IDEALS

by Gary Warren

Early each morning I like to take a fitness walk and to get re-oriented to new places. Here, I also knew it was going to be hot, and it was still cool at 6:30 am. Two of the students beat me to it, and were up and gone before I got out to the street. They jogged in one direction, and I wandered in another (I’m afraid my jogging days are far behind me).

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

After an interesting four weeks our group has arrived in the city of Zihuatanejo. There’s a unique contrast here compared to the places we’ve stayed so far, Cuernavaca, San Cristobal de las Casas, The Lacondon Jungle and Palenque.

by Gary Warren

We have been in Mexico almost a month, in 4 different cities, and 3 different states. We have travelled by van, car, boat, 4 airplanes, the back of dump trucks, and public buses. And lots of walking and climbing.

By Gary Warren

This place has too many tourists, is terribly hot (38+ degrees but they tell me it often goes into the 40’s) and humid, dusty, and the town totally lacks the charm of the other places we have been in. But the archaeological site and the story behind this 2000 year old civilization is pretty impressive. It seemed a shame to come so close to it and not experience it.

By Chrissy Peters

9th day: Today was our adventure to the ruins in Yaxchilan. We took a ride on a motorized fiberglass boat on a river between the Mexican and Guatemala border.

Sunday, March 13, 2010

Woke up early to enjoy one last breakfast in the jungle with our new Mexican friends from the state of Tabasco. The six of us sat together and talked like old friends until it was time to start packing. We exchanged email addresses and hopefully one day we will meet again. Then it was time to go.

I found myself sitting in a small motorized canoe-like boat heading to the ancient ruins of Yaxchilan in Chiapas, Mexico. Wind blowing in my hair we passed families fishing and cleaning their clothes in the rivers tide. I felt as though from where I was sitting I was in the middle of past, present and future.

By Chrissy Peters

I started off the morning running to the washroom and not feeling well at all.

I’m quite impressed with only having a head cold for a couple days throughout the duration of the entire trip. I’ve heard and seen some intense experiences of sickness and traveller’s diarrhea upon other illnesses. I’ve been really strict about being present for everyday even upon the chances of getting sick.

By Chrissy Peters

Today was probably the most fun travel day I have experienced yet. We left our hotel Baron de las Casas around 8:30 in the morning and headed to the Lacondon (jungle!!!) I can honestly tell you I wasn’t looking forward to 7 hours in a car, but enjoyed the view so much that I was awake and excited the whole time.

By Chrissy Peters - Second Year DSW Student