Tuesday, Jan 8

Tuesday, January 8This has been a very full but fascinating day. Those of us who were interested in visiting the Centennial Zoo met at the central plaza and took a bus to the main entrance. We wandered about and enjoyed a variety of Mexican birds and animals, including, of all things, grey squirrels. Who knew the Calvin campus was a wildlife preserve. Some of our favorites were the baby pygmy deer and tiny monkeys clutching their mothers´fur with their hands, feet, and tails as they swung about under the trees, as well as the hippos with their wide, gaping mouths. We rode the kiddie train around the perimeter and then walked all the way back to the Presbiterio. The next activity was a visit to a nearby evangelical maternity clinic founded by Christian doctors and a missionary to serve Christians with limited resources. We were impressed by the fine care lovingly provided for very reasonable costs. Then, after another lunch provided by a local pastor and his wife, we climbed onto the bus to head for Uxmal.Uxmal is probably the oldest and arguably one of the most beautiful Mayan cities in the Yucatan Peninsula. We were privileged to have a very knowledgeably and enthusiastic guide who spoke at great length about the religious symbolism and numerology incorporated into the various building compounds. The detail and artistic quality of the stone carvings as well as the sophisticated knowledge that went into their buildings and educational systems were truly impressive. We had dinner at a nearby restaurant--a Yucatecan recipe, pollo pibil. This was chicken seasoned and wrapped in banana leaves, then slowly baked underneath hot coals. We then hurried back to Uxmal after dark for a light and sound presentation. The ancient buildings came alive in a new way under countless stars. We got back to Merida after 9 p.m. completely tired out but glad for the experiences and new knowledge and understanding.