Mexico never sleeps

...and that my friends, is exactly why i haven't written on this blog in a few days. I have been sooooooo busy and in the moments that I wasn't away from my house, I was grabbing a few hours of shut eye. I don't even know where to begin.
Let's first start out with the fact that everyone in this town goes out to a different bar or club every night. No joke. It is getting kind of expensive haha. But I am in a time where I can't not go out because people are still arriving from around the globe and everyone is meeting everyone. That is a lot of fun. On Thursday, day, I went to Plaza Machado, which is basically the old square of Mazatlan. They typically block it off for Carnaval which is this huge celebration in February. Here is a picture of the square with my friends and I. Left to right: Sarah, Caitlin, me, Monica---And after we left the plaza................. I finally stepped foot on the beach! FINALLY! whew. I imagined the ocean to be semi-cold and it is just at the right temperature and is refreshing from the heat. That evening I didn't go out because I wasn't feeling well, I think I ate some bad food at a restaurant which has made me on my guard since then. Friday was orientation. I picked my classes, and I am taking all spanish classes with the international students (most are from Canada, North Carolina, Finland, or Germany). The best news about school, is that I only have class Tuesday and Fridays!!! yessssss! After orientation Friday, I went to Joe's Oyster Bar, you can pretty much find someone you know there no matter what time of day; it is only 5 min walking distance from my house. The first picture is l>r Megan, Caitlin, Monica, the other sarah, me. The second picture is my friend Carlos, and he loves the fact that Megan and I are in sororities and wants to throw up the signs at any chance he has. yay AXO!Then on Saturday we took a catamaran, that looked similar to this:for a tour around mazatlan. We saw many things along the coast, we saw caves, the backside of the pacifico brewery, and lots of lovely things:L>R me, caitlin, brendan (absent from photo: Monica)
I love the Canadians!!!! tons of fun!!!!! 1 stop Mazatlan, 2 stop CANADA!!!!
The catamaran took us to La Isla de las Piedras. Stone Island for all you none spanish speaking folk. That is where we ate lunch had a couple drinks and where I went banana boating twice. That was a blassttttt but I do have a battle wound. haha Isn't that how it always happens?! Well take a little looksey:

So I didn't quite feel that when it happened, but i definitely felt it later and today....Look at my index finger and you will see swolleness as well as a bruise. That is not a shadow, no its not, that is a black and blue bruise the color of my wooden door. I know its not broken cuz I can move it but it all happened so fast and I was laughing so hard that I don't remember how that happened I just know that I fell off the banana boat and that is what my hand looks like....
I was introduced to 2 guys, who are cousins, a couple nights ago named Travis and Derrick and today Megan and I spent the day at their 6 story 2 pool house up on the side of a mountain overlooking all of Mazatlan. GORGEOUS. Words cannot describe the house or the views and that was a blast. I also talked to their grandpa a bit and he is a very generous man and told me if I needed anything he would help me out.
And that is where I am now, eating ben and jerry's cinnimon bun ice cream and typing to you. And unlike Mexico, I will be going to sleep---I have a big week ahead of me, school is starting! ha............................