Location: An alleyway between Merida Cathedral and MACAY museum that connects Calle 60 and 58
As we wandered about el centro, we saw a huge archway glowing red on Calle 60. As we got closer the glowing green eastern entrance on Calle 58 drew my eye through the entire alleyway, taking it all in at once, it was beautiful. The covered space, Pasaje de la Revolución, was quite the resting spot and short cut for the citizens of Merida.
It was quite busy, large groups of people were cutting through from one street to the other and couples were resting, holding hands, talking and eye gazing on the supplied benches. A teen couple, maybe 15 or 16, sat on one side of a bench talking and smiling. Directly behind the couple sat the girl’s mother on the bench; she was on their date with them. As I stood trying to get a photo I noticed the relationship unfold. Every time the boy and girl would get too close, the mom would lean back and give her daughter the “look”, the action would cease and mom would return to her half of the bench. It was cute to see this dynamic play out.
The pasaje doubles as an art gallery and currently displays Jorge YAZPIK’s Obra en roca (Work in Rock). Several modern abstractly shaped sculptures carved from stone mimic natural formations. Dotting the alley; they alternate between bench and piece, bench and piece, the entire length as you walk through. The huge arched glass ceilings are framed with black wrought iron, creating a gorgeous piece of art. Pigeons have found shelter on the ledges and signs inside the passageway; they too enjoy the openness of the space.
As we attempted to exit the Calle 58 side, we discovered why the pasaje was so congested with large groups; there is a busy bus stop at the Calle 58 entrance/exit. There had to be at least six buses parked, people would jump off and then onto, the bus would fill to standing and leave, the next group of buses would pull in to unload and reload. We ended up exiting on Calle 60 because it was easier than battling the bus riders in their panic to get to where they needed to be.
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