I arrived back home last night around 9:30, with excited puppies eager to see me! I'm glad to have the traveling part of my adventure over, but I'm already missing Mexico. Let's just say that Iowa is COLD! It's going to take a while to get used to the cold, and I can't wait for the warm weather of summer.
It's very interesting to see what's happening in the US media with Mexico and the Swine Flu. I haven't seen a news program since January, so that alone has been a change. It's different to see it than to read it online. You can hear and see the concern and emotion, while reading it just leaves you with the facts.
It's also fascinating how quickly things are changing. Yesterday, while I was traveling, the CDC raised the alert level to 5. However, in the airport in customs, we were never asked if we were sick, and nobody seemed concerned about a plane that came from Mexico. It was anticlimactic, but I was happy with that. The less stress in travel, the happier I am!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Good Bye Mexico
This morning Central College canceled the Merida, Mexico program. I fly out of Mexico tomorrow morning at 9am.
I never expected my study abroad experience to end like this, and it's hard to take in. Everyone in the house is having a hard time accepting the fact that in 24 hours (for most of us) we'll be back in the US. Yesterday we had 2 weeks left to enjoy Mexico, shop around, and accomplish those last few things we wanted to do...and now we're packed and verifying flights and preparing for our last night in Mexico.
I'm upset, even though I'm relieved to be heading home. I just feel like I haven't had time to say good bye to Mexico. I suppose I'll just have to come back someday!
I never expected my study abroad experience to end like this, and it's hard to take in. Everyone in the house is having a hard time accepting the fact that in 24 hours (for most of us) we'll be back in the US. Yesterday we had 2 weeks left to enjoy Mexico, shop around, and accomplish those last few things we wanted to do...and now we're packed and verifying flights and preparing for our last night in Mexico.
I'm upset, even though I'm relieved to be heading home. I just feel like I haven't had time to say good bye to Mexico. I suppose I'll just have to come back someday!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Plans They Are A-Changin'
Well, due to the current events related to the swine flu, I'm headed home earlier than expected. Tomorrow I'm headed downtown tomorrow to change my flight at the Continental office, and I'll either be leaving Wednesday or Thursday morning.
It's purely a preventative measure to leave early. Our classes are basically over, so it's feasible and easy to leave a week and a half early. Other than not having a chance to say good-bye to Mexico, it doesn't change many plans.
I'll update when I know more details!
It's purely a preventative measure to leave early. Our classes are basically over, so it's feasible and easy to leave a week and a half early. Other than not having a chance to say good-bye to Mexico, it doesn't change many plans.
I'll update when I know more details!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
From Henequen to String in Photos
A glimpse into how a plant becomes string
Henequen leaves waiting to be defibered.
Men prepping the leaves to go into the defibering machine.
A man gathering the fibers. It's a messy job- check out the green goo on the floor!
Since my blog page won't let me write in between the last few pictures, here is what you're looking at: The fibers have to be dried in the sun before they are made into rope. Then they are fed into big machines which spin really fast and make the string, which you see directly above!2 Haciendas
It has been an interesting last few days! On Friday we took our last group excursion (Sad!) to 2 haciendas outside of Merida. They were pretty neat! Haciendas were forced by the Spanish government to given land control to the Spanish who were in Nueva Espana (soon to be Mexico) at that time. The systems of haciendas was officially ended with the Constitution of 1857. However, some are still operating, but they don't treat their workers as forced laborers or slaves anymore.
The first hacienda we stopped at grew and harvested Hennequin, a plant that looks like a really big aloe vera plant. From that, the hacienda processes it and takes the fibers from the leaf-things. This fiber, sisel fiber, is made into rope or string. The hacienda started with plants of Hennequin and ended up with string-the whole process was done at the hacienda. It was pretty neat to watch! And when they are deriving the fiber from the Hennequin, it smelled like sweet corn being shucked. Yum! I could've stood there for a while just smelling it, but we moved on.
The second hacienda was absolutely beautiful! The whole lawn was green and lush, which is REALLY rare in the Yucatan during this time of the year. We saw grass! Amazing! And there were all sorts of beautiful flowers, trees, and other plants. This hacienda raised horses, and really nice horses at that. One of them actually ran in the Kentucky Derby. It was a really pretty horse! The owners even had a bullring in the backyard. They had to have been loaded!
It was a nice last trip, calm and quick. But knowing it was the last trip was sad because my time here in Mexico is almost over. I'm happy and sad at the same time. I want to go home and see my friends and family, but I know I'll miss Mexico.
The first hacienda we stopped at grew and harvested Hennequin, a plant that looks like a really big aloe vera plant. From that, the hacienda processes it and takes the fibers from the leaf-things. This fiber, sisel fiber, is made into rope or string. The hacienda started with plants of Hennequin and ended up with string-the whole process was done at the hacienda. It was pretty neat to watch! And when they are deriving the fiber from the Hennequin, it smelled like sweet corn being shucked. Yum! I could've stood there for a while just smelling it, but we moved on.
The second hacienda was absolutely beautiful! The whole lawn was green and lush, which is REALLY rare in the Yucatan during this time of the year. We saw grass! Amazing! And there were all sorts of beautiful flowers, trees, and other plants. This hacienda raised horses, and really nice horses at that. One of them actually ran in the Kentucky Derby. It was a really pretty horse! The owners even had a bullring in the backyard. They had to have been loaded!
It was a nice last trip, calm and quick. But knowing it was the last trip was sad because my time here in Mexico is almost over. I'm happy and sad at the same time. I want to go home and see my friends and family, but I know I'll miss Mexico.
Friday, April 24, 2009
San Cristobal Photos
One of the pedestrian streets in San Cristobal. They made walking around the town very easy!
The courtyard outside one of the beautiful churches in town.
Two women sitting outside the church.
Another pedestrian street full of locals.
Two women looking through their goods. They walk around town, especially the main square, and sell lots of things. As you can see, they carry their kids around in a sling on their backs.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Misol Ha and Agua Azul Pictures
This was the beautiful waterfall at Misol Ha.
There was a path that lead behind the waterfall, which is where this picture was taken.
Part of the waterfall at Agua Azul. This is near the bottom of the waterfall.
More of Agua Azul.
The picture from near the top of Agua Azul. This shows how big the fall really was. The first picture I took was way down there, hardly visible. It was a long walk to get up here, but so worth it!
San Juan Chamula
On Saturday morning, we left San Cristobal de las Casas (I was sad because I have fallen in love with the city). We headed up a mountain, fog surrounding the van, to 2 smaller towns. The first stop was San Juan Chamula. It had a population of about 40,000 people, but it truly felt smaller than Pella. The downtown area was packed full because it was Sunday market time, which is the biggest market of the week. We had a little problem getting through the crowds because everyone seemed to know what they were doing, and where they were going- except us!
We wanted to check out the church, which was amazing. It was a colonial era Catholic cathedral. However, because the people are Mayan, they mix ancient Mayan beliefs and traditions with the Catholic faith. We walked inside the church to find the floor covered in pine needles- it made it slippery so I had to be careful! People were seated all over the floor (there were no pews). They were lighting small candles and setting them in rows all over the floor, then letting them burn down into piles of wax. They also had bottles of coke or other pop alongside them. Part of their belief involves burping, so they drink pop to make themselves burp a lot. I would fit in quite well here! :)
We wandered slowly and quietly to the front of the church, where more people were little candles. Apparently they were sacrificing chickens, or preparing too, but I didn't see this- thankfully.
On our way out of the church, near the back, several women with babies were gathered. They were dressing their babies in white clothes. They were preparing to baptize their children, we think. A priest or someone was wandering around, watching the children, so we assume that the baptism was happening soon. We left quickly because another large tourist group was coming in.
We weren't allowed to take pictures in the town of San Juan Chamula. In previous years, people's cameras have been taken away, not to be given back, if they took pictures anywhere in town. So we didn't risk it. However, other tourists were, but the townfolks didn't look too happy about it.
We had about an hour to explore the town, so Caleb and I set off to find some nice souvenirs for people. I found some nice souvenirs for a good price, which always makes me happy! Then we headed back up the big hill to get to the van. There were lots of little kids hanging around the van, ready to sell us stuff. That nearly breaks my heart to see young kids selling goods on the street. But man they are good sellers! It's pretty hard to refuse them.
We wanted to check out the church, which was amazing. It was a colonial era Catholic cathedral. However, because the people are Mayan, they mix ancient Mayan beliefs and traditions with the Catholic faith. We walked inside the church to find the floor covered in pine needles- it made it slippery so I had to be careful! People were seated all over the floor (there were no pews). They were lighting small candles and setting them in rows all over the floor, then letting them burn down into piles of wax. They also had bottles of coke or other pop alongside them. Part of their belief involves burping, so they drink pop to make themselves burp a lot. I would fit in quite well here! :)
We wandered slowly and quietly to the front of the church, where more people were little candles. Apparently they were sacrificing chickens, or preparing too, but I didn't see this- thankfully.
On our way out of the church, near the back, several women with babies were gathered. They were dressing their babies in white clothes. They were preparing to baptize their children, we think. A priest or someone was wandering around, watching the children, so we assume that the baptism was happening soon. We left quickly because another large tourist group was coming in.
We weren't allowed to take pictures in the town of San Juan Chamula. In previous years, people's cameras have been taken away, not to be given back, if they took pictures anywhere in town. So we didn't risk it. However, other tourists were, but the townfolks didn't look too happy about it.
We had about an hour to explore the town, so Caleb and I set off to find some nice souvenirs for people. I found some nice souvenirs for a good price, which always makes me happy! Then we headed back up the big hill to get to the van. There were lots of little kids hanging around the van, ready to sell us stuff. That nearly breaks my heart to see young kids selling goods on the street. But man they are good sellers! It's pretty hard to refuse them.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Palenque Pictures
The waterfall inside the site of Palenque. It was pretty small compared to some of the waterfalls we saw, but still peaceful and pretty!
A view of the main city of Palenque from atop the huge Temple of the Crosses. Awesome view!
Great scenery from the Temple of the Crosses.
A saw this dark stairway leading into the dark unknown in a small, forgotten temple at the top of a hill. So I decided I would go inside. Luckily there were no body snatchers or jaguars inside! there were no lights either...creepy...
The enormous Temple of the Inscriptions, where Pakal's tomb is located...and the even more enormous mountain behind!
San Cristobal de Las Casas
Our next stop on the Chiapas trip was the town of San Cristobal de las Casas- pretty neat name if you ask me. The town had a population of about 60,000, but it really had the feel of a small town. The Maya culture was VERY strong. In fact, we heard very little Spanish being spoken. Amongst themselves, the natives spoke Mayan. I had no prayer of understanding! Spanish and Maya aren't remotely close to being the same language. Luckily, most people spoke Spanish, even if they weren't perfect or fluent.
San Cristobal is surrounded by mountains, and the outskirts of town start to climb upwards! :) I didn't walk to the edge of town because I didn't really want to climb huge hills. I was content to strolled around and check out the downtown.
The town has 3 main markets, 2 artisan markets and one outdoor food market. My oh my were they fascinating! Robin and I first checked out the outdoor artisan market. Lots of clothes, toys, fabrics, shawls, scarves, souvenirs, etc could be found. Much of the stuff is woven in beautiful and intricate patterns. After checking that out, we headed to the Market of Sweets and Artisans. It was inside, and very nice. I bought a nice woven pancho-sweater thing for 60 pesos, which is like $4.50. Caleb bought one on the coast earlier in the semester for 250 pesos! Needless to say he wasn't so happy when we heard the price of mine! The sweater came in handy because San Cristobal gets chilly at night and in the morning, and a sweater was necessary! Gotta love the cool weather!
Finally, Robin and I headed to the food market. It was amazing. I felt absolutely ignorant when I couldn't identify 1/2 the fruits and veggies available! Inside could be found all sorts of things! Fruits, veggies, flowers, chickens (chopped up and live), and any other food you could imagine. Near one of the entrances were a bunch of chickens, alive and clucking, with feet tied up with ribbon- so they couldn't run away of course. And when someone bought one they would just sling it over their forearm and keep walking through the market, live chicken hanging at the side. Way different from Walmart and Hy-Vee. I bought some little finger bananas, which were delicious! They were only a few inches long and had an apple-banana flavor. Yummy! I want more now, but I'm not sure how available they are in Merida. I may have to check that out...
San Cristobal is surrounded by mountains, and the outskirts of town start to climb upwards! :) I didn't walk to the edge of town because I didn't really want to climb huge hills. I was content to strolled around and check out the downtown.
The town has 3 main markets, 2 artisan markets and one outdoor food market. My oh my were they fascinating! Robin and I first checked out the outdoor artisan market. Lots of clothes, toys, fabrics, shawls, scarves, souvenirs, etc could be found. Much of the stuff is woven in beautiful and intricate patterns. After checking that out, we headed to the Market of Sweets and Artisans. It was inside, and very nice. I bought a nice woven pancho-sweater thing for 60 pesos, which is like $4.50. Caleb bought one on the coast earlier in the semester for 250 pesos! Needless to say he wasn't so happy when we heard the price of mine! The sweater came in handy because San Cristobal gets chilly at night and in the morning, and a sweater was necessary! Gotta love the cool weather!
Finally, Robin and I headed to the food market. It was amazing. I felt absolutely ignorant when I couldn't identify 1/2 the fruits and veggies available! Inside could be found all sorts of things! Fruits, veggies, flowers, chickens (chopped up and live), and any other food you could imagine. Near one of the entrances were a bunch of chickens, alive and clucking, with feet tied up with ribbon- so they couldn't run away of course. And when someone bought one they would just sling it over their forearm and keep walking through the market, live chicken hanging at the side. Way different from Walmart and Hy-Vee. I bought some little finger bananas, which were delicious! They were only a few inches long and had an apple-banana flavor. Yummy! I want more now, but I'm not sure how available they are in Merida. I may have to check that out...
Palenque
The first stop on the Chiapas trip was the archeological site Palenque. After 7 hours of riding on a bumpy bus, we stumbled out of the van into Palenque. It was a very beautiful place! The ruins are nestled in a valley at the start of the mountains, surrounded by lush, beautiful forest. The ruins were very unique. Part of this is likely due to the isolation and inaccesibility because it is in the mountains. And it's quite a ways away from the Puuc region near Merida!
Some of the temples and buildings had tunnels inside, which is pretty rare for Mayan architecture. Most temples, etc are facades surrounding large piles of rubble- basically. So internal rooms and tunnels just aren't found in the ancient Maya world. I had fun exploring around inside the Temple of the Inscriptions, where Ahua Pakal's tomb is. We couldn't go to his tomb, but we saw one which is thought to be his wife's tomb.
It was quite hot outside, and because of the terrain there were lots of steps to climb. We found some nice shadey areas and rested for a while. We had plenty of time at the site, so we could sit and people watch, or iguana watch, as the case was. We climbed the HUGE Temple of the Crosses, and definitely had to rest after that. It as several stories worth of oversized, rough steps-with no railings! But the view was spectacular!
We wandered around a lot of the site of Palenque, and even saw a pretty little waterfall. Cole and I checked out the museum, which was really nice. Then we all headed for the hotel down the road for a relaxing night. We were all hot and tuckered out, so the air-conditioned rooms were a welcome relief!
Some of the temples and buildings had tunnels inside, which is pretty rare for Mayan architecture. Most temples, etc are facades surrounding large piles of rubble- basically. So internal rooms and tunnels just aren't found in the ancient Maya world. I had fun exploring around inside the Temple of the Inscriptions, where Ahua Pakal's tomb is. We couldn't go to his tomb, but we saw one which is thought to be his wife's tomb.
It was quite hot outside, and because of the terrain there were lots of steps to climb. We found some nice shadey areas and rested for a while. We had plenty of time at the site, so we could sit and people watch, or iguana watch, as the case was. We climbed the HUGE Temple of the Crosses, and definitely had to rest after that. It as several stories worth of oversized, rough steps-with no railings! But the view was spectacular!
We wandered around a lot of the site of Palenque, and even saw a pretty little waterfall. Cole and I checked out the museum, which was really nice. Then we all headed for the hotel down the road for a relaxing night. We were all hot and tuckered out, so the air-conditioned rooms were a welcome relief!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Wanna be Chiapaneco
I'm back from the beautiful state of Chiapas, and I want to go back already! Like the title of this entry says, I want to be a citizen of Chiapas, a Chiapaneco. I forgot how beautiful the mountains are. It's definitely a lot different than the Yucatan. Gone was the hard, dry fields of bushes and stubby trees. Chiapas is full of lush forest, complete with banana trees and conifers. And odd combination, but it makes for a wonderful views.
The weather in Chiapas is quite different from Merida. We had a few days of cool, crisp weather, like Iowa in fall. The mornings and evenings definitely required a warm sweater, but during the day it was hot enough for short sleeves and shorts. It was a very nice change to see fog and shiver in Mexico!
I'll write more about what we did in Chiapas, but the 8 hour van ride from Palenque today just made me tired, even though I slept through most of it. Hasta luego!
The weather in Chiapas is quite different from Merida. We had a few days of cool, crisp weather, like Iowa in fall. The mornings and evenings definitely required a warm sweater, but during the day it was hot enough for short sleeves and shorts. It was a very nice change to see fog and shiver in Mexico!
I'll write more about what we did in Chiapas, but the 8 hour van ride from Palenque today just made me tired, even though I slept through most of it. Hasta luego!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Off to Chiapas!
The long-awaited Chiapas trip is finally upon us! We leave from Casa Central tomorrow at 5am, for an 8-9 hour drive to Palenque. Although the traveling won't exactly be fun, we're all pretty excited to go on this trip. In past groups it has been the best excursion by far!
Chiapas is the southern most state of Mexico. It's pretty high up though, in the mountain area. Within a day we'll be rising about 9,000 feet in altitude, from sea level to the mountains. We're really hoping nobody gets altitude sickness!
We're all looking forward to beautiful sites, cooler weather, and different culture that's found in Chiapas. Chiapas is a very indigenous state, with a large Maya population. It's also home to the Zapatista movement, which was a strong movement in the 1990s and early 2000s. Recently the Zapatistas haven't been credited with much activity, but they're still a strong organization- one which fights against the Mexican government for the rights of indigenous people. Don't worry- I'm not in any danger! We're actually going into a Zapatista community, so it's safe to be there.
Other than the Zapatistas, we have the chance to see some beautiful waterfalls and other scenery. I'm not 100% sure what to expect, but I'm excited! Adios for 5 days! I'll be away from the computer, so don't look for updates for awhile.
Chiapas is the southern most state of Mexico. It's pretty high up though, in the mountain area. Within a day we'll be rising about 9,000 feet in altitude, from sea level to the mountains. We're really hoping nobody gets altitude sickness!
We're all looking forward to beautiful sites, cooler weather, and different culture that's found in Chiapas. Chiapas is a very indigenous state, with a large Maya population. It's also home to the Zapatista movement, which was a strong movement in the 1990s and early 2000s. Recently the Zapatistas haven't been credited with much activity, but they're still a strong organization- one which fights against the Mexican government for the rights of indigenous people. Don't worry- I'm not in any danger! We're actually going into a Zapatista community, so it's safe to be there.
Other than the Zapatistas, we have the chance to see some beautiful waterfalls and other scenery. I'm not 100% sure what to expect, but I'm excited! Adios for 5 days! I'll be away from the computer, so don't look for updates for awhile.
Monday, April 13, 2009
A Peaceful Week
The past week has been a week of vacation, which I always love! I spent it just working on things in the Central House and doing stuff around the city of Merida. It was really nice not to have to worry about traveling. During Semana Santa, many of the people here take vacation and head to the coast for the week. I could notice the difference in the city! There was a lot less traffic, fewer people were around, smaller businesses and schools were closed, restaurants were nearly empty, etc. It was a very calm and peaceful time to be in Merida. I'll miss the quietness- now the traffic has picked back up outside the house, and it seems like the city is returning to normal. However, some schools and places are still closed for Semana Pascua- Easter Week. Unfortunately, we still have class. :( But on Thursday morning ta 5am (!) we're leaving on a five day field trip to the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. So it's a short week for us, and we definitely have something to look forward to!
I'll have to write more about Easter and our wonderful Easter dinner later. I have to go prepare for Civ class now though. :(
I'll have to write more about Easter and our wonderful Easter dinner later. I have to go prepare for Civ class now though. :(
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Thinking About Back Home
I have about a month left in Merida, and I've had some mixed feelings. I can't wait to go home and see all my friends and family, but I just don't want to leave Merida. I love living here- in a big city, in Mexico, surrounded by vibrant life and culture. I can't wait to go but never want to leave.
But I have been thinking about some of the things I miss most, and what I plan to do when I get home. Here goes:
1. In the Houston airport I'm finding Cherry Pepsi or Coke. Oddly enough, I really miss it. I haven't found it at all anywhere in Mexico, not even in the touristy areas. I'm looking forward to enjoying a nice cool cherry Pepsi, as crazy as that may sound.
2. Pet my puppies! I always miss my dogs when I'm away from home for a while, and 3 1/2 months is a very long time to go without a little dog laying on your lap. We're going to have some quality time when I get home.
3. Drive. Although I love public transportation, I'm looking forward to being able to go where I want, when I want, without a creepy bus story. :) Watch out though, people here drive FAST, and I may just be used to that.
4. Watch some Gilmore Girls. To do this one right I have to wait until I visit my sister. We'll get french fries and cherry coke and have a Gilmore Girl marathon into the wee hours of the morning!
5. Eat at a Mexican restaurant. Yes, I know I've spent 3 1/2 months eating Mexican food, but I've been craving some good ole TexMex, which is completely different from Yucatecan food. And I can confuse someone when I accidentally start speaking Spanish.
6. Ride my bike. I love my bike, and I obviously don't have many chances to ride here. A nice ride through the park in Otown sounds peaceful.
7. Have a Mommy-Daughter day! I can't wait to spend some time shopping or something with my Mom. We've been deprived of our Mom-Daughter time together, and we're going to have to make it up.
8. Eat the ultimate All-American Daugherty style meal: Roast beef, mashed potatoes and brown gravy, green bean casserole, scalloped corn, and hot rolls, with something nice and chocolately for dessert. Yum!
9. Visit my Central friends- I've gotta do this before they all leave for the summer. FYI I'll be up there on the 12th of May aka first day of finals! :)
10. Hang my hammock and take a siesta. This may prove to be tricky, but I'm bound and determined to figure out where and how I can hang my hammock. How else can I take naps?
Finalmente: 11. Hug all my friends!! I miss you all!
I love Merida, but after 3 months, I'm really missing some stuff from home. There's a lot more things that I'm looking forward to doing, but this is the short list. I know when it's time to head home, I may not want to leave Merida. But for now I'll look forward to doing these things!
But I have been thinking about some of the things I miss most, and what I plan to do when I get home. Here goes:
1. In the Houston airport I'm finding Cherry Pepsi or Coke. Oddly enough, I really miss it. I haven't found it at all anywhere in Mexico, not even in the touristy areas. I'm looking forward to enjoying a nice cool cherry Pepsi, as crazy as that may sound.
2. Pet my puppies! I always miss my dogs when I'm away from home for a while, and 3 1/2 months is a very long time to go without a little dog laying on your lap. We're going to have some quality time when I get home.
3. Drive. Although I love public transportation, I'm looking forward to being able to go where I want, when I want, without a creepy bus story. :) Watch out though, people here drive FAST, and I may just be used to that.
4. Watch some Gilmore Girls. To do this one right I have to wait until I visit my sister. We'll get french fries and cherry coke and have a Gilmore Girl marathon into the wee hours of the morning!
5. Eat at a Mexican restaurant. Yes, I know I've spent 3 1/2 months eating Mexican food, but I've been craving some good ole TexMex, which is completely different from Yucatecan food. And I can confuse someone when I accidentally start speaking Spanish.
6. Ride my bike. I love my bike, and I obviously don't have many chances to ride here. A nice ride through the park in Otown sounds peaceful.
7. Have a Mommy-Daughter day! I can't wait to spend some time shopping or something with my Mom. We've been deprived of our Mom-Daughter time together, and we're going to have to make it up.
8. Eat the ultimate All-American Daugherty style meal: Roast beef, mashed potatoes and brown gravy, green bean casserole, scalloped corn, and hot rolls, with something nice and chocolately for dessert. Yum!
9. Visit my Central friends- I've gotta do this before they all leave for the summer. FYI I'll be up there on the 12th of May aka first day of finals! :)
10. Hang my hammock and take a siesta. This may prove to be tricky, but I'm bound and determined to figure out where and how I can hang my hammock. How else can I take naps?
Finalmente: 11. Hug all my friends!! I miss you all!
I love Merida, but after 3 months, I'm really missing some stuff from home. There's a lot more things that I'm looking forward to doing, but this is the short list. I know when it's time to head home, I may not want to leave Merida. But for now I'll look forward to doing these things!
A Relaxing Week
Not much has been happening during Semana Santa- sorry for the boringness! I'm a little stressed about my research paper for this semester, and I'm trying to work on it now. With this week and our 5 day trip to Chiapas, I feel like the due date will just sneak up on me. So my goal this week is to work on it- a lot. Tomorrow is H-day: homework day.
Some interesting news, at least to me: it's been chilly and even cold today! Wonders of wonders! Oddly enough, I checked the weather online, and it was in the 80s. I was wrapped up in a fleece blanket thinking it was freezing. It's amazing that 80 is chilly to me, and 70 is just downright cold! I'm getting used to the hot weather!
This evening, Robin, Sara, Erin, and I dressed up nicely and went out to eat. After our meal we decided to head down the Paseo de Montejo to an ice cream shop. It was a little farther away than Robin thought, but the ice cream was yummy. I was thoroughly chilled after eating it though, considering the cold weather and all. :) We had an enjoyable walk- or adventure! We had the potential to get lost on the way back, since we took some back streets. Luckily we could see Chapur (a huge department store), which guided us to the house. Chapur is a very important landmark for us. It's about a 1/2 block from the house, and basically everyone in the city knows where it is. So we just tell the taxi drivers to take us to Chapur, and they get us there quickly. It makes things easier for us!
Some interesting news, at least to me: it's been chilly and even cold today! Wonders of wonders! Oddly enough, I checked the weather online, and it was in the 80s. I was wrapped up in a fleece blanket thinking it was freezing. It's amazing that 80 is chilly to me, and 70 is just downright cold! I'm getting used to the hot weather!
This evening, Robin, Sara, Erin, and I dressed up nicely and went out to eat. After our meal we decided to head down the Paseo de Montejo to an ice cream shop. It was a little farther away than Robin thought, but the ice cream was yummy. I was thoroughly chilled after eating it though, considering the cold weather and all. :) We had an enjoyable walk- or adventure! We had the potential to get lost on the way back, since we took some back streets. Luckily we could see Chapur (a huge department store), which guided us to the house. Chapur is a very important landmark for us. It's about a 1/2 block from the house, and basically everyone in the city knows where it is. So we just tell the taxi drivers to take us to Chapur, and they get us there quickly. It makes things easier for us!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Semana Santa
This weekend marked the start of Semana Santa, or Holy Week. This means that I have another whole week off of classes- nice. I didn't have any big travel plans because I just wanted a nice relaxing week. And I have a big research paper due in another couple of weeks that I need to work on. :( Yes, I know. So exciting!
However, on Friday Sara, Erin, and I went back to Chichen Itza. We went once before on a program excursion, but we had a huge homework assignment to do, so we really didn't get to enjoy it much. So we decided to go back. It was a very hot day, and Chichen doesn't have much shade. But it was nice to walk around, look at things and enjoy the experience of being there. I also managed to do a little souvenir shopping, although I still have a lot left to do. :)
We decided that we would stay a night in Valladolid, a city near Chichen. We had a nice hotel with AC and a pool. We enjoyed the chance to cool down after a long, hot day. The AC wouldn't work unless we put our 1 and only room ket into the slot in the wall. I thought that was neat since it wouldn't run if we weren't in the room. Pretty ecofriendly!
The following day we went to a nice, cool, beautiful cenote near Valladolid. It was fun to swim in the underground water well, and watch the fishies. They nibbled on my toes a bit, which felt odd. After that we headed back to Merida. On the way there our bus had to turn around and head back to Valladolid for some reason. Apparently the road wasn't open to buses and such. That made our trip take about 2 extra hours. Good thing the bus was comfortable!
However, on Friday Sara, Erin, and I went back to Chichen Itza. We went once before on a program excursion, but we had a huge homework assignment to do, so we really didn't get to enjoy it much. So we decided to go back. It was a very hot day, and Chichen doesn't have much shade. But it was nice to walk around, look at things and enjoy the experience of being there. I also managed to do a little souvenir shopping, although I still have a lot left to do. :)
We decided that we would stay a night in Valladolid, a city near Chichen. We had a nice hotel with AC and a pool. We enjoyed the chance to cool down after a long, hot day. The AC wouldn't work unless we put our 1 and only room ket into the slot in the wall. I thought that was neat since it wouldn't run if we weren't in the room. Pretty ecofriendly!
The following day we went to a nice, cool, beautiful cenote near Valladolid. It was fun to swim in the underground water well, and watch the fishies. They nibbled on my toes a bit, which felt odd. After that we headed back to Merida. On the way there our bus had to turn around and head back to Valladolid for some reason. Apparently the road wasn't open to buses and such. That made our trip take about 2 extra hours. Good thing the bus was comfortable!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Lack of Writing...
Sorry for the lack of writing lately. I've been struggling a lot with homesickness. My Grandpa died last week, and I wasn't able to go back to Ottumwa. Being in another country in pretty hard when stuff like this happens. Thus, I haven't felt like writing much.
And there hasn't been a whole lot to write about, other than the unrelenting heat. Everyone said that April would be a hot month, and were they right! We're enjoying a couple of cool days now- just in the 90s. But then it looks like it will be back up above 100! Unfortunately, the Central house doesn't have AC, so we're stuck with fans and open windows. Luckily, my room gets a nice breeze. And I think I might be getting used to the weather. Maybe...
And there hasn't been a whole lot to write about, other than the unrelenting heat. Everyone said that April would be a hot month, and were they right! We're enjoying a couple of cool days now- just in the 90s. But then it looks like it will be back up above 100! Unfortunately, the Central house doesn't have AC, so we're stuck with fans and open windows. Luckily, my room gets a nice breeze. And I think I might be getting used to the weather. Maybe...
Friday, March 27, 2009
Architecture in Merida
This semester, I've been taking an Art and Architecture course. This Thursday we went on a field trip to see colonial architecture in Merida. We first headed to an old cathedral. By old, I mean 1600s. So it was pretty neat to see!
The stones of the church were taken from the Mayan city that existed before Merida was built. Merida actually built the city to utilize the roads and platforms that the Maya built. The buildings and temples were destroyed to make the buildings on Merida. Not a very nice thing to do...
Anyways, after we checked out the church, we went to a school that used to be an old fort. The fort wall was still up and visible, and the old buildings were also still standing. Part of the area was only about 100 years old, but the center area was from the 1600s. The buildings were beautiful!
We also checked out one of the arches of the city. The arches were built back in the beginning years of the city, to separate the different neighborhoods. At that time, if you lived in one neighborhood, you may not be allowed to go into other sections of the city. There were clear divisions of classes, based on family origens. The Maya and other indigenous peoples were oppressed, and the Spanish had all the power.
Finally, we saw the convent of the church, which is now an architectural school. We explored a bit and saw some old painting on the walls. It was a really neat place to go to school!
On our way home, we stopped for ice cream. It was still pretty hot outside, so the ice cream tasted really good, even if was a little melted. And then our teacher accidentally hit a car...and drove off. That's what happens in Mexico! :)
The stones of the church were taken from the Mayan city that existed before Merida was built. Merida actually built the city to utilize the roads and platforms that the Maya built. The buildings and temples were destroyed to make the buildings on Merida. Not a very nice thing to do...
Anyways, after we checked out the church, we went to a school that used to be an old fort. The fort wall was still up and visible, and the old buildings were also still standing. Part of the area was only about 100 years old, but the center area was from the 1600s. The buildings were beautiful!
We also checked out one of the arches of the city. The arches were built back in the beginning years of the city, to separate the different neighborhoods. At that time, if you lived in one neighborhood, you may not be allowed to go into other sections of the city. There were clear divisions of classes, based on family origens. The Maya and other indigenous peoples were oppressed, and the Spanish had all the power.
Finally, we saw the convent of the church, which is now an architectural school. We explored a bit and saw some old painting on the walls. It was a really neat place to go to school!
On our way home, we stopped for ice cream. It was still pretty hot outside, so the ice cream tasted really good, even if was a little melted. And then our teacher accidentally hit a car...and drove off. That's what happens in Mexico! :)
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
End of Break
The rest of my spring break was pretty uneventful. I really didn't do anything worth noting- just rested and worked on homework. I'm glad I was able to sleep in for a few days at the end of break. While I'm traveling, I never seem to be able to sleep in very late- especially not in hostels.
Classes this week have been pretty easy. It's just after midterms, so I guese the profs are giving us a break. Although I have an outline due for a paper on Friday, and lots of internship stuff to do. So I'm finding things to keep me busy!
The weather here is starting to get HOT! It's supposed to be above 100F starting today, and who knows when/if that will end. One forecast mentioned 107F for 2 days this week! It's still hard to fathom that because it's only March. Luckily the humidity isn't too high, so it really doesn't feel that warm, especially if I stay in the shade or in the house. However, the moment you step into the sun it's a different story!
Classes this week have been pretty easy. It's just after midterms, so I guese the profs are giving us a break. Although I have an outline due for a paper on Friday, and lots of internship stuff to do. So I'm finding things to keep me busy!
The weather here is starting to get HOT! It's supposed to be above 100F starting today, and who knows when/if that will end. One forecast mentioned 107F for 2 days this week! It's still hard to fathom that because it's only March. Luckily the humidity isn't too high, so it really doesn't feel that warm, especially if I stay in the shade or in the house. However, the moment you step into the sun it's a different story!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Dzibilchaltun Photos
The temple is illuminated from the sun, which is directly behind it.
A little after sunrise. The sun is coming over the top of the building!
The sun peeping through the doorway! I have better pictures, but they are sideways, and I don't know how to make it straight on here....
Before the sun rose. The clouds are starting to burn off!
This is how the site looked right when we got there. Kind of eerie!
Dzibilchaltun
On Saturday, the day of the Spring Equinox, we all went to the ruins at Dzibilchaltun. This site has a temple that is oriented with the movement of the sun. On the equinox, as the sun is rising, it passes through the doorway of the temple.
I had to get up at 4:30 in the morning, which was a little difficult. We left the house at 5am sharp. Keith missed it because his alarm was messed up, or he just slept through it. The ruins are just outside of Merida, so it was a short drive. We had to walk a ways to get to the temple, and we were nearly running because we didn't want to miss it. However, we managed to get fairly close to the temple about 20 minutes before the sun rose.
There were a lot of people there! We all had cameras ready as 6 am hit. We were off to the side, and almost missed seeing the sun rise through the doorway because you have to be exactly in the center to see it. Luckily, everyone started rushing to the middle, so we figured it out quickly.
We were a little worried because it was kind of cloudy. We were hoping that the clouds burned off in time to see the sun rise. We were lucky, and it was absolutely beautiful! The clouds burned off enough to see the sun rise. We were all so happy. Last year it rained, and last fall I think Val got the wrong day. But it was perfect for us! Check the next post for pictures!
I had to get up at 4:30 in the morning, which was a little difficult. We left the house at 5am sharp. Keith missed it because his alarm was messed up, or he just slept through it. The ruins are just outside of Merida, so it was a short drive. We had to walk a ways to get to the temple, and we were nearly running because we didn't want to miss it. However, we managed to get fairly close to the temple about 20 minutes before the sun rose.
There were a lot of people there! We all had cameras ready as 6 am hit. We were off to the side, and almost missed seeing the sun rise through the doorway because you have to be exactly in the center to see it. Luckily, everyone started rushing to the middle, so we figured it out quickly.
We were a little worried because it was kind of cloudy. We were hoping that the clouds burned off in time to see the sun rise. We were lucky, and it was absolutely beautiful! The clouds burned off enough to see the sun rise. We were all so happy. Last year it rained, and last fall I think Val got the wrong day. But it was perfect for us! Check the next post for pictures!
Spring Break Photos
This is a picture of the beach at the Chankanaab Park. We spent the whole day lounging in our beach chairs and snorkeling. This picture is actually taken from inside the restaurant that we ate at for lunch. I love open air restaurants, which are VERY common here in Mexico, even in Merida and away from the beach.
This was my bed at Hostelito, the hostel in Cozumel with the huge dorm. The beds were nice and everything was clean. Definitely a plus in the hostel world!
This is a palapa on the beach at Chankanaab, similar to the one we were sitting under. It kept us from the getting burned, and the chairs were nice.
Robin and I are ready for the ferry ride to Cozumel. Right in front of us was where the band played.
This is 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen, the heart of the tourist district. There are tons of restaurants and shops, as far as the eye could see. We spent a lot of time wandering around this street.
Cozumel
Cozumel is the island across from Playa del Carmen. We had to ride a ferry to get there, which was a new experience for me. Unfortunately, the water was rough, and I didn't feel too good the whole way there. Luckily the ferry had a live band on board, which helped to distract me. It took 45 mins or so to get to the City of Cozumel, and I was glad to get off the boat. I think all of us were.
We first found our hostel in Cozumel. We reserved beds at a hostel that had a 26 bed mixed dorm. I was a little nervous that it would be loud and dirty, but it was a really nice place to stay! I was impressed. And it was only 2 1/2 blocks from the pier and main square, so it was a great location. You couldn't find anything better for $12 USD.
The first afternoon we were in Cozumel, we decided to go snorkeling. We signed up for a 3 site tour in a glass bottom boat. We got it for just $300 MN, or about $20 USD. That's a pretty good deal! I wasn't impressed with the snorkeling. The reef was really far down in the water, and it wasn't very pretty. But we got to feed the fish, and they swarmed around us, which was neat. By the end of the tour I was feeling a little seasick, since the water was still rough.
The second day we decided to go on an adventure! :) Alright, we just got a taxi and headed out of town to the Chankanaab Park, which is had some "ruins", a beach, snorkeling, a lagoon with fishies, and a botanical garden. It was also the place where people could pay to swim with dolphins. I rented snorkeling gear and spent a few hours in the water. It was much better than the glass bottom boat tour. Since I didn't have to wear a life jacket, I could dive down and look at things close up. I loved that, even if I did drink a little salt water. We stayed there until it closed at 5pm. It was a great day!
Cozumel is a peaceful town. It's still really touristy, but not as bad as Playa del Carmen. I enjoyed it a lot, and it was a great end to our break.
We first found our hostel in Cozumel. We reserved beds at a hostel that had a 26 bed mixed dorm. I was a little nervous that it would be loud and dirty, but it was a really nice place to stay! I was impressed. And it was only 2 1/2 blocks from the pier and main square, so it was a great location. You couldn't find anything better for $12 USD.
The first afternoon we were in Cozumel, we decided to go snorkeling. We signed up for a 3 site tour in a glass bottom boat. We got it for just $300 MN, or about $20 USD. That's a pretty good deal! I wasn't impressed with the snorkeling. The reef was really far down in the water, and it wasn't very pretty. But we got to feed the fish, and they swarmed around us, which was neat. By the end of the tour I was feeling a little seasick, since the water was still rough.
The second day we decided to go on an adventure! :) Alright, we just got a taxi and headed out of town to the Chankanaab Park, which is had some "ruins", a beach, snorkeling, a lagoon with fishies, and a botanical garden. It was also the place where people could pay to swim with dolphins. I rented snorkeling gear and spent a few hours in the water. It was much better than the glass bottom boat tour. Since I didn't have to wear a life jacket, I could dive down and look at things close up. I loved that, even if I did drink a little salt water. We stayed there until it closed at 5pm. It was a great day!
Cozumel is a peaceful town. It's still really touristy, but not as bad as Playa del Carmen. I enjoyed it a lot, and it was a great end to our break.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Playa del Carmen
Our second stop on Spring Break was at Playa del Carmen, which is north of Tulum on the coast. Our bus dropped us off on the main pedestrian street in Playa, 5th avenue. The whole street is closed of to traffic, and it's the heart of the tourist district. It's long, and about a block from the beach. It's just a really neat place to be! Lots to see and do, and easy to find food.
Our first thing to do was to find our hostel. I accidentally printed off the wrong email, so I didn't have an address or phone number. Noboday seemed to know where our hostel was, and it wasn't in the phone book. We eventually walked by an old shirtless guy, who helped us out, for a tip. He was a little creepy, but we really needed the help. So we dealt with the creepiness!
Our hostel was about 1/2 a block from 5th avenue, right in the middle of everything. It was a great location! And our room was amazing. For $12 USD each, we got a room with 4 beds, a bathroom in it, a balcony, AC, lockers, breakfast, and a TV. We were so happy! It was an awesome place to stay, and a great deal. The breakfast was really just toast and coffee, but that was good for me. Saved us some money! And having a TV was nice. We haven't watched TV since we left the US, unless it is online. We found a channel that had stuff mostly in English, and we watched Law and Order. It was nice during siesta time and at night. And having AC in Mexico is always a blessing and luxery!
Our second day in Playa we went to the public beach. It was nice, although it was a little crowded. I didn't go in the water, but Sara did. She said it was kind of dirty and there was trash in it, so she didn't stay in long. I fell alseep in the warm sun, as did Robin and possibly the other two. So comfy and peaceful! Luckily, I had my good sunscreen on, so I didn't get burned.
The rest of the time in Playa we just hung out on 5th avenue, checking out the shops and vendors, of which there were many. Playa is super touristy, and everyone speaks English (which kind of made me sad). If we spoke Spanish to the waiters or vendors, they would be really impressed, and Sara even got a great exchange rate after telling a vendor that she was a student in Merida. He sold it to her for 10 pesos to a dollar, when it really should have been 15 pesos to a dollar. Nice!
Playa was an odd part of Mexico. It was so Americanized that it didn't feel like Mexico, and 5th Avenue seemed very European, oddly enough! It's a nice place to vacation, I suppose, but if you want to see "real" Mexico, don't go there! Very little Mexican culture, language, or even food is available there.
Our first thing to do was to find our hostel. I accidentally printed off the wrong email, so I didn't have an address or phone number. Noboday seemed to know where our hostel was, and it wasn't in the phone book. We eventually walked by an old shirtless guy, who helped us out, for a tip. He was a little creepy, but we really needed the help. So we dealt with the creepiness!
Our hostel was about 1/2 a block from 5th avenue, right in the middle of everything. It was a great location! And our room was amazing. For $12 USD each, we got a room with 4 beds, a bathroom in it, a balcony, AC, lockers, breakfast, and a TV. We were so happy! It was an awesome place to stay, and a great deal. The breakfast was really just toast and coffee, but that was good for me. Saved us some money! And having a TV was nice. We haven't watched TV since we left the US, unless it is online. We found a channel that had stuff mostly in English, and we watched Law and Order. It was nice during siesta time and at night. And having AC in Mexico is always a blessing and luxery!
Our second day in Playa we went to the public beach. It was nice, although it was a little crowded. I didn't go in the water, but Sara did. She said it was kind of dirty and there was trash in it, so she didn't stay in long. I fell alseep in the warm sun, as did Robin and possibly the other two. So comfy and peaceful! Luckily, I had my good sunscreen on, so I didn't get burned.
The rest of the time in Playa we just hung out on 5th avenue, checking out the shops and vendors, of which there were many. Playa is super touristy, and everyone speaks English (which kind of made me sad). If we spoke Spanish to the waiters or vendors, they would be really impressed, and Sara even got a great exchange rate after telling a vendor that she was a student in Merida. He sold it to her for 10 pesos to a dollar, when it really should have been 15 pesos to a dollar. Nice!
Playa was an odd part of Mexico. It was so Americanized that it didn't feel like Mexico, and 5th Avenue seemed very European, oddly enough! It's a nice place to vacation, I suppose, but if you want to see "real" Mexico, don't go there! Very little Mexican culture, language, or even food is available there.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Tulum photos
This is the beach at the ruins of Tulum. It was a small but beautiful little beach. I kind of wished that I had my swimsuit because it looked so nice and peaceful! I didn't expect to see a beach in the ruins.
This was the view from inside my room in Tulum. And you can see that the walls were a little breezy! It kept the room nice and cool, and made me feel like I was sleeping on the beach. The mosquito nets were a good addition though!
A picturesque little cove at the Tulum ruins. Perfect for picture taking and posing!
The little buildings here are really small- I couldn't walk into them. They are believed to be little mini temples. I haven't seen anything like this before Tulum.
El Castillo in Tulum- the main/largest building at the site. It overlooked the town, and the ocean is behind it.
Tulum
Our first stop for Spring Break was the coastal town of Tulum. It's south of Cancun, towards the end of the Riviera Maya (the Caribbean coast area). There's a large ruin site there- the Toltec city of Tulum.
Our hostel in Tulum was pretty neat. It was a little resort set in the "jungle" aka woods outside of town. Our rooms were little cabanas on the beach. They weren't very secure, as I could see through my walls, but it was a neat experience. Our beds even had mosquito nets over them. I liked that- no bugs could drop on me from the thatched roof.
Right outside of our cabana was the beach, which was beautiful. It was a private beach owned by the Papaya Playa Resort (where we stayed), so it was calm and not busy. We enjoyed being able to walk out of our rooms down to the beach. The negative part was that several people treated the beach as a nude beach. So when we got up early for the sunrise, we saw an older lady doing Tai Chi on the beach- completely naked. That was unexpected!
The town of Tulum was about 3 km away from the Papaya Playa, along a highway. We planned on renting bikes, but that never worked out. So we just got taxis when we needed to go to town. We found a nice bakery in town with super yummy treats for 4 pesos- or 25-30 cents. So both days we got rolls for breakfast, and saved a lot of money on that meal!
The ruins at Tulum are absolutely gorgeous! They are right on shoreline, up on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Very tropical and beautiful, and completely different than the things we've seen at other ruin sites. Tulum has strong Toltec influence, while most other sites in the Yucatan are Mayan-Puuc influence. So we saw some interested structures.
There was even a beach at the site where people could swim. We didn't bring swimsuits, since we had our own beach, but we sat on the cliff watching the ocean and swimmers for a while. It was so tranquil and beautiful!
Our hostel in Tulum was pretty neat. It was a little resort set in the "jungle" aka woods outside of town. Our rooms were little cabanas on the beach. They weren't very secure, as I could see through my walls, but it was a neat experience. Our beds even had mosquito nets over them. I liked that- no bugs could drop on me from the thatched roof.
Right outside of our cabana was the beach, which was beautiful. It was a private beach owned by the Papaya Playa Resort (where we stayed), so it was calm and not busy. We enjoyed being able to walk out of our rooms down to the beach. The negative part was that several people treated the beach as a nude beach. So when we got up early for the sunrise, we saw an older lady doing Tai Chi on the beach- completely naked. That was unexpected!
The town of Tulum was about 3 km away from the Papaya Playa, along a highway. We planned on renting bikes, but that never worked out. So we just got taxis when we needed to go to town. We found a nice bakery in town with super yummy treats for 4 pesos- or 25-30 cents. So both days we got rolls for breakfast, and saved a lot of money on that meal!
The ruins at Tulum are absolutely gorgeous! They are right on shoreline, up on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Very tropical and beautiful, and completely different than the things we've seen at other ruin sites. Tulum has strong Toltec influence, while most other sites in the Yucatan are Mayan-Puuc influence. So we saw some interested structures.
There was even a beach at the site where people could swim. We didn't bring swimsuits, since we had our own beach, but we sat on the cliff watching the ocean and swimmers for a while. It was so tranquil and beautiful!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The Weary Traveler Returns!
Hola a todos!
I'm back from my amazing week on the Caribbean! I had a blast, and have visited some great places. I can't wait to tell you all about it! But, as the title states, this traveler is weary! Take a 26 bed hostel, restless sleep, an early ferry, some Dramamine, and a 4 hour bus ride and you have me- all tired out! But I will get on here tomorrow and chatter away about all the things we did!
Adios!
I'm back from my amazing week on the Caribbean! I had a blast, and have visited some great places. I can't wait to tell you all about it! But, as the title states, this traveler is weary! Take a 26 bed hostel, restless sleep, an early ferry, some Dramamine, and a 4 hour bus ride and you have me- all tired out! But I will get on here tomorrow and chatter away about all the things we did!
Adios!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Spring Break!
Friday marks the start of my Spring break adventure, and I'm pretty excited! 3 other girls and I are spending 7 day, 6 nights at 3 different sites along the Caribbean coast. It's like the ultimate Spring Break- only available in Mexico!
*News Flash* My last class of the week was just canceled! The second class today! *Hello Spring Break*
:) I love being on break!
Anyways, here is our itinerary:
Friday March 13, Saturday March 14: Tulum
Sunday March 15 Monday March 16: Playa del Carmen
Tuesday March 17, Wednesday March 18: Cozumel
Thursday March 19: head home
Friday March 20: rest in Merida
Saturday March 21: Watch the Spring Equinox in Dzibilchutan (sp?)
It should be a great vacation! Don't expect any posts from me until at least next Friday, because I obviously won't be taking my computer. Some of the hostels may have computer access, but I doubt I'll be on.
Hope everyone else enjoys the first day of Spring next Saturday! Look forward to warmer weather!
*News Flash* My last class of the week was just canceled! The second class today! *Hello Spring Break*
:) I love being on break!
Anyways, here is our itinerary:
Friday March 13, Saturday March 14: Tulum
Sunday March 15 Monday March 16: Playa del Carmen
Tuesday March 17, Wednesday March 18: Cozumel
Thursday March 19: head home
Friday March 20: rest in Merida
Saturday March 21: Watch the Spring Equinox in Dzibilchutan (sp?)
It should be a great vacation! Don't expect any posts from me until at least next Friday, because I obviously won't be taking my computer. Some of the hostels may have computer access, but I doubt I'll be on.
Hope everyone else enjoys the first day of Spring next Saturday! Look forward to warmer weather!
Warmer weather
Well, true to Mexico, the weather is starting to get warmer. I've added a feature on the right hand side of my blog so you can see what the weather's like here. Right now it seems to only say New York, but if you click the "edit" button next to New York and type in Merida, Mexico, you can see what the weather's like here. Right now I'm sitting in my room sweating a bit, and it's only 7 am. I think it's going to be a warm one here!
We've been told that by the time we leave, it may be 45 degrees celsuis, which is above 110 degrees farenheit. And the humidity will be at 100%. That will be a challenging experience! I'm glad I have my hammock to sleep in, because hammocks are much cooler than beds. I think I'm going to have to start sleeping in it very soon.
Well, today's the last day of class (for me) before spring break. I'll post my spring break schedule sometime today or tomorrow. But for now I must finish my homework. :(
We've been told that by the time we leave, it may be 45 degrees celsuis, which is above 110 degrees farenheit. And the humidity will be at 100%. That will be a challenging experience! I'm glad I have my hammock to sleep in, because hammocks are much cooler than beds. I think I'm going to have to start sleeping in it very soon.
Well, today's the last day of class (for me) before spring break. I'll post my spring break schedule sometime today or tomorrow. But for now I must finish my homework. :(
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Internet=Starbucks
Last night the internet at the house suddenly shut down. It was frustrating for most of us because this week is the week before spring break, and the equivalent of midterms. So we all had homework that needed the aid of the internet.
Luckily, I was done with homework for the night, so I read a bit and went to bed. As of now, only the desktops at the house have internet, and only one of them works.
So...I'm at Starbucks! Since we don't have wireless at the house, I've walked across the street to Starbucks to work on homework. Oh man I had an awesome Mocha Frappachino and I never want to leave. The Starbucks here is really nice, and people tend to dress up to come here. I'm in a casual skirt and tank top, and I feel a tidbit underdressed. But I don't care! :)
I've decided that since I don't drink (like most people here do), I can treat myself to a nice yummy Frappachino once or twice a week. The exchange rates also make them somewhat cheap. So I'm gonna be visiting Starbucks again sometime soon. And I'll come back to the U.S. addicted to Mocha Frappachinos.
Well, I think I'm gonna head back to the Central House to take a nap. Then I have to get working on that darn homework again. Luckily, I'm almost done with it all!
Luckily, I was done with homework for the night, so I read a bit and went to bed. As of now, only the desktops at the house have internet, and only one of them works.
So...I'm at Starbucks! Since we don't have wireless at the house, I've walked across the street to Starbucks to work on homework. Oh man I had an awesome Mocha Frappachino and I never want to leave. The Starbucks here is really nice, and people tend to dress up to come here. I'm in a casual skirt and tank top, and I feel a tidbit underdressed. But I don't care! :)
I've decided that since I don't drink (like most people here do), I can treat myself to a nice yummy Frappachino once or twice a week. The exchange rates also make them somewhat cheap. So I'm gonna be visiting Starbucks again sometime soon. And I'll come back to the U.S. addicted to Mocha Frappachinos.
Well, I think I'm gonna head back to the Central House to take a nap. Then I have to get working on that darn homework again. Luckily, I'm almost done with it all!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Chichen Itza
One of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World!
A little information about Chichen Itza (called Chichen from now on): In 2007 Chichen was named one of the seven wonders of the modern world. This happened based on a call-in voting system. We were told that Mexico hired people to call in day and night to get named one of the wonders. Chichen was ultimately successful in it's quest!
Each day, 8,000 people visit Chichen. Many of them are tourists from Cancun and other areas on the Riviera Maya (aka the Caribbean coast). That totals to more than 1,000,000 visitors per year! Due to this, Chichen is a "look only" area. We weren't able to climb up the pyramids or buildings.
Not being able to climb and touch the site was kind of a let down. However the sites were amazing. The City of Chichen was huge! El Castillo, the famous large pyramid, is in the center of Chichen, and a huge open courtyard surrounds it. I would have loved to see the view from the top of El Castillo, but that's not possible.
While in Chichen, I had 3 different assignments to do. So I didn't really get to enjoy the site as much as possible. I was missing that "wow factor" that I should have felt. I was too preoccupied with my assignments. Because of this, Sara and I decided we would return during Semana Santa. So we took it easy and didn't rush around like others.
Inside the site are many, many vendors. That seemed to be very unusual. I didn't expect vendors inside the site. There were so many different things to buy! I'm going to have to figure out what souvenirs I need to buy before Semana Santa. Many of these things were very cheap, and if I spoke Spanish to the vendors, I often got a "special" price for my Spanish. That was neat! It seemed like the vendors really enjoyed hearing Spanish.
Chichen is a true marval. I would recommending this as a stop to anyone who visits the Yucatan. I would mention that any visitor should be prepared for hot sun with little shade, many vendors inside and outside the site, many many people, and know that you won't be able to climb or touch nearly everything. Going with those things in mind will help you enjoy the site because you won't have any false expectations. Also, go as early in the morning as you can. If you go after about 10am, it gets super busy!
A little information about Chichen Itza (called Chichen from now on): In 2007 Chichen was named one of the seven wonders of the modern world. This happened based on a call-in voting system. We were told that Mexico hired people to call in day and night to get named one of the wonders. Chichen was ultimately successful in it's quest!
Each day, 8,000 people visit Chichen. Many of them are tourists from Cancun and other areas on the Riviera Maya (aka the Caribbean coast). That totals to more than 1,000,000 visitors per year! Due to this, Chichen is a "look only" area. We weren't able to climb up the pyramids or buildings.
Not being able to climb and touch the site was kind of a let down. However the sites were amazing. The City of Chichen was huge! El Castillo, the famous large pyramid, is in the center of Chichen, and a huge open courtyard surrounds it. I would have loved to see the view from the top of El Castillo, but that's not possible.
While in Chichen, I had 3 different assignments to do. So I didn't really get to enjoy the site as much as possible. I was missing that "wow factor" that I should have felt. I was too preoccupied with my assignments. Because of this, Sara and I decided we would return during Semana Santa. So we took it easy and didn't rush around like others.
Inside the site are many, many vendors. That seemed to be very unusual. I didn't expect vendors inside the site. There were so many different things to buy! I'm going to have to figure out what souvenirs I need to buy before Semana Santa. Many of these things were very cheap, and if I spoke Spanish to the vendors, I often got a "special" price for my Spanish. That was neat! It seemed like the vendors really enjoyed hearing Spanish.
Chichen is a true marval. I would recommending this as a stop to anyone who visits the Yucatan. I would mention that any visitor should be prepared for hot sun with little shade, many vendors inside and outside the site, many many people, and know that you won't be able to climb or touch nearly everything. Going with those things in mind will help you enjoy the site because you won't have any false expectations. Also, go as early in the morning as you can. If you go after about 10am, it gets super busy!
The Last Bit About Tinum
Well, here goes my final post on Tinum. There's so much to talk about, but I'll only submit you to this last post. :)
After visiting the milpa, grainery, and bakery, we visited a carpenter's home in Tinum. His wife was a herbal healer, and she showed us some of the plants and things that she uses. She had a lot of different things, and treatments for all sorts of things, from athlete's foot to high colesterol. It seemed to be a well established business.
Her husband was an amazing carpenter. He was able to create some amazing things, even with limited techonology. He showed us the tools he used to use, before power tools were around. Man it had to hard taken a lot of muscle to be a carpenter without power tools. He now has better technology, and he has created some amazing things. He could look at a picture and imitate any style of furniture. He has customers from all over the Yucatan, even from Merida.
He and his family showed us some traditional Mayan dances, dress, song, and poetry. They seemed to take pride in their heritage, which isn't always the case. Many Mayans are treated as 2nd class citizens in Mexico, so it's great to see those who are proud of their roots!
We spent the rest of our time in Tinum talking with our family, and eating some more great food. I really enjoyed the chance to get out of the city and see rural Mexico. After we left Tinum, we headed to Chichen Itza. I'll write about that next!
After visiting the milpa, grainery, and bakery, we visited a carpenter's home in Tinum. His wife was a herbal healer, and she showed us some of the plants and things that she uses. She had a lot of different things, and treatments for all sorts of things, from athlete's foot to high colesterol. It seemed to be a well established business.
Her husband was an amazing carpenter. He was able to create some amazing things, even with limited techonology. He showed us the tools he used to use, before power tools were around. Man it had to hard taken a lot of muscle to be a carpenter without power tools. He now has better technology, and he has created some amazing things. He could look at a picture and imitate any style of furniture. He has customers from all over the Yucatan, even from Merida.
He and his family showed us some traditional Mayan dances, dress, song, and poetry. They seemed to take pride in their heritage, which isn't always the case. Many Mayans are treated as 2nd class citizens in Mexico, so it's great to see those who are proud of their roots!
We spent the rest of our time in Tinum talking with our family, and eating some more great food. I really enjoyed the chance to get out of the city and see rural Mexico. After we left Tinum, we headed to Chichen Itza. I'll write about that next!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
A Milpa and More
On Saturday in Tinum, we visited a milpa outside of town. A milpa is simply a farm- but they're usually small farms with little to no technology. The farmers are completely dependent on the land. The Milpa we visited was about 10 acres, and the farmer planted corn, squash, and beans. This past year has been a drought year, so all the farmers are struggling. Many didn't yield enough corn to plant this year's crop, so they'll have to buy some, if they can find the money. It's a vicious cycle that's completely dependent on the weather.
While we were at the Milpa, the owner cooked some squash and yucca root for us in an underground oven. It was delicious! We dipped the Yucca in some amazing fresh honey that one of the farmers had gathered from his bees. And the squash was smooshed and mixed with honey. It was warm, gooey, and delicous! It was a really kind gift from the farmer.
After we visited the Milpa, we headed back into town and stopped to check out a panaderia, or bakery. Yum yum yum! It smelled so good! They were in the middle of baking the days treats, and we got to see the huge wood burning oven they used. It was so large that they had to used really long paddles to manuever the bread cooking in the oven. I'll have to post pictures later.
After the panaderia, we drove to the molinera (I think that's the name), which is where the community grinds corn for tortillas. Tortillas....yum! I've become addicted to handmade corn tortillas- so much better than flour tortillas! The place was really noisy because of the machinery used for grinding. It was neat to see how quickly things were made. People could buy premade corn tortillas there as well. It saves time, especially if someone has a huge family. A typical Mexican will eat 2-5 kilos of corn each day- it's the main part of a Mexican diet. Corns and beans. It's a yummy combo!
Well, I have to go to class. Ick...
While we were at the Milpa, the owner cooked some squash and yucca root for us in an underground oven. It was delicious! We dipped the Yucca in some amazing fresh honey that one of the farmers had gathered from his bees. And the squash was smooshed and mixed with honey. It was warm, gooey, and delicous! It was a really kind gift from the farmer.
After we visited the Milpa, we headed back into town and stopped to check out a panaderia, or bakery. Yum yum yum! It smelled so good! They were in the middle of baking the days treats, and we got to see the huge wood burning oven they used. It was so large that they had to used really long paddles to manuever the bread cooking in the oven. I'll have to post pictures later.
After the panaderia, we drove to the molinera (I think that's the name), which is where the community grinds corn for tortillas. Tortillas....yum! I've become addicted to handmade corn tortillas- so much better than flour tortillas! The place was really noisy because of the machinery used for grinding. It was neat to see how quickly things were made. People could buy premade corn tortillas there as well. It saves time, especially if someone has a huge family. A typical Mexican will eat 2-5 kilos of corn each day- it's the main part of a Mexican diet. Corns and beans. It's a yummy combo!
Well, I have to go to class. Ick...
Saturday, March 7, 2009
My Host Family
This weekend in Tinum, we stayed with Mayan host families. By the way, despite what some people think, the Mayan culture is still alive, and there is a large population of Mayans living in the Yucatan. Many of them still wear traditional clothing and live in traditional houses. Some people think the Maya died out during the Conquest, but that's incorrect.
My family consisted of Doña Berto and her sister Rosita. They owned a little store, a tendejon, along with her sister-in-law and her family. The two families live next door to each other, and the store is in between the two houses.
Rosita was the lady who spent the most time with me. She was an amazing cook and made sure that I was well fed the whole weekend. We were told that our families probably wouldn't eat with us- it's simply a respect part of their culture. However, Rosita sat down and ate with me each meal. That made me feel extremely welcome!
I was supposed to be staying with Sara in the house, but a few minutes before we left to meet Doña Berto and Rosita, Sara informed us that she was feeling sick. So she decided to stay with our director Valerie, and I was left alone. I was a little freaked out at that point, but I had no other option. So I just sucked it up and stayed alone with the host family. It ended up being alright, even though I was a little nervous. Rosita and Doña Berto were very nice ladies. When I met them, I felt very tall because these little ladies were several inches shorter than me! Can you believe that?! :) Feeling tall was a very odd experience for me!
My host family's house was made of 2 different parts. The part on the street was a cement block (I think) house, which are growing in popularity here. Inside were several hammocks hooks, a sewing machine, a treadmill, an alter, and stuff for the store next door. Behind that room was the kitchen. It was a traditional Mayan kitchen, made of a thatched palm roof and walls made of sticks and stone. I could see through the walls, which was intentional. It allows air into the kitchen. Inside the kitchen is the fireplace and grate, where the food is made. Many Maya still rely upon wood for their fuel. It was definitely different than any kitchen in the US, but it was comfortable and great for the environment. The bathroom was a little room disconnected from the house, and there was a washroom also disconnected from the home.
Behind the house was a huge yard full of beautiful trees, flowers, and plants. Farther back was a chicken and turkey pen. The turkey was a little noisy, and the rooster LOVED to make noise early in the morning!
I really enjoyed seeing how Mayans live, and to see how much of Mexico lives. It was very different than Merida, and it was very important for us to see how people in a developing country live. Life is hard, and there's not really a chance to escape the hard life. But seeing the happiness in Tinum made me realize that a hard life doesn't mean it's a bad life.
My family consisted of Doña Berto and her sister Rosita. They owned a little store, a tendejon, along with her sister-in-law and her family. The two families live next door to each other, and the store is in between the two houses.
Rosita was the lady who spent the most time with me. She was an amazing cook and made sure that I was well fed the whole weekend. We were told that our families probably wouldn't eat with us- it's simply a respect part of their culture. However, Rosita sat down and ate with me each meal. That made me feel extremely welcome!
I was supposed to be staying with Sara in the house, but a few minutes before we left to meet Doña Berto and Rosita, Sara informed us that she was feeling sick. So she decided to stay with our director Valerie, and I was left alone. I was a little freaked out at that point, but I had no other option. So I just sucked it up and stayed alone with the host family. It ended up being alright, even though I was a little nervous. Rosita and Doña Berto were very nice ladies. When I met them, I felt very tall because these little ladies were several inches shorter than me! Can you believe that?! :) Feeling tall was a very odd experience for me!
My host family's house was made of 2 different parts. The part on the street was a cement block (I think) house, which are growing in popularity here. Inside were several hammocks hooks, a sewing machine, a treadmill, an alter, and stuff for the store next door. Behind that room was the kitchen. It was a traditional Mayan kitchen, made of a thatched palm roof and walls made of sticks and stone. I could see through the walls, which was intentional. It allows air into the kitchen. Inside the kitchen is the fireplace and grate, where the food is made. Many Maya still rely upon wood for their fuel. It was definitely different than any kitchen in the US, but it was comfortable and great for the environment. The bathroom was a little room disconnected from the house, and there was a washroom also disconnected from the home.
Behind the house was a huge yard full of beautiful trees, flowers, and plants. Farther back was a chicken and turkey pen. The turkey was a little noisy, and the rooster LOVED to make noise early in the morning!
I really enjoyed seeing how Mayans live, and to see how much of Mexico lives. It was very different than Merida, and it was very important for us to see how people in a developing country live. Life is hard, and there's not really a chance to escape the hard life. But seeing the happiness in Tinum made me realize that a hard life doesn't mean it's a bad life.
Back from Tinum
After a long, fun, and slightly dusty weekend, I'm back! I had such an amazing time in Tinum. I stayed in a home with a sweet little old Mayan lady, which was just fun. Seeing how traditional Mayan families live was an unforgettable experience. I'm pretty exhausted from the weekend, so I'll have to post throughout the weekend about my experience.
But I'll describe the village a little bit before I (maybe) take a nap. Tinum is a small village about 1 1/2 hours away from Merida. It is a typical Mexican village. The people there aren't wealthy by any means, and many are owners of Milpas, small farms. This year has been a bad drought year, so the town is struggling.
Despite the harsh economic climate, the people are happy. I saw smiles and heard laughter everywhere. The simplicity of their lives is beautiful. The constrast between Tinum and Merida was astounding, and I can't quite compare Tinum to the US. There's no race to make money and buy new things: people are content with what they have.
I'll post tonight or tomorrow about the house I lived in, and the sweet little lady named Rosita!
But I'll describe the village a little bit before I (maybe) take a nap. Tinum is a small village about 1 1/2 hours away from Merida. It is a typical Mexican village. The people there aren't wealthy by any means, and many are owners of Milpas, small farms. This year has been a bad drought year, so the town is struggling.
Despite the harsh economic climate, the people are happy. I saw smiles and heard laughter everywhere. The simplicity of their lives is beautiful. The constrast between Tinum and Merida was astounding, and I can't quite compare Tinum to the US. There's no race to make money and buy new things: people are content with what they have.
I'll post tonight or tomorrow about the house I lived in, and the sweet little lady named Rosita!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Field Trip Time!
Well, the test is all over with, and stress levels in the house have gone way down! Luckily, the test wasn't quite as hard as we expected, although it wasn't exactly a walk in the woods! I'm glad I studied as much as I did.
This weekend will be an interesting weekend for all of us. We are headed off on another Central sponsored excursion- to a Mayan village of Tinum. This is a typical village in the Yucatan, quite different from the large city of Merida. We're going to be staying in the homes of some of the villagers. Many of them are hammock makers, and this is the village where my beautiful hammock came from. Actually, I'm packing my hammock up to take it with me, since we're required to bring our "bed." Luckily it is supposed to be a little warmer this weekend, so we might not freeze like we did at Kiuic! I'm also taking a nice, warm fleece blanket with me, just to be sure that I'm warm. Who would've thought that I would be downright cold in Mexico?!
We leave this afternoon, and return on Saturday evening. The fun part is that over these three days, we may not actually have the chance to shower! The accomidations in the village are pretty rustic, and some of us won't even have toilets. Oh...I need to remember to pack my TP! It'll be like camping at lake Wapello before the bathhouse opens up for the season...
As part of our trip we're going to Chichen Itza. I'll wait to talk about that until I see it. All I can say is that Chichen gets 8,000 visitors everyday, and every aspect of the site is geared towards tourists. I have mixed feelings about seeing it, simply because it's a tourist trap. And I have to do 3 different assignments while I'm there. I'll write about Chichen and the effect of tourism when I get back.
This weekend will be an interesting weekend for all of us. We are headed off on another Central sponsored excursion- to a Mayan village of Tinum. This is a typical village in the Yucatan, quite different from the large city of Merida. We're going to be staying in the homes of some of the villagers. Many of them are hammock makers, and this is the village where my beautiful hammock came from. Actually, I'm packing my hammock up to take it with me, since we're required to bring our "bed." Luckily it is supposed to be a little warmer this weekend, so we might not freeze like we did at Kiuic! I'm also taking a nice, warm fleece blanket with me, just to be sure that I'm warm. Who would've thought that I would be downright cold in Mexico?!
We leave this afternoon, and return on Saturday evening. The fun part is that over these three days, we may not actually have the chance to shower! The accomidations in the village are pretty rustic, and some of us won't even have toilets. Oh...I need to remember to pack my TP! It'll be like camping at lake Wapello before the bathhouse opens up for the season...
As part of our trip we're going to Chichen Itza. I'll wait to talk about that until I see it. All I can say is that Chichen gets 8,000 visitors everyday, and every aspect of the site is geared towards tourists. I have mixed feelings about seeing it, simply because it's a tourist trap. And I have to do 3 different assignments while I'm there. I'll write about Chichen and the effect of tourism when I get back.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Time to Study!
My classes in Mexico haven't been very hard at all, with the exception of one class: Mexican Civilization- in Spanish. This class is proving to be extremely difficult, for all of us. Some people are taking it in English, but I'm one of the lucky ones who has to take it in Spanish. This makes the class even harder due to important little details and vocabulary problems. We're currently studying the Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations, so among the Spanish words I have to decipher some Aztec, Mixe, and Maya words. Let me tell you- they had odd spellings for Pre-Columbian languages. Tonight is our first test, and we're all nervous and very busy studying.
Speaking of which, I should probably get back to studying. I need to figure out the political organization of several Mesoamerican cities...ick!
Speaking of which, I should probably get back to studying. I need to figure out the political organization of several Mesoamerican cities...ick!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Exchage rates
I know that the recession is getting worse in the US, and that our government is trying hard to turn things around. Imagine what a financial crisis does to a developing nation like Mexico. The exchange rate when we got here was 13.something pesos to one US dollar. Pretty nice! That meant a bottle of coke cost about 40 cents, and a taxi may cost $3-4 USD at most. In the month that we've been here, the exchange rate has only gotten better (for us). Now it's at over 15 pesos to one USD. Great, right?
Not quite. While this means that things are cheaper for me, life is getting harder and harder for Mexicans. The government is using their reserves to try to stablize the peso, and it's simply not working. If the exchange rate continues in this direction, Mexico could face a horrible economic reality: a devaluation. It could happen while I'm here, or soon after. But it seems like a devaluation is going to happen.
If the peso is devalued, the exchange rate will be set at some random number, like 6 pesos per USD. Going from 15 pesos to a USD to 6 pesos per USD will have devastating effects on every person in Mexico. Their savings will be worth 1/2 of what it is today. Yet the cost of living will remain the same. If someone had 100,000 pesos in the bank, it will only be worth 50,000. Imagine if you lost half of your savings overnight. What would you do?
Everyone is hoping that a devaluation won't happen, and personally I hope it doesn't happen until after May 10th. Suddenly having to pay twice as much for things will impact me. But on the other hand, the exchange rate can't keep getting higher. Mexico's stuck in between a rock and a hard place. Finacial crisis will impact Mexico severely. It's only a matter of time- sadly enough.
Sorry for the serious post. I just wanted to give some insight into what's really going on in Mexico. Things aren't always pretty- although I still LOVE Mexico and I may never come back to the US!
Not quite. While this means that things are cheaper for me, life is getting harder and harder for Mexicans. The government is using their reserves to try to stablize the peso, and it's simply not working. If the exchange rate continues in this direction, Mexico could face a horrible economic reality: a devaluation. It could happen while I'm here, or soon after. But it seems like a devaluation is going to happen.
If the peso is devalued, the exchange rate will be set at some random number, like 6 pesos per USD. Going from 15 pesos to a USD to 6 pesos per USD will have devastating effects on every person in Mexico. Their savings will be worth 1/2 of what it is today. Yet the cost of living will remain the same. If someone had 100,000 pesos in the bank, it will only be worth 50,000. Imagine if you lost half of your savings overnight. What would you do?
Everyone is hoping that a devaluation won't happen, and personally I hope it doesn't happen until after May 10th. Suddenly having to pay twice as much for things will impact me. But on the other hand, the exchange rate can't keep getting higher. Mexico's stuck in between a rock and a hard place. Finacial crisis will impact Mexico severely. It's only a matter of time- sadly enough.
Sorry for the serious post. I just wanted to give some insight into what's really going on in Mexico. Things aren't always pretty- although I still LOVE Mexico and I may never come back to the US!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Salsa!
Tonight we had our dance class, and it's starting to get more interesting now that we've learned the basic steps. And a lot harder! Tonight we got in pairs and learned how to salsa dance in couples. Oh boy do I feel sorry for those people on dancing with the stars! I fell once, only because the floor was a little slippery. However, I danced better than I expected to dance. It was fun and we spent most of the dance laughing at how bad we were. Sara and I make a good pair, because we're both a little klutzy! :)
Now my body is tired and I'm sure I'll be a little sore in the morning from all the shaking and jumping we did tonight!
Now my body is tired and I'm sure I'll be a little sore in the morning from all the shaking and jumping we did tonight!
Puerto Morelos
This weekend Sara and I went to Puerto Morelos, as I mentioned last week. Puerto Morelos is about 30 minutes south of Cancun, on the Caribbean Sea. Man it was beautiful! We were lucky enough to get a little hut that was right on the beach. The only downfall was that the place was about a 30 minute walk along the beach from town. However, it was a beautiful and peaceful walk.
The town of Puerto Morelos was originally a small fishing village. However, in recent years a lot of development has happened. There are now huge beach homes and enormous resorts all along the beach, and everything is expensive. That's why we were so far out of town- to get a decently priced room. There are a ton of Americans and Canadians who vacations, or maybe even live there. Basically the town is become a suburb of Cancun for older people. It's a little sad to see the Westernization of the pretty little town.
Anyways, the town was really neat, and getting to see the Caribbean was an unforgettable experience. The water is so incredibly blue, it really does look like pictures of the Caribbean. It was neat to see that in person. And the beach was a white sand beach, so soft and comfy to walk on! I could get used to that!
On Saturday we went to this neat little taco place on the main square (almost all Mexican towns seem to have a central plaza). There were signatures and messages all over the wall! We found out that the restaurant has only been open since January, but the food and service was amazing. Sara and I had some really yummy tacos al pastor. At the end of our dinner, we were handed markers, and we got to sign the wall! That was fun! So now there's a little bit of Iowa represented in a small restaurant in Mexico.
On Sunday morning Sara and I finally got our chance to snorkel. We found a shop that would take us on a 3 site tour for about $25 USD. This was a great deal because most places were offereing 2 sites for $30 USD. You know how I love a bargain! The snorkeling was amazing! They took us out to the reef near Puerto Morelos, which is a national wildlife reserve. We had to wear life jackets to keep us from diving down, since it was protected. That was fine with me! The only bad part was that we couldn't wear sunscreen, unless it was biodegradable. I didn't have that kind, so I wore a t-shirt. My legs got a little burned, but not too bad. I was worth it to see the amazing reef! There were so many fish and different types of coral! I felt like I was in the movie Finding Nemo! I'm definitely hoping to go snorkeling again during spring break. It was an incredible experience!
After snorkeling we had to ride the bus back. After 2 different buses and about 4 1/2 to 5 hours of riding, we made it back to Merida. Then I had to do my homework! Ick... But the weekend was awesome! I can't wait to go back to the Caribbean for spring break!
The town of Puerto Morelos was originally a small fishing village. However, in recent years a lot of development has happened. There are now huge beach homes and enormous resorts all along the beach, and everything is expensive. That's why we were so far out of town- to get a decently priced room. There are a ton of Americans and Canadians who vacations, or maybe even live there. Basically the town is become a suburb of Cancun for older people. It's a little sad to see the Westernization of the pretty little town.
Anyways, the town was really neat, and getting to see the Caribbean was an unforgettable experience. The water is so incredibly blue, it really does look like pictures of the Caribbean. It was neat to see that in person. And the beach was a white sand beach, so soft and comfy to walk on! I could get used to that!
On Saturday we went to this neat little taco place on the main square (almost all Mexican towns seem to have a central plaza). There were signatures and messages all over the wall! We found out that the restaurant has only been open since January, but the food and service was amazing. Sara and I had some really yummy tacos al pastor. At the end of our dinner, we were handed markers, and we got to sign the wall! That was fun! So now there's a little bit of Iowa represented in a small restaurant in Mexico.
On Sunday morning Sara and I finally got our chance to snorkel. We found a shop that would take us on a 3 site tour for about $25 USD. This was a great deal because most places were offereing 2 sites for $30 USD. You know how I love a bargain! The snorkeling was amazing! They took us out to the reef near Puerto Morelos, which is a national wildlife reserve. We had to wear life jackets to keep us from diving down, since it was protected. That was fine with me! The only bad part was that we couldn't wear sunscreen, unless it was biodegradable. I didn't have that kind, so I wore a t-shirt. My legs got a little burned, but not too bad. I was worth it to see the amazing reef! There were so many fish and different types of coral! I felt like I was in the movie Finding Nemo! I'm definitely hoping to go snorkeling again during spring break. It was an incredible experience!
After snorkeling we had to ride the bus back. After 2 different buses and about 4 1/2 to 5 hours of riding, we made it back to Merida. Then I had to do my homework! Ick... But the weekend was awesome! I can't wait to go back to the Caribbean for spring break!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Back from the Beach
Well, I'm back after a fun and eventful weekend. However, a 2 1/2 hour snorkel tour and then 4-5 hours of bus rides really wiped me out! Tomorrow I'll post about this weekend at Puerto Morelos, since I've still got homework to do, and I'm exhausted.
But I had an amazing weekend on the Caribbean!
But I had an amazing weekend on the Caribbean!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Safety in Mexico
I've noticed that news of the Mexican drug cartels are seeping into the US media. Mexico is basically in a state of war against the drug cartels: a war that Mexico is going to lose unless it gets some help.
Northern Mexico is a violent area, and people are being killed everyday, especially policemen. Government officials who stand up against the drug cartel leaders are at extremely high risk, and many are eventually kidnapped and killed.
I'm only mentioning this because I want everyone to know that the Yucatan is SAFE! The drug violence is mainly concentrated on the US border, and I'm about as far away from the US as I can be in Mexico. The Yucatan, for the time being, is mainly unaffected from the violence. Furthermore, Mérida is probably the safest place in the Yucatan. So nobody needs to worry about my safety, or whether the violence is anywhere close to me.
But pay attention to the coverage of the drug war! It's on the US's doorstep, and we should be concerned about it.
Northern Mexico is a violent area, and people are being killed everyday, especially policemen. Government officials who stand up against the drug cartel leaders are at extremely high risk, and many are eventually kidnapped and killed.
I'm only mentioning this because I want everyone to know that the Yucatan is SAFE! The drug violence is mainly concentrated on the US border, and I'm about as far away from the US as I can be in Mexico. The Yucatan, for the time being, is mainly unaffected from the violence. Furthermore, Mérida is probably the safest place in the Yucatan. So nobody needs to worry about my safety, or whether the violence is anywhere close to me.
But pay attention to the coverage of the drug war! It's on the US's doorstep, and we should be concerned about it.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Preparing for a Trip
This weekend is our second free travel weekend, and Sara and I are off to the Caribbean! We're going to a small fishing village about 30 minutes south (?) of Cancun, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. We really wanted to hit the Caribbean coast this weekend, but we don't quite appreciate loud touristy areas. Thus our choice of Puerto Morelos. It has beautiful beaches without all the craziness of Cancun. And the reef there is part of a national park, so it's said to be beautiful. We're planning on snorkeling, which I'm super excited about.
I had to go to Walmart today to find some underwater disposable cameras to take with me. I usually would just go to the Super Bodega or the Mega, since Walmart is a bus ride away, while I can walk to the other places. But Valerie said my best bet at finding the camera was a Wally World. Sara and I managed to get on the wrong bus (completely my fault) and we wound up downtown. It was fine because we just found the Walmart bus downtown, which was easy. Then after we were done in Walmart, we managed to get on another wrong bus! Luck wasn't with me today...it turned a few blocks earlier than we wanted, but we just ended up walking a couple extra blocks. All was good! Maybe someday I'll figure out where the Walmart buses are hiding, but probably not. I'll just avoid it! :)
Anyways, tomorrow right after breakfast we're off to the bus station for a 4 to 4 1/2 bus ride. We're getting one of the nicer buses, in hopes that the ride won't seem too long. When the difference between the prices is just a few bucks, going for the luxury class is so worth it. Just take a long bus ride in Mexico, and you'll see what I mean!
I hope to have a very interesting blog when I get back from Puerto Morelos. But hopefully I won't have a sunburn!
I had to go to Walmart today to find some underwater disposable cameras to take with me. I usually would just go to the Super Bodega or the Mega, since Walmart is a bus ride away, while I can walk to the other places. But Valerie said my best bet at finding the camera was a Wally World. Sara and I managed to get on the wrong bus (completely my fault) and we wound up downtown. It was fine because we just found the Walmart bus downtown, which was easy. Then after we were done in Walmart, we managed to get on another wrong bus! Luck wasn't with me today...it turned a few blocks earlier than we wanted, but we just ended up walking a couple extra blocks. All was good! Maybe someday I'll figure out where the Walmart buses are hiding, but probably not. I'll just avoid it! :)
Anyways, tomorrow right after breakfast we're off to the bus station for a 4 to 4 1/2 bus ride. We're getting one of the nicer buses, in hopes that the ride won't seem too long. When the difference between the prices is just a few bucks, going for the luxury class is so worth it. Just take a long bus ride in Mexico, and you'll see what I mean!
I hope to have a very interesting blog when I get back from Puerto Morelos. But hopefully I won't have a sunburn!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Carnaval 2009
Tuesday evening marked the end of the week long celebration of Carnaval in Mérida. Carnaval is somewhat similar to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, just not quite as crazy. There are parades and concerts, and a lot of beer is usually involved (not for me). Mérida's Carnaval is in the top 5 carnavals in Mexico, and in the top 12 carnaval in Central and South America. It was pretty amazing to see such a huge event. This morning the newspaper said over 650,000 people participated in Carnaval in Mérida! Ay! I believe it, because when I went down to the Paseo, the main street where Carnval was happening, the 6 lane road was packed from side to side with people.
All along the Paseo (a few miles) there were stages with music and dancers, vendors, and lots of Sol stands-the most popular Mexican beer. Young teens were walking around with cans of Sol, as were the little old ladies. Everyone was pushing and prodding, and I finally had to elbow my way through the crowd. Erin and I were trying to find some other friends, which never happened. It was just way too busy. I did enjoying seeing the sites and feeling like I was part of the celebration. Now I can always say that I went to one of the best Carnavals in the world. However, I don't quite have the desire to go back- it was a little too crowded for me!
The interesting part was the the city basically shut down on Monday and Tuesday. Schools were closed, heck, everything was closed. We still had class, except for our evening class, but that was rare! The roads by our house were packed by the time the evening parade started, even though we're probably a mile or so from the action. It was interesting to see how the festival affected the city.
Today's Ash Wednesday, which means those who partied last night are likely in church preparing for 40 days of Lent. Mexico is very Catholic, and I'm sure the churches are busy today! Adios Carnaval!
All along the Paseo (a few miles) there were stages with music and dancers, vendors, and lots of Sol stands-the most popular Mexican beer. Young teens were walking around with cans of Sol, as were the little old ladies. Everyone was pushing and prodding, and I finally had to elbow my way through the crowd. Erin and I were trying to find some other friends, which never happened. It was just way too busy. I did enjoying seeing the sites and feeling like I was part of the celebration. Now I can always say that I went to one of the best Carnavals in the world. However, I don't quite have the desire to go back- it was a little too crowded for me!
The interesting part was the the city basically shut down on Monday and Tuesday. Schools were closed, heck, everything was closed. We still had class, except for our evening class, but that was rare! The roads by our house were packed by the time the evening parade started, even though we're probably a mile or so from the action. It was interesting to see how the festival affected the city.
Today's Ash Wednesday, which means those who partied last night are likely in church preparing for 40 days of Lent. Mexico is very Catholic, and I'm sure the churches are busy today! Adios Carnaval!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Out of the Loop
One thing about studying abroad is that I have to work to find news from the US. Of course, Mexican newspaper have information about the US, but I feel like I'm isolated from everything that's happening in my home country. I haven't figured out if that's a good or bad thing yet. I just know that reading about things online or in a foreign newspaper is different than living it. Val, our program director, just came back from the US. She was surprised with how much the economy is dominating the US news. I honestly haven't thought much about the recession, expect that the exchange rate is just getting better and better for us. I know that's a bad thing, especially for Mexico, who is trying to stop the devaluation- with little to no success. I worries me because Mexico is bordering on become a failed state, where all government processes just fail to work anymore. The economic problems have a little to do with that, the drug cartels are the main problem.
I guess being in another country during the recession, the worst financial crisis of my life, gives me different perspective. I see here that life doesn't have to be full of luxuries. I knew that before, but living here without those luxuries (like AC, TV, DVDs, video games, fancy cars and houses) I realize living without something like Television is kind of nice. We can survive just fine without having the newest and latest things. Eveyone here can. I'm not entirely sure what I'm trying to say, other than that I'm not so worried about the future of the economy. Well, other than paying off student loans. But I'm going to ignore that for the time being. Countries have survived worse things economically, and in the US we are still living nicely. Maybe having to cut back on a few things is good...although I'm still really glad I have facebook, email, and my blog. I'd be really lonely with them!
I just realized that President Obama may be speaking about the economy to Congress now. Interesting that I should choose now to write this post.
I guess being in another country during the recession, the worst financial crisis of my life, gives me different perspective. I see here that life doesn't have to be full of luxuries. I knew that before, but living here without those luxuries (like AC, TV, DVDs, video games, fancy cars and houses) I realize living without something like Television is kind of nice. We can survive just fine without having the newest and latest things. Eveyone here can. I'm not entirely sure what I'm trying to say, other than that I'm not so worried about the future of the economy. Well, other than paying off student loans. But I'm going to ignore that for the time being. Countries have survived worse things economically, and in the US we are still living nicely. Maybe having to cut back on a few things is good...although I'm still really glad I have facebook, email, and my blog. I'd be really lonely with them!
I just realized that President Obama may be speaking about the economy to Congress now. Interesting that I should choose now to write this post.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Kiuic Pictures
The whole group at the top of a big pyramid in Uxmal. It was quite a climb, but how often can you say that you climbed a pyramid?
A sideways picture of me at Uxmal. Can you see the tiny people by my head? Yup, they're at the bottom. It was a long ways to go without railings or anything to keep me from falling! It was fun though, and a nice little workout.
Kiuic is a place where Jaguars reside in nature. As such, we saw some evidence of these cats- huge claw marks in the tree. And check out how high they were- up to Robin's head. I was careful and a little paranoid when I had to go outside at night. I don't want to get caugh by one of these fellows!
This is what a ruin site may look like when it's discovered. Most of the structure has fallen down- 1500 years will do that to buildings. But archiologists can excavate areas and reconstruct them, given enough time and money.
This is me at the top of the lookout tower in Kiuic. You can see the Puuc hills behind me. The trees were interesting- it almost looked like fall. There were lots of bare trees and leaves covered the ground- in February. It's the dry season in the Yucatan, so the leaves drop now rather than in autumn. It was beautiful!
Kiuic
We spent most of the weekend at a biocultural reserve in Kiuic. Biocultural reserve means that they not only try to preserve the ruins and protect them, but they also work to preserve the natural environment. It was great to participate in ecotourism! We stayed in huts, which were actually pretty nice. There was electricity, but no warm water. And we were given a hammock and a blanket to sleep with. Luckily, they were high quality hammocks, which is really good when you're sleeping in it for the night. Unfortunately, it was a colder weekend, and we froze during the night. I ended up covering up with my towel along with the blanket because I got so cold. The daytime temperatures were perfect though.
When we first arrived at Kaxil Kiuic (the reserve), we went on a short hike up a big hill to a lookout tower. We were in the Puuc hill region of the Yucatan, so the landscape was filled with huge hills. The view from the tower was awesome. The sun was starting to set, and the breeze was wonderful.
The next morning we went on a hike around the reserve and looked at the ruins from the old Mayan city of Kiuic. In many places in the Yucatan, ruins are reconstructed to look pretty for tourists. Often times, the architecture may be inaccurate, and few sites are studied thoroughly. They're used mainly for tourist money. At Kiuic, many of the ruins are in their natural state. It was neat to see them as they were discovered. Obviously that means that we didn't see huge temples or intricate carvings. But we saw houses and smaller temples and all sorts of carvings. Sometimes all we saw was a pile of rocks and rubble. But it was still neat to see!
That afternoon, we climbed the stairway to heaven. It's a path up a huge hill. On top are some ruins from Kiuic, many of which are in bad condition. Very little restoration has happened up on the hill top. I don't blame it because the climb was not fun! I huffed and puffed and finally made it up without falling. The view was once again amazing. We arrived there about the time the sun was setting, so I got to see another pretty sunset. We walked by one tree and saw HUGE claw marks about the height of my head. Kiuic is in jaguar country. That was a little scary! Luckily the Jaguars left us alone...although a little wild pig wasn't so lucky. One of the dogs on the reserve showed up with a severed head of a tiny pig- likely killed my a pretty big cat!
Kiuic was a very interesting place, and I'm glad I had the chance to go, even if sleeping in a hammock in the cold wasn't so fun. Climbing hills and seeing beautiful sites and ruins was worth every minute!
When we first arrived at Kaxil Kiuic (the reserve), we went on a short hike up a big hill to a lookout tower. We were in the Puuc hill region of the Yucatan, so the landscape was filled with huge hills. The view from the tower was awesome. The sun was starting to set, and the breeze was wonderful.
The next morning we went on a hike around the reserve and looked at the ruins from the old Mayan city of Kiuic. In many places in the Yucatan, ruins are reconstructed to look pretty for tourists. Often times, the architecture may be inaccurate, and few sites are studied thoroughly. They're used mainly for tourist money. At Kiuic, many of the ruins are in their natural state. It was neat to see them as they were discovered. Obviously that means that we didn't see huge temples or intricate carvings. But we saw houses and smaller temples and all sorts of carvings. Sometimes all we saw was a pile of rocks and rubble. But it was still neat to see!
That afternoon, we climbed the stairway to heaven. It's a path up a huge hill. On top are some ruins from Kiuic, many of which are in bad condition. Very little restoration has happened up on the hill top. I don't blame it because the climb was not fun! I huffed and puffed and finally made it up without falling. The view was once again amazing. We arrived there about the time the sun was setting, so I got to see another pretty sunset. We walked by one tree and saw HUGE claw marks about the height of my head. Kiuic is in jaguar country. That was a little scary! Luckily the Jaguars left us alone...although a little wild pig wasn't so lucky. One of the dogs on the reserve showed up with a severed head of a tiny pig- likely killed my a pretty big cat!
Kiuic was a very interesting place, and I'm glad I had the chance to go, even if sleeping in a hammock in the cold wasn't so fun. Climbing hills and seeing beautiful sites and ruins was worth every minute!
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