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A couple of weeks after Sandy when we thought Mariane was pretty well settled we headed to Mexico. Our first stop was Merida, the capital of Yucatan State.

In the early 20th century it was a boom town. The fibers from the henequen cactus were used to make very strong rope which was prized worldwide. Great wealth was amassed, houses like this were common on the Paseo Montejo. And then nylon was invented and the town went bust.

A few of these old homes remain. Many of them were torn down for modern (and ugly) office buildings. Progress.