Fast Facts

American Express -- The office is at Paseo de Montejo 492 (tel. 999/942-8200). It's open for travelers' services weekdays from 9am to 2pm and 4 to 6pm.

Area Code -- The telephone area code is 999.

Bookstore -- The English-language bookstore Amate Books (tel. 999/924-2222) is at Calle 60 453-A, by Calle 51. It stocks a large selection of books on many subjects and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:30am to 8:30pm. The Librería Dante, Calle 59 between calles 60 and 62 (tel. 999/928-3674), has a small selection of English-language cultural-history books on Mexico.

Business Hours -- Generally, businesses are open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 2pm and 4 to 8pm.

Climate -- From November to February, the weather can be pleasantly cool and windy. In other months, it's just hot, especially during the day. Rain can occur any time of year, especially during the rainy season (July-Oct), and usually comes in the form of afternoon tropical showers.

Consulates -- The American Consulate has moved. It's now at Calle 60 no. 338-K, 1 block north of the Hyatt hotel (Col. Alcalá Martín). The phone number is tel. 999/942-5700. Office hours are Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm.

Currency Exchange -- I prefer casas de cambio (currency exchange offices) over banks. There are many of these; one called Cambios Portales, Calle 61 no. 500 (tel. 999/923-8709), is on the north side of the main plaza in the middle of the block. It's open daily from 8:30am to 8:30pm. There are also many ATMs; one is on the south side of the same plaza.

Drugstore -- Farmacía Yza, Calle 63 no. 502, between calles 60 and 62 (tel. 999/924-9510), on the south side of the plaza, is open 24 hours.

Hospitals -- The best hospital is Centro Médico de las Américas, Calle 54 no. 365 between 33-A and Avenida Pérez Ponce. The main phone number is tel. 999/926-2619; for emergencies, call tel. 999/927-3199. You can also call the Cruz Roja (Red Cross) at tel. 999/924-9813.

Internet Access -- There are so many Internet access providers in town that you hardly have to walk more than a couple of blocks to find one.

Police -- Mérida has a special body of police to assist tourists. They patrol the downtown area and the Paseo de Montejo. They wear white shirts bearing the words POLICIA TURISTICA. Their phone number is tel. 999/925-2555.

Post Office -- The correo moved recently. It's now on calle 53 between calles 52 and 54. It's open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4:30pm, Saturday from 9am to 1pm.

Seasons -- There are two high seasons for tourism, but they aren't as pronounced as on the coast. One is in July and August, when Mexicans take their vacations, and the other is between November 15 and Easter Sunday, when Canadians and Americans flock to the Yucatán to escape winter weather.

Spanish Classes -- Maya scholars, Spanish teachers, and archaeologists from the United States are among the students at the Centro de Idiomas del Sureste, Calle 14 no. 106 at Calle 25, Col. México, 97000 Mérida, Yuc. (tel. 999/926-1155; fax 999/926-9020). The school has two locations: in the Colonia México, a northern residential district, and on Calle 66 at Calle 57, downtown. Students live with local families or in hotels; sessions running 2 weeks or longer are available for all levels of proficiency and areas of interest. For brochures and applications, contact the director, Chloe Conaway de Pacheco.

Telephones -- There are long-distance phone service centers at the airport and the bus station. In the downtown area is TelWorld, Calle 59 no. 495-4 between calles 56 and 58. To use the public phones, buy a Ladatel card from just about any newsstand or store. The cards come in a variety of denominations and work for long distance within Mexico and even abroad.