Vagant life in Mérida by Gina Gongora
After living for a few years outside of my hometown of Merida, I returned to it with a vacation plan after quitting my dream job at Vogue. However, I found something magical in this city so quiet and full of history that made me stay longer than planned.
I came from studying in London and working there as a Stylist assistant for Vogue and GQ India. Then I settled in another big city, Mexico City, to work at Vogue Mexico for two years. I knew my career was on the right track and dedicated 100% to fashion. But life gave me a great lesson after returning to Mérida and opening my eyes to how beautiful my city was and the great opportunities that I managed to uncover, with new eyes and a more open mind.
And that’s how Vagantes was born, after falling in love with every corner of the white city, and with so much desire to show the extraordinary and valuable architecture, design and history that exists in it.
We are a community of ¨lazy¨ people, those who seek constant movement, continuous change and are passionate about discovery: of the natural, the local, the roots, the old made eternal and originality. We are constant travelers, in and out of our body and mind. Curious Tireless adventurers and appreciators of the simple, the human, the imperfect.
Being ¨slow¨is a way of life. We have created 5 houses and a boutique for all those who believe in this philosophy. We would like to create experiences that will not be forgotten and share the best of the city with people who become friends.
It is a simple life, and see how magical it is. Welcome Vagantes!
About her Project: Casa Vagantes
Created with the aim of sheltering travelers who visit our Mérida.
Casa Vagantes is a dream come true. The opportunity to acquire this home and bring it to life was a process that we thoroughly enjoyed.
Fernando Gómez as the architect of Arista Cero and Gina Góngora, founder of the Vagantes brand, teamed up to give life to a place that represented the style of the vagrant traveler.
It is a house located one block from Paseo Montejo, with a mid-century style. The original design was respected as much as possible and especially the passage of time in the house.
For us, the passage of time, the age of construction, are finishes that we cannot make and that have an intangible value. That is why the walls were scraped to find the history of the house that is represented by the layers of paint that it has had through the years. The rusted windows remained original as were the doors that were found under thin wood slats that made them look a bit more modern.
Furniture and interior décor were recycled, found in thrift stores, steel mills, and even garbage dumps.
We want the house to be an experience, we take care of every detail, from the architecture to the aroma. The kitchen items, the coffee we serve, and the lighting. The Yucatecan lifestyle with a hammock and a pool to cool off from the intense heat of our city.
Undoubtedly the protagonist of the house is the huaya tree that represents nature iat its greatest splendor.
Mérida guide:
Where to stay?
• Casa Vagantes.
• Casa Deco (Airbnb)
Shopping
• Vagantes, Cuarto de Maravillas. Calle 55 con 62
• Coqui Coqui
• Taller Maya
• Casa Tho
• Folks
Munchies
• Micaela, mar y leña.
• Oliva Enoteca
• Maya de Asia
• Apoala
• Rafaelo Pizzería
Comida Regional
• Mugy
• Teya Viva
Drinks
• Salon Gallos
• Catrin
• Patio Petanca
• Speakeasy de la 53
Cenotes
• Mucuyche
• Ik il
• No Mozon
• Yoszonot
Visitas del dia
• Izamal
• Valladolid
• Celestún