We arrive in Merida on New Year’s Eve exactly at midnight. Families sit out on the streets in folding chairs as we pass by on the way to our new home in an old colonial house on Calle 75 in the center of the city. Bonfires burn at the curbs. The explosive pop of fireworks make us jump. And burning farolitos lilt through the night sky, then wink and disappear.
No one is there to meet us at our front door. So we strike up a conversation with Miguel, our teenage neighbor talking on his cell phone in the middle of the street. We ask to borrow it. I am proud to report the entire conversation with Miguel is in Spanish. Soon Janet, the residence manager, arrives with the key and a sweet greeting.
At 2 a.m. we settle in to drink wine and take a dip in the plunge pool, so named as it is unheated and quickly cools every night. The temperature ranges from 80 to 95 during the day and in the mid-70s most nights. It is wonderfully humid. My face feels like a ball of wadded paper slowly unwrinkling.
At 3:30 am we make it to bed. Very tired and very glad to be here in Mexico.
MedFlies 
What a great time to arrive in Merida… enjoy your stay!
An exciting adventure! The plunge pool sounds magnifico! The difference between an adventure and an ordeal is attitude!! 😜😎
Hi Nancy, That was true of our trip here. It took us 17 hours. Dana and I made a pact that the attitude for the day was “patience” and the slogan was “It’s nice to be nice.” It worked. We made it…just before midnight….and celebrated New Year’s Eve with the taxi driver.
All is well in the world. The adventurers are on the road again, delighting their friends with their insights, observations, and experiences.
Paul, So good to hear from you. How are you both and the zebra finches? We think of Adelaide and talk about our time there much more than you would imagine. Merida has strong Mayan influences, and interesting mix of Spanish and native cultures. We are looking forward to our sojourn here.
We have been anxiously waiting for a communication from you two to let us know that you are safe and have arrived in Mexico. Hope this finds you refreshed, rested and out exploring. Be glad you are gone. Snow, snow, show. Temps in the teens at night and only in the 30’s during the day. More snow predicted tomorrow. Both our road and yoursare ice covered still. Some can get in and out, others cannot. We bought a Subaru today to help solve that problem. Can’t wait to drive it. Congrats on your use of Spanish. The church group has exploded into as many as 25+ Don’t know where that will lead. Our little group of four meets for the first time since before Christmas Tuesday. Terry & Brad
jill. all your hard work on Spanish skills paid off with your first encounter! must give you lots of confidence that you can handle any future situations. que bueno! 😊
Have a wonderful time in Merida. The house looks beautiful!
Snow is expected again this week in Santa Fe. As per the usual predictions it is probably inaccurate!
Happy 2016.
Leni, How great to hear from you. I am in your old stomping grounds. J
Hooray!! A wonderful beginning to your grand adventure. I will eagerly await your stories and photos. XOX
Thanks. We just this minute had our first “snow” of the year and of the Winter. All 317 flakes of it. But it is cold and my face feels like wrinkling paper–to coin a phrase. Enjoy!