Is it really half way done...?

The weekend in Patzcuaro was phenomenal. Started by visiting temple ruins called Yacates - they were built to honor the hummingbird. Of course after I snapped my first couple of pics, my digital card was full and all my spares were in Morelia. So - once again - thank goodness for Wren :) He took all the shots I wanted - he humors me well.

In Patzcuaro we toured a couple of museums and of course several churches. We were in one church near Tzintzutzan (<- my new favorite word, I haven´t said it right yet, but that hasn´t stopped me from saying it lots) where they have this intense life-size Christ that had been encased in this glass box and apparently it´s been growing and is now too big for it´s box. I´m not sure how that happened - of course here it´s considered a miracle. There is a lot of speculation that because it´s carved out of wood, it just expanded with moisture...

Wren and I spent the night in Patzcuaro after the rest of the students left. We got a room at Hotel Patzcuaro for $400 pesos ($40) that had 2 beds in 2 separate rooms and a tv. More expensive then normal, but there was a convention in town of the Amber Cross that had increased the rates. Lots of shopping at the Mercado - I bought some beautiful robozos which are shawls that indigineous women wear tht serve a variety of purposes - warmth, baby slings, carrying food, head coverings, etc... Bought some pottery, some leather, an amazing dress for my incoming niece. Negotiating is typical and expected and I find myself going back and forth over $5 pesos and walking away if I don´t get my way - only to kick myself later when I realized that I just passed up something amazing cause they wouldn´t come down 50 cents.

The weather has been wonderful - afternoon showers are typical, but it means that it´s not muggy and it´s not too hot. Incredible lightning and thunder are the norm too. I´ve still been doing a great deal of walking, but less since my lil curb/falling down catastrophe. I´m trying to tell myself that it´s not infected - and its ok Mom, cause I really don´t think it is - but it is a lil gooey and nasty now.

Today I meet with a sex educator here who works in the schools. She is an English major at the college here so that should help our communication a bunch. I´ve been trying to get into COSIDA - the local AIDS agency - but have had no luck reaching them by phone. Tomorrow I´ll just head over there and introduce myself. I have been talking with a number of the teachers here at the school about the HIV rates in Mexico and have learned some interesting stuff. If you ask local Mexicans where the majority of HIV comes from, they will tell you it´s from the people who work in the States and contract it there and then bring it back to their families here. But the people who specialize in migrant workers say that there is no data supporting that theory at all. That its a way for Mexico to ignore their own rising HIV epidemic and blame it on the States. I´ll be curious to know how that coincides with what the folks at COSIDA tell me...

Its time for this kid to get some lunch. Not sure what yet - maybe a plate of carne asada from the lil place near the school? And then home for my afternoon siesta and out for some shopping :)

Home in a few weeks - and then its time for camp. Must make sure that I take time to reflect on everything...

Miss you,
-Niki