Friday, September 30, 2011

Eggs Motuleños--in Motul

Motul was one of the places we passed through on our drive around Yucatan, leaving Izamal and heading back to Merida. We actually passed through the first time on way to dentist appt., but stopped back later when we had more time to enjoy and I insisted on having 'eggs motuleños' which originated there!
---------here is the place--Doña Evelia's Cafeteria

It's located upstairs, in a kind of plaza...
they were really closing up, but agreed to make our request, and their specialty, since they saw our desperation....coming all the way to Motul and not having eggs motuleños would be devastating...

the young boy in the family was our server...

Doña Evelia is at the left rear of table
with her family,  busily chopping and dicing
tomatoes, onions, etc.  for the next round of business.





   not the greatest shot of me....
from now on, I'll take the food pics
(which I normally do....)
I cannot trust Señor to focus on the theme at hand....food only!!!!

and I do not know how to edit myself out....I have a lot to learn and believe I will soon take a class

anyway, VOILA'   eggs motuleños
my plate had soft eggs, & his had huevos duros...



a local bakery

nice breads
and rolls

and I especially liked the look of the tart, which they said had ham & cheese inside.  Beautiful looking pastry. 



About Chef David Sterling
 and here is some info, I believe from 'Los Dos' Cooking School in Merida:

Valladolid & Motul
Motul
AS LYON DID FOR THE ZESTY POTATO DISH AND HAMBURG FOR THE UBIQUITOUS MEAT SANDWICH, so the tiny town of Motul in northeastern Yucatán has lent its name to a handful of dishes now famous throughout the region. Look for the descriptor motuleño on any local menu and you’ll know at least the legendary origin of the meal you are about to eat. And you will also know that you will probably be savoring something or other smothered in tomato sauce, peppered with cubed ham and peas and dusted with grated Edam cheese, as in the satisfying Huevos Motuleños.
 

History
Just 44 kilometers (28 miles) northeast of Mérida, the sparkling clean little town of Motul lives day by day in relative anonymity, too modest to compete openly with her grander sister to the west, too humble to promote the glories of her past, and thereby unable to reap the rewards of the heavy tourist traffic throughout the area, flowing from the beaches in the north, to Valladolid and Chichén Itzá in the south, and of course to her rival sibling, Mérida, just a stone’s throw toward the sunset.

As is true for large cities and tiny pueblos alike across the Yucatán peninsula, Motul was formerly the site of an ancient Maya civilization and ceremonial center. Founded in the 11th century by a Maya priest named Zac Mutul, who gave the city its name, this particular region of Yucatán was ruled at that time by the chieftainship of Ceh Pech, and Mutul was the seat of power. Descendents of the Pech family ruled Mutul for 140 years, during which time it became one of the most important cities of the region due in large part to its production of henequén (also known as sisal) – a strong natural fiber extracted from agave leaves, used for rope making and other important products.

Another powerful force shaped the city starting in the mid 16th century, when Francisco de Montejo – a Spanish conquistador who was Captain General of Yucatán – converted the Maya ceremonial city of Mutul into the Spanish colonial city of Motul.

Motul continued in importance with respect to the henequén trade, a trend that lasted well into the 20th century. In fact, with its half-dozen nearby henequén plantations and desfibradoras (factories for extracting fiber from the agave leaves), Motul was long considered the heart of the henequén zone, especially after the construction of the famed Motul-Mérida railway used for the transport of the raw product. Along with the entire peninsula, Motul’s glory soon faded after the invention of nylon and the collapse of wealth of the henequén barons.

Motul’s charming coat of arms reflects the city’s past links to the henequén industry: a machete and a coa (a large hooked knife) were used extensively by field laborers; the golden Moorish arch reflects the entrance arches of many local haciendas; and at the bottom, the famed henequén plant. The ribbon beneath the shield reads ZAC MUTUL in reference to the ancient Maya city’s founder.

Motul has not only earned a place in the culinary lexicon but also in the history books due to one of its most famous citizens – Felipe Carrillo Puerto – the man for whom Huevos Motuleños (Motul-style eggs) were indeed created.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

lobster lunch

Yum
My 'neighborhood restaurant' down the street, Acantilado...was featuring this the other day.
 Really... only 240 Pesos, and that's with a drink.

I could not resist.

I thought it was a fine presentation.

It was grilled & so delicious.
I may have to go back if they are still running the special all week.  They said in Centro it's 3-400 pesos.
I'm not going to take the time to confirm....   just enjoy!



And such a place to dine...
such views all around



The staff is really friendly...


a nice, relaxing place to go...
nice people...
quiet place.... I appreciate that.


































The statues are probably better if viewed singly,
and especially with some natural landscape framing them, rather than all in a group.
Too bad they couldn't have left well enough alone, with regard to the natural beauty of the area.

One person who has lived here a long time told me that after Hurricane Wilma, several of them went down to the point to see if the sculptures blew away...           no such luck.............

 

Sunday, September 25, 2011

¡Qué Bonito, qué bonito, qué bonito! Isla's aguas...

That's what I overhead, down a few chairs from my own rented beach chair at Chi Chi Charlie's on North Beach Saturday.  I so needed a beach day, and it seemed a lot of others took advantage also.



The color of the sea here is always incredible, but maybe this day, it was more 'bonito' than usual, thus eliciting such comments.


The color of the sea just seemed every color of wonderful, and changed by the hour....
first the soft, bluish green tones
(I believe I've heard it called
'Cerulean' & I think that fits...) ,

Then, it became more turqouise...
always nice...

then, later, darker blue,
especially against a darker sky threatening thunderstorms....




























My chair got a workout...

... or not, 
  as I was in the water

much of the afternoon....





except for the time I had to eat...











People are always saying what they like best about the island... the people, yes....the food, yes...
but the water all around Isla is just UNREAL.     ¡Qué bonito, qué bonito, qué bonito!

Friday, September 23, 2011

More Merida... Restaurante Amaro & Quintana Roo



http://rockinthestove.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/amaro.jpg


This is a wonderful restaurant right across from the Hotel Reforma where we stayed, near the square.
This is where we were sitting, when we missed the 'Grito' thinking we would go there & participate.
Oh well, next time.      We were just off by an hour, as with the parade...our luck...
    Here is their link:
www.restauranteamaro.com                                                                                                                                                                                        (at the bottom of this post, I'll paste the Spanish info.)                                                            
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/ee/2f/21/la-entrada-del-rest-amaro.jpg

When you walk in the entrance, to your right (twd the right back in upper photo) you will see a
portrait of Quintana Roo, as this is his birthplace (born here in 1787) . So, that is an extra good reason for going here.  He was the governor of Yucatan, & then later, after Yucatan was divided up,
this state, (where Isla Mujeres & Cancun & Riviera Maya are) was named after him. 
.

Also, on one of my earlier visits to Merida, I discovered there is also a statue of Quintana Roo in Santa Ana Park, just several blocks from here, down Calle 62.

He was the governor of the state of Yucatan first, from January of 1872. 

I always thought his name was so unique.


The park of Santa Ana is also very beautiful.
And of course, there is the church of Santa Ana.
Rosy's brother's house is in this area, which is how
I discovered the statue when we were here in Aug.

It is just a few blocks from the park of Santa Lucia, where on Thursday evenings, for 50 years? or so, they have the 'Serenata. '
I love the music, and the dancing is nice too.
But I especially like the old guys dressed in white
playing their beautiful music.  It's a free concert every Thursday at 9pm.











In August when we were there, we saw this group of students doing this exercise in the park.
I guess they were practicing being blind (& I remember doing that once also for school)... ¡Cuidate!


Here are the dancers (many dance schools here)  doing a Yucatecan dance, La Jarana...on the eve of Independence Day.  The crowd is usually overflowing, but sparse this time, since many were already in the square for the preparations underway there. Santa Lucîa Park, every Thurs at 9pm--worthwhile!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------Spanish info. from Amaro website:

Como una suerte de oasis en el centro histórico de Mérida, el restaurante AMARO ofrece un ambiente sereno y sugestivo, con el marco de una sobria casona del siglo XVIII cuyo valor histórico radica
en que en ella nació en 1787 Andrés Quintana Roo, importante figura del México Insurgente, jurisconsulto, embajador, diputado, periodista,
poeta, y esposo de una gran revolucionaria, Leona Vicario.
Aquí, en el corazón de la ciudad, con terraza al aire libre y espléndido ejemplar de árbol de orquídea, usted puede degustar una variada cocina artesanal, elaborada en con base en ingredientes naturales, frescos, cuidadosamente seleccionados.
En su carta pueden encontrarse numerosos platillos vegetarianos internacionales y nacionales- con y sin lácteos, así como especialidades con pollo y pescados, jugosa naturales, vinos, cervezas y una variada barra de licores.
Al son de la trova, entre guitarras y bohemias, quedan atrapados sabores, aromas, colores y brisas para crear este espacio singular. En el mapa de los menús de Yucatán, este lugar merece ser probado.
Restaurante Amaro
Calle 59 por 60 y 62 Centro Histórico.
































































Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Independence Day... and catching up on things...

OK.  Feel like I have my life back, after so many things happening around home, people coming and going, visiting my mom & sister after a car accident, taking care of granddaughters & farm, & tutoring. Now, I'm back 'in the saddle' and speaking of that, I really must get back on a horse soon, and more on that later :)     (I just purchased my first Groupon--for 2 lessons...stay tuned :)

Anyway, am back on Isla! How does that happen so fast?  Our lives are serendipitous...it seems we just fall into things, going from one thing to another...I guess that's how we got married, went to Morocco, decided to join the family farm & enlarge it, have kids, then return to school & take a career turn into teaching, go to China to begin our teaching careers, adopt an older daughter (from India!), and then take a turn to Mexico, somehow ending up here on Isla Mujeres...and still with farm connections.  It's a juggling act. We should have been in the circus.
Life is just sometimes unexplainable...someday, maybe it will make sense, but maybe never, and that's okay too. I've seen well planned lives go astray, so perhaps an unplanned life is just as well.
C'est la vie-      

So...now, as I wait for my final Visa, & wait to sign some other important papers, I can catch up with so many photos to post, from my earlier Aug here, & from a week ago, as we drove around Yucatan & Quintana Roo, and just, whatever!  I am grateful to just relax & chill out here.
------
 Merida was very decked out in red, white & green for their Independence Day celebration.
Every other city we passed through also had their government buildings very dressed up for the event.

Also, there were vendors selling every type of patriotic thing, from flags to earrings. Really wish I had bought one of the 10P mustaches. Restaurants were making drinks with the flag colors.

As is our style ;)  we didn't plan our trip around Ind. Day. Rather, Sr Ruinas (steve) had a dentist appt. in Merida, so lucky us...we went along with it!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Regresa a Valladolid
















Must get back to my trip report, from Merida to Valladolid to Isla, via truck.    Anyway, here we are (were) in Valladolid. Every time I go through this old town, it feels kind of homey, maybe because it is farming country, and more of a natural feel, being around mostly people who really live in a place, and are not tourists. However, we love this restaurant, which does have tourists passing through (including us!)
It has an old world feel, and maybe a European feel too.  Valladolid was named after a city in Spain.
I think the restaurant was named Marquis de Meson, or something like that, so some French there.
Overall, had a nice European flair, mixed with Mexican style and food choices.



























Do we look a little road-weary here, or do we just look hungry?

here are two of the regional specialties.
I wish I could remember the names, but had to do with pork...
Mine is one on the left, and will say the presentation was really nicer in person! and, it tasted great. Rosy's on right, also nice.
Sall had something Tex-Mex, & felt at home.
Come to think of it, a Texan would probably feel very at home in Valladolid. Lots of leather shops!
(cowboy stuff, that is...)
 


The fountain is in the center of the courtyard, with tables all around, on all four sides. Nice artwork is on the walls, and the bathrooms are inviting.
All around, a comfortable rest stop between Merida and Cancun.  It is a hotel, and the rooms are probably wonderful.  Wish I could've had a tour of the kitchen.

Love the trees and the birdcages.

Then, as we continued on our way, toward Temozon and the Carpinteria shop, we passed this church in a small town, decked out for a holiday and a fair. 

Wish I had more pics of the beautiful square of Valladolid, but it was just a pit stop, and we had things to do and places to go.  So, maybe next time.

After filling our stomachs, we filled our truck in Temozon, and here it is getting loaded--and from an earlier post, you can get a better look at some things. Besides the adirondack chairs, I got two loungers...they fold up, so that will be nice when hurricanes come.  And the halltree--a bit bright, but nice contrast, and you can never have enough hooks to hang things, right!
Back to Merida in next post.