Mérida - the capital of Yucatan

In Mérida, the capital of Yucatan, we had a simple room with a private bathroom at Siesta Fiesta Hostel, 30 Euros for the room for two nights. Super cheap. At first, we relaxed by the hotel pool and didn't venture out to explore the city until the afternoon. It looked different from what we had seen in Mexico so far. Everything was very Spanish-influenced. The Spaniards were here too. It was noticeable that there were no street names, only numbers, calle 60, 59, 58... but that was quite practical as it gave us an idea of how far a street was. We passed by a large church where a church service was taking place. Begging people, mostly older or in wheelchairs, gathered in front of the church entrances, so we collected our coins and received great gratitude in return. The city plaza was bustling with activity, full of Christmas atmosphere and decorations. There was a nativity scene with Mary, Joseph, and the three wise men. There was even an elephant at the nativity scene. And everywhere, delicacies like crepes, fries, and popcorn were being sold.

On the next day, we wanted to visit the Cenotes. Since we were late for a tour, we decided to go on our own. When we arrived at the bus station, we managed to buy a ticket to Homun, the Cenote city. There, we met Lilly and her father, who were from Homun, and we started chatting. With the help of Google Translator, they were extremely helpful, showing us pictures of the Cenotes and asking how many we wanted to see, and giving us tips. Once again, I was very impressed by the hospitality, warmth, and openness of the Mexicans. Lilly told us that her brother Manuel (18) works there as a guide and if we wanted, he could accompany us to the Cenotes. We agreed, and after about an hour and a half bus ride with only locals on the bus, we arrived in Homun and Lilly's brother picked us up in a small tuk-tuk car. It even had a speaker and music. After saying goodbye to Lilly and her father, Manuel took us to two Cenotes. I even swam in one of them. The Cenotes are caves and underground water currents filled with incredibly clear fresh water. On average, they are up to 15m deep, and in Mexico, especially Yucatan and Quintana Roo, there are about 10,000 of them. It was very impressive when we climbed down a steep ladder. We thought to ourselves, "Don't slip on the wet steps," as we looked down into the depths and at the rock. Falling there must be painful. We had to do a bit of climbing, but Manuel and another guide on-site helped us so that we wouldn't fall. Very adventurous. I found the water surprisingly warm and incredibly clear. It was dark, but there was lighting down there. During my next visit to Mexico, I definitely want to go diving in a Cenote.