Welcome to a blog post that captures highlights from our the final days of our trips to the Yucatán!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
With a tip of the hat to Charles Dickens, this post could be called a Tale of Two Cities, Mérida and Cancún, but it’s more a Tale of Two Trips. Elaine and I spent a few days in Cancún while the other two couples spent a few days closer to the beach house.
The sunrise from our hotel room in Cancún
Friday, February 13, 2009
Here’s a few pics from the Fiesta America Condesa in Cancún! The beaches had been decimated by hurricane Dean in 2007 and hadn’t returned when we were there!
We were happy…
… to stay at…
Fiesta Americans Condesa
The Atrium
Our room
Meanwhile, back in Chicxulub, the gang went on an excursion to the cenotes of Cuzamá. Things have changed a bit since then, but in 2009, you could buy a ticket for all 3 cenotes. Here’s a few pics from their day!
On to the 2nd cenote…
and the 3rd!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Our final full day in Mexico… Val & George and Rog & Sandy spent time in Chicxulub and Progreso!
We enjoyed our final day at the Fiesta American Condesa and went out for a Valentine’s dinner at The Captain’s Cove!
We had a wonderful time time having Valentine’s dinner at The Captain’s Cove and enjoyed our first Cappuccino Maya!
The Captain’s Cove
Fiesta Americana Condesa
It’s hard to believe it’s been that long since our first venture to the Yucatán! It’s now become our winter home!
It’s been a blast for me to remember the good times from our very first trip to the Chicxulub, Progreso and Mérida area! I hope you’ve enjoyed it too!
Welcome to a blog post that captures highlights from our last day in the Chicxulub area!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Wednesday was our travel day! We said our goodbyes to Val & George and Rog & Sandy and drove back to Cancún!
But before the family pics, there’s some pics I didn’t include in the last blog as I didn’t want to spoil the mood after our Cenote trip!
After we arrived back at the beach house after our trip the previous day, and before we started packing, I said “Just one last swim!”. I should have just packed!
Elaine enjoying looking for shells!Can’t we stay one more day!
I’m about to learn why one does the Uaymitun Shuffle!
Youch!!!!! Something just stabbed into my ankle!
As I had stepped forward, I managed to plant my left foot on a young stingray that had been basking in the warm shallows!
What it felt like!
What it was!
After close to an hour of abject agony… it felt like acid running in the arteries of my leg… George remembered what he had read previously after he had suffered similarly. We plunged my leg into a bucket of very, very hot water and immediately the pain started going away! Heavenly!
So now I know, whenever walking in the shallows of the Gulf, I do the Uaymitun Shuffle… never stepping… only shuffling along as this will give them warning that someone is coming!
Fast forward to the next morning… time to say our goodbyes!
We managed to grab a few pics… to remember our first sibs vacation in 50 years!
The Sibs!
After saying farewell, we drove back across the Toll Highway and checked into the Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun!
The next and final blog post will tell the “Tale of Two Trips!
Welcome to a blog post that captures highlights from our day trip to Chocholá and the Cenote San Ignacio!
Monday, February 9, 2009
It had been such a full day in Mérida on Sunday, we took Monday off! 🙂
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Earlier in their stay, Val & George and James & Alison had found reference to the Cenote San Ignacio, in Chocholá, south of Mérida and had actually made their way to visit it.
So it was somewhat easier for us to find it when the six of us made our way! However, if you missed the little sign on the telephone post, you’d miss it!
The secret turn from the square to the cenote! Shhh! (back then and now!)
We found the location and parked in what looked like someone’s private driveway because it actually was! After making our way to the actual Entrada, we paid our dues and entered a little sanctuary!
Cenote San IgnacioChange rooms and banos
On our way to the cenoteThe entranceThe stairs down…… and here we come!
It was amazing to see the beautiful cenote! The ceiling was fairly low as you entered, but quickly opened up so you could stand up safely. The rock shelf leading to the water’s edge was a bit tricky, but soon we were all in the clean, clear, warm water!
We’re in!
After a wonderful swim, we all came back up to enjoy the hot sun in the gardens!
Relaxing in the sun!There was a few palapas beside the pool
This was a very memorable visit to Cenote San Ignacio, our first cenote!
The next blog post will highlight our our last day in the Chicxulub beach house and my encounter with a sea beast!
Welcome to a blog post that captures highlights from our jaunt into Mérida!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
I thought I’d start out this post with some more pictures of the beach house that we staying in at Km #13.
A long distance view of one of the cruise ships that visits Progreso!A view or our house from the beach!Two intrepid travellers… the pebble wall was built by nephew JamesGeorge on the upper deck doing his weight trainingHelloooooo down there!Looking westward… you can barely make out the large building on the Progreso Pier……looking eastward down the beach…… and looking back toward the beach road and the wetlands
Here’s some pics of the interior of the beach house.
The upstairs master bedroomThe dining room and living roomOur downstairs guest bedroomMe plunging in the plunge pool and getting back our quickly!!!
This day was our first group venture into Mérida Centro! As none of us were brave enough to consider driving into the downtown, we drove into Sam’s Club on the Prolongación Paseo de Montejo near the Gran Plaza shopping mall.
We parked there in the parking lot and grabbed a bus to Centro!
Brave travellers!At Parque Hildalgo across from Rectoría El Jesús Tercera OrdenThe Rectory is topped with a marvelous dome!Parque Hidalgo in front of the Hotel Caribe and the Gran HotelCalle 60 leading to the Plaza Grande and the CathedralLooking northwards on Calle 60 The beautiful Catedral de Mérida
Sunday in Mérida Centro is always a fun place to be! On the Gran Plaza, vendors sell their wares… from clothes to hats to artifacts to food stalls. And usually there’s dancing on the streets surrounding the square.
The Tourism building on the squareA view of the cathedral from across the squareThe entertainment was about to begin!A couple of views of…… the Museo Casa MontejoLots and lots of ….… vendors in the square!George found a guayabera
When we left the square, we went to visit the Palacio de Gobierno del Estado de Yucatán, the “Governor’s Palace”! The large murals on the 2nd floor depict the history and struggles for equality of the Mayan people. Of course, I neglected to take any pictures of the majestic murals on this trip!
Picture courtesy of Google Streets as someone was not brave enough to stand in the street
What a wonderful way to spend the afternoon! When our time was at an end, we caught the bus back to Sam’s Club, and drove back to Progreso and had dinner on the Malecón at Le Saint Bonnet restaurant!
Homeward bound!
It’s hard to get 5 people to all smile at the same time… so here’s 2 pics!
The next blog post will highlight our visit to Cenote San Ignacio in the little town of Chocholá!
Welcome to a blog post that captures highlights from our jaunt into Chicxulub!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
As usual, mornings were spent relaxing…
Morning coffee…… and reading…… walking the beach…… and beach house snooping!
In the afternoon, we made our first visit to Chicxulub… Chicxulub Puerto that is! There’s a Chicxulub Pueblo about 20km inland, which raised some questions about beach front property the first time I looked on Google Maps for our destination! 🙂
This was our first foray into a typical Yucatecan village, so it was a bit of a culture shock, I must say! Dusty, pot-holed roads… cinder block buildings… and a plethora of dogs roaming the streets.
But once you took a closer look, most of the homes were well tended. The school children were all dressed in clean uniforms. All the people we met were friendly! Nowadays, it’s just our village and we love it!
The Cyber Cafe and the Laundry! The Cyber Cafe is no longer, but the Laundry is where we go to this day!Corner of Calle 20 and 21… from our pictures
Through the wonders of Google Maps Street View, here’s a comparison of the same corner from 2009 and 2019… not much has changed, except for the large white building on the left which has now been replaced by a Donususa Mercado!
Chicxulub CentroHere’s the gang!Some of the loncherias on the village squareShopping back at the Bodega!Ah! And the ever-present red flag guys!
The next blog post will highlight our visit to Merida Centro!
Welcome to a blog post that captures highlights from our trip to the Mangroves in San Cristanto!
Friday, February 6 2009
Mornings were always a time for peace and quiet… coffee beside the Gulf! Priceless!
A beautiful morning on the patioOur view down the beachThe pool… good for a quick plungeBrekkie…… is underway!Looking for shells
After a delicious brekkie… we went for a walk down the beach to snoop at the other beach houses!
Our adventure today was a visit to Manglar de San Crisanto, the Mangroves of San Crisanto! The small village of San Crisanto was a 40 minute drive East along the coast road, past Telchac Puerto.
A quick aside… while some things don’t change much, others do! Here’s another comparison from 2009 and today courtesy of Google Maps Street View!
The San Crisanto Community Hall… 2009 and today!
The Manglar de San Crisanto… 2009 and today!
It was an experience from beginning to end! We went into the Community Building to purchase tickets to go to the Mangroves. Then, we followed two young men riding bicycles into the jungle… made one wonder if our names would show up on the Went Missing in the Jungle List!
But once we’d parked in the small parking lot, our two guides arranged us in our two little boats and started polling us through the channel. We were told that the 1250m long channel was dug by hand!
Boat #1 with Sandy, Val and GeorgeBoat #2 with Roger, Elaine and I
At the end of the trip through the mangroves, we arrived at the above ground cenote! The water temperature was wonderful and the water was clear!
Elaine is about to join Roger, Val and I…… and so is Sandy!
The cenote is unique as it has many little fishies that nibble at your toes and some rather large fish that thankfully keep to themselves!
Not so little fishies!
A great time was had by all! Including the fishies!
Heading home!
What a wonderful adventure! Butt, and I do mean butt there’s one famous pose I have to include! Thanks, Sandy!
The next blog post will highlight the village of Chicxulub!
Welcome to a blog post that captures highlights from our trip to the Mayan ruins at Uxmal!
Uxmal, Piramide del Adivino
Courtesy of Wikipedia…
Uxmal is an ancient Maya city of the classical period located in present-day Mexico. It is considered one of the most important archaeological sites of Maya culture, along with Palenque, Chichén, and Calakmul in Mexico, Caracol and Xunantunich in Belize, and Tikal in Guatemala.
Thursday, February 5 2009
Z.A. Uxmal is about an 1-1/2 hour drive from Chicxulub south of Mérida. We timed our drive to try to arrive before the heat of the day arrived.
While some other famous Mayan sites allow vendors to wander and annoy the patrons, here at Uxmal it’s still closed to them… which is very nice!
Hint:when you go, try to complete your tour before all the buses arrive!
Uxmal Site Map
It’s interesting to note the names given to the structures by the archaeologists! For example, the Nunnery, which really didn’t contain any Mayan Nuns but must have reminded the explorers of similar religious structures in Europe.
A great description of the Uxmal site can be found here!
The entrance to UxmalOn our way up to the siteA Mayan guard dog! What a sight! The majestic Pyramid of the Magician!Getting organized with our Tour Guide
The marvelous stone carvings were everywhere!Elaine asking the guide a question
A Builder’s handprint
Some original colouring remains!
Poses in front of the pyramid and a walkabout
Carvings from the courtyard of the Nunnery
the Ball Court
From the Ball Court area, we walked over to the Governor’s Palace and up the many stairs to catch the views!
The Governor’s PalaceThe Magician’s PyramidThe House of the TurtlesThe West Group… very little, if any, excavation completed!more images of Chac the rain godWhat a view!You need to take care coming down!Making our way back to the exit
After our great tour of Uxmal, we went across the road to The Lodge at Uxmal for refreshments and lunch!
The Lodge at Uxmal
Enjoying lunch at the Restaurant Choole Chepa Chi
What a memorable day! This was the first of many trips to enjoy the wonders of Uxmal.
The next blog post will highlight the beach house and a trip to the Mangroves of San Crisanto!
Welcome to a blog post that captures highlights from our first visit to Progreso!
Courtesy of Wikipedia…
Progreso is a port city in the Mexican state of Yucatán, located on the Gulf of Mexico in the north-west of the state some 30 minutes north of state capital Mérida (the biggest city on the Yucatán Peninsula) by highway. As of the Mexican census of 2010, Progreso had an official population of 37,369 inhabitants, the sixth largest community in the state in population.
However, to us, Progreso was a place to go for groceries at the Bodega Aurrera, a place for shopping at the Artisan fair or the Mercado Municipal, a place to dine on the Malecón and a place to enjoy just walking on the beach!
Wednesday, February 4 2009
It’s a great experience to sit quietly on the patio in the early morning with a hot cup of coffee and just enjoy looking out over the Gulf of Mexico and listening to the waves rolling up the sandy beach!
Val and George enjoying morning coffee on the patioElaine and George enjoying the morning view
After an interesting night on the extremely firm mattress and with the winds whistling through the louvered windows, we decided part of our venture into Progreso would include a quick stop at the Bodega Aurrera to look for pillows!
Bodega Aurrera
After driving down Calle 78 almost to the Malecón, we parked and walked over to the Casa de la Cultura to go to the Artisan Market.
The gang heading to the marketCasa de la Cultura where the Artisan Market was heldVal & George taking with vendorElaine checking out the local blousesRoger and Elaine Sandy & Val selecting a necklace
Then we walked back a couple of blocks down to the Malecón and decided we needed some bebidas (drinks) and botanas (snacks) at Los Henequenes pub.
Some of the vendor’s shopsNext door to Barlovento’sVal making friends with a localOur first glimpse of the Malecón Elaine & I with the statue to Juan Miguel Castro the founder of ProgresoThe 3 AmigasGeorge practicing his Michael Jackson “Moon Walk”
We walked onto the beach across from Los Henequenes and picked out a palapa to sit under. Within a few minutes a waiter came to take our orders!
Los HenequenesRelaxing at the Progreso beach
Enjoying bebidas y botanas on the beachThe Progreso Pier, at 6.5 km long is the longest in the world!The view down the Malecón with all the street vendors… … and the Massage tables
After a great afternoon, we headed back to the Beach house to relax!
Enjoying some yogurt by the pool
Stay tuned for the next blog which follows our trip to the Mayan ruins at Uxmal!
Welcome to a blog post that captures highlights from our very first trip to the Yucatán!
El Faro de Progreso
The Back Story
Many of our blog posts are from our winters spent in Uaymitun in the Yucatán! As most of you well know, we rent a beach house about an hour’s drive from Mérida about 20 minutes east of Progreso in little area known as Uaymitun.
However, our very first visit to the area was at the invite of my sister, Val, and her husband, George. They had been spending time on the West coast of Mexico and wanted to find something different. After renting, sight unseen, a beach house just east of Chicxulub they invited family members down to enjoy!
We were able to arrange our visit to coincide with my brother, Roger, and his wife, Sandy!
First Experiences
Tuesday, February 3 2009
After an early morning flight from Toronto to Cancun, we picked up our AVIS rental car from the airport and made our way out to the 180D Cuota, the toll highway from Cancun to Mérida. While I didn’t take any photos on the drive, courtesy of Google Maps, this is the view for most of the almost 250 kms!
Miles and miles of just miles and miles!
There are two toll booths on the route and thankfully both have baños. We did stop and walk about at the first toll both and had a look at the somewhat interesting steam table street food being offered by the vendors… but we didn’t partake!
The 180D Cuota highway ends at Kantunil, which is about 65km from Mérida. The Periférico de Mérida is the ring road around the city. On our first trip, our impressions of the Periférico were to imagine Hwy 401 in Southern Ontario except with traffic lights, street vendors and the occasional level train crossing! While all such intersections have now been replaced by overpasses and glorietas, the level train crossing still exists!
Note: If the following picture(s) allow you to compare them by sliding the arrows in the middle, then a new feature actually works!
In 2009… a stoplight; By 2017… an overpass!
At the northern part of the ring road, we exited North onto 261 to Progreso.
Now, the junction of the 261 and the 27, La Costera, has dual glorietas (roundabouts) and is crossed over by the Bridge to Nowhere… see the linked blog for context! But, back then, one rattled down over topes and vibridores to the Alto signs.
Or check out the Before/After pics of the same intersection!
In 2009… just an intersection; By 2015… the Bridge to Nowhere!
We turned right onto La Costera and headed towards Chicxulub and the great unknown! As we drove along, glancing at the wetlands on both sides of the road and the nether regions of the town of Chicxulub, we wondered just what were we getting ourselves into!!!
Passing the road into Chixculub Puerto…… and the Yucatan State Police Checkpoint
Fortunately, Val & George had emailed us pictures of the yellow monolith that marked the entrance to the lane leading to their rental beach house. It was late afternoon by the time we finally arrived! As we turned into the sandy lane we caught up to Val & Rog, who had walked out to the road to look for us!
The yellow monolith at km 13
At the Beach
After a great reunion, we settled into our quarters which included a bedroom with a really, really, really firm mattress and our own ensuite. Then it was time to explore and visit!
The beach house at Km 13Looking down the beach towards ChicxulubRoger, George and Val on the patio (taken by Sandy)…… and the other side (taken by me)!Our gulf viewOur first toe dip Sandy getting wind blownThe 3 Amigos!
As we sat around the enormous dining room table remiscing, Val, Roger and I realized that this was the first time in 50 years that the three of us were actually on vacation together!
It was the start of a great time together!
The next blog will highlight our first foray into Progreso!
Cheers!
Love to all,
-Doug and Elaine
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