No. 158 Walking Tour Paseo Montejo

Tips:

-It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes

-For additional expenses, cash and credit cards are accepted

-Food: It includes “probaditas Yucatecas” tasting

-Consider that this activity starts at 6:00 pm

The tour starts at the Monumento a la bandera, artwork from the sculptor Romulo Rozo, who shows a part of the history of Mexico, from Tenochtitlán foundation until mid-20^th century.

In this monument you will see many details about Yucatán, for example: Mérida’s coat of arms, the Chacmol, the Mayan hut, two armed and prostrated tiger knights, representing the devotion and protection of Mexico’s armed forces. In the lower part you can see a huge kapok tree sculpted with four butterflies, in the upper part, the glory and conquest of Mexican villages. In the center and apart, you can see México’s symbol, the eagle eating a snake.

During the tour, you will hear about the construction of Paseo Montejo, landmark and pride of Mérida and henequen, as the cornerstone of this famous avenue. The henequen industry and the construction of this important avenue are closely related. Even though they seem to be independent events, henequen production during the Porfiriato times, generated an important income for Yucatán, and boosted regional economy through landowners.

Paseo Montejo Avenue in Mérida was built in the late 19^th century enhanced by a group of landowners and businesspeople. According to Rodriguez and Figueroa (2017) the objective was to build a public promenade that uplifted the state’s capital with European characteristics. European modernism influence in this project was given under the Porfiriato context. President Porfirio Díaz visited the city of Mérida, which pushed Yucatán’s Governor Olegario Molina to pave the city and implement a street cleaning system to prepare for the important visit.

The Paseo’s name was suggested to honor the Spanish conqueror of the Mayan territory: Francisco de Montejo. The name Paseo Montejo was defined unanimously by the small group at Mérida’s governing board, and the outline was inspired by Champs Elysées in France. The construction took 16 years due to an economic crisis in the state and the lack of political interest, though the project was possible thanks to the elite group devoted mainly to henequen production, where they had made their fortune. It is for this reason that it is said that Paseo Montejo roots are anchored in henequen.

But henequen not always was produced industrially. Since pre-Hispanic times, the plant was harvested and was manually processed; its job was considered a craft activity. Thanks to henequen, Yucatecan landowners focused on ambitious projects and placed Mérida in the modernization route in the late 19^th century.

Economic boom promoted big manors of French inspiration which can still be seen in Paseo Montejo, avenue whose first stone was placed more than 133 years ago.

The project was guided by big henequen producers and operators, but few times is told in the history that the success formula laid mostly in the knowledge and ancient practices of Indigenous Maya people, to produce and transform the fiber.

During henequen golden times, in the early 20^th century, 113,250 tons of henequen fiber, also called sisal, were produced annually. In 1916 Casares (1988), registers a production of more than 200,000 annual tons. This precious natural resource was known as “green gold”, because it was the main agricultural exportation product in the country during the 80’s decade of the 19^th century and for the next 4 decades.

Production and export of henequen was important, mainly in Yucatán, because of the great economic revenue it generated for more than one century, becoming an important economic basis for the state and the country. Most exportations were sent to the United States of America.  One of the most important routes was Sisal port in Yucatán, and up to New Orleans in the United States.

Currently, Paseo Montejo is one of the main attractions for locals, and national and international visitors. Being one of the main avenues, it has restaurants, hotels, and banks. Paseo Montejo is full of tourists taking pictures, or locals walking with their pets, or just enjoying strolls.

During the tour, near the end of Montejo, you can taste different sweet snacks, like the famous marquesitas or a champola ice-cream at Colón sherbet store, an ice-cream landmark. It was founded in 1907 by Mr. Vicente Rodríguez, who brought to Mérida the recipes of ice-creams and sweets from his native country, Spain. These ice-creams are made with water, and among the favorite flavors of people are coconut, mamey sop, sour sop, and mango. Definitely, an ice-cream landmark.

Do you still want to taste something else? Prepare, because a culinary tour awaits with the most traditional Yucatecan dishes in any of the markets, loncherías or restaurants in Mérida. You will be able to enjoy the traditional panucho, or the soft salbute filled with turkey meat, the unparalleled lime soup, or pigglet’s tacos, and cochinita.

Enjoy Mérida in snacks, while the sun sets in one of the most beautiful cities in our country. We will be waiting for you! Come soon!