Gypsy Jan
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Trip to Merida, Yucatan, Business & Pleasure
Any recommendations?
TIA, GJ
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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desertcpl
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Jan
you might want to look at this
http://www.yucatanliving.com/
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Iflyfish
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There are so many Mexico's and the Yucatan contains a number of them. I love Merida, a beautiful and thriving Colonial City. One of the things I enjoy
in Merida are the large oval shaped, thatch roofed Cantina's, don't recall what they are called, that serve regional cuisine on small dishes for the
price of a beer while you watch the floor show. The small dishes are like Spanish Tapas or Chinese Dim Sum and they are scrumptious. The cuisine of
the Yucatan is different than any other area of Mexico and Merida is the culinary epicenter.
Merida has historically been the major city on the Yucatan, well before the boom in Cancun and the Maya Riviera. There are wonderful historical
buildings and small parks everywhere. As you know the Mexican Government is involved in supporting the arts and you can find ample entertainment for
free in these parks. Great fun!
As to pyramids my favorites are Tulum and Ek Balam, Tulum is the only Mayan pyramid built on the sea and Ek Balam is small in scale and one can really
get the feeling of what it must have been like to live there.
There is a wonderful birding boat ride out of Tulum, look for a log building across from the San Francisco Market and you can there hire a guide to
take you into the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve.
Go flyfishing for bonefish, snook, tarpon and permit on Punta Allen.
Zip line or snorkel a Cenote at Hidden Worlds Family Cenote Park.
If you want to get away from it all there is Celestun, north of Merida, a very laid back, relaxing place where you can visit the Flamingo Reserve.
Enjoy!
Iflyfish
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desertcpl
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WOW,,, I have just been reading about Merida, sounds wonderful
I am putting this on my Bucket list
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Barry A.
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Also a visit to the fortified city of Campeche, southwest of Merida is well worth seeing.
And, for me, closeby Uxmal was the highlight-ruin of our Yucatan and Belise/Guatamala 1 month tour by rental car & bus. But all that Iflyfish
recommended is also a must see if you possibly can.
Merida is a jewel, as is Valladolid and Chetumal & Campeche----all 4 we used as multiday "bases" while visiting the surrounding country.
Your going to be blown-away by Merida!!!
Barry
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BajaBlanca
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Valladolid wasa by far our favorite place to just hang around - we changed our plans and ended up going back for a second visit .... I am going to
look up my trip report for you to get an idea of what it was like ...
We must have missed something in Merida cause I was not impressed at all. So many folks say they love it and what we saw did not meet our
expectations. I am positive that we missed the whole enchilada LOL
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tiotomasbcs
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Blanca recently went to Merida and many posts were made to recommend places to visit. It's been years but I loved the place and whole area around
Merida. You'll have trouble making your business appointments because of all the fun you're having. Que disfruta! Tio
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BajaBlanca
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http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=57876#pid6921...
enjoy !!
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Kgryfon
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Awesome link and trip, BajaBlanca! What was it that you found disappointing about Merida?
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tripledigitken
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Search this restaurant out!
I have heard this is a must try when near Tulum................
http://hartwoodtulum.com/information.html
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bajajudy
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Be sure to go to Tulum
The only ruins on the water.
It has been a while since we were there but the small town was very laid back and the beaches are gorgeous. We stayed in a couple of places right on
the water. Lotsa Europeans live there.....por ejemplo...we had terrific pizza at a place on the highway.
OOPS you didnt mention Quintana Roo.
[Edited on 5-29-2012 by bajajudy]
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bajajudy
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Here is a link to an article that Jim wrote about Tulum
http://classic.travelworldmagazine.com/contributors/detail.p...
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BajaBlanca
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kgryfon - welcome to bajanomad
to tell you the truth, it was the opposite, we saw nothing at all to make it special which leads me to think we missed out somehow
the food was not so good and we ate at a well-known restaurant
I don't know, I am sure we went to the wrong side of town somehow and just missed the whole enchilada, literally. Something is wrong with the
picture, know what I mean?
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DianaT
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Walking around Merida on a Sunday is one of those truly special times----different bands and dancers in every plaza. Just beautiful.
And it is a good place to buy a Panama Hat.
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Oso
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You gotta try Cochinito Pibil. Can't remember the name, but there is a restaurant underground in a cenote. that is worth the experience. I enjoyed
looking at the many old Model Ts etc. still running, many used as taxis. Merida is a city, not a resort. So if you're just a tourist it might not
attract you like Cozumel, or the other beach places. But if you're a travellor it's worth the trouble. They also have a nice zoo.
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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BajaBlanca
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yes yes yes, we did see the main plaza and it was very wonderful - tons of free music and traditional dancing with outdoor restaurants that were
beautifully lit. That part of Merida was truly a wonderful experience.
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GregN
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Don't miss Izamal. Love Merida and Campeche -- not touristy like the Cancun side.
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Bajahowodd
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Might want to try a change of pace and head out to Progreso, as well.
That said, for all those swooning over Tulum,..... Sure, it is in an awesome setting and sits as the only known Mayan ruin that is actually on the
beach. But. I didn't see anyone even mention Chichen Itza. It is among the largest of the known Mayan ruins. It's a little bit too touristy, and since
the Mexican government banned climbers on the Temple of Kukulcan a decade ago, maybe not as great of a visit as it once was. But, geez. after one gets
over the beach side setting of Tulum, one must admit that Chichen Itza is far more impressive.
And I do agree that Valladoilid is an amazing place.
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wilderone
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You don't say how much time you have to wander. But I would nix Campeche and Tulum in favor of sights and sites in closer proximity. 100's of thing
to see in between both those places. Yes, Chichen is nice - go see it. But don't overlook the other ruins closer to Merida like Xcambo,
Dzibilchaltun, Ake, Acance, Mayapan, Dxkintok, Loltun (and catacombs), Kabah, Yaxuna, Ek-Balam. Progreso is a nice beach. You could take a trip to
Isla Holbox. Many Cenotes with snorkling and swimming. Rio Legartos for pelicans, terns, flamingo lagoons. You can get a bus to Rio Lagartos and a
boat trip to see flamingos. Breeding season is Apr-Jun. Valladolid is a must-see - the Balankanche limestone cave, Cenote Zaci. There used to be a
train from Merida to Valladolid running once a day. May still be in operation.
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