Police Encounter and Getting Our Carnivore On

Bus Station Blues

We had found out how easy it is to take a directo Noreste bus to/from Tizimín  last time  we were here. It's about a 2-hour drive on a bus with a/c and even a bathroom - we aren't used to that on the Noreste buses, all on a new highway. The Noreste station here is a little bit of a walk for us...about 7 blocks east and 10 blocks north, but nothing we can't handle.  Nobody goes to Tizimin unless they live there or have relatives there. Except for us.

Yesterday we decided to go. We had two reasons for going. Tizimín is in the middle of ranching country and we were wanting beef. Secondly, there are leather shops and shops that carry western hats, belts, handmade western shirts with yokes and snaps, spurs, etc. Everything for the cowboy. We wanted to see what we could find. Other than that, Tizimín is pretty well known for being a connecting point for heading to the north coast beaches. 
Terry slept and I looked out the bus window as usual. I was amazed at the lack of barbed wire fences. All the fences are rock walls, mostly just rocks piled on top of rocks. Occasionally, you will see mortar used between the rocks but most times not. Also, each ranchero we passed had a house and their own cathedral, always identifiable by the cross.

Looking out the window

Our bus driver was running at break neck speed. That is until we were flagged over by a state police just outside of Tizimín. We had a good bus driver. I didn't want him in trouble with the law. Not to mention I wanted to make it toTizimín  for a steak. He talked with the policeman and then another vehicle was either flagged down or stopped for some reason. After about 10 minutes our bus driver boarded the bus and we were off again. He was speeding though I am quite sure.

Los Tres Reyes

When we arrived we headed to the town square and ate at Los Tres Reyes. It is on the square opposite the church. Terry did in fact eat steak and it was very tasty. I ended up ordering chicken fajitas. We both ate so many botanas before our meals arrived we could have asked for doggy bags. It was all very good. 

El Parque

Western Store...Closed

Just a street we walked

In Centro

We don't know if it was because it was Friday, because it was hot, because it was siesta time or what but all the shops we wanted to go into were closed down. We walked around town, dodged a few raindrops, then headed back to the bus station for the return back on a 5pm bus. 

The Church on the Square

Learning English While in Mexico

We took the ferry over to Playa del Carmen from Cozumel for a day of lying on the beach and sunning. Same day I was taking shots of Pepto Bismol from taking shots of tequila the day before. We took a walk to the bus station, not because we were leaving, but because I needed to go the the baño.  If we would have been operating on all cylinders we would have purchased bus tickets for the next day's trip and saved 50% off the price for purchasing earlier but we weren't and we didn't.

The next day we said hasta luego to Cozumel and then Playa and caught a 10:30 bus for Mérida. The timing of our trip was perfect as we figured out beforehand that this bus would leave Playa and head directly for the cuota by way of the new highway and not even stop in Valladolid. It was the fast bus. We bought our usual snacks:water, Cheetos, cookies and Takes but no plaintain chips (big disappointment!) and while waiting for the bus we exchanged a few words with the little boy with the broken arm while he was tormenting a chihuahua dog being tightly guarded by it's female owner. I thought the little boy was traveling with the woman but later realized on the bus he was just quick to make friends.
He and his dad sat behind us on the bus but the boy quickly moved to the seat across from us. It was easier for him to ask if he could share in our snacks from there. Terry gave him cookies and we quickly made a friend. When I took his picture he wanted to know if I had any juegos on my phone he could play. When I told him no he told me to just download them. :)

Miguel was nine years old, had big brown eyes that he batted any time he wanted to make you smile, lives in Cozumel, and was traveling to Mérida to visit his abuelos. We quickly started using Miguel as a learning opportunity to study our Spanish. He and Terry played word games all the way into town. He knew quite a lot of English but we both had to laugh when Terry told him the English word for ballena was whale, but he corrected Terry and said, "NO..it's NOT whale...it's WHILE." 
Miguel's dad offered to hail a taxi for us, but we explained we were fine walking. He moved on with Miguel following. Miguel turned around and ran to us and gave the customary kiss on each cheek to me and hugged my neck. We had to laugh as we often think the one thing missing is not having children living next door to us to help us with our Spanish. But, if it was Miguel next door we would be learning the correct way to speak English instead! 

Slugs Slither into Mexico

The Meet Up

Back at Cindi's house, after Reif and Kerin's wedding, plans got underway for the First Ever Slug cruise. Terry and I knew there was a big chance we would be in Mérida come June so we told the Slugs we would meet them in Progreso rather than make the actual cruise. Well, it didn't quite work out that way. James, Robin, Cindi and David were the cruising slugs while the rest of the slugs stayed at home and lived the slug cruise vicariously through texts and pictures. Southwest raised airfares when June rolled around and the only decent flight Terry and I could get had us flying to Cancun on a Monday. Ok --- we will meet the cruisers in Cozumel on Tuesday rather than meet them in Progreso on Monday. All was good.
Terry and I made a trip to Matagorda to say good bye to Craigerly and kids before heading south. This was on Friday. While texting with Cindi along the way, she mentioned seeing us in Progreso on Tuesday. She also thought we were driving to Mx. via Matamoros.  I'm only mentioning this so you get the full picture...this is what happens when slugs make plans. We were able to make a last-minute flight change and we flew out on Saturday for Cancun. Thank you Southwest! We were also able to add two nights to our $25/night room at Alberto's in Cozumel. We would be in Cozumel from Saturday until Wednesday so as long as the ship made it to Cozumel on one of those days we would meet up. 
Monday rolled around and sure enough - there was a ship from Galveston in port. It was a great day and having only two ships in port made it extra nice because it wasn't crowded at all. The day started off with Margaritas at Pancho's Backyard and some shopping.

Started off with Margaritas at Pancho's Backyard

We moved to downtown and the girls went shopping while the guys hung out at Wet Wendy's.

Buying bolsas at Victor's

The jewelry stores were empty so us girls got the VIP treatment when we entered each shop. Cindi, Robin and I went to check out our cheap digs and then went to Victor's tienda for some wheeling and dealing on Robin's bags purchases. We met back up with the guys and moved on to the Cuban place and had mojitos and a few beers.

Mojitos

Then we moved on to the Thirsty Cougar and had shots and a few beers. James had on jeans, boots and a western straw hat so wait staff had it in their heads that he was somebody famous. We just rolled with it. Then, they thought I was Diane Keaton and James was Michael Keaton so that got us the tequila shots. 
We eventually headed back to the cruise terminal and sat at Fat Tuesday's watching the dancing butts until Robin popped out of the cake and we said our good byes. 

The Dancing Butts at Fat Tuesdays

 

 

We are ready to do this one again!
This made the fourth time Terry and I met cruisers in Cozumel. Love doing that! We took our walk back to a bar with a nice balcony overlooking the departure of the cruise ship and took pictures of the departure.

Bon Voyage

Our night ended with delicious fish and coconut shrimp at La Mission, talk about the cruising slugs, and more margaritas. Let's just end our night there. As for the cruising slugs - the adventure continued and we heard they made it to Progreso with just one sprained knee amongst them.

Robin popped outta the cake