Mérida is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Yucatán and the Yucatan Peninsula. Founded in 1542, it is a cultural and financial center of the region, as well as a time capsule containing rich history of both the indigenous Maya and Spanish colonial times. During late 19th and early 20th centuries, Mérida briefly became one of the wealthiest cities in the world, as the entire Yucatan region experienced great prosperity from production of henequén cactus. Henequén was cultivated in plantations throughout the area and brought to the Merida market for sale and distribution all over the world. Today the use of henequén is outdated, but the market of Mérida remains a bustling, dense conglomerate of stalls and products of every imaginable kind. Here are my images of the market as I saw it – a sprawling labyrinth of people, merchandise and their associated smells.
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