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The YucatanBy Moocher: Charlotte GordonImages: Ben Watts The Yucatan Peninsula is the tail end of Mexico jutting out into the Caribbean Sea, far closer in proximity to Cuba than to Mexico City. It is also one of Mexico's foremost tourist destinations. 'Be ready to get hot,' our friend had warned us. He wasn't wrong. The moment we stepped off the plane, we were hit by a wall of stifling hot air. We had seen the tourist brochures, the lonely planet photos: white sand beaches, ancient Mayan ruins against the clear blue sky, fresh water underground cenotes and the night sky full of stars against the waves. We had also heard the bad side. Cancun, the tourist megatown of Mexico, is now the playground of the super rich: huge hotels, private beaches, an international airport and of course, an underclass of locals servicing the wealthy visitors. Incredibly, as recently as the 1970's, Cancun was nothing more than a tiny fishing village with no road access. Someone saw the potential and the rest is history. We started out our Yucatan holiday in Merida, an old colonial capital in the north-west of the peninsula. Merida feels lazy and calm during the day but comes alive when the sun goes down. The heat of the day is intense, and even a short walk at three in the afternoon to find some lunch sends us racing to return to the A/C. But by eight in the evening, the temperature has cooled to mellow warmth, perfect for eating outdoors. People are coming into the plazas and streets to shop, eat, chat and of course dance. 'This is what Cuba might be like' I think to myself as we wander past a salsa band, full of life and energy. And it's a Sunday night! We try out the love seats - stone chairs dotted around the city's main plaza where two people can face each other and gaze into one another's eyes. You can't really cuddle up or get to close in the love seats; maybe they were designed that way to keep the Meridan ladies honest. |