Three things I love to do in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

This is my submission for the ’3 Things in the City’ I Love contest by Velvet Escape, Traveldudes and Wimdu.co.uk

Three things I loved about Merida?  That’s easy: the culture, the food and the people.

When a friend invited me to spend a weekend in Merida City, at first I thought that it was going to be a nice and peaceful weekend in a small town.  I really didn’t know much about Merida, only that many people that live in Cancun loved to visit Merida, so I accept.

The drive to Merida was fun and full of historic areas and nice little places to rest where local people offer you “aguas frescas”, iced flavor water with all natural fruit.    Have you had a Mexican all natural fruit water?  The flavors are vibrant and tasty among my favorites are mango, horchata, limon, sandia, melon and naranja (mango, rice with cinnamon, lemon, watermelon, cantaloupe and orange) yummy, yumm, yummy.

Merida downtown area

When we arrive at Merida I found a lovely city, while large and cosmopolitan still maintains a small town flavor.

You will find any hotel chain you like as well as little local hostels to stay and enjoy the real life in Merida.

They call it the White City because most of the downtown area buildings are old white buildings with a lovely colonial style.  In downtown area most of the streets are close to cars on Sundays so you can walk around.

If you only have one day to visit Merida, it had to be Sunday.

What I like most in Merida is their cultural areas, museums and theaters at the downtown area.

The people gather to walk and enjoy local music played in the plazas. There is a plaza where they play danzon and everybody sits close to see the old couples dance.  A lot of local food is sold in little boots around the plaza central so you can enjoy a nice evening.

"Chaya and corn gorditas with tomato and habanero sauce"

Summer weather at Merida is hot hot hot! So be prepare to use only cotton clothes, hat and drink a lot of water.  In Merida, men use “guayabera” and women dress her “huipil”.

Huipil

You can enjoy a lot of traditional food in restaurants like “Amaro” or “”La Pigua”

Something that I love: Sorbet. You have to try the sorbet at the central plaza, the name of the place is “Dulces y Sorbetes Colon”, they are there since 1907and you will love it. Try the mango or guanabana flavor sorbet, really are delicious!

Mango sorbet

What else what can I said about Merida… The persons that live and born in Merida will always have a smile for you, and will help you in every way it’s possible to help you even if they don’t speak English or Spanish ( a lot of people still speak Maya as first language).

La Pigua Restaurant

Thanks! Please, send me your comments :)