Street Corners of Merida
When walking around Merida you will notice red & white signs on many corners with a drawing and label of various items. These signs have been added as a nod to the history and unique stories of the city.
When the Spanish colonists came to Merida they laid out the city as a grid with streets numbered and increasing from North East to South West . Even numbered streets go vertical North South and odd number streets cross the town horizontally. I found this pretty easy to navigate. For example a cool pub with a garden called El Cardenal Cantina can be found at the corner of Calle 70 X Calle 63. Despite the organization, the past citizens of Merida found the numbers confusing and/or were not able to read. (El Cardenal Cantina established in 1915 is the oldest operating Catina in Merida).
To navigate the city, people started giving intersections different nicknames. Some of the names are fairly self explanatory and quite old - for example the “Las Monjas” (the nuns) on Calle 63 X Calle 64 is located at the second oldest church in Merida at the site of Las Monjas Church. Others must be more recent such as “El Bombardeo” depicting a plane dropping bombs at Calle 47 X Calle 48.
The stories behind the names have been passed down by generations and the details either lost or embellished . . . or both. Regardless it makes for a fun way to explore the city and learn about its people and past. Some of my favorites include:
- “El Lorro” (the parrot) Calle 62 x Calle 55 which marks the location where a blind parrot use to greet people walking past.
- “La Tucha” (the monkey) 66 which is based on a story of a spolied girl that was turned into a monkey by a Which.
- “Dos Camellos” (Two Camels) Calle 66 x Calle 49, is where two Portuguese or Arab brothers owned camels and operated a trade business.
- “El Toro Agachado” (The crouching bull) Calle 61 x Calle 74 which, supposably, marks the spot where, in 1835, General Francisco de Paula Toro, thinking he couldn’t be seen, stopped to swat in the bushes to relieve himself.
And of course
- “El Cardenal” (the cardinal) on Calle 63 X Calle 70. I couldn’t find the story behind the name but it does mark the location of a pretty cool pub!
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anexo:Nombres_de_las_esquinas_de_Mérida_(Yucatán)
https://yucatanliving.com/gallery/corner-plaques/
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-corners-of-merida-merida-mexico
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