Merida, Yucatan, Mexico: Last 12 days were the best 12 days of the trip...easily! I`ll try not to get ahead of myself and start from the beginning.

Left El Salvador and planned to skip Belize, but once I got to Flores, Guatemala, I was told that there were no directs to Mexico. My best bet was to go to Belize City, then to Chetumal. So that was the plan. Then I thought, if i`m in Belize I may as well head over to one of their cool islands, so I headed to Caye Caulker. And there I was to begin my 12 days of solitude; praying, meditating, thinking, re-evaluating, setting goals, all kinds of stuff.

But what I realized is that being a recluse is trickier than I expected. First thing off the boat to the island of Caye Caulker I spot two girls and get caught looking. Turns out they were staying at my hostel. As things turned out we ended up running into each other enough times that I had to say hi or I would seem really rude. So I did, and we ended up hanging out and making plans to see each other the next day. First day: failed. Couldnt stay alone. But the next day I got up early and slipped a note under their door letting them know that I had to head to Mexico. I had to keep moving on, and I did.

So as part of the 12 days i`m reading a book with 12 chapters in it recommended by my friend John. The book conveniently had 12 chapters, so I made it a point to read a chapter a day, along with my Bible. The book was amazing. I highly recommend it. Especially the part about walking with God every day, and the chapter about staying focused. It was good. Just like Jesus is the name of the book.

But it was read throughout the trip, chapter one in Belize, and chapter two in Tulum, where I made my first stop in Mexico. Tulum was also one of my favorite ruins in Mexico. Not quite as expansive as Palenque, but right on the water. It is beautiful. Check out the pics on FB. I spent the day in semi solitude and had lots of time to reflect and get done what I set out to do. It was a wonderful time just speaking and listening to God, or what we commonly call prayer. I think its the greatest thing in the world, to really take the time and make it a priority.

From Tulum I headed to Cozumel, a small island near Playa del Carmen. Very touristy, and all the Western conviences, but still nice. Although did not feel like you were in Mexico, except for the huge flag near the pier. Nice, but I preferred Tulum.

From Cozumel I headed to Playa del Carmen. Again, beautiful. Spent the day alone, very successful day.

From Playa went to Isla Mujeres. Probably the most beautiful place i`ve ever been. And the greatest time i`ve had in a long long time. Now keep in mind i`ve been having the time of my life on this trip, and things got a lot better when I arrived in Isla Mujeres.

Started off like the other stops. Except the hostel in Isla Mujeres was bigger and nicer than the others. I kept to myself, not looking to socialize too much. Needed, wanted to be alone. Then I saw her! Didn`t think much about it, except thought, wow! But again, i was not there to socialize. Plus every single guy at the hostel saw her as well.

But i did decide to go to salsa lessons, since they were at the hostel, and they were free. What the heck, they started at 7pm and would be over by 8, i could be in bed easily by 10pm. So i went, and lo and behold, there she was again. The Argentinian instructor clearly fancied her, evident by the way he favored her over the other girls for his volunteer partner. This guy probably was used to having most girls at the hostel, the accent, the dance moves, the Latin heartthrob thing. I wasn`t hating, i didnt really care.

So the lessons were over, and we had a little bit of free dance time. I noticed her, but didnt want to make it too obvious, so I opted to dance with another girl. Of course the instructor swooped her right up and began to dance with her. Whatever, I thought. Free dance was over and we all went our seperate ways.

I went to my dorm room to read, ended up falling asleep, but woke up around 11pm. Took a walk around the hostel and found her and her friend Caroline. Caroline grabs me and says they`re kidnapping me. I`m in boardshorts, and a t shirt, but they drag me to go salsa dancing. I go, but think to myself, im leaving in an hour, max!

Im at the dance joint, but just laying back talking to some guys from the hostel. Jeffrey, a nurse from St. Louis yells at me and asks me what im doing, he says Tess is waiting to dance with me. Who me? I didnt know if he was just yapping, but I said, what the heck, I need the practice, and I enjoy it! So I went.

You can guess the rest of the story. But there is something else about this girl that makes it very different. Inevitably, traveling for 9 months, you are going to meet lots of people, and lots of girls. And believe it or not, i`ve met some. Great girls, spent some fun times, but as they say, nothing to write home about. Except for the friends ive met from California, or near CA, ive never intended to keep in touch with any of them. I just thought, hey, it was nice to meet them. But this one was different. Now she is very easy on the eyes, but it was so much more than that with her.

This is the kind of stuff I write home about, tell my boys, my brother, my cousins. And since only my close friends and family read this, I guess i'll just lay it out here.

I totally fell for this girl! I mean hard! I`m talking in love. Almost comical. I was told often, mostly in jest, that I would fall in love on this trip, and me being the rational, unemotional guy that I am thought, only a lame dude would think he was in love after meeting someone for a few days. That kind of nonsense is only in movies. I`ve been told by more than one girl that I am a bit emotionally retarded. Too logical for crazy love. And I actually think that`s a good thing.

Then this happened. I can`t even believe it. Butterflys, big grin on my face that I couldnt hide. It was wild. A one day trip to Isla Mujeres turned into 5 days. We were inseperable, spent every moment together. Only split ways because her mom came to visit from Australia. (she`s from Melbourne, Australia). She was even late picking up her mom. It was a very emotional goodbye, I hated it! It was crazy, not like me at all. But this girl was something else. Everything about her, her accent, her laugh, her smile, and above everything else how incredibly sweet she was.

Everything in life is timing, and circumstances, so as it turns out the timing is wrong and the circumstances are not right either. But usually you know if you meet someone travelling, in a matter of days you`ll split ways and that will be that. I`m used to it, and am quite good at walking away. I think I have the gift of goodbye. I always have, maybe because im so guarded (except for my first girlfriend). `But this time it was tough, very tough. And I cant speak for her, but she did tell me how she felt, and I`m pretty sure its not a one sided deal.

But still very unlikely that we see each other again. But as I told her, a boy can dream. Seriously, if know me you`re probably laughing, this is nothing like me, and it is quite funny, but very true. I totally fell hard. There are three girls in my life who i`ve ever been crazy about. One I dated for five years, the other rejected me, and the other is somewhere in Playa del Carmen with her mom, headed to Cuba.

Like I said, chances are it was a nice 5 days and that will be that. And like ive also said, it happens quite often, and the next day i`ve already forgotten. But this one really got me. I spent the bus trip to Merida listening to Sade and George Michaels...lol.

She emailed me and I her wrote her back. We`ll see what happens, a boy can dream, lol. Crazy. Like I said, circumstances are not ideal, for a variety of reasons.

So there it was, the best 12 days of the trip! Fell in love twice. Once with my time with God every morning, and again with some girl who lives half way around the world. At least one is beyond time and circumstances!

Got a chance to write down some goals for the next few months, and years. I`m really excited about getting home and getting to work. And I dont just mean career. Lots of plans and goals!

Now i`m in Merida. They`re in the middle of Carnaval, so there are concerts all over the city. I`ve been to about 8 today. Everything from Salsa, to Merengue, to Cumbia, regaeton, and Banda (my favorite). I have to learn to dance Banda before I leave Mexico! I think its my favorite type of dance.

Hope all is well at home. And hope everyone has a nice Valentines day, though I think it is one of the most ridiculous set ups of all time. Show love and appreciate every day. But luckily I think we all know it, just need to practice it a bit more.

Love you all!

Happy Valentines day, mom! I love you!

Smitten from Mexico,

Michael