Ake

Today there was a field trip for the Art and Architecture class (that about six students are in) with Maite, the teacher. It was optional for the rest of us - and almost everyone decided to go! We went to Ake, an archeological site about an hour away. As always, it was unique from the other Mayan ruins we have seen in the past, and included some new and interesting things to see. We got to see an hacienda (an estate and plantation) that is still owned and partially operated today. Ake is one of the oldest Mayan archaeological sites in the Yucatan, yet it was just recently (in the last 10 years) bought from a private owner to now serve as federal land, and in the last decade is when the majority of restoration/excavation has been done. That's why there are a lot of plants, etc, growing on the pyramids and structures. Some are completely covered! The hacienda is still owned by private owners, and therefore we were not allowed to enter and look around! The hacienda still operates as a producer of the henequin plant, but naturally the workers are no longer slaves like they had been in the past. It was a really great trip - Maite is a fantastic teacher, guide, and all around person, who made our time today even better! On the way back to Mérida, we stopped at another hacienda, that is much more commercialized. It no longer serves the purpose as a plantation, but instead serves as a restaurant, event center, small hotel, a shop, etc. Wow - if only we could move this place to the States. I would have a place to highly recommend for anyone's wedding, quinceañera, anniversary, etc. It was gorgeous. One of the reception halls even had a pool!! You could have part or all of it covered to use as a dance floor as well... Insane. We all survived the heat, which wasn't as bad today - but Maite had us all go into the restaurant and ordered everyone fresh lemonades to combat the exhaustion. And exhausted we were. Upon returning to the Central House, I somehow managed to fall asleep, so I got a nice siesta in for a bit! Then I hung out a little before heading home! Tonight we went to Chili Moon, an outdoor lounge/restaurant/I don't know what to call it :) It was SO much fun!!! You pay one amount to enter, and then food and drinks are covered! There was music for dancing, lots of tables to hang out and chat, and they whipped out confetti, balloons, men on stilts... it was a party! I think we were the easiest guests they've had in a while - instead of Tony (our server) running back and forth to fill up Coca Light - he just brought a huge two liter as well as a pitcher of strawberry smoothie! We were the outcasts, but we had the most fun :) They had all sorts of food on a buffet as well as other cooks making tacos, hamburgers, nachos, wings, etc. Now it's late/early in the morning, and I'm wiped out! Mexico has now jumped ahead an hour, so we're back on track with the Midwest time zone! Here are some pictures from my day!

One of the pyramids at Ake 

Much of the city that surrounds the ruins is made of stones from the pyramids,
which people have taken without thinking twice.

In the columns!

Looking out to the hacienda

Maite!!! The Art and Architecture teacher!

The group of students that made the brave climb to the top of one of the
pyramids! Worth the work for the view!

In the machine house where they process henequin plants which yield coarse
fibers to make twine and ropes

This is still used for production work today. Most of the damage was actually
done by a hurricane which devastated the area 10 years ago.

The henequin plant's leaves before processing

The carts on the train track which is used to transport the fibers

Emily and I with the plants!

The church next to the hacienda

At the second hacienda - a beautiful reception hall

Our little friend!!

Statue in the garden at the hacienda

Bright patterned flags!

Maite giving our new deer friend some water

We named him Francisco Roberto

Hillary Clinton has visited there!