Life in the Yucatan

MORE EXPLORATION OF MERIDA AND SURROUNDING AREAS

A popular destination right now, we got a handle on the things to do in and around Merida, Mexico! This is Part 3 in my series of tips to help you have some fun in the Yucatan State!

SO MANY GOOD RESTAURANTS IN MERIDA

I know I have given you tips on restaurants in every one of the blogs in this series but I still have some others to tell you about because there is just that much to choose from in Merida! We didn’t get to every one we wanted to try either!

La Negrita Cantina is a local joint and everyone makes a pass through while in town. While I wouldn’t put it at the top of my list for places we ate, it still was fun to sit outside on a beautiful day, listen to music and drink BIG beers out of jars while chowing down on some fajitas. So go and have a lot of fun!

A word about Oliva; fabulous! Stefano Marcelletti is the Executive Chef and Owner of the Oliva string of restaurants around Merida. The man knows his way around a kitchen; fresh local ingredients and pasta are just two of the reasons to eat there.

We had dinner at Oliva Enoteca first and were so impressed because we were seated next to the open concept kitchen where we could watch the magic happen. It had floor to ceiling glass and was so clean you could have eaten off the floors!

We ordered carpaccio and tried several different daily pasta specials. All were fantastic and authentically Italian to the point we felt like we were back in Italy. We finished with a selected cheese platter for dessert with espresso and grappa.

The dinner was so good it meant a trip to the tinier Oliva Kitchen for a second night which was intimate and just as fabulous. Now you can hit Patio for fantastic outdoor dining or pop into Latte off the Paseo de Montejo for a quick coffee and some fresh breads or pastries. Do not miss these restaurants! (Psssttt….he also owns Casa Lecanda which is a swanky B&B that you just might want to check out and stay in! Just sayin….)

Honorable mention goes to Hermana Republica which is a super fun place with zooty outdoor eating spaces, colored lights and a fun menu for doing appetizers and small plates like Yuca Frita with Mojo de Ajo-just try it!

SHOPPING FUN IN MERIDA

As I mentioned in the two previous blogs in this series, Merida has a lot of outdoor pop up shopping stalls on different days. Santa Ana is good to hit anytime and the Grand Plaza is a funday Sunday experience.

There are all kinds of shops up and down the Paseo for almost everything imaginable but it really is priced for tourists. You will still think it is a good deal but what the locals know is you can find pretty much what you want or need at the Lucas de Galvez market at much lower prices.

The market went through an extensive renovation in 2015 and will be going through another one to shore up leaks and problems but you still don’t want to miss it. We found a great pair of guaraches made right on the premises for about $10. A beautiful white linen traditional guayabera shirt and straw hat for my husband set us back around $35.

All kinds of foods, clothing, tools, accessories, shoes, fresh flowers and plants; even exotic animals are available in this market. Everything you would see in a Walmart to a greater and cheaper extent you can find at this place for real! It is a one stop shop for anything before you head back home.

DAY TRIP TO PROGRESO BEACH FOR SUN FUN

We felt like getting outside of Merida for a day to check out the beaches. We packed up a bag and with no car called Uber and they took us right out there-no problem! It cost about $30 for the round trip and was well worth it.

It was nice to let someone else do the driving so we could indulge in whatever we wanted to drink for the day and get a feel for the surrounding countryside. Uber dropped us right at the beach and we set up under an umbrella for no rental as long as we bought some drinks! No problem there! $20 bought us whatever we wanted all day long.

The beaches are wide and pretty with white sand. Even though it was a Tuesday there were plenty of locals mixed in with the tourists enjoying the water and the sun. This was because there was no cruise ship in port which is how you want to plan this. Even my little travel companion enjoyed getting out for a run and some play time with other animals.

There were vendors walking around selling a lot of different things like handmade baskets, hats and jewelry. We picked up some nice silver bracelets for around $15 each and a couple of great smaller baskets to take back to friends for $5 a piece.

Kite flying was the thing of the day with so much wind so we also bought some colorful interesting animal shapes for nieces and nephews at about $5 a pop.

A LITTLE FRESH FISH AT CRABSTER’S

Since there were a lot of restaurants along this beach front town we could have had any kind of lunch we wanted but I picked out a place called Crabster’s. It offered outdoor dining of course with stunning views but a cool retreat inside as well if you wanted a break from the wind and sun.

After checking out the menu we changed our minds when the waiter came with our beautiful white wine he had recommended and went for the fresh fish of the day for the table. After delivering it to the table for admiration, he promptly deboned it table side quickly and perfectly for us! It was delicious!

SAD ADIOS TO MERIDA, MEXICO

While some might not think Merida has the same charming feel of say San Miguel de Allende or Ajijic, we felt it was a good mix between living in Mexico and living in the US. Things you want like a Walmart are available but things you really like are too.

It felt very safe as I have talked about before in this series and that is what has made it a retirement haven for expats from the US, Canada and Europe but for Mexicans as well. One of our Uber drivers told us he had moved to Merida from another border town for the safety factor himself.

We spent about ten days in total in the area and felt we had a good understanding of it in that time. There is so much we didn’t get to see especially without a car but as I said, Uber was very affordable.

I hope you enjoyed this blog series and want to visit Merida; I don’t think you would be disappointed. You have some great tips and a general guide for who to see, what to eat and where to go here! You might also want to read other blogs under Explore the World.

Hey, don’t be a stranger! Let me hear from you about any questions you might have or what your wanderlust plans might be OK? Look for my first edition of The Quirky Tourist newsletter which will be out on March 31st if you subscribe to my email list! Until next time…

Cheers,

ArtsyChowRoamer

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