A Trip to the Merida Market in Mexico
I have always felt that one of the best ways to learn about the culture of an area is to visit the local market place. So, of course, while in the Yucatan, we just had to tour the famous Merida City Market. Covering several square city blocks, the market is filled with individual stalls, some of which spill out onto the roadway. A new, equally large market has been built right across the street. Both markets handle and sell produce, clothing, machinery, and many other items and services. The markets open about 7AM and close about 6 or 7PM.
A very interesting blog. The grapefruit and all the other fruits looked delicious. The marshmellows also. Nan
Posted by: Nan Ashby | September 8th, 2008 at 4:02 am
Could have been a first, Martha Stewart returning from Mexico with a new perm. Maybe it is rather a good thing that you did not and that there were not Martha Stewart sewing notions.
Posted by: Margie | September 8th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Ms. Martha
I did not know where to post this, but I went to my TV today to see your show, and they have some talk show in your spot
Please, Please tell me where and when your show is running in St. Petersburg Florida.
I am an avid watcher and learner, and really am upset that you are not there!!!
Thank You
Jackie Taylor
Posted by: Jackie Taylor | September 8th, 2008 at 7:34 am
I'm thinking the topiary in photo 41 is actually a rhino. It's all about the horn.
Posted by: Nicholas Husbye | September 8th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Hola Martha!
Mexico, I have been there. Acapulco is where I went. I stayed eight days. Many years ago I could speak spanish fluently, not anymore. Thanks for sharing your pictures with us. I loved them.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | September 8th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Martha, I think topiary #41 is a rhino! Loved your market pictures---Thanks!
Posted by: Julie Razin | September 8th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Your pictures are great, I love markets like this, you never know what you're going to find!
Posted by: Sara | September 8th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Hi Martha, Oh, how I would love to visit the Meridia City Market in person! Since I can't, enjoying your beautiful blog post is the next best "good thing"! Your photos are absolutely outstanding and so colorful and informative! Everything that you do for us is absolutely appreciated. I certainly enjoy going back and looking at all of the wonderful tours you have taken us on over and over again. Thanks so much for sharing. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | September 8th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Thanks for this great entry, Martha! I love the picture of the marshmallows. Last Christmas I made homemade marshmallows from a recipe I got from your daughter Alex's blog (November 28 and December 18, 2007). They were a HUGE hit! I would love to get your feedback on how I could go about altering that recipe to create the colored cylinder shaped marshmallows found in the market.
Posted by: Laura McGowan | September 8th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Hi Martha,
What time will you be on in the Boston area ???
Thanks
Posted by: Kathy :) | September 8th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Martha,
These are all wonderful fotos. Thank you for sharing them.
Carmen
Have you considered visiting Guadalajara, Jalisco, MX?
Posted by: Carmen | September 8th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Beautiful blog!!!
Posted by: simone | September 8th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Martha--I am so glad you visited Mexico and the Mercados--the best one I visited sold about 12 different types of mole--green,yellow,red,brown,black and colors in between--
Check out the lovely embroidery and crochet work done by local women if you get a chance--prices so, reasonable--I love Mexico--the fresh tortillas and salsas and fish--the palatas-horchata,.....
Posted by: Melanie | September 8th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Again, great pictures Martha. You have made me hungry!
A note to Jackie and Kathy: If you go to Martha's home page and click on TV & Video in the tabs at top of the page, the next page you can insert your zip code on the left side of the page and after that, your cable provider. Up will come a page with the channel you can now watch Martha on in your area. Mine changed to Fox from an ABC affiliate and I can watch at 1:00 p.m. Trish
Posted by: Trish | September 8th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Martha, I thought those topiaries around the prison walls were so poignant. It made me think of Maya Angelou's "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings."
-Andrew
Posted by: Andrew Ritchie | September 8th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Martha,
I love you - have for years!! Come join us on Twitter so I can remember to come to your blog each day.
You'd love Twitter because it only allows 2 sentences and you can post from your blackberry.
My account on twitter is http://www.twitter.com/queenoftheclick
Posted by: Queen of the Click | September 8th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
oh how fun!!!!
Those sectioned fruits are sooooo succulent looking. All those deep vibrant yellows from the mangos and orange from the grapefruits just calls for a vacation.
I can't thank you enough for posting.
Posted by: Norbie K. of Las Vegas | September 8th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Hi, Martha,
I enjoyed travelling to the Merida Market through your photos and descriptions. From the sign on the way to the market to the fruits, marshmallows, and topiaries---all are gorgeous. Thanks for the tour of Yucatan culture through its marketplace.
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | September 11th, 2008 at 2:11 am
Linda, FYI- Acapulco and Merida are nowhere near eachother.
Posted by: Claudette | September 15th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Just to add a little info... Merida is located in the state of Yucatan, which is in the Yucatan Peninsula. Most people have heard of Cancun but don’t know that Merida is a scenic 4 hr drive away. The famous Mayan ruins of Chitzen Itza are along the way as well as numerous other interesting attractions.
Merida also has an airport and flying into Merida directly is possible with certain airlines.
If you are planning on flying into Cancun and taking the bus to Merida then you will probably have to spend the night in Cancun, depending on how late your flight arrives in Cancun.
From the Cancun City main bus terminal you can take the 1st class bus [recommended] but there are other bus stations for 2nd and 3rd class busses with different schedules.
For more info see http://www.travelyucatan.com
Posted by: Ken | September 16th, 2008 at 1:50 am
Hi, I'm amazed to see my hometown in this blog! It's a very cultural place, with beautiful people to be around.
I now live in Cancun, working for Xcaret! I invite you to visit the best ecological park Mexico has. With a fantastic variety of animals, like jaguars, deers, turtles, toucan. Inlets, Beach, Underwater Rivers, Mayan shows, and the best of all the Xcaret Mexico Espectacular, with music, and dances from every corner of the country.
http://www.xcaret.com
Martha thank you for your visit to Mérida!! I actually knew that you went, because I read it in the newpaper.
thanks again
Posted by: Cristina | September 17th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Martha:
We were sorry to miss you when you also visited Valladolid while you were in the Yucatan. We uderstand you did some filming at several locations in Valladolid, which we were very pleased to hear about and will look forward to watching for on your TV show.
Next time you are in Valladolid, we would enjoy the opportunity for you and your production crew to visit our home CASA DE LOS VENADOS (house of the deer) which has been just short of 8 years in remodeling and is now almost complete. We are but one of a number of American ex-pats who have "discovered" Valladolid. A potentially interesting show for you to consider would be to visit and interview several of the ex-pats not living in Valladolid. Our home will eventually be turned over to a not-for-profit foundaiton and used as an arts center, with our extensive collection of folk art (over 3,000 pieces) as its core collection. You and your viewers can visit our website and see the photos of "BEFORE, DURING and now almost AFTER" on the photo album of the website at http://www.casadelosvenados.com
You can also read about our home on the http://www.yucatanliving.com website in their recent article: "Valladolid - Sultana of the East".
Sincerely,
John and Dorianne Venator
Posted by: John and Dorianne Venator | September 19th, 2008 at 6:36 am
I really enjoyed your pics. I have only once been to Mexico when I was a litte girl. I would like to learn more of Guanajuato, Mexico. LI plan to visit there in the near future. Thanks again for showing me a little bit of my heritage.
LIZ
Posted by: elliepumarejo | September 22nd, 2008 at 7:17 pm
We need to take time to enjoy foods like the Mexican people.It really shows in your beautiful pictures how our lives in America have forgotten the small pleasures of beautiful food presentation.
Posted by: LINDA | September 27th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Hi,I'm glad that you visit my hometown...I hope you try the panuchos and cochinita pibil...You can find those dishes as well as the tamales in fancy restaurants with the same taste the difference is on the bill....When and where can I see your shown about Merida?
Posted by: Monica | September 29th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
quite interesting. i go to mexico once a year with my family and have yet to make it to Yucatan. We just returned from Puerto y Nuevo Vallarta in Jalisco. I desperately looked for a market but only came across a really really small one...I bought tamarind and lots of poblano peppers (which I successfully smuggled back to the US!) and some esteemed vanilla too! And I fully agree: the only way to get to know another culture and people is to visit the places they maintain and visit. IT iS PRICELESS!
Posted by: Bren@Flanboyant Eats | October 7th, 2008 at 2:59 am
Dear Martha,
THANK YOU so much! for showing my hometown.
Yucatan has a rich culture and I understand that people are trying to maintain alive the Maya language and the Teatro Regional. I hope you try the "Huevos motuleños"!
I would like you to know that I love your programs, your website and I have cook some of your great recipes.
I would like to see it again and, if is possible to get a copy of it.Thank you again and God bless you.
Carmen
Posted by: carmen navarrete | November 14th, 2008 at 6:39 am
Hi Martha,
I resently saw a rerun of your trip to the Yucatan and I was very inpressed. If you would'nt mine I would love a copy of your itinerary. I was in travel for 20 years and saw a lot of Mexico. I have never spend anytime in that part of the Yucatan. Cancun/Cozumel. I'm planning a trip to Mexico and this maybe the right place. Thank you, Bobbie
Posted by: Barbara Albin | January 15th, 2009 at 8:31 am