Monday, September 10, 2007

Casa Azul de Santiago

Salvadore Reyes Rios designed and furnished this luxurious private home with many of the same features he applied when renovating the Hacienda Petac and Starwood’s Hacienda San Jose Cholul . His work is very prominently featured in the book CASA YUCATAN as well as LIVING IN MEXICO. Casa Azul de Santiago is one of his most beautiful Colonial home renovations in the Yucatan. The infinity edge pool in the garden is visible from most of the rooms as the house wraps around the pool. In the mornings you can shop for provisions amoung the exotic fruits and fresh flowers. Evenings will find you on the refreshing roof terrace overlooking the park and facade of Santiago Church. Santiago park is a favorite among locals for the Tuesday night concerts of big band salsa and swing music. We like to eat at the taco stands in the Santiago market and watch the local couples dance. A new member of the Charming Hotels and Inns group is just two blocks away, Villa Maria is a favorite bar and dining room of expats. The Zoo at Centenario Park is a short walk away which make this house a favorite among families with small children. Santiago is a great lively old barrio and this is the best vacation house for rent in Merida with a pool.

France had the most influence on culture and architecture in the Yucatan in the 19th century. This house shows a lot of French influence in the neo-classical facade and the original faux wallpaper painted details in the front bedroom. The house offers a lot of privacy for two couples vacationing together or with kids. The front hall opens onto the bedroom to the left and the living room. The front room with the double beds also has a nice large bathroom. The adjoining large living room features the modern furniture that Reyes Rios designed specifically for this room. A curious conversational sofa centers the room. There is a view of the pool and garden from the living room and the dining room that adjoins. The dining room table seats 12 or 14. It is a great house for a party and that is what the owners had in mind when they renovated this beautiful vacation home. This house is dangerously addictive. Some guests to return over and over again.
If you are not a group of 14 to dine or doing an enormous crossword puzzle on the huge dining room table you may choose to dine "en famille" in the kitchen. The traditional Mexican kitchen with it’s beautiful hand painted tiles from Puebla is fully furnished with new and modern appliances. Beyond the kitchen is a more private wing of the house that borders the garden. There is a comfortable large modern bathroom. Then the master suite which includes a sitting room with cable TV and high speed Internet connection. The master bedroom has a very comfortable king size bed. Simple Solid 400 thread count sheets throughout the house and large fluffy spa bath towels.

It is the fantastic pool that is the soul of this luxury holiday villa. Enjoy the pool in the shade of the morning or afternoon when you can sunbathe up on the roof terrace and cool off in the pool. At mid-day the pool does have direct sun. The lush green jungle garden at the end of the pool has a bitter orange tree and several lime trees. Collect them for the freshest margarita’s or lemonade in town.

Often guests from Hacienda Temozon or the other Starwood hotels book Casa Azul for a stay in town as it has the same standards and aesthetic as these hotels without the exclusive price. Several of the wedding parties from Temozon have used this Colonial house as their pied a terre in Merida. If you are considering renovating a colonial home in Merida or if you just want to rent the best possible holiday home book Casa Azul de Santiago. Your holiday may never end ...




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