Jan 2nd, 2008: Departed San Diego early in the morning and flew direct to Mexico City (or just "Mexico" as they call it down there). Flying into Mexico, I could not believe how big the city was. 22 million people! All crammed into a valley surrounded by mountains and a volcano. Checked into a hostel with friendly staff in a good neighborhood. Ate tacos from a street vendor called "Chupacabras". La Chupacabra is a famous legend/myth in Mexico. This taco stand said it couldn't tell the secret of their excellent tacos, but they were indeed, excellent. Walked through the neighborhood I was staying in and ate "nopalitos", which are the little flat paddle-like cacti (cactuses?).
Jan 3rd, 2008: Saw the city. The first aztec temple was discovered right in the middle of the city square.
Also saw the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace.
Jan 4th, 2008: Went to Teotihuacan today, just outside the main city. It's an old aztec city. It has the infamous pyramid of the sun and pyramid of the moon. It was absolutely amazing. I hiked all the way up to the top of the pyramid of the sun. It was so steep! Thankfully I was in decent shape.
When I went to leave and figure out how to get back to the city, I was pointed to where there were a group of tourists and a couple police officers. They seemed to be waiting for the bus. I asked if I was in the correct spot and everyone said yes (or si, as it were). But for some reason, the buses didn't stop. Even with the officers trying to flag them down. So after a few passed us by, one officer suggested we climb in the back of his partner's truck and he'll drive us to the next stop. So a few of us brave tourists hopped in the back (I figured if all else failed, I could just jump out). He kept driving past where he said he'd drop us off, which got a few of us a little worried. I envisioned this going very badly. But then he pulled in front of a bus that was coming at us and put his lights on. Thankfully the bus stopped and let us all on. The officer was a hero for the day!
Jan 5th,2008: Took the subway and trolley to a place in the southern part of the city called Xochimilco (so-chi-mil-co). I had read there were old canals there that they now have tourist boats on. I guess the canals use to be ancient floating gardens, and of course the waterways to get the goods moved. After a mad scavenger hunt to find this place, I arrived at a very quiet and peaceful waterway. The guys push the flat bottomed boats along the canal with a big long stick. Other boats float by selling food and playing music. It was a relaxing change to the big city life.
Went to a beautiful park that they had in the middle of the city and saw a few more museums. Had a bad pizza from the subway... attempted to fix it with more food and lots of liquids.
Jan 6th,2008: In bed all day feeling extremely ill. Vomited last night. Too weak to get out of bed. Managed to get up later in the day to go to the market and buy bananas, crackers and soup. Hardly survived it.
Jan 7th,2008: Headed to the airport to fly to Cancun. Was feeling a whole lot better. The flight was short and was greeted by tropical weather upon landing in Cancun.
Went straight to the beach.Jan 8th,2008: Went to the beach again, after wandering the coast. There were iguanas all over the beach, like pigeons or squirrels in the US!
Jan 9th,2008: Took a bus from Cancun to Playa del Carmen. Stayed in a cool little hostel where I had a private little hut with an upper loft. Walked along the beach and checked out all the little shops.
Jan 10th,2008: Took a ferry to the island of Cozumel to go snorkling. Cozumel is located along the Great Mayan Reef which is the second largest reef in the world, next to the Great Barrier Reef. Unfortunately, Hurrican Wilma (I think) did some major damage and it isn't what it used to be. It was still gorgeous though. On the way over, flying fish were leaping out of the ocean and flying next to us.
I went to a natural park there, where I snorkled along the reef, checked out the lagoon there, and some native plants on display. It was the most tropical environment I've ever been in. 
People feed the fish there, so they all expect every human to have some. When I got in, I was bombarded with fish swimming towards me frantically. They'd get pretty close and realize I had nothing to give them, and swim on to the next person. It was so cool!Jan 11th,2008: Had so much fun at the park in Cozumel, have decided to go to an Eco-park called Xel-Ha. It was an all inclusive natural water park. All you can eat and drink, plus admission.
There was tons of snorkling available (I got my own set from Robin, my adopted sister, for Christmas), nature walks, lots to see, awesome food, and of course, lots of iguanas running around willy-nilly.
Jan 12th,2008: Went to a place called Tulum, Mayan ruins right on the caribbean sea.
They were pretty amazing to see. But the beach was my absolute favorite. What can I say? I'm a beach girl! 
It was like living in a post-card. I found myself laughing at the absurdity of all.Jan 13th,2008: Taking the bus back to Cancun, so I can fly back home the next day. I'm going to miss the tropical beaches!
Jan 14th, 2008: Going home.
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