Merida was great. We stayed at Kasia's roommate's aunt's (Senora Mirella) house. We hiked in the mountains, took the cable car to the highest peak, ate strawberries with cream (something Merida is famous for) and enjoyed the cool weather and sunshine. Senora Mirella's son was our guide and truly I don't think we could have begun our Christmas holdays better than going to the part of Venezuela which is the least like Mcbo. The city of Merida is similar to European towns, with a center and parks where people gather. It is a very easy city to get around in and we felt secure at all times. There were people in the streets and buses functioned until late in the evening - what luxury. OUr travel group consisted of Kasia and I, the Check guy who is working like us in Mcbo teaching English, and a Turkish guy who is doing an Aiesec internship in Caracas.

After spending one week in Merida we returned to Mcbo in order to celebrate Christmas with Jose's family. Was very nice. Both Kasia and Jose were worried about my Spanish and how I would be able to communicate, which was quite funny since I was not really worried about that. So I decided to convince them of muy ability to communicate sufficiently in Spanish by starting to speak in Spanish with the two. I have been speaking Spanish with them eversince, even though I am a bit tired cause it does require more thinking from my part. So we ate hallacas (I won't even try to describe) and pan de jamon ("bread of ham") and chicken salad. And exchanged gifts and drank tequila.

Now I am at Kasia's. She begged me to come over so she would't have to spend the days after christmaseve alone. To be quite honest I am glad to be here, I wouldn't like to be alone in my apartment either. Both our room mates have gone to their families (mine to Cumana and Kasia's to Caracas) to celebrate Christmas and new year. Tomorrow we leave for Caracas. My sister comes the day after tomorrow to Caracas and we'll meet her at the airport. Then, on Friday we're going to see a baseball game, and on the 31st we're going to Tucacas (a beach) with a bunch of people from Aiesec to welcome the new year.

I had no internet connection at my place so I wasn't able to write to you earlier (ok I could have gone to an internetcafe but...). And because I still don't know where the post office is (I just know that the post from here takes ages to get anywhere) I haven't sent a single christmas card. So, merry christmas everyone. I have not forgotten you (even though I haven't answered your mails) and happy new year in advance. I am pretty sure that I won't go through the trouble of going to an internetcafe in Caracas. Although, we'll be staying in the same place where I spent my first month in Caracas (and Kasia her two first months) and I know that there is an internetcafe nearby. Maybe I'll write you a nostalgic mail from good old Ccs. Hardly likely, I am happy in Mcbo now and haven't been planning to return Ccs for a looong time.