January 10, 2009

Well, it is a pleasure to report that today went pretty well. I got to sleep in a little and then we walked around Merida (which was rather boring). I say it was boring because it was relatively impossible to hear what was being said and I was turned around so it wasn’t really helping me get to know where things were or anything. After that though, we went to Progresso, the playa (beach).

For a round-trip ticket it was 24 pesos which is less than $2.40. The bus was really nice too, with the carpet seats and that sort of thing; like a coach bus. At the beach, Chelsea and I had Dominoes pepperoni pizza, Coca Cola Lights, and Cinnamon bread. To eat without having to think about it was amazing. And the pizza was pretty good, too. I think the Dominoes up at SU is still objectively better, but this was quite good pizza in out little out-of-the-States situation. This pizza and cinnamon bread did have a small draw back: first there was one bee, and then it was like a children’s book because it finally went away (much to my relief) but came back with a friend, then they went away and brought back two more friends until we had 8 bees flying around with a generally panic-y me. Chelsea saved the day though, she put the boxes under a towel until the bees went away and we were able to eat a slice at a time in relative peace.
The weather was pretty nice at the beach and the water was decently warm (kind of cool but definitely not cold). Because it was getting to be late afternoon though and it was somewhat cloudy it didn’t seem like it stayed warm here for too long. We ended up going back around 4 or so.

So we got on the bus with our tickets and got off a little later than was perhaps necessary, but this was only going to save us a little bit of walking so neither or us really minded. We get on the 52 Norte bus and made sure it passed by the round about near our houses and chill out for the ride. That’s where the confusion was. You see, Chelsea’s mom seemed to say that the bus would turn around and we could get off on the same side of the street as our houses. Well, after we had passed by the round about and such, the bus driver looks at us and says effectively “…weren’t you supposed to get off at that round about?” At which point I basically just shrug and say yeah but oh well.

Hahaha, so we road around on the bus for a while longer. Tonight my 5 peso bus ride went pretty far. If we do that every time, then we’ll get the most ride for our money. In reality this was our plan, not like we actually forgot to get off the bus or any nonsense like that.

After that I came back to the house, Chelsea and I decided not to go out again tonight. It was a pleasant day and getting smashed just wasn’t quite on the menu for today. That gave me a little time to make a phone call or two (one of which worked and the other one a certain someone needs to learn to pick of their phone because this is the 2nd/4th time this week I’ve attempted to call with no success…at least it sounded like the phone was on this time…?) Oh well, it’s all good. Mayhaps tomorrow.

I put pictures on facebook from the day (and a couple from earlier in the week). You can look at them here if you like; a lot of them are kind of boring—just buildings and the like, but if you want a glimpse of Merida that’s why they’re there. =)

Well, for the rest of the night I think I’m going to do some reading and that sort of thing. A nice close to a pretty good day.

Cheers! <3>