Warmth of Merida, Mexico

By Jeremy Carter - Guest blogger traveling in Merida, Mexico. On our 4th day in Mexico, a classmate and I took our first ride on a city bus, traveling from the school to the main square downtown to attend a traditional dance performance. The trip to the theater was easy, and you can't beat a bus fare of 4.50 pesos, or about 45 cents in US currency. The show was spectacular, covering styles of dance from the past 2,000 years. (My favorite: the ancient Mayan tribal dances.) The bus trip back to the north of the city was an adventure. We missed our stop, and since we were on the last bus of the night, we had to get off the bus and take a cab. Lucky for us there was a cab at the convenience store where we stopped, and the cabbie was glad to take us home. However, he was on break and having a coffee, so in typical Mexican "maniana" fashion, he wasn't in too much of a rush, and we sat at the convenience store talking for 15 minutes or more. There and on the way home we chatted about Mexico, and he gave us pointers on using the bus system, plus gave us insight into the places we passed on the way back. Just one of many examples of the incredible warmth and friendliness I've been met with in such a short period of time. Here, store clerks greet you when you enter and ask if you're sure there's nothing else you want when you check out. It's almost like having your grandmother ringing you up. "Are you sure that's going to be enough to hold you over until dinner...maybe a soda to go with your chips?" While looking for the bus stop on our way downtown yesterday evening, a very nice young man walking his dogs took us along with him since the bus stop was on his way. In addition, three people in our class have commented how here in Merida women aren't met with catcalls like they are in many Latin American cities. (however good-natured and innocent those catcalls may be, they can catch travelers from other cultures off-guard). The folks here in the Yucatan definitely take hospitality to an entirely new level.