NOT in the POD - Merida, Mexico

 My sister's pool .........

Ahhhhhhhhh!

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So we parked the POD at the Houston airport - having left New Orleans early in the morning - and caught our flight to Merida, Mexico. Spending 10 days with my sister, Donna, and Brian at their new home here was always part of our road trip plan ..... and the warm, DRY sun was a welcome relief after the humidity of SW FL and NOLA!

Palace of the Governor's 

Merida, Mexico

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Merida is a large colonial city smack dab in the center of the Yucatan. We spent the first day - a Sunday - wandering the streets of Centro, the main plaza, churches, and a number of museums and cultural centers (all free). The parks were overflowing with families enjoying the music seemingly in every plaza and the street shows put on especially for the children. Vendors were set up through the parks selling embroidered clothing, sisal bags and ornaments, food, jewelry and everything in between. It was a brilliant cacophony of smells, colors, and sounds - so much to take in!

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Pyramid of the Magician

Uxmal, Yucatan

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 Today we headed out to Uxmal - an ancient Maya city about an hour outside of Merida - founded around 700 AD. It was so impressive in scale, layout and beauty! Visitors are still able to climb many of the steps to the tops of the ruins (not for the feint of heart..........) and you can really get a sense of place and size.   Much of Uxmal is still being excavated and when you are on top of one of these structures you can these areas in the distance poking thru the trees.

It was magical to be walking among the stories of the ancients. I was also really happy that our son, Tyler had an entire Grade 6 unit on Mayan culture ...... I remembered a lot of it! - having helped him study and edited his report! 

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The Nunnery Quadrangle 

Uxmal, Yucatan

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The Great Pyramid

Uxmal, Yucatan

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After that we visited the Chocolate Museum nearby. It was incredibly informative - I never knew how difficult it was to grow cacoa, how it spread around the globe, and the process of making good chocolate. Set in a beautiful agricultural park this was a worthwhile visit.

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 For lunch we visited a restored hennequin hacienda not too far from Uxmal. It was like an oasis in the desert. The grounds were exquisite and the food regional and delicious. 

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tamales for lunch!

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tracks and equipment for hauling the hennequin from the field to processing

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nave of the old church at the hacienda

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A very beautiful day !

Each day so far we have returned home for a refreshing dip in the pool (ahhh....) and some respite from the heat.

We have already fallen into the pattern of needing a siesta by 4:30 - both from the heat as well as all the walking/looking (and maybe because of too many cervesa/margaritas  .... ) 

Tomorrow will maybe be a day to chill out and simply enjoy being at this beautiful home.

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carvings at the top of the Great Pyramid

Uxmal, Yucatan

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