatan, Nov 30- Dec 3rd is a well packed 3-day birding event among Mayan ruins, 16th century haciendas, towns and coastal reserves where you can see 543 different species.

GARAGE SALE
The International Women's Club of Merida is holding a Garage Sale on Sat. Nov. 18, 9:00 AM to noon, at the Merida English Library on Calle 53 between 66 and 68, Centro.  Proceeds support local charities. For more info call 913-71-04.

WOMEN’S CLUB 
The International Women's Club October speaker is Dr. Leonide Martin on Maya History and Contemporary Wisdom, Sat. Oct.28 at Auditorium of Tecnologia Turistica Total Calle 57 #492 between 56 and 58, Centro 9:30 AM. For more information, or 913-71-04.

BIRDING BOOKS 
Recommended birding books: A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America by Steve N.G. Howell and Sophie Webb; Oxford University Press. and Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 4th Edition; National Geographic. English language Mexican field guides do not include plates of most migrant birds.

HOUSE & GARDEN TOURS
The Merida English Library House & Garden Tour fall season is in full swing.  Tours meet on Wednesday mornings at 9:45 AM in the Library patio for an orientation followed by a stroll to three interesting Mérida Centro Historico homes each week. $200 pesos per person. Walking tour lasts two hours. Come join us! Calle 53 between 66 and 68.

NEW CAFÉ
Gourmet coffee awaits you at the new Café Tobago. Savor a cup of wonderful coffee prepared in an Astoria coffeemaker as you gaze across the Paseo Montejo to the huge sculptured Monument to the Flag – a symbol of Merida. Open 8 AM – 8 PM. Café Tobago is owned by the owners of Restaurante Slavia which is right around the corner.

BIRDING & DIVING
A bird and a fish can fall in love...but where will they build their house? Find out in November at Ecoturismo Yucatan! Our receptive tour operator is a proud promoter of both the 5th Yucatan Bird Festival and the 6th International Cave Diving Meeting. Divers and bird lovers plus their companions will find the perfect tour with us. info@ecoyuc.com www.ecoyuc.com.mx or call 52 999 920 2772.

17,000 BOOKS
Merida English Library offers 17,000 books on loan to members and gently used books for 10 pesos. Open Mon. - Fri. 9 AM – 1 PM, Sat. 10 AM-1 PM, Mon. evening 6:30 – 9 PM and Tues. and Thurs.4 PM–7 PM. Calle 53 No. 524 between 66 and 68. Tel. 924 84 01.

ART GALLERY TOURS
Galeria Merida and Merida English Library are sponsoring Gallery/Studio Art Tours as a benefit for the Library. They visit the private studios of three leading artists, the Centro de Artes Visuales and Galeria Merida. Info and reservations at MEL. $300 pesos. A/C transportation. Thursday 9:45 AM-12:30 PM.

DINING IN RIO LAGARTOS
Restaurants that are open for dinner along the coast are hard to find – except in Progreso. Most open just for lunch. In Rio Lagartos Restaurante Isla Contoy offers a full menu and candles on the table for an evening of enjoyable dining.

ARTISTS IN PROGRESO
Hotel Yaxkunah in Progreso will soon be putting on exhibitions by local artists. Call 01-969-935-5600 if you would like to show or want to know who is showing.

DAY OF THE DEAD ALTARS
Hacienda X-Canatun will be setting up their traditional Hanal Pixan altar and serving Mucpil Pollo. The State and Local governments also set up altars on the Main Plaza and in the Ermita, usually on the last Sat. of Oct. Check at the tourist info booths.

SPANISH TAPAS
There is a new place in town – La Leyenda (The Legend) – where they are serving Spanish style tapas – the Spanish version of Yucatecan botanas. The menu is huge and includes hams, cheeses, chistorras, cochas, tortillas Española, chorizos, salamis and fine wines and cocktails. Located on the Prolongacion Montejo across from the Campestre Country Club. This is truly a place where the locals go.

TWO NEW BUFFETS
The Café Montejo at the Hotel Fiesta Americana offers daily theme buffets 1 – 5 PM. The Tues. buffet is the best of Oriental cuisine: Thai soup, Darme salmon, Cantonese duck, and shrimp tempura. The Wed. Mediterranean Buffet includes Spanish style snook, shrimp al ajillo, skirt steak shish-ka-bob a la pissaiola. Don’t forget their popular Sunday Brunch 1 – 5 PM and the dinner buffets on Thursday and Friday 7 – 11 PM.

THANKSGIVING
Hacienda X-Canatun will once again be putting on Thanksgiving at both lunch and dinner by reservation only – made at least 24 hours in advance. The Cafe Montejo at Fiesta Americana and the Bistro Peregrina at the Hyatt Regency will also be doing Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 23rd.

ROBB REPORT
The Hacienda X-Canatun has one piece of (great) news:  the Robb Report yearly Luxury Hotels issue is out, and they are the only hotel listed for Mexico!  Check it out on the internet www.robbreport.com

HOTEL YAXKUNAH NEWS
The restaurant Chez Michelle at Hotel Yaxkunah in Progreso is open for dinner from 5 PM to 9 PM. They are not serving lunch at the moment and breakfast is a la carte – not a buffet. And of course, they have their popular Happy Hour on Sat. 6 - 8 PM.

ART HAPPENINGS  
At Galeria Merida, Al Rojo, paintings by Liz Briceño, Jorge Casares, Ariel Guzman, Silvia Madrid, Octavio Peniche and David Sierra & photographs by Carlos Ramierz.  Octavio Peniche presents a body of drawings, paintings and sculptures beginning Nov. 3. Ivan R. de Leon presents 23 B&W photographs of his journeys throughout the peninsula. Dominique Haas is exhibiting unique leather sculptures. At the Olimpo Cultural Center: two group shows through Oct.: Arte Joven, Objectos Escutoricos One Solo: Naturale a Humana. And Gabriel Marni – Naturale a Humana in room 2 through October. At Teatro Jose Peon Contreras Isreal Leon presents Estetica a retrospective of works from 2004-2006.  American photographer Geoffrey Aronson is exhibiting eight of his selected chromatic works through October. Galeria Merida Calle 53 #520 x 66 y 68 Centro tel. 924 0117.

ART CLASSES
Two local artists are offering art classes. Sam Woodruff offers Drawing Classes: Basic and Figure, classes run 3 hours weekly for 6 weeks @ $700 pesos. For info call Sam: 923-94.06. Stefanie Schikora – Art classes for children from 4 years on in the Col. Itzimna. Call 926-9978 o 044-999-990-6278 for info.

DAY OF THE DEAD
Hotel Los Aluxes will have their tradicional Day of the Dead bread in the breakfast buffet during November. If you are planning your office or private Christmas parties, remember they have eight perfect salons. Ask about their packages and get an estimate. Tel: 924-2199  Ext. 278 & 271

PROFESSIONAL BIRDER
Professional international birding guide w/25 years experience in Mexico. Private groups 2-4 people only. Call Paul Wood at (999) 981-69-70 or e-mail pawood0@hotmail.com

B&B NEWS
The lastest news from Casa Esperanza is their gourmet breakfast menu for their guests which includes: eggs benedict florentine, Yucatan apple honey crepes, & ham  cheese soufflé. Their Day of the Dead Altar will feature sugar & marzipan skulls, icing sugar coffins & ghosts, plus all the traditional flowers in shades of purples & oranges.  Please check their web site for regular specials, including 10% off for stays over 3 nights for Oct 2006.

ORGANIC GOODIES
Organic cashews, jams and jellies, dried fruits and coffees can be yours when you visit Café Organico on en Calle 33D local 1 by Reforma, between Cupules and Colón. Tel. 925 2831. Their goodies are al natural or flavored with fruits and chilis. Open 9AM - 7.30PM Monday to Friday and til 2 PM on Saturday.

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