Two Early Christmas Presents

IAH TO MID

It is only natural to want to be with family at holidays. We regretted that Hugh couldn't make the trip but were overjoyed to have Kate and Kim visit us for a week. Here is a recap of how we spent our week.

We spent Tuesday, 12/11 getting the house all spiffy and washing clothes, mopping floors, and making a big dish of chicken and rice. The last thing we did was go buy two hamaca chairs to add color and comfort to the house. We were ready for Kate's and Kim's arrival from IAH scheduled to get here around 9:30pm. Both were traveling lightly so they got through customs and security rather quickly ---- two beautiful, smiling faces and a couple of overnight bags.

 

We caught a taxi back to the house and noticed several processions of young people following trucks that had religious statues of what we thought were the Virgen Mary in them. We later learned that 12/12 is when the the apparition of the Virgen de Guadalupe occurred back 1531. The eve of 12/12 and 12/12 is a very celebrated day in Mexico. Terry asked his mom about it later since she is a wealth of information on Catholicism, and she was very familiar with it and had actually traveled to Mexico City to view the site where the Virgen de Guadalupe had appeared. 

Virgen de Guadalupe (from Wikipedia.org)

We witnessed two pilgramages in front of the house later on in the night with floats, people walking, bands playing, and the statue of the Virgen as the focal point. It was very moving.  

A La Playa de Progreso 

 

Wednesday morning Terry and I woke up, drank coffee and watched the girls getting their beauty sleep. It was nice to know they could come to Casa Kahanek and get some kick-back time. We didn't have anything formally scheduled for their visit, but had decided to spend Wednesday in Progreso on the beach unwinding, and then we would just wing it from there....so we hopped the bus and headed to Progreso for the day. The weather was beautiful and it was a relaxing day with cervezas on the beach, botanas and more cervezas under the palapa, and buying necklaces from one of our favorite beach vendors....funny because the three of us picked out our necklaces and they definitely fit our personalities --- mine had blue on it (sodalite stone in it), Kim's was the floral vista doble, and Kate's was the large Mayan figure. Came home and sat on the patio listening to music, relaxing and talking. Terry, Kim and I took the ladder up to the unfishished rooftop mirador. This is on Terry's "future project" list. Kate spent most of the evening relaxing in the hamaca.  I think we were all in bed by 10!

Off to the Mercado We Go! 

The next morning of course Terry and I got up early and drank morning coffee. After the four of us had a rib-sticking breakfast of eggs, chorizo, onions, peppers, cheese and tortillas the girls and I headed out to see and hear Merida. Every chance I got I told the neighborhood "Son mis hijas. Estan aqui para un visitar para una semana y de Tejas." We spent the morning at the mercado and all of us were in awe at the amount of spices in bulk, the vegetables, seafood and poultry galore. But we had the most laughs in the shop with the ladies where they had the anatomically correct figurines and body parts. The girls took pictures but I guess I won't post any. Kim did some of her Christmas shopping. We bought purses and Kate landed a new straw fedora with the elastic band inside similar to a Scala....quite a steal at a final deal of a whopping 100 pesos!

We headed to the Gran Plaza and walked around....met Terry for a late lunch at La Chaya Maya. We knew Kim would go for it, but not sure about Kate. Kate loves TexMex with chips n salsa. She was up for it and enjoyed her meal --- Kate ordered something we had never tried before and I can't remember what it was called. Was a type of sausage that was lightly breaded and served in a deep red, rich sauce. All was good, then we headed to Parque de Santiago for heladoes. Headed home talking about what was in store for manana. Kim was wanting somebody to go party with her...we had gotten her all fired up when we had talked earlier about taking a nap and heading out to El Cubanchera for a late night of salsa dancing. But, we all played out, and she was not in the partying mood later on either. Will skip the details but there were some tears shed, and lots of hurting hearts after she took a phone call from C. Just having a bump in the road, and like any relationship theirs requires work as well. Wish them the best. We all went to sleep with heavy hearts, but had decided maybe a trip to Celestun for some flamingo sightings would be in order for the next day.

 

Necesita Pagar Hoy Entonces Celestun

We decided to make it a leisurely day and get in no hurry to Celestun. We would spend the night and take the boat to see the flamingoes the following morning. It was a good decision since around 10am we got a tap, tap, tap on the front gate and it was the worker from CFE. I can only assume he came by to turn off our electricity, but maybe he had come by to read the meter and since we were here decided to light a fire under us to pay our electricity bill. I don't know but I did understand that we needed to pay our electricity bill TODAY. Terry went online and was able to call it up and sure enough it needed to be paid....it was overdue! There had been a mix-up in it not getting paid which doesn't really matter---we needed to pay it. All four of us hiked out of here and headed to the general vicinity of where we thought the CFE office was located. We had seen it but couldn't recall the exact location. We only had to ask for directions twice. Upon our arrival it only took a couple of minutes to get it paid using one of the auto-pay machines located on premises.

We went straight to the Noreste bus station from CFE and arrived at 12:35...the next bus to Celestun was at 12:45. Perfect timing!

At the Noreste Bus Station

Kicked Back Kate

It takes a little over 2 hours to get there by bus...I can never sleep bec. I'm afraid I might miss something but the other 3 did some sleeping. We got to Celestun and were so excited! They have done a lot to beautify the town. We went to Gutierrez's and checked in...upgraded to a vista playa room for 450 pesos (LOL). We were back at the beach! Kate and Kim love Celestun as much as Terry and I do. Headed to one of the little beachfront restaurants for cervezas and cerviche after explaining to Hector that we wouldn't go see flamingoes until manana.

While on the beach some handsome caballeros came by on their white horses trying to impress the girls. For a few minutes there, I thought they would be hopping on the back and riding into the sunset with the handsome Mexican boys.

 

Spent the rest of the afternoon chilling at the beach, beach combing, picture taking, and sat at the quaint little outside restaurant at Gutierrez's where we met Gary, talked with Peter, Collin, Canadians, and a woman from Belgium. We ended up eating dinner right there. After dinner Terry and Kim did some father/daughter bonding while Kate and I chilled and laughed as we listened to the very intelligent conversation taking place on the veranda outside our room. 



 

Two Blue-Eyed Beauties!

 

First time to spot starfish on the beach! This photo was NOT staged



We got up the next morning, all ate a large breakfast, did some beachcombing, then went to get on the panga for the trip back in the river and mangroves to see the flamingoes.

Kate took a walk into town where a local Mexican boy asked her if she was from Texas. How did he figure that one out? She told him 'yes' and he said he had lived in Port Lavaca where he worked to build swimming pools. He was quite surprised when she said she also had lived in Port Lavaca. It truly is a small world! ....six degrees of separation!

We shared a boat with a couple from New Mexico that were on their way home from Columbia, a couple from Mexico City, and a woman from Belgium. We were not prepared for what we saw. There were literally 1000s of flamingoes in Celestun! We just didn't anticipate seeing flamingoes in those numbers. It was awesome! and we were speechless at times.

 

Gracias Ramon! He was our panga Capitan 

 

At first sight the flamingo flock looked like orange caution tape across the river

 

 

Catch of the Day

 

 

It was a unanimous decision to stay a second night in Celestun. Gary had told Terry we should go over to Lobo's for dinner, but they don't serve alcohol since he had troubles in the past with rowdy, inebriated guests from other parts of Mexico. But, we could take our own bottle. We bought a bottle of cabernet from the licoria and boutdoor screen set up. It was in Spanish, but all three really got into it except for being starved. Shortly after 7 we ate pizza, drank wine out of coffee cups, and enjoyed our rooftop table. To bed early for all of us!

 

When we woke up Sunday morning Terry, Kim and Kate were having some minor stomach issues. Me...I had already had my bout. Hopped the bus for the return trip to Merida and Kate and Kim kept little 8 year old Miguel entertained with taking his picture and using an app. to change it. He was in love with both of them!

 

 

El Fin

Monday the girls were scheduled to fly back to IAH. Originally they were to leave at 7ish, but United had made a change and the plane is now leaving MID at 9 something. We all caught a taxi to the airport and Terry and I had decided to hang around and see their plane take off. Good-byes are always so hard and unwelcome, but we had all had such a nice visit that is made it a little bit easier to tolerate. Sure hope this Mayan end of the calendar means New Beginnings instead of El Fin.

 

Find this Countdown to the End electronic sign at the airport to be humorous.....and just a tad frightening!!!

We watched the airport guys unchock the wheels and get ready to move the plane away from the tarmac for take off...then they did everything in reverse. Uh oh. We had to laugh when "Tim and his crew" pulled up to the rescue in their green Ford truck we have come to know so well in and around Merida!!!

Tim and his crew to the rescue! LOL

Terry texted with Kim and they had an issue with one of the doors not closing properly. Luckily they let passengers disembark. Terry and I decided to take the hike to the corner and catch the #79 bus back to LaErmita. Sorry Girls! for your delay. If the plane can't leave catch a taxi back to Casa Kahanek! We later learned they took off a couple of hours late, but made it back to IAH.

 

THANK YOU TO KATE AND KIM FOR OUR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS! Your presence here was the greatest gift ever!

El Fin!!!