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Merida is the capital of Yucatan and when I was there in 1973 at 19 years of age I had a wonderful time. It was my first time on an airplane and outside the United States besides Canada. It was in February during the Mardi Gras in New Orleans when we stopped there at the airport for seven hours lay over before heading to Mexico.
Back then I remember Merida City as a small town in which we visited from a small village in a small cottage facing the Gulf of Mexico. We travelled to Merida by bus.
As you can see below in photo I attended a Bullfight in Merida. The matador threw me his hat as I sat in the second balcony, bowed and then I tossed him his hat back with token of money inside it. I believe the tradition is to honor you in the killing of the first bull. I was upset watching more so because I had my picture taken with the white bull below beforehand.
After the bullfight that night there was a fiesta which took place three days in a row 24 hours each day. Plenty to drink and eat outside and inside the towns establishments. I remember having a drink or two. I don't know if I was able to drink at 19 years. Back then the drinking laws changed to 18 I believe shortly after in the United States. I did go swimming that night and I could swear something in the water brushed against my leg. I was told later it might have been a sand shark. I tell you one thing I would not have gone in the water had I seen the movie "Jaws"!
The most memorable time was visiting the pyramids at Chichen Itza about a two hour drive from Merida. I climbed El Castillo (the castle) which is 98 ft tall shown below. The steps are narrow. I can imagine the Mayan's back then must have been small people as the steps were very small to fit my size 8 shoe size.
By El Castillo is the Temple of the warriors. You can see me sitting on top of Chac-mool the Aztec god of water, warfare, and military conquest.
