Pascua en Mérida

Last Sunday I had the wonderful joy of spending Easter, or Pascua as it is called in Spanish, with my family in Mérida. We were lucky enough to experience the tradition and culture that is shared in the White City every Sunday. We started our day with a bike ride down the beautiful Paseo de Montejo. Every Sunday in Mérida, Paseo de Montejo is closed down from 8am-12pm to allow families to enjoy the historic street by cruising on bikes, running, or even roller blading. 

Once we completed the route, we returned our bikes and headed to the Centro Historico. One of my favorite parts of Mérida is the main square, Plaza Grande, where the Catholic Cathedral is located. On Sundays, they close down the streets by the square and have an open-air market where vendors sell handmade, traditional goods including hammocks, clothing, and toys. 

On one side of the square is an art museum in the old governor's palace. We discovered this gem when we visited Mérida with Billy's parents, Mrs. Gail and Mr. Steve. The building is filled with breathtaking political murals. From the outside, you can catch a cool view of the Cathedral through the museum's arches. 

Finally, to close out our Sunday in the square, we found our place to watch the traditional Yucatecan dance that takes place at 1pm on the side of the square. The dancers wear traditional garb and dance to familiar songs as a way to honor their culture. 

As you can see, Billy and I had a very memorable Easter with my parents. I wanted to do these activities the last few times that I visited Mérida. I'm glad that I could finally cross them off of my bucket list with people who are special to me. It was definitely a day that I'll never forget!

Turning Lemons into Lemonade

Billy and I woke up on Sunday morning with no plans of doing anything special. We soon realized that we had no internet, which for us means no facebook, emails, texting, or tv. I remembered that the last time that this happened, my friend Luke told me to "go play outside," so that's exactly what we did. We packed some lunch, toilet paper, and water, the essentials, and got on the road. I was especially excited about this trip to the ruins, because it was my first time having my new camera. 

Pelicans relaxing in the sun on the Gulf coast.

Billy was such a good sport during the two and a half hour drive to Edzna, pulling over on the side of the road at any sight of picturesque scenery. I laughed that I'm on my way to becoming a bird watcher or something because my favorite shots were those of the pelicans or iguanas. We also came up with the saying "tap, tap" which was our silly, short-hand way of saying, "Take a picture!" Billy wanted a picture of almost everything in sight, so he was constantly telling me to tap, tap. My favorite spot on the drive was obviously where the pelicans were sitting on the posts right off of the beach. I'd like to take credit for the beauty of the pictures, but it really was just that beautiful. 

Welcome sign at Edzna.

Once we arrived at Edzna, we noticed a sign that says "Mexican Nationals and Permanent Residents do not pay an entry fee on Sundays." Soooo… I confidently walked up to the guard and explained that we, the blonde girl and the non-Spanish speaking white boy, live in Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico and showed him Billy's work visa. Although we aren't technically Permanent Residents, I batted my eyelashes, and we got in free of charge! So basically our whole day of fun was FREE! How often can you say that? Also, I was especially excited that I wasn't shy when speaking Spanish, which is a sign that I'm improving. 

Edificio de los Cinco Pisos

Anyway, the ruins were very beautiful. We could only climb half way up the biggest structure, Edificio de los Cinco Pisos, but it still was a beautiful view from up there. The weather could not have been more perfect, although very warm for January. We explored all of the different structures in the acropolis. Billy would read the signs while I frolicked around either climbing or taking pictures. He'd then let me know that I was standing on something holy or where they would kill people, etc. Where ELSE would I be standing? haha Exploring the ruins really is a lot of fun. The first one we ever went to was so small and in the heat of July, so I didn't think it was my thing. Since, we've been to Uxmal and Edzna which have both been amazing. There is so much history, culture, and beauty to experience in the Yucatan. 

There are signs at each structure explaining what they are in English, Spanish, and Mayan.

When we finished exploring the ruins, they have a picnic area in the parking lot with benches, etc. We set up Billy's iPod speaker, our blanket (soon attacked by giant ants), and started grubbing on our lunch that we had packed. It was PERFECT.

Trips like this one to Edzna remind me how fortunate I am for this experience in Mexico. Life is all about your point of view. Since we've gotten back to Mexico three weeks ago, our electricity has been out for three days, our internet went out twice (both over the entire weekend), the pipes under our kitchen sink broke, and so many other small things that could easily be described as frustrating. However, exploring new places and going on adventures that you'll remember for your entire life quickly remind you of what a blessing it is to be here. Life is what you make it people! Go explore. Do something new! Our internet being out (not ideal) ended up turning into one of my best days since we moved here. How's that for taking lemons and making lemonade?

Rosca de Reyes

Billy and I returned to La Casa Roja after a much needed trip to the United States to see family and friends. Our flight home was eventful as the plane was unable to take off because it was too heavy according to new regulations. Maybe our 200 pounds of luggage and gluttonous eating on the trip had something to do with that, haha. They waited an hour and a half for 7 people to volunteer to get off of the plane. Needless to say no one volunteered, and their next tactic was to remove the last 7 passengers who boarded (ahem, Katelyn and Billy.) Luckily they discovered the whole delay was just a glitch in the system, and the plane was not, in fact, overweight. Yay for not getting kicked off of our flight

After an exhausting day of traveling, we were happy to be home with the dogs. That night, we were invited to a party by our friends Rosa and Lillian to celebrate “King’s Day” which commemorates the arrival of the three wise men. I like to write about things that happen here that my readers aren’t familiar with, and this is the perfect example. The celebration of Epiphany takes place 12 days after Christmas on January 6^th. During this celebration, people share Rosca de Reyes which is very similar to our beloved king cake! The tradition in Mexico is that you buy/make the Rosca de Reyes (king cake) and share it with friends and family. Each person cuts a big piece of the cake until the entire cake is distributed. 

Like the king cake, Rosca de Reyes has baby/doll figurines representative of baby Jesus hidden in the cake. The cake that we had was so big in size that instead of 1 baby, it had 5. I was told that it is common for there to be more than one doll in each cake to help people to share costs. While each person cuts their piece, we chanted “Tamales!” The people who get the dolls are responsible for providing tamales for a celebration on February 2^nd which is Candlemas Day.

The cake itself is also a little different from our king cake. Although it is shaped in an oval ring, Rosca de Reyes is not as sweet as our king cake. It is more of a sweet bread with figs and other dehydrated fruits decorating it. It also had sections covered in a mixture of copious amounts of butter and sugar. Rosa and friends were nice enough to make Chocolate Abuelita, a brand of hot chocolate that is cooked on the stove. We customarily dipped our Rosca de Reyes in our hot chocolate and mmmm was that good! So that’s how we ended our first night back in Carmen, surrounded by friends, wearing shorts and flip flops in January, drinking hot chocolate in 85 degree weather, and experiencing a new cultural tradition. I’d say that’s a good night!

Katy, Memo, y Los Padres

My parents made the trip from Morgan City, La to Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico to visit us! The last time Billy and I had seen them was our trip home in September, so needless to say, I was excited. This has been our longest uninterrupted time in Mexico, and although I know it's only been a few months, I was starting to miss my family. I didn't quite realize how much I missed them until they left yesterday. Once they left I started to get a little sentimental. We had such a great four days, rushing around the Yucatan. I never had a second to stop and soak in the moment. I guess this all goes back to the post reminding everyone to be thankful for their loved ones and to, as cliche as it sounds, tell them you love them every day. 

Mom and Dad,

I had a wonderful trip. Thank you so much for taking time out of your schedules to come see our new home. We really had a wonderful time from Tortugueros to Merida to Uxmal. We made memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you for always being supportive of this adventure that life has chosen for us. I'm happy that even if just for a few days, you could experience it with us. I'm glad that you're home safely, and we will see you before you know it! 

Now that we've gotten the mushy stuff out of the way, let me tell you about our adventures. Thursday was a low key day. Anyone that has flown from Louisiana to Carmen knows that you have to wake up at the crack of dawn and are basically out of commission for the rest of the day. Friday we started the morning with a walk to the school where I volunteer. It was fun to show all of them my classroom and where I spend my days. It was Billy's first time seeing it all as well. Next, we headed to the fish market where we buy fresh seafood every Saturday. It is located downtown near the square with the unique yellow church. We ended the day at our happy place, Tortugueros. We relaxed by the waves and enjoyed the sunshine. Billy did pelican impersonations which was rather comical, and of course posed like he was in a Corona commercial. Family, sunshine, and quality time. What more could a girl want? 

Saturday we packed up the car and headed to Merida. It's a really neat drive along the coast for the first few hours. Merida, or the White City as it is commonly called, is a beautiful colonial city on the Yucatan. It's our halfway point to Cancun. This was our 3rd trip to Merida, but we had yet to see a crucifix that Monsignor Torres who married us had insisted that we see. It was fun to see it for the first time with my parents. The backstory of the cross (let's see if I can get this right) is that it was being made for a much bigger cathedral in Rio de Janeiro, but the Pope for one reason or another got mad at the cathedral in Brazil and sent it to Merida. The cross is almost too large for the space in the cathedral in Merida but stunning to see. The outside of the church is gorgeous as well. I prefer it at night when special lighting gives it a unique accent. After seeing the crucifix and walking around the square, we returned to our hotel via horse and carriage. How fun!

While in Merida, we stayed at Rosas y Xocolate. Rosas y Xocolate is a charming boutique hotel located on the main avenue, Paseo de Montejo, in Merida. The property was transformed from two old haciendas that were remodeled into a hotel and restaurant. Most of the hotel is pink and brown to keep with the theme rosas y xocolate. We were able to buy some delicious Mexican chocolate from the gift store downstairs. The property also had a nice gym, a tequila display, and a wine library. One cool feature of the suites was an outdoor bathtub complete with chocolate soap. I wouldn't advise eating it. :p Saturday night we went to dinner at the on site restaurant which was phenomenal. We don't get such delectable meals in Carmen, so we definitely indulged. After dinner, it was a no brainer to head upstairs to hear some live jazz music at their rooftop bar. We finished the night relaxing on our terrace overlooking Paseo de Montejo. 

Entry way to Rosas y Xocolate.

Wine display in the wine library.

Some of the yummiest chocolate I've ever tasted.

Billy and I being silly while my mom tries to take a nice picture.

Sunday after a wonderful breakfast, we ventured to the Mayan ruins named Uxmal (oosh-mal).  This was exciting for Billy and me because we had never been there before. The first structure that you see, The House of the Magician, is gigantic. I wanted so badly to climb it, but in the last few years they have roped it off. It is breathtaking to see in person. I didn't have high expectations because the only other ruins we have seen were much smaller. We spent hours climbing around the rest of the structures at Uxmal. We even climbed up another one nearly as tall as The House of the Magician. We stopped 2/3 of the way up to take a breath and gain our composure. It's such a rush when you're that high. Climbing down the structure was even more intimidating because it's so steep. It's especially cool to me to see the Mayan ruins because I studied the Mayan culture in a lot of my Spanish classes. It's fun to imagine what their lives were like. We finished the day with a late lunch on the property. We got a late start heading home, but Billy was a trooper and navigated us all the way home. 

Billy and I climbing one of the tallest structures.

My parents in front of the Governor's Palace.

Some of my favorite people.

Wearing our Mexico hats.

As you can see, it was an action packed weekend. To anyone that has the chance, I highly recommend seeing Uxmal. I am very fortunate that I get to spend my days climbing buildings from 500 B.C. and experiencing new cities with the people that I love the most. 

A Time for Thanks

The recent tragedy of Miles Liner losing his life because of a drunk driver has reminded a lot of people what is truly important in life. I'm sure a lot of my friends have been hugging their families a little tighter, being a little less selfish, and hopefully a lot more thankful for what God gives us every day. I know that the past few days Miles and Taylor are in the back of my mind. I've been thanking God each morning that I woke up that day, that Billy is by my side, and that we don't want for anything. We have family that loves us and supports us, friends that are there at a moment's notice, and too many blessings to count. To my friends and family in Berwick, you make me proud to be from a community that pulls together in such a sad time. To those that were close to Miles, keep celebrating his life by sharing all of your wonderful memories of him with others. To my friends and family, each and every one of you are special to me, and I love you. Please pray for the Liner family and those that were close to him. From what I've heard, he was a pretty remarkable guy. No need to wait until Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for today?

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Miles-Liner&lc=7199&pid=160727836&mid=5287134&locale=en-US#.UI6xYg3dqhp.facebook

#MexicoSh*t

I almost titled this blog Mexico Problems or Mexico ish, and I apologize if the title of this post offends anyone. The truth is, nothing quite explains these daily occurrences in Carmen like "Mexico Sh*t." This post is in jest and for your own amusement. I hope a few of our experiences help you to appreciate the little things in life... like brushing your teeth with water from the faucet.

Mexico Sh*t is when...

-The furniture company says your furniture will take only three weeks, and 10 weeks later you still don't have your couches or anything that resembles what you picked out in the catalog.

-A family of four is riding on one moped, without helmets, with an infant sandwiched between two of them. That's safe...

-Opening weekend of the NFL and tennis is playing on ESPN, soccer on every other channel.

-Trucks carrying propane play children's music as they drive through the streets as if they are ice cream trucks.

-Taxis charge you whatever they feel like charging at the moment AND pick up multiple people until their car is full. Hey, new friends!

-Two guys are riding on a motorcycle, hugging each other, while wearing tight pink shirts... and they are just friends.

-It conveniently rains when you have clothes hanging on the line, even though there wasn't a cloud in the sky 10 minutes ago.

-Billy is considered tall.

-Bikes, buses, mopeds, taxis, and pedestrians cut you off while driving. You soon learn to drive like a bat out of hell, driving halfway into a lane hoping the other person stops before they hit you. These driving habits stay with you when you return to the US.

-You run out of water and/or gas so you can't cook or take a hot shower. Wait, you can run out of water? Yep.

-You can't fill your bath tub with more than 4 inches of water. *Refer to above statement.

-You stop at a red light and a guy washes your window even though you told him not to... and you have to pay him.

-Driving 90km/h and then slamming on the break every 100 yards for a speed bump. Tope!

-Mothers and grandmothers sporting stilettos and super tight jeans, even to the grocery store, always making me feel underdressed. Hey, I want to be that sexy!

-There are no stop signs, only arrows painted on buildings in either red or black to let you know who has the right away. Good luck finding the little arrow, in the middle of graffitti-like ads, going 100km/h, as you approach the intersection.

-You justify drinking a beer because you're scared of the water. Alcohol kills germs, right?

-You are five minutes early for appointments, and the person you're meeting is hours late... if he/she shows up at all. This includes set times for deliveries, services for the house, etc. All in the name of island time.

As you can see, life is far from dull in Ciudad del Carmen. Billy and I are really enjoying experiencing a new culture and meeting plenty of new friends. We currently don't have any trips planned back to the US until Christmas. The next few months will give us time to really dig into living abroad and settle down into our new life.  The most important thing is that regardless of all of the "Mexico Sh*t" we are having the time of our lives. I can safely say that we have a newfound appreciation for the little things. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take a very shallow bubble bath. :p