Funny Thing Happended on the Way to the Parque

The population of Mérida is about 970,000 which isn't small fry. Quite a change from El Campo. But to explain, El Campo is where we live when we aren't here. No, it isn't in Mexico. Yes, it is in the Estados Unidos. Confusing, huh? Anyway, in a city the size of Mérida one may think you could easily blend into the hustle and bustle of a large city and essentially get lost among the people. It isn't so. As with any big city, you have your quadrant of tierra that makes up your stomping grounds. Not having an automobile makes this even more so. Each smaller quadrant is marked by a park and a church. We are about nine blocks from the Gran Plaza and we walk by two parks and two churches along the shortest distance to get there. If we make a few turns along the way we will walk by three more churches and an additional church. 
We headed out taking the shortest route in search of the art store. We had been told it was moving and we were given the new location where it was to be relocated on our last trip. It was to be on the next block over. Shouldn't be hard to find at all. On our first attempt to find it we had failed. Somehow we had counted two blocks instead of one. I don't know why that was so hard for us to count. But, the good part was that we ran into Ernesto and had a nice chat right in front of the TEATRO ARMANDO MANZANERO. He was hanging out on the front steps as if he was waiting for the next performance. But, quite sure that wasn't the case. He asked about family and was excited to learn of his new sobrina, a reference to Baby Isla. He is now divorced but stays in frequent contact with his 16 year-old son and 10 year-old daughter that live about an hour out of the city. 
On Saturday, we hiked out again to find the art store. It was late in the day so we should have known better. But we were walking down our street just in front of the arches when we heard a familiar voice holler out: "Terry!...Terry!" We turned to look and there was Ernesto looking all kicked back, with his world traveler sprawl going on, as he sat in a horse-drawn buggy headed to Centro. He motioned for us to join him in the buggy. He was going to the theater in style, I presume. Of course, we see the buggies frequently and knew they came down our street on a regular basis. It's easy to hear them on the worn, brick street.  But we weren't expecting to see Ernesto riding in one and we didn't expect anybody to call us by name. We hopped aboard and enjoyed the ride to downtown. Of course, we paid for the ride. It was our first time to ride in a horse drawn buggy down here. 

As far as finding the art store, we did find it one block over from its original location. It was closed for the afternoon.

Comfort in the Lack of Changes

There always seems to be a process and routine when we arrive. We get off the ADO bus from the trip in from Cancun, and as we head to our hood we look around and comment on what has changed and what has stayed the same. It always stays pretty much the same, and we comment that it makes us immediately feel comfortable. 
We were, however, a little disappointed to walk to the house and see that Carlos and crew still had not received the dinero from our neighbor so that they could paint the dingy red, peelling paint house next door. Painting the house was something he wanted to do almost 2 years ago and of course, we wanted it painted as well. Oh well, there is always
mañana.
We were pleased to see that Casa Kahanek had very few spots of peeling paint caused by the rainy season and humidity. And the bright orange patio was still a bright orange patio. Harbor's tiny little blue handprints on the patio wall is a lasting memory of his early summer visit.
Y. had gotten Mari to clean the house and it was immaculate. I hauled a new set of sheets down here with us since linens are one item that is expensive down here. But, when I pulled back the quilt on our bed, I saw that I had brought sheets last visit. Oh well! Now I have two sets of brand new sheets for a doble bed.  
We made popcorn and drinks, sans ice, and headed to the mirador. That was the best we could do upon our arrival. Lights were out early around here.
This  morning we woke up early and stepped outside on our way to the grocery store. Remember the statement about painting the house mañana?!!! It is now painted a beautiful purplish blue. What the heck? When did they do that. They did it early in la
mañana! Still a little work to do after the albañil's work is dry and it can be painted...
mañana. 

The House Next Door

We have been here less than 24 hours and we know our tienda amigo is still around because he rode by on his bicycle and hollered at us. We have already met up with Carlos and chatted with him. We saw all the same older workers that sack groceries for tips at the grocery store. We've seen the older gentleman inside his door where he always sits and reads his newspaper. We saw the courtesy car guy at San Sebastian Park. We saw Julio's antique shop has been painted and was open this morning. We have seen some, but not all, of the city workers in the office next door, and the hawker at the Cancun airport that said he wasn't even going to try and get us a shuttle to the resort hotels because he said he remembered us and he knew we didn't go there. Hmmmm?! 
I don't know that I am getting that warm, comfortable feeling from that last one! 

Back at Casa Kahanek...Car belongs to city worker/not ours

PM for Puerto Moreles....or Panic Mode

Upstairs one bedroom apartment...at a reasonable amount of pesos

We reluctantly said hasta luego to the casa and walked the few blocks to the bus station with our backpacks. We caught a 7:40 bus out of Merida on Sunday for Playa del Carmen. Our plans were to transfer to one of the buses that travels the coast and stops in Puerto Moreles. We had actually made and paid for our reservation in PM ahead of time. Well, we bought our tickets to PM and in another 10 minutes we boarded...almost. The bus driver woouldn't let us board but he let other waiting passengers get on. Then, he explained to us: 
" El autobús no puede parar en Puerto Moreles porque de la lluvia y marea. El agua se pondrá en el maletero."
The bus cannot stop in Puerto Moreles because of the rain and high water. The water will get in the luggage compartment.

It had started raining hard between Tulum and Playa, and the wind and rain just kept coming. Looking out the bus window we saw water standing in many spot along the way. Being familiar with the bus stop in PM, we weren't surprised by this news at all. I think we kinda expected it. We asked for our refund and then sat and waited. Our hopes were that the rain would stop and the water would be able to run off and a later bus could stop there. Each time a bus pulled in, I would ask the driver if they could make the stop in Puerto Moreles and each time the answer was the same. We waited from 1300 to after 1600. We really didn't want to stay in Playa for the night...it just doesn't do anything for us. I talked to a taxi driver about the chances of a taxi getting us to PM. I was thinking if he could just get us to the high water spot where the road leads into PM, we could get a big truck or a policeman to drive us the rest of the way into town and to our final destination. I don't get worked up or go into panic mode often or easily, but I was really ready for something to go down. And I have to admit, Terry wasn't helping me on this one. He was silently thinking of something else...with all due respect, he had learned that his cousin was in the hospital with vibrio vulnificus contracted while fishing Pringle Lake. It was quite upsetting to hear. So he was left with his own thoughts. 

 The first taxi driver I spoke with wasn't too interested in taking us, so I waited and strategically looked at each taxi and taxi driver, waiting for the one that looked "just right" to me. Then, I went in for the kill. And I nailed this one. The taxi driver just answered "Si" to each question I had for him, which is common. They will always tell you 'yes'. But, we knew we had to make a run for it if we were going to get to PM at all on Sunday. First of all, I don't think the taxi driver had ever even been to PM. He acted like he didn't even know how to get there. But, both of us felt better when the taxi driver made his first of many signs of the cross as we passed by each alter along the way. Secondly, I used my cell phone and called the place where we are staying and the taxi driver spoke directly to them for alternate directions into PM to avoid the high water at the entrance, and further directions to the place. He stopped at least 4 times once we got into PM by another side entrance to ask for directions and how to avoid the high water over the streets. He was a jewel! He got us here safe and sound and that was when I gave him a big hug, kisses on each cheeks, and a generous tip! 

So, here we are in PM enjoying the sun....as we keep up with Tropical Storm Bill as he passed through the Yucatan Coast and is now training right over El Campo and over the Hallettsville ranchito.   

Our PM Digs  - 

We have taken long walks on the beach, spent afternoons sitting on the beach, rode bicycles through town, browsed around, and of course done our fair share of eating and drinking very well. 

Camarones Ajillo at one of our favorite places

 

Pescado Achiote

If You are the Aggie with a Mom Living in Placencia Please Say Howdy

While walking one morning we spotted this older model van parked in front of a house...it had an Aggie Mom sticker on the back window. What a trip that Aggie's mom took. I imagine she just said "screw it" one day and decided she didn't want to pay any more tuition and loaded up the van and hauled it to Placencia. Instead of a "howdy" she shouted out "Bye, Mon". 

The village of Placencia sits at the far southern tip of the peninsula. There is one road leading into and out of town. At some points you can throw a stone and hit the lagoon on one side or throw it the other way and hit the Caribbean. In town, they have done something really awesome. That is, they built a sidewalk that runs down the middle of town for pedestrians only. On one side are quaint little hotels, bars and houses that face the sea and the other side of the sidewalk has the same backing up to the businesses that face the actual road. We heard that an archbishop had retired to Placencia quite some years back and he complained about the hot sand so the sidewalk was built to keep the archbishop from burning his feet.

There are also a few side roads that lead down to private homes on canals, a school, peaceful and secluded condos, smaller resorts, and a super nice fishing camp.

The road into town ends at, well, the end. There are a few boat slips, boat docks, and a beautiful anchorage where boats rest in a very protected area. It is well-kept and clean.

The peninsula begins up north. Dangriga is the dropping off point. As you continue south from Dangriga you can either veer to the right and end up at Independence on the Mango River, or veer more to your left and end up on the one road leading into Placencia. So, Richie's Bus Service goes all the way down the peninsula to Placencia. The James Bus Service goes south from Dangriga to Independence and on south to Punta Gorda. If you take the James line, you then have to take the Hokey Pokey Water Taxi over to Placencia.

One afternoon we rented a golf cart from Cap'n Jak's (Lucky and ? from Austin, Tx) and went up north to look around. You go past the Maya Air and Tropic Air terminal and pass The Moorings boat docks and this is where all the newer development is taking place. This is also where the more exclusive resorts are being built. 

Before you cross the runway, look both ways!

I think it was also this day that we spotted the wookie balls on the menu of one of the restaurants...a tribute to the wookie-lar we all know and love. 

Somewhere along this trip we also went to listen to live music at the Pickled Parrot and were a little disillusioned at the not so nice group of complaining cruisers at the table we sat down at. Maybe that was why Terry gave that handshake where I swore I heard bones crack as the handshaking cruiser swore too.  But, we know better and won't let this small sampling of cruisers sway our opinion of the admiration we have for people that have the wookie balls to pull up stakes and go cruising.  

Pics around Placencia and up north in the Maya Beach area ----

Placencia School

Placencia School 

Hey U Wan Do C da Jungle?

Rayman acting like a Howler Monkey

Time gets away from us so quickly down here. Let's see...we fell in love with Placencia and so of course stayed longer than we originally planned. Each day we would go down to the front desk and ask if our room was available for another night and then we'd book it. We had decided when we could no longer have our room it would mean it was time to move on. So we were able to stay until last Thursday when a large group was expected at the hotel. 
Placencia was filled with exotic fruit trees, and snapper, conch and rum were plentiful. We met and talked at length with many locals who work hard to make a living and raise their families. We realized on several occasions just how small the village of Placencia really is - we started to see many of the same faces, could call them by name and then started learning their life's trials and tribulations. 

Placencia Soursop...makes excellent daiquiris

For example - 
On Wednesday night we talked at length with a gentleman that resembled Morgan Freeman. He spend part of his time in Belize, his native country, and the other part in New Jersey. We would see him on just about every walkabout around Placencia. He and his nephew, whom we met over cocktails, were building some houses on property where they already had a couple of very nice houses. The next morning we waited to get on the Richie's Bus we took back to Belize City and met a woman and her husband from New York. She had a Mexican mother and Black father and loved Hopkins, but her husband loved Placencia so they vacationed in Placencia first and were on their way to Hopkins before heading up to the Cayo District to visit her mother. They knew "Morgan Freeman" from New York and New Jersey as well as Placencia. When "Morgan Freeman" happened to drive by while all of us were waiting for Richie's to arrive, he waved and a big group of us waved back all thinking he was waving at them. We ALL knew him...including the woman sitting alone that the NY couple realized they knew from their original Belizean days...she was on her way back to New Jersey after getting a divorce from Morgan Freeman just two weeks prior!!! 
We bought beautiful wooden bowls hand-made by Tyrone. Tyrone and his wife were busy raising their two children and trying to figure out whether the cruise ship terminal out of Placencia was going to have a positive or a negative impact on their lives. It was a big and valid concern of theirs. They had been attending town hall meetings and their biggest concern was that they would be asked to "mass produce". They were adamant their craft of carving beautiful bowls and other things from wood could never be mass produced. They had a nice storefront that they were very pleased with. They explained the business started with Tyrone's dad who was an original carver and came to Placencia only on occasion to sell. Then they started setting up a table on a regular basis that grew into a 2-table business and so on until they built a storefront. Their 4-year old son became a favorite of ours and he loved coaxing us into playing soccer with him.
 

Through the mangroves

Hiking in the Jungle

There Really are several Howler Monkeys in this tree

We booked a trip with Rose one day to go up the Monkey River and see the jungle and it's wildlife. By land, Monkey River is quite a long drive from Placencia but by boat is was about 45 minutes south. Our captain was Kimoni and when we got to Monkey River we picked up Rayman as our jungle guide. There were only five of us on the boat so it was a relaxing and exciting trip through the open and rough water in the panga, then through the mangroves to the mouth of the river and the extremely small village of Monkey River. We heard about the earthquake that hit Monkey River hard back in 2009 along with seeing a crocodile, tarantulas, blue crab in their inland holes, teeny tiny bats on the trees, birds, and of course the awesome howler monkeys. I love monkeys! and could have been a Jane Goodall type in another life. It was only fitting that I spotted the first monkey, even before Rayman or Kimoni. :)
Rayman told us a lot about how they still use parts of the trees and native plants for medicinal purposes such as treating snake bites, ear aches and infections. We stopped in Monkey River and had lunch of snapper, rice and slaw before leaving to go find the manatees. 

Rayman working hard to crab it without getting pinched...

Out comes the blue crab!

Kimoni told us about the days when they had few tourists and they would take them out in hopes of spotting manatees because they knew if they could spot the manatees the tourists would give them a nice tip. Otherwise, it was an unpaid boat ride for the tourists. There were no licenses or regulations when tourism was in its infant stages. Again, he was concerned about the impact the influx of tourists from the cruise ships is going to have on Placencia. Interestingly, the manatees we encountered were just off the coast of Harvest Caye where they are building the huge cruise ship terminal.  He said there were "save the manatees" campaigns but the cruise ship business won out.
It was an awesome day in da jungle!
More on Placencia and the trip up the peninsula  to come!

Welcome to the World of Tyrone, Kendra, Plastic Man, Chino, High Times, and Clean Gas

We have easily picked up on the beat and fallen into the rhythm of Placencia. We get up early, drink coffee made in our room, get dressed, go for a long beach walk, come back and make/eat breakfast on the balcony, go to the market with our returnable Belikin bottles from the day before to buy another day's supply of Belikin, go to the beach while the beer chills in the frig, take a shower, lounge and read and blog and post, eat a light lunch, go for a walk around town, have afternoon cocktails by the water, take another shower, get dressed for dinner/drinks, have dinner, sit by the beach some more, come up to the room and sit on the balcony, then go to bed. 

Entrance to the hotel

View from our balcony

We have met Tyrone the wood carver, Kendra the hotel desk clerk, Plastic Man that makes beautiful bracelets from old plastic found on the beach, High Times will supply anything you want from boat tours to whatever. We have been on the look out for Chino who was recommended to us by Tyrone, and we have heard about Clean Gas but we have not met either as of yet. 
The harbor is beautiful and we have seen the sailboats anchored there, although I haven't taken pictures. The docks are immaculate and the anchorage is super tranquil. We have done our fair share of people watching and browsing the local Belizean art and colorful Guatemalan textiles. We like it here!
Placencia Village - 

These huge palms are everywhere...beautiful

Colorful Guatemalan textiles

Our room is up there

 

The Midnight Bus to Belize

Traveling the Hummingbird Highway via James Bus Line

After being in Merida for a couple of weeks, we had taken several beach days to Progreso, gotten some errands behind us, painted on the wall, pondered on the mirador, and talked about taking a trip.
We decided to go even farther south. Somewhere we hadn't been before. We'd go to Placencia in southern Belize. It has a nice ring to it. Bought two ADO bus tickets in Merida for the run from Merida to Belize City. The bus runs 4 times per week down to Belize City, leaving at 11pm. I know that isn't midnight but it just sounds better to say "the midnight bus"...and it's close enough. We bought the tickets on a Monday and the next bus leaving was on Wednesday night. Booked it!
On Wednesday, Terry and I both stayed up reading, doing yoga (me), and packing. Since we generally go to sleep early it was a chore for us to stay up past 10, but we wanted to be able to sleep on the 8 or so hour bus ride. Otherwise, it is a long trip! And, we had more bus tripping to get to our final destination.
There were only 5 other people on the bus which included 4 Belizeans going home, an Asian guy, and us. Oh, and the riding bus driver that hopped off the bus just outside Merida to get in the baggage compartment for a snooze to Belize. I told Terry later I swear I heard him knocking on the bus trying to say he was ready to get out of there, but we never stopped for that.  The only other time we stopped was when the bus driver stopped, got off the bus and asked somebody for directions. That was somewhere outside of Orange Walk after we'd crossed the border. And we almost stopped when the bus driver passed up a turn and had to put the bus in reverse to make the turn to the right. I've learned and I always wear warm, comfortable clothes since the buses are like refrigerators. And this run is nice because everybody can take up as much room as they need to stretch out and get comfy. Terry can always sleep like a baby. For me, it usually takes a while but I slept more on this trip than most. We've taken this bus to Belize City twice before. Oh, and we did stop two other times. Once to exit Mexico and the other time to enter Belize, when I had to give up my banana. I'm pretty sure the Customs lady ate it after I left! Each time we have crossed the border the exit procedures are different. We have finally given up on trying to get them to stamp our tourist card with 'doble entrada' so we don't have to pay fees over and over, but it only worked for us on the first trip to Belize. No such luck since! This time we asked for a receipt, thinking that would get us something. But all it did was get us a walk over to another building where they put in our passport numbers and pulled up our information and printed the receipt. We still beat the much fuller Cancun bus out of Mexico which meant going through Customs in Belize went quick. And we were out of there.
The sun started rising somewhere between Corozal and Belize City and by the time we got to BC, things were hopping and the town was awake. 
We didn't really know which bus we were going to take out of Belize City to get to Placencia, nor what time we would leave out of Belize City, but we knew none of our options would be as luxurious as ADO. From what we gathered, the James Bus Line and Richie's Bus Service are much the same. Both lines cover the southern areas of Belize. They are all older model Bluebird school buses, but just painted different colors, and none have A/C and both carry lots of people on them. We wanted to take Richie's since I wanted to tell Kate and Richy that we rode on Richie's but as luck would have it - we literally got off the ADO bus in Belize City and there was one other bus inside the terminal with people boarding. When we asked the conductor he said the bus was going through Independence/Mango Creek with a final destination of Punta Gorda. I think that might be in Guatemala but since we weren't going there I can't even be sure of that. This bus would get us close enough to Placencia to take a water taxi over the bay to Placencia town, which is on the far end of this little split of land that is like a finger off the Caribbean coast of Belize....a peninsula (duh!) So, Bingo! We both hopped on. Terry and I took the last two seats, sitting at opposite ends of the bus, and within a couple of minutes we rolled out of there for what would be a 4 hour bus trip to Independence/Mango Creek. The Belizean female I sat with was reluctant to let me in to my window seat. The conductor came back to the back and told her to move her stuff. When I crawled in I realized why the seat had remained vacant. I was sitting on the rear wheel hump seat which meant my knees were up in my face. I only had to ride like that for the hour or so trip down to our first stop - Balmopan. My butt cheeks were aching! I kept thinking to myself: Thank goodness Terry took the first seat. It wasn't as cramped and he wasn't having to eat his knees. I told him later I was daydreaming that he went up to the bus driver and asked to be let off the bus and hollered at me to follow. I was concerned he was feeling claustrophobic on this rather warm and very cramped bus. Funny thing was, when we got to Balmopan and quite a few people exited the bus, we both jumped up before the new passengers got on to change seats. Little did I know but he had been seated on the front wheel hump seat and eating his knees too!!! But, we were on our way to beautiful Placencia so both of us were willing to make a few sacrifices to get there. And I don't think either of us was prepared for what was next. Upon leaving Balmopan headed towards our next stop at Dangriga, we took the most scenic part of the trip on the Hummingbird Highway. It was lush, green mountains covered with green palm trees and other tropical vegetation followed by valleys of rows and rows of citrus trees. We saw an organic ginger farm, banana farms, and national park land. It was truly beautiful and can almost make me forget the 18-wheeler we saw lying on its side where it failed to slow down enough to make the bend while coming down off a mountain. It was waiting for emergency help to arrive but had plenty of people trying to help. I did notice afterward, people on the bus seemed to grip the back-seat rails a little tighter. These non-first class buses stop for anybody to enter/exit anywhere....as in top of a mountain, side of a mountain, rounding a mountain and anywhere in between. We made it to Dangriga, about 2 hours from Balmopan, where we had enough time to take a potty break. We have learned when to drink fluids and when not to drink fluids when it comes to bus riding. This wasn't a morning for hydrating! We wouldn't even get a cup of coffee. I'm just glad the bathroom attendant let me in the bathroom even though she refused my Mexican 10 peso coin. Then, I learned later she took Terry's 10 peso coin! 
 The last leg of our journey took us to Independence. The bus station was on the edge of town and when we asked the attendant, he told us it was about 3 miles to the Mango Creek water taxi. We gave in immediately and hailed a taxi and, sure enough, not only was it a good 3 miles but it was down a dirt road which we never would have turned down if we had walked. As luck would have it, again, we arrived just in time to get on the next water taxi at 11am. We had gained an hour upon entering Belize. The water taxi goes down the Mango River through very thick mangroves but the river is probably 200 or so yards wide. It was a pleasant and short trip. Even though we were travel weary, we were exited to step foot on the ground in Placencia town and walk the short distance to the city center and find a place to have a Belikin and a rum punch and let the rest of the adventure unfold. 

Terry at DeTatch

View in front of us

The Lying Shelf

This is a photo of a wooden shelf that is lying. It lies about why it isn't installed on the wall and it is lying because it is just sitting in the corner on the floor - unhung. We found it a year ago at Julio's Down by the Schoolyard. We call it that because Julio owns the antique shop and it is across the street from the schoolyard. That was when Terry learned to play "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" on his guitar.
This shelf keeps telling me it will hang itself mañana. You and I both know what that means. I have picked out the perfect spot for it. I hoped to have it hung up above the stove and the tiled archway. I was going to use it to hold spices and other things that seem to accumulate on the countertop for no particular reason. 
The shelf acts as if it is getting heavier and can't lift itself into an upright position. I agree, it is solid wood with wrought iron decorative hangars that are old and heavy. But, a big strong, good-looking shelf shouldn't have trouble lifting itself into place. 
At first the shelf said it was just too tired to be hung. Since then the shelf has gotten a lot of rest and muchas siestas. In fact, the shelf is in the middle of a siesta right now. 
The shelf has told me it is too hot and it will get hung later in the day. It doesn't really cool off until late in the day. That would be after sun downers on the mirador. That is not a good time for a shelf to hang itself. I don't really want a crooked shelf.
Upon our arrival to Mérida, the shelf said it was waiting on the electric drill to charge. It used this excuse on day 2 and again on day 3. I am quite sure it doesn't take 72 hours for a drill to charge. 
So, this shelf is really the lying, lying shelf. I can't wait to hear the excuse it gives me mañana.
 

Gaspar and the Heineken Cooler

Yesterday afternoon we went to the neighborhood Cerve Frio. Gaspar is the man's name that sells beer there. Gaspar is Mayan and he is very small in stature. He stands on a box so he can see his customers over the counter. Lupita was also there. What Gaspar lacks in size he makes up for in the size of his heart. He was glad to see us. Likewise. His corner store is very small. He sells beer and snacks. But he sells a lot of beer and snacks. We usually buy a 12-pak...cans. He mostly sells liter bottles of beer and takes back the bottles for refunds once a customer buys the first one and pays the deposit. 
He used to laugh at Terry's Spanish but now that Terry has gotten so much better at it, he no longer laughs at his Spanish but just laughs because he's glad to see us. 
He had a brand new upright beer cooler behind his counter. It's very large like the size of a jumbo refrigerator. It is made to look like a Heineken beer bottle. I don't recall seeing many people in our neighborhood drinking Heineken. They are all Sol drinkers.  The jumbo beer cooler makes Gaspar look even smaller behind his counter.
We came home and sat up on the mirador with the Sol and some Anejo and had a war on the wasps that have built nests while we were away. There were more of them dead than us when the lights went out. 
 

No Words of Wisdom Here

Terry worked like a banshee to get the new tin roof on the barn out at La Ermita (the "other" hideaway). He worked, alone, and fought the rain for several weeks but he got it done. Then Craig, Kim and Harbor came for Easter and the guys built a loft for Jack and Harbor in the barn. No guhs allowed! This past weekend Hugh came out and brought his guitar. All I can say is wow! He can really play. He isn't a strummer, but plays it like it was a keyboard. While listening you forget it is a guitar. We had a most excellent visit with Hugh, Kim and Harbor and then said "Adios". 
We were up early on Tuesday and took a rental car to HOU. Folks, they are coming along beautifully on the new Southwest Airlines International terminal. We flew from Houston to SAT and into CUN. The SAT to CUN is a new route for Southwest and there were only 31 passengers on board. We each got a nice thick SW inscribed beach towel. Well, it wasn't that thick really but I used it to cover up with in that cold bus air later in the day. Took the ride to the bus station and then caught a bus for the 4 hour ride into Merida. We sprang for a GL bus so we had more leg room, 2 restrooms instead of one unisex one, earphones and reclining seats. Oh, and a "private" waiting area at the bus station. We actually thought it was well worth the difference in the price! Then, we walked the six blocks or so to the house. It isn't that bad because we travel lightly. We didn't arrive at the front door until after 9, but we were met with a super clean house. We always have to walk around, look, smell and get re-acquainted. Thanks to Y. and A. for managing the house while we are away. I don't know what we would do without them. Then, it was up to the mirador to celebrate with a nice Anejo and lime. Three each, actually. 

View from the Mirador

Don't forget to check prices and routes at Southwest.com before booking your next international flight. We sure are excited about their new routes. 

Yesterday was a wind down day. We went to the supermarket and stocked up. Last night we cooked mixto with some of the fresh carrots we have grown to yearn for when we are gone. I never knew carrots could be so good. I spotted the nopales and they are already cleaned and spikes removed so when I came home I started to search for recipes. While visiting and eating at Baldemar's, somebody in his family had made an ensalada with nopales and gooey cheese. I want to make it! 

Cactus Salad

This morning it was yoga...promised myself I would keep it up while I am down here. Then we got dressed and took a walk all the way over to  Paseo de Montejo to pay our fideicomiso at the bank. We pay it annually. It is rather strange because you go to the back of the bank, into the parking garage, and have to ring a bell and tell them why you need to be let in. They release the door latch and you go upstairs. There are several offices and lots of papers...lots! But, they put in a few numbers and our name into the desktop and print off the record. Then, we take the paper and go downstairs and enter the bank and actually pay at the teller window where the paper is stamped as 'paid'. 
We stopped off at the art store and bought some canvas, paint and new brushes. I couldn't find a brush one anywhere in the house. Now I am waiting for some inspiration to kick in.
We have already lounged in the hamacas several times, took siestas, and eaten well. We took our SW towels and went up to the mirador for a snooze. Tomorrow, we are thinking about going to the beach. 
If you happen to be reading this and wish you were kicked back down here in an hamaca enjoying cheap Anejo and lounging on the mirador, you may want to reconsider if you don't like hot weather. Right now it's 102 degrees...and I am not talking that "feels like" temperature stuff. We aren't running the mini-split, but we do have all the windows open and the ceiling fans going...it is rather pleasant with a nice breeze at the moment. But, such is the life in the Yucatan!