More publicity for our little town....

http://m.startribune.com/learning-to-cook-in-puerto-morelos-mexico/370969571/?section=variety

A five year reflection!

     Five years ago today, I timidly stepped off the plane in Cancun airport. For the first time. That began my adventures in the beautiful Mexican Caribbean! 

Cancun from the airplane

I am looking back today at how it was for me then.  We took the ADO bus from the airport to the fishing village of Puerto Morelos, about 15 minutes south of the airport. This was certainly the most luxurious bus I had ever been on!! Window shades, air conditioning, plushy seats, movie playing on the screen overhead...Matt had been coming to this part of Mexico for over 20 years, so he was used to the routine. Good thing!! Because everything was new to me!! VIVA MEXICO!!!

On the street outside Abbey del Sol II

In the beginning we stayed at Abbey del Sol II  in "downtown" Puerto Morelos.  We strolled down the streets with the barking dogs,, amazing beach homes, and an occasional vehicle or two to share the road with. We ate our meals at many of the fine restaurants in Puerto, hoping that our favorite ones would still be there the next year we came to visit.

It was a modest little town then, an extension of the thriving metropolis of Cancun, stretched between that and the big tourist playground of Playa del Carmen.

Just a little fishing village!

I began to get in the groove of being in Mexico. I tried not to let the geckos and the mosquitoes bother me, I dealt with the issues of not putting any toilet tissue in the toilets and using bottled water, and I enjoyed the coral beach (your feet don't get hot when you walk on it!) and the beautiful azure water. I also brought school supplies from my students back home and got to present them to first graders in a local school.

first graders in escuela in la Colonia

I loved Puerto so much that I came back on my own that June with my mom, oldest daughter, and son-in-law. We talked Matt into joining us for a few days, even though Mexico in the summer was not usually his thing! I thought I was a veteran after just one visit! Hahaha, did I have a lot still to learn!!

LOVELY BEACH SIDE OF PUERTO...
           from the rooftop palapa

            
           Chichen Itza 
                  and 
           Cenote  Ik Kil

                   June 2010





During that visit we also started a home search. Matt had decided years ago that he when he retired he wanted to spend every winter in Mexico. After 60 years in the Minesota cold and snow, he vowed, "Never again!" He had already found a desirable property in the small area of the Colonia de Pescadores, but the acquisition fell through. The Pescadores was a small community between the beach area of town...between the mangrove and hwy. 307 to Cancun. It seemed like a perfect area...close to the colonia on the other side of the highway, and very accessible to town by bus or bicycle--a mere 2 km away.  
So, here we are, five years later...that home search is when the story gets REALLY interesting!!!!

TO BE CONTINUED...five year reflection...

Hotel Villa de Pescadores, Rio Lagartos

This is the hotel we have booked for July--hoping to see many baby flamingos!!

Neglecting my Blog...

So it has been WAY too long...what with medical issues, moving, up-coming retirement, and just basically LIFE happening, I have neglected my blog. We are still on target with our little casa, and I have lots of pics and text to post...and of course, my last year's experience in Merida and Celestun. This summer we will travel on up to the coastal town of Rio Lagartos---where the flamingos hatch!!! So cannot wait for this experience!! Stay tuned for more--I promise!

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/