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This is kind of emotional as it´s probably the last off exploring we will write whilst actually off exploring, when we rap this baby up we will be back in london or sheffield and of course we would keep it going as an actual blog but i can talk faster than i type and in person you get the actions as well so it just isn´t worth it.
anyway there we were in Merida enjoying a nice hotel and a swim and even a spa bath on the roof terrace, doing some reading and relaxing mixed in with cultural things and gorgeing on more delicious cheap foods.
whilst in merida we did a walking tour of the main square which is very historical. The tour was free which put a smile on my face immediately. it encompassed the main plaza square built on the base of an old pyramid, a huge cathederal built with the pyramids stones once it was torn down. also a big old house owned by a rich spanish family previously and now run as a bank but maintained in a semi original state for tourists to gawp at. a smaller church which was v glam and used for weddings , a goverment building full of muriels, alright murals. and an art gallery with some Frida Kahlo and diego rivera and some other local mexican works (some good some bad , speaketh the art expert)
we also took in a spot of shopping , resisting buying a hammock and a panama hat , which the region is known for and not seeing anything great we actually wanted we were reduced to buying more food to satisfy the spending urge. each night we were there there seemed to be something free going on in the evenings.- one night was a traditional music night with all the old people up and dancing away. it was funny cos we got there and all the seats were taken, which was a surprise as these things usually start much later than advertised. then the music starts and everynoe seated gets up. obviously locals ready for their tuesday night boogie. however all the seats are reserved whilst they dance by at least one of the couple laying their walking stick over two seats. it was a good night though and the number of snakehips at least equalled the number of fake hips on display so fun was had by all.
the next night there was a traditional entertainment night in the park near our hotel , this included traditional dance , full costume the works, not just locals having a crack. music of course and trio of guitarists and a poet. he started with some heart wrenching stuff that involved him getting worked up in to tears, we didn´t understand a word of it but everyone spanish speaking was enthralled. then for his encore he did a very amusing piece about tabacco and rhyming it with his friend´s name Paco he appeared to weave a most amusing tale.
we then took a day out to make our way to Uxmal, anther ruin. It figures in the top few on our list of ruins. peaceful and impressive whilst being small and manageable in a couple of hours. and we were able to get a local bus out there and avoid the hugely expensive tours that operate to there.
after merida we hot footed on to campeche aware that time was running out and that we had to cram in every where we possibly could.
continuing our casual approach to finding accomodation we had booked no where in campeche so when we arrived it wasn´t a good sign that most of the streets around the centre had been closed off and seating was laid out on every road leading to the main plaza and the police presence was huge. our first choice hostel was full but we found one after a fair old wander round in the sun with back packs, that was nice and within our budget and informed us that all the fuss was becuase Il Divo were in town doing a gig. the place was obviously not accustomed to international celebrity and had gone a bit bonkers. however our stay there was very pleasant. It´s a nice colourful town with a picturesque centre. our hostel had a kitchen so we cooked for ourselves a bit to save money and ate very well thanks to the skills we have acquired for assembling a taco and the nearness of a MEGA supermarket.
we had acouple of days in Campeche and so a couple of free nights plaza entertainment. however this was not up to scratch compared to previous towns. one night was an experimental band who had finished there experiments by decidng that good music could do away with a rhythm and a tune and be better than ever, no one was impressed least of all me. song two appeared to be based on the strange rhythms in mad diego the drummers head, which wouldn't have been so bad had the band not tried to encourage the crowd to clap along, impossible. but we smiled politely and departed the scene.
the next night was children from local schools dancing to christmas music variously dressed as presents and reindeer etc. always good fun to see four reindeer turn left on cue and one turn right.
then we caught the night bus to Xalapa which was billed as a picturesque mountain village not too far from mexico city so we can hop over there for our flight on monday. and it has turned out to not let us down. the market and local cheap food has been exceptional (and we know a thing or two about that by now) and the plaza has a few market stalls and the temperature is more manageable , cardy in teh evening, to slowly acclimatise us to freezing back home....
went to a history of acheology museum this morning and just going to get some food before packing one last time and heading to Mexico city to see our mexican friends from Oaxaca for a couple of days and then popping back to good old blighty to see who won X factor and try and straighten out our woeful sports teams.
coming to a city near you Soon.....
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