3 and 4 May 2017 - Chichen Itza and Merida (Mexico)

We were all up early on the 3 May (my 75th birthday, not that it made any difference to the day) so as to get to Chichen Itza as the gates opened. Chichen Itza is the second most visited Mayan ruin in Mexico and we wanted to be there before the usual horde of visitors arrived. This we managed to do as it looked as though most of the tourists arrived mid-morning. The site is extensive with buildings and the cenote still hidden in part by the trees. It was a beautiful place to be able to walk round even if the temperature was 38C when we were ready to leave. In the wide open spaces of the site the heat was very noticeable.

The layout of Chichen Itza site was developed during its earlier phase of occupation between 750 and 900 AD which accounts for the various architectural style of buildings on the side. Its final layout was developed after 900 AD, and the 10th century saw the rise of the city as a regional capital controlling the area from central Yucatán to the north coast. It’s influence and population declined by 1250AD possibly caused by warring Mayan chiefs. By the arrival of the Spanish invaders the site was probably empty of people.

Views of Chichen Itza

View of the Great Ball Court

Ball 'hoop' in the Great Ball Court

Osario Pyramid and Staircase

Osario Pyramid and Staircase

Group of a thousand columns

Group of a thousand columns

Group of a thousand columns

Observatory Temple

Temple of the Warriors 

Old Excavator 

Brunch

It was a relief to arrive at the Hotel Reforma in Merida a few hours later and relish the cool of the hotel.

Inner courtyard of the Hotel Reforma

 

’Dilapidated but still grand', the colonial city of Mérida was once home to the greatest concentration of wealth in the world. It was the sisal barons of the 19th century who hired Parisian architects to build the opulent villas along Paseo de Montejo, a wannabe Champs-Elysées. There were not many tourists here and the white horse-drawn carriages decorated with lurid fake flowers carry more Mexican families than foreigners.It was an interesting place to walk around. A lot of the old colonial houses were closed up or being renovated so I stuck my head in the doors to see what was going on to see beautiful houses built round an inner courtyard with verandas, pools and lots of marble. Merida is a place for expatriate Americans and wealthy Mexicans and it was easy to see why.

My birthday

Old City Gate

Colonial Building

Colonial Building

Colonial Building

Colonial Building Door

Colonial Building decoration

Colonial Building

Colonial Church

Colonial Church, now a University.

Colonial Church Altar

Modern Art

Modern Art

  

The city central square

On the walls of some of the buildings, including churches, could be seen carved stones obviously taken from destroyed Mayan temples. The market here was huge with all sorts of stalls, not just food and where I had my sandals repaired while waiting for a few minutes. Very good service.