For several reasons that I did not get this blog posting done until now. It can not be blamed on the arrival of the Maguires and Purdys because we had friends and family visit us last year and I was able to keep posts up to day.
Regardless of the reason(s) it is now done. Yay!
A beautiful sunrise on the beach of Puerto Morelos
This couple were out again, we see them every morning.
This is Seline, the only remaining student we have been able to keep in contact with. Since last year we have lost three - Little Maria passed away of natural causes, Dani and her family moved away and Lorenzo has had to leave school to help his family financially. Lorenzo is only 14 years old, the children in Canada and the US don't have any idea how lucky they are.
We found this little fellow scooting around our back yard. I have enjoyed living on the mangrove.
The Heliconia plant again, we found 5 of these blossoms in our garden. It is interesting that the ants work on it like they do on the peony here in Canada to help the blossom to unfold.
Some more of my attempts at creative photography - these were taken in the mangrove abutting our back patio.
"La Panaderia del Puerto" restaurant provides a lovely meal and live music. Live music was plentiful this year in Puerto Morelos, almost every restaurant had live music throughout the day and evening. Nice touch!
Mmmmm - Good Fish!
After dinner we stopped to visit the couple who operate this street corner sales booth. They talked us into having a carved bust done of each of us. He is a very talented wood carver, as you can see from a close look at his artwork in this photo.
He starts with a block of wood shaped
similar to this one for each bust model.
You sit and he whittles.
The total sitting time is about 1 and 1/2 hours in total.
You are free to sit for short periods of time
for a few evenings - and then,
Voila! it is done!
Now you are going to ask "Did you buy it?" The answer is "No"; The reason "Allan has a secret desire to find himself in another woman's bedroom, he left it for some woman to buy so his dream would come true".
More artsy photography.
Another beautiful sunrise in Puerto Morelos,
and this couple are out and about early too.
This day we accompanied the Maguires and Purdys to the Colonia for breakfast, shopping and a little walking tour.
Jan stocked up on fruit
Ann checked out other items in the store
and Bev and Allan waited patiently while the women shopped.
Bob found a shady spot outside and stayed there,
he is not a shopper.
They, like us, eat out so this shopping trip is only to get the essentials - snacks!
We went to the Church in the Colonia
- just as beautiful as ever.
While wondering around I met a man who was working on the building - I said "Hola" and he responded with "Welcome" and a smile. What a nice feeling to receive a friendly "welcome" into their church.
A banana plant loaded with bananas
Back at the Maguire/Purdy Condo
we found this man painting the outside of the building. - Look at the length of that roller handle!
This is definitely not of Michael Maurus quality, but it the best I can do right now. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=656406047758469&set=a.138833012849111.29050.100001672389920&type=1&theater
With more lessons from him next year perhaps
I will be able to do so.
She sits and waits patiently while the
male goes in search of more building material.
All of this was caught off the balcony at the Maguire/Purdy Condo. Bev's watchful eye found the nesting pair.
In the back row L to R - Bev, Bob, Jan and Allan; front row L to R - Nellie, Ann and me.
For years now Allan and I have been taking clothing and other items to Mexico for families in Puerto Morelos Colonia and surrounding area. Nellie - the maid at "Cabanas Puerto Morelos" has been receiving these items and delivering them the those in need on our behalf. The Maguires and Purdys assisted us by bringing in one 50 pound suitcase each to be passed on to the needy. Between us we totaled 6 suitcases of clothing and shoes for all ages. Awesome - thanks guys for helping. Nellie was so happy and appreciative to get these items again this year.
The following pictures were taken at the
Church in Puerto Morelos
Lobster Dinner at "El Pesquero" served by our favorite waiter "Xavier". Everyone said it was the best lobster they had ever eaten.
Back at our wood carver - he is working on my bust - not my boob bust - you know what I mean.
He promised, and did, make adjustments to my turtle neck.
The favourite brunch spot "El Nicho", they have the best waffles "WITH MAPLE SYRUP!",
and the best Eggs Benedict - all to die for!
More attempts at creativity.
The pelicans are brave when hungry - this fellow is patiently waiting for the fishermen to unload their boat and get cleaning those fish.
Salt in the air plays havoc with anything metal, inside and outside of the buildings. Nothing stops it eating away. I couldn't help but wonder what this residence was getting for reception.
It is getting close to the day we have to head back to Canada, walks on the beach are so pleasant.
Men at work bringing the vessel "Tsunami" ashore for cleaning and maintenance.
Bathroom break!
Looks like we found each other's warm spots!
A day of sunning ourselves was interrupted
by lunch at "Ojo De Agua"
Mmmm - French fries - in Spanish "papa frito". Bev purchased a Spanish-English phrase book, when he goes back I am sure he will be able to communicate quite well in Spanish.
Is Jan saying grace or is she contemplating how she is going to eat all of that! This is their first day on the beach so I think she "in the moment."
This 2 and 1/2 foot long fresh fish was brought by a fisherman into "Los Palmeras" restaurant
while we were there having dinner. The joys
of eating fish in a fishing village, the fish is always fresh.
This day Bob went deep sea fishing, I was back at our casa ( with Montezuma's revenge also known as the Aztec Two Step - so much for Dukoral), while Allan, Ann, Bev and Jan took a trip to Playa Del Carmen.
The girls shopped
and shopped
while the men found shade and people watched.
Another day while the Maguires and Purdys took a day tour with Eric of Ecab-explorer Tours to Tulum, Allan and I went into Cancun to visit one of the fire halls there.
Allan was on a mission. Last year he met a Captain of the Cancun Fire Department and they exchanged waist belts. This year Allan found a belt he thought would fit the Captain - he has a very large waist. We delivered it along with a fire department buckle to the Cancun station and asked the fireman in charge to pass it along to the Captain.
I couldn't help but admire this life size statue in front of this fire station.
Bev certainly has a keen eye,
he spied this insect in the garden at our
Casa one day during a visit.
I took a few pictures, hoping
to get that "just right" one.
Then his eye caught a glimpse of this critter.
If he comes back to Puerto Morelos while I am there, I think I will walk with him and have him help me find more to these interesting creatures.
This is our last day on the beach and we spent it with friends.
Allan is having his last Puerto Morelos cerveza
on the beach before we leave in the morning.
This is another facelift at the end of Rojo Gomez,
these carved columns have been sanded
and are now being stained. Beautiful!
Our last dinner for this year in Puerto Morelos,
Bev was at the condo with the ""Aztec Two Step -
he had the Dukerol before leaving home too.
Our flight left Cancun on time and
landed as planned in Toronto.
It was a nice sunny day with cool but not unbearable temperatures. We flew back into Sudbury later in the day and were home by 11:00. Awesome, we didn't have that long drive to look forward to from Toronto. I think we will fly from Sudbury again next year.
