Mary and I had opportunity to watch a new building arise in the backyard nextdoor to our rental house over the winter. It was almost entirely done by hand. The albañiles (masons) mixed the concrete for floor and mortar by hand, on the ground, with a shovel, and passed it up by bucket. (They brought in a gasoline powered mixer for the second floor and roof, perhaps due to heat making for short set times.) ¶At first we felt invaded, but quickly became entertained by listening to the camaraderie of the laborers – their whistling, singing, joking, and joy.  While the video linked here is not from Yucatan, it captures some of the delight to be seen in such pursuits. It also speaks of human ingenuity in the absence of capital and power equipment.