Oh, Mexico: It sounds so simple I just got to go.

Kevin served in the Mexico Merida Mission for the LDS church. In March, Kevin finished his 2 years of service. With the end of the semester, this was our chance to go visit where Kevin has spent the last 2 years. We left the Saturday after graduation on the 3rd of May. With my new camera in tow, we had a lot of fun and did a lot of activities. I think I got a picture of everything!

Saturday - Day 1: Our plane (Mike and I, Kevin, Karen and Bill) landed in Cancun. After spending 2 ½ hours in customs and immigration, we rented a rent car drove 4 hours to Merida to find hotel. We stayed the night at Hotel Champs and ate some yummy empenadas. It was at this point I decided Kevin could dictate everything I ate for the next 10 days.






Sunday - Day 2: We had the great opportunity to go to church in a pueblo called "Bacca". Mike translated the meetings to me all through church. Different country but the same gospel. That night after visiting 3 families and getting 13 itchy bug bits below my ankles, I ate the best meal of the entire trip: Nachos al Pastor.






Monday - Day 3: Our first adventure in a Mayan ruin. We visited Uxmal (“ooosh-mahl” which means Built Three Times). Estimated to be established in 500 with no new construction after 1200. The people who lived here experienced a 2-3 month drought each year. With no rain and no rivers and no wells, they survived from the water they collected in their aquaducts for the other months of the year. It was estimated that the aquaducts held enough water to sustain 30,000 people for that period of drought. After visiting the ruin, we spent the afternoon shopping in Merida in the markets. (Note to Patrick: I had fajitas for dinner).








Tuesday - Day 4: Our last day in Merida! We drove half way to Cancun in the morning and spent the majority of the day in Chichen Itza (meaning “at the mouth of the well of the Itza). This 4 sq. mile ancient city was built around 600 AD and includes the famous Temple of Kukulkan (aka Quetzalcoatl). On the spring and fall equinox you can see a snake's shadow decending the stairs of this massive structure. there's also an ancient ball court...kinda like an ancient soccer field where the winning team captain is sacrificed to the Gods. After 5 really hot and cool hours at Chetzen we vistited a cenota in Valladolid. After that we returned our rental car in Cancun and made our way to our beach front hotel.






Wednesday - Day 5: This day we took an excursion from our Cancun hotel to Playa del Carmen where we took a ferry across to Cozumel and went snorkeling. This was a great day! I saw a baracooda and ate the best taco i have ever eaten in my entire life.






Thursday – Day 6: This was our first Beach Day! We layed out, started a new book (A Year in Provance), drank virgin pina coladas at the pool---it was a fabulous day in Cancun. We also enjoyed the all-you-can-eat buffet. (needless today, we ate ourselves sick). That night, we got dessert at the big fancy Cancun mall and found a scary live-statue!






Friday – Day 7: With Steve and April finally in Mexico with the rest of us, we spent Friday taking an excursion to Tulum and then playing in a crystal clear Cenote. After, we played 3 hours of pool volleyball. Unfortunately, Karen couldn't play because she got a nasty sprain at the Mayan ruins.
Enjoy our pictures of jumping into the Cenote; Mike did a back flip, Kevin did a belly flop and I just did a grab.










Saturday – Day 8: We spent the day in Xcaret: Mexico meets Sea World meets raging waters? It's an interactive nature reserve.








Sunday – Day 9: We had the wonderful opportunity to go to church yet again in Mexico. Mike (again) transalted EVERYTHING for me, and Karen got called on in every class (Sunday school twice and she gave the opening prayer in relief society! All in spanish!) I had my last bit of Tacos al Pastor (tear) and we met some wonderful families that took care of Kevin while he was on his mission. All the people we met talked about how much they loved Kevin. It was neat to meet this wonderful people.





Monday – Day 10: With our plane taking of in the afternoon, we only had a few more moments to enjoy on the beach. After Mike, Kevin and I work up extra early to watch the sunrise, we spent the morning getting tan and searching for sea shells! Then we said goodbye to our Tacos al Pastor and flew home. What a wonderful trip!





Here's a slide show of some of our pictures. To view the photos Mike and I took, click here. To view Kevin's pictures, click here.