I called in sick to my own vacation today. I hate to do it, you know... because you're just screwing the other tourists who have to pick up your slack by seeing extra sights. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, what with the communal hostel living, public buses and all.

"It was obvious there was trouble."
It may have started as far back as Campeche, where the girl who worked there at night was coming down with a cold. We chatted a few times and I'm suspicious that the gave me her illness. I first noticed a scratchy throat in Palenque several days ago and hoped it was nothing. By yesterday morning it was obvious there was trouble.

So this morning I got up and checked out of the $4 a night hostel and into a $30 a night hotel. Actually it was $38 a night, but I accidentally talked them down to $30. It's a pretty typical hotel room that'd probably go for $50+ in most of the US. There are even a few English language cable channels. I watched CNN all day except for one hour of a Xena: Warrior Princess-like show. I was quite moved by Illinois governor Ryan's speech about commuting the sentences of every death row inmate to life in prison. Not even Republicans are beyond redemption :-)

"We were briefly concerned I had Malaria."
Except to buy some food and complain about the lack of hot water, I never really left my room today.

Our Horseback Guide

I just came out to meet a friend I'd made dinner plans with for tonight and tell her I can't do anything. We were briefly concerned I had Malaria. The Centers for Disease Control, however, say there are headaches associated with Malaria. I have no headaches yet, but will keep you informed should they develop.

As an aside, may I mention that there seems to be a chronic shortage of change in Mexico. Unless you can pay with the equivalent of a five dollar bill, there's no hope. Friends and I have been prepared to make a purchase and had to walk out when the proprietor couldn't make change for notes worth $10 or $20. This happens everywhere. Even at grocery stores and pharmacies, where you'd think there'd be a big delivery of lots of money every morning... you get nasty looks when you hand over a 200 peso note. I knew Vincente Fox's campaign slogan was "Cambio," or "Change." I thought he was gonna change government, but maybe he was just sick of not being able to get change.

I know I promised photos today... or was it yesterday? I was gonna do them right now, but there's only one computer in this internet cafe that has a CD drive and it's not working. So I hope tomorrow... or later tonight in the unlikely event that I'm feeling energetic.

I'll probably stay another night at the hotel if they get the hot water fixed. Then back to Palenque to meet up with a guy from Oregon who's going the same way as me into Guatemala.