El Caribe: Dos

The second day we drove to Tulum, Mayan ruins on the Caribbean - best of both worlds

there were lizards all over just bathing in the sun

after Tulum we drove through the nastiness of Cancun and took a ferry over to Isla Mujeres where our hotel was

and they loved us

El Caribe: La Primera Dia

This weekend we went to the Caribbean as a group for sun, ruins, and el mar. The first day we visited Chichen Itza, an old Mayan city and one of the new seven wonders of the world. There is a huge temple, an observatory, game field, cenote, and more. As if that is not cool enough, on March 21 (spring solstice) the light hits the large temple just right, allowing the shadow of a snake to creep down and back up the temple, completed by a snake head made of stone that adorns the temple. Who will be there to watch this? Me and about 45,000 other people. 

the crew

the main attraction

the observatory to track the stars, especially since in Mayan theory the Earth does not move

the cenote within the city where the Mayans would get intoxicated by and then throw people into as sacrifices, or so scholars say

along the way there were definitely goods for tourists, hammacas as always

we stopped at the Ikil cenote near the ruins for a quick dip and a high jump

(photo courtesy of Stephanie as my memory card decided to quite working)

after Chichen Itza we stayed in a colonial town called Valladolid

the hotel had an awesome view from a large balcony. not only that, but it also had a restaurant where they made the best guacamole right at the table. delicious!

little did we know of the festival going on - much like the Iowa State Fair

or of the parade that would take us there straight from the plaza at the front door of the hotel

there were so many rides ranging from 4 different bumper car stations to a roller coaster

not to mention the mechanical bull that Nadia braved

the food was awesome

For now I am just throwing pics up, but once I have time to sort out and edit you bet there will be more and awesomer pics up!

Mercurocromo

Today I got band-aids. They are the kind with an antiseptic right on them to disinfect the cut, like neosporin. These, however, are not neosporin. They have mercurocromo, a chemical that has been unapproved by the FDA and is unavailable in the U.S. I guess it has mercury in it and they are not sure if it is enough to be harmful or not. I'm kind of like a test subject...

lavanderia

So I just got my laundry done for the first time. If you're like me when I read "laundry mat" in the orientation packet you might assume this means I go to a place, put my clothes in the washer, sit and wait, maybe have ice cream, put them in the dryer, and leave. You would be wrong.

"Doing laundry" means taking my clothes to the lavanderia (which like so many things previously posted has an accent that I don't know how to insert) and drop it off with a guy who at first appears to be a girl given his slim figure, long hair, and that he wears more mascara than me, and then pick it up the next day. In my case I picked up my laundry as well as a few accidental pieces of someone else's laundry, someone else who had a few pieces of mine. That is how I do laundry, all for under $5 USD. The perk? Not doing my own laundry and the awesome scent that Mexican laundry has. So great! 

out with the old, in with the young

So I thought that it wouldn't be as exciting to be in another country for inauguration, especially after witnessing firsthand the excitement built up for Obama in Chicago throughout the election. I could not have been more wrong. It is awesome to see the enthusiasm for Obama in Mexico and other countries throughout the world. The newspaper is jam packed with articles of Obama and more importantly, people here speak highly of our new president and have high hopes for what is to come. 

After writing this post I went to the center where I encountered a group that is actively against Bush and his pro-war policies...

(the bloody hatchet says Irak)

Ruinas, Cenotes - just the beginning

Saturday was a day trip to Dzibilchaltun, a site of Mayan ruins close to where I live. The ruins there are nothing compared with what is coming up in future, but are awing nonetheless. There was also one cenote. The Yucatan does not have many lakes or rivers running on the surface, but underneath there are several cenotes (underground lakes and rivers). They have the bluest water and are inviting to swim in.

After the ruins, we tried to get to the beach and catch a ride in the back of a truck, but were unable to get all the way to the beach. After an hour of waiting for a bus we went back to Merida to reward our great day with dinner in the market and drinks at a cafe.

so i LOVE my wide-angle lens, hands down the best christmas present ever

house of seven dolls, but i can assure you it took more than seven stairs to get there

my underwater camera definitely rivels the lens as the best present ever

the other ruins that we sat by forever waiting for the bus - i'm pretty sure the mayan ruins were better preserved as this probably had a roof at one point

accessories for lunch; today and every other

the crew

Feliz Cumpleanos

Thursday was Tiffany's birthday, so we definitely all had to go out and celebrate DePaul style. We went to her host family's house for cake, out to dinner as a large group, and then topped the night off with dance party at Tequila, a disco near my house. We danced for hours and definitely lived up to the name of the club ;)

me and the birthday girl! (oh, and steve in the background)

at the restaurant - tourist, what?!

Cafe Maya...

... probably the greatest idea that coffee has ever seen! Not to mention the perfect way to top of a night at Merida en Domingo. Here is the deal: a glass rimmed with an orange and sugar then filled with coffee, kahlua, and ice cream. The process of putting it together incoporates an eight minute show with fire, ohs and ahhs, and much deliciousness.

for some reason this is so Arabian nights 

the final product

baile en la calle

Merida has several festivals throughout the week, several of which contain dancing of all sorts. I have seen dancing Yucatecan, Spanish, Mexican, Native, etc. Additionally, there is a festival going on for the month of January that has free events of the arts. There are street perfomances, theater, and so much more available -for free! The other day I went to see a comedy. I'm not quite sure everything that was said, but it was still hilarious! The body language in theater says it all. As if that is not enough, the museum of contemporary art has an exhibit of Picasso until March.

Every Sunday Merida has a festival called Merida en Domingo with tons of food, craft vendors, and most certainly dancing. The streets are blocked off and become filled with dancers moving to the beats of live bands.

making my mom proud, helado mexicana

The festivals also allow the youth to speak out. This was a group singing songs and calling for an end to the Gaza/Israel issue and anyone was free to light a candle.

One Week Today

As of today I have been here for one week. It feels like time has flown, although I also feel like I have been here for a long time since I am somewhat settled. I haven't taken as many pictures as I would have liked, but here are some of the first.

Maria Luisa and me on the tour, she is a student at the Mexican University who is helping the group

it's like christmas in july, but in january

i guess this is what you do when there are no classes on friday