Letter from the Editor: June 2020

“When it rains, it pours.” – Popular expression

2020 has sure been…something. Definitely not a quiet year. And Yucatán was hit particularly hard, first by Covid-19 and the accompanying economic hardship it has brought so many families. And then, just when things were starting to look somewhat positive – the double whammy that was Amanda and Cristóbal.

However, we continue to see acts of kindness and solidarity as people rally to gather donations for those who lost so much in the recent floods that hit our state. To all of you that have put time, money, and goods into this cause: thank you.

As we “go to print,” government officials have started opening up our beloved state once again with a first wave of businesses resuming operations, however limited this may be. So, this month we wanted to look forward and you’ll see this reflected in a unifying theme: what the future holds for tourism, for us as individuals, for our state, and of course, for the world.

Yucatán Today is so lucky to have Ralf, Violeta, Cassie, Cecilia, Andrea, and Greta share their writing with us yet again this month. These people have been an incredible support to our magazine and are one of the main reasons we have been able to continue our work. In this edition, you’ll be able to read their ruminations for the future that go from sustainable tourism to eating, traditional building, and exploring.

But this month, our (online) publication also features some brand-spanking-new voices. Yucatán’s Secretary of Arts and Culture Erica Millet Corona, penned a poignant reflection on the human right to access beauty and history and how it relates to tourism, featured on page 10. On page 13, Jonathan Harrington reviews Fer de la Cruz’s Covidario veinte veinte, a poetry book centered entirely on the quarantine experience. Mid City Beat’s very own Stephanie Carmon shares what spot is number one on her list of places to return to once conditions allow on page 7; while David Folster, Kanasinero at heart, partakes in a slice of Clandestine Pizza on page 4. Finally, we highlight our state’s Secretary of Tourism Michelle Fridman Hirsch on page 17. And while she may not have the answers to what the future holds for tourism, she does have a pretty good idea of where we should start looking.

We know 2020 has been a rough ride, but we’re so happy you’ve stuck out this rollercoaster with us. Here’s to happier (and just a little bit drier) days.