As soon as we exited our cool, air-conditioned plane, it hit me. It was pushing 38 degrees in Mérida and it was significantly warmer than the temperate climate I was familiar with in Mexico City. The heat from the sun blanketed us as we stepped out onto the runway. The bright light forced me to squint, causing tears to well in my eyes. I hastened my pace as we headed towards the airport terminal, seeking shade to protect my pale, un-sun-blocked skin. Despite the intensity of the sun, I was relieved to be back on solid ground after a rather turbulent flight. Our coach soon whisked us away to our accommodation for the night, the historic Hotel Caribe, one of the city’s many colonial buildings. We were assigned our rooms; I had one to myself largely due to the fact that we were odd numbered and couldn’t all be put into pairs. I didn’t mind, though. It was quite nice to have some space to myself. There were no elevators in the hotel, much to the dismay of my weary travel mates. Fortunately, the hotel’s team were readily available to provide assistance. It was quite a sight to see them throw the heavy suitcases over their backs, race up the stairs, and deliver them to their respective owner’s rooms. With only one bag in tow, I didn’t have to worry about lugging too many belongings around. My room was on the top floor, with the hotel’s rooftop pool right at my doorstep. The room itself had been fitted out with modern furnishings and a swanky bathroom. Feeling a little hot and bothered, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to freshen up with a cool shower. To my surprise, however, I was not alone. Upon closing the bathroom door, I noticed a large cockroach sticking out like a sore thumb in the corner. It was unmoved by my presence, sitting still, and seeming rather content. I, on the other hand, was not looking upon my unexpected roommate too favourably. Now that I was aware of its existence, I felt inclined to do something about it. I threw a bundled up towel at my new foe with force in the hope that I might squash it. Instead, the cockroach retaliated by scuttling around frantically and darting towards my feet. In a panic, I leapt up onto the toilet seat in an attempt to protect myself and gain the best vantage point. By now, the cockroach had slipped its way into the shower. “You fool” I thought as I reached over the glass divide between us, grabbed the detachable shower head, and turned on the water. The standoff between us was building in intensity. It clung for dear life on the edge of the plug as I persistently endeavoured to wash it away. By some miracle, it managed to free itself from the grips of death and retreat to the side of the bathroom that I had declared mine. All I could do now was trap the enemy by placing an empty bin upside down on top of it and calling it a draw. After a harrowing battle, I finally showered, and proceeded to go and meet with the rest of my tour group. Our tour manager guided us through the streets, leading us to the central plaza. On route, we passed a magnificent stone cathedral, the towers of which I recognised from our view upon the hotel roof. We gathered around a procession in the city centre that appeared to involve some men in uniform performing as a marching band. The piercing sound of the drums reverberated chillingly through the silent crowd, even as the drummers began to disappear from the scene. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before we were able to lighten the mood. Hundreds of people were dancing around in a closed off street in front of one of the most gloriously pink buildings I had ever seen. I’m not sure what the reason was for the occasion, but we didn’t need an excuse to join in. A few of us immersed ourselves in the crowd and danced to the music that began to consume us. It was an absolute delight to see the expressions of sheer joy on the faces of those surrounding us; it was impossible not to smile right back. Eventually, we had to stop impressing the locals with our moves and make our way to the Palace of Government for a quick history lesson. I was awe struck by the large murals that adorned the interior walls, some depicting images of the hardships endured by natives of the region after the Spanish conquest. After taking a few quick snaps and getting lost in time, we went back to the hotel to prepare for dinner. The evening’s festivities began with a charming horse and carriage ride. The horses, and their ornately decorated carriages, followed one another in unison, their hooves clopping along the cobblestoned streets. We passed countless colonial buildings, each uniquely beautiful, and painted all sorts of delicious colours, from pastel pinks to vibrant oranges. If it weren’t for the cars that zoomed past us, we could’ve imagined that we had stepped back a couple hundred years. Our time-travelling expedition soon drew to a close as we pulled up at our restaurant. As we were seated, a chain and pulley system opened up the roof to reveal the captivating night sky. We enjoyed a traditional meal under the light of the stars before wandering back to the hotel to continue conversing by the pool. The intimate setting allowed us to have discussions that surpassed surface level conversation and the exchange of niceties. Exhausted, we soon retired to our rooms. I was able to sleep peacefully knowing that the six-legged intruder from earlier had now been eradicated (thanks to one of my brave friends). Our brief stay in Mérida was sadly coming to an end, but it had provided us with the chance to unwind and also mentally prepare for what awaited us in Cancún.
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B is:A 26-year-old tea drinking writer of words trying to find her place in the world.
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