Bev & Terry's Travels in Mexico: Mmmmmm....La Chaya Maya

Empanadas Cazon

Vaporcitos

Because of the storm and lack of electricity we hadn't had anything to eat since the half-bowl of popcorn last night so we worked ourselves into a feeding frenzy and headed out to La Chaya Maya for lunch. Just as we remembered it, the place was packed. From the languages we could overhear being spoken, there seemed to be tourists from every country as well as Mexican locals and Mexican tourists. Currently, there seems to be a lot of Mexican tourists in town. We're guessing due to Semana Santa. Terry ordered the Empanadas Cazon....baby shark meat cooked in kind of a fried turnover type thing. Mixed in with the batter is chaya - a type of green cooked frequently down here. I had the Vaporcitos...chicken meat inside of a corn-based tamale steamed in banana leaves with pumpkin sauce on the top. Yummy! We both drank the jamaica juice. It is a red juice made from the jamaica flower. We thought we would order dessert but no room for it.

When we walked out of La Chaya Maya we ran into the Australian guy...we had met and talked with him at the beach in Progreso last trip. He had flown from Melbourne to LAX and from LAX into IAH. He had spent some time in Texas and really liked Austin. We guessed him to be in his late 20s. From IAH he had flown into Cancun and since then had traveled to the Yucatan. Not sure what his plans are from this point forward. Guess we'll have to ask next time we run into him.

We walked over to the Museo Casa de Montejo...it is in the home of Franciso de Montejo --- very elaborate furnishings and artwork, and all have been well-preserved thanks to some funding from Banamex. No pictures are allowed --- sorry. There was also an art exhibit on display --- local cultural art --- very impressive. Banamex has spent lots on funding cultural events and preserving historical structures in and around Merida.

Floreria

From there we went on a walkabout. We remembered last year Semana Santa week being very quiet in Merida as it seemed everybody headed to the beaches. This year it seems everybody is coming to Merida. Seems to be a lot of Mexican travelers in town. Have I said that already? With the construction of wider sidewalks and block pavers going on in the streets of Centro it makes for crazy traffic on the streets not under construction. It is interesting as they get each street tore up and put back together quickly. No siestas for these workers! I'll have to post a finished picture of this street below when completed. Will be soon -