Mar 17 last thoughts on Merida

Well goodbye from sunny Merida where we have passed a very pleasant two weeks, albeit stinking hot.Only one torrential tropical storm one day and we were home by then to watch it gusting through our palms here. Cleared by evening and everyone out walking the streets as usual. 

 I have been a slow blogger as we have filled our days with lots to do. Having the car we took side trips to the south, north and west of here all nice days out good roads for the most part. I write my log every evening so I shall play catchup on the blog eventually 

  Merida is still a lovely place to visit. But Mexico is third world still. Pollution, garbage, etc. Out of control. My eyes get sore half an hour after you go out every day. Using its of eye drops (not the ones just recalled in the US!!

  Seems like here are conclaves of Canadians at Progreso north of here, a lovely long beach but totally lined by concrete you could fry and egg on. Had a nice seafood lunch at a resto overlooking the malecon as they call it here.

  Every night there is free music/entertainent somewhere and all the locals come out to it, not just for tourists. Some free agents just wander the streets singing at will, passing the hate of course.YOu need lots of small change to tip everyone in sight. For some it’s the only money they seem to make. People here often need two jobs to cope.  There are several universities here in Merida, lotsofstudents and medical students around. 

  English is not widely spoken at all but many waiters cope quite well and our Spanish improves by the day. I can converse with the storekeepers (and bargain!) and the local teenagers too!

  So we are not looking forward to coming back to the cold north at all.But I doubt we will return to Merida again. We are  really enjoying our walk through memory lane and things we did here 46 years ago!

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