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EDITION 20 | | | 4:11 read time |
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Mérida, Yucatan | @gustavomoguel |
Curving
up into the base of the Gulf of Mexico, the capital of the Yucatán
Peninsula has it all. Sumptuous food, Mayan ruins, colonial
architecture, and tropical beaches. Mérida thrums with a creative energy
that in recent years has inspired a thriving expat community. From its
sprawling haciendas to its
many spontaneous fiestas, Mérida lives and breathes its culture 24/7,
making this corner of Mexico a never-ending delight. |
Mérida, Mexico |
N 20.96° / W 89.59° |
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#FunFact |
At
the heart of Mérida lies San Ildefonso Cathedral, the oldest cathedral
in continental America. It was built by Spanish missionaries on the site
of the Mayan city T’ho in the 16th century. In fact, many of the stones
used to construct the church were taken from ancient Mayan structures. |
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@josesimarq |
October-March |
Climate-wise,
Mérida is hot and humid year round. In fact, there are only a
handful of days when the temperature drops below 80F/26C. But don’t let
that stop you from enjoying the city’s many cultural events and
festivals. From Mérida Fest (a month-long celebration of the city’s birthday), to Carnaval, to the daily fiestas and concerts that take over every street corner, the people of Mérida LOVE to party. |
Want to know what’s
happening this week? Check out Yucatán’s weekly calendar of events. |
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BiciRuTa | @nathanswan |
Because the Mayans Loved Riding Bikes |
Sunday can be a quiet day for most travelers. But in Mérida, Sundays are for La Bici Ruta. Paseo de Montejo shuts down on Sundays from 8am - 12:30pm for bikers. Start your morning with a coffee from Manifesto
and then rent a bike for cheap. Join hundreds of locals and tourists
pedaling past beautiful mansions and iconic monuments, with live music
accompanying you on your way. |
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Chichén-Itzá, Yucatan, Mexico | @travellust_nl |
Chicken Pizza? |
It’s
time to revisit your middle school history lessons. Mayan culture runs
deep in the Yucatán peninsula, and there are plenty of opportunities to
explore this rich heritage. Your first stop should be to Gran Museo del Mundo Maya,
which takes you through the rise and fall of this mighty nation. Next,
hop in the car to explore one of the many Mayan ruins nearby. The most
famous is Chichen Itza (tip: rhymes with “chicken pizza”), but also
worthwhile are Uxmal, Mayapán, and Loltum. |
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Cenote X'keken | @lettibc |
Into the Deep |
Yes, there are plenty of beautiful beaches
in the Yucatán peninsula, but for those needing a break from the sand
and salt, there’s a different way to cool down in Mérida. Meet the
cenotes (sacred wells). These natural subterranean pools are famous for
their clear, blue water that is naturally filtered and just plain
gorgeous. You can visit the more popular cenotes, like Cuzamá and Homún,
or see if you can find a hidden cave yet undiscovered. |
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#venameridablanca | @pptotravel |
When the Sun Goes Down |
After
a long day of exploring Mayan ruins or swimming in cenotes, relax in
the cool (well, cooler) night air at Plaza de la Independencia. Admire
Mérida’s cathedral all lit up, enjoy one of the many cultural
performances, check out a traditional pok ta pok (Mayan soccer) game,
and sip an espresso from a nearby cafe. This is the heart of Mérida, and
a great place to experience the vibrancy of the city. |
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Melanie's Discovery |
@meltjoeng |
"Wander
the historical streets of Mérida, where the buildings are painted all
sorts of colors and designs. I recommend sitting in the central square
and listening to local musicians with a nice cool beverage in hand." |
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La Tradición |
Yucatán Feast |
It’s
always a good idea to try the local food whenever you’re traveling, but
sometimes that can mean trading a full stomach for a peculiar
experience. Luckily, you won’t have that problem in Mérida where the
local food is crazy delicious. From panuchos and salbutes, to sopa de
lima (lime soup) and of course, tacos, you can’t go wrong with the
traditional food here. |
Local discoverer @juicylola.co has the best recommendations for your trip to the city: |
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Mercado 60 |
"This flea market offers
more than 20 restaurants with open-air live music.” |
Read Reviews |
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La Pigua |
"La Pigua has fresh
seafood dishes that satisfy the most demanding palate.” |
Read Reviews |
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La Tradición |
"This is known as the
obligatory stop.” |
Read Reviews |
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Rosa Sur 32 |
“The fusion cuisine here is amazing.” |
Read Reviews |
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Hacienda Santa Rosa |
Hola Hacienda! |
Scattered
throughout the Yucatán peninsula are lavish haciendas, which functioned
as Mexican plantations during the colonial era. After falling into
decay for years, many of these beautiful buildings have been restored
into hotels and resorts that make for a luxurious retreat. |
Haciendas can get a little pricey, so if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option
that still lets you take advantage of the gorgeous colonial architecture, then Airbnb
is your best bet. You can still take a tour of one of the historical
haciendas during the day, then slip into your own little casita for the
night. |
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#meridablanca | @josesimarq |
Travel Tip |
"It
is very hot and humid, use hats and sunblock. There will be many
mosquitos, so if possible wear long fresh clothes instead of shorts and
t-shirts when visiting the ruins or anywhere outside Mérida city. When
exploring never go in sandals or open footwear, use tennis shoes or
outdoor shoes." -@legnalux |
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Carla Sánchez |
@callmeita |
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Country Count | Favorite Discovery |
20 | Canadian Rockies |
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"I Discover to...not stay in one place because there are so many amazing, beautiful and inspiring things to see in our world!" |
"One
of the best
experiences I've had while in Mérida was swimming in the cenotes.
Imagine you're swimming in a cave surrounded by stalactites and
stalagmites and you still have the chance to swim under a jungle-framed
sky and look at the amazing emerald and turquoise shades on the water.
It’s just magical!" |
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How did we do? |
We would love to know what you think of this edition of The Discoverer! |
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