Mexico 2017/18

For some reason Dara feels the need to return home for a week. Two of our kids are not there so I don't see what the draw is. Meeting with the accountant I would think can wait until our return. No he must miss the cold weather. Not that it wasn't cooler here than normal as well. I finally finished up with the dentist and walked out happy! I got back into town in time to see the Mardi Gras Parade!

Here are some of the floats and people on the Melecon

This week has been rather quiet. Taking it a bit slow trying not to do too much. For some reason this doesn't seem to be possible.

I took Maggie to see Socorro and Doris; the lovely ladies who make the tab purses; to get a specific size made for Maggie; despite there being a big box of them for sale by the food bank, there were none like she wanted. I always am humbled when I visit them in their home. They are both so pleased to see me and welcome me with open arms and affection every time. Socorro is always so grateful for the dental work we paid for. She has made several bags for me to cover some of the cost. After this we went to see Lucy, the seamstress a block away, to get her to make a top for me with the fabric I had bought in Merida. The batik fabric that is used a lot in quilting. She will copy my top for only $6.50. How could I possibly make this myself for that price. It will be ready on Wednesday

Panteleons opened for it's Friday fish and chips dinner. This is the first time since Natasha passes a few weeks ago. Lupe wasn't going to open but so many encouraged him to do so; and what a turn out. I have never seen so many people there in the 5 years of coming here. There was not a single free table by 6:30. It was as good as always and so nice to see so many familiar faces. After a bit of a chaotic service John and his friends played country music. Despite not being a fan of the country stuff I stayed for a bit at least until John sang the song he dedicated to me!

Half of our group were at one table and for some reason I didn't take a photo of our table!!

Our entertainment for the evening

Paying the bill!

Saturday was a beautiful day and spent on the patio taking in the sun as we had enough of the wind and cooler weather.

Sunday was dispensa filling day. For some reason there were only 3 of us to fill the 66 bags to the food bank. Last month there were too many and the result is everyone felt they were not needed and didn't turn out. It was like it is after we all leave at Easter. The strange thing is I think that it went faster without too many people to trip over. We were done in 30 min . I took a walk around the square after we were done just as mass was finishing and the people were mingling with one another including several expats.

Kids are the same everywhere. Here the little girl is eyeing the Barbie dolls Begging her mom to buy one!

I love this old couple selling their flowers and veggies!

A walk back along the beach I found these two boys playing in their fathers boat!

This guy was begging me to help him. But I just couldn't do it!

A trip into Merida with Alexis to get a cat scan of my mouth so the dentist could determine (very exactly) if she need a bone graft for my implant..( she will not need it). What was amazing is they gave her a copy of it on a disk and sent one to her dentist. She heard from him before we even got home today to tell her a bone graft would not be necessary! What incredible service. We also went on a hunt for fabric at the department store Gran Chapur, which is a higher end shop. We found some incredible fabrics and had a hard time choosing. I ended up with some linen to make a few outfits. The white I had found at Asis was cheaper so I also made a stop there again to get some to try doing some dying.

Discovering the streets of Merida on foot is so much better than in a car. I love the different tropical flowers.

Alexis took this of me admiring the house

Alexis trying to decide if she wants to buy this house!

Dara returns today so I will be pleased to have him back here by my side!

Paul and Jadzia left after a wonderful week here with us in paradise. I think they had a great time but what do I know! It is always nice to have family and friends visit from home!

Dia del Candelaria in Mexico: it is customary that the person who got ‘el niño’ in the ‘Rosca de Reyes’ has to make tamales and atole, both corn-based dishes. This tradition also carries Pre-Hispanic roots, as many villagers use to bring their corn to church in order to get their crops blessed after planting their seeds for the new agricultural cycle that was starting. They did this on February 2, which was the eleventh day of the first month on the Aztec calendar. They also In this part of Mexico, people dress up a baby Jesus figurine and take it to mass before placing him in a niche where he will “live” for the remainder of that year. This can be in someone’s house or in a church and it is considered a high honor to be chosen as the baby Jesus guardian. The hosts for baby Jesus usually have to be open for visitors most of the time and have to share their food with those who come see him.

We arrived in the Chicxulub square where we're meeting friends for dinner of Tamales. I love the "colada" tamales a lot and not very fond of the others drier more dense tamales. Last year I made them in a local woman's home. I hope to still be able to do this again this year.

What a difference a day makes or even an hour. We woke up to an incredible calm day with a bit of fog across the water. It was heating up nicely as the hours passed at the Muelle Market. By 9:30 the place was packed and I started to feel like everything was caving in on me.

I headed off to meet Dara to go into Merida where we met friends to go for a meal. It was a surprise and off we went towards Motul. We turned off to go north and take the parallel highway that also takes you to Tisimin. We found ourselves in a lovely serene location with very peaceful environment for cancer patients to come and recover. A place to relax and find ones inner health to heal oneself. They have a lovely Thai restautant. There was only one other table occupied by people from Progreso and at closer look we found it was Richard and Jenny. What is the chance of running into them here. The food was delightful and I would recommend this to anyone!

February 4th is Maggie's birthday and had to wait a day to go and celebrate. We decided to go back to our favourite place in Merida: La RUEDA. We booked a van with Manuel as we were 11 going. To our surprise he sent his eldest son Manuel. Off we go once we have picked up everyone and all is going fine until suddenly he turns off on to the Pereferico. We ask him why he is going this way and he says it is faster. We can't quite figure that to be the case. He insists it is. Once we end up in an area that we clearly know it is nowhere near where we want to be. We ask him to stop and find where we need to go. He keeps insisting we are in the right area despite our insistence. We finally convince him to call the restaurant and get the correct directions. When we finally get onto Calle Colon we know our way. Finally after 1:30 min tour of Merida we finally get to our destination. (It is only 40min from our home to the correct place).

The food was as good as always. I think this is the best restaurant in Merida and not too expensive.

Returned to Merida as the Norte persisted and since the Korean Restaurant is only open on Saturday why not go with Andy, Alexis and Linda for lunch. I went in early with Linda to spend some quiet time on Paseo Montejo shopping and chillin at Pistache knitting, reading and having coffee along with a millfeuille.

That last millfeuille is mine!

The Norte continues for fourth day it is supposed to end sometime soon!

A venture into Merida again to show some ladies the big fabric store. Jody started a ladies coop in November and started teaching the women to make all sorts of lovely items using batik material. We managed to find some in Merida at Assis; where I discussed with the manager a need for a discount for these lovely ladies. Jody will return with them to let them select. We also found some nice cotton for them to make some tops to sell as well.

We have now been here a month. This week my cousin Paul and his partner Jadzia arrived on the same flight as our friends Maggie and John who will be staying with us for at least a month.

It is quite nice to arrive here at the house at 1:15 when you get the Merida flight. It was a bit of a shock for Paul and Jadzia as our home is large but sparse. But it didn't take them long to take it all in and decide we actually have a great spot here.

Once they settled in with a beer and margarita enjoying the waves and the sun they were suddenly hit with fatigue. We had planned for a bbq steak dinner with other friends Ian and Sheila for their first meal.

As we do with all our guests, and since it was a nice day for a walk into Chicxulub for Panuchos and juice. We always like to introduce our guests to this wonderful little meal along with an orange carrot juice mixture for a 50 4$ each person! I know Sheena and Adam love these little delights made with a corn tortilla that is stuffed with black bean and then fried then shredded chicken topped with avocado and tomato
A Panucho is a Mexican food specialty from the Yucatán made with a refried tortilla that is stuffed with refried black beans and topped with chopped cabbage, pulled chicken or turkey, tomato, pickled red onion, avocado, and pickled jalapeño pepper.

It was hot enough to jump in the ocean upon our return with even Maggie joining us despite her normal resistance to the ocean. We were 5 ladies bobbing around in the water with no men to bother either of us; what a lovely day!

We were just enjoying a relaxing morning on the veranda when suddenly a Norte arrived and we were running around gathering up the furniture that was flying all over the place. What a change and the rain came with it. Time for movie watching but wait the power was also out for a couple of hours. What to do without Internet and tv we are lost! We did get it back and managed to watch 2 movies. Mamma Mia's was having lasagna dinner special so off we went into Chicxulub by bus to a lovely meal. Despite the hard seats!

Nothing like a drink at Eladios in Progreso; order a drink and for no additional cost they feed you as well. Once you fill up on the free food you leave and head home. Walking around the town a bit checking out some of the shops.

While I was in Merida at a IWC meeting the rest of the gang were at a fundraiser breakfast for the spay and neuter project in Chicxulub at El Faro

Our guest treated us to a lovely dinner at Sol y Mar with a shared specialty of the house; breaded stuffed grouper! They loved it so much they wanted to return again the next day! We arrived at 7pm and were the last customers in the place and were feeling a bit rushed as it seemed they were about to close.

We walked along the Malecon to check out the bikes for the triathlon in the morning, while enjoying these wonderful treats called churros made fresh while you wait.

Sunday in Merida is a must for first timers and if only here a week you can't not go even if it is 34C. Off we go on the coach! a little slower as the cyclist were taking up two lanes of the Merida Triathlon.
What a lovely day despite the heat! I love Santa Lucia Park taking in the lovely local dancers! There are no young people up there dancing. We are tacos al pastor on the square. (Plaza Grande)

The week with Paul and Jadzia ended on a lovely note. With it being Constitution Day it was a holiday which meant that El Patrullero would be open and so instead of going to El Faro as planned we could go and have fried fish! Rosie and Leo Giroux were meeting us with their friends from Merida at El Faro for a drink and took the along with us to discover the great food available here in our little port town of Chicxulub. The meal was enjoyed by all as always!

This was a quiet week with being on my own for most of it. Dara's sister Ite broke her arm and was all alone in Florida so he decided to go and help her a bit as there is a direct flight to Miami from Merida.

Another day in Merida with my friend Linda started with a visit to my friendly dentist and then a walk around town. I had my first gelato of the season of banana lime. It was delicious. The weather had cooled off quite a bit this week and this makes walking Merida streets a bit less tiring. Linda was showing the house she manages at 4pm so off we went to be there and I got the chance to see inside the house. This lovely African American was waiting patiently at the door for our arrival. She was looking for a place to stay an extra two weeks and somewhere to rent for three months next year. She was quite taken by this place. After she left we waited for the arrival of guests coming from Detroit for a month. Once they were shown the ropes off we went for dinner. We had great plans to go to to Roscolos (a favourite of ours from last year) but as we started walking Linda remember they were closed on Tuesday's. Oh dear now where??? We decided to go to the place we had suggested to the guests and so be it if we came across them. I would not recommend this place as the prices have gone up and the food was bland.

On our walk to the restaurant on Calle 65 we came upon this building with such eiry lighting. I would like to return and take on in the daytime as well.

This Muelle Market turned out to be a very busy one and I finally gave in after eyeing a necklace for three weeks here and in Merida, Amber and Mayan jade. Not that I needed more Amber!!! It just caught my eye. At the market there was this bus outside with a couple and their 10year old daughter. They have been travelling from Argentina to Alaska for the past 10 years. They are half way I guess! Their lovely daughter Zaina stopped by to chat with me at the table and shared her story with me. She was born in Ecuador on this trip and is now being home schooled by her parents; mom speaks 7 languages fluently! What a fabulous adventure this child is on with her lovely parents. Their bus is called 'El Bicho Latino

Saturday was back into Merida for more dental work. From there I walked to the Slow Food Market where I was picking up some smoked ham from the 'Pig Lady". This lovely German woman smokes her own meat and sells it at the Muelle Market but I just missed out on Thursday to get a piece, so she promised to have some for me at her shop. The pleasant walk along Colon past the Sanborns where I picked up two huge books to send home. I was feeling really good about being here and how I really could live down here full time. It is such a lovely city with its colonial buildings some with need of repair and others right beside looking their grand self.

Once finished shopping for goodies I thought I would try the wonderful Korean restaurant. She used to just have a stand as did the 'Sausage Lady' and now own a business. This restaurant only opens on Saturday for the 'Slow Food' market and it is packed. At 11am there are lineups to eat there. I got a nice table outside despite it being rather cool I still prefer the outdoors than the noisy indoors. Musicians showed up to busk and made a bit of money before heading off to another location

Linda found a piece of driftwood she wanted in her garden so we arranged for Tony to use his scooter to take it a couple of blocks. When we were loading it the police came to see what we were up to. This didn't bother us as it meant they were being vigilant. There have been a few robberies of late.

My ventures into Merida are always nice. Every second Monday I go to the English Library and today was no exception. There are some interesting hats coming in. We have been working on embellishments and here are a few! Another proposal was presented to make some stuffies for the girls as the boys have their little matchbox cars.

Stay tuned for more about our visitors from home! They arrive today for a week. This should be fun!

This was a quiet week with being on my own for most of it. Dara's sister Ite broke her arm and was all alone in Florida so he decided to go and help her a bit as there is a direct flight to Miami from Merida.

Another day in Merida with my friend Linda started with a visit to my friendly dentist and then a walk around town. I had my first gelato of the season of banana lime. It was delicious. The weather had cooled off quite a bit this week and this makes walking Merida streets a bit less tiring. Linda was showing the house she manages at 4pm so off we went to be there and I got the chance to see inside the house. This lovely African American was waiting patiently at the door for our arrival. She was looking for a place to stay an extra two weeks and somewhere to rent for three months next year. She was quite taken by this place. After she left we waited for the arrival of guests coming from Detroit for a month. Once they were shown the ropes off we went for dinner. We had great plans to go to to Roscolos (a favourite of ours from last year) but as we started walking Linda remember they were closed on Tuesday's. Oh dear now where??? We decided to go to the place we had suggested to the guests and so be it if we came across them. I would not recommend this place as the prices have gone up and the food was bland.

On our walk to the restaurant on Calle 65 we came upon this building with such eiry lighting. I would like to return and take on in the daytime as well.

This Muelle Market turned out to be a very busy one and I finally gave in after eyeing a necklace for three weeks here and in Merida, Amber and Mayan jade. Not that I needed more Amber!!! It just caught my eye. At the market there was this bus outside with a couple and their 10year old daughter. They have been travelling from Argentina to Alaska for the past 10 years. They are half way I guess! Their lovely daughter Zaina stopped by to chat with me at the table and shared her story with me. She was born in Ecuador on this trip and is now being home schooled by her parents; mom speaks 7 languages fluently! What a fabulous adventure this child is on with her lovely parents. Their bus is called 'El Bicho Latino'.

Saturday was back into Merida for more dental work. From there I walked to the Slow Food Market where I was picking up some smoked ham from the 'Pig Lady". This lovely German woman smokes her own meat and sells it at the Muelle Market but I just missed out on Thursday to get a piece, so she promised to have some for me at her shop. The pleasant walk along Colon past the Sanborns where I picked up two huge books to send home. I was feeling really good about being here and how I really could live down here full time. It is such a lovely city with its colonial buildings some with need of repair and others right beside looking their grand self.

]

Once finished shopping for goodies I thought I would try the wonderful Korean restaurant. She used to just have a stand as did the 'Sausage Lady' and now own a business. This restaurant only opens on Saturday for the 'Slow Food' market and it is packed. At 11am there are lineups to eat there. I got a nice table outside despite it being rather cool I still prefer the outdoors than the noisy indoors. Musicians showed up to busk and made a bit of money before heading off to another location

Linda found a piece of driftwood she wanted in her garden so we arranged for Tony to use his scooter to take it a couple of blocks. When we were loading it the police came to see what we were up to. This didn't bother us as it meant they were being vigilant. There have been a few robberies of late.

My ventures into Merida are always nice. Every second Monday I go to the English Library and today was no exception. There are some interesting hats coming in. We have been working on embellishments and here are a few! Another proposal was presented to make some stuffies for the girls as the boys have their little matchbox cars.

Stay tuned for more about our visitors from home! They arrive today for a week. This should be fun!