to Merida

Founded in 1542 by the Spanish on the ruins of a large Maya settelment, this is the largest city in the Yucatan Peninsula today. It was patterned after Paris, France and is amazing, wide 8 lane roads with tree lined medians. It is famous for the Panama Hat, which is woven from palm leaves in caves because humid conditions keep the leaves pliable to weave. The economic boom happened because of the sisal (pronouced seesal) grown locally and usual for rope making. By 1976 other materials started taking over. It looks just like the blue agave plant.
We went on a guided city tour in a decorated bus with no windows and holes in the floor. The houses have influences of Spanish, French and even Moorish. We stopped at the Park of the Americas with a huge band stand with incredible acoustics, and lots if sculptures, even all the bushes. We toured the rich and poor areas. Quite a difference.
There was a large cathedral and Mass was going on with music soaring to the ceilings. This lady was begging at the massive door of the church across from the central square.
We had dinner at La Pappilion starting with tortilla soup with a tomato flavour this time. Dinner was grilled chicken,beef and pork with vegetables including cactus which tasted somewhat like green peppers. The finale was Mexican coffees starting with the 2 waiters dipping the glass in licorice liquor, sugar and burned that on, the coffee, ice cream and blue burning coffee liquor poured from 6 gravy boats into one another and into the glasses. Very spectacular.
Returned home in the windowless bus in a light rain, despite no windshield wipers on the bus.