Merida
Hello and welcome back! If you're looking for the next chapter about our Costa-Rican/Mexican adventure, you've definitely come to the right place. We have already covered trips, beaches and Mexican capital and now it's time to talk about our beloved Merida that was our home for two whole months. If you still haven't read all the posts, which is a big mistake! by the way, you can find all our Costa-Rican posts here and all our Mexican posts here.
Let's get started ;) You know why we chose Merida, where we stayed and how long we were there. However, lots of you were asking (nobody, literally nobody asked :D) what we were doing when we weren't working, so I decided to put together some of our favourite to-dos in Merida. This won't be a typical must-see list, instead, you can find out what to do when you don't want to do anything in particular.
Useful tip: Your first stop in Merida should be tourist info centre where you must get your copy of Yucatan Today! There's no better thing to have there because you can find out about everything that is/will be happening in the city (we used to circle the events we wanted to go to, then usually never went :D). It's a very useful guide, there are also some articles about food and sights and Merida and so on. And it's free!
Also, I need to warn you before you go on - these are our favourite (except for food, of course) things and places in Merida. This means there will be lots and lots of superlatives and praises, maybe even to the point where you start to question it :D. But deal with it, these are OUR special places and moments and the most beautiful memories! :) Now, I allow you to continue... :D
1) Rosas y Xocolate
Our first stop after arriving in Merida was Rosas y Xocolate. We had spent some sleepless nights there two years ago (thank you very much, jet-lag :D) and it somehow got under our skins. So not only had we started our stay in Merida here (arrived early, Airbnb not ready, restaurant open, Uber called :D), we also planned a particularly nice date here sometime later. We chose a night when they had live music there, booked a table, dressed up and hit the city! It was a big contrast when we went down the memory lane and imagined how I was falling asleep there with a beer in my hand. This time though, I had a glass of wine in my hand, a cube of cheese on my fork and eyes wide open to enjoy the view from the terrace (and Telchac, of course). The atmosphere was exactly what we were looking for and this proved Rosas will always be something out of ordinary for us.
2) Biciruta
This is an absolutely fantastic event, regardless if you're a tourist or a local. What happens is that every Sunday they close Paseo Montejo down for cars and open it for the bikes! Some 1,5 km each way, many other cyclists, music and fun. You can also rent a bike if you don't have one (we had two in our Airbnb) or you can go people-watching if you don't want to bike. It starts 8am sharp - we could hear the presenter and music from our beds, and don't even get me started about the open windows :D - and it's best to be there early-ish - less crowded and not that hot. If you make it all the way to the end, you can admire La Patria Monument, just beware this is not the time if you want to take some photos, there will most probably be plenty of people there (we managed to take a few without the people but it took some time). Also, it's good to know about this happening especially if you're driving in Merida, then plan your route ahead.
3) Serenata Yucateca
You know when something is really close to your house and you're always late anyway? Or when there is an amazing museum just a few steps from your work and you never go there? This was that case. We had not made it to Serenata Yucateca till our last Thursday in Merida. We had been there for two months and only went once - it's incredible when I think of it and, honestly, I don't understand how this happened. At least now we think of it as something special that marked our last days in Merida.
Maybe that's also the reason why we liked it that much. And we didn't seem to be the only ones - the park (Santa Lucia) was packed, there was nowhere to stand, forget about sitting down! But we stood close to the performers so I could admire the huipil from close up. Serenata is an amazing tradition (started in 1965), it's free and you will enjoy it immensely - a show full of dancers in national costumes and live music, does not get any better, does it?
4) Salsa at Parque de Santiago
On the other hand, there are some places where you end up on your second night in the city and then you never get to go back there. This was the case of salsa night at Parque de Santiago. It's true that we lived farther the second month but we had never made it back there during our first month either. It was something unplanned, spontaneous and sparked by a few glasses of rum. We arrived quite late (starts at about 8pm) which meant we headed straight for the dance floor and showed them our moves :D. It was great fun and after all the dancing we had us some taquitos (11pm #healthylifestyle :D). What a night!
Can anyone take me back in time so we could enjoy these moments again? I really do hope my joy and merriness came across and that if you find yourselves in Merida, you'll take my word for it and tick off all of these. In two weeks we will be back with our favourite subject - FOOD. Don't come here hungry, ideally have some tacos ready :D C U then!
 |
| How amazing is the floor?! |
Let's get started ;) You know why we chose Merida, where we stayed and how long we were there. However, lots of you were asking (nobody, literally nobody asked :D) what we were doing when we weren't working, so I decided to put together some of our favourite to-dos in Merida. This won't be a typical must-see list, instead, you can find out what to do when you don't want to do anything in particular.
 |
| Calle 70 |
Useful tip: Your first stop in Merida should be tourist info centre where you must get your copy of Yucatan Today! There's no better thing to have there because you can find out about everything that is/will be happening in the city (we used to circle the events we wanted to go to, then usually never went :D). It's a very useful guide, there are also some articles about food and sights and Merida and so on. And it's free!
Also, I need to warn you before you go on - these are our favourite (except for food, of course) things and places in Merida. This means there will be lots and lots of superlatives and praises, maybe even to the point where you start to question it :D. But deal with it, these are OUR special places and moments and the most beautiful memories! :) Now, I allow you to continue... :D
 |
| Salsa gathering at Plaza Grande on Sunday |
1) Rosas y Xocolate
Our first stop after arriving in Merida was Rosas y Xocolate. We had spent some sleepless nights there two years ago (thank you very much, jet-lag :D) and it somehow got under our skins. So not only had we started our stay in Merida here (arrived early, Airbnb not ready, restaurant open, Uber called :D), we also planned a particularly nice date here sometime later. We chose a night when they had live music there, booked a table, dressed up and hit the city! It was a big contrast when we went down the memory lane and imagined how I was falling asleep there with a beer in my hand. This time though, I had a glass of wine in my hand, a cube of cheese on my fork and eyes wide open to enjoy the view from the terrace (and Telchac, of course). The atmosphere was exactly what we were looking for and this proved Rosas will always be something out of ordinary for us.
 |
| Rosas y Xocolate |
2) Biciruta
This is an absolutely fantastic event, regardless if you're a tourist or a local. What happens is that every Sunday they close Paseo Montejo down for cars and open it for the bikes! Some 1,5 km each way, many other cyclists, music and fun. You can also rent a bike if you don't have one (we had two in our Airbnb) or you can go people-watching if you don't want to bike. It starts 8am sharp - we could hear the presenter and music from our beds, and don't even get me started about the open windows :D - and it's best to be there early-ish - less crowded and not that hot. If you make it all the way to the end, you can admire La Patria Monument, just beware this is not the time if you want to take some photos, there will most probably be plenty of people there (we managed to take a few without the people but it took some time). Also, it's good to know about this happening especially if you're driving in Merida, then plan your route ahead.
 |
| Monumento à la Patria |
3) Serenata Yucateca
You know when something is really close to your house and you're always late anyway? Or when there is an amazing museum just a few steps from your work and you never go there? This was that case. We had not made it to Serenata Yucateca till our last Thursday in Merida. We had been there for two months and only went once - it's incredible when I think of it and, honestly, I don't understand how this happened. At least now we think of it as something special that marked our last days in Merida.
Maybe that's also the reason why we liked it that much. And we didn't seem to be the only ones - the park (Santa Lucia) was packed, there was nowhere to stand, forget about sitting down! But we stood close to the performers so I could admire the huipil from close up. Serenata is an amazing tradition (started in 1965), it's free and you will enjoy it immensely - a show full of dancers in national costumes and live music, does not get any better, does it?
 |
| Close-up |
4) Salsa at Parque de Santiago
On the other hand, there are some places where you end up on your second night in the city and then you never get to go back there. This was the case of salsa night at Parque de Santiago. It's true that we lived farther the second month but we had never made it back there during our first month either. It was something unplanned, spontaneous and sparked by a few glasses of rum. We arrived quite late (starts at about 8pm) which meant we headed straight for the dance floor and showed them our moves :D. It was great fun and after all the dancing we had us some taquitos (11pm #healthylifestyle :D). What a night!
 |
| 11pm tacos at La Reina Itzalana - Parque de Santiago |
Can anyone take me back in time so we could enjoy these moments again? I really do hope my joy and merriness came across and that if you find yourselves in Merida, you'll take my word for it and tick off all of these. In two weeks we will be back with our favourite subject - FOOD. Don't come here hungry, ideally have some tacos ready :D C U then!