On Calle 50 near the center of the city, there are two massive relics of Merida’s past. Two of the original eight 18th century gateways to the walled city still stand, engulfed by the modern city surrounding them.
In one of these gates, Arco del Puente, two doorways are cut into the supporting pillars. These small openings allowed people to pass through on foot when the gate was closed. The doorways are barely 1.2 meters tall, not to accommodate the diminutive Mayans, but to discourage aggressors from forcing entry to the walled city.
Today hundreds of people a day stoop to enter Calle 50 without questioning why.
MedFlies 