While staying in Merida, I knew I wanted to visit the city of Campeche. Though it’s only a couple of hours by car from Merida, it’s in a different state. (The city’s official name is San Francisco de Campeche, and…
Why Taking A Spanish Class in Mexico for Just One Week Was Worth It
My number one goal while I was in Mexico was to take a Spanish language class. I’ve wanted to learn Spanish ever since I was in 2nd grade when a college student volunteered at our school for a couple days…
Meteors, Raccoons, Coatis, and Why You Should Take a Day Trip from Merida, Mexico, to Progreso Beach and El Corchito
On my first weekend in Merida, Mexico, I asked the receptionist at Casa Garza Hostel for suggestions on where I could go on a half-day trip. He suggested a place I hadn’t heard of or read about on any must-do…
The Time I Hired a Stranger to Take Photos of Me in Mexico
While in Merida, I decided to do something wildly out of character—I hired a stranger to take photos of me. I’ve never felt comfortable in front of a camera. I’m far more comfortable behind the camera, and more often than…
First Impressions of Mérida, My Favorite City in Mexico
When I got off the bus in Merida, it sounded like the birds were having a war with one another. They were tropical birds that I’d never heard before. It was November, but it felt like the middle of summer….
An Introvert’s Guide to Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a magical time. Something comes over people in this city, and it becomes a lawless land of joy and revelry. I grew up in Mississippi just over an hour from New Orleans, so for…
