Day 1

We embarked on our trip on Sunday, March 4th. We all met in the ticket counter of American Airlines between 7:30 and 8:00am at RDU airport. It would be two more hours before we would start boarding the plane. Everyone checked in, sent their luggage through and got their tickets. Then it was off to the terminal, but not before passing through security. As we waited at the gate, we began to talk amongst ourselves. Finally at 9:30 am we boarded the plane destined for Dallas, TX. The flight wasn't too bad. When we arrived in Dallas, the Student Delegates decided to go eat at TGI Fridays for lunch; a taste of US foods before entering the long week of Mexican food. After lunch, we made it on time to our gate, which began boarding a few minutes after our arrival. The flight headed to Mexico City had a little more turbulence, but we made it safely. After getting off the plane we were told to head to Customs, where we waited for about 30 minutes to get through the line as well as through the officers in charged of stamping our passports. We then proceeded to retrieve our luggage and meet up with Ken and Wayne. Finally we made it to the bus, however, Mexico City traffic stalled us at the airport. As we slowly moved from the airport to our hotel, many of us took pictures of the passing landscape.

We arrived at the hotel Sevilla Palace, ready to check in and lay our luggage down, and possibly change our clothes. Later that night we were welcomed by David Stamy with a diner/reception in the restaurant of the hotel. He welcomed everyone participating on the trip with some words of wisdom, our schedule, and our first Mexican diner. The night concluded with a visit to the Palacio de Bellas Artes...in which we watched the Folkloric Ballet perform. After the ballet we arrived at our hotel rooms ready for some very much needed sleep.