Artiscence

    Cenotes are beautiful pits or sinkholes that expose groundwater. Close to the end of my trip in Mexico, I had the opportunity to visit a cenote. Coming out of Uxmal with the intention of heading back to Cancun, a tiny village lies outside of Uxmal with a small but beautiful cenote. Well out of the main road, the path to the village is not tarred and jagged, with curves and sharp bends and shrubs brushing the sides of the car, till at last we reached the cenote. Almost cavelike in appearance, the cenote was not visible until I descended down a slippery stair case into the cave below.  As I stepped down the stairs (that's me in polka dots), I heard flies whizzing past my ear, felt the hot, humid air getting stronger and the splash of water as people jumped into the cool cenote. Within the cave, there were virtually no instructions about diving into a cenote, just a bright yellow rope to hang onto after the dive. Same rope will provide an anchor to he...

I fell in love with Uxmal because I could climb the walls, the broken stairs, roam the arenas,  and the buildings. Although the big pyramid (Pyramid of the Magician) was restricted (partially), virtually everything else was climbable. This meant, I touched, climbed, sat and immersed myself in the structures around me. Uxmal had something that, Chichen Itza, grand as it may be or Tulum, enticing as it was, didn't have. I felt Umxal gave me more of itself than the other two and I believed I reciprocated. Does that make sense?  Have you ever been to a place that you felt appealed to you in an almost mystifying,  inexplicable way? Umxal is not as touristy as the other two pyramids, yet it was more appealing and its beauty was far extending than the others were. Chichen Itza, although grand, was well over crowed with both tourists and hawkers and other craft-ware sellers, yelling one dollar, in high-pitched tones,  these...

I went on my trip to Mexico by myself, but met two awesome people and became fast friends with them. We took a road trip to Chichen Itza, Merida, Campeche, and Uxmal. We discussed politics, social issues and construct, graduate school, law school, jobs and relationships. We compared life in the U.S, Israel, Austria and parts of Africa using our experiences as focal points. We were different, certainly unique, but those differences were complementary and provided for stimulating conversations. And of course, we took lots and lots of photos, silly photos, serious photos and everything in between. Yay, Starbucks in Merida! Frolicking in the Campeche cathedral Lounging around Uxmal Eating in and experiencing Chichen Itza Enjoying the night life in Merida The best part of friendship is its continuation!

I enjoyed my time in Mexico and I'm glad I got to remember what endeared me to each place I visited while I was there. There is distinction and singularity in each of these places, emphasizing the diversity of peoples, cultures and even geography. Tulum:  An old, mysterious wonder  upon whose face the ocean  splashes its kisses Isla Mujeres: Cabanas on white sands gentle breeze whistles whilst caressing tall palm trees Cancun: Hot, windy, crowdy sophisticated and expensive zona hotelera Chichen Itza: Old, majestic reverence say a prayer here? you just might Brick by brick, a culture lives on Merida: Romantic midnight Here lives a delight that rushes through the wind and into your heart To you, Merida, I stay partial Uxmal: Flirty, fun and friendly A village once stood here And here it remains...without its people Campeche: A world of people A hallowed heritage A world...