A short stopover...

We left Progreso February 28 on a early taxi to Merida to catch a bus to Vallalodid, a small city halfway between Merida and Cancun. We thought we would stay a night on the way here instead of Cancun as we couldn't check into our new accommodation until March 1. And we had heard from other people that it was a nice place to visit.
We arrived two hours later and found our way from the bus station in the center of the city to our hostel for the night. It was only three blocks so we walked given that we travel with one carry on bag and are so glad that we do!

Our hostel was located in the quiet Candeleria Square...

The church on one side of the square

We had a private room and...

Colourful Toilets! A nice place to stay for 22 dollars a night.
Vallalodid is the third largest city on the Yucatan peninsula and was founded in 1545. It has about 50,000 residents and is deeply Mayan as can be seen from the number of women who still wear the hupil, the traditional Mayan dress. As I was walking around town I was able to capture a few of the local women in their hupils...

It was cold and wet so this lady was wearing her scarf.

As was this lady getting in from the rain.

Younger women wore the hupil as well.

I loved the blue in her hupil.

Two contrasts...traditional and modern.Gotta love the shoes!!
The day was very wet in that it rained a lot and it rained for a long time. So we and many others stayed in the church.

Beautiful altar...

Always someone looking for money!

Might as well pray while I am here!
And of course hot soup, Sopa de Lima, hit the spot...

We did get to walk around the main area of town...

The main square with the Cathedral in the background
Valladolid was a very clean city and in some ways modern such as this food court in el centro...

Beautiful art work...

Beautiful grottos...

This one was all done with small tiles.
We took a walk a little outside the center of the city to visit the convent of San Bernadino de Sienna which was built in the 1600s. It is still used today with some original features that escaped the various wars waged here between the Spaniards and the Mayans.
We spent an hour or so here exploring the buildings and the gardens and it was a peaceful spot.

A black and white shot...

Colourful altars

Very old frescos...

Peaceful interiors...

Lush gardens...
And I wonder who is indulging in the wine???

We visited a small Mayan Co-op that made Mayan chocolate, it is a very dark and bitter chocolate..

This lady is rolling the chocolate into balls which are then flavoured for sale.
Some street scenes...

Many arched buildings

Lots of scooters...


Colourful houses...

Interesting doors...

Watching the world pass by..

Making change...
Since the weather was not cooperating we did not get to visit the many cenotes around and in the city.There was also so much else to see we may have to return for another visit.
To end our day we ate at an Italian restaurant that had the beat homemade ice cream...

We were up early the next day to catch our bus to Cancun and then on to Puerto Morelos...

Waiting at the bus station still smiling but that was before we missed our bus even while we were sitting there! Just have to learn to listen a little more closely when they call the destination!!

Location:Vallalodid Mexico