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The Bronx Journal/October-November 2001
C I T I E S
O F
T H E
W O R L D
The Bronx Journal/October-November 2001
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M
erida is a beautiful city located in Venezuela. This incredibly beautiful city has snow-covered mountains
year-round, beautiful traditional architecture to its southern region, pleasant climate and a landscape which
inspires meditation. This city is surrounded by hard-working people who are mostly merchants, farmers
and students. They make Merida a great place to see and appreciate. Their artistry and crafts demonstrate
the personality of the city itself.
FACTS ABOUT MÉRIDA
Population:
Size:
Religion:
Language:
Currency:
365,000 (state)
About 600,000 (city)
2 miles
Roman Catholic
Even though beautiful and peaceful now it was not always that way. This city and state were founded by Juan Rodriguez Suarez. It was founded with no authorization
and so it was not peacefully given up. This land had been a viceroyalty of Nueva Granada until the dissolution of Gran Columbia. Because of its long history, it still contains cultural fragments of places such as Africa in regards to its music to the beats of drums and their fishing practices.
This region has a variety of different and almost contradictory scenes. It’s highest point being Bolivar Peak and its lowest being Maracaibo Lake. It also has more than
twelve impetuous rivers that run through the state and quiet waters of placid lagoons, which also contrasts itself. This landscape is actually made up of two Sierras which
make-up Merida Cordilla their names are Sierra Culata and Sierra Nevada which run parallel to each other and form this city. In Merida the most beautiful and largest
lagoons is actually located in the Northern paramo called Laguna de Macubaji.
The artisans and craftsmen of this city are all around. Wherever one looks, they are hard at work whether with raw wool fabrics, anime figures, rustic furniture and some
gold and silver work in the North or with woodcarving, stone cutting and engraving and weaving in wool or bulrush fiber in the South. These different ways of making
their specialty crafts demonstrate their different resources and the diversity in which they use them.
Besides the beautiful landscape, the gifted artisans and craftsman, the smiling and friendly residents of Merida, and its peaceful meditation inspiring nature there also is a
festive side to Merida. All year Merida has festivals celebrating holidays and seasons. There is a particular festival they refer to as ano viejo at the end of the year which
they burn a rag figure representing the year gone by and its burning symbolizes sending the evil away and receiving the new year with good wishes. Another festival which
might seem less superstitious is Merida’s Sunfair which is held in the second and third weeks of February. This fair invites everyone to join in on Merida’s spirit and vitality. People from different nations and all over the country come to enjoy the festivities. There are bullfights, expositions of handcrafts, clothing and other products, delicious restaurants and great music to dance to all night. It is four days of fun-filed days and nights of celebration and shows.
With all Merida possesses such as natural beauty and great history it would be a great place to visit or live. It is one of the great cities of the world.
Spanish
Bolívar (About 550 per dollar)
Reproduced with permission from:www.andes.net/english
www.venezuelatuya.com/andes/eng.htm
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