Back home

We are back home, the snow is on the ground :( but it is nice to get a normal routine going again.

While in Merida we found a piece of Mexican Pottery/Art work that we really liked, so we purchased it! It was very awkward to take on the plane and through the airport, but it made it home in one piece.

Another beach paradise in Tulum

Not much new, just chilling on the beach everyday. Relaxing before we go back to work.

The beach outside our hotel

Part of the relaxation process

Someone from our hotel get married on the beach this week, so lovely!

This little girl was so cute running up and down the beach with her teddy.

The beach at Akumal was so clear and no surf at all! It was super crowded though and only one restaurant was open.

There has been a real noticeable lack of vendors on the beach. Not many people selling food or trinkets. But I did get one young girl selling CORN! No butter, just chili and lime :)

This is the scene outside of our room, at around 5:30 am. Amazing...

Sunday cycling in Merida

In Merida, families love to go bicycling down the Paseo Montejo!

1st, the street is closed off to traffic on Sunday mornings from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. 

2nd, this street is famous for the old mansions of the Spanish and European Haceinda owners from back in the 1800 and 1900's. Most of the homes have been purchased by large multi-national companies. ie: Starbucks...

The bicycles are for rent, and are VERY unique, and ingenious too! Rent one and the whole family can ride! Of course one or two people have to work 4-5 times as hard to move you all... I took detailed pictures of how it is done, email me if you want them to build such a thing for yourself :)

Abuela and Abuelo (Grandma and Grandpa) are very good sports about being photographed

Bicycle built for 5?

For 4?

For 3?

A small bike for one of the kids to drag around their little brothers and sisters

BIcycle built for 2 just seems passe now, and clearly not a big renter!

B&A

Mosaico tiles of Merida

In Merida, one of the first things I noticed was the unique flooring in the homes and stores. Some of the smallest and most modest tiendas (corner stores) had these tiles?? Why and where do they come from?

Hacienda Sotuta de Peon

The tiles are sometimes called “pasta tiles”, but the word for them is Mosaicos. These tiles are made in Merida, based on a technology brought there from Spain centuries ago and as far as we know, many of the designs haven’t changed much in the last century.

Hacienda Sotuta de Peon

Hacienda Sotuta de Peon

Hacienda Sotuta de Peon

Hacienda Sotuta de Peon

Casa across from our B&B that was under renovation

Casa across from our B&B that was under renovation

Fully renovated Casa our B&B hosts were gracious enough to show us, their friends had purchased it fully renovated

 Our B & B, Villa Verde, had refinished their tiles, in fact, it was cheap and easily done as the tiles are made with the design imprinted through the entire tile, so they just polido(polish) the tiles. It is a process they have perfected with the help of hand painting some of the spots that are heavily damaged.

Tiles restored at our B & B Villa Verde Merida

see you soon friends......

Adrian & Bernetta 

Progresso Beach

Due north of Merida there is a beach town on the Gulf of Mexico. The town is called Progresso, but the locals call it "the Canadian Riviera Maya". Apparently the town is full of Canadians!

We decided to spend a day at this beach to have a look and see what the other Canadians see in it.

Progresso receives Cruise ships a few time a week and this pier makes it easy! The pier is 6km long if rumours are correct. Progresso is also a port for freight ships.

The beach and the water on the Gulf of Mexico is murky and the beaches are littered with shells and other debris. Locals don't go to Progresso until July and August as they say the water is just too cold!

At our Palapa restaurant we were basically alone until 2:00 in the afternoon, when the Mexican Nationals arrived for Comida (Lunch).

These snack foods, or Anojitos, were free with beers. from left to right: 2 Empanadas, tortilla chips, jicama with a spicy coating, black bean dip, and pumpkin seed dip. All were very delicious, and the price was right! P.S. this is my favorite beer in Mexico.

Progresso did not hit us as "our place". I don't think we could stay for more than a day or two.

Hasta Luego, mi Amigos & Amigas!

Dias de Muertas in Merida, MX

One of the main reasons we headed to the Yucatan at this time of year is to experience the Day of the dead, Dias de Muertas. The Mayan people celebrate the life of their departed during a week long celebration, culminating in public demonstrations and altars in the main squares.

In Valladolid, we were fortunate to witness the altars, it was done by the university students as a bit of a contest. Part of their learning must be to demonstrate some of their culture.

University students milling about waiting for the judging to begin

Great Altar

Food on the altar for the dead, probably the deceased person's favorites

In Merida, we didn't witness any altars, apparently they took them down by 6PM and we didn't get to the main square till after 7, but we did get to see the parade.

The parade of grieving relatives

The grieving were singing what sounded to me like hymns, while around the entire procession there were black and white angels screaming and running. Lots of little kids were scared by it.

La Catarina surrounded by her protectors

This character, we found out later, was a local celebrity/drag queen. She performed at the main square that evening, I think it was comedy....

Once the procession/parade was past us, we headed to the main square, not really knowing what to expect. Every night there is some sort of entertainment, sometimes music, sometimes spoken word performers, cultural dancers etc.

Adrian and I with the Dead Frida Kahlo, he was a great sport

Amazing costume and makeup. these young people were just amazing!

This little girl was just so cute, she was the only child we saw who was dressed up

No idea what the woman with the big black bird represented

The only part of Dias de Muertas that we missed was the public procession to the cemetery, Merida is really big and it would have been a very long walk, the night was extremely hot and humid and we just didn't have it in us to find it that night! We saw more than we had expected though!