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Published: June 15th 2005
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Friday 3rd June 2005 : To Merida
As Rory has difficulty swallowing tablets I tried the pharmacy for soluble B1. All he offered me were multivitamins which were not soluble. Is it my accent ? I did not even try asking for soluble chloroquine.
Bought tickets to Merida. I spoke Spanish while the clerk replied in English, somewhat surreal but I got the correct tickets.
Caught the bus OK. Arrived at Merida and followed the directions to The Nest without a hitch.
They did not have a private room available so we had 4 beds in a very tall two-tier 6-bed dorm, each bed with its’ own light and fan. Attractive, modern style in an old building. Lots of metal fittings, spiral staircases and tons of light - plus a small pool.
Owen and I found the nearest supermarket. It was called Aki and was reminiscent of Aldi i.e. limited range. I later found most shops had a similar limited range. The larger shops simply had more of the same on bigger shelves.
Pasta for tea again.
It was rather warm overnight.
Saturday 4th June 2005 : Market, mango, money
Breakfast OK, but bread sweet
here too. Coffee and purified water available all day foc.
Offered a 4-bed room complete with air-con at no extra charge - brilliant.
Confusion later on outstanding bill but resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.
Walked into town centre. Pavements are all narrow, difficult to linger and look around except in the main squares. Found the market. Lots of cheap mangoes and other fruit. Tons of chillies, limes and avocados plus many unrecognised chilli-type things.
Started a Sunday Times book on the Iranian Embassy siege.
Rafael, the receptionist, learns the overnight cover cannot make the next few days. The manager is away so Rafael has to do 2-3 days 24 hours.
Went to the Parque Centenario with Rory PM. It is a large playground with pay-as-you-ride things and a few free swings etc. It also has a free zoo with lots of big cats, sleepy monkeys (it was very hot again), green-billed toucans and crocodiles amongst others.
Had two giant pizzas delivered in the evening
Sunday 5th June 2005 : Square dancing
Into town PM. Found the Lebanese restaurant for dinner. Super grub. The boys had meat and we had houmous, tabouleh etc
Unfortunately in the street later I wiped my eye with chilli on my finger. I then did the ‘throw water in your eye dance’ for the locals benefit.
In the main square there were lots of children doing traditional dancing to recorded music.
Later adults danced to a live band. The band were a little loose.
Monday 6th June 2005 : Dzibilchaltun or bust - we busted
Finished the Iranian Embassy siege book. Disappointing as it introduced some of the psychological issues from earlier situations e.g. Spaghetti House but did not go into any significant analysis of the Arabistan rebels themselves.
Still sweltering. Determined to get out of town before leaving for Campeche. We followed the guidebook and set off for San Juan park to catch a colectivo for Dzibilchaltun which has both Mayan ruins and a cenote open for swimming.
Could we find a colectivo for Dzibilchaltun, could we heck. I asked three people where and none of them knew. I asked a driver (heading for a different destination) where to catch it. He sent us two blocks away, near one of the bus terminals. As we get there a local tries to
sell me a hammock, No thanks but can you tell me …
He sends us back to the same square, but the far side of the church. We find the queue of empty colectivos for Dzibilchaltun. We wait a while but no-one else joins us. After maybe ten mins a lady stops and informs us we will wait ‘mucho tiempo’ before anyone will go to Dzibilchaltun. She adds that we would be better off taking the Progreso bus and getting off at such a turn-off. I thank her thinking thanks but no thanks. I’ve had enough, it is 12:30, I give in. Let’s go to a museum in town instead.
Owen disappears on his own. Deb, Rory and I make our way to the Anthropology Museum on Paseo Montejo. The route passes tons of dress-making material shops but we are not in the mood.
We arrive at the museum and it is closed on Mondays, as is its’ café where we had expected to have a snack.
We traipse back to the main square and joy of joys it rains heavily for five whole minutes. We stop at a café and there is Owen. We join
him, he leaves and I cover his bill.
Back to the hostel, in the pool. Tried to book hostel for Campeche and El Panchan near Palenque.
Later find a biography of Aristotle Onassis. I had not realised that his first success was in Argentina after he along with thousands of Greeks were hounded from Smyrna in 1922. Maybe Argentina means more to me now.
Midges and mossies are a real pain. Went to buy more repellent from the 24hr pharmacy.
Good old spaghetti for tea. Delayed while we waited for Owen. He went for a stroll and took a wrong turn.
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