Campeche, Veracruz and Xalapa... The end of the Mayan adventure.

It seems like it was yesterday as we were planning our trip to the Mayan Riviera; driving across country was a great experience. I have to admit that I was concerned about safety driving in Mexico, specially to an area that was new for us. But, I have to say that we had an amazing road trip and we enjoyed the beautiful views and natural landscapes throughout the country.

It was a 26 hour drive from our home in Colima to the the state of Yucatan; we only stopped to gas up the car and to sleep in a small hotel right by a gas station on the first night. Then we continued to reach our first destination at the port of Progreso, Yucatan where we house sat for a month and a half.
After finishing our time in Progreso, we took a road trip on the Mayan Riviera; in about two weeks we visited some amazing places we had on our bucket list (check the articles before this one for more details on these places).
After our two weeks adventure discovering amazing Mayan ruins and beach towns, we drove to the city of Merida; here we house sat for two months and we had a bit of a sweet and sour experience. We were amazed with the culture and the great lifestyle this city has to offer but, the hot weather and high humidity were brutal; we knew about the hot summers but didn't think it was going to be that bad since we lived in Las Vegas for so many years, or perhaps we needed to stay a longer time to get adjusted. The truth is that we love Merida and we can see ourselves living in this amazing city full time but, we want to try other places before making our final decision.
We left Merida with a smile on our face and with less pounds from all the sweating during the two months we spent there ha ha ha! (Check the article " Merida, the white city").

On our way back home, we stopped In Campeche since it was on our bucket list; we were amazed with the beauty of this historical city. Its well preserved colonial architecture, narrow cobblestone streets, the pastel colors of the buildings and mansions give this place a very special touch.
We were very pleased to find the historical center streets very clean with lots of outdoor cafes and restaurants and a beautiful main square where you can enjoy peaceful moments.

The moment we started walking around the city we felt a cooler breeze coming from the ocean, something I appreciated so much; we couldn't wait to check the oceanside so we made our way to the malecon (boardwalk) which is located just a couple of blocks away from the historical center.
The boardwalk is located along the Gulf of Mexico, it's one of the nicest I have seen; locals can go for a bike ride, a walk or just to sit down and enjoy the amazing sunsets. Here you can find plenty of restaurants along the way where you can stop for a drink or perhaps for a romantic dinner.

The historical center is surrounded by a fort that was built back in the 1600's to protect the city from the attacks of pirates. Now in days the wall has been converted into museums where you can learn its interesting history and appreciate some amazing views from above it.

 After spending a few days in Campeche; learning from its history, culture and enjoying its beauty, we left wanting to go back for a longer stay and find out if it could be a place to call home.

 Our next stop was in the port of Verecruz; we spent one day in this city where we were able to have a good time walking on the boardwalk. We stayed right by the main square which made it very convenient to explore the surroundings.

 There is a city in the state of Veracruz that we had on our list to visit; Xalapa is a college town that is located in the mountains. We read so many good things about it that we had so many expectations; it is indeed a nice city with cooler weather and great history. Coffee plantations are close by and some other magical places. We enjoyed visiting the botanical garden and having a coffee drink at the main square. Overall, we had a good time but we didn't find the charm we were expecting; glad we made it and checked it off our list.

 This was the end of our adventure; we're now resting at home and planning our next adventure.

Safe travels my friends!

Merida, Yucatan... "The White City"

A year ago we visited the city of Merida for the first time, we were flying home from Europe and stopped in Cancun; since we were very close, we decided to explore The White City. We heard so many nice things about it so we took the bus and went for the adventure.
Our stay in Merida was very short, only four days; enough time for us to get the taste of this beautiful place. We went back home with the idea of returning and, here we are now experiencing the life of La Ciudad Blanca.

We are house sitting a beautiful colonial home in the Historical District and taking care of three loving doggies and kitties. This might sound like a full time job but, the truth is that "the children" behave very well so we are very lucky; plus they love to be around us and that is a good feeling.

We have been in Merida for a month and we have no regrets about it; the city has a lot to offer, the only negative about this gem is the weather. Summers are hot and humid but JJ keeps telling me that humidity is good for the skin and he reminds me about all the money we could save in anti-wrinkle creams if we were to live here full time ha ha!
We came to the conclusion that having a pool is more a need than luxury; it feels very good to be able to cool down during the day and even better after getting home from taking a good walk.
We knew about the hot summers in Merida, that is why we decided to visit at this time of the year and find out if we would be able to handle it; we don't mind hot weather because we're use to it by living in Las Vegas for so many years but, humidity is really the challenge in this area... I am sweating as I type this article ha ha!

Merida is a mix of history, culture, colonial architecture and full of traditions; it also offers all the amenities of a modern city, including those we're use to in the states. That's why Merida is home for a group of expats who feel very happy to be part of its community.

 We enjoy walking around the historical district while appreciating the architecture; stopping at the parks that are located in each of the neighborhoods to take the fresco and have a little bite makes me smile all the time :O)

Life in Merida is never boring, there is always something going on around the city, specially in the Historical District; live music, cultural events, theaters, etc. We love going out in the evenings to enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the many outdoor restaurants while listening to a guitar player; feeling a cool breeze on our faces after a hot and humid day is priceless.

Well, this is so far how our adventure in The White City is going. I'm happy to say that we are not disappointed and that we're having a great time; I just wish the weather was a little more friendly but, there is no perfection in this world so we always try to see the positive sides. The purpose of our trips is to experience life in different places and, eventually we will decide which is the right place for us to call home... To be continued...

Safe travels my friends!