Mexico: Cozumel Island

After pulling an all-nighter on Friday, Chiao-ih drove me around in the morning to finish a few things (thanks Chiao-ih!!!)...and then dropped me off at the airport in tears. A little bit from the lack of sleep, but mostly it was just sad to say good-bye to my family and friends and to Utah, which has been my home for 31 years. Other than a quarter abroad in Morelia, Mexico during undergrad and my 7 weeks in Samara, Costa Rica earlier this year...I´ve only left Utah for a few weeks at a time. Well, I cried all the way through security, and also left 2 boobing messages for my sister while on the tarmac. But once I was air born, I felt really happy. After the night of no sleep and 2 dramamines, I couldn´t force myself awake if I wanted. I slept all the way to Cancun airport. I collected my 50 pounds of luggage (44 in my big backpack and 6 in small backpack) and thankfully I got the ¨green light¨ in customs so they didn´t check my stuff.

From Cancun airport I took my first bus ride of the trip 45 minutes south to Playa del Carmen where I then took the ferry to Cozumel Island. I arrived at the hotel about 7pm where I had a small dinner before going to bed to catch up on my sleep.

My mom, dad, Aunt Michelle and Uncle Bob arrived around noon on Sunday when we proceeded to hit the open bar. Since then we´ve done a lot of hanging at the beach. Dad and I went diving yesterday. The diving in Cozumel has always been amazing. I heard it had gotten bad after they were it by a hurricane a couple years ago. However, it is back to how it was when I came for my first drive trip here with my Aunt and Uncle around 10 years ago. We saw turtles, a spotted eagle ray, barracudas, lobsters, lots of fish, 1 white tip reef shark, 2 black tip reef sharks and 4 or 5 nurse sharks. Dive sites were Palancar Horseshoe and Cedar Pass.

Today we rented a car and drove around the island...well the southern part of the island which is paved. We went to Punta Sur (Southern Pointe) where there is an ecological park. We saw crocodiles, a small Mayan Ruin (left), climbed a lighthouse (bottom/left, a view out the lighthouse window) and had a beer on the beach (below/left). We then headed north on the Atlantic side of the island and had lunch (we´re getting really sick of the bad all-inclusive food) and cervezas. After that we went to some Mayan Ruins called San Gervasio. More info on San Gervasio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Gervasio_(Maya_site). Dad and Uncle Bob stayed in the car for a siesta while Mom, Aunt Michelle and I traipsed around the hot, mosquito infested jungle.



It´s hot here, but not too hot. Some of you know I went totally off air conditioning while in Costa Rica. I plan to do that this trip as well. But, at this resort it has proven to be a bit difficult. I slept without AC the first night but the rooms are so humid from the humidity outside but also from the AC units constantly running. So after having the AC off all night, I had a layer of water throughout the entire room. It was like a skating rink walking around with my flip flops. So, I´m back on AC in order to keep the room relatively dry, but will kick that habit when I leave on Sunday. The mosquitoes here are relentless, worse than it´s ever been here. We´ve already bought 3 $8 bottles of repellent. Total jip, but what are you going to do. It will be cheaper when I get back to the mainland, so I´ll stock up there.

So 4 nights/3 days left with the family in Cozumel before I fly to Flores, Guatemala on Sunday. It´s been nice having this ¨buffer week¨with them before I break out on my own. My parents and I have cried...they are worried, but are also excited for me and understand that it´s something I want and need to do. I also decided to pony up the $266 to fly to Flores instead of taking the 12+ hour bus ride. That made them feel a little better.

I have free internet here, so I´ll probably do another short post on Saturday.

Also at the risk of everyone I know hating me, I just have to say, I´m really enjoying the no work thing so far!!! :)