When I arrived at Cancun airport this afternoon for my 55 minute flight to Flores, Guatemala, it had been cancelled. The re-route option was to go from Cancun to Mexico City to Guatemala City, overnight stay, to Flores arriving tomorrow mid-day. Because I was already going miss my first day of school, I decided to wait 2 days in Cancun for the next direct flight on Tuesday afternoon. Hopefully I´ll have better luck then.
I am flying Taca air. They put me up in a Courtyard Marriott near the airport. It´s really nice and they are paying for the airport transport and all the meals. I imagine the hotel is pretty different from Doña Zoila Figeroa´s house (the home stay family I am scheduled to stay with in Flores). I guess it will be a few more days until I´m introduced to Guatemalan culture and food.
I assume I´m going to have many unexpected travel hiccups like this one...so the plan is to try to just roll with them and find the positive adventures that come out of the unexpected changes.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Happy Birthday Stipe!
I want to wish a very Happy Birthday to my newphew Stipe who is turning 11 today! ¡Feliz Cumpleaños Stipe! I miss & love you!!!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Mexico: Cozumel Island...leaving tomorrow
The last few days we´ve just been hanging at the beach. My dad and I dove again Thursday and Friday. We saw two big octopus, more nurse sharks and turtles, HUGE parrot fish and lobsters. 
The other night we walked down the beach to eat lobster (veggie dish for me). I tried a bite of the lobster...but didn´t like it. I think I was born a vegetarian. After dinner they gave us free tequila slammers. My mom and I ¨had¨to have a 2nd because we needed photo documentation. Also, being the youngest in in the group, I was roped into a drinking contest, which, of course, I won. It was a bit painful - brain freeze. We (3 other women and I) had to drink a frozen strawberry daiquiri through a straw and the first to finish won a koozie.
It has rained the past two days, so I caught up on some reading and also did my laundry. $12 for 1 load in the washer and 1 load in the dryer...self-serv. Yikes. The resort we are staying is at the South end of Cozumel...about 15 minute taxi ride to the town square. So they have quite a captive audience with the things you have to buy...although it´s all inclusive with the food and drinks.
Well, tomorrow I leave Cozumel. I´ll take a taxi into town, a ferry back to Playa del Carmen, a bus back to Cancun airport and then fly directly to Flores, Guatemala. I´ll write more next week, but I´ll be studying in a Spanish school in Flores for a week and will be staying with a Guatemalan family. The school will be picking me up at the airport...so I should be relatively safe.
Being at the resort I feel like I´m on ¨vacation¨ so it will be good to get out on my own and start exploring a little more.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
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!!! :)
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!!! :)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Me voy mañana… / I leave tomorrow…
Wow. When I started planning this trip 4 months ago, it seemed like it was ages away. Now, I leave tomorrow morning. The time has gone by so quickly this summer as I’ve finished work, moved my things into my sister’s basement, sold my house, sold my car and spent as much time with family and friends as possible.
I guess the thing that both excites and terrifies me the most about this adventure is the openness of it all. I don’t know who, where or how I’ll be at the end of it (…or even when/if it will ‘end’ at all). Mom, don’t stress too much about that last part; eventually my money will run out :).
I can’t thank all of you enough for everything you’ve done for me in the past few months. You’ve taken up a farewell collection that paid for my Yellow Fever and Typhoid vaccinations. You’ve given me wonderful farewell parties. You’ve given me space in your basements. You’ve given me a place to call home. You’ve given me hope, support, encouragement, love and friendship. A million times thank you!
Well, here goes something…
Wish me luck!
I guess the thing that both excites and terrifies me the most about this adventure is the openness of it all. I don’t know who, where or how I’ll be at the end of it (…or even when/if it will ‘end’ at all). Mom, don’t stress too much about that last part; eventually my money will run out :).
I can’t thank all of you enough for everything you’ve done for me in the past few months. You’ve taken up a farewell collection that paid for my Yellow Fever and Typhoid vaccinations. You’ve given me wonderful farewell parties. You’ve given me space in your basements. You’ve given me a place to call home. You’ve given me hope, support, encouragement, love and friendship. A million times thank you!
Well, here goes something…
Wish me luck!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A Special Message for my Nephew Tres
This is a special post for my nephew Tres who is 7 years old. This weekend I taught him how to make a comment on my blog. And if you take a look at my first posting you'll see he's made 3 really cool comments!
Thanks Tres!!! I love you and I bet your haircut looks cool! It was good to see you and your brothers and Betty. Please keep sending me comments. It will help me not get so lonely.
I'm still in Salt Lake City, but will be leaving on Saturday for Mexico! Keep watching my blog for pictures and make sure to have your mom hang up the map I brought you so you can make a mark for each place I visit.
I already miss you!
Love,
Aunt Cori
Thanks Tres!!! I love you and I bet your haircut looks cool! It was good to see you and your brothers and Betty. Please keep sending me comments. It will help me not get so lonely.
I'm still in Salt Lake City, but will be leaving on Saturday for Mexico! Keep watching my blog for pictures and make sure to have your mom hang up the map I brought you so you can make a mark for each place I visit.
I already miss you!
Love,
Aunt Cori
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
For those I haven't had a chance to catch up with yet...
Who? Just me :)
What & Where? I quit my job and am going traveling! Two weeks from today I leave for Cozumel Mexico...one-way ticket. I'll be spending a week there with my family before continuing on my own to Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Then on to Argentina, Chile and Bolivia (Bolivia depends on the political situation improving). Hopefully Peru as well before heading back north to Panama and Costa Rica again. Specific locations and stay durations are open.
When? September 20th through TBD. Late May I'll be back in Utah for a friends wedding...but other than that it's open.
Why? I have found it interesting that when I tell people I'm taking time off to go traveling, they seem to fall into two groups: those who ask 'why' and those who don't. Those who don't ask, don't really need the answer to this question...they already understand. And for those who do ask 'why' and aren't satisfied with my 'why not' answer...here are just a few of my reasons: to learn, explore, experience, grow, discover, contribute...all while improving my Spanish fluency.
How? Nest egg...I'm a saver.
Who? Just me :)
What & Where? I quit my job and am going traveling! Two weeks from today I leave for Cozumel Mexico...one-way ticket. I'll be spending a week there with my family before continuing on my own to Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Then on to Argentina, Chile and Bolivia (Bolivia depends on the political situation improving). Hopefully Peru as well before heading back north to Panama and Costa Rica again. Specific locations and stay durations are open.
When? September 20th through TBD. Late May I'll be back in Utah for a friends wedding...but other than that it's open.
Why? I have found it interesting that when I tell people I'm taking time off to go traveling, they seem to fall into two groups: those who ask 'why' and those who don't. Those who don't ask, don't really need the answer to this question...they already understand. And for those who do ask 'why' and aren't satisfied with my 'why not' answer...here are just a few of my reasons: to learn, explore, experience, grow, discover, contribute...all while improving my Spanish fluency.
How? Nest egg...I'm a saver.