Day 48 – 49 : Merida

Merida is another colonial town located in the Yucatan region. Prior to arriving to Merida, many travellers had told me that they had enjoyed staying in Merida, and I can see why. 

There is a good vibe in the city, with numerous activities happening each day.

There are also a number of beautiful colonial buildings around Parque Grande as well as along Paseo de Montejo.

Most of these buildings are usually converted into a museum of some kind, and entrance is free.

Merida was founded by the Spanish and is located in an area where numerous deserted Mayan temples were once situated.

In the process of building the city, the Spanish destroyed many of these Mayan temples and use the rocks to build many of the buildings we see in Merida city today. 

Looking closely at some of these buildings and churches, one can still notice the patterned designs from Mayan temples in random sections of the walls or floors.

Outside of the city, one could do numerous tours around the vicinity, such as visiting cenotes, seeing flamingos or visiting Uxmal or Chichen Itza.

As I will be heading to Valladolid, which is closer to Chichen Itza, and being in Merida for only 2 nights, I just wanted to chill and relax and also escape from the Merida heat.

Merida is hot!!! The afternoon sun could get really strong, so I would usually stay in the hostel during this time, where it is cooler.  

It's a good thing that Nomadas Hostel is really chill, with a decent size refreshingly cold water pool, along with live serenade music played in the courtyard each evening, and even salsa classes in the evening if one wants to learn how to salsa.

Definitely recommend people staying here if they are coming through Merida.

Arriving in Merida when the US Presidential elections results was announced, a recurring topic that kept arising at the hostel was on the ridiculousness of the elections results. Even the Mexicans had their own fair share of laughs. 

On a free walking tour less than 8 hours after the results was announced, the tour guide did his part on introductions and asked where everyone was from.

In a group of about 35 people, all were from Europe, except for 1 from Brazil and I from Singapore.

Then the tour guide asked "no Mexicans"?

With no response, he then continued to say, "they must all be building the wall"!