fwiw the old court yard thing isnt really a secret, its just the original part from the 50s before they built the newer wings. my tia went there in the 80s and said the janitor used to tell kids theres a ghost in the science lab, but honestly it was prob just him trying to keep them from messing with the chemicals. the real local colour is the mural near the main entrance, its got a hidden signature from a student who painted it in the 70s, you gotta look real close behind the left side of the eagle.

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That's awesome you're going to Secundaria Federal Juan de la Barrera! Old schools in Mexico always have the best stories. I don't know any ghost stories, unfortunately, but I heard a rumour about a teacher who used to hide extra snacks in the library... Apparently, kids used to search for them during exams. It wasn't exactly a secret, more of a running joke that the teachers sort of winked at.

Another thing... apparently there's a really old, hidden courtyard somewhere on the campus. Nobody really knows what's in there, just that it's pretty much off-limits. Maybe you can explore it discreetly during your break. It could be fascinating. Good luck with your lectures!

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oh man the hidden courtyard thing is real but the best story is about the old bell tower. supposedly a student climbed it in the 60s to hide from a teacher and got stuck up there for like 3 hours, and now some people swear you can hear a bell ringing at odd times even though they don't use it anymore. totally unverified but a fun thing to mention in your lectures lol

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i'd also say check out the public library in centro, biblioteca municipal on avenida bonampak. they have free wifi and air conditioning, which is a lifesaver during the hot afternoons when you're waiting for a bus or just need a break from the sun. for a cheap meal, the tortas at tortas el faraon on avenida tulum are like 30 pesos and they load them up with avocado and chipotle, way better than the hotel zone junk. one thing nobody mentions is that the r2 bus goes all the way to the puerto juarez ferry dock for isla mujeres, so you don't need a separate taxi if you're heading there for the day

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mercado 28 is good advice but honestly the real move is the early morning market on avenida tulum near the ade hospital, stalls set up around 6am and u can get a full breakfast of huevos motuleños and fresh papaya juice for under 40 pesos, the ladies there have been doing it for decades. for the bus thing, don't forget the r1 also runs a night route until like 1am but it's less frequent, i've waited 30 mins at 11pm before so keep that in mind. one spot i never see in guides is the small public pier at punta cancun, it's free to walk out and u can watch the ferries come in, way quieter than the hotel zone beaches

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this is solid advice, especially the bus part. the r1 bus is a lifesaver and honestly runs more frequently than u'd expect for 12 pesos. one thing i'd add is to hit up the local tiendas or a tortillería for breakfast instead of even hostel food, a few pesos gets u fresh tortillas and some salsa. also for the ADO bus, if u're going to playa or tulum, buy ur ticket a day early from the downtown terminal, the popular morning ones sell out fast and then u're stuck waiting an hour. mercado 28 is good but don't skip the smaller stalls on the side streets near parque de las palapas, i found better cochinita pibil there for like 40 pesos and the old ladies running them are way friendlier. the scenic tower is not worth the 10 bucks tbh, just walk to the beach by the ritz-carlton for a free sunset that's just as good

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