Valladolid, Yucatán, México
It is somewhat surprising that
Valladolid,
the second largest city in the Yucatan, has not received more tourist attention
than it has. Until more recently it
has been known as a “ciudad de paso” – a place you pass through to get to
someplace else. For that smaller
number of tourists “in the
know” the beautiful cenotes (clear pools of
water partially or fully enclosed in caves), colonial buildings, charming
churches, a spatious tree-lined central park, a modern history museum, proximity
to mayan ruins,
birdwatching opportunities, and many other attractions are all a best kept
secret.
Now three couples (Tom Jones and his wife, Kathie, from Asheville, North
Carolina, U.S:A.; Raul Mendoza Alcocer and his wife, Naloy, from Valladolid, and
Raul´s brother, Francisco Mendoza Alcocer and his wife, Yamily, also from Valladolid) have joined talents
to bring you in on the secret by providing you with a restored colonial house
within the historical district of Valladolid in which you can unwind in a
comfortable setting, explore the delights of Valladolid, and use your home as a
base of operation for day trips in the area.
The ruins of
Chichen
Itza, Ek
Balam, and Coba are less than an hour away by taxi, collectivo (8 passenger
van), bus or your own car. Merida,
Cancun, Rio
Lagartos, El
Cuyo and Tulum are less than 1 and ½ hour away.
The charming colonial town of Tihosuco with its Maya culture museum and
massive fortress church is less than 45 minutes away.
The new Chichen Itza International Airport (20 miles from the heart of
Valladolid) will soon have international carriers and will gradually become a
user friendly alternative to flying into Merida or Cancun (e.g., Aeromexico is
considering direct flights to and from Orlando, Florida in the U.S.A).
Try the website of the airport´s general manager for updated information
(ericza@sureste.com).
The people from Valladolid (vallisoletanos) are family oriented and love
their children. They are most
friendly toward people from other countries.
The crime rate is low.
The exact age of La Casa de San Juan has not yet been determined.
The prior owner places her grandparents in the house in the 19th
century. The intact portion of the
original house consisted of the living room (sala) and formal dining room
(comedor). Added more recently in
this portion are a loft bedroom reached by a spiral staircase, a studio/library,
and two bathrooms. In the sala and
comedor ceilings are 18´ high with
wooden beams. Nineteenth Century
replicas of wood and wrought iron chandeliers hang from the beams.
The floors appear to be the original mosaic tile.
The windows have double wooden shutters over 8´high and when open
provide considerable sunlight, breeze, or night air.
Over the wrought iron grilles you can watch the panorama of the city.
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The newer section of the house doubled its original size and consists of
the master bedroom, kitchen, informal dining area, storage room, and veranda.
The arched windows with decorative grilles face the walled courtyard with
its garden and space for one car. A
red tiled roof over a matrix of wooden beams, tiled floors, and the typical
moorish window (i.e., quatrafoil or “ojo de buey”) over the front entrance
all combine to suggest the kind of Spanish architecture you might find in Santa
Barbara, California, or Taos, New Mexico. The
effect is to complement the more staid appearance of the original house so
typical of Valladolid architecture during the 19th Century and
earlier.
The house is comfortably furnished in a blend of contemporary, Mexican
artesania, and colonial pieces. The
two bedrooms each have twin beds. Folding
beds and hammocks allow for overflow sleeping.
All the amenities you would want in your own home are provided – i.e.,
sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, washcloths, kitchen utensils.
Rooms are provided with either airconditioning, fans, or a combination of
both. The studio/library is supplied with a selection of books in
Spanish and English on the history, flora, and fauna of the Yucatan.
A variety of games have been provided including cards, checkers, monopoly,
dominos, and cribbage. There is an
AM/FM radio with CD and cassette capability.
Bring your favorite tapes and CDs. Many
of the items that you see in the house have intrinsic and/or sentimental value. We ask that you respect the integrity of these items so that
guests following you may also enjoy them. The
house itself is situated in the San Juan barrio of Valladolid 1 and ½ blocks
from San Juan Park, the San Juan
Church, and the Cine San Juan, the only theater in town.
Two blocks further south is the historic railroad station of Valladolid,
now badly in need of restoration. The
house is a comfortable five blocks from the Parque Fransisco Canton, the main
square.
We
look forward to having you as our house guests and hope that “el corazon
reposa y el espiritu vaga” (your heart rests and your spirit roams).
For rental information and
reservations you may contact either
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