On your next trip to Izamal, avoid the Hotel Canto. I knew an experience like this was coming, but I didn't expect it quite so soon. Suffice to say it's what Lonely Planet would call "super basic." The single fluorescent tube light illuminates a dark, dank room that probably hasn't been seriously cleaned since the revolution. The bathroom was also an adventure. But there was nothing overtly repulsive... just an overall extreme shabbiness. I have photos and will post them soon.

This entry is just for Stephanie Bruner-Amspaugh at channel five. On my last day at work she printed out a bunch of info off the internet on some places in the Yucatan she'd been. One of them was a small town slightly off the beaten track called Izamal.

"A director who really, really liked yellow."
For the hell of it I stayed a night there on my way west from Valladoid to Merida. It's incredible. Everything is yellow. Seriously. Everything. When you see the photos you'll get it. It looks like a Hollywood movie crew went in and painted the town for a director who really, really liked yellow. There are also horses.

A few blocks from the central square is what I think claimed to be the tallest pyramid in the Mayan world. It looks more like a hill now that grass has grown over much of the stones...

My Luxury Suite in Izamal

but it's quite a view from the top. Fortunately this time there was no claustrophobic tunnel into the middle of the thing.

Right on the square there's a church / convent that dates to the 16th century and was built atop a demolished pyramid. It has the largest courtyard of any catholic church in the world after the Vatican. Pretty cool... again, you need to see the photos. I'll get to those tomorrow or something.

"It's a little hard on the budget"
I'm typing this from Merida, where I arrived this afternoon and took a quick look around. I'm staying at a small guesthouse that was recommended and am going out with another guest and one of the owners tonight. It's interesting to get away from the backpacker thing for a day or two... but it's a little hard on the budget. The place is $22 a night. Well within my limit, but about twice what I've become accustomed to paying.

I'll probably look around some more tomorrow, post some photos, and then go do the new years thing. I think new year's day will be spent on the beach in Progresso, a 30 minute bus ride from here. I'll probably spend three nights here in Merida.