Mexico - Winter 23/24 : 2023-12-23 : Modern art and Pok ta Pok in Merida

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Tip
Type Name Description Service Provider Cost Notes Actions
General Info Experience Pok Ta Pok: Representation of the Mayan Ball Game Experience Pok Ta Pok: Representation of the Mayan Ball Game $0.00 The tradition of this ancient Mayan sport is kept alive during this weekly event that unfolds in front of the Cathedral. Each Wednesday, watch the players battle it out while traditional live music accompanies the spectacle. Although this game is played as a re-creation for demonstrative purposes, the players are very much into the game with a high level of competitive spirit.

Players of Pok Ta Pok slide onto Merida’s cobblestone street in an attempt to score by hitting the ball with their hips into the post. Once you witness the sport in action, the game will make more sense. The way they slide so hard onto the ground, it’s a miracle each player doesn’t leave the ball court scraped and bloody.

Scoring is actually quite rare. Doing so is extremely difficult, particularly during this abridged 30-minute version of this game. So if someone does manage to complete a goal, consider yourself lucky (we’ve never seen it), and be sure to cheer loudly!

The Pok Ta Pok event in Merida is a free event that has returned to its weekly Saturday match at 8:00 pm in 2023. But we strongly suggest arriving earlier than 8:00 pm. Seats do fill up and may not be available for late arrivals.
Accommodation
Type Name Service Provider Confirmation Location Cost Notes Actions
Bed and Breakfast Casa Carmita AirBnB Merida $1088.79 Free cancellation before 15:00 on Dec 10
Check-In: 15:00, Check-Out: 12:00. Leave keys on bureau or put them on room door
Entry instructions and WiFi on AirBnB 24 hours before stay
Guest favorite, Superhost, Room plus private bathroom in home with shared spaces.
Luggage drop-off allowed. Pets allowed.


Trip Log

Notes Actions
Today our main goal was to stock up on some groceries in case it’s hard for us to find stores and restaurants that are open for the next couple of days. Once that was achieved we thought we would try to go out to Dzibilchultín but that didn’t work out. It’s a tough place to get to without a car or a private tour and the busses just didn’t work out so we’ll try again tomorrow.

After giving up on Dzibilchultín, we visited a couple of museums here in Mérida. We went back to Museo de la ciudad de Mérida to see the stuff we missed when I was sick the other day, then we went to the modern art museum in the Ateneo Penínsular, which is attached to the Catedral de San Ildefonso by a really cool… ummmm… hallway. We have to admit, most of the modern art had us scratching our heads.
Last week we missed the Pok ta Pok show because I was sick. We got to see it tonight and it was great.

Pok ta Pok is a Mesoamerican ball game where they use a solid rubber ball and use their hips to volley it and score by putting the ball through a ring.

After the game demonstration they set their ball on fire and tossed it around for a bit. If I had to guess I would think that is not authentic - setting it on fire was probably done for dramatic effect??

Historically, a Pok ta Pok game could take two days before even one goal was made, and after the game, they would sacrifice the captain of the losing team. Yikes. You’d better be serious about your Pok ta Pok!!

See a video taken in Mérida (not my video): https://youtu.be/_cWebjBtUIw


Photos

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