February 10th - 16th, 2019 Week # 19

February 10th to 16th, 2019    Week # 19

Clinton enjoyed his visit with us so much and we 

enjoyed having him with us. His wife Leigh, purchased 

the ticket for him as a Christmas gift. I wonder if she knew we would enjoy that gift as much as he.

Enjoying a snack and draft beers 

at Micheladas on the highway.

If you are looking for a good bottle of Tequila you must go to the Tequila Factory on the highway between Puerto Morelos and Cancun - about 10 minutes from Puerto Morelos.

The site is well documented for viewing  and the staff is very knowledgeable when giving the guided tour.

The agave is grown in fields in  Jalisco Mexico,

the leaves are cut away until the pineapple is left and then it is baked,

then mashed.

The mash is then fermented and aged. The older it is let age the better it becomes of course and the older it is the less effects you have of the hang over. Who'd a thought?

The tequila samples are worth the visit.

It is a pity you can't see our tongues licking out the shot glasses. LOL. OMG, this got better with each sample.

This was our host, sometimes I would get confused over his description of the product so he stared  "Linda, Linda, you are not listening to me..."  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxNeKlO4hF4  lol.  Too funny.

The beach in front of  Pelicanos ( pronounced Pel-eeek- kan - os.)  Restaurant in the Port 

On Valentine's night we joined Howard and Theresa at  El Marinero. This hidden gem in the Colonia of Puerto Morelos is located off Av. Zetina Gasca on Calle S/N Manzana 11, Lote 31, SM 18 in the Colonia of Puerto Morelos.  

This is a google maps screen shot for directions from Chedraui on the highway.

Prices are comparable with others on this side of the highway,

the atmosphere is very relaxed, 

and the customers  leave with a smile of culinary 

satisfaction on their faces.

Shrimp and

fish fillet.

Theresa always attracts the children and they join in play with her. Interesting to see how the children  interact with the gringas and enjoy every second with her. 

These are staff members of El Marineros, they are very attentive to your needs and clearly explain the menu selections. 

In the square of the Port later in the evening, we treated ourselves to a  common street snack you find at busy corners and inside bustling zócalos, Marquesitas. They  are like crunchy crepes: A batter is poured into what looks like a waffle maker, sweet add-ins are thrown in, then the whole thing is rolled up once crispy. The crepe itself tastes like a waffle cone—delicious, with hints of vanilla and almond—but it’s all about what sweet ’n’ savory fillings you choose: Nutella, cajeta (caramel), lechera (sweet condensed milk), banana, queso de bola (Edam cheese). The marquesita originated in Mérida; as one story tells it, an ice cream vendor devised it in 1945 during a cold winter when ice cream sales were down (the idea was to use the waffle cone in a different way). Luckily for beachgoers, it’s since spread to other parts of the Yucatán Peninsula. Good luck having just one!  Delicious.

Soooo Gooood!

We stopped at La Sirena for a drink and a few dances before calling it a night.

There is that Howard whispering Valentine sweet nothings in Theresa's ear - and she looks like she is really enjoying what he has to say. This could prove to be an interesting evening.

Our favourite taxi driver felt he had low tire pressure in his right front tire on our way from the port to the colonia, so he stopped at the highway Premex gas station and topped up the air in the tire. Emilio is so attentive to his vehicle and passengers. We feel so safe and comfortable with Emilio behind the wheel. He has our safety first and foremost.

We had lunch  Port side at Tuch Tlan again this week, this little restaurant across from the Mayan Artisan Market  keeps drawing us back because the food is delicious  and prices are reasonable. Everyone is so friendly - staff, customers and the felines. This cat sat by my chair and every time I took a bit of my food he placed a paw gently on the calf of my leg. I would not feed him, but Allan - the one who doesn't particularly like animals, tossed a bit of his food to the floor for the cat to eat. The cat of course thought it was me who was feeding him. Adorable - I am a sucker for cats, kittens and pups.

Theresa now has the flu virus - she is so sick, 

the same symptoms as Clinton but it is taking longer 

for her to get through it. We hope she is up and about 

soon. This day she and Howard took a walk to our

 place - about 3 minutes away, just to get out of the house 

for a while. Before she left she was having the sweats 

and chills. Oh dear! The Mariachi hat and shawl tell the tale.

Well that is the end of week 19 and the beginning of week 3  on the count down. This is not what I want to acknowledge  but it is reality. All good things must come to an end. Every cloud has a sliver lining - we plan to be back in October for another 5 months.Yippee!

Allan and I feel so fortunate that we are able to spend this amount of time in Paradise each winter. We love it here, we have made great friends among the locals and expats. We feel comfortable living here. The day will come when we are unable due to health reasons,  that we will no longer be able travel. For the time being we are both in good health and living each day as it comes, so no worries about that day until it arrives on our door step. We feel truly  blessed that we have been able to do so much more than our parents could ever have dreamed of on this side of retirement.

It will be only 2 and 1/2 weeks until we are home enjoying the end of  winter. So happy we were not there for its entirety. Our flight is scheduled to arrive in Sudbury on the evening of March 6th. It will depend on the weather whether or not we come on home or stay over night and head home in the morning.

Stay warm and safe - looking forward (kind of ) to returning back home on March 6th.

2

February 3rd to 9th, 2019 Week #18

February 3rd to 9th, 2019       Week # 18

We started off this week with an ADO bus ride 

to Cancun to visit with good friends Vic and Jayne, at our favourite restaurant. La Parrilla  located at 

Av Yaxchilán 51 Mz 23 Lt 51 Sm 22, Centro. 

The waiters are always coming up with little surprises for their guests and this being a Sunday, they were prepared.

Letting us pour our drinks with the glass 

balanced on their head was an interesting challenge for me. 

I found it a little unnerving doing the pouring thinking the glass would tip at any second. 

The men are always on the hunt for good food, they were  directed to the "all you can eat buffet". You can see the smiles of happy hunters - they found a real cache. 

Jayne and I played it simple with Mexican nachos from the menu allowing us more table time for cerveza/beer.

Another amusing treat from another waiter. It is great fun at a bar where the staff interact with the guests.

Back in our Colonia of Puerto Morelos, we came upon a section of street that had been closed off for a toddler's birthday party. They go all out here.

One morning we went to an old favourite restaurant "La Cantina Habanero" in the port for breakfast,

this was their special - Mmm Good.

Howard and Theresa came over for an afternoon of pool time and a visit.

 Later we went on the roof top to enjoy a nice 

cool breeze and bird watching. There is no spying on neighbours allowed while on the roof.

As mentioned before I think, our roof top is poured and stamped concrete. This picture and the one below show cat paw prints made in the wet cement. Because  the stamping looks so much like natural stone, we are telling people the animal tracks are fossilized markings. Believe it or not  - this story  has been accepted by many after a few cervezas.

Yippee! Clinton arrived on Tuesday February 5th

We made a visit to our neighbour's house across the street for a while one afternoon - there is always something happening at her house. This day the Mourning Doves were mating.

Clinton had quite a trip - he was to fly from Sudbury to Toronto, the flight was cancelled due to mechanical failure so he drove to Toronto instead. He was very fortunate that the flight from Toronto to Cancun was late enough in the afternoon that he had time to drive to Toronto, put his vehicle in the "park and fly", then get to the airport in time to catch his flight out to Cancun. He had about an hour and a half to spare.

We had some municipal legal work to be done regarding our Casa Pura Vida and Kris helped us through it. God what would we do without this lady? This photo  shows, that while you are paying money to the municipality the municipal cashier is behind 1 way glass. They can see you but you can not see them. Is that so the "Bitch" on the other side taking your money can not be identified? Will that become the norm in local government in Canada? I know in my past experience from working in a municipal office this would have been good to have some days.

One day walking through the Colonia we came across this little princess playing with her doll. She was so attentive to it that it makes me think she has a good role model for mothering skills.

  

Banana trees are plentiful and look at these green bananas - soon ready to eat.

The pizza restaurant "El Horno" on Timon is getting some artistic painting done. 

Clinton and his dad in deep conversation at the dinner table in La Sirena. The topic was deer hunting at the farm, only hunting conversation could get this intense.

Dwayne made our reservation. When he was here in December  he found the right place to sit on the balcony of La Sirena  overlooking the central park in the port. Dwayne, being our family "Social Butterfly", met and made friends with  one of the staff from La Sirena whom he contacted for the reservation.

This little fellow is the son of our friends Abraham and Mary Anne who own a shop in the port.

Through our good friends Louise and Gaston Begin, Clinton was introduced to their nephew Dan who worked for many years for the same mining company Clinton has and still is working with. Clinton and Dan had never met until this night but they had a great time naming and chatting about fellow works they both know. 

I had a chance this week to get a few flower photos.

Clinton managed to get to the beach again after 6 years we think. I will have to go back and look for sure. He sees some big changes in Puerto Morelos over those few years.

 It was a quiet day at the beach - lunch time and only about half of the chairs are being occupied.

Fries with melted cheese and bacon - oh so yummy! Who is watching cholesterol?

We had beautiful weather for the week Clinton was here.

Fishermen cleaning their day's catch.

Clinton taking in the view from the top of La Sirena and savouring the moment.

We were invited to a Birthday party for one of our friends, Betty, who owns and operates Tuch Tlan Restaurant. Great spot to eat, we often have lunch here when we go to the port.

The party organizers went all out with delicious food, a mindful server

and a one man band. He played the keyboard and sang. Music was great just a little too loud - then that is me. I like music but not when it is so loud you have to yell to speak with the person sitting across the table.

While here, Clinton came down with a viral flu - complete with fever, sweats and chills, dry cough and generally feeling terrible. It put a damper on his vacation but I got to be mom again after so many years.  It was a nice feeling tending to a sick kid knowing the illness would soon pass. I do not want to ever see one of my children, grandchildren or great grandchildren when I have them, with anything more serious. That must be so difficult a place for a parent to be, so much so I do not want to think about it. However if it does happen in my lifetime I hope I am physically able to be there by their side and participate in their care, if I have passed on I will be there in spirit. Clinton I will make sure someone offers chicken soup. LOL

Because of the flu Clinton missed out on an evening at 

Cirque de Soleil - 😞

Clinton passed his ticket on to our neighbour Claudia, it was bitter sweet for her, she was sorry that Clinton was sick but happy for the ticket. Our group consisted of 

Kris, Claudia and I,

Howard, Claudia again because she was so happy, Theresa and Allan who was our photographer.

We purchased tickets which included dinner, champagne and the show. The menu you were able to eat after reading it and ordering. 

Appetizers, 

and for the main course - we chose the beef over salmon which we heard was totally delicious too.

 Click here  Cirque de Soleil for Youtube Cirque de Soleil

The evening was enjoyed by each of us - and everyone was  so happy they went.

This finalizes week 18 of our 2018 -2019 winter stay in Puerto Morelos - and loving every minute it!

Keep smiling and stay warm.  I am not looking forward to the return home only because of the cold weather you have been having. Brrrrr - just thinking about it gives me the shivers and makes me want to get under a cozy blanket.