Mexico’s weather sizzles Day 4 and 5

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Places to stay
Maison Lafitte hotel

PLACES TO VISIT/SEE

anthropology Museum
Merida


From Chichen Itza to Merida and on to the Hotel Maison Lafitte, which will be our home for the next two days. The town has very narrow streets, and each street alternates a one-way direction. Being a tourist, learning this system was very helpful. With a million residents, Merida is the largest city on the Yucatan. After settling at the hotel we visited the Museum of Anthropology. This museum houses one of the finest collections of Mayan artifacts in the Yucatan. It is an excellent complement to a visit to any of the archaeological sites in the region. Somewhat reluctant, we hired a guide in the museum, he was great, well informed and well worth the cost.
One factor very obvious to me, it the heat, it is sweltering. After lunch we returned to the hotel to the pool. It is located in a hacienda setting with trees around it, and very refreshing. As we walking down the main street Calle 60, every time we stopped a Mexican approached offering to help.? They seemed so sincere, until they started selling “stuff”. If I were paranoid, I would say there is a conspiracy against the “Gringos”.
The Portico Del Peregrino Restaurant was a good choice for dinner, an intimate up-scale restaurant offering excellent Yucatan dishes. Leaving the restaurant, another Mexican approached and suggested we visit the co-op. We did visit the co-op and purchased two shirts, and one hat, we understood the purchases benefited the children learning the Mayan Language. As we walked back to the hotel many people stopped to tell us what great hats we had??? It was all too coincidental.
Today we visited the Dzibilchaltun Ruin, recognized as the oldest continuously used Mayan ceremonial and administrative center on the peninsula. We visited the Temple of the Seven Dolls, which is the only known temple with windows, and its location suggests it was used for astronomical observations. It also has a great museum on site (and it is air conditioned!).
Another swim in the pool and (for some reason) we decided to walk the Paseo de Montejo, a famous street in Merida. The temps were over 90 and the humidity was over 90!! Eventually we returned to the town plaza for dinner. It is Saturday and everyone is having a party in the streets. With Mariachi bands playing and people dancing and singing, we returned to an air-conditioned room to sleep (sorta of).

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Photos

Hacienda Chichen Itza
Hacienda Chichen Itza This was the pool that was a great relief.

Hotel Maison Lafitte, Merida

Museum of Anthropology. This houses one of the finest collection of Mayan artifacts in the Yucatan

This is an example of Mexican dress.

A close-up of the ball courts goal. Can you imagine getting the ball through this without using your hands or feet?

El Cristo de las Ampollas. This was built in 1561 to 1598 with stones from the Mayas ruins.

This is inside of the church which has one of the largest cross we have seen

We got to attend this wedding. They got a kick that Americanos were interested.

This is the inside of the Museo MACAY a fantastic modern art museum.

These houses were along the main street in Merida.

Beautiful homes.

Another of the many churches.

Dzibilchaltum
This is a Maya work. Can you pronounce this word?

Cenote -- Xlacah

The church was built by priests, with the help from the Mayas.

Temple of the Dolls. The only known Mayan temple with windows.

Through these doors the priest would hold court.
Twice a year the sun would like up with these doors

These are the seven dolls that were found in the temple.

Comments

[joyce appel and paul henry]

"The ruins of Central America and SA"
Aren't the Mayan ruins something to see. It always amazes me how the Mayans of Central American and the Shaman of the Inca Empire of SA could build such massive structures with primitive tools, and many just for ceremonies or to honor their emperor or God, rather than to live in. It is really mind boggling. We thought the Museum of Anthropology was interesting.

[Shasta]

Bull???? Or Cow??
Just an observation ... but is that really a BULL ... or a Cow?