My decision to come to Merida, a beautiful city on the Yucutan Peninsula in Mexico, was a pretty haphazard one. Like many other travellers, I got caught off guard by COVID-19 and had to find a place to go ASAP. With just two days notice, I booked a flight and was on my way from Zanzibar to Merida. It was a long trip and after 40+ hours of traveling, I was just happy to be in a place where I didn’t have to get back on a plane anytime soon.
I have now been in this lovely city for two months. At this point, I would have usually explored a place inside and out but lockdown has made things a bit different this time around. Instead, I am experiencing life as a “slow traveller”. I rented an AirBnb for months at a time and began exploring the city block by block. I cook breakfast in the morning, shop at the local markets and chat with my elderly neighbors. I spend my days reading books, napping or practicing Spanish. While I am still not completely sold on this slow travel thing, I have definitely began to appreciate certain aspects of it. At the same time, I have found myself slowly falling more and more in love with this city.
So without further ado, these are my initial impressions of Merida, Mexico.
- The city is gorgeous. I know, I know……I have already mentioned this but it really is. The Plaza Grande features a beautiful stone church and an array of colonial buildings. There are quaint little squares tucked away off of nearly ever major street that runs through the city center which welcoming white conversation benches, fountains and trees.
- And it oozes charm. The grid streets are packed with brightly colored houses standing shoulder to shoulder and their narrow fronts hide sprawling complexes behind them. Street art adorns the walls and hand-painted signs remind you of a bygone era. The best part is that it doesn’t FEEL like another museum town. It actaully feels like a living, breathing city – even under lockdown and that says a LOT!
- The people are so friendly. Every expat here that I have spoken to has said the exact same thing – “the locals here are super chill.” I will admit that coming here, I was a bit scared that people who treat me badly since I was a foreigner and therefore, a potential harbinger of COVID. Luckily, I have never experienced ANY animosity here. From the lively “Buenos dias” in the morning to the more sedate “Buenos tardes” in the evening, I feel like the city welcomes you with open arms and it is pretty hard not to give her a big hug back!
- It’s always sunny in Merida.……or at least it feels like it. We are now moving into the monsoon season here which means that there MAY be a few hours of rain each day. While this is annoying for me as it knocks out my electricity almost every time, it is a small price to pay for endless days and days of sunshine. It can be brutally hot and you need to plan your day well to not get caught n the scorching sun but on the flip side, there is no snow and the air is nice and clean (I am looking at you Delhi!).
- There are cats everywhere. For anyone out there who knows me personally, you know that I am a sucker for stray animals. There is very rarely a dog or cat that I don’t want to touch (and yes, I do know the risks. I just think that every creature deserves to feel love). While I have only seen a few stray dogs, you see cats on every single street. I have fallen in love with the one at my neighborhood market and have named her “Panterita Bonita.” Unlike most street cats, she absolutely adores the old man who feeds her and happily climbs into his lap for cuddles. She has also figured out how to manipulate almost every elderly person that comes to the market and entire conversations seems to revolve around her.
- There is a lot of stuff to do! While Merida may not be as well known as other colonial cities in Mexico, I am told that the city is magical. Overflowing with artists, live performances every night of the week, farmers’ markets, museums and boutique shops, this sounds like it is my kind of place. The Yucatan Peninsula is full of places to visit including the world famous Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza and Tulum, the partiers’ paradise of Cancun and the slightly more sedate Playa del Carmen. A short trip to Isla de Mujeres can also give you a chance to swim with whale sharks (which I did on a previous trip here – it was amazing!)
While lockdown has been rough, I am super excited to see more of this lovely city as soon as things become our new “normal”. Stay tuned for further adventures!
