fin de febrero

Hola...
Wow. can't believe it's been a couple weeks since I last posted, but so much has intervened...in a good way!  When I last posted, I'd just returned from a short couple days in Merida, while Sr Ruinas was off to US for a week, to return with a friend, and our granddaughter, Chiquitita (Sofia). Her mother is starting a new job, and our son & wife, who were doing a lot of caretaking are expecting a new baby, so just for a break, and since we have a lot of time on our hands here, we thought it would be a good opportunity to have her come here for awhile. I hope all our grandchildren will come and spend extended periods of time here eventually.   We promise to send lots of pics & do lots of Skype calls.


So, the past two weeks have been all about acclimating a 3 year old to the island, the house, and getting her started in a preschool. Lots of big changes all around...for us, and for her. Have to say, I think she loves it here.  As my neighbor, passing by on her morning dog walk said, 'I think she is going to be an island-girl!'  And, it seems likely.  Her favorite things are: the ocean, the ocean, the ocean (1st, 2nd & 3rd place...for all the things one can do in the water, around the water, and just looking at the water), the golf cart, the sand, palm trees (she helps water) and the hammock swing.

Our very good friend who we spent a lot of time with some years ago was also here for a 2 week visit, and just returned back to WI yesterday.  It was wonderful to have him here, and easy to host him also.  I wouldn't even call it 'hosting' as he very much took care of himself, and even helped us out in many ways.  How many guests fix the toilet for you?  How many also take an active role in helping out with a 3 year old?  Sofia got so she gave Denny every broken thing, and eventually started saying, 'give it to the doctor; he'll fix it.  So, we sometimes called him 'Doctor Denny.'  He brought several kites with him from a famous kite shop in Lake Geneva, and spent several days trying them out--even a special small kids' kite for Sofia which he taught her to fly. Although most of the kite flying was done just down the path outside our door, we found the perfect spot to fly kites on Denny's last full day here.  During his time here, we explored so many beach areas, did some shell and coral hunting, enjoyed his sand-castle building efforts, and just generally enjoyed his company and conversation. More fun pics later...

It brought back so many good memories, as we shared accommodations  with D some years back, when he lived at and helped manage our B&B in Columbus. He is so perfect in that role, and maybe...who knows?....we could enlist his help down the road here, as we venture out into possible B&B territory once again.  We hope he comes back soon....and all 'signs are favorable!' as the saying goes on the 8 ball.
Here is Denny showing Sofi how to fly a kite; there were many attempts with several kites. 

we found the perfect kite place on his last day.
more pics of that soon. Also, spent many fun days around the island, at the beach, in the water...
the little pail was a big hit.

So, chiquitita is in preschool here now....at  Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba. Kinder uno (there are Kinder dos, & Kinder tres, before graduating to 1st). I'm learning a lot also, but probably not as much as Sofi, who is having the true cultural and language immersion experience.  She is already acquiring a nice vocabulary, after just a week and a half... the colors, numbers, and various items. More about her school experiences later... pics also...

luckily, her teachers remind her of mommy (esp the hair) so it helps make the transition easier.

For me, to be on the other side of the ESL experience, having been a former ESL and Bilingual teacher in US, this is a remarkable experience for me to share with her.  Our own kids did a kind of immersion learning experience a little over 20 years ago, while we were teaching in NE China. So, it will be nice to compare experiences and enjoy the ride.

Just back from Merida

As Sr. Ruinas has been gone the past week to the states to gather tax work to do here, plus, I have taken advantage of his absence to do several things.
First, spent several days painting the downstairs to get ready for company, one friend to be arriving tomorrow for a 2 wk stay.  Luckily, his flight will coincide nicely con mi esposo who is also bringing our little granddaughter (nieta) for an extended visit.

So, I have used my time well....got a lot of painting done downstairs. Nothing like company coming to visit to get motivated to do some work, which could have been done weeks ago.  The same thing happens at home, so I'm used to that--procrastination, followed by frenzied all-nighters of work to catch up.
But it does force one to make decisions, like what color to paint something. maybe that's the problem...

And then, my reward was a little side trip to Merida. I've been waiting to do this since December.
And it will be my last indulgence before all my time is taken up as caretaker for mi nieta, Sofia... which I'm looking forward to as we will no doubt have a lot of fun experiences together here.

Seemed like a good thing to do upon arrival was to take the double decker bus tour; I've done it before, but I love to see the varied architecture of the city; besides, I had a headache and needed air.
Maybe I'm used to so much fresh air on Isla that the traffic smog in this crowded city was already getting to me.  (can you see, the ad on the bus window says 'Isla Mujeres' in large letters...!)  sorry for the less than clear photos....Sr Ruinas is more of a perfectionist than I about focusing in better.

This was my 3rd visit... 1st was after Hurricane Emily, when our hotel suggested we leave the island (finding out later it was not necessary after all).  But, it did acquaint us with Merida...a welcome side trip.
2nd trip I did on my own last year, learning my way around better and doing some shopping.  And this trip I used to scope out hotels for future visits with company, considering some upgrades from my current cheapies.  (Am guessing company will prefer toilets that flush, AC that works, etc.) I paid more for my bus ticket to Merida (luxury bus) than for my hotel room; that is okay with me.

Still I had a great location across from Santa Lucia Park to see the Thurs. eve 'Serenata' my fave.
But darn, the rain forced them to cancel out after just getting started.   The rainy weather next day also kept me from doing as much as I'd planned, so I just took the tour buses to get to know the city better. Met a woman on the bus from New Hampshire who was here  'house hunting'
 as there are many retirees from US & Canada choosing Merida for all it has to offer. I was also going to check out a casa here, for other reasons, having to do with trading vac. time, Merida for Isla.
Although the Merida people already used our Isla rental, I have yet to receive my 'Merida' time at their house & though I thought it would happen this trip--it didn't.   long story &  good lesson learned, I guess.   Be wary of tricksters.  Don't think we'll be participating in any more 'trades' in future.

 So, the musicians are above, and they have had outdoor free concerts at this park for 145 years, if I'm not mistaken.  I love this music, and seems some of the musicians are Cuban.
Also, they often have dance groups, and these young Yucatecan dancers are doing the 'jarona' I think--kind of a folk dance, with story to tell.

They also have great poetry readings here.

Light rain started and they had to cancel, so their instruments wouldn't get wet.  Ay caramba :(

The city is so beautiful with its parks and European inspired buildings.  Just learning about the influences is fun--Spanish, Moorish, French, Italian....  I hope to get inside more of them.

Sad to say, the earliest structures were built centuries ago with Mayan slave labor, as depicted in this, the oldest building and house of the founder of the city,  Casa de Montejo. (looking closely, you can see the Spaniard soldiers with their feet on Mayan heads.  I think this is the oldest colonial building in the Yucatan, dating from the 1500s.  (Remember, I'm listening to the Spanish speaking tour guide, so I'll check my facts later.
sorry if I have a few errors in reporting....)
Hard to take it all in, & this is my 3rd time...  but, as each trip has been a year, or years apart, there is a lot of relearning involved.

Also, there are awesome murals in the government building, which depict the history of the area, the enslavement of the Mayan people in the production of hennequin (used for rope making) by the Spanish colonial ruling class at the time....    well, it can be depressing to see...
but part of the complicated and interesting history of this place.

I skipped them this time as they can be overwhelming.
The art & music & culture this city offers is incredible.

Back to something I enjoy talking about --horsesI love these horse carts which are always lined up downtown.

And lots of good food.  Lots of Yucatecan specialties. 

This one is called 'Los tres mosqueteros yucatecos.'  You can probably guess the meaning.

And here is Chaya soup.

There is a lot on the to-do list for next time, starting with the Folk Art Museum.

Shopping is great....and I barely had time for the main market. 

Succeeded in getting some broken glasses fixed and  new ones ordered. I have read that the health care facilities here are great. My glasses were easily worth the trip here. 

Such a beautiful city.  A nice complement to Isla.  

I'll be happy to return again, with company. 

For now, I'm happy to return to the gorgeous turquoise water & fresh air of Isla.

8 weeks & things happen...like Super Bowl!

Not sure how to say 'Super Bowl' en español...but when we came here about 8 weeks ago, not sure that seeing the Packers in the Super Bowl was 'on the docket' (as my mom says...)...

Sun. night we decided to go to watch the Packers in a public place, and feel the mood & the energy.

Fun to be around enthusiastic fans at Sancochos Grill ..most being Packer backers....

sorry   not the best photo...  maybe a blurry night

anyway, with most of the patrons having signed up on a chart, or picked numbers, or whatever they do, (& Señor Ruinas (aka steve) did participate in this)
there were some fun drawings every quarter, depending on the 2 numbers you had drawn, and how they matched up with the score of the game.

Anyway, luckily Sr. Ruinas was lucky enough to win in the 3rd quarter, and was a recipient of a really cool soccer shirt, gracias a Corona, a company which must contribute to things like this, since many of the prizes did have a 'Corona' logo.

And here is the soccer shirt, now hanging in our closet.

Notice Señor Ruinas with his Packers cap.
Luckily he had it along on this trip, probably not knowing at the time how it would come in so handy for this event.


As for myself, I was happy to have a little 'shopping' diversion, during the  long game, which I rarely sit through, for all 4 quarters. But oh well, this was special.  But this lovely Mayan seller of handmade jewelery happened to be passing by our table. I usually wave them on, whether on the street
or at the beach, but, being such a sitting duck, I was a good customer this time.  I decided to buy this awesome necklace, which really appealed to me, for only 30 pesos. It is a cross-section of a shell, with a greenish tinge, on a natural cord string--very organic and natural.   I love it!  (a good quarter for me!)

At the end, with all the hoopla of the Packers win,
Señor Ruinas went over the top and donated his Packers cap to the owner, to display behind the bar, where several others are perched. Hopefully, this one will get some recognition from customers who patronize this place.







As we left El Centro on our golf cart, we passed this very noisy and happy party happening outside on the street, outside someone's house.
I doubt if they were Packer fans, but I think they were having more fun than I was....
I was wishing I was part of their party,
The Latin music was loud and good, and I was almost thinking I could put my dance class steps to good use!  They were loving that we wanted to take their picture, and posed willingly.  :)
Lots of happiness all around.

Entonces,  Bravo a los emPackadores!

Dancing with the stars....

wow, how did I not know that Candlemas Day and Groundhog Day are both Feb 2nd?

That's what comes from trying to align 2 cultures... I recently learned about Candlemas, following from the 3 Kings Day holiday Jan. 6, and the custom of whoever gets the baby in the 3 Kings cake has to do a dinner or a fiesta for everyone on Candlemas; (I read a related story of how one invitado at a 3 King's Day Dinner, when discovering that his slice of cake had the plastic 'baby' went ahead & swallowed it, not telling anyone, &  saving him from hosting the subsequent Candlemas fiesta for the whole group in attendance, an event he would not be able to afford!)
    So, Candlemas &  Ground Hog's Day... both  Feb 2nd, but I just never realized that til yesterday.   Not that it matters, but I guess there is a custom in which weather is predicted on Candlemas Day also, so there are some similarities. (see below... I'll just copy this, from a site my son sometimes writes for....  not that I'm promoting tequila...  but thought this was rather unique tie-in-
from The Awl.com

Happy Candlemas! Margarita Cupcakes with Tequila Shooter Toppers

by Jolie Kerr on February 2nd, 2011

If you are a person who is either an Anglophile or an ursinophile or both, you likely already know this: “In the United Kingdom, good weather at Candlemas is taken to indicate severe winter weather later: 'If Candlemas Day is clear and bright, / winter will have another bite. / If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain, / winter is gone and will not come again.' It is also alleged to be the date that bears emerge from hibernation to inspect the weather."
But you may not know that in Mexico, Candlemas, or Día de la Candelaria, is a family and religious holiday celebrated throughout Mexico on February 2nd and, oh no, we’re certainly not marking Candlemas as an excuse to share this particular margarita-and-tequila themed recipe, of course not! We would never cook up a news hook to justify publishing this, which rightly ought to be showcased on Cinco de Mayo—nope, not this website! ¡Feliz Candlemas!
But here we are.
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oh well....  it's over.  missed doing that.  maybe next year.  Those cupcakes look pretty yummy....
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on to the current day.  after skipping dance class yesterday, my 3rd total day, I did return today for my 4th lesson. Think I'll stick with it, & it's a bit more fun than yoga.
After only 3 lessons, I had learned (not mastered) salsa, mambo, cha cha and pasa doble.  But then our instructor, a (perhaps famous?) dance instructor from Cuba, threw the rhumba at us.  Sorry, it just put me over the edge, and I had to skip the Wed. 7:30am class.  Glad  I got up courage enough to try again.
Ciro is so darn cute & encouraging....such a really fine instructor...and it boggles my mind how he can do it with one leg and crutches...but, whatever...   it works! As someone said,...'only on Isla...' and he calls all the moves   in Spanish too....        maybe sometime I'll get a photo-- you would never be able to imagine it... I'll never be on Dancing with the stars...he could be...

Ciro Crombet Hurtado is our maestro, & I believe he may be a rather famous choreographer for a Folklore and Dance group from Cuba.  I googled his name & got some info on him, and now I'm even more impressed.  How lucky we are to have him and someday maybe I'll get the rest of his story...

  

Happy Ground Hog's Day

Being still so 'teacher minded' I know this is such a 'theme' day where teachers work all kinds of relevant material (ground hogs, prairie dogs, hibernation, weather, seasons, etc...) into the day to make it a learning experience for kids. I miss the thematic stuff, yes... and the kids!

As far as I know, this isn't a day celebrated here. If it were, guess the gound hog (Jimmy, or Phil...) would have seen their shadows on this mostly sunny 80ish degree day. In fact, think it was at least 82 or 83F.
But for anyone NOB (north of border) I hope he didn't so spring will come faster...(that was always hard, remembering weather sunny or cloudy meant earlier spring... hope I got it right :)

Anyway, nice to see gorgeous hibuscus blooms like this, and know they are around the corner...

not a ground hog, but a puppy! named Bono.
Somebody better stop me before I adopt him.
I might still foster him though. He is just adorable.
Billie, my neighbor from upstate NY, and I, went to check out the many dogs/puppies kept by Alison, a woman who gives her time and home to take care of so many animals (check her website, www.islaanimals.org) to see them. She has devoted many years to this project. Last year I helped at a vet clinic during a sterilization week.
But, it's more fun to actually play or help 'socialize' the puppies. She currently has 46 at her place.

These are Bono's litter mates. They were found by Alison & her group in the jungle she said, or in the interior.  There's still a lot of education to do in the care of unwanted animals, on every level.
These guys were really scared & shaking since they hadn't had much human contact. Billie (who is giving much more effort to this project than I) went a bought a giant bag of hot dogs at the mercado to entice them to come out and play.

This is Sonny & Cher, and Bruce (the black one).
Imagine--another dog named Bruce!

This is Billie with Bono.
Billie is a retired 3rd grade teacher
from upstate NY.  Her husband returned to the US a few days ago, and she felt like doing some volunteer work. After working with kids her whole career, she said she would prefer something different. I do understand that  :)





 and back to me with Bono.
You can tell he is our favorito.

maybe I should call my blog, 'the Dog Blog'
sorry if you're seeing too many dogs.
Guess I'm just missing my dogs from home, so hope Jacques, Frida & Brucito are all doing well at the farm, but I'll bet they're loving the snow.

Gracias to Abe & anyone else who is taking care of them & giving them attention in my absence.