Annoucement: New Series, Staycations, Mérida, Mexico

Announcing a new blog series: Staycations in Mérida, México
 
I have always wanted to be a tourist in my own town and a Staycation is the perfect solution.

My plan is to stay at 12 hotels over a 12-month period. The hotels will be primarily in Mérida but a few will be outside Yucatán.

What is important to me, as a mature female with walking difficulties, is: budget to moderate pricing, accessibility i.e. elevators or ground floor units, ramps, attentive staff, security, cleanliness, and amenities like a pool, room service, room safe, and tour service assistance. Plus, I like knowing I am in walking distance or a short taxi ride to various services. I particularly appreciate on-call medical services.

Also, when making a reservation, I like hotels that have their own website. I do not use online booking services, often, because they don't offer enough information for me to make a decision. I generally contact the hotel directly by phone or email.

In each Staycation post, I will try to cover general hotel information such as location, price range, accessibility, amenities, transportation, cautions, advisories, and area sites and events.

Price range per night:

Frugal - Free to less than 100 pesos
Budget - 100 pesos to 900 pesos
Moderate . 900 to 3,000 pesos
Expensive - 3,000 to 5,000
Rich - 5,000+

Seasons: Mérida has four seasons, spring, summer, fall and winter which vary in temperature and precipitation. The rainy season is from May to October coinciding with the Hurricane Season. Some find November to April the best time to visit Mérida.

Tipping: I tip wait staff, taxi drivers, tour guides, room service attendants and grocery baggers.

Credit/Debit Cards: Make sure your bank knows when and where you are traveling, this will allow you to use your credit or debit card at ATMs, hotels, restaurants and more.

Transportation: Yucatán has great public transportation.

In Mérida, there are city buses, collectivos (vans), taxis, ADO and other long distance bus services, car rental services, and private transportation options. The current cost for a city bus or collective is 8 pesos.

Taxis - I do not use phone apps to get a taxi, I ask the concierge to call a taxi or I go to the street and hail a taxi. Then, I ask the driver the cost to my destination. This helps limit price scalping.

In general, there is a ADO Mérida Shuttle at the Cancun Airport International terminal as well as an ADO bus to Mérida in the city of Cancun. Check with your hotel to see if they will pick you up at an ADO terminal in Mérida.

Also, go online to Yucatán Today, http://yucatantoday.com/yucatan-bus-lines-and-taxis/?lang=en, to find much more information about various transportation options in Yucatán. Once you get to Mérida, pick up a copy of the current Yucatán Today, it has a wealth of useful information.

Tours: There are many tour services available. Many are affiliated with hotels. Ask at the reception desk about available tours. As a single person, it is easier to get added onto an existing tour from your hotel.

Special note: When visiting Mérida, México, if you don't speak Spanish, learn a few words before you come. Learning to say just a few words in Spanish like: Hola, Gracias, De Nada, Adios, Donde es el Baño (Hello, Thank you, You are Welcome, Goodbye, Where is the Bathroom?) for example, is considered polite. It shows that you are trying to speak the language of the country you are visiting,

Buen Dia (Good day).

El Apapacho Cafe

El Apapacho Cafe

Calle 62 x 41 y 43
Centro, Merida, Mexico

Open: Lunes, Miercoles - Viernes noon to 10pm, Sabado y Domingo open at 9am, closed Martes.

El Apapacho Cafe is a spunky place. Wait staff are friendly and attentive, they greet guests and serve them with fresh cool water along with the veggie-friendly menus.

Menu

Large selection of hot and cold teas, cafe, fruita de Agua.

Sample menu items:

Sopas, huevos de patio al gusto
Chilaquiles
Con huevo o Pollo
Tecola o tecolotes
Enfrijoladas
Enchiladas
Tacos, mezcla de hongos
Bistek a la Mexicana
Filete de pescadoo filete de soya

From 30 - 150$

My favorites are: molletes, pan con frijol y queso con de salsa Pico de Gallo, y quesadillas con queso or queso con lechuga, crema.

(molletes, pan con frijol y queso con de salsa Pico de Gallo, y sandia de agua)

There's indoor and outdoor patio seating at tables for 2-6 or more.

Original artwork decorate the walls. There are bookshelves with used and new books in a wide range of topics, including books for children, and an emphasis on women's issues.

There are games to play, and crafts, like jewelry, for sale, and a gallery space upstairs.

El Apapapacho Cafe also holds various music or art events.

Seven+ Free Cultural Activities in Mérida, México

When you visit Mérida, México, there are plenty of cultural sites, events, and activities for you to enjoy.

Some the many free cultural activities, the city of Mérida, Mexico offers are:

Monday
Regional Dance
9:00pm
Palacio Municipal
Plaza Grande

Tuesday
Musical Memories
8:30pm
Parque de Santiago

Wednesday
Cemetery Tour
Cementerio General
8:pm-9:00pm

Thursday
Serenata Yucateca
9:00pm
Parque Santa Lucia

Friday
Video Mapping Cathedral
8:30pm
Cathedral

Saturday
Noche Mexicana
8:00pm
Paseo de Montegjo y Calle 47

Juego de Pelota Maya "Pok ta Pok"
8:30pm
In front of the Cathedral

Sunday
Merida en Domingo
Plaza Grande
All day
 
Bic Ruta
8:00am-1:00pm
Start from Gran Plaza or Paseo Montejo y Calle 35

Vaqueria Regional
1:00pm
Plaza Grande
All day

Cafe Chokoh

 Cafe Chokoh

Cafe Chokoh

C39 #510G x 62A y 64

Centro

Lunes a Viernes de 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

Cafe Chokoh is a new cafe on Calle 39.
 
Offerings include:  Coffee, Cappuccino, Latte, Herbal Teas, Fruit, Omlettes, Pancakes, Sandwiches, Fruit de Aguas, Yogurt, Salads and more.

Cafe Chokoh offers a surprising number of unique details:

• Vegetarian options
• Certified organic coffee from Chiapas
• Pet-Friendly
• Beautiful art work
• Japanese stone garden
  Soft background music
• Book shelf with books and games
• Free wifi

https://www.facebook.com/chokohcafe/

I Ate the Whole Thing -- Dragonfruit

Dragonfruit

Dragonfruit or Pitaya was the first fresh fruit I met when I arrived in Merida. It was growing on a vine in the backyard of the house where I rented a room.

I was fascinated by the fruit. It was uniquely strange and beautiful. The fruit itself has a mild sweet taste which I liked. You eat the fruit and the seeds.

 

(Dragonfruit or Pitaya, Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitaya)

(By SMasters [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], from Wikimedia Commons )

After washing the whole bulb, I sliced off the end.

Then, I made a slice through the skin with the tip of my knife and cut the skin to the top of the fruit bulb. I peeled away the skin and cut off the tip, pulling the whole skin off. This left a bulb of fruit. I cut the fruit into thin slices and ate whole thing.

Estética de Belleza Princess - Beauty Salon

Estética de Belleza Princess

C 41 x 66 y 64
Centro, Mérida, México

99 923 37 74 telephone

Just got my usual Pedicure with a French Gel nail polish for $280.00 Mx.

Bistro Cultural Cafe and Market

Bistro Cultural Cafe

Situated on Calle 66 x 43, in Centro's Santa Ana Colonia, Bistro Cultural is a true community cafe. Bistro Cultural opened in January 2013 in Mérida, Yucatán, México.

The Bistro serves breakfast, lunch and an early dinner, seven days a week, featuring omelettes, quiches, chicken and fish specialties, soups and sandwiches, cafes, frappes, fruit juices, postres, and more. Most meals come with a small salad and vegetables.

Plus, there's free wifi.

Bistro Cultural is a community cafe. If you go frequently, the staff know you by name. While a lot of expats frequent the Bistro, tourists and locals also enjoy the Bistro.

The Bistro also hosts and promotes a variety of cultural events including yoga classes, music nights, movies, arts and craft fests, and art exhibits. 

The Cafe also supports local artists and authors with art and book displays.

A variety of seating is available. Besides seating inside the main rooms, there is a large, shaded garden seating area as well as an air-conditioned, dining room.

Bistro Cultural has been featured on Trip Advisor https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g150811-d4112684-Reviews-Bistro_Cultural-Merida_Yucatan_Peninsula.html  

and in Yucatan Today http://yucatantoday.com/restaurant-month-bistro-cultural/?lang=en.

Recently, Bistro Cultural opened a market across from the cafe. The Bistro Cultural Market offers fresh fruits and vegetables, and a variety of food items including jams and sauces made by Bistro Cultural.

Bistro Cultural Market

Bistro Cultural Cafe

8:30am - 5:30pm Lunes - Sabado/Monday-Saturday
8:30am - 4:30pm Domingo/Sunday

Bistro Cultural Market
7:00am - 2:00pm Lunes-Viernes /Monday-Friday

Calle 66 #377 x 41 y 43

Mérida, Yucatán, México 97000

999 923 2013

Facebook

 https://www.facebook.com/Bistro-Cultural-480869411971096/

The Star of My Kitchen -- the Mabe Refrigerator

 III.
ROUGE ET NOIR.
Soul, wilt thou toss again?
By just such a hazard
Hundreds have lost, indeed,
But tens have won an all.
Angels' breathless ballot
Lingers to record thee;
Imps in eager caucus
Raffle for my soul.
--Emily Dickinson
     via Project Gutenberg

The Star of My Kitchen
The Mabe Refrigerator

I rent an apartment. It came furnished. But, I don't have an oven. I am on my fourth two-burner hot plate and it doesn't always work right.

I have few fancy gadgets.

(Manufacturer: Mabe)

But I love my Mabe Refrigerator. Without a refrigerator, I would be lost.

While I rely heavily on canned goods and my pantry, I marvel at the invention called a Refrigerator.

Where would we be without refrigeration?
Plus, ice cubes!

I try to freeze a lot of leftovers, homemade desserts and chopped vegetables. Plus, I keep some spices in the freezer as well as crushed crackers and cookies for casserole toppings, dessert crusts, and more.

When people say "fresh" fruit or vegetables, those items would have a short-shelf life without the refrigerator.




Source of interest:

Food Storage: Cupboard, Pantry, Refrigerator, Freezer -- University of Nebraska - Lincoln
https://food.unl.edu/food-storage-chart-cupboardpantry-refrigerator-and-freezer

The History of Refrigeration, Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigeration

Apple Salsa

Apple Salsa

(Adapted from: https://www.farmflavor.com/recipe/apple-salsa/ and https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/recipe/apple-salsa/) 


Ingredients: 

2 Small to medium Granny apples, cored and diced

1/2 Medium white onion, diced
1/2 Cup pepino*, or cucumber, diced
1/2 Bell pepper, diced
1 Jalapeno pepper, diced
1 Capful lime juice concentrate
1 TBspoon olive oil
1/4 Cup Apple cider vinegar
1 Teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper to taste.

To make this recipe GERD-Friendly, do not use the onions and Jalapeno pepper. Remove or reduce amounts of olive oil, cider vinegar.

*A pepino resembles a cucumber but has a lighter green skin and milder taste.

UPDATE: I changed the picture. This is blanco pepino which is similar to the cucumber.

Add ingredients to large bowl. Mix well.

Other reference: U.S. Apple Association

Some of My Favorite Mexican Treats

Some of My Favorite Mexican Treats -- Updated 6/6/18

Mazapan de la Rosa -- Chocolate covered marshmallow

(http://dulcesdelarosa.com.mx/producto/mostrar/caja/12)

Chocolate and Vanilla Shortbread Cookies with Chocolate Creme Filling

(Manufacturer: http://www.gamesa.com.mx/marcas but this item not shown.)

Nut Bread, Sliced

(Bimbo Nuez Pan. Manufacturer: https://www.grupobimbo.com/es)

Happiness is Cake

Happiness is Cake

When you move to another country, you make alot of adjustments. One is finding a favorite snack. In Mexico, these cakes are called Pinguinos. Chocolate Cake with chocolate frosting with a little white icing inside.

(Brand: Pinquinos. https://marinelausa.com/en)

My New Blender

My New Blender

In a previous post, I had discussed thinking about buying a convection oven, a toaster or a blender.

I have solved my blender problem.

My blender's name is Marcos. He is a former bartender. Now, he runs a juice bar  on Paseo de Montejo at Calle 39 where you can choose from various preselected fruit blends for a tasty fruit smoothie. Or, Marcos lets you pick your own fruit combinations.

I often get banana, dragonfruit and papaya with water and no sugar.

As with most tiendas, Marcos has no set hours, you just have to catch him when he's open.

Making Healthy Meals from Products at Local Tiendas

Where I live there are several tiendas nearby, small mom and pop affairs, commercially-owned deli-types and corporate-chain convenience stores.

When you first walk into any tienda, you get the sense the most popular items are chips, candy and soda.

But, tiendas offer a wider range of products, too.

Below are some pictures from various local tiendas. Not all tiendas offer the same number or types of products.

What I did not get a picture of is the fresh fruits and vegetables. Often you can get bananas, apples, potatoes, onions, squash, chayote, limes, garlic and the choices may change.

So, can I make healthy meals from products from a tienda?

You can find condiments like mayo, mustard, vinegar, olive oil, and some spices and hot sauces, various deli meats, canned tuna and canned sardines, salsas, canned beans or dried beans.

Refrigerated products might include: orange juice, a few cheeses and yogurts, lunch meat and other items. Plus, there may be a deli where you can get a variety of sliced meats and cheeses.

Because they offer white rice, spaghetti and pasta, I can make several dishes. With tomato sauce or salsa, onions, garlic and canned vegetables, I can make a sauce and toppings for spaghetti, or make fried rice, or a casserole.

With potatoes, I can make baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, fried potatoes, or with milk and cheese, a potato casserole. Toppings can be tomato sauce, mixed vegetables or canned beans.

Some tiendas have packaged cereal and some also have raw oatmeal and raisins, so with fresh or canned fruits, yogurt or milk, I can make several breakfast cereal meals and desserts.

Some tiendas have eggs, milk, creme, flour, sugar and baking powder, so that expands the choices for making several dishes, like pancakes, fritters, homemade ice cream, biscuits, and more.

You can find canned pineapple and often canned peaches, if you can't find fresh fruit which you can add to many recipes.

With bread or tortillas, along with other ingredients like eggs and milk, mayo and tuna, lunch meat, or pineapple chunks, I can make french toast, tacos and wraps, or sandwiches, and bread pudding.

While you can often find bags of dry beans, so far, I have only been successful using dry lentils, not the other types of dried beans. But, I can make a lentil salad..

You can make healthy meals using products from tiendas.

The positives are convenience, which can mean a lot if you don't have a car, and a sense of community. You are more likely to meet your neighbors at a local tienda.

The negatives are the items usually cost a little more and selections are limited. But, from another perspective, going to the local tienda can cost less because you can carry items home rather than use a cab and more tiendas means more jobs.

I am still trying to do budget comparisons, can I save money by shopping at tiendas? No answer yet, because I do go back to the bigger grocery stores for items I can't get at tiendas.

Preorder - New Publication: Budget Guest Accommodations Opportunities Marketing Report, Mérida, México Update 1

This report, Budget Guest Accommodations Opportunities, Marketing Report, Mérida, México, grew from initial investigations on how to operate a budget accommodations establishment.

Mérida, Mexico is experiencing a building boom. New hotels, restaurants and other businesses are opening every day. But, sadly, many, in the span of a year, will close.

As I researched Mérida businesses, the ones that succeeded took certain steps to help their business grow, while the ones that failed did not invest time into various marketing analysis and promotional strategies.

My hope is that this report, Budget Guest Accommodations Opportunities, Mérida, México, Marketing Report can help more businesses succeed.

Based on extensive research and on-the-ground observations and experiences, the Budget Guest Accommodations, Mérida, México, Marketing Report offers low-cost market analysis and suggested marketing ideas for current and future BGA owners, managers and administration staff, to help their business succeed.

The report provides specific details on: running a successful budget guest accommodation, developing marketing analysis and plans including sample plans and press kit templates.

An extensive resource list is included and contains: management articles; economic and tourism reports; low-cost marketing services: tourism and trade association websites; as well as guides and handout suggestions.

You can find the report on Smashwords at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/658440

Take a peek. See what works for your budget guest accommodation. Bien Dia.

Update 1:

I was a bit premature in making this post. The publication will not be available for preorders for a few days.

So Sorry.

Update 2:
Publication is still not viewable. Seems I have lost my touch in self-publishing on Smashwords.

Street Vendors in Mexico - Five postres for 13 pesos

One of the experiences I enjoy in Merida are the street vendors. From various wheeled-vehicles, human-powered or motor-powered, the vendors sell furniture, fruit, garden soil, pastries, tamales, ice cream, and more.

On my calle, vendors wheel down the street, clanging their bell, tooting their horn, or shouting out their product for sale. They are selling tamales, corn desserts, fruit, pastries, or ice cream.

The hardest thing about the process is trying to get out the door in time with my keys, shoes, and dinero before the vendor is two blocks away.

Until yesterday, I had succeeded once and got a tamale.

Finally, I got out the door in time and bought five postres for 13 pesos. They were fresh, warm and delicious. I only ate one and saved the rest.

Five postres for 13 pesos

Think about it. Five wonderful fresh-baked pastries for 13 pesos ($2.6MX each). At the current exchange rate, $1US is worth 16.62 pesos.

Many Mexicans run businesses out of their homes. Some make lunches for neighbors and nearby workers. Some make postres or other food items. There are often economica cocinas, open late at night, offering tortas, hamburgers, hot dogs and other food items.

El Origen Cafe

El Origen is the closest cafe to my departmento.

Plus, they offer Service a Domicilio, so I get a great lunch delivered on Tuesdays!. How lucky can you get?

El Origen's menu has a vegetarian influence. The menu choices are great from stuffed peppers to various chicken or vegetable dishes that are served with vegetable soup, rice, and salad.

Casa Maryposa

If you have never lived in a city, it's great to roll out of bed in the morning and walk to any number of cafes to get breakfast and coffee.

Merida is bustling. More buildings are being renovated as residences, rentals and businesses.

Casa Maryposa is part of these changes. It is a new cafe on Calle 62. The owner, Mary, and her family make all their own recipes from fresh ingredients. It is important to Mary to make food that has the best flavors at reasonable prices. Personally, I love her sweet breads and pies.

A Glimpse of Some Costs of Living Merida, Mexico

Here's is a glimpse of some of the costs of living in Merida, Mexico (in pesos unless noted).

Housing:
3100.00     1 Bedroom apartment, furnished with wifi, water, trash, & parking*
260.00         Electric bill for 2 months (bill varies upon usage)

Transportation:
7.00             Public Bus fare - one way
40.00           Short cab ride within one zone

Food Costs:
Below is a table of sample food prices. I am unable to fine tune my grocery prices by comparison shopping at a variety of grocery stores and markets because I do not have a car and have mobility issues.

So, my choices are nearby tiendas (mom and pop stores), Walmart, and a Mexican grocery store. In centro, there is a Mexican food market where prices are less, plus north of centro are Sam's Club and Costco as well as other grocery stores.

Product selection varies from source to source. I tend to go to the larger grocery stores because they have many of the items I want like Ginger ale.

Eating Out:

As with any city, you have a wide range of cuisines and costs. I can go to a nearby Italian restaurant and have a wonderful dinner for $150-$250 including a beverage, dessert and tip. But, mostly I go to a variety of cafes where I can have a great meal with a beverage from about $70.00-$120.00 including tip. (Note, I tip 20%.)

Plus, there are many cafes and economica cocinas that offer Servico a Domicilio. I recommend this highly for lunch at least once a week because I can usually make two meals out of one and the cost is reasonable. Below a lunch delivered by Cafe de Origen for $70 (including tip). The meal includes: main dish, rice, salad, soup, corn tortillas, dressings/sauces and a real fruit juice beverage.

Cafe de Origen's chef creates wonderful menu choices with a vegetarian influence and uses delicate seasonings and sauces.

Phone Service:

I use Magic Jack and Skype for international calls. Magic Jack's plans have changed but costs roughly $50.00US a year for service. I add $25.00US to Skype about once a year depending on usage.

In Merida, you buy a physical cell phone from various telephone companies and add pesos for a pay-as-you-go service. Calls are about $1peso for a voice minute or a text message. There are monthly plans, but I don't have the costs on those, yet. I don't use my cell that much, but I pay about $100.00 pesos about every two months only to preserve my remaining minutes. Cell phone service is something I am still investigating.

Lavenderia Services:

I get my clothes, linens, towels etc. washed, dried, folded and bagged about once a month for $120-$240 depending on weight and type of items.

Pharmacies and Doctor's Visits:

Below are sample costs for some common pharmacy items:

44.00     Natural tears, generic

29.11     Aspirin, 100mg (child)

46.40     Ibuprofen, 400mg

52.50     Ibuprofen, 200mg

118.00   Adult vitamins

60.00     Eco Bug Spray

As with food shopping, farmacias are plentiful in Merida including Farmacias de Similares which sells generics. It pays to shop around for medicines not just for price but availability.

Doctor's visits usually cost about $500.00-$700.00.

Now, I could live cheaper but feel I have found a happy medium between cost and comfort.

*If you rent or own a home in Merida, you pay for water, internet, and trash services.

Note: I will update this post over time to reflect changes, more items and costs.