Still feeling groggy from our colds we checked out of beachfront hotel and walked the 100m to the port to catch the 0930 ferry back to the mainland. After a pleasant 20 minutes journey we docked, walked past the taxi rank at the front of the port who wanted to charge us $10 for a 10 minute ride to the bus station and paid $3 for the same journey, negotiating with a cab on the main road. The buses from Cancun to our next stop, Merida, run every 30 minutes so by 1100 we were on our way for the 4 hours 15 minute journey at a reasonable price of c$20 each. As bus journeys go this one was pretty boring along a flat, straight dual carriageway flanked by jungle plotting out any view. Instead Diane watched both movies and whilst both were in Spanish, enjoyed the first one about the first black player in US baseball and was joined by Simon watching the second one, Warhorse. Whilst we didn't understand the words, we got the gist and willwatch the English version either on our flight home or buy the DVD. The quality of the onboard entertainment has certainly improved since we've reached Mexico! We arrived in Merida with the last 5 minutes of the film still to go and as it stopped on a pivotal moment Diane messaged Eve to find out if "Joey still lived" (she was relieved with Eve's response the next day!). As the temperature was again 40ยบ+ we got a taxi for the 1km ride to our hotel, Mediomundo. In keeping with Merida itself the hotel is of a colonial style built around 2 courtyards, one with a fountain and one with a swimming pool. Since leaving Colombia we have been in many different types of hotels and especially after the last two, which were very modern and beach holiday-esque, it was nice to be back in something that had character; we felt we were travelling again! After a warm welcome, including a refreshing glass of juice, we dumped our bags and walked the 3 blocks to the city centre. There we located where the free city walk tour would start, which we planned to do tomorrow, enjoyed 2 ice cream cum milkshakes at a cafe next to the plaza and after looking at some Mayan souvenirs (too expensive and too heavy to carry) we strolled back to our hotel. In the evening we had a traditional Mayan type meal of four different types of sauces with turkey at Chayan Maya and then went to a small square to watch some typical Mayan music and dance. The place was crowded with what looked like mainly local people (maybe they come here every Thursday for this free show). Simon managed to last an hour of this dose of culture before we headed back to our hotel just after 2300.
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| Our early morning view from Hotel Bahia |
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| On the ferry heading back to Cancun for our bus to Merida |
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| Hotel Mediomundo |
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| The balcony outside our room |
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| Mayan dance show |
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