Chichen Itza

Not sure whether it was because of the Christmas week or because Chichen Itza is since July 2007 one of the 7 Wonders of the World and all of a sudden became a household name; tens of thousands and thousands and thousands of people were there. I read in the local newspaper that the site was visited by 1.6 million people last year. They come from all over the world.
It wasn't all too bad yet when we arrived around 11:00AM, though it was noticeably very busy already (during our first visit 4 years ago we were practically alone everywhere except around the Kukulkan pyramid, which could still be climbed then). However by mid afternoon it felt as densely busy as Times Square in NYC on a Saturday evening in Summer. If anything, it gave a sense of how it must have been when the area was heavily populated and this was an important religious center.

To The Market

Religious statues are not the only wares sold at the mercado in Merida.
The constant hustle and bustle of people in the narrow alleys filled with merchandise is a feast for the eyes. The produce is always fresh and local, often home grown and/or home made. The only area I have to stay away from is the meat section. Unfortunately the air around dead meat makes me sick, whether there is smell or not.

Saints For Sale

Statues, votive candles, amulets, incense, remedy powders and other religious paraphernalia of mixed origin can still be found in little shops at the mercado. It remains all distinctly Mexican, but for how much longer? Shops exclusively dealing in chinese imports are infiltrating in the area and are popular with the younger generations. Sadly most cultures are eroding fast in the winds of "international" style.

Honor The Memory

Aside from crucifixes and statues of angels replacing ancient deities, I wonder if Catholicism changed much in the way South American cultures buried and remembered their death. The graveyards in Mexico are definitely colorful with prominent displays of the idols.
Here pictures of the Cementerio Xoclan in Merida, YUC. It looks to me like a city of miniature temples.

Market

Markets are among my favorite places to get a sense of the basic characteristics of a culture in a certain region. I love the sights, sounds, smells of all the different produce and articles of common use that are offered at the markets, be it in France, Belgium, Turkey, Morocco, Sri Lanka, or anywhere on the planet.
The following photos are taken at the Mercado Municipal in the center of Merida, YUC. They only provide a few sights of a typical Mayan market. Imagine the sounds and smells.