Henequen was the “green gold” of the Yucatan. This prized sisal fiber was exported all over the world from the mid-1800s into the 20th century. The wealth amassed was unbelievable for its time and was held by 50 prominent families. Many of these families built mansions in Merida. Paseo Montejo, a broad tree-lined avenue in contemporary Merida, is lined with these decaying beauties. Some are being renovated. Others have become scruffy bike rental shops or torn down and replaced by lackluster modern architecture. Their original elegance has been interrupted by time and the city itself.
MedFlies 
Wonderful! And so much better now than earlier on my phone! What about their gardens?
The gardens surround the houses and are sub-tropical, tropical, lots of palms and giant ferns with deciduous trees mixed in. We saw one amazing flower we had never seen before, (coming on a future blog.) But in general we haven’t seen any external WOW gardens. I suspect they save the best for inside the house on the courtyard/terrace and around the pool. That’s the way it is at our house here.
Wow – these buildings are beautiful. Would enjoy seeing how the insides are furnished.
Merida’s renovated historic homes hold surprises. Many of the smaller colonials are built right up to the sidewalk and are very narrow, leaving you with the impression that they are small and dark. But like the house we are renting..you enter a narrow entry hall and proceed through rooms that open into a bright courtyard in the center or back of the house. We’ll see if we can’t find more interiors to photograph for you…
Thanks!! I look forward to seeing these pictures if it works for you to do this.