Some photos of Acapulco

This past weekend I went to Acapulco with a few of my friends. I think I had really grand expectations of what Acapulco was going to be like...it was nice and all, but can't say I was terribly impressed. We stayed at a hotel called Acamar which was in the Mexican touristy area. There are two tourist areas: one for foreigners visiting, where all the big hotel chains are, then a touristy spot for Mexicans. We got a really good deal on our hotel (something like $50/night) but it was kind of out of the way of the main strip (called Malecon). But whatevs. It was so funny to sit on the beach b/c people were constantly coming up to you and trying to sell stuff. They had jewelry, clothes, food - some people were giving massages. The best thing, though, was when these little Mexican children would come up and start singing, then pause and do this weird dance where they would lift up their shirt and roll their stomachs. Very weird. Then they would just stand there til you gave them a tip, as if their performance was that amazing. They were sneaky though, because after a while you would just tip them to go away.

So while were there we basically just walked around the city, went to the beach, went to dinner, went to some dance clubs. They have crazy clubs in Acapulco that can hold up to 5000 people. Crazy, I know. We only went to one b/c they're really expensive to get into. All the people who were there were super-stylish and wealthy (or at least looked it). I posted a few pictures of the inside of the club.

So yeah. I came home to a mound of homework. I had another test this week and then next week I have my first presentation. I'm surprisingly not that stressed about it. Granted its only Friday and come Tuesday I could be a complete basketcase, but as of now, I'm feeling good. It's funny, actually, people will ask me how long I've been in Mexico, and when I say only about 2 months, they'll tell me my Spanish is really good. What they don't know, however, is that I've been studying it for the past, oh, 7 years? Ha so I can't really decide if I should take the compliment as is, or let it depress me. Haha Anywho

What else is new...hmmm. I talked to one of my friends who's in Spain for the year and he showed me his apartment (via Skype) and told me what he's up to. Sounds like the Spanish track kids are having a good time. yay

Oh! I'm going to France for a few weeks over my Christmas break! My favorite Asian Gina Ahn is studying in Paris at AUP for the fall semester, and said I could stay with her if I bought a ticket. Wish she would buy me a ticket as well..they're expensive ;) I'm superexcited. I'm going to hang around in paris while she finishes up some finals, then we're going to go on a European adventure so she can visit all the places she didn't get to while studying. Plus I think I'll get to see some of my other friends who are in Europe. I don't think I could go a whole year without seeing Gina. She's one of my favorite people to spend time with/be in the same room with. I haven't officially started a countdown yet, but I can't wait.

Um but yeah. thats my life in a nutshell right now. well not all of it, but i'm listening to music while i'm writing and sometimes its hard for me to write and listen to music (and facebook) at the same time. i guess i'm not a good multi-tasker. Below are some pictures from Acapulco. I took a short video of Acapulco in the morning, but i'm having trouble uploading it - maybe in another post. Enjoy.

las playas

A large cactus, the main street (Malecon)

Us ready to go out to dinner

Reading tabloids at the beach

The beautiful morning, all the cabs in Acapulco were old VW bugs - cool in theory, but very cramped and hot in practice

Inside the club!