Merida

From Holbox, we took a 5am ferry to the mainland to catch a bus to Valladolid. We just had time to grab some pastries before our bus to Chitzen Itza left. Chichen Itza was once a thriving Mayan city and then for reasons unknown, was abandoned in around 900 AD - my guess is because it's so damned hot! The ruins there are impressive and extensive... here´s a good little summary of the site.

From Chitzen Itza we went to Merida, which is the capital of the State of Yucatan. It was a nice change from the beach, with it's buildings, culture and sand-free beds. One afternoon we went to the zoo (ostensibly to entertain Rhi's 4 year old Macallan, but we had just as much fun!). On the walk back to the hotel I got separated from the group; lost in my own little world of taking pictures of the colourful buildings (and hailing a cop car when I thought it was a cab). It was late afternoon, the streets were deserted and for a good 20 minutes, there wasn't a single car. Siesta is such a pragmatic, and civilised, thing.

From Saturday night to Sunday afternoon, the area around the central square is closed to traffic and there are live bands, food and souvenir stalls and a lot of local men looking to give travelling women a dancing lesson. On Sunday afternoon, the flag is lowered by an out of tune and, it's got to be said, a little lackadaisical, police brass band and traffic is rightly restored to the streets.