OVERNIGHT AT HACIENDA YAXCOPUIL

We made a reservation for the overnight guest room at the Yaxcopuil Hacienda almost 9 months ago. Yaxcopuil is located a few miles south of Mérida, the capital of the state of Yucatán.

Here below we are driving onto the hacienda and through the gates to the guest house. During the early 1900's, the hacienda employed over 500 workers to grow, harvest and process the henequen (an agave fiber resembling sisal.)   It was in operation until 1984.  But now, it offers an opportunity to see an hacienda that has not been restored much and remains in its original (but decaying) state.

Below is where we stayed.  It was where the mayordormo or the "capataz" had lived with his family.

We were delighted with the size of the  room with its original tiles.

Outside the huge wooden doors is your own private garden to enjoy, complete with lilies and the original cistern.

Here above, is the outdoor kitchen, where Aurora and her granddaughter Carolina  prepared both supper in the evening and breakfast the following morning for us..  We certainly enjoyed them.  Aurora even dressed up in her mother's huipil to serve us the food.  We had contracted to have the evening meal prepared at 5:30 PM. The timing, service and food were excellent.

Below, Jim is showing them where Washington State is and our log cabin, etc.

One of our son-in-laws had given us a portable photo printer, so we were able to leave several prints of Aurora, Carolina and her friend for them when we left.  

Aurora's husband, Mario, gave us a detailed tour of the hacienda. We had lunch earlier at the Hacienda Ochil, but weren't able to see many machines at that restored site. So this was a great opportunity.

 Above are water pumps for irrigating the fruit trees.

 Above and below is the big German made engine that turned all the belts which powered the.machines to separate the fibers and pulp from the outside leaves of the henequen.

We also visited the main house where the owner of the Hacienda lived with his family.   Below is a sink from their bathroom.

The food for the owner's family was prepared in a kitchen away from the main area of the house.

The wood (heat source) was added at the side and above the grates were pans for milk,
hot water, and the flat pan for tortillas, etc.

You can also visit the museum which holds many items discovered on the hacienda.

Yaxcopuil Hacienda  was first a cattle ranch before it shifted to henequen.  They still have some cattle.

Here below is the original tienda...called the "Tienda de Rayas."   As most of the workers were unable to write their names, they "signed" with a "raya."  It often resembled a straight line or "raya."  All the food for the workers' families had to be purchased there, their supplies, etc.  and they often became indebted to the hacienda.

This is the entry arch which proudly announced the Hacienda Yaxcopuil.

More on henequen haciendas in another post.

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