Retired Life of an Artist in Mexico 🇲🇽 Living in Merida Yucatan Mexico

Today we hang out with Kaytee Esser an American Artist living here in Merida Yucatan Mexico. She sits down for an interview with us about what life is like for her as an artist here in Merida. We also go on a walking tour of Paseo de Montejo on a Sunday morning and show you El Corredor International de Artes to show you what all the other artists who gather there every Sunday are up to. Join me as I show you what a typical Sunday out here on Paseo Montejo in Merida looks like! #KayteeEsser #mexico #meridayucatan
Kaytee's Website - www.kayteeesser.com/
Instagram: @KayteeEsser - / kayteeesser
Facebook: / petandpeopleportraits
00:00 Intro
03:40 Walking tour of Artist Corridor on Paseo Montejo
12:33 Chat with Lilia Camara Benois Director of el Corredor International de Artes
15:13 Walking tour of Artist Corridor on Paseo Montejo
22:20 Tour of Kaytee's Studio
26:13 Interview with Kaytee Esser
49:06 Surprise Ending!
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[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Website Full of FREE information www.josearteaga.com Kaytee's Website - www.kayteeesser.com/ Instagram: @KayteeEsser - instagram.com/kayteeesser/ Facebook: facebook.com/petandpeopleportraits/

[@ZDD760]

Safe, clean and art for everyone. The US could learn from Merida

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Thanks for sharing!

[@dhgemein2]

Things like the art fair and the bike take-over of the street are to me always signs of a healthy and flourishing city. Nice to see!

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Yes I totally agree! They close the streets all up and down Paseo Montejo and it goes down all the way through the Downtown area so you can ride your bikes freely down the streets with your family and not have to worry about any kind of traffic! You can also rent bikes right on Paseo Montejo if you are out here on vacation. Many cities in Mexico have a similar practice not just here in Merida. Also every once in awhile they also close the streets on Saturday nights which has its own set of wonders!

[@dianaj3139]

I have to say it .... Jose, this is your best work! You are showcasing People who enjoy the work they do and you ask all the right questions! You were born to be a journalist!! I know you are good with all the other aspects of media but the way you put people at ease to share their lives and passions is wonderful! Thank you so much for highlighting this lovely story and Artist!!

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Wow, thank you for the kind words! Really happy to hear so many people are enjoying these interviews! Just trying to show people what life in Mexico really is like one interview at a time. Expect even more in the future!

[@MEarnest-xu4wx]

I just loved this video. I’ve been to Merida so many times (going again) and I never knew about this artist corridor on Sundays. I also love your raw footage style of reporting without commentary.

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Thank you for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dianacook6337]

This video makes me miss Merida even more. I love those walks and looking at all the vendors art. We will be back. ❤️

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Glad you enjoyed the Video! Hopefully you will be back in Merida sooner than later!

[@MsAure]

❤ I am loving Mx and have never been there.😮

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

That is awesome! Hope you get to make it out here soon! Thanks for sharing!

[@gregorgman]

Nice Job Jose and Kaytee!

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Muchas Gracias! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@pascalfo6014]

Cool all art ,history ,activities, sport ,etc. from merida make you a good ambassador for merida plus it make us discover merida to , good for en immigrant ,nice job

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Muchas Gracias! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@LisaAlmaraz]

She’s my neighbor. I can’t wait to meet her and see her art!❤

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Oh wow! That's great! Kaytee is a total sweetheart! I'm sure she'll love to meet you!

[@jeffokriya3389]

Good job Jose. . . nice interview . . and that gizmo portrait is awesome, I´m a dog lover too, congrats

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Muchas Gracias for the kind words! Glad you really enjoyed the video! I totally agree the portrait of Gizmo came out Superb! I have it hanging in my office right now! You should be able to see it in my livestreams going forward. Thanks again!

[@SketchbookTimeMachine]

¡Jose! ¡Este es uno de tus mejores videos hasta ahora!

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Wow! Muchas Gracias! Me alegro mucho que te gusto tanto! Me da mucha confianza para seguir haciendo mas entrevistas similares! Un Abrazo fuerte! Saludos!

[@everardosantana1004]

Very nice to see you interview different people. I really appreciate your videos and inspiration

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Glad you like them! I really appreciate the kind words!

[@KaiBuskirk]

Awesome!

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@colleenjolicoeur6059]

I loved this video today. Got to stroll along Paseo de Montejo on a lovely Sunday morning with you guys just as if I were there. so interesting.

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

That's awesome! So happy to hear that! Glad I could bring you along for the ride with me today!

[@LizaJaneFlor]

Love this, Jose, just sent it to my son who is coming to visit in April

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

That is awesome! Thanks for sharing! I hope they get a chance to do the Biciruta! I remember my niece and nephew really loved it when they came down to visit with my sister and her husband. It really is something magical to see so many families having such a wonderful time together. One of the first dates me and Christian had was going out on la Biciruta and we still come out here from time to time to enjoy a beautiful Sunday walk or bike ride through the city.

[@LizaJaneFlor]

Yes it’s amazing! Today he’s skating and bike riding and then they’re doing karaoke for his birthday which is Tuesday! I know he’s gonna love it!

[@freedomfannie7804]

Thank you Kaytee and Jose! Fun and informative!

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Muchas Gracias! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mikepeterson3060]

Kaytee is so talented, a woman of beauty, refinement and culture - not the type of gal who would have anything to do with a biker from Pittsburgh !

[@dianaj3139]

you never know :)

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Thanks for sharing!

[@gregorgman]

You're gonna pay for that Peterson

[@demarcosmith581]

Jose i might move to mexico one day soon probably merida!

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@wzct]

great interview, Jose!

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sophiemarcaurele]

I think your videos are getting better and better, and I appreciate the fact that you interview locals in their language! 😊 you remain humble, respectful and let your subject speak... I would LOVE for you to interview locals and ask them to explain about their own culture and crafts, from the melipona honey production, various crafts, different languages and celebrations. As for the subject, well, my opinion as an immigrant: At least she corrected herself when she called the First Nations "Indians". Similarily, it's Maya - maya folks, maya ruins, maya history. "Mayan" isn't an adjective, it only refers to the different Mayan dialects. It's cool to thrive as an artist. But as she says, the Maya culture is alive and well, with about half of the population in Mérida estimated to speak a native language along with Spanish: so it's THEIR culture to interpret, explain, teach, and benefit from $$. If I want to learn from them I will go to Na'atik or PICY (Programas de Inmersión Cultural en Yucatán). I reckon they've been suppressed and exploited long enough, there's many lovely local artists to support including your wife Christian. The money should go straight to them and their communities. I dunno, there's kind of a feeling of colonial appropriation for a freshly landed USAnian to explain the local culture to anyone (especially when they still can't name the most popular landmarks in the city 🙃🙃) and it feels like the opposite of immersion. 🤔 🇲🇽 🙌🏼

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

One thing I learned myself about Kaytee is that she has always been around Native American Culture and went to school for art and anthropology to help her go even deeper into her understanding of it. After knowing more about her I realized immediately why she immersed herself in the local mayan culture since that it was already in her DNA to do so. I'm not a big fan of the term cultural appropriation and prefer to call what goes on as a fusion. One can say the local mayans are also culturally appropriating Culture from the USA by driving cars, using iphones, and watching netflix 😅 In the end if you look deep into who was actually behind some of the preservation of many of the ruins and culture it was outsiders who came out here to Merida and other parts of Mexico and made it their life mission to do so. In fact even Indiana Jones was based on a famous Archeologist who lived out here in Merida and was one of the main people who helped restore Chichen Itza and other ruins. I think what Kaytee is doing is great as are the many other artists who have moved here and shared their own culture with the locals. As Merida grows so will the opportunities for the locals who know the area best. I myself come from Cuban Parents and was born in the USA and I benefited greatly and not so greatly from American Culture. Now that I am here as a Foreigner I am able to show other foreigners and Locals alike the real beauty of living out here in Merida Yucatan Mexico. Many Mexicans have told me that if it wasn't for me and my videos they never would have considered Merida. I could go on and on about this.... and in fact I just might in a future video. Stay tuned! Thanks for sharing!

[@sophiemarcaurele]

Good points! 🤔🤗 ​@@JoseArteagaTravels

[@p.c.h.6721]

Buen trabajo José, saludos!! 👍

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Muchas Gracias! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@joselinaortega548]

Como estás me gustan muchos tus vídeos;me encantaría conocer a México,creía en verdad que era peligroso,pero mirando tus vídeos me doy cuenta que no.i hope I can go next winter.me encanta tu esposa;ustedes son humildes y simples. Your videos are very interesting.

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Muchas gracias por sus palabras! Mexico es maravilloso y me alegro mucho poder compartir lo con ustedes!

[@pascalfo6014]

Merida is very cool simple as this

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Viva Merida! Viva Mexico!

[@crumbdav]

I own a home in Merida but can't be down there all the time because of work. This makes me miss Merida again.

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Perhaps its time you should look into moving out here permanently. Life is too short to not enjoy it. Thanks for sharing

[@sg639]

I'd like to hear more about how you found and purchased that home and any tips about the process, please.

[@crumbdav]

@sg639 well it was 2015 so it was before the boom you have now. If you know how much I paid for my 8.6m x 40m property 15min walk from the Zocalo, you'd probably slap me!!

[@sg639]

​@@crumbdav Was this an apartment?

[@crumbdav]

@@sg639 ooh no, a traditional colonial between Santiago and San Sebastian... My biggest suggestions are: be in Merida, and learn Spanish...

[@donnaabateholmes]

Great video!!!

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Thank you! Glad you liked it!

[@johniewilliams1951]

Hello, I am looking forward to seeing the art Corridor artists group. As a painter I would like to meet with the manager of the Corridor artist .Thanks fir sharing this video. I know what I will be doing for my 180 days. Lol 😊😊 Thank you for this information.

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Sounds great! Glad to hear this video was so helpful! Good luck with everything!

[@johniewilliams1951]

@@JoseArteagaTravels Yes I hope to be in Merida soon, looking forward to meeting you if possible. I'm an American coming from Germany. Got any information on this topic? Let me know.

[@BaronVonKrunch]

❤

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

🙂

[@Aatypicalnoob]

Hi I am new here!

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Welcome aboard!

[@demarcosmith581]

Jose i live in Missouri is it possible to sneak into mexico like a fugitive?

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Anything is possible but I wouldn't recommend it

[@crystalgarcia2143]

Mexico will not extradite you if you face the death penalty and bounty hunting its illegal just ask Doug the bounty hunter

[@MichaelCoughlanmusic]

Is there a chance of playing music (street performing for money) in the streets in Mexico, as a guitar player and singer of some capability? Love your channel senor! Gracias!

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Great Question! Yes, absolutely! There are many musicians who roam the streets mostly at night and play music for donations. You can also play music at many venues around town. There is a vibrant music community out here as well and if you are good musician you will have no trouble finding gigs or you can just create your own!

[@MichaelCoughlanmusic]

@@JoseArteagaTravels Thanks kindly for your answer. If I'm singing in english am I better off to go to Baja California or other ex-pat concentrated areas?

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

​@@MichaelCoughlanmusic It all depends on many factors honestly. The type of music you are playing, the kind of crowd you want to entertain, and the kind of of instrument. My best advice is to do more research and perhaps go visit some of the cities you are interested in and see what will best suit you. Good Luck with everything!

[@MichaelCoughlanmusic]

@@JoseArteagaTravels 🤟

[@luissolis2377]

Mérida la de Yucatán, es una ciudad que respira arte. Buen video, gracias por traerlo.

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Me alegro mucho que le haya gustado! Saludos! Viva Merida!

[@hanson4035]

I would make... Bratwursts!! They are my art!

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

That is awesome! I totally agree, I know you are great at handling Sausages! In fact you should check out the videos I did with Sophie from Zinc kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4nKkH1ogp2glbs and Bernardo from La Sicilia kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHyUpXtsnJdsa80 They will offer you a lot more insight on what it is like to open and run a restaurant out here in Merida. Thanks again for sharing! Hope to one day try your Bratwursts!

[@hanson4035]

@@JoseArteagaTravels absolutely my guy!

[@demarcosmith581]

What up jose are how are you brother 😊

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

Hola!

[@Swim136]

You should help your wife get a membership and she can take her paintings .. set up & maybe paint someone! Make $$ a little.

[@JoseArteagaTravels]

As we explained in the video it is very easy to become part of the Corridor. She used to sell there when she was younger. She has moved on to different things these days. For example most of her artwork is currently on display at the local Cultural Arts Center. She has traveled to Oaxaca to work on various projects. She teaches a class at the local Art University and she was in Mexico City not too long ago being recognized as one of the influential artists in Mexico and is in the Mexican National Archives. Christian is constantly evolving as an artists and is always working on new projects. You should check out her website for more information on her artwork and what shes up to these days www.christiankuk.com/