Traveling Twosome
  • Traveling Twosome Blog
  • BeBelize - Our life in Belize (2011-2013)
  • Earlier adventures (2003-2010)
    • First Belize Trip 2010
    • Fall Sail Cruise Aboard Logos 2009
    • Conch Key 2007
    • Charleston Sailing School 2007
    • Biscayne Bay Sailing School 2007
    • Key Lime Sailing Club 2006
    • Southwest Parks 2006
    • BEYC/Jost van Dyke, BVI 2005
    • Offshore Sailing School 2004
    • Annapolis Sailboat Show 2004
    • Finger Lakes 2004
    • NY State Bike Tour 2004
    • Biras Creek, BVI 2003
Picture
"Pearl" in Winter Garden, Florida
Picture
Long shadows in Wyoming

A Look Back at Mexico:  Mérida, Redux ~ Part 3

2/17/2017

0 Comments

 
Of course there's more to Mérida than the excellent food (see Part 2).  In this final post from our December 2015 visit to the capital of Mexico's Yucatan state, we'll show you a few more sights on our second visit to this historic city.

Here is the Palacio Municipal (or Governor's Palace) on Mérida's Plaza Grande, the main square in Centro.  The palace is open for touring with no admission, and is a must-see when in Mérida for the large, detailed murals within, depicting Mayan history.  Since we'd toured the palace on our first trip to the city, we didn't go in this time but enjoyed the exterior views. It's a beautiful building, painted in a salmon color that appears pink in some light, orange in others.
Picture
Picture
Wherever we go in Mexico, it seems that there is always a parade for something or another. This small procession was comprised of older children in their school uniforms and some in long white robes.  Since most of the schools are associated with the Catholic church, it may have had religious significance. Some of the kids were carrying balloons in the colors of Mexico's flag, and many smiled and waved as they marched by and saw us taking their photo.
Picture
Picture
Picture
I noticed this painted on a random wall.  Translation:  "When I change, the world changes." Nice.
Picture
In the historic Centro of the city, many of the corners are marked with folksy carved concrete plaques painted in a brick-red color and depicting animals or objects. Each of these seems to have a story associated with the name.  These designations provided an easy way in the past for people to negotiate the city more easily.  Now, street numbers are more commonly used instead, but these corner plaques have endured and add a huge touch of charm and whimsy to the city.
Picture
On this corner, there is a bar called El Cardenal, which is likely how the corner got its name. Or perhaps it was the other way around?
Picture
Here's an excellent article about the street corner signs with many more photos, if you are interested in learning and seeing more.

We saw another parade just getting set up near the Parque Le Mejorada.  This one was likely associated with the church on this park, the Iglesia y Ex Convento de la Mejorada, which roughly translates to "Church and Ex-Convent of the Improved".
Picture
Picture
Iglesia y Ex Convento de la Mejorada
Picture
Picture
Below is El arco de Dragones (the Arch of Dragons), also in the La Mejorada area of the city. The arch dates from the colonial period and, along with several other arches, was erected to delineate various barrios (neighborhoods) in Centro Mérida. 
Picture
El arco de Dragones
Last but certainly not least, the golden Iglesia de San Juan was all lit up in the afternoon sunshine on one of our walks.  Against the brilliant blue sky, this was a sight we found muy hermosa (very beautiful).
Picture
Iglesia de San Juan
Picture
Also while in Mérida, we took a day trip by bus to the fascinating "Yellow City" of Izamal nearby.  We'll bring that to you next, so stay tuned!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    ©2018 by Barry & Emily Smith. 
    ​All rights reserved.
    Picture

    Emily & Barry

    We're a long-married, early-retired couple who are currently traveling as nomads with no fixed home base.  After years of living in North Carolina (Emily's home state), we spent 18 months living oceanfront on Ambergris Caye, Belize, a year road-tripping the US in a Honda CR-V, a year in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and are now roaming North America in our 32' motorhome, Pearl, following warm weather whenever possible.

    Our passions are bicycling, walking and hiking, birding, continuing our midlife struggles to learn Spanish, enjoying healthy food (and the occasional donuts & pie!), traveling (duh!)  We travel with a fleet of bicycles and Paisley, our 10-year old Boston Terrier. 

    Picture
    Paisley, May 2016
    Picture
    States visited (pre-RV)
    Picture
    Pearl, a 2007 Newmar Bay Star
    Picture
    States visited in "Pearl"

    Archives

    July 2019
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    September 2012

    Favorite Travel Blogs

    Wheeling It
    Technomadia
    Travel with Kevin & Ruth
    San Pedro Scoop
    Metamorphosis Road
    Allison's Post-Work Thinking
    Life's a Beach!
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Traveling Twosome Blog
  • BeBelize - Our life in Belize (2011-2013)
  • Earlier adventures (2003-2010)
    • First Belize Trip 2010
    • Fall Sail Cruise Aboard Logos 2009
    • Conch Key 2007
    • Charleston Sailing School 2007
    • Biscayne Bay Sailing School 2007
    • Key Lime Sailing Club 2006
    • Southwest Parks 2006
    • BEYC/Jost van Dyke, BVI 2005
    • Offshore Sailing School 2004
    • Annapolis Sailboat Show 2004
    • Finger Lakes 2004
    • NY State Bike Tour 2004
    • Biras Creek, BVI 2003