I’ve been trying to write this since Sunday night (it’s now Tuesday). Will I succeed?!

Sunday started off so lovely. Bonita was super happy to see me in the morning and kept yipping with joy and trying to jump up into my arms! I spend time first thing in the morning playing with her now that she is starting to actually want to play. It’s rather like playing “tag,” where she tries to run away from me and if I run in the opposite direction, she chases me. Very cute. 🙂 I hope to get her interested in a ball, but who knows if that will happen.

I got my day’s work done in record time and thought of possibly going to spend a few torrid afternoon hours in Centro. That decision was cemented when I got news that the 2018 Camino de flores (Flower Walk) was opening that afternoon. Might as well go see it when it’s fresh and when the heat would mean no crowds.

Buses are slow to come on Sundays, but I eventually got on a very ancient derelict one that was a horrible trip downtown — I actually felt queasy by the time I got off. I had to walk a bit north and east to get to the Camino de flores, which was next to Parque de la Mejorada:

This is the third edition of the Camino de flores. This display of over half a million flowers prepared by 200 workers and measuring 1,200 square meters is meant to welcome spring to the Yucatán. This year, the display shows off eight local animals as well as traditional cross-stitch embroidery.

I walked the Camino de flores at ground level and then from above. The ground level walk let’s you take in the animal topiaries, but you have to climb to the second level to really appreciate the pattern of the flowers. I will explain the various animals when we get there — there were some new ones for me! As always, click to embiggen the pictures.

 

 

The tourist police has some really cute cars!

There was a wheelchair ramp up to the second level, so the Camino de flores is an accessible activity.

I loved the look of this street, quintessential colonial Mexico!

In this one, you can see a tapir (foreground), an opossum (far left), and I believe at the back is the possum:

This handsome fellow is, of course, a rattlesnake:

It’s only as I’m writing this that I realise that the “tolok” is my beloved iguana!

If you didn’t embiggen the sign to read it, this is a species of white-tailed deer only found in Yucatán.

Last up is the hummingbird.

I thought all the topiaries were well done, but the hummingbird was truly a masterpiece!

Down ramp.

There was a bit of a craft fair next to the Camino de flores, but I didn’t find anything I liked.

I did find this cute little opossum — don’t worry, he was under shade! I watched him for quite a bit.

I then decided to amble aimlessly around centro for a bit. This is the church right by Parque de la Mejorada:

I was amused by this modern pizza place set among truly ancient buildings — reminded me of England!

After wandering through the central market (still ew) and Plaza Grande (so vibrant!) I somehow found myself in the vicinity of Parque de la Santa Lucía and decided that I’d earned a falafel before hiking up to Parque de Santa Ana to catch a bus home.

Pita was open and I asked to be seated inside, then ordered a cold beer. Not a problem for the beer, but I was told their kitchen closes at four and there were only a few things they could make me at 3:45. I hadn’t realised it was that late! Thankfully, a falafel sandwich was absolutely not a problem. Yay! 🙂

I snapped a picture of this poem to look it up later. It’s about voyaging to the moon!

I headed up 60 after enjoying my meal and was a bit frustrated to see a bunch of buses and collectivos whiz by me. Thankfully, when I got to Parque de Santa Ana, I was able to flag down the first collectivo I saw. The driver looked at me and said, “We’re going to Chuburná,” possibly mistaking me for a cruise ship traveller (of which there were tons on Sunday in centro) looking to go north to Progreso. “So am I!” I replied. Thankfully, the van wasn’t particularly full so I had a much nicer trip north than I had south.

Bonita was happy to see me and has remained in that state since, gracing me with hugs in the morning and voluntary jumps onto the couch any time I sit down! I feel so blessed!

It was a lovely trip into centro on Sunday, but it was a good reminder that I need to start taking it easy as the heat isn’t going to let up until very late in the year. Despite wearing a hat and and drinking lots of water, I was completely overheated by the time I got home, even after a cool shower. But like in Maz, I refuse to let the heat stop me from doing as much of my travelling on foot as I can. I just might need to start readjusting my schedule to go out early or later rather than going on a more than 5KM trek in the hottest part of the day! And yet, I’m convinced it’s never been as hot here as it was in Bulgaria!

As expected, my house is easy to keep comfortable — windows and exterior doors open, fans on, and it’s pretty much an oasis. I can’t believe how cool it is in here when I come in from outside. Perfect house for this climate!