Merida to Campeche
In Merida, on Tuesday, we watched as people started hauling poles, palms, rocks in
to the main plaza. They used machetes, string and hacksaws to build around 100 small palapa like shrines. We did a day of sightseeing and eating around the city, including a 20 piece Big Band concert and dance in a park in the evening. The huge dance space was packed with couples. We were by far the youngest dancing.
When we finally went to bed around 11pm but the builders were still at it in the central square.
The next day the whole plaze was packed with people, there to see the shrines that had mushroomed up overnight. Each one was built by a different village from surrounding areas, and they were complete with elderly women were making tortillas by hand and cooking them over open fires, pigs and roosters tied out front, ancient wooden equipment to shred sisel, or wash clothes. Incense infused all, as candles burned. Mayan music played. and each altar was dedicated to an ancestor. We think. There was alot happening that we couldn´t comprehend, but enjoyed it anyway.
BTW, other people at our $16 nite hotel were German mennonites who live down here. Go figure.
[Although our room had a 20 foot ceiling, it was definitely build for short people. I hit my head on the shower rod and the door jamb several times, and I´m only 5´10¨ On the city bus, standing (it was packed) my head was touching the roof. SC]
Then back on to a bus to Campeche. They moved the main bus terminal way to the edge of town, so a student helped us get onto to one of those classic old buses, and then guided us to the city center. Good thing too, because walking with our packs was treacherous to say the least. The sidewalks are elevated about 3 ft over the street level, but are only 18¨wide in places. So you don´t want to take the long way. At least you dont have to worry about getting splashed.
We were eager to see the annual Campeche Dia del Muertos festivities in the center of the city, but it turns out they did it LAST week because the whole main plaza and environs is being taken over by a movie crew for a production about Che Guevera. Well, that was interesting too. Seeing sets go up. We watched as the constructed two new multistory buildings on the plaze, and took out four blocks of antique wrought iron fence and gates ¬ presumably to be reinstalled later.
This city is amazing combination of old Mexico and old europe with a lot of Mayan thrown in. Having a great birthday celebration! CT and SC
to the main plaza. They used machetes, string and hacksaws to build around 100 small palapa like shrines. We did a day of sightseeing and eating around the city, including a 20 piece Big Band concert and dance in a park in the evening. The huge dance space was packed with couples. We were by far the youngest dancing.
When we finally went to bed around 11pm but the builders were still at it in the central square.
The next day the whole plaze was packed with people, there to see the shrines that had mushroomed up overnight. Each one was built by a different village from surrounding areas, and they were complete with elderly women were making tortillas by hand and cooking them over open fires, pigs and roosters tied out front, ancient wooden equipment to shred sisel, or wash clothes. Incense infused all, as candles burned. Mayan music played. and each altar was dedicated to an ancestor. We think. There was alot happening that we couldn´t comprehend, but enjoyed it anyway.
BTW, other people at our $16 nite hotel were German mennonites who live down here. Go figure.
[Although our room had a 20 foot ceiling, it was definitely build for short people. I hit my head on the shower rod and the door jamb several times, and I´m only 5´10¨ On the city bus, standing (it was packed) my head was touching the roof. SC]
Then back on to a bus to Campeche. They moved the main bus terminal way to the edge of town, so a student helped us get onto to one of those classic old buses, and then guided us to the city center. Good thing too, because walking with our packs was treacherous to say the least. The sidewalks are elevated about 3 ft over the street level, but are only 18¨wide in places. So you don´t want to take the long way. At least you dont have to worry about getting splashed.
We were eager to see the annual Campeche Dia del Muertos festivities in the center of the city, but it turns out they did it LAST week because the whole main plaza and environs is being taken over by a movie crew for a production about Che Guevera. Well, that was interesting too. Seeing sets go up. We watched as the constructed two new multistory buildings on the plaze, and took out four blocks of antique wrought iron fence and gates ¬ presumably to be reinstalled later.
This city is amazing combination of old Mexico and old europe with a lot of Mayan thrown in. Having a great birthday celebration! CT and SC
posted by Axolotl at 2:58 PM
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