Snow Day

Over the river and through the woods, climb two mountains to see some butterflies and snow I go. At least that was the plan going into out trip to see the monarch butterflies and see snow on a volcano on Saturday. This excursion was a trip for any student that wanted to go along with the staff and their family's that work at CEMAL. We all got up bright and early and were out the door by 8. After 4 hours of driving we arrived at the butterfly sanctuary in the state of Mexico.The Monarch butterflies migrate through Mexico every year around this time each year. We stood in a very long line , got our tickets to get into the park and then  had to decide if we wanted to walk an hour to get to the top or take a horse with a guide. I choose the horse, and boy am I glad that I did. We literally climbed a mountain , and went straight up forever. I had to duck under branches and trees , but it was a beautiful ride . When we finally got to the top and were in the clearing where the butterflies were suppose to be there were maybe like 50 flying around. Not what is suppose to be there at this time of year. What we were told later was that the bad rains that we had maybe a month ago killed many of the butterflies because it was hail on the top of the mountain . So, we did not see many butterflies , but instead got to see beautiful scenery. After eating lunch at 3 , we got back in the vans and drove an hour to the volcano to see the snow. Normally , we can drive up the volcano to actually get to the snow covered part of the volcano. But because of 2 things , 1. Mexicans do not know how to drive in snow,  2. There was alot of snow , we were not allowed to drive up to the part that we wanted to go to see. So instead we climbed through brush and through the woods, and attempted to get to the snow , but we never did. Many of the people ran ahead and got much further up then I did but even they did not make it to the part with the snow. So instead I got really muddy and got really good exercise by walking up the side of the mountain. It was good exercise because besides the fact that I was walking we were really high up in altitude because of the volcano and because most of Mexico is really high up. We all came back down and ate dinner at the volcano. I had blue tortilla quesidillas, which were really good. And yes Mom I know I should not be eating them but I was hungry and it was going to be 11 by the time we got back to CEMAL. We ate , then piled back into the vans, played 20 questions, and drove back to CEMAL. We had to go a longer way because the way we came on the way to the butterflies and volcano is not safe at night so we went through Mexico City. Mexico city is very pretty in the dark, and it is huge. We dropped off some people in Mexico City that were staying there for the night and then continued to Cuernavaca. I do not remember anything about the trip/ traffic/ how Ismal drove between DF and Cuernavaca because I apparently feel asleep hugging my ipod.  I woke up when we dropped off Ann, the director of our program at her house. I then went to bed after getting back to CEMAL at 11:30.

On our trip we set out to see a trillion butterflies, and see snow on the volcano , but we didn't see either. Instead we had a great day trip, got to interact with the staff and their family, and see more beautiful parts of Mexico.

Now today , I am leaving for the futbol game in Mexico City . I figured out that I am spending more time in a bus and outside of Cuernavaca then I am in Cuernavaca this weekend. But , that the life of Meira la exploradora.

Until next time. Vive, amor y risa.( Live , love , laugh)