Mexico Trip - Day One

March 7, 2013

     It's hard to believe that I am actually in Mexico.  I still can't fully wrap my brain around it.  It's all a bit surreal.
     The day started with Justin Stankey (best boyfriend ever) dropping my off at the Fargo airport at 5am.  The airport was small and fairly easy to navigate.  I sat in the lobby for a while and then I called Dina and found the group.  Those who had large bags checked them and then we headed upstairs for security.  While we were waiting in line, I was reminded that I should have all of my liquids and medicine in a bag so I had to do that quickly while trying to move in the line.  I am sure it was a very amusing sight for those in line around me.  Then I got to security and placed all of my stuff on the conveyor belt to be scanned, took off my shoes, etc.  Then it was time for the metal detector.  Metal detectors make me nervous and this one looked more high-tech than the ones I had seen before.  You got in it, put your feet where the feet marks were on the ground, held your arms up in the air, and this thing swung halfway around you and back.  It felt like I was in a sci-fi movie all of a sudden.  I wish I had gotten a picture of it but I don't think security would have liked that too much. Then I grabbed my stuff and was through security and could breath a little bit easier.
Once everyone was through security, we found our gate and sat down to wait for our turn to be called to get on the plane.  Some of our group got breakfast from a cafe in the airport.  I had a clif bar from my bag, some water from the water fountain and went to the bathroom.  Then we got called to board the plan.  They announced that it was a smaller plane (two seats on each side) and that if we had larger carry-on bags we would need to attach a tag to our bags and they would store them somewhere else on the plane.  I thought that was interesting and something I had never seen before.  (luckily, all of our bags made it safely to Denver - our connecting flight location).
     The plane was small and a little cramped like they said but not bad.  The seats leaned back a little and that was nice.  After we took off, I slept until it was time to land, dozing on and off.  It was nice to have that time to rest because it was like 6-7am and I hadn't slept much yet.
We landed in Denver, Colorado for our connecting flight.  The Colorado airport was much different than the Fargo one.  It was so large that they could fit a whole mall inside, and with the amount of stores I saw it looked like they did.  The airport was very bright and we had a gate at one end of the airport where we landed and had to walk to the other side of the airport to catch our connecting flight to Los Cabos, Mexico.  Even though the walk was long from one end of the airport to the other, I enjoyed it because it gave me a chance to stretch my legs a bit and I got to ride on the moving floor strips!  I love those moving walking conveyor belts!  They make me feel like I am flying!

     Then we arrived at the gate (B18 - Cabo San Lucas).  We sat down and waited to be able to board the plane.  While we were waiting, some of the girls noticed and pointed out a couple of little birds flying around inside their airport.  They must have flown in somehow.  lol. What was amusing was that they didn't seem to bother the employees at all and one employee was even whistling at the birds like this was a normal and common occurrence.
      Then we were able to get onto the plane to Mexico.  This plane was normal sized (three seats on each side) so we could just take our carry-on bags with us to put in the overhead compartments. I got lucky with a window seat (except for I think I accidentally took Kayleen's spot but she didn't mind).  During the flight I dozed on and off again but when I was awake I was taking photos of the views outside the window.  I saw some really neat landmarks while we were over the water, like some red and white lines that looked like coral reefs.  It was really amazing to see.
     After it seemed like we had been over the water for a while, you could suddenly see the land, the coast of Mexico.  It was like nothing else I have seen outside of a plane before because when you fly over the USA, most of the land in developed or chunked into areas of farmland but Mexico was different.  You could see areas where a city or town had developed and the occasional farm land blocked out but much of it was just amazingly beautiful wilderness.  There were mountains and hills and plateaus like I have only ever seen out of a textbook or Google images and they do not do it justice.  The photos don't convey the sheer size of the mountains and land.
     Once we landed, we got to exit the plane outside with a large flight of stairs pushed up to the plane.  That was totally different that how I have normally exited a plane with the hallway gate thing pushed up so you aren't really going outside.  I liked this way much more because it 1) meant that the weather was nice enough to do so and 2) it was much more fun. :)
     When we landed in San Jose (part of Los Cabos - three different cities, Cabos, San Jose, and San Lucas), the weather was slightly overcast and around 79 degrees.  It was gorgeous and warm, so much better than the weather in Fargo, ND. 
     We went into the airport and completed the customs process with no issues and hopped in a roughly 12-passenger van with our tour guides/Conalep school representatives.  We were driven around San Jose, the part where people actually live, and it was interesting to see the way people lived.  The homes were built close together, very open (no glass on the windows, etc.) and people had clotheslines string with clothes on them.  The roads were mainly dirt and very curvy.
     After that we drove into San Lucas (Cabos) to find a place to stop for lunch.  The further we drove into San Lucas, the nicer it got and the more "USA looking" it got.  You could tell right away that we were entering the more touristy part of Cabos.  (I heard Skyfall by Adele on the radio).  We ended up stopping for lunch at a typical "middle" class seafood restaurant.  It was nerve racking trying to find something on the menu I could eat but I ended up getting a grilled chicken breast with rice and tortillas (corn-based).  I also ordered a Naranja (orange juice) drink.  It was made of orange juice and mineral water (orangeade).  (Anthony Dutton ordered for me in Spanish) I really enjoyed my meal and I became more relaxed as the meal went on.  Our leader, Dina, ordered a Horchata water drink and I tried a sip and really liked it.  I am going to have to order my own sometime soon.   Everyone has been nice and accommodating  making sure we feel comfortable.  I really appreciate that.
     When we finished at the restaurant, we began our drive to La Paz, Mexico.  Halfway there we stopped in Todos Santos to change money (dollars to pesos - about 12 pesos to the dollar).  I exchanged $40 (USA) into pesos.  The exchange rate was 12.29.
     After the bank, we stopped at some homemade candy vendors to try some native to Mexico candy.  Everything was so colorful and I had no idea what anything was.  I ended up buying (completing the transaction all by myself :D ) two varieties of a milk plus alcohol gummy candies to bring back home for Justin and I to try.  I hope they let me take them back to the USA.  While at the candy store, I noticed a jar of homemade local honey.  Anthony Dutton, one our our trip leaders, said we will stop back at these stores on the way back and I plan to buy a jar of that honey for Justin, since he loves honey.

     From there we traveled to La Paz, and our hotel (Seven Crown - Malecon).  The hotel and the area is beautiful.  It is definitely a more touristy part of Mexico but it is beautiful.  The water and beaches are literally across the street from out hotel.  Out room is 501 on the fifth floor.  I am rooming with Angela and Kayleen. They are really nice and so is our room.  I get a bed all to myself, we have a mini-desk, a TV, and a fancy shower.  When we arrived there was a fruit basket on the table.  It was beautiful and I ate a delicious pear from it.  Our bags were brought up to our room for use (excellent customer service).  on our floor is a sky bar and a jacuzzi with an outdoor lounge looking over the city.
     After settling in, I put on some shorts and sat on the edge of the jacuzzi and dipped my feet/legs in.  The water was a bit cool but refreshing.
     After that, I had a headache so I took some Excedrin and a nap around 8pm.  I woke up and we got ready for dinner.  We ate dinner as a group at the restaurant on the fourth floor of the hotel.  I tried more new foods.  I had chicken Milanese on a bed of spinach and Gorgonzola sauce.  It came with pasta and some delicious bread.  I really enjoyed the pasta and bread (as well as the free chips).  To drink, I tried Bailey's on the rocks and loved it (new favorite).  I ended up having two glasses of that.  It had a slightly bitter taste followed up by a delicious caramel/milky aftertaste.
     We talked a lot during dinner, met Jose Alfredo (a representative to assist us on our practicum and overall trip), and got our international phones to communicate with each other.
     Now I am back in my hotel room, getting ready for bed, and writing down my thoughts.  I am tired and excited for tomorrow!  We get to go whale watching!