The Funky Market in Chelem

With co-owning a company, being a mom, and now with busy season upon us it is hard to find some spare time and take in some of the events that go on within the area. I was fortunate enough to work and attend the Funky Market in Chelem this month. It was a great turn out and like always a lot of fun.

The Funky Market is held at Taco Maya, a local restaurant in Chelem. The owners Paul and Carol started the tradition a while back and it continues to grow. They have a fantastic restaurant that is very popular with the locals and ex-pats. Paul and Carol and are such wonderful people. I wish we had more time to spend with them.

People from all over the area come and sell their hand crafted items. We have locals from Chelem, Chuburna, Progreso, Chicxulub, and even Artists from Merida come and sell their items. It is a wonderful mish-mash of art, jewelry, food and more. It also gives us a chance to catch up with some of our friends that we haven't had a chance to see recently. Here are some pictures of the day.

I purchased a lovely shawl from this table.
Christine makes beautiful knitted hats, shawls and scarfs.

Mary from Progreso had the most beautiful hand crafted jewellery.
So beautiful. So unique.

Here are Randy's lush tropical plants.
He also had great hammocks for sale.
I ended up purchasing both. I could not help myself.

Our friend Martin from Chichen Itza hand carves these absolutely stunning masks.
We had him custom make us one and we just love it.
That is now our third piece from him and will not be our last. You can find him at the Cruise Ship Market on Mondays and Wednesdays in Progreso :)

This is Jorge's display of his Murano glass Necklace and Earing sets.
I just love his work. I also have purchased many pieces from him.
There are no two pieces alike. He also is at the Cruise Ship Market.

Here is Gaby at my display.
 I shared with the community my hand blended
All Natural Canadian luxury spa line.

Showing here in this picture are my
"Feet Retreat" Pedicure Foot salts :)

I just loved this table. This vender also had gorgeous
 hand crafted watches, earrings, and necklaces.

This artist had very unique wire art.
I was just amazed at the detail. So creative.

Here this artist drew this fantastic piece when
he was at his friend's house for supper.
Can you see the fine detail in this picture.
What a gift to be able to do this.

Here at our friend Nancy's table was all handmade pottery.
All the money raised at her table went to the
Chuburna Children's Christmas fund. What a great cause. :)

Here is my favourite piece at the market.
It was created an artist from Merida, named Agustin.
 I hope to purchase one of his items at the next market.

And this is what we came home with. Our custom made mask from Martin.
Our plant and hammock from Randy. Luis's handmade purses (three of them),
earrings and a bracelet from Jorge. And our beautiful coconut decorations. And I just realized I am missing a couple items. I had such a wonderful time. I can not wait until the next one :))

CLICK HERE to see the most recent You Tube video on the Funky Market.

Doesn’t it look like fun!! You could be here too enjoying all what the Yucatan has to offer. CLICK HERE to visit our Website with many affordable homes on the Beach and in Merida.

Until next time…just hanging in Paradise J
 

 

Why the Yucatan??

Have you ever been on a holiday on some beautiful beach where they serve you an exotic drink and you sit in your nice comfy chair and watch the ocean and think…. “boy I sure would love to live like this one day”.  You think about it, dream about it, but then…..do nothing about it. You get back home and re live that fantastic vacation for a short while and then get back in the “groove” of work and your everyday life and completely forget about the paradise you were in just a few days/weeks back. So many factors of everyday life seem to get in the way of living the dream you have always wanted to do. Do you really want to be in a situation 10 years from now wishing you went with your instincts back then?  The opportunity is here now….do not let it pass you by ….

Here is an example of what you could be looking
 at every night....quite spectacular isn't it!!!!

I like to call where we live here in the Yucatan our “Hidden Gem”.  However mind you people are most definitely finding out about this hidden paradise in the Yucatan.  What is so wonderful about it here? And can you really purchase a little piece of heaven and live a stress free life?? Really can you? Sure you can. Let me share a few things with you...

From my perspective life here in the Yucatan is like how it was back in Canada and the US in the 50’s and 60’s. Quite laid back. No real worries. You felt alot safer. And of course we all remember that everything was less expensive. We have no regrets about our decision in moving to the Yucatan in 2009 to start a new life and to raise our 3 year old son.

There is nothing better than watching our son grow up here. He is 3 and is almost bilingual. We have no regrets about our decision on moving to Mexico….especially in the Yucatan.

You can choose to live in the beautiful Colonial City of Merida which is populated with over 1 million people. People describe Merida as a non Mexican city and more of a European city. CLICK HERE for a great read on Merida. We have everything from Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Costco, all the Fast Food chains, and even Starbucks!! And anything you can't find in those stores you will find in the local markets for a fraction of the cost of what it would be back home. 

They sometimes call Merida the "White City" because of stunning mansions like this one located on Paseo de Montejo a famous road in Merida.



Yeah for Wal-Marts :)

And even a Starbucks. You name it we have it!!

Or you can choose to have your Mexican dream home on the beach in any one of the charming towns that line the Gulf Coast. Progreso which is the central and largest town is only a 20 minutes drive from Merida. We live on the beach in Chicxulub and just love that Progreso is an 8 minute drive and Merida is only 30 minutes away! Here is a map (see above) of all of the towns that line the Gulf coast if you are not familiar with them. Just click the picture to enlarge it. And do not forget you can visit our Mayan Living WEBSITE at any time to view all of our great properties for sale in Merida or along the Gulf Coast.

Here we are looking out on the beautiful, clear, warm Gulf waters from our favorite beachfront restruant (La Playa) in Chelem.

Here is the pier in Progreso. We have one of the longest piers in the world. Cruise Ships visit every Monday and Wednesday.

Another bonus with living here in the Yucatan you can be on US soil in less than 2 hours. That is really important to people. There are flights direct from Merida to Houston daily, and then of course from there you can fly anywhere!! Here is a great ARTICLE for you to read.

And now one of the most important factors....Real Estate here is still affordable. Yes properties are continually going up however there are still great deals all over no matter what you budget it. Click these links to see listings in the $50,000.00 range, $100,000.00 range, $150,000.00 and for the big spender $200,00.00+ 

Do you remember being on that holiday and wishing you lived in a place “like that”. I hope from reading this you can now say “I CAN live in a place like that” Let us at the Mayan Living team get you to where you want to be whether it be a winter getaway, semi permanent or if you are lucky enough to live here full time. CLICK HERE to view our website. If you have any questions you can call us direct anytime at 480-822-7290

This could be you too!!!

REAL ESTATE IN MERIDA

Merida gets its name “White City” from stunning homes like this on Paseo Montejo. Have you ever thought about a change? Perhaps you would like to live in the beautiful Colonial city of Merida? Well here is your chance. Let me share with your our featured listings of the week. They are two remarkable homes located in Merida

This first stunning home is located in the district of Santa Ana, one of the most sought after areas of Merida.  Once inside this beauty your eyes will be drawn all the way to the back of the house through high ceilings, beautiful arches and wide open spaces. This home features 4 bedrooms with soaring ceilings and gleaming tile floors, a large kitchen and an exceptional dining area with a unique characteristics. The outside open courtyard is a must see with its lush tropical plants. What a perfect place to entertain. Let’s take a look at some pictures of this beauty, or CLICK HERE to view the listing.

It is quite unbelievable what is
on the other side of that door!!

  

This for starters. Quite captivating isn't it

Here is one of the two rooms in this
Santa Ana beauty.
The second one is quite similar.

  

I thinkg the floor and workmanship
in this room is just stunning!

Here is the brand new kitchen with a
stylish hood and plenty of counter space.





Here is the outside courtyard.
Nothing but beautiful!




House number two that is featured this week is PERFECT IN EVERY WAY. This exquisite home is located less than two blocks from Paseo de Montejo the famous “White City” road in Merida, and within easy walking distance to Santa Ana Park. This home has been completely remodeled as well using only high quality finishes throughout. There are two large master suites located to the back of the house each includes a bathroom, walk in closet and privacy from the rest of the house. In the open courtyard you will find a beautiful pool among the lush green tropical plants and room to soak up the sun. You will notice the unique characteristics in this home as well very similar to the listing above. Here are some pictures of this “one of a kind” Santa Ana home, or CLICK HERE to view the full listing. Remember you can click on any picture to view it in full size.


I sure would love to walk into this room everyday!!

Isn't the craftsmanship beautiful.
Nothing but quality in this home.

Here is the very stylish kitchen
that views out to the pool area.

Nice large dining room.
 Pefect for the whole family

This is what you would see from the kitchen.
Beautiful isn't it!!

And here is one of the gorgeous bedrooms. Look at the woodwork
on the doors and windows. Nothing but exquisite!!!

Don’t forget we have a website full of amazing properties in every price range.
CLICK HERE and let the Mayan Living Team Help you find that perfect Mexican home you have always dreamt of. Learn more about Mayan Living read our last blog post “About Mayan Living”

Until next time....Just hanging in Paradise...

ABOUT MAYAN LIVING

Mayan Living Real Estate originated in Merida, and is known as one of the most well respected and successful Real Estate companies in the Yucatan for close to 10 years! Our partners Doug and Teresa purchased into the company in August of 2009, and we had a golden opportunity to become Co-Owners with them in December of 2010.

Doug & Teresa are originally from Delaware USA and have lived in Mexico for eight years.  Doug and Teresa currently live in Chelem, Progreso, Yucatan.

Doug and Teresa

Teresa on the beach after our business meeting.
What a perfect place to meet!! :)

My husband, Chad and I are from Alberta Canada and have been living in Mexico for since 2009. We currently live in a beach house in Chicxulub.

Chad my husband and I

Merida and the beaches of the Yucatan have been voted "Retirement Haven of the World" by International Living. The best way to describe it ... Life here in the Yucatan is how it was in the United States or Canada in the 50’s. This hidden gem has been discovered.  And in the last 4 years our area has started to explode with expats wanting to live the dream! 

This is due to many factors. The excellent health care in Merida, the beautiful beaches, and low cost of living. Unlike our neighbours to the south in Central and South America the Yucatan has virtually no crime. Here it is still possible to buy your dream home at a reasonable price. The economic uncertainty worldwide has in no way slowed down the market here, in fact more and more people are turning to Mexico to stretch their retirement dollars. Over and over we hear people say, “We wish we had bought 10 years ago in Playa Del Carmen"......fill in the blank with whatever place, we all have one! Well now is the time to buy here, the secret is a secret no longer. Invest in the Yucatan while it is still affordable! And yes it still is!!! CLICK HERE  too see one of those great buys!!

Here are some of my top beach pics.
Beautiful isn't it!!

This beautiful picture was taken
about 6:30 am on a September morning.

And this one just speaks for itself :)

Doug and Teresa with their strong background in Real Estate and our successful business background together the four of us make the perfect team!  Nothing but ....Honesty, Integrity, Reliability. CLICK HERE to see our full website!

Chad and Doug talking over
business at the beach.

Not only my business partner but my amiga too :)

And then again more business...

Until next time...just hanging in paradise....

THE BODY HEALERS

I am proud to announce that I am bringing “The Body Healers” products to Mexico for a limited time. I opened The Body Healers in Canada in 2004 and operated it until I moved here in 2009. The Body Healers is a creation of Hand blended All Natural bath and body products that are scented with all infused with 100% essential oils and natural scents. That means no irritating perfumes or fragrances.

The products I will be introducing to you are my Sea Salt scrubs – Lipbalms – Professional Pedicure Foot Soaks – Massage Candles – Dream Pillows – Diffusers – Massage Oil – Room and Linen Sprays – Roll on Remedies – and our most popular item....our Soy Candles.

Here is a cute little "Feliz Navidad" gift bag which contains my Soy Tealights
a Soy Votive, Lipbalm and a candycane all packaged for $100 pesos!

Here is a display of some of my Soy tealights and Lipbalms.

With being extremely busy co-owing our company, being a mom, and keeping up with everyday chores I decided not to continue The Body Healers business here in Mexico. Also for me to ship my ingredients here would result in atrocious courier fees and that of course was not feasible for me. However I do stock up on my favourite items every time I return to Canada. This summer I decided to bring back a few of my items. I had a “mini sale” at a friend’s house and surprisingly I pretty well sold out!

So just before the holidays arrive I will be hosting a couple of sales. And what a perfect time ....just before Christmas!! So please stay tuned and check in every once and a while. I will post when and where on my Face Book page as well. So do not miss out on experiencing this great Canadian made luxury product line.

Here are some the items that will be available.

Soy Candles

Our Soy Candles are Canadian made and hand poured from 100% soy wax. Soy burns cleaner, brighter, and longer (6 hrs/each tea light – 20 hrs/each square). Our candles are zinc free and made with natural cotton wicks.

Sea-Salt Scrubs 

Gently smooth scrub on your skin to polish, exfoliate, and moisturize in the shower or bath. For best results we suggest using the scrub on dry skin.  Rinse off, pat dry, and enjoy the glow. You will be amazed at how soft your skin feels!  Also a great nail scrub.

Massage Oil  NEW!

Our luxury massage oils are made with natural oils and are infused with 100% pure essential oils.  Our blend massage oils haves so many advantages: they help reduce muscle pain, moisturize and improve health of your skin, relieve body tension, fragrance a room and create a greater sense of intimacy.

Body and Room Misters

Our Body and Room mists are a beautiful way to unwind. Made with only the purest essential oils spray our mists on your body for a sense of peace and calm or to use to freshen a room or your linens

Professional Pedicure Foot Salts

The Body Healers Feet Retreat professional pedicure salts contain PURE Dead Sea Salt, which have antibacterial properties and skin conditioners. They also contain Vitamin E, a natural antioxidant, and Tea-tree, a natural disinfectant. These all-natural ingredients make the perfect combination to soften your feet while naturally disinfecting, cleansing and sterilizing. Treat yourself to the many benefits of our pedicure foot salts, the perfect solution for a professional pedicure, formulated to ensure that you always receive the best in foot spa care.

Roll on Remedies NEW!

The Body Healers is proud to introduce our newest product, our Roll on Remedies! Roll on your temple, neck or wrist to take all your cares away.

Massage Candles

Light candle before your shower or bath, let it burn about 20 min, blow out, and pour into palm for a beautiful, warm, extremely moisturizing skin moisturizer. Apply to body.  Or light to set the mood for a sensual massage oil. Contains all natural shea butter, jojoba oil, palm kernel oil and essential oils. 4oz jar will last 12-15 applications.

Soy Candles

Our Soy Candles are Canadian made and hand poured from 100% soy wax. Soy burns cleaner, brighter, and longer (6 hrs/each tea light – 20 hrs/each square). Our candles are zinc free and made with natural cotton wicks.