After spending the past several years in the Republic of Congo, Emmanuel Seenath and Jeanine Galvan are committed to living in the quiet fishing village of Chelem.
The couple recently bought Hotel Garza, and have ambitious plans for a complete renovation to create a memorable resort from the aged property.
Emmanuel is a native of Trinidad who has worked in Angola, Venezuela and other remote parts of the world. He and Jeanine are mechanical engineers employed by Schlumberger, an oil servicing company that operates in 80 countries. Jeanine is a native of Mexico.
The couple met in Africa at work. They are expecting their first child in November and hope to raise their offspring in Chelem where a child "can be free," to play without many restrictions, Jeanine says.
Plans to relocate immediately were derailed when neither Jeanine nor Emmanuel could get out of their employment contract with Schlumberger. As soon as Jeanine receives her American visa from immigration in Merida, the couple will live and work in Houston for the next year. Once that obligation is fulfilled, they will return to live permanently in the Yucatan.
The hotel has recieved a thorough cleaning and the restaurant has been re-opened for breakfast and lunch. Plans also include opening the hotel's tennis courts and providing public access to all amenities for a modest fee, including the pool. Wireless Internet is also available.
The restaurant menu offers food that appeals to expats, as well as dishes that are favored by the local villagers.
Emmanuel, 35, exudes excitement when he talks about his plans for the 44-room hotel.
"I want this place to be an experience for guests. It was the first hotel built in Chelem 18 years ago. I want to bring it back to its former glory," he said.
The entire structure will be repainted. Some guest rooms will include small kitchenettes for those who want book an extended stay. The bar area will be revamped, and a second palapa bar on the roof will provide guests with spectacular views of the area. Already, new plants have brightened up outdoor areas.
The couple hopes to eventually work with travel agencies to provide tours to some of the major attractions in the Yucatan, and offer fishing trips.
They will live on site by next year. In the meantime, Jeanine's brother, Raoul Galvan, will oversee the renovations and daily operations.
"Oh, man, I love this place so much. I have to live next to an ocean. I'm from an island so that is a must," said Emmanuel. "We're pretty excited. We're still relatively young and this is semi-retirement for us. I think we're on the right track. The people are so friendly and Merida has everything. The health care is pretty good and the culture here is so rich."
His wife agrees.
"Actually, I really like this place. It's a change of life we were not expecting. After all the travel, the Yucatan brings all the culture and quietness," Jeanine said. "This is the third place that I have lived by the sea. All my working life has been by the sea and I have to get used to it."
She speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese and French. Emmanuel learned Spanish during two years he worked in Venezuela. English is the official language in Trinidad and Tobago.
The couple found the hotel in March on a visit to Merida where Jeanine has friends.
"We did not come to see this hotel. We came to see another one in Progreso," said Emmanuel. "Then we saw this one on a website, popped in for 10 minutes and started negotiating. This is all new territory for us. We just want people to come here and have an experience."
Emmanuel has enjoyed fishing off the small pier near the hotel, saying he has caught more than 50 fish in the short time he has been here.
"I love anything aquatic - fishing and snorkling - but my passion is fishing. I also love football and am going to learn tennis," he said.
Jeanine, 34, enjoys shopping and is quite handy with paint and decorating, he added.
Because the couple has traveled extensively, they are looking forward to the day they can settle in at the hotel and relax.
"I hate traveling," Emmanuel said. "I won't miss the flights where they lose your luggage and sitting in a seat for 14 hours. I am ready to be quiet for awhile."
Beachbum conducts interviews with expatriates and collects their stories. Her column, Expat Profiles, can be found here on Yolisto.
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