01-06-2007
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#1 (permalink) |
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aņejo
 Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Oregon
Posts: 53,489
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Merida and Isla de Mujeres Trip Report
Hi all,
I did a bit of reporting whilst on the trip, but I am going to let that little thread make its way down and start here. We left at 15 minutes after midnight, just barely into December 16th. It was a wonderful trip. We have friends who live near the airport, and we drove to their house, relying on them for car parking and shuttling us to Portland International. We slept well on the flight. When I booked, way back when, I learned I could upgrade to first class for under $100 a person round-trip. That was a no-brainer for this tall man. It was a wonderful experience. Real food, real dishes, real wine glass, real wine, real space, good service, expedited luggage handling. Wish I could fly that way all the time. We did decide to do checked luggage this time, given the restrictions on liquids etc. We changed planes in Houston and arrived in Cancun a little after 10:00 am. I like this red eye schedule. Took the ADO bus to the Cancun bus station, where I stood in a long line to buy a bus ticket to Merida. Chose a 2:30 Linea Uno bus. This is one of the luxury buses with only 25 or 27 seats - two on one side of the walkway, only one on the other side. We could have taken one 30 minutes after I bought the tickets, but we needed some time to sit down, eat a good lunch, drink a cold beer or two and be better prepared for the 4 1/2 hour bus ride to Merida. Walked out of the station with our bags and an American with a hotel asked us if we needed a room for the night. I told him we were looking for a place to eat, and he suggested we go around the corner to Sanborns. We did, having read about Sanborns in other Mexican cities. It was pleasant - cold beer, cochinita pibil tacos, another cold beer, some Spanish instruction from our waitress (get Spanish instruction everywhere you go, ask for help, ask if you are saying something right - you'll learn). Back to the bus station to the waiting room for Linea Uno. Later on the bus for the ride across the Yucatan Peninsula to Merida. Not a real exciting ride - curtains close off the view to the front and the view to the side is a bit monotonous on the toll road. We slept some and arrived in Merida a bit after dark. Took a cab to our hotel, Luz en Yucatan, and got settled in. Went to a restaurant just across the side street from the Cathedral on the square and had tacos al pastor and cold beer. They were good tacos. It felt good to be walking around in Merida. The hotel was on 55th between 58 and 60, in the Santa Lucia neighborhood of Centro - about 4-5 blocks from the main square. There was a little Santa Lucia church and park on the corner of 55 and 60. Here are some photos.  Breakfast place on the main square  Our breakfast on the day after arrival:  Across the street from where we broke our fast  |
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01-06-2007
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#4 (permalink) |
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aņejo
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Oregon
Posts: 53,489
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Luz en Yucatan is a small hotel in Merida, one with a reputation. A woman, US citizen, owned it. Recently it was purchased by a younger guy, from Portland. It is a nice place and he plans to keep the vibe pretty much the same. They have 10 rooms, a nice courtyard with a pool, a community kitchen, dining room and both large and small sitting and common areas.
Here are some photos Bedroom area with door to the bathroom in the background  Kitchenette area  Bathroom   Gotta run, photos of community areas to follow |
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01-06-2007
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#5 (permalink) |
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beachaholic
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Ottawa Valley
Posts: 410
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Really enjoying your report and looking forward to more.
I'm very familiar with the Luz....stayed there for 2 months and other short stays. Love it! I knew that Madeline had it for sale but was not aware that a sale had taken place.....don't know if anyone else can really keep the same vibe. Sure hope so. |
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01-06-2007
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#8 (permalink) | |
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aņejo
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Oregon
Posts: 53,489
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Quote:
having stayed in Merida for so long, you fully realize how inadequate our 3 night stay was - but we got a small flavor of the place, and it was tasty. As to the vibe, I will never know as I never stayed there whilst Madeline owned it. |
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01-06-2007
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#10 (permalink) |
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aņejo
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Oregon
Posts: 53,489
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Community areas at the Luz en Yucatan Doors lead to the courtyard and swimming pool  Taken from inside our room with the curtains opened - this is the largest "living room"  Another view, with the well-stocked nightcap cart on the left side of the photo  Community Kitchen  Dining Room  Another sitting room, with the entry room through the door in the background  This may seem like a bit much on one little hotel, but I promised sctx that I would post some of this particular hotel |
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01-06-2007
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#11 (permalink) | |
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aņejo
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: West of the Boston Tea Party
Posts: 4,047
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Quote:
Great photos, great report. My wife has been to Merida and had told me some about it, but you are enticing me more than ever over the possibility of going there next time we go down.  I have taken those Linea Uno buses around Mexico and it's been a fantastic experience, especially on them late in the day runs when a snooze is in order. The reclining seats and the space can't be surpassed confortwise. Did you have a hostess serve you folks? |
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01-06-2007
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#12 (permalink) | |
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aņejo
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: West of the Boston Tea Party
Posts: 4,047
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Quote:
 BTW rates, could you give us an idea for the Luz hotel. Thanks. |
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01-06-2007
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#13 (permalink) | |
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aņejo
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Oregon
Posts: 53,489
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Quote:
We'll bring the photos on a portable drive - I wonder if anyone is going to have a laptop there....I could bring my work one, I suppose. |
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01-06-2007
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#14 (permalink) | |
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aņejo
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Oregon
Posts: 53,489
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Quote:
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i would like to go to Merida one day.
