We enjoyed a wonderful village dinner and a conversation about the history of the Mayans. I tried to pay, but no bill came, only smiles and outstanding service. Raul Mendez was our host, who speaks fluent English and probably ten other languages. Once dinner was over, we parted but arranged to meet again in the morning for breakfast and more scintillating conversation. Wow! What an evening.
The next day we met at the café. We ate breakfast and did not pay, nor did Raul. Raul invited us to his abode and told us he had some things to give us. He also asked to see our map and where we planned to drive. His apartment was on the roof of the one small hotel in town. It was about twelve-foot square and contained a bed, washroom, small dresser, and a wire in the corner where two shirts and pairs of pants hung and nothing more. It was bare bones but clean.
At that moment we knew we had to send him some gifts like a radio, camera, books and a shirt or two (and we did). Although a pauper by some standards, he was a “king” in the eyes of the villagers. We saw both in this one person. There was something truly remarkable about this man, and we felt it.
We returned to the café where we had coffee while he checked our map. He also gave Lenette a tiny piece of jade with a hole to string it. He said this was from Palenque and told us he was one of the archeological students on the dig with another student named Moises. He said Moises was a world-famous lecturer and teacher of Palenque history. He also said that they had not seen each other or talked in many years, but they were in touch. Before we asked how that could be, Raul said we were going to Palenque and showed us the only safe road to take, as other routes were not safe for us to travel on. Also, he went on to say we would arrive at night and meet Moises in the bar.
We were locked in. People and events rule our lives.
Sy
