Blogs from Merida, Yucatán, Mexico, North America - page 31

It is extremely hot and humid here and am having difficulties with the afternoon heat so looking forward to the mountains in a week or so. Nevertheless, evenings are wonderful. Yesterday I spent the day in the city. The tourist bureau offers free walking tours of the zacallo (main square) in the morning so I went on that. A small group, about half english, half spanish speaking, so the guide spoke both languages. I then occasionally translated to French for a guy from the hostel from France who speaks neither other language (I find I am speaking more French here than I did in Montreal). Got to go up to the balconies of city hall on one side of the square for an overview, and then into the centre where we learned that once Merida had ... read more

Arrived in Merida yesterday afternoon after taking the second class bus from Vallodolid. Most people going this far - 160 km - were taking the first class bus - 112 vs 74 pesos - but the second class bus takes you on the small highway and stops at alot of the small villages so I thought that would be more interesting / and it was. Sleepy towns on Saturday afternoon, a few people milling about, tiny homes, many dogs and chickens about, dirt roads, but it seems like an ok life. It is only here in Merida that I have seen people begging - mainly mayan women / some with kids / and handicapped - but not nearly as many as I see on the streets of Montreal, Toronto or Victoria. Got here in the heat ... read more

Virgin of Guadalupe is Mexico's most popular religious and cultural image.Guadalupe's feast day is celebrated on December 12, it is to commemorate the apparition of Virgin on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City from December 9, 1531 through December 12, 1531. Here is how the story goes, Juan Diego saw a beautiful lady dressed in a blue mantle trimmed with gold on an old Aztec shrine, which is the now Tepeyac Hill several times. He was sent to tell the church that he had seen Virgin Mary and a shrine should be built on that site to honour her. However, no one believed what he said. On his fourth encountering with the lady, the lady image was emblazoned on his cloak, this has lead to the church in accepting his story and a cult developed ... read more

The overnight bus from Palenque to Merida was surprisingly uncomfortable. I arrived in Merida at 5am after eight long hours on the bus. (Too bad they don't have frequent traveller miles everytime you ride on a bus!) Checked into Hostel Nomadas near the zocalo as Lily from UK was already there and helped me book a place. Every hostel seems to get better and better as I travel longer. This one had salsa classes every evening and a singer/guitarist who belts out romantic spanish songs after the classes! It was good catching up with Lily and Sam from UK whom I have been meeting along my travels. Met Olivia also from UK, Sivan from Israel and Linda from Germany at the hostel and we all hung out together over the next few days and had a ... read more

Progresso, a beach front area about 25 min by car or about 40 min by Bus north of Merida is a location with apparently good seafood. I headed there with Pablo (our first Mexican/US friend). It is a sleepy place with lots of potential (Being a Monday, it was dead with a capital D!). img=http://image7.bubbleshare.com/media/00/22/de/4e/4cf3c5026a35c5239ac7f02b4ccbd86af699b0f5/580x435/Progresso1_580x435.jpg Perhaps it was the wrong time to go but the stark sunlight brought out a lanscape that gives the impression that the local council have not tapped into this in a focused way. There were some nice private beachfront bungalows but for a strange reason, they were empty and looked abandoned. We contemplated life over a bottle of cerveza under the shade of some beach huts and after another bought img=http://image5.bubbleshare.com/media/00/22/de/ac/9a22ae166fb1... read more