Mexico Cross Over 2014 - Uxmal - Mérida - Celestún | Friday, Feb 14 - 0km

Today you will have a “biking break“. Transfer by bus to the capital of Yucatan: the colonial city Mérida. During the guided city tour you will see various colonial buildings and the city’s many sights. Afterwards you’ll keep going on to the Gulf of Mexico to the fishing village of Celestún. Tonight you will sleep in the wonderful surroundings of the Hotel Manglares. - Trip Notes 

Today is a non-cycling day which meant only that I did not dress like an OMIL.

After another delicious Flycatcher breakfast we vanned out to Merida stopping along the way at the Hacienda in Yaxcopoil which is in the process of renovation.Luis explained that yaxcopoi is the Mayan name for the ficus tree which grows in the area. He also told us how the Hacienda was laid out with various buildings housing the foreman, senior workers, paymaster’s office and the owner’s mansion.

 

The sisal processing area followed the usual stages of manufacture and, in this case, ended in a magnificently facaded warehouse. You might gather why sisal is called “green gold” when you look at the wealth which was amassed.

Our first stop in Merida was at the Monumento a la Patria, sculpted over 11 years from 1945 and depicting the history of the area and significant Mexican events.

 

We then devanned in the Central Square and visited the Museo Casa Montejo, Cathedral de San Ildefonso, Governor’s Palace, State Theatre, University Admin Building and City Museum… phew! The Governor’s Palace houses a series of murals depicting Mayan history and development of the sisal industry. I sense there were Jewish merchants involved and not favourably portrayed, although Luis thinks they might have been Lebanese…

Funny, they don't look Lebanese..

Of course, there was a refreshment break in the middle of all that at a famous sorbet and shake place, El Colon, established in 1907. The sorbet was made from mamey, similar to a red papaya and muchos tin tin ki (delicious)! Slavica had the milkshake variety and I went for just sorbet

We walked around the market and saw a stall selling makech, decorated live beetles! 

 

 

After a snack of panuchos and jamaica (hibiscus drink), we wandered back to the van and drove on to our final destination, the Hotel Manglares at Celestun. I think we were the only guests in this rather dilapidated beachfront resort. It must have been nice in its day but nothing much to write home about now. Internet is connected, but wifi doesn’t work in the hotel, but they have a second modem which works on the fence at the beach… go figure! I won’t bore you with the list of other defects.

We drove to dinner at Luis’ preferred bar/restaurant Casa Peon where they had the Valentines Day Special Menu – too pricey for our driver Isaac Abraham who went for a hot dog and coke around the Early start tomorrow so early to bed tonight.corner. I opted for the Camaron Empanizado (crumbed fried prawns) which was quite tasty. I felt right at home with the map of Oz on the wall opposite.

When we left at 9pm, we had been the only diners and I’m not sure whether they were expecting more. Probably not.  Early start tomorrow so early to bed tonight.