Dancing in the Streets

Trip Start Jan 01, 2007
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Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of Mexico  ,
Monday, January 8, 2007

We awoke in Valladolid at a leisure hour, had a leisure breakfast, packed up at a leisure pace, and leisurely walked to the bus station to catch a bus to Merida.  Mexico has a great public transit and bus system.  The system covers almost all corners of the country and has frequent schedules.  The buses are all very comfortable.  First-class buses have TVīs and movies and are usually direct or non-stop.  All have Air Conditioning.

The 1st class bus was sold out, so we caught the 2nd class bus leaving shortly thereafter.  We spotted David & Heida (from the hostel) at the bus station.  They were headed to Merida and the same hostel as well.  Davidīs navigation skills guided us through the busy streets of Merida on the walk from the bus station to the Nomadas Hostel.

Merida is a really big city.  1 million residents big.  Plus who-knows-how-many tourists and transients.  A lot of crazy-driving vechicles and pollution.  Our friend David was struck by a bus/van while walking down the narrow sidewalk (a bruised and swollen elbow, but he is okay).  It is also a very festive city - each night of the week there is some type of dance/music event in at least one of the many parks in the city. 

Our hostal represented Merida well:  festive and big.  We counted beds and hammocks to accomodate almost 100 people on a full night!  The hostal offered free Salsa lessons followed by acoustic guitar player every night.  The Salsa lessons were a lot of fun, but even Nestor (our talented teacher) couldnīt keep our feet untangled!  These two gringos need a lot of practice.
 
The first night, we walked to the main park (Plaza de la Independencia) to watch a regional dance performance.  It was amazing!  Dozens (maybe a hundred?) locals wearing traditional Mayan dance attire were tapping up a storm.  Check back later for pictures from the dance show.  It was beautiful.  So much energy!
 
The next day we spent just wandering the streets, exploring the town.  We visited several museums and sites.  The Plaza de Gobierno (government office) on the main park displayed several large and beautiful paintings by local artist Castro Pancheco inside their galleries.  These paintings depict the volatile history of the Yucatan penninsula - including the Mayan heritage, the conquest of the Mayans by the Spanish, the forced faith conversion of the Mayans by the Catholic Church, and the current freedom and democracy of modern Mexico.  The paintings are beautiful and educational.
 
We spent the rest of the day relaxing in a hammock and reading in the hostel.
 
 Love, Kay. Arches in the City
Arches in the City
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