Merida in the heart of summer must be the hottest place on earth. It is in a place and time like this that you realize what the idea of siesta is about. In the early afternoon, any attempt at productively is futile. Because air conditioning is basically non-existent, the design of the buildings must use ulterior methods of cooling. The city is very densely built and the streets can be very narrow. Once inside a building, everything opens up, with most containing open courtyards open to breezes while minimizing the direct sun but providing natural light. In the city center houses are designed with all rooms surrounding a main outdoor courtyard. From the street they appear to be fortresses. It is hard to believe they are so open and have this symbiotic relationship with the environment. They are the combination of the necessities of security and environmental comfort. The history is very prevalent. Spanish colonial influence is strong and is mixed with the indigenous Mayen styles as well as newer more western. It hard to put a real spin on this place. The main thing that is evident is the clash of cultures. In appearance it is very European, but it isn't, The city is distinctly Mexico and Mayan. I guess the most intriguing thing about the city in general is that it doesn't attempt to put a spin on itself. The portrayal of an image is not important. The city exists and evolves with its history just as remnants and reminders of the path it once traveled. Merida is a timeless place, It probably hasn't changed much in the past 50 years. The people live in a different time, from an ancient culture forced into a new existence. This point is even more evident as you leave the city and enter into more tribal areas and towns. The ancient ruins of Chichen Itza and Uxmal offer much insight. They are unbelievable, A must see. They left me with a true respect for the indigenous people. As far as architecture, I would say Merida offers good insight as to how it is possible to design in a tropical climate without relying completely on AC. Culturally it appears my ramblings don't make sense, but to me it is one of those places where things aren't clear cut, but a little ambiguous and mysterious. That makes it all the more intriguing.