Chiapas Part 2

The last part of our Chiapas trip was spent in Palenque, Mayan ruins that were built around 500 AD. You read about the history of Palenque here. Very interesting and VERY beautiful! Most of the ruins were overgrown by trees and in the middle of the jungle. Most of these pictures were taken in the "downtown" area so there were some clearings for public gatherings. But it was all still in the middle of the Jungle..."Legends of the Hidden Temple" anyone?!?

Chiapas: Part One

Stop One was Chiapa de Corzo and the Cañon del Sumidero. Chiapa de Corzo is a quiant little town along the Rio Grijalva. We stayed in a hotel in the town square where they had this gazebo, built in 1562 to look like the Spanish Crown.
We took a boat ride through the canyon and it was absolutely beautiful. I think one of my favorite parts was a waterfall that had left mineral deposits on the rock overtime, and had taken the shape of a Christmas tree, which is exactly what they called it, "The Christmas Tree."

After the canyon, we headed to a town called San Cristobal de las Casas, where the temperature dropped to about 50 at night and it felt amazing. It is a sweet colonial town surrounded by a lot of indigenous towns. One day we went with a friend of the hostel manager to visit these sweet ladies who have their own fabric and weaving co-op. They made their own clothes, tapestries, table cloths, blankets, scarves, you name it. They dressed Rosalyn and I in their traditional outfits, but Ros has the picture so it will come later. We also got to have lunch with them and hang out for a little bit which was maybe one of my favorite parts of the trip!This is a picture taken from an indigenous cemetary on the top of a hill overlooking the town of Zinacantan...one of the indigenous towns we visited.

Vacation

So obviously I haven't been blogging lately...hopefully you've been getting my updates in person :). I was in the Carolinas until June 25 and then headed back to Mexico on Wednesday. On the 26th my friend Rosalyn and I got on a plane to go to Chiapas, a state in southern MX. Anyway, my trip home was wonderful. Lots of time with family and friends, a trip to S.C., a trip to the beach, 2 wedding showers, babies, toddlers, cute pregnant bellies, and even a trip to my faithful dentist who told me that I actually have zero cavities and no signs of tooth decay. It was a wonderful summer!! Now if only Meredith would have her baby and someone would invent teleportation...I think I'd have it made.

Chiapas pictures coming soon. Also, don't forget to pray for Martha Hopper :).

Parking Attendant

So a few posts ago I told you about the parking attendant that told me he'd been to North Carolina. Since that visit, I have actually stopped going to that grocery store because, every time I went after that, as soon as I got out of my car he'd yell "North Carolina! North Carolina!" and then when I came back out he'd repeat it all over again. Needless to say, I appreciate it, but it is driving me insane so I just either walk, so he doesn't know its me, or go to another store farther away.

In other news, I'll be in NC starting THIS Saturday until July 20. I'm ready for vacation.

Mosquitos

(Side note, decided to hold off on the fillings for awhile...going to my dentist at home this summer because he's the only dr. who has ever made any decisions about my mouth)

There is a family of mosquitoes that has been living in my room. Everytime I come home they are there to greet me and eat me. I've killed at least 5 but I'm sure they've been breeding because they are EVERYWHERE. I wake up in the morning with countless bites, including at least 4 on my face at the moment. Thankfully they don't itch much, they're just annoying.

The sad thing is, I didn't get my first mosquito bite until I was in college! My sister was always the mosquito magnet and I was spared. I decided that since I'm their only option, they've decided to make the most of it and have a feast every night when I'm sleeping.

So here's the dilemma...start sleeping under the covers again even though it is hot as blazes, or get eaten by bugs for another week (or sleep in bug spray, but that means I'd have to buy some)

dentist visit

For the first time in my life, I went to a new dentist. I've had the same dentist since I can remember, but he's a little hard to get to and pay for when you live in Mexico. So, the next best thing is my coworker's wife who I know and like, and will see later tonight at a birthday party.
With that said...
She cleaned my teeth then proceeded to tell me that I have 16, yes, 16 cavities. I've never had a cavity in my life. Apparently, the water here doesn't have fluoride in it and that is part of the reason. So, I'm going back twice in the next two weeks to get some of them filled. She even took pictures to show me and put on my file, so I definitely believe her.
Fun times.

What I love about Mexico this week...

1. I tutor a Korean girl every week who is freakin' awesome. The other day, a water delivery man knocked on their door to ask when they wanted their water. Water man talked to me in Spanish, I translated to kid in English, kid translated to Mom in Korean, Mom answered the kid, kid answered me, I answered water man, and so on. It was pretty hysterical and we all sounded like idiots talking about water in three different languages.

2. I just went to the grocery store and first heard Alanis Morrisette play, followed by Faith Hill "Just Breathe." Random blasts from the past are a daily occurrence in public places...they love some old school English music.

3. A parking lot attendant outside the grocery store saw my license plate and was anxiously waiting for me to come back out so he could tell me that he used to live in Atlanta and sometimes worked in Raleigh and Charlotte (not "Sharlotte" but "CHarlotte").

4. Matacanes. aka the Playground for Adults, handcrafted by the Big Man Himself.

Here is the short 38 second version...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn5A02GkW0M&feature=related

And here is the long version...(You may want to mute your computer)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIjx9bsvArA
Then watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNQWA4SlPoI&feature=related

5. Night swims in the pool...too bad I'm moving in a month...hopefully to an apt. that I'll tell you about as soon as the papers are signed. Until then, you can pray that it works out because I kind of LOVE it.