Photo TR: A guided tour trough Merida´s Historic Downtown.

[mmousefan]

Well I went today to the Historic Downtown of my city ( its like only 15 min fro my house and 5 block away of my school) to take some pics for a class and then I tougth: " Why dont a make a PTR to show on TPR????". And well after two hours of taking pics. Here it is, my first PTR dedicated for my city Merida.

 

Enjoy.

And... OMG who is this... Robb????... When did you got that beard????

And me in the museum. Hope you liked my PTR.

Some old guns.

We had a huge franciscan monastery in the city but it also was destroyed by the goverment.

Some religious artwork saved from the cathedral when the goverment tried to destroy it on early XX century. Yes the Catholic church was persecuted for some time. You can se the damage, Baby Jesus is headless.

This is how Merida looked before the spanish men came. It was called Tho by the mayan.

To finish, a look into the citys museum. I think this guy didnt know about McDonalds meals.

A wishing well??? mmmmm not really.

The inside. Just a huge library, a radio station, some art galleries and administration oficces in here. No class rooms.

This is the main building of the University of Yucatan, where I study.

Is is called "teatro Jose Peon Contreras" and it is beautiful on the inside but it was closed to public today.

This is our main theater. The simphonic orchestra of yucatan plays here.

An old house from the XIX century, that now its a restaurant.

The dove standing on the head says Hi.

The "parque Hidalgo" and the "Gran Hotel" on the back.

More of the religious art work.

The main altar.

The dome.

The inside is completely covered in paintings and sculptures.

This is another church called "el Jesús" from The Company of Jesús.

A pic to remember the day when Pope John Paul II visited us back on 1992.

This is the Chirst of Unity. It is the tallest Christ inside a Cathedral in the world. The cross is 36.38 ft tall and the Christ is 24.6 ft tall.

The inside of the Cathedral.

Cathedral tower trough trees.

The inside of the Goverment Palace.

One of the paintings from the inside of the Goverment Palace. This represent the creation of the men fon the corn, according to the Mayan.

This is Merida´s coat of arms, and our title "most nobel and most loyal city of Merida" given to us by the king of Spain.

This is a copy of our liberty bell. Called "Dolores Bell". The first hero of our independende was a Catholic Priest named Miguel Hidalgo, and he ranged the bell from his church to call all the people to start the war of independence. Thats why it is there

And now this is the Goverment Palace. The Governor of Yucatan works here.

The Cathedral trough trees.

This is the cultural center called Olimpo. New construction made by a very famous local architect.

Another look at Town Hall.

In one of the corners of the plaza we can see a flag seller. We celebrate our indepence on 16 of September, so we can find people selling mexican flags all over the place.

The beautiful facade.

Now if you look to the rigth you can see the House of Montejo, This was the house that the founder of Merida build to himself. Merida was founded on 6 of January of 1542 by Francisco de Montejo.

This is the Town Hall, with the clock tower. A main symbol of Merida. It was built on early xx century.

Then we walk to the center of the main plaza. We called it "la Plaza Grande"

It is like 400 years old.

We star our tour infront of the Cathedral of Saint Ildefonso. This was the first ever built on continental american soil.

This is were Im located, Merida is marked with the star. And just for you to have a reference, Cancun is marked with the circle (4 hours to the east) and Chichen Itza with a triangle (2 and a half hours to the east).

First this is me Joel, and a friend Marie. Taken this past May.

[BeemerBoy]

Excellent work! Needless to say, there's some beautiful architecture there, and you captured it very well. I guess I don't ever need to visit Merida now. Just kidding.

 

Couple random questions. How far are you from Mexico City? And, what's the coolest temperatures you get throughout the year?

[mmousefan]

Hi tnks for cheking my PTR.

 

Well to answer to your questions, we are about 2 hours from mexico city by plane and about 24 hrs by bus. The temperatures are top: 113 fahrenheit and bottom: 41 fahrenheit. But to be honest its always hot and hummid but we are used to it.

 

If you have anyother question ill be more than glad to answer it.

 

Joel

[Beate's Freak]

Nice pics and a B-E-Autiful downtown!

[SharkTums]

If you feel like making the trek, a few of us will be in Cozumel in November!

 

I hear there's an awesome Minigolf course there with giant iguanas roaming around! We're so there!

 

(done all the touristy and cultural stuff on my 47 other visits to the Yucatan!)

[mmousefan]

Yes, Robb told me the other nigth on the chat that you were comming to Cozumel. Im really not that far from there, and actually I have never been there. So I would really love to meet you guys there. You just have to tell me the dates you will be here and I check if I can go.

In fact I have were to stay in cancun and isla mujeres because my grandma and aunts live there so I could really go.

 

Joel "I dont want to be a "fanboy" but I would really like to meet you" Saury

[mmousefan]

No more comments??? C´mon people.

 

What do you think about Robb´s pic???

[Ryan King]

If you feel like making the trek, a few of us will be in Cozumel in November!

 

I hear there's an awesome Minigolf course there with giant iguanas roaming around! We're so there!

 

(done all the touristy and cultural stuff on my 47 other visits to the Yucatan!)

 

Will the Big Iguananas eat my pound it fist....?

[mmousefan]

^ hahahaha I would love to see you trying to pound an Iguana LOL if they dont bite or scrach you first

[thomas2]

Wow I didn't know Mexico could be so beautiful. It's almost Europe in a way.

 

Time to hit Mexico!

[nyanko]

Nobody else thought of Maridia from Super Metroid? Nobody? Just me?

 

[mmousefan]

Wow I didn't know Mexico could be so beautiful. It's almost Europe in a way.

 

Time to hit Mexico!

 

Yes we had a lot of european influence because there was a time when traveling to europe was cheaper than traveling to central mexico, so the rich people started to build their houses whit the europan style. Our main avenue is almost like Champs Elisé from Paris. Ill have to make a new PTR to show it to you.

 

And yes you have to visit Mexico, Im proud to tell that Ive visited almost every mexican state and all of them are really beautifull and unique in its own way.

[thomas2]

^I would love to see that mainstreet

I've seen most of Europe (non-coaster wise) , I think it's time to go and explore the world. Too bad money is an issue for a student...

 

Well there are still many years ahead of me

[imaki]

Great pictures Joel. I love the architecture and history of so many Mexican citys. Good stuff! We will be in Cozumel and "Costa Maya" the middle of next month... looking forward to a few Ruin visits.

[mmousefan]

^great, are you comming on robb and elissas cruise??? or on your own??? email me so if you come near my city I can go and meet you.

 

pijuel@hotmail.com

 

Joel "I can be TPR official tourist guide for the Yucatán Peninsula" Saury

[the sound]

"Hey Mum, i found another reason why i want to go to Mexico!"

[imaki]

^^ Not coming with on the same cruise as the Alvey group. We probably won't be going to far inland, just hitting Tulum or one of the other coast ruins. Thanks so much for the offer though, and happy independence day!

[Masked_Maverick]

Very nice TR. Very beautiful city and fascinating pics. The Cathedral looks very nice.

[smells_like_team_disney]

My goodness, your city is GORGEOUS ! It reminds me a lot of where my mom grew up in Guanajuato, quite a distance from the Yucatan. I absolutely LOVE Mexico's old world architecture. My goal in life is to one day travel across Mexico (YES, more so than Europe!) and not all those touristy places, either. I'm talking about the small pueblos untouched by commercialism. That's where you experience Puro Mexico, not places like Rosarito, Acapulco or Cabo (no offense to anyone who's from there ).