Yucatan Day 7: Rio Lagartos, Merida

Journal entry:

We met Ismael at 6:30 am to go out on the boat. We saw 30-40 different bird species within the first hour. Ismael was very good at identifying both by sight and sound. We walked out to an area where the Phoenicopterus ruber ruber (flamingo) were feeding. They walked away when we got there, but they came back after we hid for a few minutes. On the way back we found 2 horseshoe crabs. Ismael got a fish from a fisherman and fed a common black hawk right in front of us. We saw a crocodile briefly. Then we went to an area that had a salty trench used for processing salt, we floated effortlessly. We also swam in this huge foam pile, it was kind of like being in a foam party. Then it started to itch, so we rinsed off, then painted ourselves head to toe with the unusual mud found there. Our guide called it a "Mayan bath". After the boat ride home we rinsed the mud off in a natural spring just outside town. We had a bus to catch when we got back, so Ismael called in our lunch order and we got our stuff. We ate a quick meal, then Ismael and Chino gave us a ride to the bus station on their scooters. We were off to Merida.
One bus transfer in Tizimin. We had lunch in a restaurant across from the bus station, Erin took pictures of crocodiles and ordered an extra beer on accident. They brought out a turtle shell, I think they were showing off. We arrived in Merida, it was much warmer and busier than any of the previous cities. We meandered the streets to our hostel which was right off the main center plaza. Sunday in Merida was going on - basically a Mexican Saturday market with vendors and fair food. We got mini fried hot dogs w/ french fries, churros and a cup of fruit. We kind of felt sick the rest of the day from all the grease. There was cheap internet downstairs in our hostel. Room was ok, but smoky. We had our laundry done.




Early morning fishing


Aaron took this, it's one of my favorite pictures from this trip.


Tiger heron


Me with flamingos!


Painting ourselves with the mud


Rinsing off


Our guide Ismael, and the lovable Chino


Frigate birds


The hawk with its free meal


The muck we walked through to get to the flamingos




Horseshoe crab helmet!



Jason, we definitely tried these and took this picture for you! They really weren't that bad, the hot dogs with the fried taste of the fries reminded me of a corn dog.


Churros


The awesome bug I found crawling around on my shirt. We happened to be at the hostel, so I had my macro lens, but none of the pictures I took were in focus. It's some sort of leafhopper.