Benne’s Cantina Turned Casa in the Yucatan

published Feb 24, 2014
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(Image credit: Submitted by Benne’)

Name: Benne
Location: Merida – Yucatan, Mexico

Just over two years ago I sold my Austin, Texas home and moved to the Yucatan Peninsula. I bought a post-colonial corner 900 sq ft home with a small patio in the historic center of Merida, the largest city in the Yucatan. I immediately fell in love with the high ceilings and the mosaico tile floors.

(Image credit: Submitted by Benne’)
(Image credit: Submitted by Benne’)
(Image credit: Submitted by Benne’)
(Image credit: Submitted by Benne’)

The house was a hovel making it difficult for most of my friends to see beyond the mess. The home had been abandoned for several years and at one time had been an illegal cantina. The property that I share a wall with, as this had been a single property divided after the death of the original owner, once served as a brothel. It is now an ice cream shop!

The historic houses are built with rock walls and as such special methods must be used to restore and seal them from water and humidity damage. I love my arched doors, all over 100 years old and amazingly sealed with bees wax from the area. I’m also pretty crazy about the talavera tiles surrounding the bathroom doors.

Thanks, Benne!

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