• About Us
  • Expat basics
  • Info list

Imagine Mérida

Becoming Expats in the Yucatán

Archives for October 2014

Imagining daily life in Yucatán: We draw a blank

October 31, 2014 by Lee

Dinner at Apoala and at a vibrant Santa Lucia square was not possible in 2010.

Dinner at Apoala and at a vibrant Santa Lucia square was not possible in 2010.

We came, we saw, we built a house. But we’re still in Connecticut, preparing to rent out Casa Nana before we finally settle in possibly sometime next year. (And it kills me to have to add possibly to that sentence.)

You’d think by now we’d be able to picture what living in Mérida will actually be like. But we can’t. Last year, I kind-of could, but now I’m wondering.

I’ve lost sight of why we’re even moving to Mérida. Because I’ve always wanted to live abroad, and Mérida seemed like an up-and-comer, friendly, and well-situated destination? Or was it to escape [Read more…]

Filed Under: All Posts Tagged With: dreams, retirement

Mr. Jade won’t be part of Team Yucatán Expat

October 20, 2014 by Lee

Mr. Jade

Mr. Jade

We have no children, and no pets. The closest thing we have to offspring is a giant jade plant that started off as a tiny little sprout bought at Home Depot. Suffice it to say, it’s flourished under our parenting.

Yesterday we gave in to the cold. We brought in the house plants, including Mr. Jade, shattering any illusion that it’s still summer in New England. It really was a great summer. We spent more time on the deck and less time on weekend day trips and restaurants and more time lounging around the house. The weather cooperated better than we’ve ever remembered, too. It was grand.

Summer ended with an 11-day trip to Mérida, where I had said all along I wanted to be on my 50th birthday. Two weeks later came an obligatory trip to Frankfurt, Germany, and I’ve never been less prepared to enter a new country. I would normally [Read more…]

Filed Under: All Posts

Eat like a local? OK. Drink like a local? Nah

October 5, 2014 by Lee

Arni takes cocktails seriously at Apoala.

Arni takes cocktails seriously at Apoala.

More about bitters. I’ll keep this brief, I promise.

The advice to new expats is to go with the flow, eat and drink like the locals, and keep things simple. Abandon your old ways and adapt to life as it is lived in Yucatán.

As you can see on the Facebook forums, this is easier said than done. We all want our old foods and drinks. Familiar brand names comfort us. Aunt Jemima syrup, Twizzlers and Pringles are prized possessions. We packed Triscuits for our neighbors.

So don’t judge me too harshly if I shun Montejo beer in favor of the Rob Roy, an American cocktail that requires Scotch, with a splash of vermouth and a shake or two of bitters. I’ve been documenting my search all along.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: All Posts Tagged With: food, restaurants

The wheels are in motion

October 4, 2014 by Lee

Open, pretty flower, open! Our plane leaves on Sunday!

Open, pretty flower, open! Our plane leaves on Sunday!

We’re back in New England, where the autumn chill is setting in, relying on Team Nana to keep our Mérida house in order. Team Nana consists of the property managers, the architects/project supervisors (still on the scene while the house is under warranty), and their own employees and contractors, plus the contractor’s subcontractors. Why did I ever think I’d just need to pay someone in the neighborhood to check the mail now and then?

We agreed this week, based on the recommendation of the person who designed our garden, to increase the landscaping budget at Casa Nana, from two to six hours a week. We approved the purchase of some tools, and bought additional irrigation sprinklers, too. The greenery is coming in very well, as it should with all this rain, but it takes constant taming.

A couple we know said they have a gardener come in daily, four hours a day. I was tempted to think [Read more…]

Filed Under: All Posts Tagged With: gardens

Imagine the Archives

  • July 2017 (1)
  • January 2017 (1)
  • July 2016 (2)
  • June 2016 (1)
  • January 2016 (4)
  • December 2015 (3)
  • November 2015 (1)
  • October 2015 (2)
  • July 2015 (2)
  • June 2015 (1)
  • May 2015 (1)
  • April 2015 (1)
  • February 2015 (2)
  • January 2015 (5)
  • December 2014 (2)
  • November 2014 (1)
  • October 2014 (4)
  • September 2014 (2)
  • August 2014 (4)
  • July 2014 (1)
  • June 2014 (7)
  • May 2014 (5)
  • April 2014 (4)
  • March 2014 (3)
  • February 2014 (5)
  • January 2014 (5)
  • December 2013 (5)
  • November 2013 (8)
  • October 2013 (5)
  • September 2013 (7)
  • August 2013 (9)
  • July 2013 (9)
  • June 2013 (7)
  • May 2013 (15)
  • April 2013 (5)
  • March 2013 (5)
  • February 2013 (9)
  • January 2013 (7)
  • December 2012 (6)
  • November 2012 (5)
  • October 2012 (3)
  • September 2012 (8)
  • August 2012 (4)
  • July 2012 (8)
  • June 2012 (10)
  • May 2012 (6)
  • April 2012 (7)
  • March 2012 (2)
  • February 2012 (6)
  • January 2012 (11)
  • December 2011 (10)
  • November 2011 (12)
  • October 2011 (23)
  • September 2011 (26)
  • August 2011 (20)
  • July 2011 (31)
  • June 2011 (32)
  • May 2011 (21)
  • April 2011 (22)
  • March 2011 (2)
  • January 2011 (1)
  • November 2010 (1)
  • July 2010 (1)

Copyright © 2018 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in