VIP Theatre and Mexico Soccer Experience

All of us girls in our leather recliners getting ready to watch a sappy, chick-flick

Last Friday (4th) after visiting the Patronato, the girls and I all went to a mall in Merida called the AltaBrisa and shopped a little and ended up going to The Time Traveler's Wife shown at the VIP theatre. I had never heard of a "VIP" Theatre and was curious as to what it was about, so Val told us exactly what we got to experience while at the movie on Friday night. For just under 9 US dollars, we got to watch a movie all to ourselves in recliners, menus, and a waiting staff that would come to us anytime throughout the movie and would get down on one knee when taking an order or bringing us what we ordered. We all felt like princesses! I know that we are all planning on going back to that theatre or another VIP theatre in the city. There is a picture above.

On Saturday (5th) all of us girls together went to Progreso where the closest beach is to Merida like we had done the previous Saturday and spent the late morning/early afternoon in the Gulf and laying out. This time we did not sweat because the water was cooler and there was a great breeze off the water, so of course I forgot to reapply sunscreen. Who would have thought that I would have forgotten that I am 10 degrees from the Equator! But all in all, I did not get burned that bad. I put 70+ SPF once again all over and put my face sunscreen on and brought it with me too, but I forgot to reapply on my face. So all in all, I left the beach with a face that looked like a fried tomato! I talked to Neal that night and he asked me if I had my friend Larry with me. (Bob the tomato and Larry the cucumber off of Veggie Tales). I wasn't offended by him though because I guess I was the one that told him I felt like a fried tomato :).

Later that night three of us girls went for pizza at a little pizzaria 3 blocks from the house and absolutely loved it! It tasted like regular American pizza, so it was definitely our American food fix for the week. But once we got back from eating, we went with Eduardo (a student who was at Central all last year that is from Merida) to a couple house parties that were watching the Mexico vs. Costa Rica soccer game. To experience the culture and love of the game of soccer shown by his friends was phenomenal. The three of us girls actually got in the game (even though I know absolutely nothing about soccer) because all the other mexicans were way into it. When Mexico scored all three of their goals and won the game, it was like experiencing America's Super Bowl all over again but with a different sport. The one thing that stood out to all of us girls is that the girls dressed up to go to these house parties even though there were only 8-10 people at each party. They were wearing skirts, dresses, the whole thing. I felt way under-dressed because I went in shorts and a tanktop after being in the sun all day. Oh well! They still loved meeting us and getting to know us a little bit! Mexico won 3-0 and were onto the World Cup!! Viva Mexico!