Adios to January

Hola y Adios to a month where we were never in Wisconsin--maybe in the first time in a really long time. Can't remember the last time we missed a whole month, much less what we both agree is the worst month (or, in our opinion the 'best' month to miss).  Bravo  or  Olé     that was fun.
(and yes, we have 'survivor guilt' for surviving the weather in this paradise, but on the other hand, we have put in our time there over the years.

I remember the first time I missed January  (oh-oh, come t think of it, it was Feb...so, I have that milestone coming yet, I guess)...  anyway, it was in Morocco many years ago... and the feeling that a person can just fly many hours and step out of a season, and live that season elsewhere is a bit mind-boggling. I never forgot that feeling. Just almost magical to think one can step into another world so very different. Morocco of course, was so different in so many ways, but the weather is the first thing that hits you if you're from the North. Morocco, like here, also had the sea, where we went often since we lived not far from the Atlantic, but did have to drive. Still, to be by the sea and sand in Jan. or Feb. is such a treat, such an escape.  On the other hand, when we left Morocco, a year+ later, it was also weird to step back into a landscape of snow and ice in Maine.   And then, there was China, where we spent a winter away also...and started in mainland China, freezing in underheated rooms, and then moving to Taiwan, again experiencing tropical weather a long train ride & plane ride away.

The weather shocks are adjusted to quickly, since you must adjust, one way or the other. The cultural shocks are just ongoing.  Here, not so much, esp since we have comforts of home, like internet.

Odds & Ends

A typical day ends up with just so many bits and pieces of things, that might or might not be related.  But, over the course of a day, one runs across such a variety of experiences and photo opportunites.

Staring from a morning Cuban dance class (more on that later...my new favorite thing, but no pic), to a walk along the ocean, then a drive downtown to do errands & witnessing palapa making while eating at a new restaurant, followed by checking out the marimba music (& capturing some interesting boat pics along the shore) after doing another errand at the bank and paying the water bill , more errands, home and checking in with the wall under construction, ending with checking in with the neighbors & their day & meeting new friends.
Some of these odd and ends have photo references & some not, but sometimes pictures are worth more than words.

The above picture is taken across the road from our house, just down the path at our neighbor's house, the first one encountered while walking south along the sea. Their little dog (an adopted street dog, I think) named Tigre or Torrito (little bull...I've heard him called both names...) was sitting out on his ledge/wall...guarding his territory, I suppose.  He wanders the whole neighborhood and is often over at our house, or just passes by as he scopes out the area, looking for his buddies, who gather and have fun.
I got a close up of him before I left. He is cute.

And, every day the views of the sea are just breathtakingly beautiful.  Even though today was a cloudy and cooler day...no importa.  Still a photo worth taking...I think you couldn't get a bad photo from anywhere along the shoreline.
Really, this reminds us of Maine, since it's a shoreline with a rocky coast. It get more steep along the cliff as one approaches the southern end. This shot is taken looking north, toward Colonia La Gloria.

 And, coming back home after my walk, I contemplated the progress on the wall. I'll have to post another picture showing how they mix concrete, which is just to put the mix and water in a pile on the street, and mix it up with a shovel--all by hand, and then they carry the mixed concrete in pails over to the work area, and trowel it into place, securing rows of blocks to make the wall, or putting it into a form to make a column, just a little at a time, letting it cure/dry between each application.   This gap here is our entrance or 'entrada' to the existing steps to the house. A gate will be added later.

And then, downtown, a new restaurant on Hidalgo Street, Barlitos.  It's a deli, kind of New York style (where the owners are from, I think). We've gotten lots of good advice from them on schools and kids activities, since they have young children. 
We will probably follow up with the private school they recommend where their son attends, as a choice for Sofia when she comes.

We also love these tables, chairs, stools, made and marketed here. We have a couple of stools like this, but also really like the table made of wood native to the Yucatan.

Across the street, they were working on making a palapa roof for this building.  They attach the palm fronds (I think) in small bundles, tying them down. Later, they envelop a large area in a net to secure it.  It is a great island look, but hurricanes can wreak havoc with it, so the better the palapa roofs can be secured, the less damage to repair.

The sound of marimba always draws me in, and I couldn't resist going to listen to these guys, playing at Minino's Restaurant on the beach. We like sitting in the chairs right in the sand. Anyway, after chatting with these guys, I learned they are from the state of Chiapas (southern Mexico), but have lived here on the island for 33 years now.
They are so friendly and are always requesting songs they can play for you. (tips welcome). They are just wonderful and such good musicians. One said he goes back to Chiapas every year, and will return this May, 'si Dios quiere... (Godwilling...).

Just to the right, these guys (local fishermen) were gathering to hoist this boat (panga) up so they could attach a new motor to the back. If you look closely, you'll see one is wearing a cap with a big red 'W' --   maybe Wisconsin?
    

And finally, on the drive home, another dog party.
Dogs seem to have a lot of fun here. This is just in front of the garbage transfer station --mid-island, on the way to our house.   Kind of odd, but just one of many shots of things we see on a daily basis...

Palmas, Palmeras

That seems remind me of a Bilingual kids' book title (but I may be thinking Palmadas, palmaditas?
     (That was about kids' palms, and clapping, I think. Love how one thought brings up another...)

Anyway, we were lucky to hear about some palm trees being sold by the 'Little Yellow Schoolhouse' in La Gloria, a school which provides therapy sessions and special education for children here.  They survive mostly on donations.  Sall & we contributed some supplies to them a year ago, and I want to bring down more Spanish materials and games they could use (maybe that book I have, Palmadas...)  But today we were thrilled to be able to get palm trees at a reasonable price, and still support this school.  The palms are already a pretty good size, but we hope they transplant well.  Lucky for us we saw our neighbor planting palms this morning, investigated, had a nice chat, and got that great tip.

Later, looking at the sunset on the bay side (with the last load of palms still on our golf cart) we met a well-known local, Tarzan (who runs a Help stand on North Beach). We were kind of awed to meet him, and even more impressed when he offered us more trees from a lot he has not far from here, where he's growing a large variety of trees and plants. We look forward to doing business with him!  Can't wait to get a lemon tree and any other fruit producing trees (like bananas...)   mmmmm  

Loading the golf cart outside the back gate of the school.  It took 4 trips to get them all home.
They're nicely lined up against a side of the house now, & ready for transplanting.

A close-up of the palms, which are 'Cocos' and you can see that they sprouted right out of a coconut--plentiful here on the island.

The group of palms to the right, for sale, 50 Pesos each (little less than $5).  Looking back toward one of the classrooms. More buildings/offices are to the left, with some outdoor playground structures and yard.

The sunset, looking toward Cancun, from the bay side of the island.

el mar, y la casa colibrî

Hola...  and now to introduce the casa....as someone said, in MEXICO  you don't just live in your house, you NAME your house. This isn't easy. you must rule out all the names already taken; then, find something that means something...flowers, birds, animals, Mayan names, unique things...then, of course, it's always better in the native or indigenous langauge...and so forth.  Although not officially named yet, we're calling our house  Casa Colibri'  or, in English, Hummingbird House.  I just like the word, Colibri'  and it's smallish by some standards here on Punta Sur...and it's yellow...(well, for now) --and, it's a bird. (Grandma & we love hummingbirds.) I have yet to see a hummingbird, but 'Casa de Las Iguanas' (which we see a lot of) just doesn't have a ring to it. We were going to go with 'Casa de Ruinas' (House of Ruins) which could have two meanings-a double entendre: we are across from some Mayan ruinas (which may be fake or real...not sure...the real crumbling ones are just down the road at end of the island);  the other 'ruinas'  may be the economic state we end up in, taking the real estate risks we are. It's still a contender.

The casa is somewhat nondescript. But the nature surrounding it is fascinating: sea, sky, palm trees...

This first one shows the ruins we see right outside the patio.  The lot is for sale, so we hope no one buys it. We would hate to lose this view...

This is 'Casa Colibri'  (or maybe, 'Casa de las Ruinas')

Notice how the road curves so close to the house. This is a cross-island road which just at the top of the hill, accesses the road on the other side of the island, and you can see the Bay of Mujeres.

The cars, motos, trucks, etc. are passing so close to the house, in fact onto our lot, to avoid large rocks in the road.  We have decided to regain our privacy & safety by putting up a wall. See the next post for photos.

And here is a photo of the casa from down the path which leads to the sea. My back is to the sea as I take this pic. Walking along the path is a favorite thing to do...

Also, instead of a 'dog park' this is functioning as a 'dog path' as a lot of dog owners take their dogs on a morning outing down this path.
Also, some neighborhood dogs just traverse the path any time of the day, for dog parties I guess.


In closing, congratulations to 'Los emPackadores' who were successful contra 'Los Osos'.....Bravo!!!

'AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT'

wow...don't tell me I'm out there...in cyberspace? it's a bit daunting...risky...and I took 6 long weeks to decide to get going.  So, this is an experiment...('this' meaning this blog, this way of living) and we'll see how it goes.  One of my favorite sayings is from Monty Python: 
     '...and now for something completely different.'      
In fact, I like it so much I should use it for this blog's name... well, at least for my gravestone...

Different can be energizing and fun, and challenging & anxiety producing...we're experiencing all that.
Luckily, with internet & Skype we're more connected than with previous getaways from the US.
Anyway, think I'll put this out there before I change my mind. I'm reluctant to get involved in too many things. As someone from Yoga class said...it's a continuum--first you join & do everything, then feel guilty & do things feeling obliged to do so, and finally you can say...'you know, that sounds great, and I'd love to...but I just don't feel like it.'   I know that feeling.  We'll see how this goes.