Two times I've made it over to the city now. The first time I only recalled when I saw the bookmarks on Google Maps I apparently left last time. Completely surprised by the handful of stars dotted over the map, signifying that I've definitely been there but even zooming in and studying those bookmarks did not spark a significant memory.

But I'm back now, more as an accidental necessity than a deliberate decision thought. I imagine that's also a second time. Mérida is a medium-sized colonial town on the Yucatán peninsula, widely considered the safest city of Mexico for no apparent reason. I have no real authority to speak on it, obviously. I felt safe walking those three blocks solito from the hotel to the Plaza Grande for some night-shopping but that's about it. Walking those few blocks did spark a hint of a recollection but a real impression the city has never left on me.

I mention that, because I rarely have zero impressions of a place once visited. There's always something I remember, especially since I started photographing as much as I do. Places sparking underwhelm still resonate once I sit down to edit and archive my images. Last time though: no images. Granted, I didn't photography as much, but still; weird. And therefore worth nothing and interesting in itself because of it.

In the ten years past, I learned to move with more intention though. I see, feel, and experience things much more potently. It's definitely the camera that taught me to, forcing to actually look at the world and be somewhere, and then record it of course.

So why are we here then? Well, flights from Puerto Escondido are possible (through CDMX, sure, and I have a thing to say about Aeromexico's disappointing lack of planning skills for tight layovers, I digress), Chichén Itzá is relatively close-by, and connections to other places on the peninsula are plentiful. It's mostly Chichén Itzá that brings us here though. I've never been, Charlotte's last time was 19 years ago (she still got to climb the steps! They no longer allow that), and since it's become the seventh world wonder I just had to see it. Even if just to cross it off the bucket list.

So we did. On a tour, because we only had a day to spend and wanted to go see the pyramids, visit a cenote (a sinkhole with water in it) on the way, and perhaps see a notable town or two to purchase some souvenirs. Ain't no way you're doing all that efficiently on your own. I typically believe schedules this tight are suboptimal experiences but I think it's warranted for us, because our goal is to get back to the coast as fast as we can.

So Mérida takes the hit again. I have no real clue of the city's value and worthiness of hanging out in for a couple of days. It seems nice on second impression (or does this count as the first then...?) so perhaps next time I'm in the area I'll make an effort to see more of it. The pyramids of Chichén Itzá were a wonderful experience, despite the incredibly high level of commercialization around them. 5/7 would recommend as a one-and-done.

Me, in the meantime, am finishing up this story from a Señor Frogs at Playa del Carmen (don't ask) so I have new things to worry about. As we were.