Week #7 January 3 to 9, 2021

Week #7 January 3 to 9, 2021

This week was equally as busy as past weeks but for some reason I didn't get a lot of pictures of it. I was either in la, la land or I was so involved in what was happening that I had a one tracked mind. We were invited to dinner at the home of Susan and Maurice Gogal and for lunch in the port with Suzann and Alan Belfry and no photos! Darn!

We found this huge snale  - called babosa in Spanish. It had crawled from one of our plants and seemed to be headed no where with shelter in our back yard. Allan slid it on to this plastic lid and  transported it out to the front where he could get proper habitat. Before his trip he actually took  a drink of water - that was interesting to see.

Size comparison

One day we were in the back yard and heard splashing in the pool - it was this little newt - man, for his small size he does splash a lot of water while making lots of noise doing it.

The weather has been wet and cooler this week than usual, Claudia along with other long term residents here feel the cold.

To make her more comfortable we turned on the Fire Place (YouTube - LOL) It really made a difference, before long we had to open the doors and windows to cool the place off.

We decided to make a change to the sunshade on our roof. We are changing  from the flat 95% UV ray shade to the peaked roof style, 100% UV ray protection and 100% water repellant.  Now we will be able to sit under the protection of the sunshade during the rain and enjoy the outdoors as it should be enjoyed. I love being outside during the rain - I like the thunder and lighening too but not so sure I should be on the roof while that is happening. The rain here is so warm compared to back home, being out in it reminds me of my childhood when my brother and I would put our bathing suits on and dance in the rain - great memories.

  

This week we had our taxi driver Emilio take us and Kris (our property manager) to Playa Del Carmen. The ADO bus is not stopping here in Puerto Morelos on their runs between Cancun and Playa del Carmen this year due to COVID. so if you want to make a trip to either place you have a choice of taking a taxi or the Collectivo - a small van style bus which has packed seating - not COVID wise to say the least. Under the current regulations a taxi can have 3 passengers on board, all 3 riding in the back seat with each wearing a mask (that is one mask per person Rob Bice, not one mask worn by all 3 passengers - lol, I thought you might catch me on that 😅, this is a private joke folks, Rob saw monkeys riding his bike recenty or something confusing like that. Personal cars are able to have 3 passengers plus the driver but one passenger can ride in the front with the driver. I do believe all in the vehicle must be wearing a mask but not positive on that - we wear ours just to be on the safe side.

We revisited  El Oasis for lunch, always a great meal and attentive staff.

I love the tile floor throughout the restaurant.

This is our day trip group, Allan, Emilio, Kris and I.  I sent this picture to our Granddaughter Brooklyn who was in Puerto Morelos about 11 or 12 years ago when she was about 11 years old,  - she recognized Kris right away. Kris makes that kind of an impact on you - an amazing person.

Taxi drivers have flat tire too, this is not our taxi but Emilio did have a flat to repair before he picked us up this day.

We stopped at Telebodego - a popular furniture and applicance store, they have alot of  eye popping colours for living room furniture.

Not so sure it is my style, thankfully I was not in the mood for changing our living room furniture.

Late in the summer Allan made a sewing station for our Granddaughter Brooklyn (Clinton's oldest daughter) She has taken up sewing and just loves it. Between her and Allan they designed, built and finished the station. I understand it is being used constantly.

I was able to pick up these fabrics for her while in Playa - I can not believe how inexpensive the fabrics are here, $1.27 Canadian per meter. 

This eyelette cotton in Canada is approximatgely $17.00 per meter, here it is about $3.20 Canadian per meter!

Food is also inexpensive in our part of Mexico. At the grocery store, this chicken was  $41. pesos per kilo or $2.61 Canadian - it weighed 2.135 kg and cost us $5.54 Cnd. 

A chicken this size will do Allan and I for 3 or more meals.

This is the flower pot we purchased and had painted by the nursery staff at Virero Blue Green last week, next week's post will show you the new pot with a plant in it.  One step at a time here people, this is Mexico, nothing happens fast.

Chucho has been planting succulants for us this week - once the upstairs sunshade is done and the plants are in their proper place I will do photos - he does a fabulous job. Chucho takes great pride in his plants and makes sure they are comfortable in their location getting the proper sun, shade, water and fertilizer as to not stress them. He is the same with his plants as Claudia is with her cats. Life is good!

Until my next post, stay healthy, stay happy, stay safe and keep smiling.

Week #6 December 27th, 2020 to January 2, 2021

 Week #6 December 27th, 2020 to January 2, 2021

Allan is shown here working on his own to do list this time, our main electrical box cover came into ill repair and was letting rain water into the circuit panel causing breakers to blow.

He was able to find the perfect fit cover on Amazon.mex to do the job.

Within a short time the job was complete. The new cover looks so much better; now we will await the test of time.

We found ourselves a part of an impromptu outdoor party at Claudia's the first of the week. It wasn't a large party, just the right size to meet COVID regulations. Scott from down the street, and Allan and I were guests.

Mauricio and Claudia are great hosts,

and the botanas were plentiful.

Claudia operates a bed and breakfast at her home and had a guest arrive, unbeknown to the guest she was in time  for a party.

We had another week of beautiful warm sun and awesome skies.

A night time walk allowed me to get a photo of the green plastic bottled Christmas tree in the Chedraui parking lot lit at night, complete with elf feet sticking out underneath.

The Municipal Palace is well lit again this year, you will notice the outside seating area under the covered shelters on the lower right of the picture. COVID regulations.

The plastic store on the corner of Zetina Gasca and Coaba is always lit with much colour all year through.

The park is very quiet this year, no Christmas village as they have had in the past and very few people out and about.

The Christmas tree is lit with its array of figurines and gifts surrounding it.

El Sazon Mexicano is well lit at night, I was surprised to see they were still open and busy with customers - limited seating of course.

The flower shop on the corner of Calle Chaca and Calle 52 was still open selling their plants for New Year's gift giving.

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We took time to visit Vivero Blue Green which is a nursery on the highway as I was looking for new flower pots. I found what I was looking for - you will see it in the next post.

Omar along with his wife and staff have a beautiful assortment of plants and have a very high regard for customer satisfaction .

In the background you see the House of Sargasso - click on the link to get the full story. Actually on   day we were there a group of journalists arrived to do a story on the invention and its success story.

                                

 Chucho, who is our gardener and his wife took us to the nursery, everyone came home happy with their purchases - Chucho loves to add plants to his own nursery to increase his variety and quantity for his own customers. I don't want you left with the idea we have a full time "Gardener", when we first arrive for our winter stay we have Chucho come and tend to the needs of our plants - trimming, repotting, replacing, etc. . This day's trip was part of that process.

A trip to the dentist's office this week allowed us another peek into the  day's life of the rooster, hen and chicks. They look like they are doing well.

The Seventh Day Adventist Church has been demolished and a new one being rebuilt in its place,

  

Ecclesiastes 4:9 NIV   "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:" So true, the building was up and usable within a few days. More to follow in the next post.

The stores, shops and restaurants are still COVID smart with customer sanitization practices.

Another Coconut harvester - you have to be careful that you don't walk under a tree while there is someone in it. Those coconut don't always fall when and where they should - it would surly hurt if one bonked you on the head wouldn't it?

One hot afternoon we stopped at Micheladas for food and drink,

I enjoy one of those tall mugs of cold beer on a hot day.

This was our first experience with a QR Code menu. If you have never used one before you can do so from this photo. You need a QR/Bar Code app downloaded to your phone, from there scan the app, go to the website and there it is for you to read. No need to worry about whether or not your handheld paper menu has been properly cleaned. It is as clean as your phone - remember that as well as your hands you phone also needs to be cleaned/sanitized regularly.

This is our waiter "Eddie" with Allan, he and other staff members are always conscientious of your safety and theirs while in the restaurant'. One person came to the entrance gate while we were there and his mask was under his nose, he was not allowed entrance until the mask was properly placed.

Someone is ingenious - what a great place to dry boots, slippers, mops, etc.

 On New Year's Eve we went to La Sirena's for dinner, it was a delicious meal and an enjoyable evening out.

While on the roof top I took a few photos of the work being done in the park and other shots of the surrounding area. I know I have blog viewers who will be interested in the progress of the town as they are not here this year to see for themselves.

 As controversial as it has been, it will be a relief to have the park open again - its current state has certainly changed the  atmosphere of  the Port. 

Random photos surrounding La Sirena taken from the rooftop

After dinner we did a short walk a bout town.

Some of the shops were open but no customers.

The church is always beautiful.

The ice cream parlor is still open.

We enjoy the atmosphere here in Puerto Morelos, this is the restaurant "Las Koras" on Calle Chaca - a nice cool place to have lunch on a hot day.

This concludes another awesome week in paradise.

Many of you are probably wondering how the new Canadian government requirements for people coming into Canada after January 7th will affect us. For those who may not be aware - the Canadian government has stated that all people coming into Canada after January 7th must have proof of having a negative COVID test within 72 hours of flight departure. I see it as being an inconvenience but not an impossibility. We are very fortunate because here in Puerto Morelos there is one for sure and possibly two places where the PCR COVID testing can be done.  Our plans have not changed at this time, we will be coming back to Canada the end of February. 

Until my next post, stay healthy, stay happy, stay safe and keep smiling.