The Place: Yucatán
Gringo G’s Experience
Summary: Gringo G had an unforgettable "Spring Break" trip to the States of Yucatán and Campeche earlier this year.
Things To Do:
San Diego is packed with history and has history dating back to the Era of the Portuguese and Spanish Explorers.
Walking down the Paseo de Montejo and the Plaza Grande are both wonderful experiences that Gringo G enjoyed a truly unique cultural, Caribbean, lively atmosphere is on display with lovers, families and visitors all mixing into a swirl of immensely historical buildings. The wonderful mansions from the old and forgotten haydays of Mérida as a hemp trade capital are stunning and there is a wonderful mansion that is open to the public as a museum.
Celestún, Chichen Itzá and Izamal are all wonderful for day trips from Mérida.
Izamal is one of the oldest Mayan cities and is host to a wonderful church, visited by Pope John Paul II in the 1990's, and an interesting little market with sustainable and local handicrafts. Chichen Itzá is one of the modern wonders of the world and is one of the most intricate ruins in Mexico and the world. Celestún is an immense coastal mangrove bioreserve with one of the world's largest wild flamingo populations and was Gringo G's favorite travel experiences ever!
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Eats:
Mérida:
La Chaya Maya - A place where for a reasonable price you can sample an almost complete assortment of comida yucateca from the classic cochinita pibil (slow roasted and basted pork with an assortment of spices, primarily achiote) all the way down to agua de chaya. The portions are enormous so be ready to eat when you arrive.
LOCATION LINK
Eladio's - A Mérida institution this is a classic yucatecan cantina. You simply order ice cold beers and you get complementary little yucatecan delights such as relleno negro, turkey with a wondeful black bean broth. Locals, locals, locals ... this is for locals.
LOCATION LINK
Dulcería y Sorbetería Colón - A classic that for over 100 years has been serving wonderful sorbets and the classic Champola, essentially a large fountain glass full of the sorbet of your choice with condensed milk throughout ... a great way to fend off the tropical heat of Mérida.
LOCATION LINK
Puestos de Marquesitas - On Sundays the Plaza Grande is filled with food stands and the gem among them all are the Marquesitas , stands where they serve this traditional Caribbean Mexican dessert ... a crispy crepe filled with Edam Cheese (from the days of Dutch trading in the region) and nutella or another filling. Unbelievable and possibly the single favorite dish in Yucatán in Gringo G's opinion.
LOCATION LINK ONLY ON SUNDAYS
La Tratto - A way to break from the traditional this place has wonderful wood fire pizzas, fresh salads and pastas as well as a wonderful wine selection. The lunch menu is actually quite affordable and highly recommended as a good option in the Center of Mérida if you are looking for something different.
LOCATION LINK
Bruno Bistrot Gourmet - A wonderful little French bistrot on the outskirts of Mérida, owned by Bruno who came to Mexico from France long ago and has succesfully created a quiant little bistrot where locals can have romantic dates. The escargot provenzal was wonderful as was the Isla Flotante dessert (a merengue floating in a wonderful cream sauce).
LOCATION LINK
PICTURES:
Celestún (seafood, seafood, seafood):
Restaurante Los Pampanos - A very nice seafood palapa on the pristine Gulf Coast beach front of Celestún. The portions were ample, the beer ice cold, the seafood fresh and very well prepared and the service friendly not much more you can ask for.
LOCATION LINK
PICTURES:
Lodging:
Hotel Hacienda Mérida - An extremely centric (well located) boutique hotel located blocks off the Plaza Grande. The installations are perfect and very nice particularly the pool. The service was top notch, particularly the front desk support from Albert who helped guide us on the Yucatán excursions we made both in the city and out of it. Well worth the top dollar they charge. Especially nice were the shampoo and body wash in the bathroom which contain real, locally produced honey.
Izamal is one of the oldest Mayan cities and is host to a wonderful church, visited by Pope John Paul II in the 1990's, and an interesting little market with sustainable and local handicrafts. Chichen Itzá is one of the modern wonders of the world and is one of the most intricate ruins in Mexico and the world. Celestún is an immense coastal mangrove bioreserve with one of the world's largest wild flamingo populations and was Gringo G's favorite travel experiences ever!
Celestún
Chichén Itzá
Izamal
Mérida:
La Chaya Maya - A place where for a reasonable price you can sample an almost complete assortment of comida yucateca from the classic cochinita pibil (slow roasted and basted pork with an assortment of spices, primarily achiote) all the way down to agua de chaya. The portions are enormous so be ready to eat when you arrive.
LOCATION LINK
Eladio's - A Mérida institution this is a classic yucatecan cantina. You simply order ice cold beers and you get complementary little yucatecan delights such as relleno negro, turkey with a wondeful black bean broth. Locals, locals, locals ... this is for locals.
LOCATION LINK
Dulcería y Sorbetería Colón - A classic that for over 100 years has been serving wonderful sorbets and the classic Champola, essentially a large fountain glass full of the sorbet of your choice with condensed milk throughout ... a great way to fend off the tropical heat of Mérida.
LOCATION LINK
Puestos de Marquesitas - On Sundays the Plaza Grande is filled with food stands and the gem among them all are the Marquesitas , stands where they serve this traditional Caribbean Mexican dessert ... a crispy crepe filled with Edam Cheese (from the days of Dutch trading in the region) and nutella or another filling. Unbelievable and possibly the single favorite dish in Yucatán in Gringo G's opinion.
LOCATION LINK ONLY ON SUNDAYS
La Tratto - A way to break from the traditional this place has wonderful wood fire pizzas, fresh salads and pastas as well as a wonderful wine selection. The lunch menu is actually quite affordable and highly recommended as a good option in the Center of Mérida if you are looking for something different.
LOCATION LINK
Bruno Bistrot Gourmet - A wonderful little French bistrot on the outskirts of Mérida, owned by Bruno who came to Mexico from France long ago and has succesfully created a quiant little bistrot where locals can have romantic dates. The escargot provenzal was wonderful as was the Isla Flotante dessert (a merengue floating in a wonderful cream sauce).
LOCATION LINK
PICTURES:
Sopa de Lima
An assortment of Yucatecan Classics including Relleno Negro and Cochinita Pibil
Huevos Motulenos
Tamales Vaporcitos
Champola Colón
Flavors Galore
Eladio's Relleno Negro
Marquesita Plaza Grande Mérida
MARQUESITA VIDEO GRINGO G FOOD TV
La Tratto
Brino Bistrot
Escargot Provenzal
Isla Flotante
Celestún (seafood, seafood, seafood):
Restaurante Los Pampanos - A very nice seafood palapa on the pristine Gulf Coast beach front of Celestún. The portions were ample, the beer ice cold, the seafood fresh and very well prepared and the service friendly not much more you can ask for.
LOCATION LINK
PICTURES:
Nice View
Shrimp Cocktail
Stuffed Fish Filet
Chipotle Shrimp
Hotel Hacienda Mérida - An extremely centric (well located) boutique hotel located blocks off the Plaza Grande. The installations are perfect and very nice particularly the pool. The service was top notch, particularly the front desk support from Albert who helped guide us on the Yucatán excursions we made both in the city and out of it. Well worth the top dollar they charge. Especially nice were the shampoo and body wash in the bathroom which contain real, locally produced honey.
Coming Next: EXTRA Travel Special Campeche: Gringo G on the wonderful Caribbean Coast!
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