Welcome to our blog post that highlights a few local adventures and indulges in a bit of nostalgia!

For those of us who have been here a few years, this winter, so far, has been one of the windiest, coolest and wettest in some time. So when the weather cooperates, it’s wonderful!





The pandemic has changed a number of events down here over the past 2 years. The weekly Muelle Market in Chicxulub has been cancelled, so to get some of the special items that we used to pick up from there, we need to go farther afield. The Slow Food Market in Mérida is one, but we’ve not been going into the city except to go to Costco or other major grocery stores. The other is The Market at Natural Thangs, or more commonly called the Churburna Market. It’s open each Monday morning for food and stuff, while each Thursday for artisan crafts. So… off we went to the Chuburna Market…



We were able to pick some good sausages from “The Sausage Lady” (and yes that’s her business name) as well as some new stuff to try from the “Paradise Bakery” like cabbage rolls and some Butter Chicken from another vendor whose name I can’t remember!

Bare with me as I include a bit of nostalgia…
One of our favourite restaurants over the years has been Elio al Mare, the Italian restaurant in Progreso.

Back then, it was a palapa roofed restaurant… very local in ambiance but with fabulous Italian food. Elio, himself, was usually there to greet you… although sometimes in his house coat! We fell in love with their Chicken Parmesan!
Elio’s is near the end of Calle 23 in Progreso… for years that end of the street was unpaved and undeveloped except for the beach homes. Rumours were that the owners prevented the street upgrades to deter traffic! It was a bone rattling collection of potholes and pointy rocks!


I have delved through my library and here’s a gallery of pics of dining in Elio’s from 2013-2017 before it closed for renovations!









Elio’s was closed for most of 2 years but is now open for business in a new building on the same site. Elio has sold the restaurant and moved to Holbox, we hear, but the menu has lived on!
We went once in 2020 before we had to hurry home but this year it’s fully renovated!




We booked a table on the patio and enjoyed great food with Val & George!





Val & I had a sister-brother outing into Chicxulub for us to both get our hair cuts at Gaby’s salon! It’s been fun collecting a pic from the very first haircut of the season with her over the years!


Having said that… I went back and grabbed a pic from each year…










That’s it for this blog post! Until next time…
Cheers!
Love to all,
-Doug and Elaine
Great pictures! Great memories as well! Even saw a picture of Help Me Hep Me!
Looking smashing with your new haircuts! Love the look of the new restaurant Eilo. xx