Improved Eating in Merida
by cochinjew
I have been visiting Merida on a regular basis for a while now. It used to be on my Havana to Miami route, then the direct flight to merida was discontinued and now it is not that easy to get from Havana to Miami via Merida. There are of course regular bus services from Cancun to Merida, but it involves gettting to the bus station in Cancun and getting to your hotel from the bus station in Merida which would differ by the company.
One thing i have noticed over the years is the quality of food Los almendras had been there and some other smaller establishments but then slowly as the european tourism increased, the number of good quality Mexican as well as Eclectic places has increased. I like to see expertise and culture mix together as I witnessed at a chocolate factory and store near plaza santa ana.
ate well during the stay and none of the meals were a disappointment, there were some fusion cuisine, like mex meditarranean which was a bit of a let down but not too bad. Merida is not affected to any extent the narco war that is everywhere else in Mexico, so it is a very pleasant place to visit and spend some time.
Cenote X-Batun
by poortrekkers
We were directed to this "secret" cenote by our B&B owner in Santa Elena, but it is an easy distance from Merida. It is hard to find, off the beaten path, in the middle of nowhere... but if you are adventurous and have a rental car, it is worth the solitude and the swim. We followed MX 261 to an exit westbound marked "Cocoa" (I believe it is marked in one direction, but not the other), near Hacienda Ochil. Once on this solitary road there are signs for the cenote, but be patient, you will pass thought some small towns. Once you get to the gate, I believe it is a nature preserve, and pay your 10 Pesos, you will continue down another long solitary road. Eventually the road will split and there is a cenote in either direction. We swam in the one to the right... it was phenomenal! The cenote down the left fork was deeper and you had to climb down a pit to get to it... it was darker and murkier, and I personally did not feel as comfortable swimming there.
Marquesitas!
by karenincalifornia about Street vendors in Plaza Grande
Marquesitas are a Merida specialty. If you travel to Merida, you must try these. You'll be hooked. I understand that a family in Merida invented the marquesitas. The street vendor attaches everything he needs to cook marquesitas to his mustard colored 3-wheel bicycle (common mode of transportation in Yucatan). You'll find the stands in the Plaza Grande (mainly in the evening) and possibly elsewhere in Centro Historico. On New Year's Eve, a long line of them had been set up facing the Cathedral.
The vendors are easy to find. Before you see them, you'll hear them cheerfully calling out "Marquesita!" How to describe a marquesita? The vendor cooks them in a two-sided crepe maker with waffle design over a propane flame. It is like a crepe, but soft when hot and crunchy when it cools. It is filled with either Edam cheese or Nutella sauce, and rolled up into a tube. So ask for a marquesita queso or a marquesita nutella - I couldn't decide which one was best. They cost only 10 pesos each.
They are so delicious, we ate them every night, even when we didn't think we could eat any more. I would love to be able to duplicate them, but as simple as they sound, I don't think I can do them justice without the right equipment (including the bicycle).
Enjoy Merida's Cultural Side
by dek516
If you're interested in free performance or concerts, Merida is the place to be, particularly on the weekend. On any given day you can watch traditional Mexican dances or hear bands playing Mexican tunes. Chairs are often set up around a stage so that people can watch performances, or you can find a bench in the square or sit at one of the many cafes around the square. Be sure to catch at least a few performances-- they give Merida a lot of charm.
Wander down Montejo Boulevard
by Redlats
One tends to spend time right downtown around the main plaza. There is a whole another area some seven blocks north of the plaza. Montejo Blvd was THE street to live on before World War I. Before the invention of plastics, ropes were made from henequen which comes from the sisal or agave plant. This plant thrived in the Yucatan, and the hacendados (plantation owners) became rich.
Paseo Montejo was the street on which many of them built their mansions. At that time, high class was French or New Orleans, so these mansions have French-looking architecture. Unfortunately, like the horse and buggy, henequen became obsolete, and money dried up.
Not all of the haciendas (mansions) survived, and some are still in disrepair, but it is an interesting walk or drive along the street. Some of the haciendas are now office buildings, some are falling apart and are for sale. (my pictures show some of the historic buildings walking north from the Anthropology Museum)
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There were wonderful details everywhere.
Statue of Chac Mool from Chichen-Itza
The cathedral towering above the trees
Marquesita street vendor
