I want a Churro Maker!

Did I mention that I still want a churro maker? The churros in the states that are sold at Costco and other places just aren't the same...:(

It has been way toooooo long!

We have been so busy--with health issues, moving, new job, preparing to retire...that I have not gotten the posts in that I promised. Do not give up on me, cause it's gonna happen, maybe when you least expect it! Matt is headed down the end of September to do the final, final paperwork on the home (and to check up on that fabulous Mexican Riviera sunshine :))
I am requiring he take loads of pictures, and of course I will share!

Puerto Morelos Blog: June 13th! Check out the new PoMo - Havana Cruise ...

Puerto Morelos Blog: June 13th! Check out the new PoMo - Havana Cruise ...: Get a Tour of the Adriana, Tropicana Cruise's ship that will be operating between Cancun and Havana! Puerto Morelos Ship Dock June 13...

New Posts!

Well, with so many things to get done here in Minnesota, I have neglected my posting...after this weekend I plan to chronicle our trip to Merida and Celestun, and get prepared for our next trip to Puerto! We have heard our concrete work on the front of the home is all finished! Yay! I will post pictures if it is...promise!!
Please look for new posts on our travels by Monday!

Yucatan Living » Daily Life » Ferry Yucatan to Florida

Yucatan Living » Daily Life » Ferry Yucatan to Florida

Speck Iphone 4/4S Vacation Striped Fabshell Hard Case24-Opening Collage Frame

Re-Post!

http://jaltemba-bay-mexico.com/index.php?%2Ftopic%2F3415-its-time-to-ditch-the-mexican-stereotypes

preparing to go back!

Well, I have misplaced all my photos on iphoto--they are still in my laptop somewhere, but I am desperately trying to pull them out of wherever they are hiding :)

do you ever feel like that? !!

We are preparing to go back to Puerto in July. YAY! Here are some things we are gathering...

courtesy of Home Goods, Dollar Tree, and Target :)

and a few goodies from Hobby Lobby, on clearance...just wait til I spray them a matte black...

and these drawer pulls for half price (sorry about the blurriness)...

so, put all the accumulation together, and it looks like this! Whew-ee!

Wowzie, we have our work cut out for us--think it will all fit in two large suitcases?

LaTienda.com - Churro Pastry Maker

LaTienda.com - Churro Pastry Maker
I want a Churro Maker!! I have pictures somewhere of the man in the Colonia who sells them by the park....yuuuuuuummmmmmmm. 20 pesos for about 15 of them :)


these are from Carnaval in Merida...

Follow Up on Mercado 23

here is a review about Mercado 23 that I ran across...great information!
http://www.cheapcancunrentals.com/mercado-23-a-great-place-to-shop-in-cancun/

Cancun adventure Part Dos

After the flea market, we traveled a bit closer to the center of Cancun, to the Mercado 23 (near the ADO bus station).  I was searching for Talavera pottery, and that darn ol' plastic tub...PLUS, Tiff has a favorite breakfast place there, at the far end of the restaurant row...here is a pic of some entertainers there, during our pleasant breakfast there in February...I will get the name of it next time we go..."cause we ALWAYS go whenever we are in Cancun shopping...

I also found some great mugs at the pottery store...

Mercado 23 is a very, very good place for me...first, a candy and pinata store...

Willy Wonka has nothing on this place!

Whooo-hoooo! Nirvana!

and secondly...da-da-da-dah!!!!!...the... BEST...plastics... store... EVER!!!!!!  Oh, the wonder of it all--the colors, the sizes, the assortment...WOWEE!  Guess what I found that NO other store-big or small- has had? The previously elusive RECTANGULAR tub!! and I forgot to take a picture of it...:(  But I did take a pic of these awesome little flip-top containers perfect for my classroom back in Washington--picture, please...

Next visit I will take lots of pictures so you all can enjoy the wonder of it all....please check the next post for a little review on Mercado 23--adios for now!

Puerto Morelos Blog: Recent Homeowner's Workshop: U.S. Tax Obligations ...

I would like to thank Amber at Mayan Riviera Properties for posting this valuable information!!

Puerto Morelos Blog: Recent Homeowner's Workshop: U.S. Tax Obligations ...: On April 24th, we hosted a special edition of our weekly workshop with guest speaker Stuart Jackson, CPA. I learned a lot from the works...

Sunday Flea Market In Cancun-Hammocks, Churros, and Gardenias!

Last November, we traveled to Cancun with Tiff Worley from Abbey del Sol. He loves to take groups of tourists and locals up to some of his favorite spots. And boy, did we find some great places that we have since revisited this past February. Thanks, Tiff!
The Sunday Flea Market in Cancun is not in existence for the tourists--in fact, at one point I looked around and realized we were the only gringos in sight! Sigh, love that :)
This fabuloso market has ANYTHING you are searching for! Sellers can be local, or from miles away--fresh produce, fresh churros, seafood, clothing, plants, electronics, used housewares, new furniture...let your imagination take you away!
Check my pictures for just some of the things we saw...and I didn't even get a picture of the aquas frescas...you order the flavor you want--tamarindo, jamaica, horchata, sandia...and the vendor ladles the colorfu, yummy liquid into a plastic bag, puts in a straw, and twists it closed with a zip tie.  Pure heaven, and the BEST idea ever! Sorry I didnt get a picture, I was too busy slurping away...

 And, even puppies!!!!

Matt found some scrumptious fresh shrimp, and his FAVORITE purchase...

A new hammock!!

And MY favorite purchase, a beautiful gardenia plant for 35 pesos :)

But my search for a rectangular plastic tub continues...stay tuned for the rest of our adventure...
P.S. the flea market is every Sunday on the Ave. Lopez Portillo...arrive EARLY (8 am?) to get parking, and enjoy cooler temps :)

School Children

I believe that Mayan children are among the most precious in the world! Their sweet smiles simply light up a room! I had a wonderful experience two years ago, being able to bring school supplies from my second graders down to some first graders in the Colonia. I will post pics in a later post. The pictures I have for you now are from a class that received letters back from us, and they graciously sent some on to us!

Grettel translating our letters from Puerto

I will post some pictures of the sweet letters later, but for now, feast your eyes on these wonderful kids, it will make your day!

First graders in Puerto getting our letters!

I have decided that I want to do a photo collection of the children in Puerto--a photo essay that will warm your heart!  (Have to check into privacy issues first...) In the meantime, here is a picture of Jose's adorable girls...

Wow!

Thank you so much!!

Fruit Market in the Colonia

Matt loves his limonada!

Aguas Frecas for lunch?

And no one has to go to Cancun to get a great pinata!
Check out those hanging in the back!!

 salsa, anyone?

In case you are wondering, they have the BEST watermelons! We just put all fruit and veggies in the veggie soak for at least 30 minutes--THAT'S why I need the rectangular plastic tub for the kitchen sink!

Please read this very informative link from Cooking In Mexico blog...
http://cookinginmexico.com/2010/05/24/how-to-clean-and-disinfect-fruits-and-vegetables-in-mexico/

Goodbye to the orange door :)

Wish you could have seen it before...can't find a pic cause it was so ugly we didn't want to show anyone! Thanks, Sergio. We will be so happy to install this next trip!

Heidi Klum in Puerto?

My friend Daphne shared this video--apparently Heidi Klum was in Puerto filming a commercial for the release of her new perfume! Sometimes I get a bit worried that the whole world will discover our little paradise, and that it will be forever changed...



http://www.5min.com/Video/Heidi-Klum-Films-Her-SHINE-Commercial-517177796

but the beach shots are nice...

El Tio of Puerto

Any questions as to why this is the best lunch spot EVER?!!

Tio's is a favorite dive of the locals in Puerto---and I am hooked on their pork tacos with red pickled onions! YUMMMMMY!
I know I have a picture of the outside of the restaurant--I will find it somewhere!!

here is a snapshot, courtesy of the Little Mexican School website...

Boquinete

Known as the hogfish in the U.S., this exquisite fish is caught, oh no, not by using a pole or a net, but only by spearing it!  Divers must go down, find it, spear it, and bring it back up to the waiting diners.  This is Matt's favorite fish by far...it always puts a smile on his face to devour the entire fish...and he goes on the endless quest to find the perfect pescado al mojo de ajo (fish in a garlic white sauce).  I found a great resource for seafood in the Yucatan from Yucatan Today--thanks to them for this!
                                                     http://yucatantoday.com/en/topics/seafood

And here is Matt with his favorite dish--check out the look on his face!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogfish

Another good link...

http://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Mexico-tourism-to-launch-online-atlas/?a=mexico&cid=eltrmex

Great Opportunity!

I wish that I was in Puerto right now to attend this tax workshop sponsored by Mayan Riviera Properties! If anyone attends, please fill me in :)

http://www.puertomorelosblog.com/p/us-tax-workshop-april-24th-2012.html

Aguas Frescas update

My own fresh pineapple ginger fresca

I have made my own horchata and fresh pineapple/ginger agua frescas! Wahoooooo! Here are the pictures to prove it in case you are a teensy bit skeptical...not that I blame you--who has time to make their own, anyway! :)

Unfortunately that may mean that I abandon my previous food addiction--the grocery store packaged juices...YUM!!

New Foods to Try!

I didn't know that Minneapolis had such a great Mexican community! I just tried two new things last night. Horchata drink, instead of my usual Jamaica (pronounced Hah-my-kah for my non-spanish- speaking friends), is SOOOOO tasty! And probably loaded with calories...it is raw rice blended with coconut milk and cinnamon--wowee!! this looks like a pretty good recipe...
http://unasmanitasgringas.wordpress.com/tag/rick-bayless/
and here is a link for numerous aguas frescas recipes
http://www.thekitchn.com/farmers-market-inspiration-agu-92569

I also tried sopes al pastor--the little fried corn cakes with yummy toppings...
****Spanish lesson for today--if you order so-pah you will get soup instead!!
Sopes is pronounced so-pays! Tip to remember, since I am barely beginning to learn spanish... :)
oh no, maybe I have it backwards, I will have to check...

Two of the MANY great things about Puerto!

Second largest barrier reef in the world, folks! Scuba and snorkeling paradise!
Here is a chart of fish commonly seen in this area--thanks to Yucatan Living for this..http://www.cozumeldivemap.com/fishchart.html

And, such great ocean fishing!

Also see "Matt's King Mackerel" post...

Critters!

Ok, so I pride myself on being an outdoorsy sort of girl, but there are a few things that take me back a bit--hahha, you are thinking "spiders" or "snakes"! Nope! Mosquitos and geckos :)

This is one of my defenses against the dark lords of the insect world! I am on a one woman mission to rid Puerto of their mosquito population.            Wanna join me?

So then, because geckos search out and destroy the little flying varmint mosquitos, one would think geckos would be my favorite friends!! NOOOOOO, I am so SCARED of them (but of course, Matt says they are MUCH more afraid of me! Highly unlikely and impossible. I am petrified.)  Don't ask me why, I know it is an irrational fear...the best thing was, I didn't see a single reptile indoors in the whole two weeks of our last trip! Maybe because the house is full of mosquito-killing chemicals? hmmmmmm....

Meanwhile, we have a resident iguana that we are a little bit fond of...

and we have our next door neighbor furry friends...

I call them el tigre and negra-but my Spanish isn't good...

Sorry I don't have a pic of a gecko--I am tooo busy being scared to snap a photo! I didn't catch a snapshot of the tejone that sauntered through our front yard, either :(

On a good note--there is nothing like the bird songs in the morning in Puerto...it is a symphony to greet you each new day! Love it!

Update---found a picture of a gecko on our screen door!

The Wondrous World of Celestun!

I am justing bursting at the seams to show and tell about Celestun! The main trouble is that I have SOOO much I can't sort through it all! So here is just ONE picture to tantalize you all :) Check back, I promise to get on this....

It is a magical place, I am tellin' you...