Mérida

In the morning we checked out of our hotel in Palengue and walked about 5 minutes to the bus terminal.  We were to take the 8:30am bus to Mérida, our next destination in the state of Yucatan.  We'll be traveling from Chiapas, through the state of Campeche, then Yucatan.  It's a 8-9 hour bus ride, but at least the bus stopped for lunch and we were able to get out and stretch.  Although the bus is fairly comfortable, being stuck in one is not my idea of fun.  I was able to pass the time listening to music on my iPhone with my noise-canceling headset.  I could've read my Kindle but the uneven road and the bumpiness of the ride would've given me a headache.

We arrived at Mérida at about 5pm and checked into the Hotel Colonial, about 3 blocks from the zocalo.  Mérida is the capital of Yucatan.  An old colonial city with beautiful buildings and churches around the central square.  Signs of tourism are everywhere around the square: foreign tourists, souvenir shops, nice restaurants, shopkeepers speaking better English, tourists buses, etc.  However, the locals also congregate around the square, especially in the evenings.  A restaurant specializing in ice-cream, smoothies, Mexican desserts, seem to be a very popular meeting spot for locals and tourists alike.

Zocalo in Merida

A monument at a nearby square

Cathedral next to the zocalo

Government building on another side of the zocalo

We spent little time exploring the city.  By the time we arrived there, it was dusk and as we started walking around, there was a sudden tropical downpour.  We met for dinner at an excellent and busy restaurant across the street from the hotel at 7pm.  I'm glad I've fully recovered from my stomach episode a few days earlier and was able to enjoy a nice local version of tamale, wrapped in banana leaves.  Tamales are popular all over Mexico but each region has its own version.  The concept is the same:  some filling (usually meat) wrapped in ground corn (called masa) then wrapped in corn husk or banana leaves.  They are usually cooked in water or some flavored liquid.  In Arizona where I live, tamales are very popular near the Christmas season.  Click on the link here to read more about Tamales

Tamale wrapped in banana leaves

Making fresh tortillas in the restaurant

The next day we were off to our respective tours.  Interestingly, the 3 Australians (2 girls and 1 guy) chose to go and swim in Cenotes.  Click on the link to learn more about cenotes.  They are basically sink-holes caused by the collapsed of limestone, filled with water.  They are connected to an underground ground water systems.  They are very common in the Yucatan peninsula.  The Mayans used them for their water supply system.  Today many tourists visit cenotes to swim in them.

A cenote in the Chichen Itza area

The five Americans, including our tour leader, on the other hand, decided to visit the Mayan ruins of Uxmal and Kabah.  Our guide Jose picked us up at 9 am after we had a sumptuous buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant.  Jose gave us a quick tour and history of the city.   About an hour later we were in the ruins of Uxmal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Although it's a major Mayan archaeological site, you don't see as many tourists here because it's quite far off the tourists path.  Those who chose to come are rewarded with a rich history of Mayan culture.  The crowd is a small fraction compared to what we saw later at Chichen Itza.  We had to brave the tropical heat to stay focus on what Jose was explaining.  Below are some of the picture highlights:

Pyramid of the Magician

Governnor's Palace

Sign explaining the history and architecture of Uxmal

Our energetic guide Jose

Another view of the Pyramid of the Magician

Sundial in the quadrangle

Nunnery Quadrangle

Close-up of architectural details

More details

Hoop where Mayans play their version of "basketball"

Mayan "basketball" court - 7 against 7

Our small tour group.  I am the "thorn among the roses"

We also visited a smaller archaeological site called Kabah.  Below are some pictures from that site:

Carvings of 2 kings

Codz Coop Palace

Architectural details

Although we spent very little time in the city, I did a quick walk around the zocalo in the morning after breakfast.  The area is not as nice as those in Puebla or St. Cristobal.  Even 2-3 blocks from the city we see fairly run-down areas.  Jose explained to us that some owners abandoned these old buildings.  You can tell that the economy of the city is heavily dependent on tourism.  Some businesses are spoiled by it.  You run into aggressive shopkeepers and promoters trying to drag you into certain stores.  One shop I visited was nonchalant about whether I buy or not.

The next morning we are scheduled to visit the face of Mexican tourism:  Chichen Itza