Life in Merida

So, we are closing in on our first month here in Merida, capital of the Yucatán . We have eaten at different places, walked thousands of steps, and are beginning to adjust to the schedule. Night life is a thing here, and we have been slowly creeping our dinner time later into the evening. Our own little neighborhood, Garcia Gineres, is very peaceful…muy tranquilo..and we have been enjoying the little cafes we have been discovering. This morning, we went to Flores Cafe. It is a funky, inviting place that had fun decor, a lovely garden, and a great menu. We both chose Crepes…Crepas. David went savory with Chaya con queso. Chaya is a green, sort of spinach like. I went with Crepas de Nutella con Plátano. I had a sweet tooth that needed to be sated. We were both especially joyful this morning. Last night, we became grandparents! We have a grandson to look forward to when we return home.

We have been bopping around visiting different sites and neighborhoods. We also visited some of the parks. I spent a day at a Yucatecan cooking class held at one of the hotels. I also explored the zoo, which is free and within another park. I have been impressed with the green space and the public initiatives to get people moving outdoors. On Sundays, they close the Paseo Montejo to vehicles so people and their families can ride bikes and rollerblade down this beautiful avenue. The route leads to another large park, the Plancha, which used to be old rail yards. They made it into a public recreation area with bike paths, walkways, green spaces, and a museum. It was quite lively and fun to see so many people being active. Merida is a lovely, safe, and lively city. I am definitely enoying its vibe.

I had the opportunity to visit the Bee Lab at UADY, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán. There, I was able to photograph Melipona bees, native stingless bees who make honey! I also took a photo of a carpenter bee peering out of a nest box, as well as orchid bees. It was a wonderful opportunity for me.

Last, but not least, we spent a day in Progresso, which is about a 40 minute Uber ride from Merida. Progresso is on the Gulf of Mexico. The water is clean and beautiful. Progresso is home to the the longest piers in the world. It extends from Progresso into the Gulf. It was build for docking large cargo and passenger ships. It is 6.5 kilometers (4 miles). Because it is built over a wide continetal shelf, they needed the extra length for docking larger ships, where it is deeper.

Filled with beach clubs, an expansive public beach Progresso is a great place to enjoy the beach. With a long and beautifully maintained Malecon,a long stone pathway along the beachfront, it is lively and family friendly, day and night. There are restaurants, food stalls, music and lots of great people watching. We saw an incredible sunset there and plan to return again.