He couldn't
come picking me up at the airport in Merida. After a while waiting for no one,
and having asked a couple of people "Mr. Licinio? No.. I am sorry..",
he phoned me he would have reached me at the hotel. No problem: 200 pesos to
the taxi guy and there I am. In less than 10 minutes from my arrival at the
hotel, a very interesting character crosses the threshold of the hotel, lightened
from the back by a very warm sun. He stands still in the very middle of the
door, looks inside, gazing at the people at the reception, then he looks at me.
Smile: a warm, nice, intense smile, enriched by a flourished beard who reminds
me of a St. Claus, or some American actor playing his role.
- You must
be Andrea! Here you are. Very good. - vigorous shake of hand.
That
"very good" is going to be a mantra during the trip. Anything that
pleases him, from a good meal to a nice joke, would be inevitably accompanied
by a half whispered "very good". Few minutes to make sure everything
is fine at the hotel, then we go for lunch. I'll be his guest. We are supposed
to plan my few days in Merida and surroundings, but we actually end up talking
about everything but that: from Neuroscience to his view about life and his job
now as a retired man.
We will
spend a whole day on Wednesday, just 2 days after. We will go to Uxmal first,
then to the Cenotes, where no one will be there and I will be free to swim in a
wonderful water! Discussing about his view, about his projects, South America
economy and politics, and his life philosophy gave me a wonderful and super
exciting day. A character that in one day has been able to give me a huge
example of a man who does what he believes in, that behaves very coherently and
charismatically, and is very clever (sorry Licinio, not clever, only very old
and expert!). By the way, do you know how an Argentinean decides to suicide? He
jumps from his ego! ..very good..
Cenotes: Mexican heaven of refreshing water in the middle of the jungle
Bon appetit!
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