Mérida, Yucatan | 2023
![Unispiring photo of the Mérida sign at Plaza Grande.](/content/images/size/w2000/2023/02/IMG_6282D-4.jpeg)
Mérida is a great city. It's historic center is both busy and dusty and also bright and constantly being restored. When I first came here fifteen years ago, it did not have this punch.
While there are still many, many side streets funneling many fast-moving vehicles coughing out (a lot) of exhaust, the Plaza Grande has maintained its calm, if not become even more of an oasis.
![](https://mondogogo.com/content/images/2023/02/Merida_folk-dancers1.webp)
![](https://mondogogo.com/content/images/2023/02/IMG_6244.jpeg)
![](https://mondogogo.com/content/images/2023/02/Merida_folk-dancers3.webp)
![](https://mondogogo.com/content/images/2023/02/Merida_folk-dancers2.webp)
Every Monday night, local folk dancers and musicians put on a show. In 2008 I remember it in the centre of the plaza. Now, the city shuts down a road and it's performed in front of the Palacio Municipal.
And while the Plaza Grande is a nice place to visit, or catch some shade if you're walking through, it's by no means my favourite place in the city. I really enjoy just setting off and following architecturally interesting streets into the horizon. You can see some of my street photos in the next post.