{"id":2296,"date":"2025-02-05T12:26:57","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T12:26:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/?p=2296"},"modified":"2025-02-05T13:52:21","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T13:52:21","slug":"tacos-and-cenotes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/?p=2296","title":{"rendered":"Tacos and Cenotes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Feb 3, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This morning we started Spanish lessons. Michelle and \u201cLola\u201d are in a semi-private intermediate level lesson and Howard and I are in the more beginner level. We reviewed the present simple tense, some of the verbs, and vocabulary. Our teacher is lovely, and we both really enjoyed learning with her today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-16-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-16-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2298\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-16-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-16-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-16-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-16-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-16-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We scooted out of class quite quickly as one of Lola\u2019s friends, who is a tour guide, was picking us up right at 12:30. His name is Eder and he is fantastic. First we drove in our little mini bus to an amazing local taco restaurant &#8211; there were around 20 different options of fillings you could choose from and then another 10-15 toppings to add.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-15-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"535\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-15-535x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2297\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-15-535x1024.jpeg 535w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-15-157x300.jpeg 157w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-15-768x1470.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-15-803x1536.jpeg 803w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-15-1070x2048.jpeg 1070w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-15-scaled.jpeg 1338w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 535px) 100vw, 535px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>All of the fillings were kept warm on earthen pots sitting on a heating element grill<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-19-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-19-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2301\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-19-768x1024.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-19-225x300.jpeg 225w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-19-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-19-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-19-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>lots of toppings to choose from\u2026<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-17-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-17-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2299\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-17-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-17-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-17-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-17-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-17-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Two of the vegetarian taco options<\/em>: mushroom, and green beans and nopales (cactus pads)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-18-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-18-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-18-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-18-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-18-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-18-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-18-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Howard\u2019s lunch &#8211; all meats plus a potato patty<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our next stop was the Cenotes\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-20-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-20-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2302\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-20-768x1024.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-20-225x300.jpeg 225w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-20-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-20-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-20-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What is a Cenote? (from Wikipedia)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A&nbsp;<strong>cenote<\/strong>&nbsp;(English:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:IPA\/English\">\/s\u026a\u02c8no\u028ati\/<\/a>&nbsp;<small>or<\/small>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:IPA\/English\">\/s\u025b\u02c8no\u028ate\u026a\/<\/a>;&nbsp;Latin American Spanish:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:IPA\/Spanish\">[se\u02c8note]<\/a>) is a natural&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pit_cave\">pit<\/a>, or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sinkhole\">sinkhole<\/a>, resulting when a collapse of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Limestone\">limestone<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bedrock\">bedrock<\/a>&nbsp;exposes&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Groundwater\">groundwater<\/a>. The term originated on the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yucat%C3%A1n_Peninsula\">Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula<\/a>&nbsp;of Mexico, where the ancient&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maya_civilization\">Maya<\/a>&nbsp;commonly used cenotes for water supplies, and occasionally for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sacrifice_in_Maya_culture\">sacrificial offerings<\/a>. The name derives from a word used by the lowland&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yucatec_Maya\">Yucatec Maya<\/a>\u2014<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/ts%CA%BCono%CA%BCot#Yucatec_Maya\">ts\u02bcono\u02bcot<\/a><\/em>\u2014to refer to any location with accessible groundwater.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cenote#cite_note-Sharer2006-2\">[2]<\/a><\/sup><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cenote#cite_note-scoones2005-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Mexico the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula alone has an estimated 10,000 cenotes,<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cenote#cite_note-Destroy-4\">[4]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;water-filled sinkholes naturally formed by the collapse of limestone, and located across the peninsula. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eder took us to a private property that had 5 cenotes we could visit. What a gorgeous place. The first one we visited we were not allowed to swim in, just appreciate the beauty of the cave. Eder also brought snorkels and masks so we could explore. In the four we could swim in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-26-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-26-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2312\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-26-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-26-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-26-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-26-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-26-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-22-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-22-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2307\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-22-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-22-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-22-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-22-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-22-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The descent into the first cenote<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-23-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-23-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2308\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-23-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-23-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-23-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-23-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-23-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Eder posing in the cave.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-24-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-24-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2309\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-24-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-24-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-24-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-24-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-24-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-25-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-25-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2310\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-25-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-25-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-25-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-25-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-25-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-27-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-27-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2313\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-27-768x1024.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-27-225x300.jpeg 225w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-27-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-27-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-27-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The walk through the property was beautiful jungle<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-28-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-28-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2314\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-28-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-28-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-28-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-28-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-28-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>We saw an iguana and some of the locals saw us stopping to take a photo and told us how delicious iguana tacos and iguana stew are. Eder told us that in four different states in Mexico, people eat iguanas.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are a few photos of the Cenotes &#8211; the highlight of me what\u2019s when there was a small passageway to swim through, right into another cave. I had a few precious minutes alone in the cave to float and meditate &#8211; it was so beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-29-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-29-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2315\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-29-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-29-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-29-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-29-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-29-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-30-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-30-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2316\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-30-768x1024.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-30-225x300.jpeg 225w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-30-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-30-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-30-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-31-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-31-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2317\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-31-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-31-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-31-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-31-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-31-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This particular cenote is sometimes used for wedding ceremonies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-32-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-32-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2318\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-32-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-32-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-32-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-32-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-32-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After drying off and changing we drove to Akumal &#8211; a word that means \u201cplace of the turtles\u201d in Mayan. We booked a dive for either Wednesday or Thursday to dive with the sea turtles. It was a very touristy area, but very beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/D2D324C4-B5DD-4968-9FD7-11C1365C4027-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/D2D324C4-B5DD-4968-9FD7-11C1365C4027-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2321\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/D2D324C4-B5DD-4968-9FD7-11C1365C4027-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/D2D324C4-B5DD-4968-9FD7-11C1365C4027-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/D2D324C4-B5DD-4968-9FD7-11C1365C4027-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/D2D324C4-B5DD-4968-9FD7-11C1365C4027-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/D2D324C4-B5DD-4968-9FD7-11C1365C4027-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-33-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-33-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2320\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-33-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-33-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-33-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-33-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-33-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-34-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-34-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2322\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-34-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-34-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-34-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-34-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-34-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Hilarious sign<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After Akumal we headed back to the house for a bit of down time. Howard, Melody and I went to a very well recommended restaurant called El Fogon. <br \/><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/E1B067D6-9A51-4993-B272-AF18854F63C6-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/E1B067D6-9A51-4993-B272-AF18854F63C6-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2324\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/E1B067D6-9A51-4993-B272-AF18854F63C6-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/E1B067D6-9A51-4993-B272-AF18854F63C6-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/E1B067D6-9A51-4993-B272-AF18854F63C6-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/E1B067D6-9A51-4993-B272-AF18854F63C6-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/E1B067D6-9A51-4993-B272-AF18854F63C6-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>This restaurant has 3 locations in Playa del Carmen. A local favourite. There is almost always a lineup to get in.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/DDA845A1-748F-4535-AC44-FB23B0D33D50-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/DDA845A1-748F-4535-AC44-FB23B0D33D50-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2325\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/DDA845A1-748F-4535-AC44-FB23B0D33D50-768x1024.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/DDA845A1-748F-4535-AC44-FB23B0D33D50-225x300.jpeg 225w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/DDA845A1-748F-4535-AC44-FB23B0D33D50-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/DDA845A1-748F-4535-AC44-FB23B0D33D50-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/DDA845A1-748F-4535-AC44-FB23B0D33D50-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/F14CF0F4-944D-4B74-9D8E-3848D276BC5E-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/F14CF0F4-944D-4B74-9D8E-3848D276BC5E-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2326\" style=\"width:935px;height:auto\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/F14CF0F4-944D-4B74-9D8E-3848D276BC5E-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/F14CF0F4-944D-4B74-9D8E-3848D276BC5E-300x225.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/F14CF0F4-944D-4B74-9D8E-3848D276BC5E-768x576.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/F14CF0F4-944D-4B74-9D8E-3848D276BC5E-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/F14CF0F4-944D-4B74-9D8E-3848D276BC5E-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>my veggie option: nopales (cactus pads), and other veggies stir fried on a grill with cheese, served with handmade small flour fortillas.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1E7E7AE9-2EF3-48CE-ADDF-2DB80C402EA4-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"930\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1E7E7AE9-2EF3-48CE-ADDF-2DB80C402EA4-930x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2327\" style=\"width:956px;height:auto\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1E7E7AE9-2EF3-48CE-ADDF-2DB80C402EA4-930x1024.jpeg 930w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1E7E7AE9-2EF3-48CE-ADDF-2DB80C402EA4-273x300.jpeg 273w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1E7E7AE9-2EF3-48CE-ADDF-2DB80C402EA4-768x845.jpeg 768w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1E7E7AE9-2EF3-48CE-ADDF-2DB80C402EA4-1395x1536.jpeg 1395w, http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/1E7E7AE9-2EF3-48CE-ADDF-2DB80C402EA4-1861x2048.jpeg 1861w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 930px) 100vw, 930px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Melody\u2019s meal: Tacos al pastor (marinated pork or beef piled up and cooked on a spit like shawarma). This one had pineapple.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Melody\u2019s friend recommended it as well as our Spanish teacher &#8211; Howard and I took this to be our homework assignment. Once again I went to bed full and happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Feb 3, 2025 This morning we started Spanish lessons. Michelle and \u201cLola\u201d are in a semi-private intermediate level lesson and Howard and I are in the more beginner level. We reviewed the present simple tense, some of the verbs, and &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/?p=2296\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2296"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2296\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2343,"href":"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2296\/revisions\/2343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.koren.korenscreativearts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}