It’s always a great day when there is a message from Clay Aiken…even when it is just a couple of tweets!

La vida hermosa at my favorite Mexican hotel @TheVillaMerida pic.twitter.com/G66JMJi1vd

— Clay Aiken (@clayaiken) June 21, 2013

La vida hermosa = The beautiful life!   Now, don’t you wish you were there enjoying a fun vacation?

The Villa Merida is a luxury boutique hotel in Merida, the capital city of the state of  Yucatan, Mexico.  You can see the beautiful hotel at their website.

Mérida is a city of about 831,000 people (2010 census) and is a wonderful mixture of a colonial city and a cosmopolitan destination.With Mérida as your base, you can visit many interesting sites, including cathedrals and churches, Mayan archaeological sites, underground caves and beautiful nature sites.  I wonder if Clay has seen some of the following sites?

1.  The Cathedral de San Ildefonso (San Ildefonso Cathedral) is the oldest cathedral on the continent and one of the top Merida attractions. It was built between 1561 and 1598 using stones from ruined Mayan pyramids and temples. The interior is sparsely decorated and a crucifix behind the main altar symbolizes the reconciliation of the Spanish and Mayan heritage of the city.

2.  Easily the best known and well-restored of Yucatan Maya archaeological sites, Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was named one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World.” The ruins at Chichen Itza cover an area of 6.5 sq km (2.5 sq miles) and can be toured in a day.

3.  Celestun, meaning “painted stone” in Yucatec Maya, is a tranquil fishing village located west of Merida along the coast of Yucatan state. Celestun is home to secluded stretches of beautiful beachfront and palapas (thatched-roof restaurants) serving up some of the best seafood in the state. It’s the perfect destination for those looking to escape the city crowds and get back to nature. The main attraction in Celestun is the Reserva de la Biosfera Ria Celestun (Celestun Biosphere Reserve), a large coastal wetland reserve and wildlife refuge.

4.  The Lol Tun Caves are about one hour from Merida and are the largest caves on the peninsula.  They are also the ones that are the most studied. Evidence has been found here of human contact going back 7,000 years. Mammoth bones have been found in the caves, along with fresco paintings on the walls, “hands in negative”, faces, animals, grecos and decorative figures.

ACK!!!!  There is so much to see in this area…AND, if you stay at the beautiful Villa Merida Hotel, this could be a fabulous vacation.  Clay…I am very jealous!!

Have any of you been to this part of the world?  

I was in Merida and saw many of these sites, but it was sooooo long ago, I find myself wanting to go again! 

So…a bit of a vacation and I am stretching the news about Clay Aiken, BUT…I do thank Clay for tweeting Friday morning and introducing this beautiful hotel and exciting area to all of us.

As always, I will update with Clay news as soon as it is announced!