Yesterday the UC group left Merida and traveled to Kiuic a Biocultural Reserve in the Puuc region of Yucatan. Puuc is Mayan for hills and so needless to say this is the hilly region of the Yucatan. I'm staying in a large, two-room cabin: one main sleeping and living space and a tiny bathroom. The living room is criss-crossed with hammocks which will work as our beds for the next 10 days. They're actually surprisingly comfortable unless you fall out of them, curl up in them, flip over, or basically try to self-consciously move. It's really not so bad, if you find the right position they can be quite cozy. One night in, however, I can say I have only happened upon this position accidentally only to lose it shorty thereafter. It is elusive, but I will continue to hunt for it.

Four other girls are living with me as well and since it was Valentines Day, once we were all placed in a small room together and given free time, the relationship stories came out. It was a very enjoyable experience, because even though Chris isn't around to share this primarily trivial holiday with me, I still got to reminisce and then bask in romantic or adorable love stories.

At night we went out to observe two researchers collecting moths. The had an enormous, blinding light pointed at a white sheet where insects of all sorts accumulated. It was basically Corey Straub's paradise. But what was even more incredible was the walk back to our hut. In the oppressive black of the forest, the beam of my headlamp was my only guide. As it skimmed over the forest floor, dozens of little blue balls light up and shimmer like precious stones or stars. Upon investigation I discovered these lights to be the eyes of many spiders. It has to be one of the coolest things I have experienced in a forest.

I should also mention that Kiuic runs on solar power and only 4 or 5 people are allowed to use the internet at one time. Therefore since I do not have a Species Project to work on or anything particularly pressing, I may not get much internet time for this leg of the journey. I guess we'll all just have to endure!