Ruins, Rias and Bike Rides- our trip around Yucatan

For the past two days we have been traveling around the peninsula and seeing some pretty amazing sites. Our first morning was an early one, at 6:30am we rode bikes to see a milpa, the traditional form of rotation agriculture in the Yucatan.

It was a beautiful, cool morning

The fields look a lot different from the agriculture that we are used to. The useful trees are kept instead of cut down, like these guano trees whose leaves are used to make the thatched roof of the homes.

With our guides

After breakfast we headed off to the Mayan ruins, but had time to braid hair in the van!

We had some coconuts first to keep our energy up for all the walking!

Karla explains a little bit about the archaeological site

The group at the base of a ceiba, the sacred tree of the Mayans. We thunked it a few times to hear the sound the hollow trunk makes.

This tree was thought to connect the heavens with the earth and the underworld

Exploring ancient bedrooms

Karla explains the estella which was an announcement written in stone to tell the people of a new ruler or conquest

Getting ready to climb to the top of the big pyramid!

They're going to make it!

We met some Mayans on the way out and took the opportunity to take a few fun pictures.

These young men dress up as Mayans from long ago, but they really are Mayan and still speak their native language

They live in the next town over, which shares a name with the Mayan ruins. We even saw one fixing his roof later that evening!

Then it was time for another bike ride, but this time to a refreshing cenote!

In the afternoon we tried our hand at hammock weaving

A very tranquilo activity

Different students tried out different weaving techniques

And they had some fun chatting with their hosts, too!

While we were walking around it started to pour, but we caught a picture of the rainbow before running for cover!

They learned quickly!

And some even bought hammocks from their instructors!

The next morning we said goodbye to the eco-cabins and headed to Ria Lagartos for a tour of the mangroves and salt flats.

On our way back into the city we stopped at the general cemetery of Merida, which has a lot of very important people buried there.

We learned a little about the story of Felipe Carillo Puerto, the first socialist governor of Yucatan who translated the constitution into Mayan and began returning land to the native people.

Then we had some time to explore

A HUGE thank you to our driver for two wonderful days of exploration. Hasta luego!

Orientation 2024: A Journey along the East Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula

We began our orientation trip for the College of the Atlantic Yucatan Program on the beautiful eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, in the state of Quintana Roo. We avoided the main tourist hubs of the Riviera while visiting historical sites, influential cities, and small communities that welcomed us in to see how they are working to preserve their environment and maintain cultural practices. Along the way, we met some amazing families, ate delicious food, learned about the history of the peninsula and worked our way closer to our final destination, the city of Merida, capital of the state of Yucatan. Our journey began on the beaches of the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, where we visited one of the most important archeological sites from the Mayan Postclassic period, the ancient city of Zama, better known today as Tulu...

Our Days in Merida

This stage of the program in the capital city of Merida is the first true immersion for our students, They begin to acclimate to the way of life here with their local host families while having daily classes that push them to continue learning while also providing a comfortable space to ask questions and explore concepts. Our adventure in Merida began with a very important element of this program: meeting our host families who will walk hand-in-hand with our students for this first part of the immersion process in the city. It is thanks to our wonderful Yucatecan host families that our students will better adapt to this urban context. Another important and necessary element during our time in Merida are Spanish classes, because the language is key for interacting with, and diving into, the culture. During this class, students not only learn grammar and structure, but also develop their linguistic abilities using colloquial forms of speech. ...

The Beginning of Immersion: Diving In!

During the first part of the student’s time in Merida, meeting and integrating into their host families is probably the most important step in beginning an immersion program. The host families in Mérida are fundamental for the students to adapt to their new urban context. Another important aspect of the students' time in Mérida are their Spanish classes, since the language will allow them to interact and immerse themselves more profoundly in the culture. During these language classes, the students not only learn grammar and structure, but they are also able to develop their own linguistic abilities by sharing, discussing and practicing everyday vocabulary and expressions that they hear outside of the classroom. The culture classes are another key part of the program, they help the students understand diverse aspects of the culture, how a Yucatecan family lives, the differences between interacting in an urban or a rural setting, and provide the hidden historical context for what w...

Adventures in Yucatan, Mexico

Search This Blog