Merida Day 27 - 2 nights of Mexican music

Yesterday we had supper downtown at Café Olimpo. We all had Sopa De Lima.

As you can see, we also all had a beer.

I read in the guidebook that it is made by putting baked tortillas in the bottom of the bowl, then chicken soup made with a lime-like citrus (not sure what that would be) and then garnished with limes and sometimes some tomato and green pepper. Every one that I have had has  been a little different and I am going to experiment with some recipes when I get home.
By the time we finished supper they were setting up the chairs in front of the Municipal Building next door so we went and claimed our seats. Last time we stood in the park to watch. This time we were under the arches facing the park.

The seats go fast, this was taken an hour before the dancing started.

George and I went back to the Governor's Palace to look at the murals again while Mum and Dad defended our seats. The dancing was as good as ever and the first time Mum and Dad had seen it.

The Maypole dances are my favourite. First they dance, braiding the ribbons tightly down the top
part of the pole and then dance, unbraiding them. Then they dance weaving a loose sort of spider web
 of ribbons and dance it undone again.

The hipiles were as beautiful as ever and there were 11 couples dancing pretty well constantly for about an hour. It was a hot humid night and the dancers and the band were dripping.

The Conductor and some of the brass section.

Today Mum and I went downtown to exchange her belt for one a little smaller. That was no problem and we got to go through the whole bag of embroidered belts again. Came home and took advantage of the pool and this afternoon Mum and I both painted the outside toilet. Unusual souvenir!

Mine

Mum's

We again went out to supper tonight. This time to La Flor De Santiago so we could get seats for the Big Band in Santiago Square. We stayed for about 45 minutes to enjoy the music and watching everyone dance. This time George and I did get up and dance a couple of songs. We were glad when another couple of tourists danced too, we weren't the only tall ones out there. Home early as Mum and Dad have a taxi picking them up at 5:15am (hopefully, if Hannah's arrangements work out). George and I will attempt to take the bus, again, to Chichen Itza so if that works there will be lots of pictures of Mayan ruins tomorrow (and maybe an iguana or two)