Yesterday was one of those unplanned days that by chance turned out better than I could have ever expected, thanks to some new friends.
It was a rare cloudy morning in Merida, so I decided the break from the sun and heat would make it a good day to go to the archaeological site of Uxmal (pronounced
oosh-mal), about an hour away by bus. Uxmal is one of many well-known sites here, like Chichen Itza, where you can see the ruins of pyramids and other buildings that used to make up ancient Mayan cities.
I took my time and caught the noon bus, and the ride there was not particularly scenic at first so I took a nap. I woke up as we got closer and the landscape had turned from flat to hilly and there were stretches of jungly land out of the bus window and the air got cooler. It was gorgeous. The bus let me off at Uxmal and I felt like I was out in the country, so I was already loving it. Then, on the walk up to the entrance, I passed an antique car display with restored Land Rovers. So randomly cool.
 |
| Just off the bus |
 |
Vintage Land Rovers
|
Uxmal was not very crowded and the place was huge. This was the first thing I saw when I entered. Notice, no people!
It turned out to be a really peaceful place to explore. The weather was perfect, even though it rained a little. When it did, I got trapped in this covered archway as it passed. Couldn't complain.
 |
Dramatic clouds
|
What I had thought was just going to be a Mayan temple/pyramid was actually a whole community of buildings, like the stadium above, government buildings, and a ballpark. You can climb the steps of some structures, and they are super steep. This would never fly in the U.S.
 |
It was a leg workout for sure
|
The view from the top was stunning, and you can see how big Uxmal is.
 |
A rare non-selfie photo!
|
This was around when I met Jaime and Daniela, a couple on vacation from Queretero, Mexico, who were nice enough to take my picture. We hung out for the rest of our time at Uxmal and then they invited me to dinner at a hacienda on the way home. I hesitated at first because I didn't want to intrude on their romantic evening, but they said they'd been married for 20 years so I shouldn't worry about it. On the way to the hacienda, we stopped at a chocolate-making farm, where the vintage Land Rovers were out and about, looking amazing.
Then we drove about a half hour to a hacienda they'd heard about, for dinner. The haciendas in this area grow (or used to grow) a plant called hennequin. Hennequin a kind of agave that is used to make a fine, nylon-like rope that's made into all sorts of things, like hammocks and clothes.
It rained at the hacienda, but it was still beautiful!
 |
| You take this little train to the restaurant |
 |
Very regal path to entrance
|
 |
The restaurant
|
Somehow I didn't get any pictures of Jaime and Daniela... but I swear they were real. At least I'm pretty sure they were. And I'm so glad I accepted their invitation to dinner (which to be honest, is kind of unlike me) because those two turned what would have been a garden variety great day into one of the best I've had here.
Comments
Post a Comment