Mexican Math (aka The Grapes of Wrath)

90 # of days foreigners have in Guatemala before they have to renew their Visa by jumping the border to Mexico
30 # of hours we spent in a microbus traveling to/from/around Mexico this last week
14 # of pesos you get for 1 US Dollar (it's a good time to visit Mexico!)
13 # of combined ways there are to say the word "vomit" in English and Dutch
12 # of grapes you're supposed to stuff in your mouth as the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve in Mexico
6 # of people we crammed into 1 room for 5 nights at a hostel in San Cristobal de las Casas
4 # of Dutch friends Carey and I went with to Mexico to celebrate the New Year
3 # of people who vomited in the microbus during one of our stomach-churning drives
1 # of grapes it took for Jay to contract an intestinal amoeba and then pray for a quick death

Since our 90 days in Guatemala were up, Carey and I planned a trip with several Dutch friends to a very cool town in Mexico called San Cristobal de las Casas to renew our Visas (even people who have lived here for 10+ years do this every 3 months - great system, huh!?) San Cristobal may be the "hippest" town in Mexico, and was a side of Mexico I didn't know existed. Picture Vishnu-worshipping Mexicans with dreadlocks selling anti-war t-shirts. Very interesting place. If you really want to stretch your vacation dollar and visit a beautiful, colonial town with lots of things to do, you may want to visit one day.

C & J with Lenny & Marija trying to look "hard" before we boarded a boat for one of our day-tours. We may need some practice.

On our boat in the Canon del Sumidero. Gorgeous place with up to 1000 meter cliffs hanging over head on both sides.

We got so close I could have pet the thing. Yeah, this would be allowed in the States.
Agua Azul. Wow.

The sign said "No Swimming" in Spanish. It's a good thing I don't know the language : )

Misol-ha. Just another beautiful waterfall in Mexico.
Palenque Mayan Ruins. Coolest place ever. Was it worth spending 6 hours in a microbus smelling of vomit? Yes. Well, maybe.

My theory is that the little house on the right was the "love shack" of Palenque. Of course it's just a theory.
At 5 p.m. on Dec. 31st the Dutch celebrated Holland ringing in 2009.

Later that night. It was comforting to learn that white people are universally bad dancers.
The fateful moment at midnight.

I've never read the book, "The Grapes of Wrath," but I can only assume that the author visited Mexico on New Year's Eve one year, stuffed 12 grapes into his mouth at midnight, then 2 days later realized that he had been outwitted by a single-cell organism. Dote!

Carey and I hope you all had a wonderfully peaceful holiday season and wish each of you all the best in 2009.

Love,

J & C