Friday, February 10, 2012

Friday Feb 10, 2012

The day started at 6:30 a.m. with a walk up the beach, then we came to a road behind the beach properties that brought us back to our Casa an hour or so later.





The picture above and below are taken at the Ceiba del Mar Beach Hotel and Spa  
http://ceibadelmar.com/english/  which is  about a 20 minute walk up the beach. Word has it this resort is changing from adults only resort to a swingers resort, as you can imagine there has been a great deal of controversy.
For those of you who are wondering but too afraid to ask "what is a swingers resort" - google it -

a little fixer upper

This is at the back of the research station - looks like an underwater/space ship thing
I was very surprised to find these, they are cement people statues which are used for reef restoration along Cancun. They are made locally and transported to areas of need.

If I was snorkeling and unexpectedly came across these people I would definitely be freaked out!



Here are a couple of web sites to help explain and demonstrate their function.




Allan's hobby while on vacation is working on a puzzle, he is not a sun worshiper.
 Today was laundry day, first since we arrived. The charge is by weight.

 We went to the Colonia for lunch at the La Papa Cafe for their famous potatoe dishes and bubbly apple juice with a kick.

While at La Papas the neighbourhood feline huntress came by to catch her daily meal of little lizards 

 This is a vendor who cooks and sells BBQ chicken - oh, man it is good!



We next stopped in at the market which sells fresh fruit, juices and meats


 Following dinner we went to the park in the centre of town where we watched children dancing. Their costumes were made of recycled materials (pop cans, news papers, chip bags, etc.) Very unusual and very attractive.


On our way back to the Casa Edith got her ice cream fix. She treated herself, she has been doing a fantastic job on maintaining her blood sugar levels during this vacation. 
Way to Go Edith!!!

Thursday Feb 9, 2012

This morning we got an early start, caught the collectivo here in Puerto Morelos, went the the highway and caught the Ado for Play Del Carmen. Once there we purchased tickets to Cozumel. It was a fantastic ferry crossing to the Isla Cozumel.


Prior to boarding the ferry vessel we treated ourselves to coffee and pastries at one of the many vendors along the pier.



A shot of Play Del Carmen from the pier. Just a few years ago when hurricane Wilma went through all of the sand beaches along this coastal region lost their sand. Sand had to be trucked in from other areas to bring the beach back to what they were prior to the storm.
Cozumel
I wonder who the lucky people are on this yacht?
We visited the museum while in Cozumel, this is a picture of one of the many displays.
It shows the different types of fish in the area
The children are making crafts to be used in the Carnival celebrations which are held this year between Feb 15 - 21. See this site for more information  http://gomexico.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/p/mexico_carnaval.htm

Last year  if you remember we went to Merida for the celebrations. It was a great learning experience for us, well worth the time.
In the back we found these people, oops, I should say artists preparing paper mache masks for painting. What talent these people have.



Mayan artifacts
 This is Allan and me from a past life, actually the resemblance is amazing if you really think about it
.


A canoe built by the Mayans, these date back to the pre-Hispanic times


Does this remind you of anyone you know?
 Another pulley for our camp collection

Edith found a man taller that Bob.

Edith showing us she is enjoying her day


We had a terrible time getting Edith off the Island, she was bound she was going to find the man that fit into this boot.

Minstrels playing for us during lunch

Allan singing along


Edith enjoying Allan's singing

Bob thinking he should sit at another table

Me trying to hide my double chin

 The restaurant's smoking area

Edith snuggling up to the Chef

Now this car I could think about owning - only second to a red jeep of course


The Irish are invading Cozumel, see Kelly's Bar?
 What a lovely bunch of coconuts!!
 Where water meets sky



The colour of the water is unimaginable
 Bumper on back of boat

 5th Avenue in Playa Del Carmen
 We aren't going to let this one get away. I think he must be hitting on Edith, see how she is holding him back with her right arm? Body language - I've seen it on " Lie to Me"
This looks like the plot of a good mystery "Murder by Suicide"
On our way back to the bus station in Playa it started to rain cats and dogs!. During our leisurely walk we became separated from our travelling companions, when the rain started Allan and I got the rain gear on and proceeded to find Bob and Edith. We found them under a restaurant umbrella hoping the rain would soon pass. They forgot to pack rain gear, as luck would have it I had brought 3 rain covers - why 3? Who knows, I don't always have justification for my actions
Here we are at the bus station in time for the next bus leaving for Pureto Morelos/Cancun. A strange looking bunch we were.  We brought smiles to the faces of many and quizzical looks from others. One comment I heard as we passed a bar was "Oh, look! There goes the Sunshine Club!". It was great fun and we had lots of laughs playing in the rain. Something none of us have done in years.

Back in Puerto Morelos the the rain had  passed and a pink sky was promising a good day for the next day. We will make it a beach day. 
At dinner  we were given Coors light coasters for our drinks

Only the best with the best!

I found my hot tammolie man - now you ask "is he a hot man selling tammolies; is he  a man selling hot tammolies or, is he  hot selling tammolies?

This is Abraham who comes into town on occasion to do finger paintings. He completes a piece of work in about 15-20 minutes. Very friendly and never stops talking to passers by.