Yucatan's heart Mérida

Hi Everyone!

Wow, time is flying in Mexico! Another weekend just passed and we spent it in Mérida, Yucatán’s capital and largest city! This truly was one of the most beautiful cities I have visited in Mexico so far. It is so folkloristic and traditional Mexico. But also, I noticed so many European influences in the architecture and the people! Especially the main plazas and little squares were much like France and England.

I spent the weekend with Floor, another Dutch girl we accidentally met in the supermarket. She is a nanny too, of a very cute little 3-year old boy named Matteo. She lives in Cancún as well, and she will be here until the 15th of January. The other girls had nanny-duty so they could not join us unfortunately.

We stayed in the Nomadas Hostel, which was recommended by both friends and my Lonely Planet. On Saturday, we had some breakfast and got ready for our first day in Mérida!

The hostel was very nice and clean, spacious, with lots of hang out spots with hammocks, and there even was a pool!

What really stroke me about Mérida, was again all the colors, painting, lettering on all the buildings. Also, many beautiful frameworks and balconies!

The hostel receptionist gave us a map of Mérida, and recommended the local market Lucas de Galvéz, a traditional and artisan market with lots of little shops with local food, leather shoes, bags, paintings, handcrafted rugs, hammocks, hats, vestments, and even animals. Puppies, ducks, rabbits, guinea pigs, parakeets, parrots and kittens. It was a bit hard to see 🙁

I find it very fascinating to see the local people perform their craft. I bought myself a pair of leather sandals as well! They were only 250 pesos.

Afterwards, went to the main plaza to the Catedral de San Ildefonso, dated from 1561. This cathedral is a special one and the oldest in Yucatan. It is build at the request of king Filips II. There was a mass going on in the cathedral, so we could not stay for a long time. We walked further into the city centre and came across another indoor market called Tikis, where we got a small tour by someone who helped us lead the way since we were a bit lost. He showed us this loom, which was used to make hammocks, bags and hats. In the back, someone was stripping the palmtree leaves which were woven together with cotton and jute.

At first we wanted to visit the museum MACAY, but we could not find it and someone told us it was not that good, so we decided we should look for some other museum, and stood upon this one; the Museo de Arte Popular. It was really nice with beautiful artisan clothing, paintings, rugs, relics and work of glass, cardboard and wood. Also at the second floor, beautiful pieces made by the great artisans of different states, like Michoacán, Jalisco and Chiapas, and also, pieces that inspired Frida Kahlo.

After the museum, we went to the beautiful Palacio de Gobierno (1892), the government building in the centre of the main plaza. It is a strinking building, because of the clear green color. The building has two floors with portals, a big courtyard and arcades. There is a beautiful staircase in the middle.

Currently, the building is in use to house the offices of the state government. On the top floor and downstairs, there are large oil paintings by artist Fernando Castro Pacheco, which present Yucatan history. Also, on the top floor there is a beautiful auditorium.

And this was Mérida! It is definitely worth a visit. It is so beautiful and I loved all the little squares with the European vibe, the beautiful buildings and the colors. Also, the people are very helpful and kind!

Bye!