Mérida, Mexico: The Cultural Jewel of the Yucatán Peninsula 🌴🏛️

📍 Overview Capital of Yucatán State, nicknamed "The White City" Population: ~793,000 (2023) | Safety: Among Mexico’s safest cities Cultural Fusion: Where Mayan heritage meets Spanish colonial splendor ✨ Must-See Highlights 1️⃣ Mérida Cathedral (Catedral de Mérida) One of the oldest cathedrals in the Americas (16th century) Built with stones from nearby Mayan ruins Architecture: Renaissance-Baroque hybrid 2️⃣ Paseo de Montejo Yucatán’s Champs-Élysées, lined with 19th-century European-style mansions Tip: Visit on weekend nights for live music and street food 3️⃣ Mercado Lucas de Gálvez Try cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork tacos) Shop for huipil (Mayan embroidered dresses) and ebony crafts 🚗 Travel Tips Airport: Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport (MID) Getting Around: Taxis: Didi app often cheaper than Uber Horse-drawn carriages: ~300 MXN/hour from the zócalo (main square) 🌮 Food Recs La Chaya Maya: Must-order panuchos (fried stuffed tortillas) Apoala: Modern Mexican cuisine with local ingredients #MeridaMexico #YucatanTravel #ColonialCities #CulturalGem