On Tuesday we packed up our stuff in preparation to move to yet another Airbnb. The picture abone is not where we’re moving. This is just a really cool statue in Merida.
We liked our AirBnb but it was booked for the next few weeks so we are moving to another one with a pool.
On Monday we had a quiet day. Jeff worked and I had my Spanish class. We did go out for coffee. You know it’s hot when even Jeff orders iced coffee.
On Sunday we went to the Mayan museum. It’s gotten mixed reviews. Some people think the exhibition space is small compared to the size of the building.
It might just be because we have short attention spans but it seemed big enough for us. One floor had the Mayan exhibit and the 2nd floor had an exhibit of Aztec art. We only made it through Mayan.
I loved how they seemed to have a sense of humor. There were a lot of funny (to me) siles.
The below photos are from the Mayan calendar. I would love to understand what is happening on these days.
On Saturday we went to a “pop up” Korean dinner. We met Charlie at a social event. He’s a chef that recently owned a Korean restaurant in Playa de Carmen.
When he told us about his one night only Korean seven course dinner we bought tickets.
It was really good. When he opens his full time Korean restaurant in Merida we will be sure to go.
On Friday we started to feel the full effects of the Merida weather. May is their hottest month and we’ve been
warned about it. It’s like when people move to Seattle and ask if it rains in the winter or newcomers to Chicago ask if it’s cold in the winter.
As it gets closer to May it is getting hot.
We can sit outside until 10:30am then stay inside into 5:30. In the mornings and evenings it’s nice in the shade on our balcony. We’ve been taking a few walks in the morning, but today we walked to the gym and it was too hot.
On Thursday night we attended a, social meetup. This isn’t a great picture. Merida has tons of events. Every night of the week there is something going on. We haven’t been to many yet. But as we settle in we will start going to more of them.
On Wednesday I had my third maintenance drug treatment in México.
I have the routine down. First I sign a ton of paperwork.
Next I sign a promisary note which includes a fingerprint. I’m pretty much admitted to the hospital each time for my 30 minute infusion.
Then I get to my room where there are cookies.
Usually when they are done food shows up. The first time it was a really good egg sándwich. The second time it was a really bad chicken sándwich. This time it was chicken, pasta and jello.
I was pretty full after the cookies so only ate the crackers.
Then I settled in for a long wait before I was released. Knowing I’d be waiting made it go pretty fast. When they came to release me they gave me the gift key.
Jeff joke that you probably get it after spending $20,000 at the hospital. Each treatment costs $7,000 US dollars which thankfully insurance pays for.
On Tuesday we had a quiet day. Not much happened, although I did get to the bottom of why Izamal is painted yellow. Chat GPT said no one really knew.
One idea is that it was to spruce up the city for a visit from the Pope in 1993. That wasn’t that long ago. If that was the case couldn’t they just ask someone?
Another theory was it was to pay respect to the Mayan sun God. Or it helped to keep mosquitos away.
And then after more digging, I found the real reason. In the 1960’s the mayor of the town wanted to increase tourism. So, he got the entire town to paint all the buildings yellow. I have to wonder if he also owned a painted store.
On Monday we, walked to our favorite coffee Shop. There was a reason we were the only one on the street. It was really hot, even at 9:00 a.m.
This week they featured coffee from Oaxaca which is really good.
Later in the day we had baby carrots and this chopped jicama. I was thrilled because I love jicama bit is hard to cut.
After trying the precut version it’s worth the trouble to cut it. The added something to these to keep then from dying out which made them kind of slimy.
On Satuurday we took the Mayan train to the town of Izamel. It’s called the yellow city because the entire town is yellow.
We started at a restaurant that had the best food we’ve had here so far.
Then we walked around town.
There are two Mayan ruins in town. These are the only things not yellow.
Jeff climbed up the second one. I knew better.
After a full day we took the train back. This time it tan on time without any problems.
