Week # 17 January 27th to February 2nd, 2019

Week #17 - January 27th to February 2nd, 2019

There is not too much to say about this week, seems I was busy getting caught up on blog posts 💫 and didn't get out much. LOL

 Sunday the 27th we went to Playa Del Carmen 

for lunch - this swing up barwas totally empty, this is the first time in all the years we have been coming to this restaurant for lunch that the bar has been empty.

The streets did not seem to be as bustling with tourist as usual either. I hope this is not an indication that tourism is down in our area.

We went into a little shop and did some tequila tasting - ended up buying a bottle of Vanilla Tequila, actually it tasted very much like Maple Syrup - can't wait to soak my pancakes it this!

Later in the day the streets are still quiet. Something else we noticed is that all the shops along 5th Avenue have prices fixed on their merchandise, that means no more bartering. So non Mexican now, not much fun shopping any more unless you go up the side streets. They will gladly give you a bargain. Really though is it a true bargain? They start high, I start low and we meet in the middle or there about. It is a game for them and the shopper.  Whether it is a bargain or not it is the fun of shopping in a Mexican community. I pay the bargained price, if I feel it is less than I would have expected them to take and depending on the quality of the item, I then give them a tip - their business is their livelihood therefore the tip.

  

The neighbour's cat still comes for a snack in the morning. You can see he is meowing/talking to Allan as they both come toward the house.

Howard and Theresa had their 47th Wedding Anniversary this week, they look good for an old couple wouldn't you say?

We helped them celebrate at La Sirena Restaurant in the Port side of Puerto Morelos.

Caught another cat for sterilization only to find out it had already been done. Lucky for the cat that the veterinarians here put a bit of tattoo die on the incision so once a bit of hair is removed the dye shows up instantly and there is no need for a second surgery to find out it has already been done.

This beautiful pit bull lives across the street from us. The poor thing is tied up with a chain about 24 inches long and can only get off his perch as far as the water and feed bowls. He poops, urinates and eats in the same space. His owner threw him a pillow and you can see he tore it apart. They do not walk him and don't change his water dish often so it has feces and urine in it as well. The poor thing smells so bad. This would be illegal back home but not here apparently. Neighbours are working with the owner to educate her in better pet care. If this doesn't work they will have someone remove the animal. I take him food from time to time and every time he sees me outside he barks at me, sad.

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Howard had a BBQ made for himself - they had us for dinner on evening and it worked great. Someone will have to put a patent on this one - it is made from an old beer keg,

Our Biker Chick Neighbour - Claudia. Our adopted Mexican daughter.

Draft beer at our new found watering hole 

Micheladas on the highway colonia side.

These bicycles are waiting for their riders who are workers at resorts along the Mayan Riviera. Riders bring their bikes this far and catch one of the many buses passing through. They return after their shift is over and their bike is there waiting to take them to their home.

A view of our quiet streets in the Colonia. Our special part of Paradise.

Another cat going you know where.

Our stop for groceries, the Chedraui has a special on all alcohol except beer at 25% OFF, we would never see that back home. Zoom in on that photo.

Whole chickens great for the BBQ, are 29 pesos a kilo - that is $2.04 Canadian approximately.

The men eyeing up a new buggy - looks like fun Shirley Hull - you should have one - we would be sure to hear you coming around the first corner. LOL - man it runs loud.

The Sargasso is still a problem - they are trying to 

stay on top of it with these clean up vessels.

Allan and I celebrated our 51st Wedding Anniversary this week too. Theresa is going to say - "They look good for an old couple too don't they?"  I am sure she doesn't mind the teasing - it has been great having Allan's brother Howard and his wife Theresa here with us in Puerto Morelos. They have their own place just up the street from us. They came in December before Christmas and will be going home in mid March. They love it here as much as we do.

Well that is it for a short week, the next blog post should have a bit more in it because Clinton ( our oldest son) will be joining us on Tues Feb 5th until the 11th. We are really looking forward to his visit.

This week all stay safe, keep warm and have a smile on your face - if your face freezes and death ensues, you want to go out looking happy.

Week #16, January 20th - 26th, 2019

Week #16, January 20th - 26th, 2019

We were awake for the eclipse of the Blood Moon 

on Sunday January 20th this year.

Now that we have an open roof top patio I am going to bring my tripod to Puerto Morelos so I can get better photos. It is not the same using the side of the building or a counter top for a stable surface to lean your camera when taking photos.

We needed to go to Cancun for hardware and groceries so we had our good friend and taxi driver Emilio take us. He is such a great shopper's helper. 

Howard and Theresa enjoyed their day too. It is a treat to shop at  Costco, it is interesting to compare the similarities and differences between ours in Sudbury and one in Mexico. 

Allan looks like he has shopped until he is ready to drop 

but Emilio looks like he is ready for more - 

no slowing this guy down.

When you stop at a restaurant don't be concerned if you have to share your spot with a sleeping cat. This black beauty never woke up during our entire stay for lunch.

The streets in the Port have all been redone and the electrical wires are under ground. A beautiful change for sure.

The fish are on display at Chedraui's 

Our second cat - this time a female for sterilization.

Our third cat was a feral male - man was he wild and ornery! 

We have several vendors going up and down the streets 

in the Colonia selling food, sharpening knives, delivering water, gas, etc. This one sells fresh fish, shrimps, crabs 

and any other seafood that is in season. Allan bought 2 fish from him for dinner.

Later in the afternoon and just prior to going to pick up our fixed cat a storm came in, 

it did end with a rainbow as seen in the next photo. You can see it faintly about centre of the pic.

Later that afternoon Allan BBQ'd our fish for dinner - They were very tasty. Fish tastes so different here than what we have a home - a much milder but larger flaked meat. 

I have not taken pics of flowers in a while, I must start carrying my DSLR camera more often. It is a bit heavy so I have been lazy and carry my small point and shoot - it just doesn't get the photos as sharp as I want them.

There has been an unusual amount of rain here this winter - it seems that every day there is a down pour - not too long but enough to get you drenched.

We went to Chedraui's for groceries without our umbrellas of course. When we came out of the store it was pouring cats and dogs, many customers were waiting in the shelter of the store entrance until it stopped so they could get to their cars.

We waited too but ordered pizza from the Italian pizza place and had our dinner there. When the rain stopped we caught a taxi home.

A neighbourhood cat, who has been fixed by its owner, comes by for breakfast in the early mornings.

He is a nice old cat who talks to us when he arrives.

I treated him to a small bit of sardines along with the oil from the can. He cleaned it up  and licked out the can. Then he had to clean himself of the smell. 

Have you ever seen a tongue that long on a cat?? 

OMG - too funny! It is so long he could clean his ears without the use of a paw.

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Oh Wow - I am finally caught up!

Time is certainly flying fast - hard to believe March 6th is such a short time away - 6 weeks I think and we will be home. We have had an enjoyable time here this year as always, and with no illness, both of us are doing well. Allan is looking forward to getting home, but me? Not so much.  All good things do come to an end though so I will drag myself home only to get ready to come back in 7 months. 😎

Take care, stay warm and stay safe. Keep smiling!

Thank you to everyone who sends little messages looking for my post updates. I am doing this blog for you but also for us as an electronic photo album/commentary of our time vacation away from home. One day when we are not able to travel any more we will always have this blog to go back and look at. So again I say thank you to each of you who give me gently nudges when my updates get behind.💓