Merida, Mexico –
When arriving in Mexico, I realized that not only had I double booked two hostels in two different cities for one night, but this also threw all of my future dates off. Losing my wallet on the first day of the trip and staying an extra night in Tulum also changed my plans a bit. I would have to say, though, it was probably for the better. I needed to slow down and Tulum is an excellent place to be for an extra day.
My hostel there was great as well. The original plan was to stay one night in Villahermosa and the goal being to see one of the most popular destinations in the Yucatan which is Chichen Itza. Well, needless to say that never happened. It was peak season and difficult to book a hostel by in Villahermosa last minute. I most likely could have hopped off the bus and found a place somewhere but after talking with several other travelers about their experience there I decided to save the grand daddy of all Mayan Ruins in Mexico for another time. I was told that the lines were very long and it was a very warm time of the year while I was there. Also, unlike many people throughout the world I am only about six hours away from the place whenever I want to get back.
Travel tip: Don’t try to book all accommodation for a two week trip at two in the morning. One of the goals of this trip through the Yucatan was to stay at some of the best hostels in Mexico. And yes, there are many fine ones to choose from.
So, I decided to take the longer bus ride to Merida where I already had two nights booked. I was excited about Merida. If I had the choice, I would much prefer exploring colonial towns in a foreign country as opposed to archaeological ruins. To each his own, but that is another one of the beauties of solo travel. I don’t have to worry about finding a place for two or more people in case my travel plans get changed. I can wake up one morning and decide to go on a completely different adventure than I had originally planned with no complaints from anyone. The freedom is like no other.
Mérida, the vibrant capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán, has a rich Mayan and colonial heritage. The city’s focal point is Plaza de la Independencia, bordered by the fortresslike Mérida Cathedral and white limestone Iglesia de la Tercera Orden, both colonial-era churches built using relics from ancient Mayan temples. The Casa de Montejo, a 16th-century mansion, is a landmark of colonial plateresque architecture.
As for colonial towns, Merida is as good as any. Most of the pics below were taken at Gran Museo del Mundo Mayo. I highly recommend it, it was well worth checking out. It is located a little bit out of the center but Uber rides a very cheap. I think it was about five bucks round trip. Also, Uber had been introduced to Merida for only one month while I was in town. Both of my drivers we young and very friendly college students that spoke English very well.
The black soup (relleno negro or black turkey stew) you see pictured is a famous Yucatan dish served daily at one of the most popular restaurants in Merida, La Chaya Maya. It came highly recommended and me being from south Louisiana it reminded be of the gumbo of the Yucatan. I really enjoyed slowing it down and time sight seeing in Merida but it was now time to keep moving to the next spot, an even more picturesque location. Campeche!
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