Flamgos of Celestun

    I use walking as a way to burn off my excessive taco and pan dulce  calorie consumption. It is very rare that I will get a taxi anywhere, even if I don't know where I am going. Merida is a pretty big city with 3 bus stations, and yesterday I needed to find one of them. I left the house early in the morning to catch a bus to the coastal town of Celestun, where there are huge populations of flamingos, frigates, herons, and pelicans that take refuge in the slough. As I am walking in the direction that my internal compass say is towards the bus, I stop 2 men and ask directions. ATTENTION!! When asking directions of locals NEVER ask a leading question. They will just agree with you!  Anyway... they give me some directions, but I still get lost. For 2 hours.
   During my little wayward walkabout I found the market, which was positive. Mexican markets are gorgeous. There are giant mountains of oranges, towers of bananas, rolling hills of red tomatoes. A girl could spend her day eating her way through the market, but this girl was on a mission. As I was charging head down, full throttle through the walkway, all of a sudden this black furry animal drops from the ceiling into my arms. The market is already a sensory overload, without things falling from the ceiling. It startled me a bit, and I noticed that it was a fake rat. I hear the laughter of two young booth owners, at my expense. I gave them a good you-got-me gesture, and headed on my way.

Celestun flamigo reserve. 

   When I arrived in Celestun I happened to get grouped with a family of 4 visiting Merida from Mexico City. This was such great luck for me, because not  only were they so much fun to spend the day with, you also have to split the cost of the boat rental tour into the estuary. The tour is about $100 US, and leaves from the bridge of the Ria.

Pelican Island. 

Frigate birds chillin in the breezy Ria.

A little tunnel through the mangroves.

   Flamingo's congregate in big clusters, and create gorgeous pink pods. They are pretty ridiculous when they fly. Their skinny little bodies can't support their long legs.  The estuary also has a pelican island, where the pelicans relax in clusters. At the front of the island hoards of frigate birds hover on the winds above. The mangroves on the edges of the estuary are very important as a source of shelter and breeding ground for many varieties of birds and fish.
 

 After the tour I returned to Merida with my new friends. On the bus ride home Diana, Hiraam, and I chatted the whole 2 1/2 hours. Diana speaks wonderful english, and Hiraam is learning quickly. A good portion of our conversation was about different types of food in Mexico. Naturally, when the bus arrived  we all went to dinner together. Last night I discovered the most delicious dish they have here in the Yucatan- Cochinta Pibil. It is pork that is marinated in a anchiote sauce, then wrapped in a banana leaf and baked in the oven. This makes some juicy mouth watering pork tacos!  I can't wait for lunch today!

    Today I tried to go to the Museo de Mundo Maya, but it was closed. It looked pretty awesome by the head statues outside!  Tonight I take my first night bus, and I'll arrive in the  morning at the Mayan ruins of Palenque!

The family I spent my nature day with. They are visititng from D.F.

Museo de Mundo Maya- from the outside.