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! :)
Friday, March 27, 2009
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!
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