A Visitor's Experience of Merida
We recently returned to the mountains of western North Carolina after spending a short but lovely week in beautiful Merida. THANK YOU people of Merida for providing us with such an enormous amount of pleasure. We so enjoyed the sights and sounds of your beautiful city.
Here is a small sample of our pleasure...
One day we were told to explore the area around the old train station that is being converted to an arts center, and to check out the up and coming neighborhood around it. After walking around for several blocks we heard the sound of mariachis in the distance.
We followed the music and soon came to a home with the front door open. We were lucky enough to be invited in to watch the celebration of a 91-year-old woman's birthday. The event was attended by about 25 people sitting around a small dining room and living room, singing, clapping and enjoying the mariachis, who were in full dress and obviously having a ball entertaining the crowd and guest of honor. She was sitting right in front of the band waving her hands, singing along and grinning from ear to ear.
We were told that she was blind, but everyone there could see just how much she was enjoying the party. We felt honored to be invited in to their home and to witness the celebration. To us we were strangers. To them we were guests. What a beautiful sight it was. This was one of the most memorable events of our lives.
Salsa dancing on the street to the Cuban band, La Changa de Oro, with about 1,000 other people was something we will never forget. To think that this is a normal occurrence is unbelievable. Or... riding our rented bicycles on the Paseo de Montejo on Sunday morning where the streets are closed off, giving families an opportunity to spend some time together getting exercise.
The people of Merida do something that we didn't think existed anywhere. They celebrate LIFE like we've never seen and they do it regularly... not for tourists, for themselves.
Muchas Gracias, Merida, for your wonderful hospitality. Great food. Incredible music. Most of all, thank you for your people who are the real reason we will be returning as often as possible and some day we too will call Merida home.
Emily and Sid Heilbraun
Asheville, NC
Comments
Belinda Swanson 18 years ago
Dear Sid & Emily,
I was so happy to see your article in Yucatan Living!
Cal and I met you outside of Casa Mexilio the day before your departure. We lived in Raleigh NC, for 7 years and have now been in St. Louis for 3 years working.
I miss Merida so much and we are really thinking about moving there. Our real estate agent, Jim Mann, www.mayanliving.com found a us wonderful house. Now it is up to us to decide what we really want out of life.
After we met you, we went to Progreso to stay with our good friend from DC, who just bought a beach house. We will definitely visit again sometime this year.
Perhaps we will all meet up again. I look forward to it
Reply
Working Gringos 18 years ago
Dear Doreen,
CasiYucateco is right about the range of choices and how much your decision depends on the kind of experience you enjoy.
When we first came to Merida, there were only about three small hotel-B&B type places: Casa Mexilio, Casa San Juan and Hotel Mediomundo, which is where we stayed. Now there are more than a dozen.
If you're a Mexican art lover, Los Arcos is your place - it's a museum in there! We always enjoy the company and surroundings at Cascadas de Merida and the best bargains have to be Hotel Luz en Yucatan, Las Arecas Guest House and Hostal del Peregrino.
The charmers we wouldn't hesitate to recommend are Hotel Santa Lucia, Hotel La Mision de Fray Diego and, of course, our lovely neighbors at Hotel Marionetas.
Probably the most historic downtown hotel is Casa del Balam. The most sophisticated is Hotel Villa Maria.
These are our favorites; we know them well, but they account for less than half of what's available in Merida's historic downtown. You can Google the names above to find their websites and several of them are listed on our Links page. For others, try visiting TripAdvisor.com.
We'd all be very interested to hear which place you finally selected and why!
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Khaki 18 years ago
Dear Emily and Sid,
Ah! So the magic of Merida has struck again... I was once where you are now - and remember it well. It has been my experience that Yucatan accepts all who come her way. The only requirement is to love her - an easy thing to do. The only thing appropriate to say to you now is "Welcome home"... :)
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CasiYucateco 18 years ago
Doreen,
If you tell us what kind of places you enjoy - or would like to find - I bet the Working Gringos (and the rest of us too) could offer some suggestions.
Merida has everything from fancy hotels, low priced hotels, elegant Bed & Breakfasts and budget guesthouses. Colonial or modern, room service or walk to the grocery store. Touristy or local authenticity, hot water or no?
The variety is huge. But, I'm sure someone has an idea and their own favorites to mention.
What most would probably recommend is that you find a hotel in your price range in Centro (the center, historic area of town) and make your excursions from there. But... what do you enjoy?
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sue 18 years ago
I go to the Progreso area for a month each year and we usually take a room in Merida for a weekend just because it is such a wonderful experience. We too have been invited into the homes of people in our small community. The people are the reason we come back!
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doreen meffert 18 years ago
Enjoyed your comments. We are planning our first visit in mid-Feb also with the thought of someday retiring in the area. Any suggestions where my hubbie and I might stay? Tx much, Doreen
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