The pyramid and ball court
A Hacienda for lunch and then on to Merida, the capital of the Yucatan.
Merida - City life in the Yucatan
Ballet Folklorico
In every city park there are signs posted similar to our public service announcements.
Silvia, an English teacher in Uman just outside of Merida.
We meet with Secondario (Jr. High) teacher-advisors and teachers for two hours one morning. It was wonderful to have conversations with teachers. The Advisors or Counselors to teachers is similar to my position as an academic coach – professional development. They observe classrooms and found that few teachers had students work on group projects. Because of that, last year teachers were trained in group projects, asked to complete a group project with their students and bring the group work and experience to a large state-wide training the week of July 4, 2011. Both of the teachers said that group work took up too much time and didn’t work with their students. They preferred students to work alone and complete individual portfolios.
Sign Language interpreters are called ghosts because they shadow their students and speak for them.
English teachers teach the English language using the students' culture not an English speaking culture. Many languages in the USA are taught to students for use in travel outside of their city/country. In the USA, the food, celebrations and culture of that language are mostly taught through the target language. In the Yucatan, English is taught to be used in their city and students learn English through their own food, celebrations and culture not the culture of English speaking people.
Huge murals by Fernando Castro Pacheco in the government building that told the story of the Maya and the negative impact of the Spanish conquest. In the colonial cities there has been a much greater focus on New Spain than on the Maya.
Sisal was the "Indian's master" and he needed to break the colonial chains.
4th of July
Jacques brought out American flags and played the National Anthem and My Country 'Tis of Thee.
Hacienda Sotuto de Peon
I felt that I was experiencing the industrial revolution with the long and complicated production of henequen (sisal) moving from individuals to multiple machines.
Sisal is the port city in the Yucatan that was stamped on the henequen before it was exported. When other countries received the bales of henequen with Sisal stamped on it, they thought that was the name of the fiber. To this day, most people outside of the Yucatan still call this fiber sisal.
Steam provided fuel for machines. Wood and sisal pulp was burned and now diesel fuel is used.
Traditional Mayan home w/ Antonio and a sisal hammock
To find a cenote, an underground pool, in the Yucatan, look for a large poplar tree. Every cenote has large poplar tree at its entrance and the roots drink from the cenote’s fresh water. This cenote is protected more than most and everyone must shower before entering the water.
Lunch w/ jicama con cilantro, jus de jamaica y un margarita con sisal juice/pulp
Becal
“The city of Becal is like swiss cheese” . Yucatan imported this plant used to weave 'panama' hats, from Ecuador. We rode bicycle taxis to one home where the family has dug a cave to make Panama hats using palm.
The cave was hot and stifling, I cannot imagine being in there for more than 30 minutes!
Campeche
We arrived just in time for the beautiful sunset over the Bay of Campeche and then the dark clouds and rain rolled in that made the town square sparkle. Campeche is a colonial walled city that was attacked by pirates on several occasions, seriously.
Campeche is also the most fit city I have ever witnessed. Along the bay is a sea walk where people run, jog, walk, participate in group fitness classes and tae kwon do every morning and afternoon.
"The pedestrian is first"
Coconut shrimp - a local specialty
Xpicob turtle conservation camp, Bay of Campeche - Miguel is a marine biologist and started this camp 7 years ago. We met and spoke with wonderful people, kayaked in the bay and released to the sea the 7-year old turtle pictured below - absolutely amazing!
Cancun
Rain will welcome us to Mexico with Tropical Storm Arlene, "Heavy rains, flash flooding and mudslides will be the main dangers in Mexico". Arlene will be ahead us by 1-2 days and she should not have a big impact on our our travels or on Mexico.
CEYTE technical school, Cancun, Mexico
The staff and students were generous hosts as they toured us around their school, presented, made lunch for us and performed music and traditional dances.
Their biggest problem is that students do not know how to study - sound familiar? As the school is in Cancun, students can choose one of these four areas of study - Tourism, Maintenance, Biology and Electricity. Taking care of the environment was an important part of the the students ecology lessons and there were many posters and signs reminding students to recycle and take care of the earth.
Valladolid
A beautiful colonial town with an amazing square, architecture, streets and delicious food.
Our hotel-
Browsing titles from the public library with Bruno Mars' Just The Way You Are playing in the next room.
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