Yesterday our students visited one of the most import historical sites in the city of Merida: Casa de los Montejos. The Montejo family came to Yucatan in the mid 1500's as part of the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Our group learned about the colonial er and the history of Merida which was founded by the Montejos on top of an ancient Mayan city. The "House of the Montejos" is located in front of the central plaza in downtown Merida. Today it is a museum that is open to the public at no charge. You can see the bed rooms, living rooms and dining room with much of the original furniture and artwork. They learned household vocabulary and that many words relating to home comforts in Spanish are actually derived from Arabic, dating to the eras when Spain was under Moorish rule.
Before our next adventure began in the community of Yaxunah,Yaxcabá,Yucatán, we first visited the traditional pottery studio “Najil Kat” belonging to the family Espadas Xooc, in Uayma. Here, the students had the chance to explore the diverse materials and traditional techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation in this family of artists. With the help of Virgilio, we learned about the many types of local soil and clay that are mixed to make a diverse range of creations like vases, plates, mugs, toys, musical instruments, incense holders and more. As part of the workshop, each student sculpted their own little artistic creation, exploring their creativity and the skills necessary to work with the clay. Similar to the time spent in the city of Mérida, the families in Yaxunah are an invaluable aspect for the students to settle into the rhythm of everyday life. The arrival to Yaxunah marks the beginning of a beautiful new family relationship. Students can make s...