FANTASTIC GETAWAYS
HOT AND SUNNY YUCATAN, MERIDA
Demi Perez
During the summer of 2018, I had the privilege of visiting my mother's birthplace in Yucatan, Mexico. During my trip, my family and I stayed at my mom’s house which she lived in growing up, the home of my many cousins. During my stay I slept in a hammock inside my mother's room, enjoying the late-night breeze from an open window. I enjoyed being able to create a bond with my cousins and got to visit the tourist destinations of Mexico. I was immediately shocked to see a 20 ft Aztec Pyramid right before me. I remember it feeling so unreal because I had only seen it in the movies but I was able to experience this once-in-a-lifetime moment. The area was spacious and filled with cat-sized iguanas roaming around the area. I could only imagine the untold stories that happened inside the pyramids. I remember feeling anxious about being able to climb up the pyramid and was hesitant to go higher in case I fell. That very same day we later visited what looked like just an ordinary cave. At first, I only saw darkness, however, as I kept walking I was shocked to see beautiful crystals hanging from the ceiling. I remember thinking that it was the most awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping thing I had ever seen. The tour guide explained that we had to watch our step because the ground was very sensitive, and we could get hurt if we didn’t follow instructions. To this day I find myself wishing I could go back to that scenery.
Yucatan, Merida wasn’t always the tourist destination it seems to be today. In 250 CE darkness shadowed the earth as raging Mayan tribes inhabited the area. Sacrifices were made, wars occurred, and they were forced to hunt to provide food. This is why ancient pyramids remain today. The Mayan city, “ Th’o,” was destroyed and conquered by Spanish Conquerors. Something interesting to note is that the pyramid of Chichen-Itza is one of the seven wonders of the world. It is often noted to be beautiful in size and its intricate architecture. It was a place where rituals were often done and was built in the 5th century AD. Unfortunately, Mayans were forced to do excessive labor, and became slaves for the Spanish, regardless of the Mayans living there for thousands of years. Today many people like to incorporate Mayan culture into their tourist merchandise, clothing, and jewelry. Presently there are still small towns that are very close to that Mayan heritage. This is most times due to descendants that still lived there. Surprisingly my Great Aunt speaks a little bit of the Mayan language because she lived there for most of her life. Many women in those small towns still wear long floral dresses called “Huipil”, and sandals that resemble their Mayan Culture. Language, food, and art continue here in Merida, Yucatan, long after the Spanish conquered their civilization.
Traveling to Merida, Yutcan was an experience I both loved and hated. I enjoyed excitedly going on a plane for the first time. I remember feeling ecstatic getting the window seat, watching movies on the tablets connected to the seats, and getting to eat airplane food. My dreams were immediately crushed when I came to the surprise that all I would be getting was a bag of peanuts and apple juice. The plane we took to get there was from Los Angeles to the capital of Mexico City. We then had to take another plane that would take us to Merida, Yutacan. In total the entire way to get there took five hours. The ride back was about the same time. It didn’t feel especially relaxing getting off from a long flight to a place almost 100 degrees. There was a little bit of turbulence throughout the plane which made me extremely anxious but I was quickly reassured by my mom that it was completely normal. It was a beautiful sight to see, being able to watch everything seem so small. Regardless of how long it took to get there, I would do it all again if it meant being able to revisit Yucatan and relieve the amazing experience of being with family. Unfortunately, the ride back did not hit the same way. I would miss my family back home and would miss the fun I had. To this day think fondly of my trip to Yucatan.
THE MAGICAL PLACE
Bradley Calderon
Envision a place where it’s the vacation kingdom of the world, and it's a place of magic and fun. The place that I’m talking about is Florida's Disney World and it’s a place I had the pleasure to visit. From my experience, it was truly magical and something someone should at least venture to once. I visited Magical Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I was lucky enough to stay at a Disney hotel called Star Movie Resort. There were statues of magic Mickey Mouse and dogs from 101 Dalmatians. First, I went to Disney’s Hollywood where I was lucky enough to see the mouse himself, Mickey Mouse. We went to more attractions than rides. For this one, we got to see Star Wars and watch a Mickey Mouse short. One thing to note is that Florida is known for rainy weather and it was pouring heavily and we had to stay inside for a long time. After the rain died down, we went to the main ride everyone goes to which is the Hollywood Tower Hotel and the line was so long we waited there for an actual hour if not two hours. This ride is very scary since it is a dropping ride but every time you go on it, the height or speed varies. So one day you will have a different experience than the last. Later on in the Magical Kingdom, I walked through the giant castle. There are many different sections like visiting the Future of Tomorrowland. Other places like Fantasyland look very whimsical and have Arendelle. However, make sure to bring water since you’ll be walking and waiting in lines. As the day ended I got to see this amazing light and firework show produced by Disney. After that, I went to EPCOT which required a lot of walking. EPCOT is all about the world and different cultures. I got to hear mariachi, go through Japanese-style buildings, go on a ratatouille ride, and see many more buildings based on different parts of the world. I also ate hibachi which was super delicious from the flavor to how it was cooked and presented. We ended off with a light show that rivaled the one at the Magic Kingdom light show. Lastly, I went to Disney’s Animal Kingdom which if you love animals you’ll love this park. We went on a safari in a car and saw animals like giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, ostriches, and much more I probably missed.
Disney World started when Walt Disney saw how successful Disneyland in California was, and Walt Disney began to search for a location for his second park. So in 1965, Walt purchased 43 acres of land near the center of Florida. Sadly while production was started, Walt died late the following year and his brother Roy Disney took over the supervision of Disney World. Disney World officially opened in October 1971 with amazing success. In the 21st century, EPCOT was introduced on October 1, 1982, and then Disney Hollywood Studios was introduced on May 1, 1989. Finally, Disney added Disney Animal Kingdom on April 22, 1998. Also, two water parks were opened. Disney World is in Orlando Florida and even that has history. Orlando's history goes way back to the 1838s which was the height of the Seminole Wars. The U.S. Army built Fort Gatlin which was south of what is now Orlando City. By 1840, a small community had grown up around the Fort and it was known as Jernigan. In 1846, the community officially changed its name to Orlando. That whole thing was the summed-up version of Disney World and Orlando, Florida.
Also traveling to Disney World was a different experience. I had to wake up at 2 am and arrive at the airport at 3 am. I did the usual thing for airports by putting my passport in, and then they checked my bags and got on the flight. As I boarded the flight I got the chance to take a picture of the beautiful sunrise and had an amazing time playing Tetris on the flight. Then I got to sleep for a little bit before going to the connecting flight in Texas. After that, I went on the flight to Florida and landed in Orlando Florida. There I was able to go to the hotel and go on the events previously told. This trip was definitely was definitely worth the expensive price of everything.
THE INFAMOUS PUERTO VALLARTA
Nolan Johnson
Traveling the world is a great getaway and vacation, and it is a fantastic way to decompress and have a stress-free time. A great option is a cruise where you could relax and take time off, or party and experience how fun your vacation could be. My first-ever cruise was amazing and I went to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo. The cruise I went on was a Carnival cruise and it was the best vacation I have ever experienced. The first thing was the room, very tight, and compact which was very good for me. The second aspect that I loved was the unlimited food and drinks. I love eating food and drinking every fruity drink under the sun, refreshing myself with a nice cold drink after a hot day at sea and in the humidity. The ship was really fun to explore; all the floors had something very extraordinary. There was an arcade, a trampoline park, a tiny area with fancy restaurants, and little grills to make burgers and tacos. Another level had a casino, and on the main deck was a giant movie screen for all the latest movies of the time. There were also pools, lounging areas, and food. The front deck has a hot tub, another pool, and more bars. The top deck had all kinds of games, including a basketball court, pool table, giant chess board, put-put, water slides, ziplining, and a tiny roller coaster. Not only were there fun games and activities to do there were also many shows, such as 80’s Night where the crew dressed up as if it were the 80s and played and danced to all the hip-80 songs, as well as comedy shows for not only adults but children as well. There were contests to win many prizes like watches, paintings, and artworks. The room had channels like regular TV and movies for the whole family, as well as movies for all adults. With all of this, this cruise was my best vacation to date. I will never forget this and all the good memories I made on the cruise.
Over the summer of 2023, I went to Puerto Vallarta, and I had a great time and researched the history. Puerta Vallarta all started when Spanish soldiers settled Puerto Vallarta in the 16th century to supply their boats with water, food, and other helpful resources while trying to explore lower California. During this time it was very valuable to find land with Pacific coasts for returning ships for supplies and in case of attacks by pirates. They also used them for preparation for long journeys and repairing ships. Puerto Vallarta started to get popular after they began to grow banana plantations. Puerta Vallarta was home to various indigenous groups, including the Taínos and the Arawaks. The Taínos were the main inhabitants of the area before the arrival of European colonizers in the 15th century.
Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination on Mexico's Pacific coast, has experienced significant growth and development in recent years. The city has invested heavily in infrastructure, including modernizing its airport and improving its transportation system. Additionally, Puerto Vallarta is focused on diversifying its economy, which is heavily reliant on tourism. Today, the city is known for its vibrant culture, beautiful beaches, scenic surroundings, and delicious cuisine. Puerto Vallarta is very hot and humid, which was uncomfortable to experience. The people of Puerto Vallarta are deeply religious and are very heavy on their traditions and beliefs. Puerto Vallarta has become a sought-after destination for events and conferences. The city hosts a variety of international events, such as film festivals, wine festivals, and cultural celebrations, that attract visitors from all over the world. The city has also become a hub for eco-tourism, with many activities centered around the Sierra Madre Mountains and Banderas Bay. Additionally, Puerto Vallarta has been making efforts to preserve its cultural heritage, including investing in preservation projects for its historic center and traditional art forms. These cultural celebrations and traditions all make up what is now Puerto Vallarta, and one of the best vacations I have ever been on. This will all be a great story to tell people who ask and another place I would travel to, and I recommend people to visit and take a vacation.
Sources:
“Merida in Mexico.” SouthernPortal, http://www.southernportal.com/merida.html. Accessed 1 October 2024.
“Mérida: The Mexican City Where Maya Culture Lives On.” Scott's Cheap Flights, 12 December 2023, https://www.going.com/guides/merida. Accessed 1 October 2024.
Schmal, John. “Indigenous Yucatán: The Center of the Mayan World — Indigenous Mexico.” Indigenous Mexico, 6 September 2024, https://www.indigenousmexico.org/articles/indigenous-yucatanthe-center-of-the-mayan-world. Accessed 1 October 2024.
“Walt Disney World Resort | Theme Parks, Attractions, Vacations.” Britannica, 28 September 2024, https://www.britannica.com/place/Walt-Disney-World-Resort. Accessed 1 October 2024.
“Orlando History.” City of Orlando, https://www.orlando.gov/Our-Government/History. Accessed 1 October 2024.
“Puerto Vallarta | Mexico, Map, History, & Facts.” Britannica, 18 August 2024, https://www.britannica.com/place/Puerto-Vallarta. Accessed 15 October 2024.