Jon and I are about half way through our vaction to southern Mexico. It’s been going incredibly well. We arrived in Villa Hermosa and then traveled the next day to Palenque (a town right next to an incredible Mayan Ruin). We found a cheap (we have been doing everything we can after this fashion) hut in the rainforest next to a nice little stream. Unfortunately, this being the rainy season, the stream didn’t stay so little. I woke up around 1:30 and saw Jon looking out the window. He said we were in the middle of our third thunderstorm and was worried about the rising stream. I looked outside and it was still in its channel, but was up about six feet. We watched for a little while longer and it continued to rise. We took all our stuff off the floor and onto a table. It was quickly within a few inches of the back patio. We started debating if we should leave and to where. We repacked our bags and placed them in trashbags.

By now the water was over our front step and we noticed it was a few inches deep for at least the next twenty feet and was starting to get some current. It still was an inch or two from our floor and the bed was another six inches above that, but we decided we should leave now before the current out front got strong. We donned panchos and made our way to some of the two-story rooms which had a high balcony. I don’t know why, but I couldn’t help laughing as we wadded along. As we neared the stairs up to the balcony, we dropped to about waist deep water (we didn’t realize there was a steep slope there). We made it up to the balcony and scared a couple of girls who were staying in one of the rooms. We talked to them a bit and explained why were were up there and then moved in front of and unoccupied room. Where we stayed till about 5:30 when the stream at receded back to its banks. A crazy night.

We stayed in Palenque for about five days, spending two at the ruins, one at a musuem, one touring a couple of amazing waterfalls, and one just messing around. Then we moved to San Cristobal. Today was another lazy day, we found a bakery and a good coffe shop (perfect for my love of baked goods and jon’s of coffe) we lingered here till noon talking of how to respond to poverty and our favorite video game memories of childhood.  Tomorrow we will vist a national park that is home to a huge canyon that we are going to take a boat down (well, us and others on a tour).

I’ve been reading Ben Franklins autobiography this trip and have really been enjoying it. The guy is wise, but what’s been better is hearing lots of little stories about what American life was like in late colonial times.

Please be in prayer for us that we will continue having a great time, stay safe, and lastly that Jon’s camera battery will last (he left his charger in Croc and it would be a shame if he has to stop taking pictures on the trip since he is a great photographer and has an incredible camera). Thanks!