In a search for adventure or just independent travel without
tripping over fellow Americans and bus tours along the way, one need not
stray far from home. Although Papua New Guinea or the Bolivian
highlands seem to assure success in this regard, there are some
wonderful places nearby which offer great opportunities to meet
indigenous people and experience a variety of cultures quite distinct
from our own.
One of my recent trips with my intrepid co-traveler, my wife Bev, was to the city of Merida in the Yucatan, the southern area of our next door neighbor, Mexico. If you speak Spanish you can follow our trail with no guide. If not, you can find someone at each site to show you around and help you find what you want. Merida is quite another world from the section of Yucatan that hosts most Americans, Cancun and the string of resorts strung below it. Actually it is a good ride from Cancun so you don't have to worry about bumping into over your compatriots along the way. No spring breakers here.
The Merida hotels are quite reasonable. Just choose your level of comfort and make a direct reservation on the net or ask your travel agent to do that for you. We stayed near the center where the colonial buildings still face busy streets and where we could visit the cathedral and other desired sites. Then we rented a car and took day trips to wonderful places throughout the area.
One of my recent trips with my intrepid co-traveler, my wife Bev, was to the city of Merida in the Yucatan, the southern area of our next door neighbor, Mexico. If you speak Spanish you can follow our trail with no guide. If not, you can find someone at each site to show you around and help you find what you want. Merida is quite another world from the section of Yucatan that hosts most Americans, Cancun and the string of resorts strung below it. Actually it is a good ride from Cancun so you don't have to worry about bumping into over your compatriots along the way. No spring breakers here.
The Merida hotels are quite reasonable. Just choose your level of comfort and make a direct reservation on the net or ask your travel agent to do that for you. We stayed near the center where the colonial buildings still face busy streets and where we could visit the cathedral and other desired sites. Then we rented a car and took day trips to wonderful places throughout the area.





