Life in Campeche

Mi estimado amigos:

Campeche is a truly wonderful place. Some 400 years ago, the Spaniards built Campeche on the coast, however, it was constantly being raided by pirates, so they built a large wall around the central city. In Spanish, a walled city is know as an amurallada (muralla = wall). At the time, evidently, it was a marvel of engineering. Anyway, I live in the original walled area (some of the wall is still standing, see the first picture). Campeche is situated in a dense jungle and is surrounded by a plethora of Mayan ruins and artifacts (picture 2 is a jade Myan mask about 700 years old).

I have started working at the clinic. It really helps my Spanish to work in a familiar setting. When I am out on the street, I still only catch a couple of words in a sentence, but in the clinic, I can follow the Spanish, and they seem to be able to understand me (even with my unfortunate, and I fear permanent, gringo accent).

Therapy in Campeche is about 25 years behind the times, they do mostly modalities. I am working with a younger therapist, though, who is much more up on things. He is frustrated with the way the medical hierarchy works here, the PT's are seen as not much more than techs. I assured him that when I was his age, PT in the US wasn't much different, and hopefully Mexico will come around the way the US has.

I am going to go to a Mayan ruin this Saturday called Edzna, it is one of the largest in Mexico and is only 30 minutes outside of Campeche. I will post after my trip with some more pics!

Saludos,

Alfredo