Yucatan days & nights - The escapades of Ron & Kathy (et al)

[roni]

Originally Posted by Sol

Hey Cathy,
We are at La Luz right now. Parking is 5.00 USD a day in a garage right across the street. On the street there is parking so that you can unload your car. Roni's directions on how to get to La Luz are spot on but if you get there on Sunday, 60th street is closed. I can give you directions on how to get there. We didn't have any problems since we are kind of familiar with the area.

You probably know this already, but if you want to get to Mérida faster, take the toll road. It will cost you around $340 pesos or so, but it is worth it. We will be going back that way and I can give you a specific cost later.

Would you have them stay on 56 for two more blocks, to 64, then take that one block to 55, turning right on 55 to the Luz?

[roni]

On the Dec. 26 at El Pirata thread Heather wrote, in response to Sol:

Originally Posted by Heather

Have fun! I have to work, but I'll see you tonight at HC for dinner!

I have uploaded a photo or two of that evening also, one of Sol, David and Heather



and one of Heather and the man she hangs out with a lot



I have more of that evening that evening that will be uploaded later. I enjoyed that evening a tremendously. What a great time!!

[roni]

Details on our Isla apartment, Sabina's Eclipse, that can be booked through morningsinmexico.com. We have booked through Maria there 3 times with no problems.

The apartment is downtown on Juarez, a block from the pedestrian street, Hidalgo. That is very convenient, but not without a drawback. If Jax or another establishment has a band with much volume, you will be part of the audience whether you want to be or not. If it is hot enough, you can close with windows, turn on the AC and that is not too bad.

The apartment is about 650 sq ft, and is mostly an 'L' shaped space with a patio in the leg of the L (outside), that you can see from the building photo I posted earlier.

Sitting area on the patio that is on the same floor as the apartment



King bed in one leg of the L - firm mattress on concrete base, but I slept well on it



Kitchenette is on the right side of this photo, and you cannot see it all. It had a microwave, coffeemaker, a one burner electric thingie, a fridge and a sink. It was adequate. We used the one burner stove and pan to do egg scrambles in the mornings and had sandwiches for lunch plus cheese and crackers for snacks a couple of days.



A view of the closets and bathroom door. Shower had adequate water pressure and hot water that arrived after running the water for a bit.



Here is the eating area. The chairs were great - it was good to have chairs a little wider and more comfortable than some of those skinny little chairs



Sabina was great. We saw her 3 or 4 times in her office downstairs while we were there and she was a good source of information and recommendations.

We got a discount and paid about 58 dollars a day. We paid in advance. Sabina was offering a 20% discount and that price reflects the discount.

[redhairgirl1]

Wow! What great pictures Roni! Makes me feel like i am right there with you. Especially the one of Sol, and David at HC'S

Ok, continue please

[roni]

Originally Posted by redhairgirl1

Wow! What great pictures Roni! Makes me feel like i am right there with you. Especially the one of Sol, and David at HC'S

Ok, continue please

Here are some more of the dinner at HC

[mofi]

Originally Posted by Susie Q Roo

Roni to the rescue!

This is about the first thing we saw pulling into Merida:



Can't tell what it is? It's a giant live bear in a caged truck! Ack! (poor thing)

Sorry but the sign on the truck made me laugh " Danger- Please do not put your hands in because they bite"......no really???? I didn't know that. Thanks for pointing that out.


Anyways continue on.

[SunKneeMarie]

great report, roni... love the peep pics

[Thor Henning]

I enjoy this trip report! It's great to see the peeps enjoying themselves. And I look forward to more pictures from Merida.

[roni]

Originally Posted by Thor Henning

I enjoy this trip report! It's great to see the peeps enjoying themselves. And I look forward to more pictures from Merida.

Don't have those uploaded yet, but there are a couple on the blog entry I just posted. We took so many - I am having difficulty making choices

They will show up, though.

[Tlyn]

Wonderful pictures and trip report!! Do you have more of my favorite, Isla? Can't wait for more!

[mfl*s queen]

Originally Posted by roni

The Luz has an arrangement with a parking lot just past its front door on the right hand side of the street.

These directions got Susie and us there without getting lost. The streets are well marked, but each colonia has its own numbering system. In small print, beneath the street name will be the colonia name. You are looking for the street numbers in either Centro or Ciudad.

I don't think there were any numbers that high anyway, until you got into Centro or Ciudad, so it may not be an issue.


Directions to Luz

180 (the toll road from Cancun) turns into 65 after the Circuito [Colonias].
Stay on 65 to 52,
Turn right on 52 to 57
Turn left on 57 to 60.
Turn right on 60 ,
One block to 55, Turn right.


Turn in to the second parking lot entrance. . The Luz is across the street.
Tell them you are staying at the hotel. The Luz will bill you - something like 50-70 pesos a day and pay the parking lot.

Avoid 65 past 52 as you'll get into the Mercado area which is really busy.

Feel free to ask any other questions!!

OMG, thank you so very much. I will print this, and take it along. I am going to pay close attention to your trip report, as this will be our first trip to Merida and Isla. I am sure I will have other questions, prior to our departure.

Originally Posted by Sol

Hey Cathy,
We are at La Luz right now. Parking is 5.00 USD a day in a garage right across the street. On the street there is parking so that you can unload your car. Roni's directions on how to get to La Luz are spot on but if you get there on Sunday, 60th street is closed. I can give you directions on how to get there. We didn't have any problems since we are kind of familiar with the area.

You probably know this already, but if you want to get to Mérida faster, take the toll road. It will cost you around $340 pesos or so, but it is worth it. We will be going back that way and I can give you a specific cost later.

Thank you very much. We will be arriving on a Monday, probably evening, as our flight from Chicago arrives Cancun at 12:30.

No, I have no idea how to get there, as this is our first trip. We thought it would save a lot of time if we rented a car, instead of taking the bus?


So, what do you guys think...take the bus, or rent a car??

[roni]

Originally Posted by mfl*s queen

OMG, thank you so very much. I will print this, and take it along. I am going to pay close attention to your trip report, as this will be our first trip to Merida and Isla. I am sure I will have other questions, prior to our departure.



Thank you very much. We will be arriving on a Monday, probably evening, as our flight from Chicago arrives Cancun at 12:30.

No, I have no idea how to get there, as this is our first trip. We thought it would save a lot of time if we rented a car, instead of taking the bus?


So, what do you guys think...take the bus, or rent a car??

You're welcome. I got the directions from a poster on another board - if I remembered his name I would give him full credit for them.

Bus or car?

Good question. We have taken the Linea Uno super luxury and the ADO GL (Gran Lujo?). Enjoyed both of them. We rode over with Susie on this this trip, from Cancun. That was nice also. The cuota cost about 310 pesos - paid at two different stations, and had very little traffic. The ADO GL was about 370 pesos each. There was one rest area with services and restaurant along the way. If you miss it, there is a retorno just down the road a bit.

Sol has driven it a couple of times, and others have also. They can probably give you better advice than I can

[roni]

One of my favorites before I get ready to head to work

[Heather]

Stupid Worcestershire bottle! Great photos, Ron! Loved the dinner with all of you, laughed a LOT.

[user 6507]

Excellent Roni and looking forward to more! Merida is a great city and I would recommend a trip there for everyone who has time.

Also, if you want to get a view of what the Yucatan looked like in the early 1800's, read "Incidents of travel in Yucatan" by J.L. Stephens. Get the unabridged copy. Although it's easy to see Stephen's racist and patronizing views about the early inhabitants, this is still a great book. He is considered to be the father of exploration in the Yucatan and his book is still viewed as an authoritative work on the history and archaeology of Uxmal and surrounding areas. It's amazing to read his work and then realize that Merida, Izmal and all of those beautiful little cities were there long before he arrived on the scene and are still thriving and alive with vibrant Mayan culture. I admit the book slows down a lot in some spots, but still worth a read.

OK....get on with it!