Having been bitten by the travel bug, beginning with our trip last year, in 1987, Crystal, Lyz and I had planned a trip to the Yucatan, in Mexico. This had been planned before my 2 business trips to the Far East took place. So, on July 24 we flew from Miami to Merida, Mexico on an Aero Mexico Boeing 727. We arrived around 4:30 that afternoon, The rain was coming down so hard when we approached the terminal. we had to sit on the plane for 45 minutes, waiting for it to let up.To leave the aircraft, you had to walk down stairs to the tarmac,since the airport had none of the ramps that were driven up to the front door. This meant trying to stay dry under an umbrella while dashing to the terminal. When the rain slacked up a bit we ran from the plane, in the rain, and everyone got soaked to some degree. Our luggage was sitting out in the rain under sheets of plastic in the area of the aircraft. In about an hour we were finally reunited with our suitcases and formed into lines to go through the customs inspections. Of course the gentleman in front of us had a gun in his suitcase, which caused a mild panic among the airport workers, which then caused Spanish to be filling the air from 100 different directions and as many volumes levels.The guy was still in line trying to explain the gun, instead of them taking him to a secure area for questioning. Eventually we were shifted to another line and finally processed out into the night. We went to the taxi stand and were placed into an automobile of undetermined age and origin for the trip in to Merida. As I sat in the front seat before takeoff, I noticed that the wipers were not working, even though the rain was still coming down at monsoon force. I also noticed that directly ahead, the windshield was cracked in a large circular circle, as if the previous passenger has tried to exit the auto through the windshield. The driver finished placing our luggage into the trunk, took his position behind the wheel, and we began our trip. Of course, there were no seat belts in the car to calm us down a little. As the driver drove towards town, he would mostly stick his head out of the window to sure we were still on the pavement, and when his face became to wet, he would bring his head in, wipe his face with a towel, wipe the windshield in front of him, proceed on this way for a while, then pop his head outside and repeat the process. After 30 minutes of this, we finally saw the Holiday Inn sign ahead and a collective sigh of relief was heard.
Back in its day, Merida was called the Paris of Mexico, for its wide boulevards and palatial homes and estates. Its money was made from the hemp and sisal business, of which every sailing ship used in their ropes and lines. The Holiday Inn was at one end of the largest of the beautiful avenues in town. At the other end was the main 'plaza' of the town. Even though it was a Holiday Inn, it was one of the 5 star places in Merida. The night we arrived, we checked in, went to the room to freshen up a little, then went to the main restauranr for dinner. The meal was excellent, with the Caesar Salad being made the correct way right at the table.
We went down for breakfast the next morning, and found 2 buffet lines, one American and one Mexican, plus the usual omelet and waffle stations. The Mexican side had many interest items, so I picked my meal from that line. After eating, we took a taxi, with good glass in it, down town to the main Plaza. Around the square were the Governors Palace, the main church in town, the art museum, and many little shops. While we were walking, we were approached by a young guy who 'latched 'on to us and told us he would be our guide for a few dollars. Of course he slowly guided us over to the local native market, where his family had a stall selling clothing, particularly, 'guayaberas', sometimes called Mexican Wedding Shirts. They are quite popular throughout the Caribbean area, and due to the fact that they cool, comfortable, and dressy, they are worn by businessmen in place of a suit and tie during hot weather. In Miami, they are popular with the Cubans, so, since I didn't have one, I bought a nice one for just a few dollars, after the required haggling. Since the market was on the way back to the hotel, we decided to walk back up the ' Paseo de Montejo', the main drag. When we arrived back at the hotel, we visited the on-site tour office and booked a few trips
At 7 PM, a taxi picked us up and delivered us to a club for dinner and a show.The first part of the evening began in an undergrounds grotto, with a stream flowing through it. A group of Mayan actors and dancer re-enacted a Mayan sacrifice. Except for the part where they cut someone open and rip out the still beating heart, it was very authentic. We then returned upstairs to the restaurant area where we were served a very good Mexican feast. Finally, we were treated to a floor show with native dancing and singing. All in all, an excellent night.
After a bean and burrito breakfast the next morning, we were picked up, along with another couple, for a tour of the ruins of Chichen Itza.. What a ride that was- 60 mile in 60 minutes, including a stop at a real Mayan village. The ruins were magnificent. Our driver turned out to be the tour guide, so we got a grade A tour of the place. It seemed to me the place was built based on the Mayan mathematics, numbers were involved everywhere. Lyz and I climbed to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun, where I discovered that the Mayans of that period had very small feet. The steps going to the top were quite narrow and if it had not been for a chain running from the top to the bottom, I might still be up there, or on U-Tube as I tumbled to the bottom.
It was a very good quick trip. I especially liked sitting at the pool bar, or the inside lounge, listening to the Mariachi bands.and drinking fine, smooth Tequila. I highly recommend a trip to Merida as an alternative to the commercialism of Cancun and Cozumel.
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