Hola From Isla Mujeres

Buenos dias amigos!

This morning I turned my mobile phone on for the first time since Wednesday night, and the phone kept beeping--indicators of several new text messages. The messages were cryptic, "Everything ok?" I started to have a difficult time breathing after the fourth such message. Then I scrolled up to a text from Shad which confirmed that he was okay and mentioned the bridge collapse. I caught a cab downtown and found an internet cafe to read the news. Wow. I can´t even imagine what the atmosphere in the Twin Cities must be like right now. Reading the news here in Isla, I feel a little bit weepy. I was relieved to read that the death toll is lower than initially predicted, though how terrifying and sad for the survivors and other Twin Citians.

I have been having the most amazing time ever here in Isla Mujeres. Everything is more perfect than perfect. We have a house right on the Carribean, and it is in a less populated part of the island and we have our own private piece of the coastline. It is secluded, beautiful, and absolutely amazing. I slept outside the first night and will continue to do so as often as possible until we leave.

On Wednesday we took a bus to Merida, where we were hosted by Gio´s family. Gio is the boyfriend of Summ´s good friend Gianne. His family was so generous and just wonderful. We stayed in their home and they cooked delicious meals and took us all over the place.

Yesterday was one of the best days ever. After spending the night in hammocks (traditional in the Yucatan) we had a delicious breakfast prepared by Tia Coty (Gio´s aunt). After breakfast, other members of the family met us and drove us to Mayapan--Mayan ruins. Gio´s family is Mayan; they speak Mayan and Spanish at home. They drove us through all of these amazing little villages (pueblas?) and we ended up in this tiny village where we had lunch in a little shack and then rode into the jungle for an hour on a cart that was pulled by a horse along a narrow rail track. According to Tia Coty, the trail has existed for over 300 years; it was used to extract from the jungle a type of fiber (I forget what it is called) that was a major source of wealth for the Yucatan. Now people use the trail to get to the sonotas (may be misspelling), these incredible underground sea caves where we could go swimming and diving. It is only one track, so when we encountered someone heading in the opposite direction, one of the cars would have to unload and get off the track.

Swimming in the sea caves was one of the most amazing things I have ever done. These particular caves were pretty far off the beaten path, so there was hardly anyone there. There were a few people when we arrived but they left and we had the place to ourselves. We crept down slippery rickety stairs to reach the water, which was deep blue and of course completely surrounded by the cave, save for a hole near the top where the light shone in. There were stalagtites and creepy vine things and bats flying around. The water was absolutely clear and perfect for swimming. There was a platform from which you could jump into the water, Sarah estimated it to be about six meters high, which may not seem very high to you, gentle reader, but please trust me on this. It was absolutely terrifying to dive into the cave from this platform. It was so vertiginously, breathtakingly, pants-pissingly high, and you don´t really know where the bottom of the water is, you just know it is incredibly deep, and worse than the fear of diving so far you won´t come back is the fear that you will dive right into the wide open mouth of a creepy sea cave monster or crack your head open on a stalagmite. One of the most thrilling things I have ever done. I did it twice.

Well, my plan was to sit around all day and read a book (or books?). We get some great shade on the back patio (the side that faces the sea) in the afternoon and evening so perhaps I will pick up some sundries (am in particular need of some good coffee to mix with my kahlua in the morning), find some tasty tacos, and head back there. Poor Geoff had a bout of food poisoning yesterday but it looks like he is rallying. Other than that, we are all great.

Hasta Luego!