Jan 31: Walk to Merida

_Yoga at El Zopilote is currently taught in spanish at 8.30 am by Dana, an Anusara teacher with a very nice smile! She is pretty good but unfortunately it started to rain and we had to stop. Location: a terrace overlooking the jungle. After breakfast (homemade bread and hummus, and locally grown coffee, all for sale at reception), we start walking towards Merida convinced to get a ride along the way: not one car passed by in two hrs of walking and for some reason the bus didn't work today. All the roads are unpaved on this side of the island, and there are way more pigs than tourists! I kind of like it.
Once there we decide to stay for the night even if all our stuff is at El Zopilote; we find a room for $5 each at El Caballito de Mar, a cute place right on the lake.
Kajak to Rio Istiam for rent in front of our room $15 all day. Nature and especially the trees are gorgeous, so much variety! On our way to the rio and the natural reserve we see a lot of women doing laundry in the lake on stones with their kids swimming and playing around them. At the rio there are over 75 species of birds and all sort of aquatic plants, great little lagoons and dreamy landscapes between the two vulcanos. Must see.
Great sunset in front of lake at El Caballito, interesting conversation with the only other guest, a chiropractor acupuncturist from Maiorca with similar views on life to ours, followed by an absolutely delicious grilled fish. Recommended.