Welcome to our 5th Blog from our Uaymitun 2016 winter!
Cheers from Uaymitun, MX!
-doug and elaine
A bit shorter blog this week, but hopefully gives a glimpse of everyday life here in Uaymitun!
It’s a real treat to be able to spend a couple of months each winter with sister Val and her husband George just down the beach!
After a great BBQ dinner, Val made me eat Tofu pudding!Val, George and friend Afie ready to watch a movie… so they say!
When the weather turns a bit nasty, we head inland away from the winds!
El Norte heading our way? No problem! Head to the Mall!While someone was shopping at the City Centre Mall, I was not!Had a late lunch at Tony Roma’s in Merida! Love the iguana… on the wall, not on the menu!
When we need a change, we’ll head out to one of our favourite restaurants!
At Elio al Mare in Progeso…… wishing Elaine’s sister, Sharon, a Happy Birthday!
Meanwhile, we interrupt this blog to warn people not to wade in the salt marshes!
Come on in! The water’s fine!
The past few days, the weather has turned quite hot again and has allowed us to enjoy sunsets on the beach once more!
L/R: Elaine, Terri, Val, Mat, Paul and George!And, yes, George is an ambidextrous drinker!Time for the requisite…… sunset shots from the beach!Elaine prepared a delicious Italian feast!
On Tuesday, Elaine’s Uncle Bob and Aunt Betty flew in for a 3 week visit on the new Toronto to Merida Westjet flight!
They’re here! They’re here!The usual DOS XX pic at the airport!On the beach at sunset again! Val, Betty, Bob, me and George!Another beautiful sunset!Local fisherman’s boat down the beach!Hot day! No problemo!
And to conclude this week’s blog… they’re baaaaaack!
Marilyn Merlot and Ralph Rottengrape off to another Murder Mystery!
That’s it for our 5th blog of Winter 2016… stay tuned!
Welcome to our 4th Blog from our Uaymitun 2016 winter!
Cheers from Uaymitun, MX!
-doug and elaine
With a few miscellaneous pictures thrown in, the blog is going to focus on our nearby town of Chicxulub!
My supervisor while raking the beach!While inspecting the roof had a great view!Moon over Uaymitun!Pam and Ray heading to a Murder Mystery!A beach house at dusk near Mat & Terri’s house.Taking a break on my morning walk!The Bridge to Nowhere “before” (Mar 2015)…… and “after” (Jan 2016)!Nutella Marquesita on the Malecon!
Apart from it being our closest and favourite little town, Chicxulub is famous for a major event in Earth’s history!
The Chicxulub crater is an impact crater buried underneath the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Its center is located near the town of Chicxulub, after which the crater is named. The date of the Chicxulub impactor, which created it, coincides precisely with the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary (K–Pg boundary). The crater is more than 180 kilometers (110 miles) in diameter and 20 km (12 mi) in depth, making the feature the third of the largest confirmed impact structures on Earth; the impacting bolide that formed the crater was at least 10 km (6 mi) in diameter. So long dinosaurs!
Gravity anomaly map of the Chicxulub impact structure
The coastline is shown as a white line. A striking series of concentric features reveals the location of the crater. White dots represent water-filled sinkholes (solution-collapse features common in the limestone rocks of the region) called cenotes after the Maya word dzonot. A dramatic ring of cenotes is associated with the largest peripheral gravity-gradient feature. The origin of the cenote ring remains uncertain, although the link to the underlying buried crater seems clear.
But our view of Chicxulub is quite different!
Yucatan Hwy #27 at the turn to Chicxulub.The road into town has salt ponds on both sides.We take our laundry to the Lavendaria Caremi!One of the several ‘Loncheria’ across the street on the town square!The basketball court in the square got a new cover last year!From the basketball court looking back at the centre of the square!One of the small stores (tienda) around the square.Calle 20 which leads from the square to the pier was finally paved last year!Willys, a small grocery store, is on the left side of the street.The Bamboo Beach, on the right, got a new coat of paint, but is still closed.Calle 17, where the Casa del Faro restaurant is, on the left, was also paved!The Chicxulub PierThe last El Norte storm has piled up the seaweed by the pier!Morning meeting!I’m glad they are cormorants and not buzzards!View back to the square!Fishing boats dot the beach!Gaby the hairdresser / barber works here, but it was too early for her to be open today!Calle 18 has one of the nicer houses downtown…… and the local dentist!A fairly new butcher (carneria) is on the corner!On my way back home, looking back down Calle 19 towards the squarelAcross the street is our favourite beverage vendor; not quite open at 10AM!And on the other corner, where we get our drinking water!Looking down Calle 12 to the beach!There are several small restaurants on the road out of town.Hotel los Caracoles; formerly in the Hilton chain!
A few minutes further down this road it joins up with Yucatan Hwy #27, the Coast Road, which takes us back to Uaymitun!
That’s it for our 4th blog of Winter 2016… stay tuned!
Welcome to our 3rd Blog from our Uaymitun 2016 winter!
Cheers from Uaymitun, MX!
-doug and elaine
We’re finally settling into some daily routines!
Morning coffee on the patio enjoying our wonderful view!Watching the twice weekly Carnival cruise ships heading to Progreso!Haircuts at Gaby’s in Chicxulub!Watching our neighbour Ray in the kayak!Viewing interesting flora and fauna!The occasional local fishermen with their nets!Stopping at the Uaymitun Flamingo Viewing Station on my morning walk!Capturing the morning view over the salt marsh!
We also visited Telchac Puerto and the new restaurant Club Nautica Terraya a couple of times. Great food and reasonable prices. One of these visits included a short day trip past Telchac Puerto to San Crisanto and then heading inland to Sinache, Telchac Pueblo, Dzemul and back home. Saw some interesting sights and sites!
Yummy margarita at Terraya!An Ibis looking for fish in the pond at the restaurant.Flamingos right at the road between…… San Crisanto and Sinache.It’s a single lane paved road with pull-outs to pass oncoming traffic.We stopped along the way at Quinta Campeon…… which is someone’s home in the wilds…… whose entrance…… has decorated trees…… and rocks! Definitely worth seeing!
The 20 minute drive down the road was fun to do, especially when you arrive somewhat unexpectedly in the beautiful town square of Sinache!
Sinache village church on the square!Loving the trees down here!The nave of the church…… and the view back to the doors!A small chapel attached.The town hall on the square!
What a great day trip! That evening, we sat out on our front entrance with cappuccinos!
Moon over Uaymitun!
And if anyone back home is worried about us, when we have an urge to see some snow…
… we just give it a shake!
That’s it for our 3rd blog of Winter 2016… stay tuned!
Welcome to our 2nd Blog from our Uaymitun 2016 winter!
Cheers from Uaymitun, MX!
-doug and elaine
The first week or two is always busy with getting supplies, checking out the changes in the house and basically nesting! 🙂
Trips to Costco, Chedraui, Walmart and others kept us busy.
One thing that is never hard getting used to is our house! Here’s a couple of night views!
Our driveway leading out to the main road.The pool area overlooking the Gulf.
The skies, the surroundings and the wildlife can provide some beautiful sights.
Evening view looking towards the Progreso pierPelicans flying overheadAmerican White Pelicans nest as far north as Great Slave Lake but winter hereCormorants perched on a tower on the Telchac Puerto pierThe biggest birdbath ever!… and of course flamingos!
Our beach changes day by day dependent upon the vagaries of the winds and tides.
… on a bad seaweed day…… on a good seaweed day!
A few days ago, we were invited down to Dave & Diane’s house to participate in some Croc wrangling!
Diane wishing she had said no way!Boomer and friendElaine gets up close and personal…my turn… it’s as big as Anna!
January 8th was our 44th wedding anniversary and we celebrated in style at Hacienda Xcanatun near Merida.
Ready for a special night out!Enjoying a fabulous meal with George & Val!Feliz 44th Anniversario!
Just the other day, we went for a short outing up to Telchac Puerto for lunch with George & Val.
3 Garlic Shrimp + 1 Eggs & Jam at the PicunhaOn the pier at Telchac Puerto
After our walk on the pier, we went looking for a new restaurant in Telchac Puerto called Club Nautica Terraya. We just had some beverages, but the menu looks promising!
Beverages beside the poolAt the front of the restaurantThe girls meet a new friend and his parrot!
On the way back to our house, we just had to stop to take in a couple of new additions to the local signage!
Don’t ask, cuz we don’t knowHelp us! Help us!George & Elaine with Art!Celebrated with Dirty Mother’s all around (kahlua, tequilla, ice & cream)
On our last trip to Costo, it was pretty quiet, so we took in the latest tourist site!
El Cenote de Costco!
When they were building the new Costco in Merida, part of the parking lot kept sinking. With a bit of investigation, they found a cenote and have preserved it!
Elaine having her first look!… another viewThe description of the Cenote
That’s it for our 2nd blog on Winter 2016… stay tuned!
It has been a difficult year, with the untimely passing of our brother-in-law, Rick, and Elaine’s dad this fall. We are looking forward to a time of rest and recuperation this winter!
Cheers from Uaymitun, MX!
-doug and elaine
Once again, even though the weather had been very gentle and mild for weeks, our journey appeared to be in peril!
The dire forecast of freezing rain, ice and snow!
However, our fears were unfounded and the morning brought warmer weather in Toronto and our flight was basically on time.
We ran into Tom MacAskill in the departure lounge!
A short 4 hours later, we arrived in Merida, with NO stop in Houston, and walked out into a warm and humid day!
Merida airport!
After catching a cab downtown, we spent a night at our favourite small hotel, Luz en Yucatan, and a great dinner at La Tratto in Santa Lucia park!
Pool view from the Patron room in the Luz en Yucatan…… and a relaxing beverage!
The next day we got our rental car and headed out to Chicxulub to spend a few days with Mat & Terri!
Enjoying a dip in Mat & Terri’s pool!A treat to see a horse walking the beach!We dropped in to see Val & George at their house, Paraiso!One of the Carnival cruise ships was visiting Progreso
Before we knew it, New Year’s Eve was upon us! We joined Mat & Terri and George & Val for a truly memorable evening at the Technotel near San Bruno! The food, the drinks, the entertainment and the venue were top notch… a good time was had by all!
Elaine & DougGeorge & ValMat & TerriTwo lovely ladiesThe Mexican dance troupeOur dinner venue on the beachWaiting for our fabulous multi-course mealOn the dance floorWho are those masked merrymakers?Elaine was given the Mariachi sombrero at our table!Several “Hope Lights” were set off from the beach!
We got a call from our owners to say that we could get into our beach house on Saturday afternoon! While being very appreciative of Mat & Terri’s hospitality, it was great to be home!
Enjoying our wonderful view!
On Sunday, our former valedor, Panchita, and her family came out to visit next door where her son Alex still acts as valedor. It was great to see her and the family again, especially the new baby!
Elaine, Jecsaim and FatimaIsidro, Mayra, Jecsaim and Panchita
The weather has been great so far, with only one day where an el Norte made it cool, windy and wet.
A windy day, but still nice…… enjoying our veggies by the pool…… and a fabulous sunset!
Welcome to our 15th, and final, Blog from our Uaymitun 2015 winter!
Cheers from Uaymitun, MX!
-doug and elaine
The last two weeks were pretty quiet, but here’s a few of the more memorable pix!
Our last visit to FACES… Monique’s daughter and friend took the mic!Our friendly neighbourhood Iguana paid a visit!A quiet dinner at Elio al Mare restaurant at sunset!Chicxulub was preparing for their Easter Fair… 25 Foozball tables all in a row!The overpass from nowhere to nowhere…… is nearing completion!We celebrated the 1st Day of Spring with Mat and Terri at SOMA in Merida!We enjoyed visiting with Panchita’s granddaughter Vally…… and newest grandson Carlos!Our last morning at the beach gave us…… a beautiful sunrise!A fond farewell to Fatima, Mayra, Alex and Panchita! Proximo Ano!
After leaving the beach house, we spent two nights a the Luz en Yucatan in Merida before flying home!
The view from our El Mozo room!One last visit to Sta Lucia Park!Lunch at Apoala restaurant…… Elaine had a shrimp dish!One last visit to the Plaza Grande with the Cathedral in the background!We had a great dinner at La Tratto in Sta Lucia Park.
We said our goodbyes to our winter home, but were eager to return home to family and friends once again!
Sunrise at the Merida airport!And a welcome home from Ontario weather two days later!
That’s all for the Winter of 2015! We hope you’ve enjoyed the blogs!
Welcome to our 14th Blog from our Uaymitun 2015 winter!
Cheers from Uaymitun, MX!
-doug and elaine
For Val and George’s last day before heading for home, we went for another hacienda tour!
Our destination was Hacienda Temozon Sur, which is located south of Merida, about 8 Km off of the road to Uxmal.
With a rich history dating back into the 1600’s this hacienda was many things including a cattle farm, a henequen plantation and most recently a restored luxury hotel.
At the gates of Temozon Sur!The chapel of the hacienda.Beautiful bougainvillea!Some of the luxury rooms!Having a wonderful breakfast on the veranda!A view through the main house!A view of the pool area and more rooms!The front veranda!The view from the front veranda!The side courtyard!Hello, up there!Heading to the gardens!Beautiful flowering shrubs everywhere!The pool areaLooking back to the main house!The front of the hacienda with running fountains.
After leaving Temozon Sur, we took a different route, through the small town of Abala.
Abala town square!The churchA typical side street!
On our way back home, we stopped at Hacienda Ochil, as Val & George hadn’t visited it before!
Exploring the beautiful amphitheatre.We were told that it isn’t in frequent use now… only for special events.Val & George exploringThe sibs… just missing Roger!The smokestack is still standing!A visit wouldn’t be complete without one shot of an iguana!
That’s all for today!
The next blog will likely be completed once we’re back home!
Welcome to our 13th Blog from our Uaymitun 2015 winter!
Cheers from Uaymitun, MX!
-doug and elaine
This short blog post highlights the “When You Were 21!” party that Boom and Peg hosted at their beach house!
A few notable pics before the party!
Sharon gets her hair cut by Gaby! She ought not stick her tongue out at her favourite brother-in-law!… and so does Rick!George & Val ‘trip the light fantastic’ at FACES!Rick enjoying the pool!
And now for the party… the theme is “When You Were 21!”… so most folks dressed the part and all provided their three favourite songs from that year!
Peace and Love!Sharon, the nurse, was great with child…… as was Pam!Heavy Metal lover Boomer started off the evening with a great poem!At lot of tie dye and great hair!A cast of … tens!It was an eventful night… happy Dad, Raymondo, with Pam, who delivered a… coconut!An evening of wild dancing… Boomer with Sharon…… and in a quiet moment… Boomer with Elaine!
What a great night… kudos to Boomer and Peg for hosting a fabulous party!
That’s all for today!
The next blog, will be a total surprise… to both you and me! 🙂
Welcome to our 12th Blog from our Uaymitun 2015 winter!
Cheers from Uaymitun, MX!
-doug and elaine
With our friends, Mat and Terri, we were able to get the eight of us from the beach over to Celestún to see the flamingos!
Heading out in 2 boats… Rick and Sharon with us and…… Mat and Terri with Dave and Deb!We had a great tour guide!A bit windblown, but enjoying the ride!Some cormorants enjoying the sun…… finally amongst the thousands of flamingos!We were able to catch some…… in flight…… and some just taking off!Mat taking a picture of me taking a picture of Mat taking a picture of me…… and just some more great flamingo pics!
… plus a couple of Giant White Pelicans!On our way back, we cruised around the nesting island….… with some large pelicans too!Was able to catch a couple of Ibis in flight…… and while fishing!
We were able to encourage tour guide to make a dramatic entry into the mangroves!
After our exciting entrance, we made a short tour through the mangroves and stopped at the cenote for a walkabout!
One of many large termite mounds!It’s another world in the mangroves!There was another boat just ahead of us!Back into the sunlight and heading to the cenote!Mat had been through the cenote before, so he awaited our return!A beautiful bottom filled cenote…… that many take time for a dip in…… or just watch the fishies!Group shot at the cenote!A bit of sister time on the way back!Almost to the bridge and the end of our Flamingo Tour!
After the tour, we parked in downtown Celestún and went for some lunch at the beach!
La Palapa!Had a great lunch!Deb enjoying “Deb Hot” weather and toes in the sand!Rick and Sharon in front of the restaurant!
The next day, we had a few folks over to say goodbyes to Dave and Deb!
Chocolate Monkeys or was it Dirty Mothers… for all!
And no stay would be complete without a massage at the beach!
Helena and Maria with Deb and Dave!
Dave and Deb headed home on Tuesday, Feb 24th!
Goodbyes at the Merida Airport!
That’s all for today!
The next blog, will be about the “When you were 21” party hosted by Peg & Boomer!
Welcome to our 11th Blog from our Uaymitun 2015 winter!
Cheers from Uaymitun, MX!
-doug and elaine
This blog posting will finish the few things that haven’t made it into any of our blogs yet!
Dave and Deb Richie, from Sarnia, joined us for 10 days this winter…
Coming through Gate A after their flight from Houston… Deb with her homework under her arm!In front of the Dos Equis sign!
We had a wonderful dinner out to celebrate Valentine’s Day at the SOMA Restaurnte in Merida. Last year, we had frequented SOMA in Chelem for Egg’s Benny brunch, but over the summer they had moved into Merida.
Pre-dinner drinks with George & Val…… and Mat & Terri!A fabulous dinner crowned with a delicious Valentine’s dessert!
A good time was had by all at the beach!
Eggs Benny, prepared by Chef Giorgio and his lovely assistant Valeria!Elaine made a fabulous stuffed meatloaf!Enjoying the sandbar at low tide.Having a great dinner at Elio al Mare in Progreso!Our next door neighbour, Ray, awaits a strong SE wind to sent him to Houston!Fabulous sunsets!
At the Artisan Market in Progreso!On the Malecon in Progreso!
This year again, Dave and Gerri Witmer hosted the Uaymitun International Invitational Bocci Ball Tournament!
Colleen, with eager teammates!Davey showing his short-game skills!Deb going for the gusto on a long ball!Jim showing that the US folks ‘got game’ too!Elaine being cheered on!The winners: Jim, Dave, Sharon, Terry, Pam & Dave singing O’ Canada!Gerri handing out the gifts to the winning team!
Near the end of Dave & Deb’s visit, Elaine’s sister Sharon and husband Rick arrived from Conestogo Lake for their 2 week stay!
The requisite Gate A pic…… and the Dos Equis pic!
That’s all for today!
The next blog, will be about our day in Celestun! No kidding… it really will be!
A bit shorter blog this week, but hopefully gives a glimpse of everyday life here in Uaymitun!
