Online Interviews

This year I received my TEFL certificate through International TEFL Academy. I've been featured on the website 'Go Overseas' reviewing my program. If you want to check it out scroll down and click on alumni interviews. :)


http://www.gooverseas.com/teach-abroad/multiple-countries/international-tefl-academy/29139

A Walk Around Puebla

I had been thinking of going to the city of Puebla since it's less than 2 hours from where I currently live, so I made an impromptu trip on Saturday evening. On Saturday mornings I teach the lovely Marilu German and she teaches me Spanish (and sometimes Portuguese and Italian!) After our lesson I booked a hostel, packed my backpack with the essentials and headed off to the ADO station to buy my bus ticket. 

When I arrived in Puebla it was dark and I was seriously considering taking a taxi but I saw the bus the hostel said to take so I jumped on it (before asking the driver if he went to the street I needed to get to...I wanted to be super sure I was on the right bus!). I was able to get a seat and after three stops the bus was packed with people. In Mexico (or at least in the state of Puebla) buses don't announce the names of upcoming stops and the street signs are too small to see so I wasn't exactly sure if my stop was coming up. I knew that the hostel was in the Zocalo (city center) so a few stops after I saw the Zocalo I pushed my way out of the bus. I got off on the wrong stop! So I asked a lady where the street 9 oriente was and she said "Ohhhhh it's so far!" and then she gave me directions. I followed her directions and let me tell you...it was not far! It was maybe 6 or 7 blocks from where she was. Maybe I'm just used to walking? 

I arrived at Hostel Casona Poblana which is really nice! Since I was by myself I stayed in the all girls dorm which wasn't even full (plus it has its own shower!!). The hostel was very neat and clean which I loved. It's right in the city center but luckily my room wasn't loud at all. I met a German girl who was making her way through Mexico to eventually go to Peru. I was able to give her tips for her future trip to Chiapas. There was also a polish woman who has been living in the Yucatan for the last four years. Both of them were really nice to talk to. 

Once I dropped my stuff off I went exploring Puebla at night and loved it. There were so many people out at night and colorful lights highlighting churches and buildings. All of the streets were paved which is a big plus! I bought some dinner and postcards and eventually went to sleep. The next morning I wrote my postcards and explored Puebla during the daytime which was also beautiful. I would love to go back to Puebla and explore more of the city. 

 This guy made those so quick! He also used fire!!

 A very nice confession box

 One of the entrances to the cathedral 

 The architecture in Puebla is beautiful and colorful. 

San Cristobal de Las Casas

The last day in Chiapas for two out of the seven of us was in San Cristobal de Las Casas. The first thing I noticed when we got there was how it wasn't humid like in Villahermosa or Palenque. If you find San Cristobal de Las Casas on a map of Mexico it seems to be in the center of Chiapas. It's in a small valley so that must be part of the reason it's not as humid as the other parts of Chiapas. We went to Iguana Hostel and dropped our stuff off. The American girl who was working there for a few weeks was very friendly and welcoming. She got the job through workaway.info and was eventually making her way up to Merida. After we dropped our stuff off we went to eat and then went on a search for chocolate. We also went to an open air market and explored the city a little more.

I can see why San Cristobal de Las Casas is on many lists of cities to visit in Mexico. It is so picturesque. It has that Spanish feel with the architecture and cobblestone streets. It's surrounded by hills and there are mountains in the distance which looks so beautiful from rooftops. There are many indigenous people and culture to be seen as well as many tourists. That was the first time I'd felt such a touristy presence in a Mexican city. The people dressed so well (I felt so under dressed!) and it was more of a modern scene. I would definitely like to visit this city again. I feel like it has a lot to offer!

 Sooooo close to Guatemala! 

 The colors and patterns are so Mexican. 

A view of outside from inside the chocolate shop. 

Palenque

Our next day in Chiapas was spent in and around Palenque. We woke up very early and were dropped off at the ADO station and left on our journey from Villahermosa to Palenque. I was surprised to see that we weren't riding in a huge charter bus, but in a van like bus (the same structure of the cambios in Tehuacan). The bus wasn't full so everything was fine. Our hostel was called Yaxkin Hostal which I would recommend to anyone in Palenque. It's about a 5 minute walk from the ADO station, maybe even less. We were only there for one night but if I ever to go back to Palenque I would like to stay there again. All 7 of us shared a room that was like a little cabin apart from the main reception area. When we got settled in we started our trip. We paid to ride in one of the tour cambios which actually worked out really well. We were able to see the pyramids of Palenque, a water fall that we didn't plan on seeing (but was actually amazing!) and Agua Azul. At the end of the day we had dinner in the hostel's cafe and went to sleep because we had an early bus ride the next day.

Palenque

Palenque was amazing. We spent a little over an hour there but I could have stayed the whole day! The Mayan pyramids are surrounded by jungle. Palenque wasn't on my bucket list but I'm so glad I saw it. It's so gorgeous that I don't know if I'll be impressed by any other pyramids!

Waterfall
The waterfall was an unexpected journey but it was worth it. We only spent 30 minutes there but that was enough time to walk in the back of the waterfall and get soaked! A few of the people I went with also went into a cave that was behind the waterfall.

 This was the 1st sight of the waterfall. It's very huge in person and you can feel the mist from pretty far away. 

By this point we walked past the back of the waterfall. Behind me is a cave. 

Agua Azul

Finally we made it to Agua Azul. It was great to swim in the water because Palenque is very hot and humid. There weren't too many people at Agua Azul so we had our own little "beach" to ourselves.