The road to Mérida
28-Febrero-2020, Viernes. Mérida, Yucatán
Gracias Cozumel por permitirnos vivir brevemente entre ustedes en su encantadora isla. Espero con ansias nuestro regreso.
Thank you Cozumel for allowing us to live briefly with you on your lovely island. I look forward to our return.
The road to Mérida is about 200 miles.
We sprung for a taxi leaving the Casa Cereza rather than roll the little wheels on our suitcases down the streets and sidewalks. $2.50 USD
7:30AM exiting taxi 
Good Bye Cozumel
The MSC Meraviglia docked at Cozumel last night. It is the cruise ship that two other nations refused dockage due to corona virus fears even after the sick crew member had a confirmed diagnose of common seasonal flu. Mexican President Lopez Obrador said Mexico had to act with “humanity. Passengers will be let off the boat today.
8:00AM departure on the Ultramar ferry. Yesterday’s El Norte was still blowing at 16 mph and gusting to 20. Waves were rocking the ferry enough to make boarding it a bit of a struggle. The captain had to bounce bow and use his thrusters to move the ferry off the pier for departure. I’m glad neither Dale or I are prone to seasickness. There was more than one feeling of weightlessness as the ferry porpoised its way to Playa del Carmen across the 5 foot high 6 second duration swells.
Ferry was $20 USD for the two of us. If we had local cards (expats living here) it would have been $6 for the two of us.
8:50 AM arrival in Playa del Carmen. Estamos aqui. (We are here) 
hoofing it to the bus station – through the park 
down Avenida 10 before the shops open
9:30AM quick stop for breakfast and a cappuccino across from the Palacio Municipal
Palacio Municipal 
Cappuccino
10:00AM arrival at the ADO bus terminal for our 10:30AM bus to Mérida. Tickets were $50 USD for the two of us.
ADO bus terminal 
It’s here and ready
The bus ride to Mérida was not scenic. All this land was torn up and fried by the meteor which destroyed the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Forested, trees grow between rocks in soil until they deplete the nutrients and die or fry up and die from the heat. I saw one small herd of Brahman cattle. Couldn’t help wondering what exactly were they eating?
I have a lot of admiration for the Mayan culture for them to establish a strong presence here in this bleak land.
Our bus seats were in the second row from the front. Close enough to hear the bus driver sing his way to Mérida.
2:30 PM Mérida Ado bus terminal 
and we are off 
this way 
Sherwin Williams 
left turn 
keep going 
keep going 
Wrong way. About face. 
Past the tourist police 
Past the University de Yucatan 
Left turn onto Calle 53. Just about there. 
3:15PM Estamos aqui Casa Carmita
Our new home sweet home at $48 per night. Good deal. Breakfast included.
we have the upper left corner room 
view from the balcony 
exterior door lock (yes it is a padlock) 
interior door latch 
various door configurations 
bathroom faucet and only cold water
The hotel is quiet and clean. The matrimonial sized bed (double bed) will fit us just fine. It’s been a long time since I’ve slept double in a double bed.
After a brief rest we walked the perimeter of the Centro/downtown area. The architecture, markets and food here are supposed to be amazing. Our walk and supper was just a tease.
There must be a dozen piñata shops on this block in the market area 
single cigarette sales 
Centro Peninsular en Humanidades y Ciencia Sociales
Buenas noches
Hechos Graciosos (Fun facts)
Mérida is the capital and largest city in Yucatan state of Mexico. (Bigger than Cancun) The Mérida metropolitan area has more than 1,161,000 people, ranking 12th in 2019 among the most populous Mexican cities.
The city, like much of the state, has heavy Mayan, Spanish, French, British, Lebanese and to a lesser extent Dutch influences. Mérida has the highest percentage of indigenous population within any large city in Mexico. The Maya are approximately 60% of the population.