We’ve been home a week now… catching up with family and friends and handling the ‘business’ of retirement. I’m behind on my blog posts, so here’s the first of a few to wrap up our time in Uaymitun!
As the calendar moves into mid to late March, many of the Canadian Snowbirds start the migration back home.
Many of the local establishments hold farewell parties to thank these Snowbirds for their business over the past winter months.
We went to such an event at the Barlovento in downtown Progreso.
The Barlovento closed 1/2 the street and put up tents and chairs.The owner, Francisco, greets the crowd… mostly Canucks!We shared a table with Terri and MatOne of the Corona girls came by to say Hola!Two guys who are about to try some Mexican pizza!!!
There are a number of really great places to eat in or near Merida… one of those is the Hacienda Xcanatun just a few miles outside of the city.
The entrance to the beautifully restored hacienda.Intrepid travelers looking forward to a great lunch!Beautiful artwork everywhere to be seen!From the outdoor restaurant, views of…… the royal palms lining the original carriage way.Patio of one of the Master SuitesThe shared patio of the row of Superior RoomsThe former chapel is now a common room for allThe chapel patioThe grounds were wonderful and serene!Our meals have arrived… yumm!Terri had a salad, while Mat had pollo!HelpMe! HelpMe! was very enthused with Elaine’s camarones!As well as my pollo!
After a wonderful lunch, we continued on our journey of the day to the Hacienda Yaxcopoil!
Watch this space for the next blog post of our visit to the Hacienda Yaxcopoil and the cenote of San Ignacio!
Our time here in Uaymitun is almost at an end… we leave for Merida tomorrow and fly home on Thursday! Unless an extra special adventure presents itself, this will be HelpMe! HelpMe!’s last blog post from Mexico!
One day, Nana told Papa that he was looking a bit shaggy, so we went into Chicxulub to get his hair cut!
Gaby, Papa and me!
On another day, Papa took us to a real fancy, schmancy place for lunch called the Hacienda X’Canatun. Papa said it was time I appreciated some of the finer things in life… as long as I didn’t make a scene!
Nana had some yummy camarones (shrimp)…… but Papa was really daring and had pollo (chicken), hee hee!My new best friends, Terri and Mat, came with us too!
Later that day we visited a really old hacienda called Yaxcopoil! It was really neat ‘cuz things were left as they were a 100 years ago!
This is the front of the hacienda… Papa said I had to stay out ‘cuz things were breakable inside. 🙁Look Papa! Look! a horse!… and another horse!I liked the pretty gates to the hacienda!
On our way home, we went into Merida to the Liverpool Mall! I like malls!
Me at the Liverpool mallIt’s so big they even had a skating rink! Papa said they didn’t have skates in my size so we couldn’t skate!Papa said that now that he’s retired, he’d like to be a Zamboni driver!Mat wanted a Carl’s Jr burger really bad… but Terri said no!We all had nice American style food at a Chili’s in the mall!
Yesterday, we all went to visit the San Ignacio Cenote in Chochola!
Nana’s already in, but there wasn’t a life preserver in my size! 🙁Here we all are after swimming!Papa!!! I’m upside down! HelpMe! HelpMe!While they all had some lunch in a little palapa, I went to see the little animal farm with pigs and goats…… and chickens!
When we got back to our house in Uaymitun last night, Papa took me down to the beach to see the sunset!
What a gorgeous sight!!!
Thanks for watching my first blog… I really enjoyed seeing and doing so many things and meeting so many wonderful people here in Uaymitun, Yucatan, Mexico!
Hasta luego!
Kirsty,
I hope you’ve enjoyed HelpMe! HelpMe!’s Excellent Mexican Adventure! She’ll be waiting for you to find her the next time you’re over to our house!
After much urging, HelpMe! HelpMe! has finally been able to spare time away from her beach chair to update her blog!
-papa
Nana and Papa try to take me everywhere they go! One day we went to see the Mayan ruins at Mayapan.
Nana and I at the entrance!Holy Kamoly! look at the size of Kukulkan’s Castle!Papa says that’s the Crematorium… sounds scary!… and that’s the Observatory!HelpMe! HelpMe! I’m about to be eaten by Chac the rain god! Hee! Hee!Papa! This has too many stairs… I need help!Wow… look at the view!
We had lunch a cool place called Na Lu’Um which Papa says is Mayan for ‘little cats should be thankful and obedient’!
Papa wouldn’t share his X’Catik soup with me! 🙁But Nana shared her camarone’s (shrimp)
On another day, Nana and Papa and their friends Dave and Deb took me into Merida.
While they had lunch at a neat place…… called Amaro…… I met three new artsy Mexican friends!
… after lunch we visited the big square in downtown Merida near the cathedral!
When Papa wasn’t looking, Nana let me slide down the banister rail in the Governor’s Palace!We went on a carriage ride… this is me with my amigo Jorge! We stopped a large monument… I don’t know what it is but Papa does! Dave and Deb shared their cappuccino with me! Yumm!HelpMe! HelpMe! he’s going to put me in the oven!the chocolate shop lady was nice to me!so much chocolate and so little time!at the end of the night… Papa let me play with the band!
What a big day that was… time for bed!
Watch this space for HelpMe! HelpMe!’s last blog post before coming home!
For a few days after our Mayapan trip, I was a bit under the weather so we didn’t do much… then it was the end of Dave and Deb’s time in Uaymitun!
Deb had some shopping to do before they headed home, so we went into Progreso to browse through the shops on Calle 80 and the Malecon.
Getting Mayan Vanilla from Anita’s in the Progreso Mercado!Not liking the pollo area of the carneria…… but liked the flowers!Bebidas and Botanas at Henequene’sUs with the Henequene’s gecko!Shopping on the Maleconthe corner of the Malecon and Calle 80
And then it was departure day for D&D… we went into Merida to drop off our car and then spend the afternoon and night in Merida. They would fly out home in the early morning and, after a leisurely breakfast, we’d pick up our car and head back to Uaymitun.
One last picture beside the pool!
From the airport, we took a cab into the Centro to our hotel, the Luz en Yucatan.
somebody likes the hamaca!the view from our patio at the Luz en Yucatan
We had lunch a great lunch at Amaro!
If you weren’t looking for Amaro on this busy street you wouldn’t notice it!The interior courtyard was beautiful!We spotted a hummingbird in the tree.We all had great meals!Picture courtesy of our waiter. The couple behind us on the left were from Germany!
After lunch we walked around the Plaza Grande!
In the park near the squareAt the entrance to the Governor’s PalaceA view across the squareThe cathedral
We took a very memorable horse-drawn carriage ride from the Plaza Grande up to the Monumento a la Bandera and back!
Our guide, who let me out to take pictures…… at the …… Monumento a la Bandera…… while he was parked in traffic at the glorieta!A good time was had by all!Cappuccino time!
For dinner we caught a cab to and from Rescoldos, a Mediterranean restaurant run by a couple from Kelowna!
Rescoldo’s… open in the evenings only!We dined in a beautiful outdoor garden.The owner/chef in front of his wood-fired oven
We had a great day in Merida… what fun… this is our favourite picture of Dave and Deb’s day in Merida!
Dave and Deb took a very early morning cab ride to the airport.
As we sat on our patio having our morning coffee, we actually saw their plane fly overhead on its way back to the Great White North!
Watch this space for further blog posts of our last 2 weeks in Uaymitun!
After a great lunch at Na Lu’Um near Tekoh, we headed down the road to visit the Mayan ruins at Mayapan.
According to many sources, Mayapan was the political and cultural capital of the Maya in the Yucatán Peninsula during the Late Post-Classic period from the 1220s until the 1440s.
A short drive down a driveway to the parking lot and the ticket booth… unbelievably the vista of Mayapan is within view!
I’ve included a map of the site to help you picture where things are!
The Temple of the Crematorium is unmarked on this map, but it’s the one just above and to the left of the Templo Del Nichos Pintados.
There is also an unmarked cenote to the right of the Castillo De Kukulkan.
At the entrance with the ruins in sight!Structure Q-62 just inside the siteThe Observatory from the Temple of the FishermanThe Crematorium Temple from the Temple of the FishermanTemple of the NichesThe crematoriumwe were mostly totally alone on the site!Kukulkan Castletotally immersed and absorbed in the experiencethat’d be me on the Temple of Nichesjust inside one of the Niches was this enormous moth… wingspan ~8″Dave and Deb beside the CrematoriumKukulkan CastleThe Observatory…… the only circular…… structure we’ve seen!Temple of the Warriorsan ant’s viewsome of the unique carvingsone structure uncovered in front and one not… many more to be excavatedthe shelter protecting the wall paintingssame shelter from the other approachThese wall paintings……are estimated to be…… 600-800 years old!Also to be found under the shelters……are three large stucco..… pictogramsAs with many of the major sites…… their source of water was a cenote (now mostly dry)At the one end of the Observatory was found…… a complex with several masks dedicated to the God Chac (the rain god)small carvings were also evident in certain wallsThe Challenge: Kukulkan Castle stairsQuiet contemplation!Davey already atop… Doug almost there!As Dora would say… “We did it! We did it! I can’t believe we did it!Davey surveying his domain!Panorama showing the Crematorium…… the Temple of the Niches…… and the Observatory.What goes up, must come down! Very carefully, I might add!Safely back to the ground!Not to be outdone, the Deb and Elaine made it…… part way up the Crematorium!
We had a great time exploring Mayapan, but as it was getting late in the day, we left the remainder of the Convent Route for next year!
Watch this space for our next blog post on a visit to Merida and Progreso with Deb and Dave.
One of the well known tourist routes in the Yucatan is the “Convent Route”, which takes you south-east of Merida through a myriad of small towns and villages to visit the many churches and convent buildings from the colonial era.
Sprinkled along the route are some well known Mayan ruins as well.
Our tour started started in the small town of Acanceh, where we parked in the main square and headed to the church.
Across the street from the large church was a smaller chapel built to honour Guadalupe, the patroness saint of the Yucatan.
As with all Mexican towns the main square is always nice to explore.
A local taxienjoying a quiet spot in the squareAcanceh in Mayan means ‘moan of the deer’market day in Acanceh
Now for the most interesting part of our visit to Acanceh. Also right across from the church is several Mayan ruins. These are very famous for the well preserved stucco masks that were uncovered during reclamation of the site.
a Mayan ruin next to a modern building on the main streetThe corner has been partly excavated to show what was overbuilta second pyramid that’s untouched with the church in the backgroundthe stucco masks of the godsour guide with the final mask
Our guide then led us on foot for several blocks to the “Palace of the Stuccos” which contains several elaborate friezes.
trees appearing to grow out of the base of the palacethe friezes were protected under a canopy…… so we were able to see the many images…… of people and animalsour guide showed us a map of the whole stucco friezeNext time we’ll think to where something other than flip flops to the pyramids!
On our way out of Acanceh, bound for Tekoh, we passed by the local bull fighting ring!
The road into Tekoh was lined with trees and rocks all whitewashed… very pretty.
On the square, in Tekoh, we parked and toured the quite large and ornate church.
the church grounds are built on the foundations of a Mayan pyramidstrolling the groundsbuilt in 1751quite impressive for the size of town very ornate altar areathe square in Tekohthe tree lined avenue
We left Tekoh and we, based upon the map in the “Yucatan Today” magazine, headed south out of town. After 10 minutes of driving we agreed that the map was wrong and that our destination restaurant was actually on the bypass around Tekoh. Oh well, it was worth the backtrack!
Na Lu’Um restaurantbeautiful grounds of the restaurant and the hotelmy X’Catik soup and Papadzules (soup was fabulous)Elaine’s X’Tabentun prawns (she wants to go back!)
After our wonderful lunch, we headed on to visit Mayapan, but in trying to manage the length of these blogs, that’ll have to wait ’til next time!
Given the number of pictures we took on our Convent Route tour and in Mayapan, this will be a short post on our trip to Conkal only.
About 8 years ago, Davie came to the area as a guest of Raul who played baseball in the Mexican leagues. One of their frequent stops overnight was at a rented house in Conkal just outside of Merida.
The marketplace in ConkalEntrance to the conventside entrance to the church“Siempre Listos” – always ready… think “Be Prepared” as in the Boy Scouts!San Francisco de Asis churchDave feeling like a munchkin in the doorway!Light fills the beautiful interiorA place for quiet reflectionThe municipal building on the squareTime for a snack at the Genesisa nice break!very friendly owner and family with HelpMe! HelpMe!
After leaving Conkal, we took a trip back into Merida to the AltaBrisa Mall. You can see more of that on the HelpMe! HelpMe! visits two different worlds! blog.
Afterwards, we went for a walk on the Malecon in Progreso.
‘must have’ photo op with the founder of ProgresoA moment for all the ages! Deb eating a fried banana!!!Bebidas at Henequene’sWith respect to Dan Ackroyd and Steve Martin… …two wild and crazy guys!
Watch this space for the next blog post, which, I promise, will be of our trip on the Convent Route.
Today is Sunday… only 10 days in paradise left! Time to catch up on some blog posts.
Dave and Deb arrived at Merida airport at the usual evening hour on Feb 21st.
Hola!Didn’t take them long to get into the Uaymitun mindset!
One of our first excursions was to the mangroves at San Crisanto, about a 40 minute drive east of Uaymitun.
They have a new Welcome Centre this year!We followed our guides on their bicycles to the entrance and parkedBy the time our guide had us started through the channel, Dave & Deb were long gone!Finally caught a glimpse of them on a turn way ahead.We weren’t alone… these folks were coming back… traffic jam!The welcoming committee at the cenote
Once we had arrived, we quickly got ready for a dip in the crystal clear waters of the cenote.
We were not alone!!!Swimming with the Tarpon!The ladies were undaunted by their poolmates!Dave said “what fish?” 🙂Four happy cenote’rs!The parking lotThe palapa shade areaThe cenote terracesThe cenote
Having enjoyed the cenote, we started our boat ride back to the entrance.
This time we swapped guides and we were able to stay closeSan Crisanto MangrovesThis channel to the cenote was all dug by hand!Time for pictures!
Along the way, we stopped and took a short walk along the boardwalk to a viewing stand beside a pond in the mangroves…
Croc #1Croc #2
… and finally back to the entrance.
Nearing the dockRequisite photo at the entrance to San Crisanto mangroves and cenote!
On our way home, we stopped in Telchac Puerto for some lunch and a walkabout.
Great little restaurant near the pier in Telchac Puerto!Somebody likes Mexico!Walkabout in Telchac PuertoBeach sceneThe pier with… … cormorants chilling…… pelicans diving…… Elaine and Doug being footloose and fancy-free!
We had a great time enjoying the area and the people of San Crisanto and Telchac Puerto!
Watch this space for our next blog post where we visit Conkal, take in part of the “Convent Route” and see Mayapan!
Nana and Papa always let me come when we go to the airport… this time it was for Dave & Deb!
They were happy to see me… and Nana and Papa!
The next night we went out for dinner!
Nana had fish!Dave had fajita’s… Yumm!
One day we decided to take a little trip to Conkal to see the town and hope to find the casa where Dave stayed many years ago when he was here with his friend Raul, the baseball player. We didn’t find it but had a great time visiting the church and the square.
Conkal ChurchWe had snacks at the Genesis “Snacks and Coffe” shop!The owner and her family really liked me!Deb let me have a taste of her Strawberry Milkshake!
When we left, it was like we jumped through a time warp, because less than 20 minutes later we parked outside the AltaBrisa Mall in Merida!
Yippee!!! Shopping!!!It was really big! Papa said it was real expensive too!!!I wasn’t allowed to go into the Arcade! 🙁They even had a KFC in the food court!
After we were done in the Mall, we walked across the parking lot to the Boston’s which is like Boston Pizza but Mexican.
Nana let me sip her Margarita! Just a sip, though!Dave & Deb had Cactus Chip Nachos… I had a little bite!Nana gave me a bite of her pizza too!Oh no! Now my tummy hurts! Can we go home?
Not to worry, HelpMe! HelpMe! was alright after she rested at home!
Watch for her next blog post, when she went to the San Crisanto mangroves!
As I started to put together the pictures from our revisit of Dzibilchaltun, I realized that I had only taken a few but Don & Michelle sent me a few of their pictures to include!
Our second visit to Dzibilchaltun was a little cooler than the first so was much easier to walk the sacbe in the sun.
Don & Michelle at the entranceMichelle being sacrificed to the Gods!
Our guide was a young lady named Maria who was from Slovakia of all places. She had studied Romance Languages in University and had come to Mexico to put her skills to use. As she had worked on the archaeological aspects of several of the ruins in the Yucatan she was a fount of knowledge.
The sacbe leading to the Temple of the 7 DollsA group of respected archaeologists at the Temple of the 7 Dolls
Our guide took us into a subterranean vault in one of the temples to show us where one of the stele had been reused after the ruler it depicted had died.
a fragment of a very large stele
As we approached the cenote, we noticed that the guard detail hadn’t changed from the last visit!
Which way is the sun!!!Doug and Michelle in the Mayan steam bath!!!Doug and Don enjoying the cenote!
On our way back after a great swim in the cenote, Don tightened up his running shoes and bounded up the stairs of the one temple (the Temple of the Seven Dolls is roped off, but it’s OK to climb on this one).
Great job Don!!!
One last picture to share… Michelle proudly showing off her 76c flip flops purchased at the Bodega Aurrera!
Don and Michelle flew back to Florida on Saturday 23rd via a very early flight from Merida connecting with a very late flight to Tampa!
Watch this space for Dave and Deb’s arrival and our trip to the San Crisanto mangrove and cenote!!!
