Blogs from Merida, Yucatán, Mexico, North America

Yesterday was an odd day. I woke up to find Pete, Joe and Adam (with some encouragement by Hannah) had completely ransaked my facebook page and posted some pretty nasty pictures. I deleted everything, or so I thought - I've still been finding things today - and began plotting my revenge. When Joe or Adam went out, I hid one of every shoe they owned. In the afternoon, whilst Adam was barefoot on the roof, I saw my chance to steal his remaining shoe. I also played some mind games, telling them that Leigh was really upset that they had messaged her boyfriend pretending to be me (she wasn't upset, she thought it was hilarious) and Joe got pretty worried about that. Once Leigh caved in the afternoon and revealed that she wasn't upset, Joe decided ... read more

Sunday 11th March Today marks my first week in Mexico. The last few days have been quite busy. On Thursday, Leigh, Steph and I walked to town and checked out some shops. We tried on a few sombreros. In the afternoon we went to Amore Y Vida, and just sat colouring in with the children and playing games. This time we were with much younger children. It was nice and cool indoors, and there were almost as many volunteers as there were children, so it wasnt too taxing. On the way home, I spotted a supermarket on the dual carriageway that we crossed. Leigh, Steph and I bravely got off the bus in unfamiliar territory and walked to the Supermarket. As we walked accross the car park, we started to hear a roaring engine and a ... read more

Wednesday 7th March Yesterdays project was interesting. We took a bus out of town to a poorer neighbourhood and walked to the orphanage. I think it is a Catholic one. In the yard there was a rusting set of swings and a slide. The children were inside the house and sat watching TV and looking bored. They looked pleased to see us. Their carers didn't seem the most enthusiastic or caring. Some of the kids had physical disabilities but some seemed fine. Simona asked one of the carers what they wanted us to do today. She told us that we were to teach them some English and not let them play ousdie because she didn't want them to get dirty. Like at Kanesin, the other project I am on, it was hard to teach them as ... read more

Saturday 3rd March So this is the start of my big adventure! Today I flew to Mexico, although I won't arrive 'til almost 24 hours after take-off. I am currently somewhere over the atlantic. Saying goodbye went OK, but the hour and a half I had inside the departure lounge at Heathrow dragged. I am sure I will get used to my own company quickly though. The first flight, London-JFK is going brilliantly. The plane is almost empty so I've snagged myself a window seat. I was really excited to fly, not just because I'm going to the other side of the wqorld but because I find flying in itself a big adventure. I last flew when I was 17, over London, the Channel, the Black forest and the Alps. I loved every minute. Today, as ... read more

The only reason that I decided to stay on an extra night in Merida was so that I could go to the bullfight. The bullring is a short five minute walk away from where I'm staying, and as Larry was driving us to the bus station to book our seats he mentioned in passing that there was a bullfight coming up. So although I do not support bullfighting in principle, I made a random decision to buy a ticket to go, which meant staying an extra night. I figured that this is the one and only opportunity I would have to go and it would be an experience I wouldn't get elsewhere. I knew absolutely nothing about bullfighting before I went. It was fascinating, although I was taken aback at how close to the action I ... read more

Busses, cars, and trucks squeeze through the narrow streets of Merida. Fumes and dust turn my clothes gray. Narrow sidewalks are crowded with pedestrians playing chicken: who will be the one to give way by stepping off of the curb into the street? Ear splitting mariachi music blares out of cantinas, sometimes wafting into the doors of an opposing cathedral, where it blends with choir music creating an unholy cacophony. Jerry and I step into the courtyard of Dolores Alba, our colonial-era hotel, and with one step we pass from chaos to serenity. Although partially covered, birds fly in and out. Reproductions of some of Frida Khola's more disturbing paintings hang on the walls. Everyone gathers in a cluster of rocking chairs in one corner of the courtyard where wifi is available. Over skype a woman ... read more

Next stop on the trip is Merida which is situated in the Yucatan peninsula in the east of Mexico. The main draw for Merida (for us anyway), is that it’s a good access point to indulge in tours to Mayan ruins, and in this case arguably probably the most well know one in Mexico being Chichen Itza. Those of you familiar with the recent programme in the UK ‘An Idiot abroad’, will have seen this New Wonder of the world, and also witnessed one Carl Pilkington slate some aspects of the attraction for certain reasons….some of which, I’m sad to say, I actually agree with, which is a massive surprise, but more of that in a moment. On arrival in Merida, we decided to take our usual walk around town to check out what’s going on, ... read more