Enchanting Hacienda Uayamon of Campeche, Yucatan, Mexico

“ Yndie, you and Bill have spoiled me forever … no matter where I go, nothing will compare with Hacienda Uayamón”, comments Isabela Luján, a Venezuelan anthropologist and daughter in law to be.

Raul and Isabela stayed at Suite number 9, and Yndie and I in number 8...

Uayamon is one of a collection of old haciendas dating back to the sixteenth century, bought and restored by Starwood Hotel and Resorts and located in the state of Campeche in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. Originally a working cattle ranch, later ravaged by English pirates and years later sold to the Carvajal family. It was like a small village where cattle, corn, sugar cane, dye wood and henequen reined for centuries. The premises include the Main House, chapel, charity hospital, cemetery, school, irrigation systems, workshops, workers houses, engine room and its own railroad. This historic hacienda was refurbished with first class amenities for discriminating tastes, yet maintains its ancient ambience, giving one the best of both worlds.

                                                                             Isabela


As one walks up the wide manicured path towards the bi-level hacienda, a huge century old Ceiba tree greats the guests with its sacred reverence, known to the Mayans since before Christ. The Ceiba was associated with the dwelling place of their ancestors and represented heaven, earth and the underworld. A moonlit dinner with torch lights under this old one makes for an unforgettable experience.

Old hacienda walls sans roof surround a long rectangular swimming pool peering through open windows into the outside jungle. Huge columns set within the pool provide a dramatic Romanesque effect, the perfect backdrop for a glass of wine and dip before heading to dinner.

Thanks to our Spanish we were told by one of the workers of the legend of the aluxes (spirits), ancient little “people” of the rain forest, energetic, happy and playful like small children noted for their trickery. He related the story of a visiting French couples children having seen and interacted with them. They are believed to be related to Ireland’s leprechauns, Scandinavia’s gnomes and Europe’s trolls and gremlins.

 Aluxes, an outdoor chapel with a Divino Nino...

                                                              Yndie and I having dinner...

Two or three nights sleeping in the jungle in this colonial hacienda transports one to a bygone era, one that’s still tangible and real at Uayamon. The night calls of the jungle with the morning sounds of a variety of exotic birds puts the mind at ease and the body at rest. Whether a weekend or a week, this is a very special reprieve from life’s realities.

Activities include walking, swimming, bicycling, horseback riding and games both inside and in the gardens. Satellite TV, internet, room service and massage round out the package. Day trips to the ruins of Edzna are highly recommended.

Other haciendas we’ve visited and would recommend are Hacienda San Jose and Hacienda Temozon, all tucked away in the Yucatan peninsula jungle. As with Uayamon, all have been tastefully restored and adapted to today’s needs.

Getting to Hacienda Uayamon is easy, whether by car or bus, the highways are safe, well maintained and patrolled by Mexican tourist vans, in case of flats, car trouble etc. Our car trip began in Playa del Carmen, then to the city of Campeche and on to Uayamon, a nine day glitch free Mayan ruin extravaganza.

                                                             Yndie at the swiming pool...


Biodegradable products, energy and water conservation along with intelligent irrigation systems are all part of Starwood Hotel and Resorts commitment to Mother Earth.

For anyone wanting or needing an escape from reality and an unforgettable experience, keep in mind these unique and updated colonial haciendas.

http://www.luxurycollection.com/ 

Pictures Raul Sojo and Bill Milligan

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Hacienda CUCH BALAM...Cuzama, Yucatan

MANATEES AT DOLPHIN DISCOVERY, BY BILL MILLIGAN M.D.

Bill gets emotional...

Just what is it about hopping into the water with a 700 pound manatee, lumbering along, knoshing on vegetation, that brings one to realize that our society has a lot to learn from these gentle creatures. These mammals belong to the Sirenia order, believed to have evolved from four-legged land mammals more than 60 million years ago. Their closest living relatives are elephants and hyraxes (jack rabbit like mammals.

Manatees are the only marine mammals that are herbivores and can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and reach more than 3.60 meters (10 feet) in length. . They are monogamous and typically breed once every two years, with gestation lasting 12-13 months, and the weaning process taking another 12-18 months. Nursing is accomplished with mammary glands located under their armpits, after which, they leave home and lead a solitary existence. In captivity they are fed lettuce heads, of which they can consume up to 200 per day. Their scientific name is Trichechus manatus, meaning three (Tri) and chechus (nails), also known as (“tits”) amongst the indigenous of the Caribbean.

Dissapearing at an alarming rate are some of the most gentle mammals on earth, and much of this due to man and Climate Change. These mammals belong to the Sirenia order, believed to have evolved from four-legged land mammals more than 60 million years ago. Their closest living relatives are elephants and hyraxes (jack rabbit like mammals). Their scientific name is Trichechus manatus, meaning three (Tri) and chechus (nails), also known as“tits” the indigenous of the Caribbean.

Our present trip takes us to Dolphin Discovery at Isla de Mujeres, Mexico, an enchanted little island which still retains old world charm and beauty with the prerequisite amenities for a comfortable stay. We were in the gracious company of the PR Manager Maricruz Alfaro de la Barrera and manatee trainer Alejandro, further expanding our knowledge about the habits of these gentle sea and river dwellers. These docile creatures seek out warm and safe environments, gravitating to shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, Amazon basin and West Africa. Dolphin Discovery at Puerto Aventuras had the pleasure of birthing the first manatee in captivity in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. In 2008, as part of the XXXVI Annual Convention of the International Marine Animal Trainers (IMATA), Dolphin Discovery broke old myths about manatee behavior, demonstrating that learning was accomplished much faster than previously known, she said as we were heading to Isla de Mujeres, about a 30 minute boat ride from Cancun.

Dolphin Discovery began their training program with manatees in 2001 when they received two stranded manatees (Trichechus manatus) at its facility in Puerto Aventuras.


Bill & Yndie with Dolphin Discovery's PR Manager Maricruz Alfaro de la Barrera and trainer Alejandro Mata

Dolphin Discovery at Puerto Aventuras had the pleasure of birthing the first manatee in captivity in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. In 2008, as part of the XXXVI Annual Convention of the International Marine Animal Trainers (IMATA), Dolphin Discovery broke old myths about manatee behavior, demonstrating that learning was accomplished much faster than previously known.

While information on general care of manatees was available, there was little information on their training. Their slow nature and non-aggressiveness led the coaching staff to believe that animals learn much slower than the dolphins, and training would take longer. This preconception guided them to go slow and very methodical in their first attempts at training. "Over time we learned that manatees are smarter than they appear and we adjusted our training techniques with measurable results," said Alejandro Mata, training supervisor at Dolphin Discovery. The arrival of new manatees in 2007 gave the coaching staff an opportunity to apply what they learned and compare the rate of learning with the original manatees’. Silvia Becerra, trainer of Dolphin Discovery said: "What we learned was our first manatees were not slow learners, it was the teachers. Note that Dolphin Discovery is the only place in the world with interactive swimming with manatees, created not only to entertain guests, but to create awareness for the respect and protection of these beautiful marine mammals.

MORE FINDINGS ABOUT MANATEES
Often they will congregate near power plants, enjoying the warmer water and forgetting about the natural migration that occurs with seasonal changes. This has now become a problem when the plants close, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are seeking ways to warm the waters. The manatees’, (Trichechus manatus) of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Ocean, cannot survive in water less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit, due to their low metabolic rate. They can move easily within salinity extremes but require fresh water for proper osmoregulation.



The manatees's main predators are sharks, alligators, crocodiles, orcas and man, with his outboard motors, inflicting lacerations to its back, sometimes eviscerating them and leading to death. Some manatees are now recognized by the distribution and number of scars on their backs. Manatees hear on higher frequencies, and most large boats emit lower frequencies, somehow resulting in the two coming more in contact with each other, to the detriment of the manatee. When faced with higher frequencies, manatees immediately head in the other direction, sensing danger. As manatees’ need to surface every 20 minutes, fishing nets now pose a big drowning hazard, and lastly the swallowing of non-organic matter, ie, plastic bottles. Manatee hunting predates Christopher Columbus. Native Americans used the hides for making canoes, shoes and shields and their bones for “special potions”.

Latest reports from Florida in 2009 note that there was a major decline in manatees from 2008, despite more public awareness, and predictions look even more dire for 2010. In an age where the loss of creatures exhibiting non-aggressive behavior and kindness to humans is diminishing, one wonders whether this portends a gloomy forecast for man in general. Could society somehow be losing a balance, one we're not aware of, but exists nevertheless?

Bill Milligan and Yndiana Montes are grateful to OVC Cancun and Dolphin Discovery for arranging the interaction with manatees at Dolphin Discovery Cancun- Isla de Mujeres.

FLORIDA'S MANATEES DYING IN NEAR-RECORD NUMBER

Manatees Dying at Rising Rates
Ninety-five percent of all manatees live in Florida waters, and last year more of them were killed than ever before. Experts fear that record might be broken in 2010.

MANATEES IN XEL-HA BY BILL MILLIGAN M.D

Yndiana enjoying a walk with PR representative at unique theme park Xel-Ha, prior joining the program Manatees Encounter

Xel-Ha, an all inclusive eco-archeological theme park, located approximately 70 miles south of Cancun was one of our stops on the manatee tour . This ocean inlet and lagoon was an absolute joy to visit and spend the whole day, either in the crystal clear waters, snorkeling, tubing, small cliff diving, or walking or bicycling beautifully manicured paths, through jungle, with parrots squawking above and iguanas basking below in the sun. A large open air palapa roofed restaurant served excellent Mexican and Mayan cuisine, along with an assortment of International dishes, all downed with cold Mexican beers, margaritas or other exotic drinks. Makes my mouth water, as I sit here writing this.

The manatee trainers we met at Xel-Ha were very kind, devoted, and bonded with these gentle mammals and obviously protective and loving toward them. It was a real pleasure to have met these gentle trainers and see their interaction with the manatees’. We will return to Xel-Ha, and enjoy it even more the second time, hopefully in the near future.

So, what do manatees have to teach us…Why are they pre-historic survivors? How do they fit in the ecological chain?

“Manatees are the only marine mammals that are herbivores and can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and reach more than 3.60 meters, approximately 10 feet in length. They are monogamous and typically breed once every two years, with gestation lasting 12-13 months, and the weaning process taking another 12-18 months. Nursing is accomplished with mammary glands located under their armpits, after which, they leave home and lead a solitary existence. In captivity they consume lettuce heads, up to 200 per day, or approximately 10% of their weight, according to the trainers.

Dr.Bill Milligan with trainers Sergio e Hilda

Our encounter with them in Quintana Roo, Mexico was at three different locations, Xel-Ha and the Dolphin Discovery at Puerto Aventuras and Cancun (Isla Mujeres). We were able to interact with them in Cancun and Xel-Ha and speak with their trainers. Contrary to their lethargic like movements, manatees are relatively fast learners, capable of understanding discrimination tasks, having advanced long term memories, and doing task learning similar to dolphins in visual and acoustic studies.

One fascinating thing we observed at Xel-Ha, was the trainers technique of putting them in a receptive mood to interact with people. With his hands not touching the skin, he would trace backwards on the head and neck, tracing a meridian known in Chinese medicine, as Triple Burner/Warmer, involved with the fight-flight-freeze reaction. Meridians are documented energy lines that traverse humans and animals and have been used in acupuncture for five thousand years. When one traces a meridian backwards, this has the effect of calming it and its recipient, and in this instance making one more docile, at least temporarily.

This maneuver was repeatedly seen as the trainer would initiate either a training session or prepare them for human interaction. This was my first exposure seeing this technique used in the animal world.

Manatees spend half a day sleeping in water, with much of the rest, grazing at shallow depths (3-6 feet), surfacing at regular intervals for air. The adults have only a set of cheek teeth, which continually replace themselves, growing from the back towards the front, and totaling no more than six at one time. Their upper lip is large and flexible, somewhat resembling a very foreshortened trunk of an elephant and used for gathering food, eating, and social interaction and communication. Having no incisor or canine teeth and thus being unable to aggressively flash them, was perhaps nature’s way of keeping them close to shore, seeking non-threatening shallow waters and avoiding incisor (ripping or tearing) like environments. There’s probably a similar corollary with aging humans, and their ensuing dental problems.


Bill Milligan M.D and Yndiana Montes are very grateful to Fideicomiso para el Desarollo del Turimo en la Riviera Maya, as they organized their visit to Xel-Ha.

GERARDO MURRAY - WHYNDHAM CASA GRANDE MONTERREY

Q & A with Gerardo Steward Murray, General Director of the Casa Grande Hotels, owners and operators of the Wyndham Casa Grande Monterrey (formerly the Radisson Casa Grande Monterrey Valle)

Wyndham Worldwide started business in 1954, when a Group of investors proudly opened the first Wyndham Inn in Flagstaff, Arizona and sold its first franchise that same year. Today, Wyndham Worldwide has 7,000 hotels in more than 66 countries and world presence.

Gerardo Murray believes that this chain is the magic link between offering a familiar space for tourists and the services needed by business travelers: “Wyndham hotels offer their guests a harmonious combination of comfort and accessibility. Nowadays, frequent travelers are astonished by all the advantages a hotel can offer them while away from home, added to the way it rewards the frequent traveler’s loyalty. We are proud to present our Wyndham Rewards program, offering you the chance to gain reward points that can be exchanged for free nights, great prizes or plane tickets on more than 25 airlines affiliated to our program”. That is what this Hermosillo Sonora-born top executive has to say to us. He has been leading the efforts of this hotel group for more than four years and now includes the new WYNDHAM MONTERREY in his catalog.

The Wyndham Monterrey is making an impressive turnaround these days, which is the reason for this interview. It used to be the Radisson Casa Grande Monterrey Valle, to offer more details, and is now the magnificent Wyndham Monterrey Valle.

In this industry, any travel writer that prides himself for being just that knows every brand’s details, and in the case of the Wyndham, what makes it stand out most to one who is exhausted from asking, reporting and taking photos is the marvelous ergonomic bed and pillow concept called the Wyndham BE-WELL, because it reduces tension in pressure points and provides relief with its warm, sophisticated presentation. Would your guests agree that this is another advantage, Mr. Murray?
Of course, making our guests feel good is our brand essence, and that’s why we call it the BE-WELL concept, which, as we said, tries to benefit our guests by giving them a myriad of comfortable pillows and an ergonomic surface integrated to the mattress and molds to their body and assures a pleasurable rest.

The human factor is also very important for those who are here on business, not pleasure. We know that Mexicans are naturally hospitable and helpful, but have any changes been made in the service now that you are Wyndham Worldwide Hotels?
Yes, I was just going to mention that. The hospitality of our people, the corporative mentality of each and every employee in our hotel is comparable only to the comfort of the installations. Those are some of the reasons why the hotel that operated under the name of Radisson Casa Grande Monterrey Valle for more than five years will continue offering quality service and personalized attention under the name of Wyndham Casa Grande Monterrey and be part of the Casa Grande Hotel Group. Even though our employees had a background of continuous training with Radisson, we are all enthusiastic about that being reinforced by the Wyndham philosophy.

Let’s talk about the hotel’s location.
The new Wyndham Casa Grande Monterrey is in the Valle Oriente zone of San Pedro Garza Garcia, 5 km from downtown Monterrey and only a short distance from local attractions, such as the Mexican History Museum, the Alfa Planetarium, the Contemporary Art Museum (MARCO) and the Monterrey Arena. It is just two minutes from the CONVEX Convention Center, 15 from CINTERMEX, large shopping centers and important corporations.

How much has the drop in tourism caused by bad publicity on influenza affected you, and what are your expectations for this season?
I think that the entire hotel sector in Mexico got a beating, first because of the economic crisis that has been affecting us since the middle of 2008 and then the influenza scare that hit us in April of 2009.

But the good news is that a gradual recuperation can be seen in all our plazas, and the occupancy rate has gone up in the entire hotel sector, which is exciting to us but makes us even more committed.

Which markets are most important to you? What about the Mexican market?
Definitely the national market because our hotels cater to business travelers. They are our main market and that’s why we focus our sales activities, promotion and marketing on the national market, and specifically on natural markets.

Wyndham Casa Grande Monterrey has 198 rooms and suites, including the Presidential Suite. It has facilities for people with different capacities (32” TV, CDs and books, clock radio, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, mini-bar, pillow menu, safety deposit box, telephone with 2 lines and voice mail). It has an Executive Floor and private lounge for express check in and out. It also has a floor exclusively for women, “Women on their way”. It is well equipped for the MICE segment and has five salons with a capacity for 450 people and an open-air garden with advanced technology and a Business Center with bilingual personnel. The “Los Nogales” specialty restaurant is renowned throughout the zone and the “ERL Café and Sushi Bar” is elegant yet casual. It also has 24-hour room and bar service, a gym, massages, pool, laundry and dry cleaning service, medical service (by request), private parking lot and tobacco shop.

TAMARIKA CONDO FOR SALE OR RENT (PUERTO AVENTURAS)

TAMARIKA IS IN A QUIET AREA OF PUERTO AVENTURAS, NEAR THE BEACH. OUR CONDO IS A TWO BEDROOM/TWO AND A HALF BATHS, ON THE THIRD FLOOR, OVERLOOKING THE MARINA AND OCEAN.

HAS TWO DECKS AND GREAT VIEWS


USD 1,300 mes, temporada baja, 2,000, temporada alta
Semana Temporada alta: US$ 1,000

Fantástico condominio con magnificas vistas al mar y a la marina, localizado en el exclusivo desarrollo privado de Puerto Aventuras, Edificio de 12 apartamentos estilo Hacienda Mexicana, a minutos de la playa, canchas de tenis, Campo de golf y lujosos hoteles y restaurantes, El complejo cuenta con seguridad privada las 24 hs

Información:
Estado: Quintana Roo
Municipio: Solidaridad
Colonia: Puerto Aventuras
Calle y Número: Privada Xelha s/n

Recámaras 2
Closets / armarios: 4
Baños completos: 2
1/2 baños: 1
Amueblado: Si
Amueblado estilo moderno, Sala Comedor completa, 1 recamara con cama queen, 2da recámara con dos camas individuales,
Aire Acondicionado: si
Cocina completa: si
Cuarto de Lavado: si
Vigilancia: El complejo cuenta con seguridad privada 24 hs
Alberca / Piscina: Si
Estacionamiento: 1
Metros de construcción: 149.79 mts

For more information please contact:

Rob Kinnon

rob@buyplaya.com