We go to Acapulco for the weekend!

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September 10, 2002

Hola mis estudiantes y amigos,

I am trying to do something a little different with my pictures since they are coming out too big for everyone’s computer. Let’s hope I work out the kinks soon!

I am including a picture of Sarah doing her math in our room. I took it at a smaller setting on my camera, so maybe it will be better.

We just began our second week at the university. Things are going well except that Sarah’s stomach hurts her a bit. We think it is from swimming in Acapulco Bay. It is certainly a sad commentary on the cleanliness of the water.

We did have a wonderful time in Acapulco, however. We have wonderful pictures and video of the cliff divers, the beaches and all manner of crazy happenings on the main boulevard that runs along the bay called “La Costera.” We stayed in a hotel where we were the only Americans and hung out on a beach where we were the only Americans. We went out to eat where we were the only Americans. The only place we saw other foreigners was when we went to the edge of the cliff outside of town called “La Quebrada” (from quebrar, to break!) to watch the famous Acapulco cliff divers. Hopefully the pictures turned out and I will include some here.

Sarah wanted so very much to rent a jet ski and we did. She also got her hair braided in cornrows which looked pretty cool. The beaches in Mexico are different from ours in that here you can rent an umbrella, table and chairs (that are already placed on the beach for you) all day for 20 pesos, roughly $2.00. A waiter served us food and drinks. We shared a chilled green coconut with a straw coming out of it. It is one of our favorite beverages. Every few minutes people came by trying to sell us things like beaded jewelry, clothing, tacos, shells, doughnuts, braids in our hair, massages, tattoos, fish, shrimp, and cut fruit, such as papayas, mangos, pineapple and watermelon,

The weather was very, very hot though. Woo! It was hot all day and all night. Luckily we had an air conditioned room.

The ride there on a bus (equipped with American movies dubbed over in Spanish) was spectacular. We crossed through green tropical mountains laced with big muddy rivers and clear-running streams where people were washing their clothes much as they have done for generations. On our way out to the coast and when we returned we hit heavy rain showers when we were in the mountains. There was a mudslide and an area where the road had been washed out on our way back. We also had to pass through a military check point where they were searching for drugs or arms. They went through all our bags stored under the bus as we watched. I tried to take video but it was not allowed. So much here is very different than what we are used to, but there is actually so much that is very similar.

It has just started to rain. We get a thunder storm almost every night. I had to unplug the laptop, but I am still using it under battery power. I’ll keep you posted as best I can. Hopefully you will see the pictures below. I hope you are all safe and sound tomorrow.

Adios, Senora Merritt