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Off to Mérida!

My trip to Mérida is booked! It was hard to get a nearly perfect flight, so I’m going later than planned, leaving February 19th and coming back February 28th.

I wanted to fly around my work schedule, so that meant I could only fly on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday (giving me Monday as a buffer to settle in or in case there is a flight delay). I’m leaving on a Friday and coming back on a Sunday, so nine nights total. The other thing was that I didn’t want to have to overnight in DF (Mexico City) or get back to Mazatlán after dark. Finally, I really preferred not to fly out before 8AM. Price ended up being my last consideration, but I did okay. I think it will come out to between 500CAD and 550CAD with the exchange rate.

I used Sky Scanner for the first time and it was worth it because it found flights on discount sites that weren’t available directly through the airline. I didn’t save any money, but I got a better choice of dates and times. My flight is with InterJet, but I booked through Travelocity.

So I leave Maz at 3:05 p.m. local time, have a 1.5 hour layover in DF, and get to Mérida at 9:10 p.m. local time. I’ll take a taxi to my destination. My hosts (more below) are prepared that I might not get in till 11:00 p.m.

For the trip home, I leave Mérida at 8:25 a.m., have a 3.5 hour layover in DF, and get home at 2:35 local time.

After speaking with a few friends who have tons of experience flying out of Maz from Isla, I’m planning to leave my truck here, take the lancha to Maz, and grab a cab there to get me to the airport or investigate the possibility of a bus.

I will get eight full days in Mérida, of which I will work for three. Mérida is on the same time zone as work, so that means I’ll be working 8:00 to 4:00 and so those days will be pretty much a write-off, but I should at least be able to enjoy a few evening hours out.

Now, for housing. I really wanted to rent an apartment in a neighbourhood I might want to move to to get a feel for what life could be like for me in Mérida. I’d spent some time on TripAdvisor learning about the various neighbourhoods in Mérida and made a list of the neighbourhoods to investigate. One of the neighbourhoods at the top of my list had nearly the perfect place. All-in, it’s 32CAD per night. The only thing I’m not happy about, based on the pictures, is that it’s a boring white house like my casa here in Maz. I had hoped to find something more architecturally interesting. But it’s fine for a week. I’ll be choosier when I’m looking for a long-term residence!

A couple of people asked me why I’m not driving or taking the bus. Here’s why:

map

Mérida is 2,500KM away. It would be like my driving 63% of the way back to Haven for just a week!

Just for kicks, I checked out the bus option. It’s 26 hours and 2,000MX each way. So 52 hours of travel time for 4,000MXN total. For 2,500MXN (200CAD) more, I can get there and back in about 18 hours total travel time. Air travel is a wonderful option! 😀

There is tons to do around and outside Mérida, but I won’t be focused on cramming in too much tourism since I plan to move there full-time! Really, the purpose of this trip is to try out life in the city and focus on practical matters so I can hit the ground running when it comes time to searching for an apartment to rent long-term.

Next project, wrapping my brain around my summer in Europe…

20 thoughts on “Off to Mérida!”

  2. It’s been several years since I went to Mérida last but I loved my two trips there. The first was fora week. The second was a couple of nights on part of a bus trip. If you were stopping along the way and checking out other cities, I wouldn’t say no to the bus but just to get there and back, wow, yes, fly!

    Anyway, beautiful city and very friendly people. The hard thing is telling which ones are being simply friendly and which ones will end with asking you to stop by their shop. Heck, even the ones that were going to end with visit x store were friendly far longer than necessary just for a simple sales spiel. LOL

    Enjoy!

    • “wow, yes, fly!” LOL That was my thought. 😀

      I’ve so far only received one negative report of Mérida. I can’t wait to visit it!

      I don’t mind being invited to check out a shop or restaurant. It’s one way to make a discovery. Don’t like it, don’t have to come back. 🙂

  7. This is going to be exciting and the area you will be living in is beautiful and rich in history! You will also love all the free entertainment in the centro at night!

  9. What fun checking out Mérida as a potential place to live.

    And summering in Europe. Can’t remember if I already said this but Rick Steve’s guidebooks helped us enjoy Europe on a budget. Among other blessings he helped us find 2-star hotels that were perfect for us. I remember walking through one museum reading his guidebook entries to Dave–we accumulated an audience. 🙂

    • I think it’s possible to do Europe on a budget, but even that type of budget is too high for daily living.

      About 20 years ago, I did Scotland £25 per day. A friend who goes regularly retraced some of my steps and said that I’d need £50 today. That is absolutely no frills hosteling and barely eating out. Money is spent on your bed, travel, and as little food as possible. That’s still £1,500 or 3,000CAD a month!

      I think Portugal is the only place in Western Europe I might be able to afford to live and have a decent quality of life if I stay off the beaten path.

      The image of you as a Pied Piper is rather amusing. 🙂

  10. Your blog has also been my “broom” for many years! Having had to stop traveling/rv’ing because my partner is ailing….I get to travel vicariously thru you and your blog! So thank you! Looking forward to your adventures in Merida.

  11. You’ll find Merida a bit more sophisticated than Mazatlan. You’re going to want to move there mañana! I’m looking forward to your trip and your comments.

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