Author: Riley

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Dolphin Experience in Mahahual, Mexico

On Friday, September 8, 2017, my mom, my dad and I all went to the Dolphin experience in Costa Maya, Mexico. Dolphins 10,000% DO NOT speak our language, so I had to learn sign language! If you want to give the dolphin a kiss, you put 1 hand on top of the other with your palms facing up. If you want to dance with the dolphin you have to put your hands out as far as you can. The trainer told the dolphin to swim upside down so I can hold on to their fins and swim with them. I learned that dolphins are mammals and they only have a mustache when they are only babies. Dolphins are warm-blooded and have live babies. They also live 20-30 years in the wild, but with people 40-60 years. At first, I was so excited and happy! If was an awesome experience.    -Riley

Ride on the boogie board

Ride on the fins

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Sian Ka’an biological preserve

We began our adventure by walking through the forest. There were some Mayan ruins that we visited. We walked on a plank path. When we got to the lagoon, we came upon three girls from Nice (N-eese) France. The girls told us about a long boat tour. We had only heard of the short tour so we decided to go with them. When we got on the boat, it started to rain. We had to put on covers. When we got to the river, we started floating along. We then took another boat ride through the channel of the mangrove. We also saw manatees and a cenote in the lagoon! Last we went to the beach. I rode the waves!    -Riley

Boardwalk to lagoon

 

You can see the channel on Google maps by zooming in. Is starts on the far north-east side of the lagoon:

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    Xkopek Parque Apicola

    While we were in Valladolid, we visited a natural area called Xkopék. It had bees that were so tiny that you almost couldn’t see them! You might think it was a mosquito. There was also a wasp nest on the little tree. They would sting you! The reserve was in a dead or dry cenote. There were bees that did not sting. One type of bee is called the “fly bee” because it looks like a fly. The Mayans called it something different but it means the same thing. Another kind of bee that doesn’t sting is called “white tip” bee. It lives in wood. The last kind we called “skunk bee” because if you get too close, they will fly in your hair and make it smell bad.

    This is Jorge. He was a great guide.

     

    Here is a hive that is formed in the ground.

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    Dogs in Mexico

    In Mexico, there are a lot of dogs. The dogs are friendly. The good things are that the dogs were all different colors. Some were with people and they were healthy. The bad things are that they are loud. The dogs that do not have collars are alone and dirty. The spanish word for dog is perro.  This is a picture of Lola and me. Lola is a dog next to my hotel in Mahahual, Mexico.   – Riley

    Here is another dog from Valladolid. His name is Oso.

    I don’t know why people have pet squirrels in Mexico but they do.

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    Swimming with turtles in Akumal

    Yesterday I swam with the sea turtles. The turtles were big. The color was greenish. It also had fish on it’s back! I think they held on by sucking it’s shell. Anyway, turtle in Spanish is “Tortuga”. Now let’s talk about us swimming with the turtles. So, to actually see the sea turtles we snorkeled! I was also very excited. But I was the only one who spotted out two spotted manta rays.   -Riley

    https://youtu.be/pKMWsuWnSGc

    DCIM118GOPRO

     

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    Cenote X’Canché near Valladolid, Mexico

    A cenote is a natural underground pool. The water is rocky, deep and cold. Yesterday, we visited a cenote called X’Canché. It was an open roof. That means it is not in a cave. It wasn’t as crowded as we thought it would be. There were also vines and roots hanging down. My favorite part was trying to catch the catfish!

    Here is a video of Toni on the rope swing and me chasing the catfish:

    And here are some pictures from the cenote.