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When the cathedral was being rebuilt after the earthquake of 1894, rich men in the city paid the artists to paint their faces on the angels decorating the domed ceiling.  Although the details are not clear in the picture, it is obvious that some of the baby angel bodies have lots of dark hair, others have facial hair, and yet others are bald.

The Universidad de Los Andes is located in Merida.  When the school began in 1785, the campus was located downtown.  However, as the school grew, new sites were developed for different schools.  The dental school now occupies the original campus near Plaza Bolivar.  The schools of music and medicine are located downtown.  Engineering is located near the airport.  Forestry is by itself in a wooded area.  A short ways out of town, the largest campus called La Heciceria (the witch) is located.  On this campus are a number of different disciplines such as architecture, law, science, chemistry, mathematics, and biology.  Venezuelan students who qualify may attend the University for free.  Foreign students may attend for free but only for three months.  The government provides support for the University but many of the schools make money from the efforts of the students and this money is put back into the University.  The University is the largest employer in Merida.  Faculty is well paid for the Merida standard of living plus the professionals may work after school hours.  The best doctors in town are associated with the University Medical School and only have office hours after three in the afternoon.

Pesebre is the Spanish name for manger scene.  Colored paper is crushed to imitate mountains and little flecks of colored paper suggest rocks and streams, giving texture to the mountainsides.  Interpretations of pesebre vary from life-size figures of Mary, Joseph, shepherds and wise men, to tiny little figures representing all occupations of the village, stonecutters, bricklayers, washerwomen, bakers, woodchoppers, etc.  One of the pesebres at the cultural center was automated and included the teleferico.  The pesebre in the Cathedral was more religious in nature.  Some used a lot of paper; others used very little.  One in the original University building had native cheeses suspended from an arch.  The one in front of the Chevrolet dealer was under and around a cave of Spanish moss tinted green.  Note that none of the pesebres have the baby Jesus in the manger.  Only at midnight on Christmas Eve will the baby be put in the respective mangers.