In November I signed up to go on a free exploratory trip to Merida with a rival travel company, World Strides. I’ve led four tours with EF (2009-2022) and am leading another to Peru later this month. (See April’s blog for details.) But I’m not opposed to seeing how other companies operate and who wouldn’t want a free trip, right?

They chose on a first-come, first-served basis, and apparently, I signed up quickly enough because I received a congratulatory email saying I’d been chosen. That’s how I found myself on an adventure with other educators in Mexico, a country I’ve never visited before.

My flight from Indianapolis International departed at 6 am on Thursday, February 15th. I always choose Indy as my departure airport because of the convenience of having my son and his wife living near the city and working at the airport. It helps with rides and a place to park my car. This time I stayed overnight so I wouldn’t have to get up at 2 in the morning to drive to Indy. My wonderful son, daughter-in-law, and their dog, Zarya, dropped me off, and I made it through security and to my gate with no problems.

Less than an hour later, I was boarding to fly to Miami. My aisle seat was with a lovely missionary and his daughter flying to Nicaragua. In the Miami airport, I purchased a spicy chicken empanada from Half Moon Empanadas and some Mountain Dew and crossed the airport to my gate. 3 hours later, I was on the plane to Mexico, and in another 2 and a half hours we’d landed in sunny, 85 degree, Mérida, Yucatán.

Around 8 of us landed in that first group. We met Jorge our Tour Director, and several members of the Explorica by World Strides team. We took a shuttle back to the hotel and checked in, then had free time to explore as we waited for other groups to arrive – 32 educators in all from across the US.

For the next 3 days we toured Mérida and the surrounding area, eating fabulous meals and making new friends. We learned a lot from each other concerning student travel and tricks to make the trips easier and more memorable for students. Below are several highlights in photo form.

Progreso Beach

My new friends, Tracey and Patrizia, and I walked over a mile along the water’s edge to reach the carcass of a beached whale. Along the way we saw numerous boats, both abandoned and viable, littering the sand and beached in shallow water awaiting the next high tide. We also found a beachside chapel and enjoyed the company of flocks of gulls and other waterside birds. Pelicans rode the waves or dove for meals. As one of my favorite birds, I was thrilled for the close views.

Chichén Itzá

What I thought was a single, large, excavated pyramid, turned out to be a ginormous complex. Massive in scope and as yet undiscovered history, the acres of stone buildings include a ball court, housing for the priests and royals who occasionally graced the site, not to mention servants and slaves. The pyramids built over pyramids, carvings, and massive serpent heads proved the skill of the ancient Mayan builders.

So many stories and speculation concern this once-great people. Their model of the world comes from a sacred tree and is fascinating, though I’m glad to know the One True God instead of having to remember the Mayan Pantheon.

Cenote

According to our tour director, thousands of underground caves are connected by a vast system of underground rivers. Scientists posit that the asteroid that eliminated the dinosaurs fell off the coast of Yucatán, possibly raising the land from the sea. Because of this, the cenotes formed. The stalactites and stalagmites are similar to those found in aboveground caves, but these are filled with fresh water.

The cenote we swam in was 60 meters deep. Too murky to see the bottom because the openings in the ceiling only let in so much light. With the water temperature hovering around 73 degrees year round, the first jump was quite a shock. It didn’t take long to adjust, however, and I was soon able to enjoy the natural beauty of the textured rocks. I’d highly recommend the experience.

Kayaking in the Gulf of Mexico mangroves

I’ve kayaked in rivers and on a lake in Costa Rica, but this kayaking experience was unlike any I’ve had before. First, the water was shallow. In many places, mud islands waited inches below the surface to strand unwary passersby. Second, the population of birds was astounding: white and brown pelicans, gulls, and others I can’t name, plus, 3 pink flamingoes!

We saw them flying while we were at a kind of pretend village/rest stop on a mudflat. On our way back, we saw them feeding in the shallows near the other group of birds. Such brilliant pink color!

Mérida – the food, the city, the shopping

The city itself is charming, walkable, and filled with vendors of all sorts. From blankets of goods on the street, to shops, you’ll be able to buy whatever you fancy. I’d recommend a minimal grasp of Spanish to facilitate the bargaining process as it is required else you will pay more than you should.

If you enjoy art and history, you’ll love the cathedrals and governor’s palace, both on the main square. Murals depicting Mexico’s often bloody past are free to view. I also enjoyed the historical light show played on the walls of the oldest cathedral in the americas. Carriage rides are offered throughout the city as well, and there’s these odd connected chairs called “conversation chairs” that were supposedly used to court one’s intended without the need for chaperones. The white one in the photos is what I’m speaking of. They are a symbol of the area.

We bicycled through a part of the city and encountered a peaceful protest against the current president. The group laid claim to hard won democracy and denounced potential meddling with the system. I can relate with the controversial elections over the past several years in the United States.

As a destination I’d recommend Mérida to those who prefer a less crowded area. We felt safe the entire trip and walked everywhere in small groups. The city is being updated with new roads and sidewalks, revitalized shops, and places to stay. If you’re considering Cancun, but dread the tourist crowds, perhaps Mérida would be the perfect alternative.

I certainly have my brain jam-packed with material for future fantasy stories, settings, and customs. It will certainly be interesting to compare the Maya to the Inca when I travel to Peru soon. In the meantime, have you been to Mérida or another city where you had to barter? Do you enjoy the custom or do you prefer to pay the listed price and go on with your adventure?

I’m excited to hear your experiences!

Be sure to look for next month’s blog with details about Peru! Until then, may you see beauty wherever you are.