some more news

January 14 and 15
The students came back from the pueblos with many stories to share about their adventures, from farming to teaching Sunday School, from soccer games to boat trips. All in all they agreed it was an important and mostly very enjoyable experience. After talking over these experiences we had a lecture Monday and another one Tuesday morning. We also discussed readings and our developing cultural perspectives. We enjoyed an afternoon off Tuesday to explore the city, shop, or relax.
Wednesday, January 16
This has been a wonderful day. We left shortly after 7:30 a.m. for the archeological site of Chichen Itza. This is one of the very biggest sites, occupying 12 square miles, with numerous buildings carefully restored showing an abundance of carvings of both original Mayan and later Mayan-Toltec motifs. Over 300 buildings remain to be restored. We also saw the ball court with the stone rings through which the captain of each team tried to bump a solid rubber ball with shoulders or hips. There is a very large pyramid built on top of another pyramid, along the 90 stairs of which you can see a serpent outlined in light and shadows during both spring and fall equinoxes. We climbed the steps leading to the circular observatory and walked over to the ceremonial well in a sinkhole in the limestone (cenote). It was very hot in the bright midday sun.
We cooled off in an air-conditioned restaurant with a buffet, where we were entertained by folk dancers, and we changed into bathing suits in preparation for our next adventure. On the grounds of a nearby hotel, there is a deep cenote partially covered with rock, out of which falls a cascade of water into the pool below. You can take a set of stairs down to jump into the refreshingly cool water. The hotel has also built some steps up along one side of the cenote’s wall so you can jump off a high platform down into the water. This was great fun and the favorite experience thus far for some of us. We returned to Merida in time for supper, sunburned and worn out.

some pictures

the Magicians temple...it really is as large as it seems in comparison to the people in the picture

having some fun

Uxmal is located in a very arid part of the Yucatan.We are standing by one of the hundreds of cisterns have been found at Uxmal.

at Uxmal
the structure called the House of Doves

from the top of the pyramid

help!!

sound and light show
The pictures are a bit out order but they show us at Uxmal where we had a very enthusiastic guide and learned many fascinating things about this site. Then we climbed some of the structures. After dinner we went back for a sound and light show.

Two days later we went to Loltun caves and the ruins at Mayapan. We spent relatively little time at Mayapan but it was really fun to have the entire place to ourselves. I´ll get those pictures up soon.

Yesterday after a lecture on the educational system in Mexico, the students left for their weekend in the 'pueblos'. Some are very small towns , even villages , but others are fairly large towns. We have an arrangement with the local Presbiterian Seminary. The seminarians all have a church at which they work on the weekends as part of their training to be pastors. These seminarians agree to watch over the Calvin students for a weekend in their pueblo. This is something we have done since the beginning of this Interim 18 years ago and it is always a wonderful experience. It is still a bit of a scary thing to head off, two by two, into the unknown. Pray that they all have a blessed time. I´m sure they will all have great stories to tell.

some pictures

Sound and light show at Uxmal
Uxmal
sound and light show

Uxmal: climbing the pyramids


Professor Zandstra at Uxmal

L
Uxmal
A good example of the false arch in maya architecture

Wednesday, January 9

Wednesday, January 9

After our long day yesterday we convened downtown on the main plaza at 10 a.m. First we took a brief look at the inside of the cathedral, which was completed in 1599 and contains the largest carved wooden Christ figure (a crucifix) in the Americas. Then we walked down to the Paseo de Montejo, which was modeled after the Avenue Champs Elysees in Paris and is lined with beautiful old mansions of the henequen (sisal) barons. One of those contains the Museum of Anthropology, dedicated mostly to Mayan artifacts and information. It is beautifully set up and we were duly impressed. Then we walked back to the Presbiterio and around the corner to a small neighborhood restaurant, where the owners were thrilled but somewhat daunted by the size of our group (36, and yes, we did give them some advance notice). We filled the entire restaurant and enjoyed a generous platter of Yucatecan pork with rice, fried bananas, refried beans, tortillas, and other garnishes. It was delicious and inexpensive. A great find.

This afternoon we spent some time in groups processing some of the plenteous information and experiences we´ve enjoyed thus far. Then we had a lecture on the history of the conquest and colonial times in Mexico, particularly in the Yucatan Peninsula. It was warm, but since the lecture was interesting we managed to concentrate most of the time anyhow. We are looking forward to our trip to various archeological sites tomorrow, including a cave where they found many artifacts used for offerings to the gods of the underworld, and perhaps even a bullfight! More details in the next exciting episode. For now, buenas noches.

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.

Monday, January 7

After a Sunday with our host families and a Monday morning spent catching up on reading, rest, and assignments, we all met after lunch at the main plaza downtown with the goal of becoming better acquainted with the downtown area. First we visited the Palacio de Gobierno, where we saw large paintings and murals depicting the history of the Yucatan Peninsula. Then we divided into two groups to explore nearby churches, plazas, theatres, university buildings, and streets. We ended up in the main square, where we checked out historical buildings such as the oldest cathedral in Mexico, the house built for the founder of Merida, and a former convent. We ended up our walking tour with delicious fruit popsicles at a conveniently located heladeria (ice cream shop).If that weren´t enough, we then hopped the bus to our headquarters at the Presbiterio (church buildings used for education, meetings, etc.), where we heard a lively lecture by a local history teacher about the life and times of the Mayas, including their social classes, educational system, religious practices, and ideas about human beauty (crossed eyes, sharpened and jewel-incrusted teeth, a sloping forehead--America´s next top model, eat your heart out). We headed home after a very active but interesting day

Some of us went to a mission church that meets in the front of the house of one of the members.
It is a very friendly, happy group.
Old and new<: a lamp post downtown hung with speakers.
In front of city hall.

Walking down the street with this big group is a sight to behold.

Steak at the seafood restaurant.

and flowers at the ruins.