January 1

Decided to sleep through breakfast (surprise, surprise). There was a brunch type thing at 11am, that was ceviche (apparently a great hangover cure). This one was shrimp, and I’m not a huge shrimp fan so I opted out, but word is it was delicious. Did have some popcorn (they put out baskets of it, just like we put out bowls of peanuts). There were also some banana chips that were a pleasant surprise as they did not taste at all like bananas.


Lunch consisted of some pretty awesome epanadas


and a potato cream soup that wasn’t too bad (perhaps a bit on the bland side)


…but luckily there’s always some ahai on the table. I’m not entirely sure what this is, like a homemade hot sauce I suppose. Pretty sure it has peppers in it, and it’s a nice shade of orange, and a few people have started putting it on everything.


took a few more pictures around the hacienda…to make you jealous






playground that has a small zipline


leftover from puppet burning


view from our room


Then we loaded up the bus and headed back to town.






Our original itinerary said we’d be “easing into the day with an afternoon lecture” but that was cancelled. And it’s new years day so most things are closed. I spent most of the afternoon editing pictures and whatnot. Then dinner was at the hotel, but it was not so great (that’s why there aren’t pictures). It was spaghetti noodles, with some meat stuff on top, but not quite a meat sauce. The sauce was actually more creamy and white. And while it wasn’t horrible, it did sorta suggest Hamburguesa Helper.

We did find a TGIFridays near the hotel. And while a lot of people think it’s dumb to go to foreign countries and eat at American restaurants, I personally think it’s kinda cool to see what similarities and differences there are. I certainly don’t think you should hit up mcdonald’s for every meal, but when I was 10 I learned that Austria had the best chicken nuggets, and I think I’m better for it. TGIFridays also had televisions, so the guys were hoping to catch the Sugar Bowl. Unfortunately, they didn’t have (couldn’t find?) the American Fox channel (the Spanish Fox was showing soccer). We did partake in some tasty beverages, and I was lame and ordered chicken fingers.

Bed a little after midnight for most of us, but a good part of the group stayed up playing spades in the lobby. And being ridiculously loud.