13. the Yucatan Country Club

For the next few days we make Merida our base. Or more specifically, the Yucatan Country Club, a fabulous development with bungalows and apartments between Progreso and Merida. Friends of ours that we know from long ago had recently bought one of those fabulous apartments, and invited us – no, had insisted, that we stay with them. Who are we to refuse? So we enjoyed the most comfortable accommodation so far, including home cooked food, exquisite Mexican wines, and great company with lots of valuable local knowledge. This is the icing on the cake, when travelling.

The complex has several swimming pools, Jacuzzis, a gym – not for me, of course, but still. And it has a great golf-course, the 18 holes Jaguar course, past three cenotes and, apparently, including Maya ruins. And with fairways that look like the greens we have at home! Unfortunately, members and the guests of members only, and as we haven’t convinced our friends yet to become a member, the course stayed out of bounds for us, except for a little, illegal stroll out of sight of the nervous guards.

On our last day, a Sunday afternoon, we have a late lunch in the clubhouse, a rather upmarket affair, for the Mexican elite, no doubt. I am not sure everybody here is a keen golfer, many are probably only a member to be seen. At this time of the day, the restaurant is reasonably full, but the club house is abandoned, and there are very few golfers on the course. Such a pity, a great golf facility almost unused, and that for the Sunday. And we are not allowed to play!