Just a quick update to let you know what we are up to. The race began on Thursday with the two groups dropped off in different cities and told where their destination was and what they had to do to get there. Since the media team is not racing, we decided a few days before that we would go down by bus. So, on Thursday we headed to the bus station, and dropped half of the team off to film the other teams being dropped off in a park(footage is on youtube) and dropped the other half off to get tickets. It was so much fun to watch all the racers. It resembled the tv show The Amazing Race so much. Everyone just kind of split up and went in different directions.
Since we got our tickets first, we got the last tickets for the 5pm bus and the last ones for the 7pm bus and the team again split into two. I left with the first group and got on the bus at 5pm and yesterday got off the bus around 4pm. I should mention that the buses are kind of like coach buses, so they had reclining seats, a bathroom in the back and played movies during most of it. (most of them were spanish with one being in English) The bus would stop every 4-6 hours so we could grab something to eat or use the bathroom. (which most of the time we had to pay for and bring our own tp) We stopped yesterday for a little break and to switch buses. We grabbed something to eat, hit the internet cafe and waited for the rest of our team to catch up with us. Unfortunatly, they never made it. So, we grabbed our bus and finally got to Palinque last night around nine thirty.
We got off the bus and everyone was kind of like…umm what now? So, someone found a hotel around the corner and we got rooms. After a wonderful cold shower (it´s funny since that what we have been avoiding) the four of us (Casey-WR 06, Meagan, Chris T and myself) gathered for prayer and to try to figure out what we would do in the morning. Afterword the girls decided we would go back to the station just to see if the team got in. When we got there, their bus pulled in. So awesome, and such a answer to prayer. So, we were able to reunite and fill them in on everything that we planned for the next day.
So, today we went to the Mayan ruins. It was the last part of the race for this portion of the trip. We were one of the first teams to arrive and soon all the teams arrived. So, everyone was once again caught up with each other. (just like the tv show). Some had a good nights sleep and shower and others were fresh off the bus, but we were all there! As soon as the gates opened everyone took off and ran to the temple they had to climb. Eventually everyone made it and what a incredible view at the top!!! Our team prayed and took some group shots from up top and decided then to walk around and explore. After about 2 hours of exploring, we came back to the hotel and have been checking out the city ever since.
So, that´s where we are now. I can´t believe I´m doing this and it´s been such a great experience. I hope to share more with you later. Please check out some of my recent pics!!! Love and miss you all and hopefully you can read this because half of this keyboard is in Spanish and I´m not sure exactly what button I´m pushing half of the time!! 🙂
