Última foto del grupo con su diploma

Entrega de los diplomas a los chicos

Los estudiantes en la piscina después de la entrega

Visita de las ruinas arqueológicas de Uxmal

Today we went to Uxmal which is an ancient mayan city with many building and pyramids. We got to climb the 75 steps of the small pyramid and explore dark and mysterious rooms. THese rooms had birds and old chewing gum wood that was about 1000 years old. We learned that only the kings were buried and the rest of the Mayans were cremated. We also saw red hand prints on the ceiling and learned about ancient mayans games and rituals. After Uxmal we went to a hôtel because the light show was canceled, we swam in the pool with the fish in it and thoroughly relaxed. Then we went to a delicious buffet, it was the best buffet ever. Then we had a long bus ride back to the school and eventually went back to our houses. It was a very fun and informative day for us espeacilly because of the culture and food at Uxmal.

Lillian and Nora

Cuzuma

Los Tres Cenotes

Today we climbed aboard the tour bus once again and drove to Uzamal aka Tres Cenotes. When we first arrived we climbed off of the bus and into mini carriages on railroad tracks pulled by horses. In groups of 4 we traveled along the rickety tracks about 3 km. We stopped at the first Cenote and got off the tracks, leaving our stuff above ground. We then climbed down a slightly steep set of stairs until we arrived to the water. Everything was dark and we were literally swimming in a cave. It was much different from the first Cenotes we had visited, which were much more tropical. However this water was incredibly clear, bright blue when looking into it and then translucent when swimming in it. There was a point to jump from, from which most of us did jump. After about half an hour of swimming and jumping, we got out, dried off and traveled to the second Cenote. This one was slightly more difficult, as we encountered many wasps when first arriving. From there we had to climb down a slippery wooden ladder to the water, but once we arrived we saw that it was definitely worth it. The water was clear and refreshing once again we swam and jumped as a group. We repeated the same slightly scary climb back up and ran to the carriages away from the wasps. We traveled to the last Cenote, which was a staircase once again (thankfully) and we all climbed down. There were some higher jumping points in this one, both man-made and from the rocks, and most of us jumped. We all swam together, exploring the cave and the water. It was quite refreshing. Yet by the end we were tired and once again we got out, dried off and returned to the bus. The day was filled with water, caves, wasps, jumps, swimming and fun.

Isabel Harvey and Renée Safir

Celestún : en las lanchas

Today was an exciting day in which we could go to the Celestún Natural Reserve and visit the famous flamingos. The weather was good, hot and crispy without much wind. This was a good start towards a potentially exquisite day. We aboanded the but at 9:00 a.m and rode 2 hours to Celestún. When we got off, we could taste the excitement of the National park in the air. We then aboarded little motor boats to tke us into the Mangrove jungle. The view was pleasant, and a fast speed boat with a vigorous driver, made the ride very enjoyable. Then we saw the flamingos. I must say it was quite a disappointment. There were only about 30 flamingos, and there were si little because the tour guide, Enrique, explained that the water level was too high, thus stressing out the flamingos and causing them to go somewhere more shallow. We then drive into the jungle to explore the swampy trees. Interestingly, there was a pool of fresh clean water, contrary to the murky water in the open. The jungle tour was he best part of the trip, the roots and the trees were extremely interesting and the birds and termit nests were interesting as well. After Celestún, we went to the nearby beach to feast and swim. The beach was very nice, but very crowded as well. We swam until we built an appetite and ate delicious fish or chicken at the restaurant ont the shore. After playing and eating most pleasurably, we drove back to the school. Then, because it was so hot, Miguel allowed us to have a pool party. After splashing and laughing, we resided to our home to have a delightful dinner with our awesome mom.

William and Griffin.

Celestún

Chichén Itzá : el pirámide de Kukulkán

Today, our class went to Chichén Itzá, where there are many ruins of the Maya Temples. Thanks to our guide, we learnt about some of the Mayan history and culture. The temples were a magnificent sight and were in a somewhat good state despite their age. After we saw the temples, we went back into the bus to go to a Cenote. Cenotes are underground holes with water that comes from the ground. The water was very clean, and we were able to swim in it. After about an hour of swimming, diving and jumping from the platforms, we went to eat at the buffet in the hotel where the Cenote was. We all had a great time and had a lot of fun.

Leo and Julius.

Las ruinas de Chichén Itzá

El cenote de Ik-Kil

Los alumnos en el cenote

Visita de las ruinas archeológicas de Dzichibaltún

Foto del grupo en la playa de Progreso

Los estudiantes en el autobús

Las Grutas de Lol-Tún

After classes everybody piled into a big blue bus. Then during the next hour and a half we slept, hung out and relaxed. When we arrived in Lol-Tún we walked down a flight of stairs into a deep dark creep crawly cave. We then joined another group and followed a tour guide who explained all of the interesting artifacts of the caves. However we only had enough time to explore 2 of the 7 km of the caves learning about Mayan history and culture. The caves were tall and had different textured rocks with many holes on the walls and ceilings. It was also slippery inside and a couple people fell on their butts. Bats swooped down in the caves and frighten some people. At the end of the walk there were huge holes in the ceiling that allowed the light to flood the area. After we walked back up the stairs we had time to buy some refreshments and snacks. Then we got back on the bus and drove back to the school.

Abbey and Landis.

La foto del grupo

El Convento de San Antonio de Padua

Today, the 7th of april ,we started the day off normally with a morning of school, then took an hour long drive to go to the town of Izamal.In this town we visited a pyrimid after eating at a restaurant, where we enjoyed typical dishes. The food there was delicious but disapeared in seconds because we were so hungry. We then walked to the base of the pyramid which we then had to hike up. This was not the average pyramid like those in Egypt, these were mayan pyramids, this means that they are covered in stairs, and in other words, harder to climb up. the climb up was not as hard as the way down. We were a lot less sensitive to the height, and we even raced up it. We then visited a church, in which they were preparing a re-enactment of jesus' crusifiction, we then were given fifteen minutes of free time before our long bus ride back to the city of Mérida.

Roberto and Sebastian.

Vista del Convento de San Antonio de Padua

Visita de la ciudad de Izamal : Pirámide Kinich Kakmó

Los estudiantes trepando la pirámide

La Vaquería en la Plaza Mayor por la noche

Today was our first day at school. We had our classes early this morning, which were grammar and conversational Spanish. At 1pm we gotout of school, and we had a free afternoon to have lunch with our hostfamily and relax. The day was beautiful and not too hot or sunny, and we ended up going to our friends’ houses and hanging out. At 7pm Miguel came and picked us up and we all went to La Vaqueria to watch a dance done by locals in Mérida. It was a sort of tap dance and in the end the dancers danced with beer bottles on their heads. It was very exciting and fun to watch. We’re looking forward to school tomorrow and visiting the magic town!

Hanna and Nelly.

Las primeras clases en la escuela

Paseo en carreta hasta el museo antropológico de Mérida

El Monumento a la Patria

This is one of the most impressive monument of the city. It is the image of the 28 states of the Mexican Republic and the symbol of the colonial centuries, the Independence, the Reform and the Revolution.

Visita Plaza Mayor de Mérida

This is the oldest cathedral of Mexico which has actually been completely finished. The cathedral is an amalgam of the three important architectural influences, the Mayan, Spanish and the Moorish.

Los estudiantes escuchando al guía

Visita casa del gobernador

The building of the Casa del gobernador is a beautiful functional government building around a patio. The building is replete with paintings that vividly depict the bloody struggle between the Mayans and the Spanish forces. Eventually the Spanish won as the Mayans went back to cultivate corn; a very symbolic and a holy crop for the Mayan culture.

La noche Mejicana

After the students had their first dinner with their families, they got together with friends and teachers for the Noche Mejicana at the Remate. It was their first animated encounter with the folkloric atmostphere of Merida.

Students brimming with happiness

Julius enrapturing the parents...

First meeting with the host families at the airport in Merida

As the group of IHS students bound for their trip arrived at Merida, they were greeted by the host families as well as the coordinator of the programme. They warmly greeted each other and then went on to their homes to a dinner, before setting off for the Noche Mexicana.