Finally, after trying for almost 2 years to get our butts out of bed and head into Merida to ride our bikes on the Paseo Montejo we finally did it! We joined our friends Mario and Ivonne and their kids on the Paseo and rode our bikes from one end of the road to the other 3 full times! Then we had to stop and have ice creams and watch everyone else riding their bikes in the heat of the day.

Lining the route were Bici-Ruta officials and police to help divert the traffic. They boys especially loved riding their bikes around the glorietas! They raced ahead of us and back again as we traveled up and down the Paseo. Ivonne, who may have a slight balance issue, opted to walk Wookie up and down the side-walk as we raced by each time. There were a lot of people out walking their dogs on the side-walk but we did not see water stations for the dogs, so please bring water for them!

I believe that our boys may have been the only people wearing helmets… An argument that it isn’t safe to ride without helmets is very difficult to have when nobody else wears them. We might have been losing this argument until Evan ran over his brother’s head last week while riding bikes on the beach. Noah had caught some soft sand and bailed instantly with his brother’s bike bouncing over his head and pedal hitting Noah’s face. All in all, very traumatic but fortunately very little damage done BECAUSE OF THE HELMET! But true to form, not five minutes after running over his brother’s head Evan was asking why we felt it necessary for them to wear helmets… Smack! Really!

The Bici-Ruta in Merida occurs every Sunday from 8am to 12pm where the city actually closes one lane of the Paseo de Montejo to traffic and allows only pedestrians, bikes, roller blades, and any other concoction of transportation to roam the streets freely. There are many places to rent bicycles if you do not have one of your own and they have many different styles for rent. Two seaters, three seaters, four seaters, kids bikes, really you name it and they probably have it for rent! I did not see any unicylces but they are probably around:)

There are many different kiosks set up along the route with activities for kids of all ages: yoga, tai chi, chess, painting, balloons, etc. This is really a great way to spend some time cruising along the Paseo with the family! There are lots of children learning how to ride so please be careful on the Bici-Ruta and be aware.

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