Moving on up...to the top of the Mayan pyramids

Although I should be going to sleep right about now due to the lack of sleep I received last night, the long day I had today, and the extremely lengthy day I am going to have tomorrow (our grupo is heading to the pueblitos to wreak havoc somewhere else...), I thought I should fill everyone in on what I have been up to.

On Tuesday we went to Uxmal to see the Mayan ruins there and to catch a light & sound show they put on at night (appropriately called ¨Luz y sonido¨). We learned even more about the ingenuity of the Mayans as well as their devout faith in the gods. We witnessed the majesty of their constructions and architecture, and we did our best to learn the language of the people. Here´s my stab at Mayan: hanal. That means ¨to eat.¨Pretty soon I will be writing you in Mayan! Hehe.

After a long day on Tuesday, we spent Wednesday touring the downtown area a bit more, stopping at the Museum of Anthropology to see some Mayan artifacts, chowing down at a neighborhood eatery (the poc chuc is to die for), and learning more about the Spanish colonization of the Yucatan peninsula via a lecture that my "aunt" gave. It is amazing how much more you learn about the conquest of Latin America when you actually spend a considerable amount of time on the task. I am no longer content with the explanation that Christopher Columbus and his buds exploited what they (and we) inappropriately called Indians and then sent some other guys to pick up where he left off. No, I want to know how a people as advanced as the Mayans were discovered, exploited, persecuted and practically exterminated.

Speaking of this deeper knowledge, we spent today visiting a smaller site on which Mayan ruins were located, but this time we were able to explore the infrastructure a bit more. In other words, under the direction of Professor Leder, we plead ignorance and climbed to the top of many of the buildings that are still located at what is referred to as Mayapan. We then scurried down the steep, highly eroded staircases as the men who were supposed to be guarding the ruins strolled over to inform us that our completed actions were not permitted. See the pic for my reaction to this illegal and thus breathtaking opportunity. Hehe.

As far as general orders of business go, the weather has been fantastic--hot and sunny; the food has been bountiful and near bizarre; the Calvin counterparts have been improving (I am no longer asked every 5 minutes for a translation); and my family members and I have grown closer. It is sad that I will have to leave them for a few days as I head to the pueblitos to integrate into a new family. It is also lamentable that you won´t be hearing from me for a few days since they do not have internet capabilities in the homes where we will be staying. Oh well. I will live. And you will have to as well. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I travel 2 hours tomorrow to Tzucacab with only my professor´s ideas to guide me. That, and whoever else on the bus wants to help me find my way (I suppose I need to bring enough food to repay those good Samaritans; dos sandwiches de jamon y queso, por favor!!!).

Hasta lunes. Cuidense.