So I had an amazing time in Mexico and I definitely didn't want to leave. I spent my whole week in the Yucatan state and just saw so much. I'll break it down for you and probably in a few days add some pictures.
Saturday, February 22
Flew into Cancun were we proceeded to make a four hour drive to Merida, which is the capital of Yucatan. On our way there we stopped in Valladoild for lunch. Had some pretty good food. Right next to the restaurant there was a beautiful cenote. We then continued on towards Merdia where we stayed in a really nice house that held all 21 of us. As a group we walked through downtown Merdia where we got dinner and then took a cab back and called it a night.
Sunday, February 23
Woke up had a wonderful breakfast prepared by a woman who cooks and cleans the house. We then drove to Celestun where we took a boat tour through an estuary. We saw hundreds and hundreds of flamingos. They are such interesting birds and look beautiful when they fly. While on the boat we drove through the mangroves where we stopped and got out and were able to jump into the water. It was a part where the fresh water meets the salt water. There was a hole where water from under the ground was bubbling up through meeting the salt water from the ocean. After our boat tour we went to the beach jumped in the gulf of mexico and ate lunch at a restaurant where I got a plate of shredded crab meat that was delish. That evening I went into the center of Merdia where I got dinner. Sunday nights they close the streets around the center and let people stroll and dance to live music.
Monday, February 24
We visited Unidad Universiaria de Rehabilitician (UUR) it's a university where students can receive a degree in rehabilitation. There we visited the building and had two lectures; one on Mexico's health care and one on occupational therapy in Mexico. From there we went to a huge mall and got lunch in the food court. It was such a large mall that there was a full size ice skating rink right in the middle of it. Following lunch we went and visited CRIT which is a large outpatient rehabilitation building for children and adolescents with motor impairments. It was a beautiful building that had so much money invested in with high technological equipment. Next we went to CREE which is an institute that works with many individuals with fine motor problems, activities of daily living, and reintegration to work. This institute was lacking in many ways; however, many people go to seek help. That evening we walked to the walmart in Merdia and then picked up Chilis to go, how American of us.
Tuesday, February 25
We left early Tuesday morning for Kaxil Kiuic which is a 4,500 acres large private bioreserve that basically sits in the bottom of Yucatan. On our way there we stopped at a psychiatric hospital in Merdia. It was an interesting institution to see and compare to what we have back home. After attending the ward we got in the car and stopped in Mani for lunch and walked around the town and saw a beautiful church. We finished the drive to Kaxil Kiuic through the rolling hills and arrived to be extremely surprised what we got ourselves into. Kaxil Kiuic means a gathering place in the forest. Here they do biological and archaeological research. Within the reserve they have videos and cameras placed and they are able to see animals. We were able to see pictures and videos of the jaguars, pumas, and ocelots that all live within the reserve. We when arrived a man gave us a lecture on what all Kaxil Kiuic does. We then were able to move in. We slept in hammocks in huts. It was really an interesting experience being in the middle of this huge dry tropical forest with nothing close by. There is one family who lives there and they take care of the huts and prepared out meals for us. This night was the night I had the best meal I had there. They used their hand made fresh tortillas and fried them and put lettuce, chicken, tomato, onion, and avocados on top. It was really amazing.
Wednesday, February 26
This morning we drove to the nearest small town where we saw a clinic that is available for the town. It was interesting and eye opening seeing how little was available for all the people in the town. After meeting with the nurses at the clinic we walked down the street to meet a woman who is a bone doctor. She doesn't speak spanish, she only speaks mayan. We learned that she does deep massage therapy where she manipulates the muscles and the bone to heal. I have pain in my lower back if I stand for long periods of time because of how I place my pelvis in a standing position so I paid 100 pesos and had her massage my lower back. And since then I haven't had any pain and have been making more of an attempt at standing correctly. Following meeting here we went to a woman's house in town and saw how she makes tortillas. After that we headed back to Kaxil Kiuic where we had a great lunch and then took a little nap. Following the nap we took a hike through Kaxil Kiuic. It was really cool because within a thirty minute walk we were able to see remnants of mayan ruins. What made it even cooler is that because Kaxil Kiuic is a private bioreserve, these ruins aren't available for the public to see. So I'm one of a few amount who gets the opportunity to stay on this land and see these ruins. That evening we had a talent show. I have bragging rights as myself and three other girls are the winners of this years talent show. We won 20 dollars. The four of us basically acted out and made fun of our professors and each other.
Thursday, February 27
We left Kaxil Kiuic pretty early and drove to the city of Ticul. The first stop we made was CAM 17 a school for children with special needs. Here we presented the school with gifts we made back home. My roommate and I made a sensory light box that is calming for a child to look at. The lights in the box attract the children and then on the outside we put gel cling window things that provides an interesting texture for the children to touch. The classroom we gave it to, the teacher was so grateful for it and a young girl in a wheelchair immediately started playing with it. After the school we stopped by a nursing home in Ticul. There are ten men and six women currently living there. Which almost all continue to sleep in hammocks. We got lunch and then headed to a potter's house where we met a man who makes pottery/ceramics for a living. He demonstrated how he makes a basic pot and told us all about what it takes to make/dry/bake/paint it all. After meeting with him we drove a bit to meet a shaman. It was an interesting sight to see, nothing I was interested in. There were a few people who did meet with him and ask him to answer questions or ask for a blessing.
Friday, February 28
Friday was probably my favorite day. In the morning we woke up and drove to Uxmal where we saw huge huge maya pyramids. It was just absolutely amazing how these pyramids were built. They are just such beautiful sights. We were able to climb to the top of one and I was breathing heavily for minutes after running to the top. The steps are so steep you have to climb up it at a diagonal. At the top there was a wonderful breathtaking view for miles. After visiting Uxmal we drove a short distance to get lunch and swim in the pool the restaurant had. We played pool games, chicken, and had swiming relay races. We came back and took a short nap before walking over to a building that is like an elderly care where older adults can come during the day and create items that they wish to sell. That evening they put on a dance for us to thank us for coming. We then browsed all that they made, including had sewn hammocks and painted shawls. That evening we prepared for carnaval in Ticul. Most latin american countries spend the weekend celebrating carnaval. Well I've learned that people in Yucatan don't think a party starts until 2am. We got dinner and were prepared to dance the evening away in front of a large stage, but spent most of our time waiting for it to start ha. It was still a nice evening in a pretty city.
Saturday, March 1
We got up really early and left Ticul in order to make the drive to Puerto Morelos. The drive was just over 5 hours. Puerto Morelos is a beach town just south of Cancun. We got there around 2pm where we then we and got on a boat and went snorkeling. Along the beach there they have the second largest coral reef. It was extremely beautiful seeing all kinds of fish among the reef. And I can now say I have snorkeled in the largest and second largest coral reef :] After snorkeling it was getting to be dinner time so we took showers and then went to a restaurant and I got amazing shrimp. Oh the benefits of eating along a coast. We then spent the remainder of our night walking around the center in Puerto Morelos trying to spend the rest of our pesos.
Sunday, March 2
After four hours of sleep I woke up at 3:40am to make the drive just north to the airport to fly home :/
I really can't express how much I loved my week in Mexico. There is always such a negative stigma towards Mexico. Granted they don't have toilet seats, speak a language I don't understand, never had a hot shower, and you don't drink the water, it is just a beautiful state and was a wonderful trip. I would go back in an instant.
