Diario las Américas., 1958-02-18
Know thv
Nei9hborI
By ANTONIO RUIZ

MEXICO - Merida, capital of
the State of Yucatan, with a pop
ulation of approximately 200 1000,
is considered one of the most beau
titful and charming cities of the Re
public. Though retaining its at
tractive colonial atmosphere, it en-
joys modern Improvements and
conveniences. In the center of the
city there are smart hotels, shops,
theatres, and night clubs. One of
the latter, "Los Tulipanes," is
built around a large, ancient well,
which is Illuminated by an under
water lighting system. In the many
fine shops that line the principal
streets and avenues, one finds mer-
chandise seldom seen in a city of
similar size. Restaurants maintain
ed by the larger and better hotels,
have excellent. cuisine, with sea
food of every variety, veniSon
steaks and chops, and wild dukling
lCdluACd III lilC IlCIAuSs
In the smaller restaurants, the
gourmet will find such Savory re.
gional dishes as Polio Phil which
is a delicious barbecued chicken
cooked in banana leaves; "pavo
con relleno negro" a turkey stuff
ed with chopped pork meat pre-
pared with a rich black sauce; "co-
chinito pibil," or barbecued suckl-
ing pig prepared like polio phil
and served in banana leaves, and
"escabeche oriental" which is roast
turkey in sauce of onion and Xca-
tik peppers, and numerous other
delightful local dishes.
At the main market, with its
handsome modern buildings and
its stalls lining adjacent streets, al
most every kind of merchandise
may be bought, from exquisite
sandals and handbags, purses, mats
and baskets, delicately fashioned
out of henequen, and ~tastefully de-
corated in colors, to real Panama
hats, hardware, delicious roast fish
and venison ready to take home,
and all kinds of produce. Not
well known is the fact that the
Panama hat originated in Yucatan,
according to natives o fthe city.
Occupying the center of the city
is the beautifully handicapped and
flower-filled Main Plaza. Thanking
its east side is the 18th. century
Cathedral, an impressive structure
with two stately towers. Avovet he
main portal with its nail-studded
doors, are the. statues of st. Peter
and st. Paul, together with the
Spanish Coat of Arms. Growing
the structure is a handsome dome.
On the opposite side of the Pla-
"a is the fine, old City Hall, with
its two tiers of magnificent colonial
arches. On the north side is the
less impressive but. interesting
State Palace, housing executive
offices; and occupying a section
of the south side, is the "Casa de
Montejo," built in 1549 as the re-
sidence of Francisco de Montejo,
Jr. The facade is richly adorned
with stone carving in which two
huge statues of Spanish Knights in
armor are prominent, and the
whole splendid panel topped by
two lions supporting a scroll man,
ing it as the Montejo residence.
Two museums, one housing arch
Biological treasures and the other
arts and crafts, stand side by side
on q street close to the Plaza. Scat
tered throughout the city are a
number of 18th and 18th century
churches, built in mission style for
the most part. Outstanding among
these are the lovely churches of
LA Mejorada," Sci -Convento de
San Francisco" the church of Gel
Tercer Orden" and the beautiful
church of "San Cristobal."
One of the distinctive feature
of Merida's historic Civic Center is
the survival of three imposing ar
ches of colonial architecture, which
were once entrances to the city for
the various country roads that con-
verged there. The growing city has
long since surrounded them, but
they still stand as a reminder Of
the impressive welcome presented
to visitors in early days.
Spanish Version Page 8