Mexico
Brandi Hunter - Spring 2001 MSC

    Mexican Ecology class was just the beginning of a wild 12 days in Mexico. When I first heard about this trip I knew right then I wanted to go. For several reasons, 1) To get out of Oklahoma and get to see some sights, 2) To see different animals, and 3) To meet new people and have a good time! I accomplished all of these.
· Day 16-18— We drove to San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico
· Day 1-7— Rotations 
· Day 8— Crocodile
· Day 9-10— Real de Catorce
· Day 11-12— Trip home
    On the 16th we packed the vans down and said our last good byes to friends, family, and boyfriends we were on the road. Straight to Ardmore to meet the Emporia, Kansas group at the Prairie Kitchen. We were on our way to Mexico at 10pm. I slept most of the way down there we might have stopped three times. 
    On the 17th we finally get to the border (Nuevo Laredo) get our visas and our insurance for our vehicles; however, we were stuck at the Aduana because the Kansas instructor Dr. Moore had to prove that the last van they used was in Kansas (pain in the butt? Yes!) We finally get everything together and head out.
   We got to Bustamante late that night looked at the cichlids tested the warm springs, and went to bed.
On the 18th we wake up to find that where we were camping was beautiful! There was a little creek filled with cichlids, and mountains that you could barely see from the clouds. It was breath taking! After hiking for a little while we were back on the road. We drove all day and made it to the Tropica de Cancer we then stopped at the restaurant about 15 minutes down the road (this is where my sickness began!!!) I don’t recommend the enchilada de pollo with frijoles y rice.
    We drove all night, and everything was going great…. So I thought! I was sleeping pretty good then I was awaken by almost being dumped in the floorboard. Laura had to slam on her brakes as we were going around sharp curves in the mountains. I had a death grip on the back of the front seat and my seat. Laura’s daughter got carsick and puked her guts up! I felt sorry for her! 
    On the 19th at 4:45 our time we arrived at the beach in San Blas. At this time we put our tents up need I remind you it is still dark outside! The three other girls and myself who stayed in my tent were pros though and we put our tent up with in 10 minutes, and this was the biggest tent in the camp! It took others a little longer! We had an hour to get ready before we headed out on our rotations. My group was on mammals. We went out with the Mexican students who were there a day before us, and had already set up all the traps. We only caught one little rat. It was what they called a spiney haired rat called Liomys pictus. Breakfast was eaten when we got back we had eggs, corn tortillas, and frijoles this is the only time I ate!
    On the 20th my group was on fish. We caught quite a few fish. The rays are what I thought were the most interesting, but we also caught several other species. After we finished seining the ocean we went to a little creek where Bruce taught us how to test the pH in the water. Then we went to the Crocodile farm. We snorkeled in the same waters as the crocodiles we piled out of the water when a "cocodrilo" was spotted! 
    On the 21st my group was on reptiles. However, me and one of the girls I met from Kansas (Jennifer you know who you are!) stayed at camp this day. She was burnt to a fried crispy, and I was sicker than a dog. I had it coming from both ends, and I didn’t think it would be wise to get anymore dehydrated than I already was! They finally came back very exhausted, and glad to be there. Everyone had found at least one reptile or seen one anyway. We all went out that night to hunt for tree frogs. Jen and I went our own way from the group and found to little frogs, but we only caught one. It was okay though because other than one of the Mexican girls and us nobody even seen one! We were pretty proud of ourselves. We were the accident prone ones of our group. I think I wound up being the sickest, and she wound up being the one with the worst burn!
    On the 22nd we were all a little tired, relieved, but saddened that today was the last day. My group was on birds so we got up at 6:00am and took off to the mountain with our binoculars in hand. We went all the way up the mountain and came back down identifying a bunch of different species of birds (the list is enclosed). We got back to camp rested for a little bit and went to put up the catch nets for the birds. We caught to birds and I logged them into Laura’s book. Then we went back to camp to get ready for the farewell bonfire. We all had a great time and a lot of laughs. I learned how to say things in Spanish, and I did a pretty good job a communicating I thought. Because it has been years since I have had any Spanish. They were very patient with me. We had a lot of laughs.
    On the 23rd we all got up and went on a boat ride to a restaurant that was at the end of the cocodrilo-infested river! We played here for awhile then we left and went back to camp the Mexican students left and we were by ourselves.
    We went to a beautiful waterfall. I know I will never see anything so beautiful as long as I live. There was no trash or signs that anyone had been down there. It seemed like it was between two mountains, and you had to climb straight down to get to it. It was worth it though; the water was clean and freezing! It was great! When we returned to camp we left and went to San Blas. Jenny Moore and I were walking around the square when I felt something hit my head I reached up only to discover that a bird had crapped in my hair. Word of advice! Where a hat or something on your head. We came back to camp and slept on the patio of the restaurant because we had taken our tent down to save time that next morning. 
    On the 24th Dawn finally shook me awake I gathered my stuff up and we were back on the road. Destination…Real de Catorce! I didn’t sleep most of the way there (surprised?)! About 9pm we arrive in Real de Catorce. I was so glad that Bruce, Dr. Moore, and Laura knew people there. The lucky ones got to sleep in a bed this night. It was the best I had slept in nights! 
    On the 25th when I got up we went to the restaurant that was the best food I had ever eaten! Then we went shopping or looking might be the better word for it! We sight saw all day then we went back to the apartment and went to bed. Everyone got a bed tonight!
    On the 26th we all got up got our stuff together then we went to the market.  We ate breakfast at the great restaurant and hung around for a little while then we packed our vans and headed out! We went through several road blocks had Katie flirt with the federales and was sent on our merry little way without being searched! LUCK I think so!!!! Afterwards I pretty much slept until the Aduana then I stayed awake until we get a ways back into the states before I fell asleep again! 
    On the 27th we stopped in Denton, Texas told Kansas bye and we headed for Oklahoma. We got back to the great Tishomingo about 10:30am. 
    Overall I had a great time and I would love to go back! Even after all the sickness I had (some of the most miserable times) I had a real good time. I was able to overlook all that which I am thankful for. I was very surprised to see how the people lived in Mexico, and I don’t think I could live like that. I left out all the parts of the showers and the bathrooms, and all that fun stuff but I figured some things are better left untold. I hope you get the chance to experience this trip. I don’t hope you experience the sickness though. Good luck and beware of Montezuma’s Revenge!!!