Merida, Yucatan

So we're back from Mexico where we spent 16 days in paradise. Merida is an island of culture and poverty. It's a time capsule of the 17th century and beyond, a mixture of ancient Mayan culture, Spanish colonialism and modern urbanism. There is an urban revival in Merida as foreigners and others are buying up decaying colonial buildings in the "centro" and renovating them into eclectic homes, hotels and hostels. The city is bustling with activity from the buses and cars in the streets to the Mayan street vendors selling typical artifacts and hammocks.