I had a fabulous lunch prepared by chef Josue Cime's wife.  It was the equivalent of a Thanksgiving dinner and I walked over an hour and a half without burning a dent in it.  First of all, it was all cooked over a wood fire.  Delicious Mayan Chicken leg, thigh, and breast...  Seasoned roasted potato, white rice, and tortillas, as well as a bowl of bean soup with homeade corn tortillas as a sort of dumpling in the soup, topped with delicious sour cream and a spicey habanero, tomato relish!
Then I taught the kids a little bit of English.  They were adorable.  Jim has a picture that I will post one of these days.  They just adored me and soaked in everything I said.
I taught them "medicine" and sang "Just a spoon-ful of sugar makes the medicine go down...", then translated it.  The little boy cousin said "I think I feel a little bit sick."  :)
Chef Josue said how he doesn't often get to visit with the volunteers or guests because he's in the kitchen all of the time.  He was honored to have us.  Of course we were honored to be there!
Jim and I asked Lorenzo if we should take something, and he explained that in the Yucatan, if somebody invites us over, they do it with their heart, and it wouldn't be right to take anything.  He is really sweet.  Lorenzo is the same person who explained the old age as a form of reverence :)
Last night, loud people checked in to the room next to mine.  I wandered drowsily up to the reception area in my pink striped pyjamas to ask about them.  (They weren't a group of drunken teens -- just one really loud Mexican couple...)  Anyway, I waited for them to doze off on the terrace, and my friends, the trobadores sang a song for me.  The sound was really beautiful in the still, damp, night air; and several of the employees came out to stand around and enjoy it.  Of course I was in the middle of everything in my crazy pink pyjamas, and then they went in to sing for some guests, and I went peacefully off to sleep.
Tonight was the first time I was questioned by a guard in Chichen (probably because my walk coincided with the beginning of the light show); and I was stopped by two different guards!  I began with "Oh, Soy voluntario en la Hacienda..." at which point I was abruptly cut off both times.  They both said sorry.  One said have a great night, and the other said "andale, then" and smiled.  :)
Bibiano came over and sang Happy Birthday to Troy over Skype :)



Leave a Reply.