Sunday, November 27, 2011

Thanksgiving in Chelem 2011

We get many questions from our Mayan Living friends and clients about how we celebrate holidays in Mexico. Doug and I have been very lucky to find some wonderful friends in our little village and we all have started our own traditions in Chelem.

Jack and Barbara are a wonderful couple that bought a house from us a few years back and have become some of our closest friends. Every year they hold a Thanksgiving dinner at their beautiful home. Below is a slideshow that I put together of this years dinner so we could share Thanksgiving with you.

If you think that you would like to live in paradise like we do don't forget to give us a call: 302-200-0461, we will be happy to answer any questions and to help you find your dream home in the Yucatan too!





Wishing you a safe and joyous holiday season, we're just "Chillin in Chelem."

www.mayanliving.com

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Weekend in Chelem

The past week has been a calorie laden one for those of us from the US. After having a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, I felt that I should try and walk off a few of the pounds that I probably gained. This was my favorite pic from this morning:



The weather may be getting chilly back home, but it's always nice here in paradise!

Have a great weekend, Thanksgiving pictures will be posted soon! And of course, if you want to live the dream like we are, don't forget to check out our website, Mayan Living or give us a call at 302-200-0461, we'll be happy to help you or answer any questions.


Until then enjoy the weekend, warm breezes and cold beers coming at ya from Chelem!Link

Thursday, November 17, 2011

CRUISING AROUND PROGRESO ON A BEAUTIFUL NOVEMBER DAY

TGIF! Here it is a week before American Thanksgiving, that means the Christmas holidays are right around the corner. Here in the Yucatan I am having trouble getting into the spirit, sunny days and blue skies have lulled me into thinking that it is still summer.

Yesterday was "bill paying" day for us, that meant heading into Progreso to take care of business and then hanging out for a little fun. Progreso is about 5 minute away from where we live in Chelem and has become a Port of Call for assorted cruise ship lines. When there are no cruise ships in town it is a sleepy little place, but when there is a ship in, the party begins!

We started the day off stopping by our favorite used furniture and junk store, owned by Reuben and Marisol (Marisol means Sea and Sun in Spanish, I just love that name.)

Here is a picture of their store, they were closed when we stopped by, but we hollered and they opened up for us!


This is the telephone company Telmex, they also offer DSL internet service called Infinitium. Unfortunately it doesn't go all the way into Chelem just yet, so we use a Satellite service.


Our favorite hardware store, Niplito, right on the main drag heading towards the beach. They have a good supply of things and have a great guy that speaks English who can help you out.

This is our local electric company, CFE. You can either pay your bill here or at various convenience stores located around Progreso and surrounding areas.


The Municipal building, we pay our annual taxes here, last year they were less than $38 US. Isn't this a gorgeous piece of Mexican architecture?

Right across the street is CMA, Progreso's hospital. Great care at very reasonable prices!

Progreso has 2 grocery stores, this is the one we all refer to as "Bodega." It sells everything; clothing, tires, liquor and food.

With all the boring details of everyday life taken care of, it's time for a stroll around the Malecon, a concrete beach boardwalk or promenade.

This is one of our favorite places to eat, Eladios. They start out by bringing you 6-7 varieties of botanas (free appetizers.) If you sit there long enough they will do this 3 different times, each time different than the first.

It turned out that yesterday was an unscheduled cruise ship day. The Progreso Pier is about 4 miles long and allows no foot traffic. If you ship a container of your household goods from back home, this is where it will come in.

The tourists from the ship are offered free shuttles from the ship to Casa de Cultura (local market) in the center of town.

Beach massages are offered for $10 USD for half an hour.



Another very good restaurant, right across the street from Eladios.

Cute little palapas (thatched roofs) offer a place to escape the sun and relax. There is beach service from the local restaurants.



This is the view from the beach looking towards the Malecon. Yesterday, November 17th it was 86 degrees with 50% humidity and soft Gulf breezes. Don't you wish you were here?

Looking east on the Malecon.

Moving a block off the beach is one of our favorite stores, it is owned by an American who travels all over Latin America buying unique items. A percentage of all he sells goes towards helping the indigent people of the area.

Some of my favorite things in his store.




I love this colorful tour bus that takes you around the town while a guide points out local points of interest.


Most everybody ends up here, at the local vendors market. They have lots of handcrafted items and souvenirs. You won't find vendor approaching you along the beaches or haggling with you on the streets. The government recently built this new area so all the vendors are in one place.






This gentleman drives from Chichen Itza 2-3 times a week to sell his hand carved and painted Mayan masks. Chichen Itza is one of the new 7 wonders of the world, a great archeological site and is just a few hours away.


The day is done and time to head back to Chelem and enjoy my own home in paradise. First though we have to make a quick stop for a cool beverage!

Barloventa is a friendly place where ex-pats like to gather, sit outside and catch up on what's going on locally.
Not a bad way to spend the day is it? If this is the kind of life that you are dreaming of don't hesitate to give us a call on our US land-line: 302-200-0461. Check out our Mayan Living website and find the beach home of your dreams today!

Until next time, we are just "Chillin' in Chelem."

Thursday, October 20, 2011

YUCATAN DREAMING WITH A BEACH VIEW

Now that the weather is cooling off some up north, it's time to start dreaming of the good life south of the border! I remember being back home in Delaware, there was a nip in the air, the leaves were turning and I was dreaming of sun-drenched beaches in Mexico. Our thoughts were turning to Mexico, margaritas and warm days relaxing in the sun.

Is that your dream too? Here at Mayan Living we help you turn your dreams into reality. Would you like a great home, one off the beach with stunning ocean views? Would you like to escape from the snow? Take a look at this wonderful home for under $100,000. This 3 bedroom house has it's master bedroom on the second floor that opens onto a large terrace where you can sip margaritas and ice cold beers while watching the sunset.



It offers ample parking in the front

Nice size kitchen and dining area


Kitchen cabinets! Something that is not seen here often, especially in this price range.


North view from the terrace off the master bedroom.

Zoomed in...
View from the back (south) of the terrace.

Large enough for plenty of guests.

Beautiful, modern bathroom.

A large backyard full of coconut palms, make your own Coco Locos!

And, a partially finished storage building for your garden supplies, or make it into a guest house or caretakers cottage...

Can you imagine what this yard would like full of tropical flowers and landscaping? We have a gardener that takes care of our yard AND brings me cuttings of plants for $300 pesos a month, at today's exchange rate that is $23 USD! Can you believe it?

Life is good here in Chelem, great healthcare close by, kind locals and an amazing crowd of people that have moved here from the US and Canada. If you are looking for a more laid back lifestyle, if you want to stretch your hard earned dollars and want to get away from the cold, this is the place!

If you would like to see more pictures of this house, click HERE And don't forget to keep an eye on our large supply of new listings, they change all the time!

If you have any questions about living the dream please feel free to give us a call today on our US phone number: 302-200-0461. We would love to speak with you.

Until the next time, Doug and I are just "Chillin' in Chelem" and enjoying our life, you can too!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

SUNDAY IN MERIDA

For those thinking of making the move to the Yucatan here are a few reasons:
Mexico is the US' closest neighbor to the south, here you can enjoy a luxurious lifestyle for less.
Enjoy your life in your dream home on the beach or a glorious colonial in the heart of Merida. Looking for seclusion and privacy? Take a peek at some of the smaller villages located around Merida.

We who live at the beach do so for a reason, we are beach people! We love peace and quiet, cool gulf breezes, shushing palms and the smell of salty air. That doesn't mean that we don't love the city of Merida any less. It's a half an hour away, less time then it took to commute to work back home. Merida always has something cultural happening and Sundays are a great time to head into the city and check out the latest event.

This past Sunday we were fortunate enough to be invited to go to the Oaxaca festival with our dear friends Roberto and Anna. The festival took place at Parque Las Americas in Garcia Gineres. Garcia Gineres is a beautiful, historic and quiet area with more and more ex-pats looking to purchase homes there.


Roberto and Anna



Typical clothing from Oaxaca

Embroidered pocketbooks

Lots of hand tooled belts

Look at the detailed hand work in this dress!

These are a speciality of Oaxaca, fried crickets! I actually tried them, quite crispy and spicy.


And of course this is Mexico, must have some kind of Tequila!


Fresh fruit drinks, also abundant throughout the country.

This is where they have entertainment in the park, singing, dancing and shows. Merida has such beautiful architecture.
All in all another wonderful day in the beautiful capital of the Yucatan, Merida. If you are dreaming of a more relaxing and romantic lifestyle, the Yucatan has it all...rich culture, perfect climate...affordable living...wonderful, inexpensive health care and its proximity to the US and Canada. If I have captured your interest, let me help you live your dream! Contact us today! Let the Mayan Living Team of experienced real estate professionals help you find the lifestyle you have always wanted! We are here to help you before, during and after the sale!

Until then, we are just "Chillin' in Chelem."