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.
On Saturday Jeff and I took the Mayan Train to the town of Izamal. The train is new and a bit controversial. It was built to increase tourism and is beautiful. Many people think it’s a waste of money because it won’t be run correctly.
Once it’s all built, if it’s all built, it will be amzing.
The Merida train station is way out of town, but really big and well organized.
We chose the town of Izamal because ot was only 35 minutes away, perfect for a day trip.
The platform was so orderly they had us stand in the area where our assigned train car would stop.
When the train arrived everyone clapped.
We were all ready for our 35 minute trip. They even mopped the floor after everyone boarded.
Forty five minutes and two more moppings later we we’re still at the station. My heart sank when a man boarded with a megaphone. No good news is ever said through a megaphone.
They had overbooked the train. We all had to move to a bigger train on the opposite track. No one clapped for this new train.
The train finally started, then stopped. More mopping, then it made it to the first stop. Tixkokob. Two people got off, one person got on. More mopping.
The train sat there for hours. Luclily there was a really nice woman and her college aged daughter seated across from us. It might have been Stockholm syndrome, but we became fast friends. The daughter went to university in the city of Queretaro which we’ve been intetested in.
We all agreed that next time a train arrived we would boo instead of clap. Finally after three hours our train made it to Isamal.
The town was beautiful. I’ll post about that next.
On Friday we went to the Mayan train office to buy tickets. The train is new and has,a,website but it’s hard to figure out. The tickets took longer to buy than the trip will.
We bought tickets to the town of Izamal which is the first stop from Merida. The town loojs interesting but it’s more of a trip to see how the train works.
After getting our tickets, we went grocery shopping. I’m not sure if this is sold in the US but I’m pretty sure it would be too spicy for me.
On Thurday we have a quiet day. Jeff worked, I had a Spanish lesson and we walked to the gym. Our neighborhood is modern but still fun too look at
On Wednesday Jeff and I went to look at an apartment to rent. The one we are currently in is nice but this one had a pool.
Merida is sometimes called the white city which always seemed strange. The center of town is veo colorful. But from this apartment you can see the a lot of the buildings are white
We decided to stay in our current apartment. This bigger one was right off a highway and noisy. But the view was good.
It’s heating up again here. We’ve decided to change our morning walks to evening. Yesterday was so nice walking without being blinded by the sun.
Monday was quiet work day. Jeff worked and I studied Spanish and had a Spanish lesson. On our walk to the gym I saw this very thorny flower or I guess also known as a flowering cactus.
On Sunday we went back to the beach. It’s only a 20 minute Uber ride so a great Sunday activity.
It was almost chilly with the sea breeze and shade of our rented chairs and umbrella.
Above is Jeff being seranaded by a drummer and clarinetist behind him. Too bad I didn’t keep up with my clarinet playing. I could play and Jeff could get a drum.
After a few hours in the shade we went for a walk and I took photos of doors.
On Saturday we went out to breakfast at a,reataurant literally called Breakfast Nachos.
The menu had so many types it was hard to choose.
We chose the 4th one on the menu Chilaquiles con Longaniza de Vallodalid. I had read about these famous sausages from the town of Vallodalid.
We also got the chilaquiles gourmet. The plan was to trade halfway through. Jeff started with the sausage one and said his hair started to tingle. When we switched I felt really weird when I ate the sausages. I got weirdly hot.
Then for the rest of the day we felt sick. I think there was something either a spice, MSG or a preservative that was no bueno.
So I’m taking a break from breakfast nachos and am off Valloladid sausages forever.
On Friday, Jeff and I found another cofdee roaster. We we’re excited because this one was right next to our gym and the coffee was much cheaper.
The bag was also impressive. But the coffee was just OK. So we will go back to the place we went last week with the really nice couple. Good cofdee it’s worth the extra walk and pesos.
