Mérida, Yucatán
Encyclopedia
Mérida (ˈmeɾiða) (the original name in Modern Maya) is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state
of Yucatán
and the Yucatán Peninsula
. It is located in the northwest part of the state, about 35 km (21.7 mi) from the Gulf of Mexico
coast. The city is also the municipal seat of the Municipality of Mérida, which includes the city and the areas around it.
According to the 2010 census
, the population of Mérida was 970,377, ranking 12th among the most populous Mexican metropolitan areas
. The municipality's area is 858.41 km² (331.4 sq mi). The metropolitan area includes the municipalities of Mérida, Umán
and Kanasín
and had a population of 1,035,238 in the same 2010 census. It is the largest of the four cities of the world that share the name Mérida, the other three being in Spain
, Venezuela and The Philippines
.
Mérida is serviced by Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport
(IATA airport code
: MID)
", "El Adelantado" (father), Francisco de Montejo y León "el Mozo" (son), and Francisco de Montejo "el sobrino" (nephew). Mérida was founded in 1542 by Francisco de Montejo "el Mozo" (son). It was built on the site of the Maya
city of T'ho (also known as Ichcaanzihó or "city of the five hills", referring to five pyramids) which had been a center of Mayan culture and activity for centuries. Because of this, many historians consider Mérida the oldest continually occupied city in the Americas.
Carved Maya stones from ancient T'ho were widely used to build the Spanish colonial buildings that are plentiful in downtown Mérida, and are visible, for instance, in the walls of the main cathedral. Much of Mérida's architecture from the colonial period through the 18th century and 19th century is still standing in the centro historico of the city. From colonial times through the mid 19th century, Mérida was a walled city intended to protect the Peninsular and Criollo
residents from periodic revolts by the indigenous Maya. Several of the old Spanish city gates survive, but modern Mérida has expanded well beyond the old city walls.
Late in the 19th century and the early 20th Century, the area surrounding Mérida prospered from the production of henequén
. For a brief period, around the turn of the 20th century, Mérida was said to house more millionaires than any other city in the world. The result of this concentration of wealth can still be seen today. Many large and elaborate homes still line the main avenue of Paseo de Montejo, though few are occupied today by individual families. Many of these homes have been restored and now serve as office buildings for banks and insurance companies.
Mérida has one of the largest centro historico districts in the Americas (surpassed only by Mexico City
and Havana
, Cuba
). Colonial homes line the city streets to this day, in various states of disrepair and renovation; the historical center of Mérida is currently undergoing a minor renaissance as more and more people are moving into the old buildings and reviving their former glory.
In August 1993 Pope John Paul II visited the city on his third trip to Mexico. The city has been host to two bilateral United States – Mexico conferences, the first in 1999 (Bill Clinton
- Vincente Fox) and the second in 2007 (George W. Bush
– Felipe Calderón
).
In June 2007, Mérida moved its city museum to the renovated Post Office building next to the downtown market. The Museum of the City of Mérida houses important artifacts from the city's history, as well as an art gallery.
Mérida is the cultural and financial capital of the Yucatán Peninsula, as well as the capital city of the state of Yucatán. In recent years, two important science competitions were held in Mérida: the 2005 International Mathematical Olympiad
and the 2006 International Olympiad in Informatics
. In 2006 Mérida hosted the FITA Archery
World Cup Final. Mérida also hosted the International Cosmic Ray Conference between 3–11 July 2007. The 40th International Physics Olympiad, IPhO 2009, was held in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, from July 12 to 19, 2009.
. It has a very flat topography and is only 30 feet (9 m) above sea level
. The land outside of Mérida is covered with smaller scrub trees and former henequen
fields. Almost no surface water exists, but several cenote
s (underground springs and rivers) are found across the state. Mérida has a centro historico typical of colonial Spanish cities. The street grid is based on odd-numbered streets running east/west and even-numbered streets running north/south, with Calles 60 and 61 bounding the "Plaza Grande" in the heart of the city. The more affluent neighborhoods are located to the north and the most densely populated areas are to the south. The Centro Historico area is becoming increasingly popular with American and other expats who are rescuing and restoring the classic colonial structures. The Los Angeles Times recently noted this surge of interest in rescuing Mérida's historic downtown.
. The city lies in the trade wind
belt close to the Tropic of Cancer
, with the prevailing wind from the east. Mérida's climate is hot and humidity is moderate to high, depending on the time of year. The average annual high temperature is 33 °C (91.4 °F), ranging from 28 °C (82.4 °F) in January to 36 °C (96.8 °F) in May, but temperatures often rise above 38 °C (100.4 °F) in the afternoon in this time. Low temperatures range between 18 °C (64.4 °F) in January to 23 °C (73.4 °F) in May and June. It is most often a few degrees hotter in Mérida than coastal areas due to its inland location and low elevation. The rainy season runs from June through October, associated with the Mexican monsoon
which draws warm, moist air landward. Easterly wave
s and tropical storms also affect the area during this season.
). Mérida served as the American Capital of Culture
in the year 2000.
As the state and regional capital, Mérida is a cultural center, featuring multiple museums, art galleries, restaurants, movie theatres and shops. Mérida retains an abundance of beautiful colonial buildings and is a vibrant cultural center with music and dancing playing an important part in day-to-day life. At the same time it is a modern city boasting a comprehensive range of shopping malls, auto dealerships, top quality hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities. The famous avenue, Paseo de Montejo, is lined with original sculpture. Each year, the MACAY Museum in Mérida mounts a new sculpture installation, featuring works from Mexico and one other chosen country. Each exhibit remains for ten months of the year. In 2007, sculptures on Paseo de Montejo feature works by artists from Mexico and Japan.
Mérida and the state of Yucatán have traditionally been isolated from the rest of the country by geography, creating a unique culture. The conquistadors found the Mayan culture to be incredibly resilient, and their attempts to eradicate Mayan tradition, religion and culture had only moderate success. The surviving remnants of the Mayan culture can be seen every day, in speech, dress, and in both written and oral histories. It is especially apparent in holidays like Hanal Pixan, a Mayan/Catholic Day of the Dead
celebration. It falls on November 1 and 2 (one day for adults, and one for children) and is commemorated by elaborate altars dedicated to dead relatives. It is a compromise between the two religions with crucifixes mingled with skull decorations and food sacrifices/offerings. Múkbil pollo is the Mayan tamal pie offered to the dead on All Saints' Day, traditionally accompanied by a cup of hot chocolate. Many Yucatecans enjoying eating this on and around the Day of Dead. And, while complicated to make, they can be purchased and even shipped via air. (Muk-bil literally means "to put in the ground" or to cook in a pib, an underground oven).
For English speakers or would-be speakers, Mérida has the Mérida English Library, a lending library with an extensive collection of English books, videos, tapes and children's books. The library is also the site for expatriate meetings, children's storytelling hours and other cultural events.
Mérida is also home to the Yucatan Symphony Orchestra
, which plays regular seasons at the Jose Peon Contreras Theatre on Calle 60 and features classical music, jazz and opera.
There are many regional dishes. Some of them are:
Achiote is the most popular spice in the area. It is derived from the hard annatto seed found in the region. The whole seed is ground together with other spices and formed into a reddish seasoning paste, called recado rojo. The other ingredients in the paste include cinnamon, allspice berries, cloves, Mexican oregano, cumin seed, sea salt, mild black peppercorns, apple cider vinegar, and garlic.
The most popular Mexican hot sauce, El Yucateco
hot sauce, is made in Mérida, Yucatán. Hot sauce in Mérida is usually made from the indigenous chiles in the area which include: Chile Xcatik, Chile Seco de Yucatán, and Chile Habenero.
Being enclosed by the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, and with poor land communication with the rest of Mexico, Yucatecan Spanish has also preserved many words that are no longer used in many other Spanish speaking areas of the world. However, with the improvement in transportation and especially with the overwhelming presence of radio, internet and TV, their isolation has eroded, and many elements of the culture and language of the rest of Mexico are now slowly but consistently permeating the culture.
Apart from the Mayan language, which is still the mother-tongue of many yucatecans, students now choose to learn a foreign language like English, which is taught in most schools.
or Mexico City
. Climate Controlled buses and Micro-Bus ( smaller in size ) are not uncommon.
The Main Bus Terminal (CAME) offers 1st. Class (ADO
) and luxury services (UNO) to most southern Mexico cities outside Yucatán with a fleet consisting of Mercedez Benz and Volvo buses. Shorter intrastate routes are serviced by many smaller terminals around the city, mainly in downtown.
Taxis can be either found at one of many predefined places around the city ( Taxi de Sitio ), waved off along the way or called in by Radio.
Unlike the sophisticated RF counterparts in the US, a Civil Band radio is used and is equally effective. Usually a taxi will respond and arrive within 5 minutes.
Another type of Taxi service is called "Colectivo". Colectivo taxis work like small buses on a predefined route and for a small fare. Usually accommodating 8 to 10 people.
with daily non-stop services to major cities in Mexico (D.F, Monterrey, Villahermosa, Cancún, Guadalajara, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Toluca) and international (Miami, Houston, La Havana) and usually receiving charter flight services to and from Europe and Canada. Also there is a good amount of freight and cargo planes moving in and out. As of 2006 more than a millon passengers were using this airport every year, (1.3 in 2007) and it is under ASUR administration.
), although freight trains do serve the area.
The city has one of the most prestigious medical faculties in Mexico (UADY). Proximity to American cities like Houston allow local Doctors to crosstrain and practice in both countries making Mérida one of the best cities in Mexico in terms of health services availability.
Hospitals:
There are several state institutions offering higher education:
Among several private institutions:
Mérida has several national research centers. Among them
"El Ayuntamiento" is constituted by an elected major, assembly representatives and síndicos. The previous Mayor was César Bojórquez from Partido Acción Nacional and was appointed on July 2, 2007. The current mayor is Angelica Araujo Lara, from the PRI and she took office on July 1, 2010. State Governor is Mrs. Ivonne Ortega Pacheco also appointed July 2, 2007.
In the 90s and early '01 two other centers with the major "American mall" look and feel opened.
2007 was the most dynamic in commercial activity and 3 new shopping malls opened to the public:
2008 Saw the opening of two new shopping centers.
with 12 cities: Erie, Pennsylvania
, United States (1973) New Orleans, Louisiana
, United States (June 9, 1990) Panama City, Florida
, United States (November 13, 2003) Glendora, California
, United States (1973) Sarasota, Florida
, United States
(2010) Mérida
, Extremadura
, Spain
(October 12, 1990) Incheon
, South Korea
(October 15, 2007) Texcoco
, Estado de México (May 22, 2001) Camagüey
, Cuba
(February 6, 2000) Mérida
, Venezuela
(October 12, 1990) Chiquinquirá
, Boyacá
, Colombia
(March 26, 1999) Pereira
, Risaralda
, Colombia
(April 17, 2000)
States of Mexico
The United Mexican States is a federal republic formed by 32 federal entities .According to the Constitution of 1917, the states of the federation are free and sovereign. Each state has their own congress and constitution, while the Federal District has only limited autonomy with a local Congress...
of Yucatán
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
and the Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
. It is located in the northwest part of the state, about 35 km (21.7 mi) from the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
coast. The city is also the municipal seat of the Municipality of Mérida, which includes the city and the areas around it.
According to the 2010 census
Censo General de Población y Vivienda
The Censo General de Población y Vivienda is the main national census for Mexico...
, the population of Mérida was 970,377, ranking 12th among the most populous Mexican metropolitan areas
Metropolitan areas of Mexico
Metropolitan areas in Mexico have been traditionally defined as the group of municipalities that heavily interact with each other, usually around a core city...
. The municipality's area is 858.41 km² (331.4 sq mi). The metropolitan area includes the municipalities of Mérida, Umán
Umán
The Municipality of Umán is one of the 106 municipalities in Yucatán state, Mexico. Its municipal seat is located in the City of Umán.Umán is located at, just southwest of the state capital in Mérida, and is part of the Mérida metropolitan area....
and Kanasín
Kanasín
Kanasín is one of the 106 municipalities located in the state of Yucatán in Mexico. It is in the west-central part of state and to the east of the municipality of Mérida, the state capital, and is a part of the Mérida metropolitan area....
and had a population of 1,035,238 in the same 2010 census. It is the largest of the four cities of the world that share the name Mérida, the other three being in Spain
Mérida, Spain
Mérida is the capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura, western central Spain. It has a population of 57,127 . The Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993.- Climate :...
, Venezuela and The Philippines
Merida, Leyte
Merida is a 4th class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 25,326 people in 5,622 households.-Barangays:Merida is politically subdivided into 22 barangays.* Benabaye* Cabaliwan...
.
Mérida is serviced by Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport
Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport
Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport, formerly known as Mérida-Rejón Airport is an international airport located in the Mexican city of Mérida, Yucatán...
(IATA airport code
IATA airport code
An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many airports around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association...
: MID)
History
There were three Spanish conquistadors named "Francisco de MontejoFrancisco de Montejo
Francisco de Montejo y Alvarez was a Spanish conquistador in Mexico and Central America.Francisco de Montejo was born in Salamanca, Spain, in 1479 to Juan de Montejo and Catalina Alvarez de Tejeda. He left Spain in 1514, and arrived in Cuba in time to join Grijalva's expedition along the coast of...
", "El Adelantado" (father), Francisco de Montejo y León "el Mozo" (son), and Francisco de Montejo "el sobrino" (nephew). Mérida was founded in 1542 by Francisco de Montejo "el Mozo" (son). It was built on the site of the Maya
Maya civilization
The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period The Maya is a Mesoamerican...
city of T'ho (also known as Ichcaanzihó or "city of the five hills", referring to five pyramids) which had been a center of Mayan culture and activity for centuries. Because of this, many historians consider Mérida the oldest continually occupied city in the Americas.
Carved Maya stones from ancient T'ho were widely used to build the Spanish colonial buildings that are plentiful in downtown Mérida, and are visible, for instance, in the walls of the main cathedral. Much of Mérida's architecture from the colonial period through the 18th century and 19th century is still standing in the centro historico of the city. From colonial times through the mid 19th century, Mérida was a walled city intended to protect the Peninsular and Criollo
Criollo people
The Criollo class ranked below that of the Iberian Peninsulares, the high-born permanent residence colonists born in Spain. But Criollos were higher status/rank than all other castes—people of mixed descent, Amerindians, and enslaved Africans...
residents from periodic revolts by the indigenous Maya. Several of the old Spanish city gates survive, but modern Mérida has expanded well beyond the old city walls.
Late in the 19th century and the early 20th Century, the area surrounding Mérida prospered from the production of henequén
Henequen
Henequen is an agave whose leaves yield a fiber also called henequen which is suitable for rope and twine, but not of as high a quality as sisal. Alternative spellings are Henequin and Heniquen. It is the major plantation fiber agave of eastern Mexico, being grown extensively in Yucatán,...
. For a brief period, around the turn of the 20th century, Mérida was said to house more millionaires than any other city in the world. The result of this concentration of wealth can still be seen today. Many large and elaborate homes still line the main avenue of Paseo de Montejo, though few are occupied today by individual families. Many of these homes have been restored and now serve as office buildings for banks and insurance companies.
Mérida has one of the largest centro historico districts in the Americas (surpassed only by Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
). Colonial homes line the city streets to this day, in various states of disrepair and renovation; the historical center of Mérida is currently undergoing a minor renaissance as more and more people are moving into the old buildings and reviving their former glory.
In August 1993 Pope John Paul II visited the city on his third trip to Mexico. The city has been host to two bilateral United States – Mexico conferences, the first in 1999 (Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
- Vincente Fox) and the second in 2007 (George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
– Felipe Calderón
Felipe Calderón
Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa is the current President of Mexico. He assumed office on December 1, 2006, and was elected for a single six-year term through 2012...
).
In June 2007, Mérida moved its city museum to the renovated Post Office building next to the downtown market. The Museum of the City of Mérida houses important artifacts from the city's history, as well as an art gallery.
Mérida is the cultural and financial capital of the Yucatán Peninsula, as well as the capital city of the state of Yucatán. In recent years, two important science competitions were held in Mérida: the 2005 International Mathematical Olympiad
International Mathematical Olympiad
The International Mathematical Olympiad is an annual six-problem, 42-point mathematical olympiad for pre-collegiate students and is the oldest of the International Science Olympiads. The first IMO was held in Romania in 1959. It has since been held annually, except in 1980...
and the 2006 International Olympiad in Informatics
International Olympiad in Informatics
The International Olympiad in Informatics is an annual computer science competition for secondary school students. The first IOI was held in 1989 in Pravetz, Bulgaria....
. In 2006 Mérida hosted the FITA Archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
World Cup Final. Mérida also hosted the International Cosmic Ray Conference between 3–11 July 2007. The 40th International Physics Olympiad, IPhO 2009, was held in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, from July 12 to 19, 2009.
Geography
Mérida is located in the Northwest part of the state of Yucatán, which occupies the northern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula. To the east is the state of Quintana Roo, to the west is the state of Campeche, to the north is the Gulf of Mexico, and far to the south is the state of Chiapas. The city is also located in the Chicxulub CraterChicxulub Crater
The Chicxulub crater is an ancient impact crater buried underneath the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Its center is located near the town of Chicxulub, after which the crater is named...
. It has a very flat topography and is only 30 feet (9 m) above sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
. The land outside of Mérida is covered with smaller scrub trees and former henequen
Henequen
Henequen is an agave whose leaves yield a fiber also called henequen which is suitable for rope and twine, but not of as high a quality as sisal. Alternative spellings are Henequin and Heniquen. It is the major plantation fiber agave of eastern Mexico, being grown extensively in Yucatán,...
fields. Almost no surface water exists, but several cenote
Cenote
A cenote is a deep natural pit, or sinkhole, characteristic of Mexico and Central America, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath...
s (underground springs and rivers) are found across the state. Mérida has a centro historico typical of colonial Spanish cities. The street grid is based on odd-numbered streets running east/west and even-numbered streets running north/south, with Calles 60 and 61 bounding the "Plaza Grande" in the heart of the city. The more affluent neighborhoods are located to the north and the most densely populated areas are to the south. The Centro Historico area is becoming increasingly popular with American and other expats who are rescuing and restoring the classic colonial structures. The Los Angeles Times recently noted this surge of interest in rescuing Mérida's historic downtown.
Weather
Merida features a tropical wet and dry climateTropical savanna climate
Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a type of climate that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories "Aw" and '"As."...
. The city lies in the trade wind
Trade wind
The trade winds are the prevailing pattern of easterly surface winds found in the tropics, within the lower portion of the Earth's atmosphere, in the lower section of the troposphere near the Earth's equator...
belt close to the Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Cancer
The Tropic of Cancer, also referred to as the Northern tropic, is the circle of latitude on the Earth that marks the most northerly position at which the Sun may appear directly overhead at its zenith...
, with the prevailing wind from the east. Mérida's climate is hot and humidity is moderate to high, depending on the time of year. The average annual high temperature is 33 °C (91.4 °F), ranging from 28 °C (82.4 °F) in January to 36 °C (96.8 °F) in May, but temperatures often rise above 38 °C (100.4 °F) in the afternoon in this time. Low temperatures range between 18 °C (64.4 °F) in January to 23 °C (73.4 °F) in May and June. It is most often a few degrees hotter in Mérida than coastal areas due to its inland location and low elevation. The rainy season runs from June through October, associated with the Mexican monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
which draws warm, moist air landward. Easterly wave
Tropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
s and tropical storms also affect the area during this season.
Culture
Mérida has been nicknamed "The White City", though the exact origin of this moniker is not clear. Some explanations include the common color of its old buildings painted and decorated with "cal" (though anyone visiting modern Mérida can see that buildings are not all white nowadays) or the fact that the residents keep the city particularly clean. Mérida was named after the Spanish town of the same name, originally (in Latin) Augusta Emerita (see Mérida, SpainMérida, Spain
Mérida is the capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura, western central Spain. It has a population of 57,127 . The Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993.- Climate :...
). Mérida served as the American Capital of Culture
American Capital of Culture
The non-governmental organization American Capital of Culture Organization selects one city in the Americas annually to serve as the American Capital of Culture for a period of one year...
in the year 2000.
As the state and regional capital, Mérida is a cultural center, featuring multiple museums, art galleries, restaurants, movie theatres and shops. Mérida retains an abundance of beautiful colonial buildings and is a vibrant cultural center with music and dancing playing an important part in day-to-day life. At the same time it is a modern city boasting a comprehensive range of shopping malls, auto dealerships, top quality hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities. The famous avenue, Paseo de Montejo, is lined with original sculpture. Each year, the MACAY Museum in Mérida mounts a new sculpture installation, featuring works from Mexico and one other chosen country. Each exhibit remains for ten months of the year. In 2007, sculptures on Paseo de Montejo feature works by artists from Mexico and Japan.
Mérida and the state of Yucatán have traditionally been isolated from the rest of the country by geography, creating a unique culture. The conquistadors found the Mayan culture to be incredibly resilient, and their attempts to eradicate Mayan tradition, religion and culture had only moderate success. The surviving remnants of the Mayan culture can be seen every day, in speech, dress, and in both written and oral histories. It is especially apparent in holidays like Hanal Pixan, a Mayan/Catholic Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in many cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality...
celebration. It falls on November 1 and 2 (one day for adults, and one for children) and is commemorated by elaborate altars dedicated to dead relatives. It is a compromise between the two religions with crucifixes mingled with skull decorations and food sacrifices/offerings. Múkbil pollo is the Mayan tamal pie offered to the dead on All Saints' Day, traditionally accompanied by a cup of hot chocolate. Many Yucatecans enjoying eating this on and around the Day of Dead. And, while complicated to make, they can be purchased and even shipped via air. (Muk-bil literally means "to put in the ground" or to cook in a pib, an underground oven).
For English speakers or would-be speakers, Mérida has the Mérida English Library, a lending library with an extensive collection of English books, videos, tapes and children's books. The library is also the site for expatriate meetings, children's storytelling hours and other cultural events.
Mérida is also home to the Yucatan Symphony Orchestra
Yucatan symphony orchestra
The Yucatan Symphony Orchestra is a philharmonic orchestra based in Mérida, Yucatán, México.-History:The OSY was founded on February, 2001 in Mérida, by the ICY and was re-established in 2004 through a joint venture by the Yucatán State Government and the Orquesta...
, which plays regular seasons at the Jose Peon Contreras Theatre on Calle 60 and features classical music, jazz and opera.
Food
Yucatecan food is its own unique style and is very different from what most people consider "Mexican" food. It includes influences from the local Mayan culture, as well as Caribbean, Mexican, European and Middle Eastern cultures.There are many regional dishes. Some of them are:
- Poc Chuc, a Mayan/Yucateco version of boiled/grilled pork.
- Salbutes and Panuchos. Salbutes are soft, cooked tortillas with lettuce, tomato, turkey and avocado on top. Panuchos feature fried tortillas filled with black beans, and topped with turkey or chicken, lettuce, avocado and pickled onions. Habanero chiles accompany most dishes, either in solid or purée form, along with fresh limes and corn tortillas.
- Queso Relleno is a "gourmet" dish featuring ground pork inside of a carved edamEdamerEdam is a Dutch cheese traditionally sold in spheres with a pale yellow interior and a coat of red paraffin wax. It is named after the town of Edam in the province of North Holland, where the cheese is coated for export sale and for the tourist high season. Edam which has aged for at least 17...
cheese ball served with tomato sauce - Pavo en Relleno Negro (also known locally as Chilmole) is turkey meat stew cooked with a black paste made from roasted chiles, a local version of the moleMole (sauce)Mole is the generic name for a number of sauces used in Mexican cuisine, as well as for dishes based on these sauces...
de guajalote found throughout Mexico. The meat soaked in the black soup is also served in tacos, sandwiches and even in panuchos or salbutes. - Sopa de Lima is a lime soup with a chicken broth base often accompanied by shredded chicken or turkey and crispy tortilla.
- Papadzules. Egg "tacos" bathed with Pumpkin Seed sauce and tomatoes.
- Cochinita PibilCochinita pibilCochinita pibil is a traditional Mexican slow-roasted pork dish from the Yucatán Península. Preparation of traditional cochinita or puerco pibil involves marinating the meat in strongly acidic citrus juice, coloring it with annatto seed, and roasting the meat while it is wrapped in banana...
is a marinated pork dish and by far the most renowned from the yucatecan food. - Bul keken, (Mayan for "beans and pork") is a traditional black bean and pork soup. The soup is served in the home on Mondays in most Yucatán towns. The soup is usually served with chopped onions, radishes, chilies, and tortillas.
- Brazo de reina, (Spanish for "The Queen's Arm") is a traditional tamal dish. A long, flat tamal is topped with ground pumpkin seeds and rolled up like a roll cake. The long roll is then cut into slices. The slices are topped with a tomato sauce and a pumpkin seed garnish.
Achiote is the most popular spice in the area. It is derived from the hard annatto seed found in the region. The whole seed is ground together with other spices and formed into a reddish seasoning paste, called recado rojo. The other ingredients in the paste include cinnamon, allspice berries, cloves, Mexican oregano, cumin seed, sea salt, mild black peppercorns, apple cider vinegar, and garlic.
The most popular Mexican hot sauce, El Yucateco
El Yucateco Chile Habanero
El Yucateco Chile Habanero is a brand of hot sauce made from habanero peppers. Unlike many other hot sauces such as tabasco sauce, El Yucateco hot sauce does not use vinegar as a base for the peppers. El Yucateco Red and Green sauces use artificial coloring producing vibrant colors. Unlike most...
hot sauce, is made in Mérida, Yucatán. Hot sauce in Mérida is usually made from the indigenous chiles in the area which include: Chile Xcatik, Chile Seco de Yucatán, and Chile Habenero.
Language and accent
The Spanish spoken in the Yucatán is readily identifiable as different, even to non-native ears. It is heavily influenced by the Spanish accent and Yucatec Maya language, which is spoken by a third of the population of the State of Yucatán. The Mayan language is melodic, filled with explosive consontants (p', k' and t') and "sh" sounds (represented by the letter "x" in the Mayan language).Being enclosed by the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, and with poor land communication with the rest of Mexico, Yucatecan Spanish has also preserved many words that are no longer used in many other Spanish speaking areas of the world. However, with the improvement in transportation and especially with the overwhelming presence of radio, internet and TV, their isolation has eroded, and many elements of the culture and language of the rest of Mexico are now slowly but consistently permeating the culture.
Apart from the Mayan language, which is still the mother-tongue of many yucatecans, students now choose to learn a foreign language like English, which is taught in most schools.
Bus
City Service is mostly provided by 4 local transportation companies: Unión de Camioneros de Yucatán (UCY), Alianza de de Camioneros de Yucatán (ACY), Rápidos de Mérida, y Minis 2000. Bus Transportation is at the same level or better than that of bigger cities like GuadalajaraGuadalajara
Guadalajara may refer to:In Mexico:*Guadalajara, Jalisco, the capital of the state of Jalisco and second largest city in Mexico**Guadalajara Metropolitan Area*University of Guadalajara, a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco...
or Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. Climate Controlled buses and Micro-Bus ( smaller in size ) are not uncommon.
The Main Bus Terminal (CAME) offers 1st. Class (ADO
Autobuses de Oriente
Autobuses de Oriente, S.A. de C.V. is one of the most important Mexican bus companies, running first-class and executive-class buses. It was founded with six buses on December 23, 1939 on the route Mexico City-Puebla-Perote-Jalapa-Veracruz. Its first buses were Bentley Continentals. It was not an...
) and luxury services (UNO) to most southern Mexico cities outside Yucatán with a fleet consisting of Mercedez Benz and Volvo buses. Shorter intrastate routes are serviced by many smaller terminals around the city, mainly in downtown.
Taxis
Several groups and unions offer Taxi transportation : Frente Único de los Trabajadores del Volante (FUTV) ( white taxis ), Unión de Taxistas Independientes (UTI), Radiotaxímetros de Yucatán, among others. Some of them offer metered service, but most work based on a flat rate depending on destination. Competition has made it of more common use than it was years ago.Taxis can be either found at one of many predefined places around the city ( Taxi de Sitio ), waved off along the way or called in by Radio.
Unlike the sophisticated RF counterparts in the US, a Civil Band radio is used and is equally effective. Usually a taxi will respond and arrive within 5 minutes.
Another type of Taxi service is called "Colectivo". Colectivo taxis work like small buses on a predefined route and for a small fare. Usually accommodating 8 to 10 people.
Air
Mérida is serviced by Manuel Crescencio Rejón International AirportManuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport
Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport, formerly known as Mérida-Rejón Airport is an international airport located in the Mexican city of Mérida, Yucatán...
with daily non-stop services to major cities in Mexico (D.F, Monterrey, Villahermosa, Cancún, Guadalajara, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Toluca) and international (Miami, Houston, La Havana) and usually receiving charter flight services to and from Europe and Canada. Also there is a good amount of freight and cargo planes moving in and out. As of 2006 more than a millon passengers were using this airport every year, (1.3 in 2007) and it is under ASUR administration.
Train
There is no passenger train service to the city (which is generally the case for Mexican citiesRail transport in Mexico
Mexico has a freight railway system that is privately owned and extends across most of the country, connecting major industrial centers with ports and with rail connections at the United States border...
), although freight trains do serve the area.
Roads
Main roads in and out of Mérida:- Mérida-Progreso (Federal 261), 33 Kilometers long with 8 lanes. It joins the city with Yucatán's biggest port city, ProgresoProgreso, YucatánProgreso is a port city in the Mexican state of Yucatán, located on the Gulf of Mexico in the north-west of the state some 30 minutes north of state capital Mérida by highway. As of the Mexican census of 2005, Progreso had an official population of 35,519 inhabitants, the fifth-largest community...
. - Mérida-Umán-Campeche (Federal 180), connects with the city of San Francisco de Campeche.
- Mérida-Kantunil-Cancún(Federal 180), 4 lane road that becomes a Toll road at kantunil. It joins Mérida with Chichén ItzáChichen ItzaChichen Itza is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site built by the Maya civilization located in the northern center of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the Municipality of Tinúm, Yucatán state, present-day Mexico....
, ValladolidValladolid, YucatánValladolid is a small city in Valladolid Municipality in the southeastern part of the Mexican state of Yucatán. Valladolid is in the inland eastern part of the state....
and ultimately Cancún. - Mérida-Tizimín (Federal 176) connects Mérida with Tizimín (2nd. largest city in Yucatán).
- Mérida-Teabo-Peto known as Mundo Maya Road Carretera del Mundo Maya, its utilized in both "convent route" Ruta de los Conventos, and linking the ancient maya city of MayapánMayapanMayapan , is a Pre-Columbian Maya site a couple of kilometers south of the town of Telchaquillo in Municipality of Tecoh, approximately 40 km south-east of Mérida and 100 km west of Chichen Itza; in the state of Yucatán, Mexico...
and ChetumalChetumalChetumal is a city on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It is the capital of the state of Quintana Roo and the municipal seat of the Municipality of Othón P. Blanco...
, state capitol of Quintana RooQuintana RooQuintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal....
Health
Mérida has many regional hospitals and medical centers. All of them offer full services for the city and in case of the Regional Hospitals for the whole Yucatán peninsula and neighboring states.The city has one of the most prestigious medical faculties in Mexico (UADY). Proximity to American cities like Houston allow local Doctors to crosstrain and practice in both countries making Mérida one of the best cities in Mexico in terms of health services availability.
Hospitals:
- Public:
- Hospital Regional del ISSSTE.
- Hospital Ignacio García Téllez IMSSIMSSIMSS may refer to:* Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, Florence, Italy* Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico* Integrated Maritime Surveillance Systems, an integrated network of coast-line radars...
. - Hospital Benito Juárez IMSSIMSSIMSS may refer to:* Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, Florence, Italy* Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico* Integrated Maritime Surveillance Systems, an integrated network of coast-line radars...
. - Hospital Agustin O'Horán.
- Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad.
- Private:
- Clínica de Mérida
- Star Médica
- Centro Médico de las Américas. (CMA)
- Centro de Especialidades Médicas
- Hospital Santelena.
- Centro Médico Pensiones (CMP), entre otros.
Education
In 2000 the Mérida municipality had 244 preschool institutions, 395 elementary, 136 Jr. high school (2 years middle school, 1 high), 97 High Schools and 16 Universities/Higher Education schools.There are several state institutions offering higher education:
- Universidad Autónoma de YucatánUniversidad Autónoma de YucatánThe Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán , or UADY, is an autonomous public university in the state of Yucatán, Mexico, with its central campuses located in the state capital of Mérida...
(UADY) - Escuela Superior de Artes de Yucatán (ESAY)
- Instituto Tecnológico de MéridaInstituto Tecnológico de MéridaInstituto Tecnológico de Mérida is a public institution of higher education located in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico....
(ITM) - Universidad Tecnológica MetropolitanaUniversidad Tecnológica MetropolitanaMetropolitan University of Technology is a university in Chile. It is part of the Chilean Traditional Universities.- External links :*...
(UTM) - Universidad Pedagógica Nacional
- Escuela Normal Superior de Yucatán (ENSY)
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
Among several private institutions:
- Centro de Estudios Superiores CTM (CESCTM)
- Colegio de Negocios Internacionales (CNI)
- Universidad Anáhuac Mayab
- Universidad Marista
- Universidad Modelo
- Universidad Interemericana para el Desarrollo (UNID)
- Centro Educativo Latino (CEL)
- Universidad Interamericana del Norte
- Centro Universitario Interamericano(Inter)
- Universidad Mesoamericana de San Agustin (UMSA)
- Centro de Estudios de las Américas, A.C. (CELA)
- Universidad del Valle de MexicoUniversidad del Valle de MéxicoThe Universidad del Valle de México or UVM is a private Mexican university founded in Mexico City in the year 1960. UVM enrolls students at several campuses throughout Mexico, and it holds accreditations from the Mexican Department of Education, COPAES accrediting board, and FIMPES...
(UVM) - Instituto de Ciencias Sociales de Merida (ICSMAC)
- Universidad Popular Autónoma de Puebla, Plantel Mérida (UPAEP Mérida)
Mérida has several national research centers. Among them
- Centro de Investigacíón Científica de Yucatán (CICY)
- Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, dependent from the UADY, conducts biological and biomedical research.
- Centro INAH Yucatán, dedicated to antropological, arqueological and historic research.
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados CINVESTAV/IPN
Politics
Mérida is the Yucatán state capital. State government officials reside here and its also the base for the Mérida Municipality."El Ayuntamiento" is constituted by an elected major, assembly representatives and síndicos. The previous Mayor was César Bojórquez from Partido Acción Nacional and was appointed on July 2, 2007. The current mayor is Angelica Araujo Lara, from the PRI and she took office on July 1, 2010. State Governor is Mrs. Ivonne Ortega Pacheco also appointed July 2, 2007.
Consulates
Current consular representations in Mérida are:
|
Historic sites
- Monumento à la Patria (1956)
- Palacio de Gobierno (1892)
- Catedral de San Ildefonso (1598), first in the continental Americas.
- Barrio y Capilla de Santa Lucía (1575)
- Barrio y Templo Parroquial del antiguo pueblo de Itzimná
- Barrio y Templo Parroquial de San Cristóbal (1796)
- Barrio y Templo Parroquial de San Sebastián (1706)
- Barrio y Templo Parroquial de Santa Ana (1733)
- Barrio y Templo Parroquial de Santa Lucía(1575)
- Barrio y Templo Parroquial de Santiago (1637)
- Capilla de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (1706)
- Capilla y parque de San Juan Bautista (1552)
- Casa de Montejo (1549)
- Antiguo convento de Nuestra Señora de la Consolación (Nuns)(1596)
- Iglesia del Jesús o de la Tercera Orden (Third Order) (1618)
- Templo de San Juan de Dios (1562)
Cultural centers
- Centro Cultural Andrés Quintana Roo, in Santa Ana, with galeries and artistic events.
- Centro Cultural Olimpo. Next to the Municipal Palace in the Plaza Grande.
- Casa de la Cultura del Mayab, the Casa de Artesanías (house of handcrafts) resides there. It's in downtown Mérida.
- Centro Estatal de Bellas Artes (CEBA). Across the El Centenario, offers classes and education in painting, music, theater, balletBalletBallet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
, jazz, folclore, spanish dance, among others. - Centro Cultural del Niño Yucateco (CECUNY) in Mejorada, in a 16th century building, with classes and workshops specifically designed for kids.
- Centro Cultural Dante a private center within one of the major bookstores in Mérida (Librería Dante).
Museums
- Museo de Antropología e Historia "Palacio Cantón", Yucatán's history and archaeology Museum.
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Ateneo de Yucatán (MACAY), in the hearth of the city right next to the Cathedral. Permanent and rotating pictorical expositions.
- Museo de la Canción Yucateca in Mejorada, honors the trova yucateca authors, Ricardo Palmerín, Guty Cárdenas, Juan Acereto y Pastor Cervera.
- Museo de la Ciudad de Mérida, in the old Correos (post office) building since 2007 offers information about the city from the prehispanic times Tho' or Ichcaanzihó to current days.
- Museo de Historia Natural, natural history museum.
- Museo de Arte Popular, popular art museum, offers a view of popular artistry and handcrafts among ethnical Mexican groups and cultures.
Major Theaters with Regular Shows
- Teatro José Peón Contreras
- Teatro Daniel Ayala Pérez
- Teatro Mérida (Now Teatro Armando Manzanero)
- Teatro Colón
- Teatro Héctor Herrera
Shopping centers
Three local shopping centers were created in the 80s and still exist, although now they mostly cater to locals and have banks and government offices for everyday business:- Plaza Oriente, in the East and the very first in Mérida.
- Plaza Dorada, in the west.
- Plaza Fiesta, in the NorthEast.
In the 90s and early '01 two other centers with the major "American mall" look and feel opened.
- Gran Plaza opened in 1994.
- Plaza Las Américas in 2001. Next to Plaza Dorada.
2007 was the most dynamic in commercial activity and 3 new shopping malls opened to the public:
- Macroplaza, catering to middle income families.
- Plaza Altabrisa in the northeast. For high income families
- Galerias Mérida in the north for middle-high income families
2008 Saw the opening of two new shopping centers.
- City Center Mérida
- Plaza Sendero in the old Carta Clara baseball stadium grounds.
Sports
Several facilities can be found where to practice sports:- Estadio Salvador Alvarado in the north
- Unidad Deportiva Kukulcán (with the major Soccer Stadium Carlos Iturralde, Kukulcan BaseBall Park and Polifórum Zamná multipurpose arena)
- Complejo deportivo La Inalambrica, in the west ( with archery facilities that held a world series championship )
- Unidad deportiva Benito Juarez Garcia, in the northeast.
- Gimnasio Polifuncional, where professional basketball team Mayas de Yucatán plays for the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional de México (LNBP) representing Yucatán.
| Team | Sport | League | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leones de Yucatán Leones de Yucatán The Leones de Yucatán are a AAA-level baseball team playing in the Mexican League. Their homefield is the Estadio De Béisbol Kukulkán in Mérida, Yucatán.Former Major League Baseball player Oscar Azócar played for Yucatán in 2001.... |
Beisbol | Liga Mexicana de Beisbol Liga Mexicana de Beisbol The Mexican League is a summer minor league baseball league with teams based across Mexico. Along with the International League and the Pacific Coast League, it is one of three leagues playing at the triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It is the only Minor League... |
Estadio de Béisbol Kukulkán Estadio De Beisbol Kukulkan Estadio de Béisbol Kukulkán is a stadium in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Leones de Yucatán Mexican League baseball team. It holds 13,600 people and was opened in 1982. The stadium is named for Kukulkán the Maya feathered serpent deity.... |
| F.C. Itzaes | Fútbol | Segunda División de México | Estadio Carlos Iturralde Estadio Carlos Iturralde The Estadio Carlos Iturralde is a multi-use stadium in the Mexican city of Mérida, Yucatán. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Merida F.C.. The stadium holds 21,050 people.- History :... |
| Mérida F.C. | Fútbol | Liga de Ascenso de México Liga de Ascenso The Liga de Ascenso is the second professional level of the Mexican football league system. The champion of the competition is promoted to the Primera División de México .... |
Estadio Carlos Iturralde Estadio Carlos Iturralde The Estadio Carlos Iturralde is a multi-use stadium in the Mexican city of Mérida, Yucatán. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Merida F.C.. The stadium holds 21,050 people.- History :... |
| Mayas de Yucatán | Baloncesto Basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... |
Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional The Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional is the top professional basketball league in Mexico. The league was founded in 2000 with 11 teams, expanding to 24 as of 2008... |
Gimnasio Polifuncional |
Twin towns — sister cities
Mérida, Yucatán is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with 12 cities: Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
, United States (1973) New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, United States (June 9, 1990) Panama City, Florida
Panama City, Florida
-Personal income:The median income for a household in the city was $31,572, and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $30,401 versus $21,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,830...
, United States (November 13, 2003) Glendora, California
Glendora, California
Glendora is a municipality in Los Angeles County, California, United States, east of downtown Los Angeles. As of the 2010 census, the population of Glendora was 50,073....
, United States (1973) Sarasota, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(2010) Mérida
Merida
Places of the world named Mérida or Merida include:*Mérida, Spain, capital city of the Spanish Community of Extremadura*Mérida, Yucatán, capital city of the Mexican state of Yucatán*Merida, Leyte, a municipality in Leyte province in the Philippines...
, Extremadura
Extremadura
Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(October 12, 1990) Incheon
Incheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
(October 15, 2007) Texcoco
Texcoco, Mexico State
Texcoco is a city and municipality located in the northeast portion of Mexico State, 25 km northeast of Mexico City. In the pre-Hispanic era, this was a major Aztec city on the shores of Lake Texcoco. After the Conquest, the city was initially the second most important after Mexico City,...
, Estado de México (May 22, 2001) Camagüey
Camagüey
Camagüey is a city and municipality in central Cuba and is the nation's third largest city. It is the capital of the Camagüey Province.After almost continuous attacks from pirates the original city was moved inland in 1528.The new city was built with a confusing lay-out of winding alleys that made...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
(February 6, 2000) Mérida
Mérida, Mérida
Santiago de los Caballeros de Mérida, Venezuela, is the capital of the municipality of Libertador and the state of Mérida, and is one of the principal cities of the Venezuelan Andes...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
(October 12, 1990) Chiquinquirá
Chiquinquirá
Chiquinquirá is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá, part of the subregion of the Western Boyacá Province. Located some 115 km north of Bogotá, Chiquinquirá is 2570m above sea level and has a yearly average temperature 58°F....
, Boyacá
Boyacá
Boyacá is the name of a region in Colombia. It may refer to any of:* Boyacá Department* Boyacá Department * Boyacá River* Boyacá Municipality* Battle of Boyacá* Boyacá Chicó F.C.* Boyacá Avenue an avenue in Bogotá...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
(March 26, 1999) Pereira
Pereira, Colombia
Pereira is the capital city of the Colombian department of Risaralda. It stands in the center of the western region of the country, located in a small valley that descends from a part of the western Andes mountain chain. Its strategic location in the coffee producing area makes the city an urban...
, Risaralda
Risaralda
Risaralda may refer to:* Risaralda Department, in Colombia* Risaralda River* Risaralda, Caldas a town and municipality in Caldas Department...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
(April 17, 2000)