Merida English Library House and Garden Tours

Have you always wondered what is behind those mysterious façades in Mérida? Here is your chance to find out! Every Wednesday morning, from October through March, you can join the Mérida English Library House and Garden Tours. Yucatan Today’s co-founder Judy Abbott de Mier y Terán began this series of tours in 1999 as a benefit for the Mérida English Language Library. Since 2004, Keith Heitke, a realtor with Mexico International Real Estate and restoration designer with Worldstudio International, has been the organizer and leader of the tours. He has immense knowledge about the city and its architecture, and is happy to share what he knows with you.

Upon arrival at the Library, you will be directed to the patio out back where you can mingle with others who share your curiosity. Keith begins the tour with a 30-minute overview, so that your experience will be more worthwhile. He starts by describing the city layout, to give you a point of orientation. In Centro, the long city blocks look like giant concrete bricks, but that is far from the case! Yes, the façades are all concrete walls, but in the center of every square block everything is green; after all, before the city was founded, this region was all jungle.

Keith describes the way of life during Mérida’s colonial era, and you will learn why the fanciest houses were built on the busiest streets. You will be fascinated to learn about the daily lives of the gentry living behind those blank walls, and why the houses were built side by side. Where the homeowners kept their horses and carriages, why they have double doors at the entry ways, and why every house has ironwork on the windows…all these mysteries will be revealed! The wealthy homeowners mainly lived inside; did they ever venture out? And who did the cooking and where were the bathrooms? Most importantly, with no electricity, how did they survive without air conditioning!!!

Next in the introduction to your tour comes a description and history of the architecture here: why the French pasta and Marseille tiles, and Belgian railroad tracks, ended up on Yucatán beaches, and how they made their way into the floors and ceilings of Mérida homes.

The tour itself, which visits 3 houses within walking distance of each other, lasts about 90 minutes, which gives you enough time to wander around each house. These original homes include a range of architectural styles and finishing techniques; some are in the midst of restoration and others are immaculately renovated. No two houses are alike, and Keith tries to vary the homes from week to week for those who do the tour more than once. The owners are present to welcome you into their homes and to answer any questions.

If Mérida has captivated you as it does so many, there is no better way to find out why, than by taking this tour, which is also a fundraiser for the volunteer-driven Library. Wednesdays from October through March, 9.45 am, Merida English Language Library, Calle 53 No. 524 x 66 y 68, Centro. 200 pesos.

Click here to see some Mérida house tours, hosted by Keith Heitke.