Temporada
Summertime means moving lock stock and barrel to the beach and basically commuting back and forth between work, which for most people gets less hectic during the summer months, thereby enabling you to wake up in the morning, jog that daily jog, swim to cool down and exercise some more, then have a breakfast with the family and head to Merida to work. Thanks to an excellent highway illumination program, the Merida-Progreso highway is now completely lit from one end to the other and therefore much safer for the drive back to the beach after dark. While some people find it a pain to live at the beach, missing their creature comforts and noisy neighbors, I love living at the beach and would do it all year round if the kids didn't have to start school so early.

Food
Another thing that makes living in Merida great is the food. The diversity of Yucatecan gastronomy has been written about in greater detail and much more eloquently by many, but since people are questioning me as to why I bother to live here, I thought I might put in my two cents worth. I am especially fond of the queso relleno, as well as the panuchos and salbutes that can be found anywhere. One of my favorite places to eat is the Hacienda Teya, where the service and food are outstanding. Colonos is another, more local and 'typical' although I hate to use that cliche, kind of mid-day restaurant. And we couldn't leave out Heladio's, where all kinds of inspired Yucatecan snacks arrive at your table upon ordering a simple beer.

Drink
Mexican beer is also great, my favorite being Nochebuena, which only comes out around Christmas, followed by Bohemia and then XX Lager. Any Mexican beer is far superior to all the standard major American beers, both in taste and alcoholic content.
Another reason to like living here is the abundant supply of aguas naturales made from the readily available fruit. During any specific season, you could enjoy agua de mandarina, de naranja, toronja or limon, or maybe something more exotic like pitahaya or passionfruit, also known as maracuya.

People
People. Yes, I like most of the people I have met in Merida; they have shown tolerance, acceptance and have been downright friendly to this foreigner. Although there are ignorant people as in any small town, on the whole I have never felt threatened by anyone and most people appreciate when you speak their language and try to approach them on an individual level.

Safety
Merida is still a safe place to live and has strong family values that make it a great place to raise a family, although I am afraid that the rot that has permeated a large portion of Mexican society in the form of crime and impunity will eventually arrive here as well, once the bad guys find out what an easy-going place this is.

You can still leave your car most places, within eyesight of course, without locking it up tight; wander around downtown without fear of having your head caved in by some crack-smoking junkie looking for a few pesos, or get stranded on a dark unlit highway in the middle of the night without someone taking advantage of you - better still, someone will eventually stop and help out. I've done all of these (or had them happen to me) so I know what I'm talking about...

Real Estate and Clean Air
As the ever-increasing influx of foreigners and huaches will prove, part of the attractiveness of Merida as a place to live is the absence of major industry, which combined with the topography and winds, means that there is very little air pollution to speak of. And, with real estate prices being what they are, you can live quite comfortably compared to places like Mexico City, Guadalajara or further out, Miami or Houston or even that cultural backwater Storm Lake Iowa.

So, my dear readers, hopefully you will now believe that I really do like living here in Merida. My intention in commenting on some of the negative or 'different' aspects of living here in what was supposed to be humorous light was not to offend anyone, but to perhaps shed some light on a few of those things that a person who has lived here all their life might not see. And who knows, perhaps if some of those negative things are seen more clearly, changes can be made that would certainly make Merida a better place to live in, not only for foreigners but for the ciudadanos of Merida themselves. Again my apologies to all those who felt offended, and might I remind them that I also write positively about those things that I feel are worth it.

Thanks for taking the time to wade through this!

Sincerely,

Yours Truly
Merida, Yucatan al 30 de noviembre de 1998