Last Great Flying Adventure -- Merida Sights and Sounds

Thursday 15 October 2009; In and Around Merida --

Olivia's Grandmother Maria Rico wanted this visit to be memorable for Grumpy as well as for Olivia, the Granddaughter that we share as parents of Olivia's respective parents. Grumpy was not disappointed! Indeed, the sights he saw were different than he had seen on his two previous visits to this city, the Capital of the Mexican state of Yucatan.

First Maria took us to some historic church buildings where we viewed antique statues and fixtures that may have been hand-hewn from solid tree trunks grown on this very site several hundred years before. In one church yard were a collection of native and non-native plants, including this rubber tree from South America. The Mayan people used a large (medicine ball sized!) ball made from this rubber to play some sort of game using vertically-oriented hoops. We saw these game sites when we visited the Chichen Itze ruins near Merida in 1997. [At that time, we were told that the winners of the game were "sacrificed"! What an incentive to lose!!]

Another interesting tree was this unidentified specimen that had roots hanging down from the branches above. Some of the roots, left undisturbed, had taken root in the ground around the foot of the trunk. Someone had tied several of these hanging roots together to form a swing seat. Olivia cooperated by sitting in the "swing" for this photograph with her Abuelita. [The dazzling-white suit that Olivia is wearing bore grass-stained knees and some kind of food stain down the front by the end of the day!]

Later that afternoon, we went to a fine hotel restaurant for a light meal where this photo of Olivia (without her glasses) and her Abuelita Maria was taken.

Grumpy was shown outstanding hospitality and had an unforgettable reunion with Olivia. Many thanks to my Mexican relatives and for their loving care for my "Little Punkin" Olivia.