This vehicle has been parked at the end of our street for a least a year. It is taking root I think.
Here is another one they are starting. I wonder what they become - or what fruit they bare? Any one with ideas?
We took a walk through part of our neighbourhood of Villas Morelos Uno and came across another nativity scene which was interesting. Figurines were carved from wood.
Everyone has at least 1 dog, some have more. This house had 2 on the upper level and 2 on the ground level. So many dogs in such small quarters makes me shudder to think of the dog waste just laying around.
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Saturday past there was a delegation at the Red Cross Medical Centre announcing the changes being made in the near future which include a hospital in Puerto Morelos and a Doctor on call 24 hours a day. Many positive changes happening here under the new local government which came following the designation of Puerto Morelos being a Municipality on its own.
The garbage trucks and local transit buses are new, at least much newer than what was here last year.
Checking out the produce in the fruit markets - more information here: http://www.healthline.com/health/health-potential-of-yucca
Camote is a sweet potato.
Calabasa is a squash.
Howard and Theresa making delicious fresh
squeezed orange juice. It is so good!
Sunday night's dinner was interrupted by a kitchen fire. I turned a back element on, heard a poof and the flames started showing between the stove and the cabinet. Allan came quickly and doused the flames with water. We shut off the gas elements and then Allan and Howard investigated the possible cause.
Gas lines and connections were tested for leaks, there were none to be found.
It may have been an electrical fire because the electricity operates the oven light and the igniters.
So the electricity was disconnected.
Damage to the kitchen cabinet was minimal thankfully, and can not be seen when the stove is back in place.
No need to renovate the kitchen yet.
This and the photo below show the burned wires.
Now we await our electrician "Teo"
Monday is always wash day if weather permits. We are certainly enjoying the new washing machine!
Allan and Howard working on the shower nozzles - They are having a difficult time. They seem to be unable to get the water to run through the over head shower when you turn the lever on the hand held.
Teo came by to look at the stove, he fixed it the following day. The electric sparkers and oven light work like a charm.
One day this week we had our taxi driver Emilio take us for a tour of neighbouring villages. The first was a farming village called Leona Vicario
They have a school here as well.
This family had white ducks.
A cactus plant
Our next stop was in Vallarta Central
Theresa made a friend very quickly.
They are building a new church, it isn't complete yet but it is to the point where they are able to use it.
Statue just inside the front door.
Later we stopped for lunch at a location outside of town. It was a nice place with a cool gentle breeze.
I HAD TO use the ladies room - you gotta love this one! The blue barrel holds water and there are two plastic containers one large and one small for flushes - obviously the large one wasn't big enough for the person who used it last. Several flushes didn't make the bowl look any better! I have to admit though it is a step up from my humble beginnings of the old outhouse - especially in the cold of winter. Any of you who used one will have the same memories.
This little girl was so sweet!
After lunch we said our farewells and moved on.
Our next stop was at Cenote Verde Lucero
It was a quiet day there with only a few swimmers. The cenotes are deep pools of cool, clear water and many people like to swim in them. This would be considered an old cenote because it has an open top. Many cenotes are underground and are accessed by going down stairs and sometimes through a tunnel to get to them
The week ended with another kitchen experience. We lit the (gas) oven to preheat it for the casserole we were having for dinner. Remember we had an electrical fire at the beginning of the week? Well this time we had an explosion which blew the oven door open! Never a dull moment this year! So happy that Allan and Howard are true Jack of all trades! They are quite the pair - what they don't know they google search - at least they can read directions/instructions and understand. That is something a lot of people can not do.
It was an outdoor cooking experience - have you ever cooked Sheppard's Pie on the BBQ?
Monday is always wash day if weather permits. We are certainly enjoying the new washing machine!
Allan and Howard working on the shower nozzles - They are having a difficult time. They seem to be unable to get the water to run through the over head shower when you turn the lever on the hand held.
Teo came by to look at the stove, he fixed it the following day. The electric sparkers and oven light work like a charm.
One day this week we had our taxi driver Emilio take us for a tour of neighbouring villages. The first was a farming village called Leona Vicario
This photo is of the playground - you see oranges on the ground here - they are a bitter orange used for tenderizing and marinating of meats.
They have a school here as well.
Homes are basic as are the homes of the
working Mexican people.
This family had white ducks.
A cactus plant
I love the stone fences - reminds me of our trips to Ireland.
Emilio says this tree looks like a tourist after
3 days on the beach. LOL
Our next stop was in Vallarta Central
Theresa made a friend very quickly.
They are building a new church, it isn't complete yet but it is to the point where they are able to use it.
Statue just inside the front door.
Emilio is a soft ball player, he took us to the ball park where he often plays when in Vallarta Central
Later we stopped for lunch at a location outside of town. It was a nice place with a cool gentle breeze.
Theresa made another friend! Look at those eyes.
The meal was prepared in the kitchen with as the pigeons freely roaming about.
They served a delicious fish dinner - Howard and Theresa had ribs but they were very heavy with fat
\
I HAD TO use the ladies room - you gotta love this one! The blue barrel holds water and there are two plastic containers one large and one small for flushes - obviously the large one wasn't big enough for the person who used it last. Several flushes didn't make the bowl look any better! I have to admit though it is a step up from my humble beginnings of the old outhouse - especially in the cold of winter. Any of you who used one will have the same memories.
This little girl was so sweet!
She enjoyed the puppet I left with her.
The facility's cenote water source
After lunch we said our farewells and moved on.
Our next stop was at Cenote Verde Lucero
A very picturesque spot.
It was a quiet day there with only a few swimmers. The cenotes are deep pools of cool, clear water and many people like to swim in them. This would be considered an old cenote because it has an open top. Many cenotes are underground and are accessed by going down stairs and sometimes through a tunnel to get to them
This one has black fishes - the under ground ones often have little white fish with no eyes. The reason is because of no sunlight. Over the years they have adapted to their environment.
Back at Casa Pura Vida we relaxed, had an afternoon cocktail before going out for dinner.
Donna - this is the plant we bought while you were here - I am so surprised how well it is growing!
Dinner was at El Pesquero - where you are always guaranteed a delicious meal.
The week ended with another kitchen experience. We lit the (gas) oven to preheat it for the casserole we were having for dinner. Remember we had an electrical fire at the beginning of the week? Well this time we had an explosion which blew the oven door open! Never a dull moment this year! So happy that Allan and Howard are true Jack of all trades! They are quite the pair - what they don't know they google search - at least they can read directions/instructions and understand. That is something a lot of people can not do.
A curious little newt came by to see what
all the excitement was about
It was an outdoor cooking experience - have you ever cooked Sheppard's Pie on the BBQ?
This is the match head size hole the electrical fire burned into the gas line leading to the oven. Presently we are without the use of our oven. Allan is out looking for a new pipe line.
........
I said last week I wouldn't mention my parasites again - well some of my fb friends have been pm'ing me asking, so I will bring everyone up to date.
The meds I was prescribed last week worked for one day, then the symptoms came back with a vengeance. At least 8 - 10 trips to the bathroom every day, sever abdominal cramps and no energy - lots of sleeping. I went back to my Dr., this time he sent me to the local lab for blood and fecal tests. Turned out I have amoebas! Amoebas are not a bacteria or a virus. They are little one celled organisms which multiply by simple division. One becomes 2, 2 becomes 4, 4 becomes 8 and so on. These are much more difficult to get rid of than the regular parasites humans can get here. I am now on another medication - we will see how this works - so far I have been on it for 2 full days, no improvement yet but I take the medication for another 3 - 5 days.
You know what the grossest part of this is - ameobas are transmitted through fecal matter - that means someones poop actually passed my lips! OMG - how gross is that!
It just shows you can never be too careful... We never eat at a roadside food cart, we don't eat out much but when we do we eat at a restaurant, always wash our hands or use hand sanitizer, at home we drink filtered water from a reputable source, wash all vegetables in a vinegar/filtered water solution. We also wash our hands (always) with anti-bacterial soap and each person has a personal hand towel which is replaced with a clean one regularly.
I am so looking forward to being able to leave the house - especially without a large kitchen catcher, handi wipes and a change of underware. This week's site seeing trip and dinner out was the only time I was out of the house except for the Dr. and Lab work.
You know, one night I actually dreamed I was having a normal poop! It felt so good, I actually remembered the dream when I first woke up. Then I thought - OMG I didn't! A sudden shock wave hit me - remembering of the time when I was a kid, I dreamed I was going for a pee and when I woke up in the morning the bed was wet! I reluctantly checked, this time the bed was clean - Thank God for small favours.
It has certainly been quit a vacation - one we will remember for some time to come.
Howard and Theresa have been real troopers throughout all of this, they go out on their own every day - to the beach, or just for a walk. I know this is putting a bit of a damper on their vacation but they seem to be making the best of it. So happy we don't have to entertain them.
Allan has been a strong shoulder for me to lean on taking up my share of the housework, cooking and beer drinking. I love him dearly!
So till next week, stay safe and do a good deed at least once!
hasta luego.
