Conquistadores, their architecture, and the Mayans that resisted

Our day began at 8am in front of the cathedral in the main square, a historic building that's been through quite a lot!

The cathedral of Merida

Located in the northeast corner of the plaza grande

Many of the stones used to build the cathedral were taken from the Mayan ruins of the ancient city T'ho

The cathedral has stood through cannon fire, revolutions, being used as a stable and army barracks and the looting and burning of the religious adornments.

Heading north!

In the distance, one of the arches that used to divide the social classes of the city. The European and the rich lived inside the arches and the Mayans and the poor lived outside in los barrios

Our group outside of Santa Lucia

Standing at the beginning of Paseo de Montejo, a french-style avenue that marks the beginning of the rest of the city and represents some of the diverse styles of architecture found in the city

Seeing some beautiful buildings

Arriving to the Palacio Canton, an anthropology and archaeology museum

Learning a little bit about the Mayan culture

Looking at pieces of fabric that were salvaged from the sacrificial well of Chichen Itza

Checking out the jewelry from the upper class of Mayan society, necklaces made of jade, bone and shells

After the museum it was time for a paleta and a short break

Feeling refreshed!

Next we took a tour around the Casa de Montejo, the house of the conquistadors

And took time for a group photo!

Our last stop was the Palacio del Gobierno where we saw the murals of Fernando Castro Pacheco that demonstrate some of the highest and lowest points in Yucatecan history.

Then it was time for everyone to head back to their host families houses for lunch and a siesta!

Yaxunah: Our Days in the Pueblo

Before our next adventure began in the community of Yaxunah,Yaxcabá,Yucatán, we first visited the traditional pottery studio “Najil Kat” belonging to the family Espadas Xooc, in Uayma. Here, the students had the chance to explore the diverse materials and traditional techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation in this family of artists. With the help of Virgilio, we learned about the many types of local soil and clay that are mixed to make a diverse range of creations like vases, plates, mugs, toys, musical instruments, incense holders and more. As part of the workshop, each student sculpted their own little artistic creation, exploring their creativity and the skills necessary to work with the clay. Similar to the time spent in the city of Mérida, the families in Yaxunah are an invaluable aspect for the students to settle into the rhythm of everyday life. The arrival to Yaxunah marks the beginning of a beautiful new family relationship. Students can make s...

Immersion Practicum and Ninth Intercultural Unversity Forum 2025

In the final part of the Yucatan Program, our students have the opportunity to complete their Spanish Language and Cultural Immersion Practicum while living in a community apart from the group for three weeks. At this point they get to put into practice everything they learned during the program, as well as getting to know another host family and interact with new people. During this span of three weeks, the students are visited by their professors to see that they are having a positive experience, and above all to make sure that they don't have any problems in developing their independent project, which they were later able to share with us along with their experiences in a presentation upon their return to Merida. Each student’s experience was unique. In Merida, Emmaline was able to help usher in new life through her experience in the birthing unit of a local hospital. On the coast, Drew and Theo discovered new ways of experimenting with their patience in the co...

A Visit to the Coast and our Return to Merida

A Visit to the Coast and our Return to Merida Before beginning the next stage of our program in San Felipe, a small coastal community on the northern edge of the Yucatan Peninsula, we visited the Biosphere Reserve of Ria Lagartos for a boat tour of the estuary. During this tour, we learned about the importance of different types of mangroves, we saw the diverse species of migratory birds that arrive to nest in this region and we admired the endemic bird species that are a key part of the mangrove ecosystem. We also were lucky enough to see majestic groups of flamingos, different types of fishing eagles, herons, pelicans, cormorants, gulls, frigates, plovers and of course, the stars of the “Ria”, Morelet’s crocodiles! Once in the community of San Felipe, the process of meeting our new host families is always a clash of the nerves and excitement that are natural when entering into a completely new sociocultural context. Above all, it is a new opportunity to meet people with big hear...

Adventures in Yucatan, Mexico

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