A Student's Perspective of the Biocultural Reserve at Kaxil Kiuic

Our journey began with a 2.5 hour drive from our home base in Merida to the ancient Mayan ruins of Kaxil Kiuic. On the way to the Reserve, we stopped in Oxkutzcab to check out the open air market which specializes in local fruit, primarily citrus fruits. I must say I had the BEST mango ever, and the lady was even kind enough to slice it for us before we purchased a few bushels, just to prove that we were at the best vendor on the square. Also purchased were melons, great big melons, oranges, limas and a few other local fruits that were quite interesting (one was close to lemonade right out of the skin). Brent's hardworking, intelligent and good looking students ventured to the cool, breezy local church and worked on some scale and perspective drawings inside by focusing on pillars, archways and statues. After about an hour in Oxkutzcab, we grabbed some ice and extra food and took the smooth as silk roads to the reserve. The roads are not smooth, nor straight: they actualy break down into one lane as you get out of town and farther into the country. This made hills and curves quite fun, and if it was not for the fearless and safe driving of Senior Harvey behind the wheel and Brent as DJ and copiloto, our group might not have had made it. Trucks and buses take blind curves pretty hastily, and it was certainly a bumpy and eye opening automobile experience. Once at the reserve, we unpacked and bunked up: by bunked up I mean unpacked on the floor and chose a hammock. The housing is quite primitive but is screened in and has running water and electricity. The philosophy of the reserve is "low impact," conservation-based human habitation. The reserve, which uses solar power and a plant-based water treatment system, focuses on preservation of natural resources and ecology of the region and also aims to build a personal tolerance and recognition of how much energy and natural resources one can use on a daily basis. This ranges from food to fuel to water. Eco tourism and toursim in general are Mexico-s money makers, but with a plot of 5,000 acres and about 30 or so known Mayan structures, the caretakers of the reserve are trying to preserve the land for generations to come. As James, our manager and tour guide, says: think globally, act locally. Before dinner we took a trip up the big tower on one of the the hills near the main camp via a small trail. The tower is about 65 feet tall and looks over the entire reserve. It was a little cloudy, so we did not have a super sunset but it was pretty and breezy. Vale la pena. After the tower we headed back down to home and ate some grub. After dinner, which was homecooked by local women, James gave us an overview of the reserve with a powerpoint presentaion that documents the philosophies, strategies, and plan for the futre of the reserve. After our 45-minute briefing, we headed to the dorms to cut some logs. Dinner, I need to add, was a chili kickin' meal of tomales and hibiscus tea. i ate 10 tomales and Tim ate 9: we were satisfied. I think this is in part why I`slept so well in the hammocks, which are not easy to get comfortable in if it is your first time sleeping in this web of woven splendor. We saved the juice all day so we could run the fans at night to keep us cool. It was pretty hot at the reserve and easily could have been 95 while we were there. The next morning - manana as my friend says - was an early 7am desayuno, and James led a field trip to the excavation sites. It was amazing how much he knew and could reinterate in such a short amount of time. The pictures really say it all. After our morning excursion, we ate a homemade meal of pollo, rice and a chili verde sauce and headed back to Merida. It was a great trip, and the reserve will be in the news soon with the work and research that has been going on. We did get to see some very cool artifacts and a cave that contained some heiroglyphics. The reserve is a special place, and Millsaps has done an excelent job in getting the place off the ground. I can not wait to come back and see the progress on the sites.

Till next time,

Murphey