The Faves

Time for my annual round-up of what we liked about the blog. I'm too lazy to do a comprehensive check of reader stats, blah, blah, blah. Instead I use how many of you were moved to comment to judge what was liked the most. I am also including my favorite post from each month. Being as polite as I am, your favorite will be listed first and I will go second.

JANUARY

New Parking - this post dealt with the newly created municipal parking lot next to the bar/disco, La Luna. It also pointed out the problems endemic with such a lot.

The Wedding Dance - ahhh. One of my favorite kinds of posts to do. Snarky and making fun of the tourists. Even though you, the readers, don't seem to care for them too much, I delight in them.

FEBRUARY

The Who, What And Why - this one only dealt with the many friends of mine on the island at the time. Judging from some of the other favorites still to come, you guys really like the personal stuff.

Caribbean Snowdrifts - this was a take off on all the snow NOB. Our snowdrifts here are actually made of sand and removed by shovel, wheelbarrow and lots of back breaking work.

MARCH

Somebody Must Have The Answer - this was a plea for ideas and recommendations for a wireless router signal extender. I actually purchased one that was recommended by a reader. It didn't work.

Organized Chaos - pictures of what looks like a huge messy pile of fishing nets. Actually, they are quite well organized and coiled.

APRIL

Why I Bought My First Horse - a tribute to my Dad and how is death taught me a lesson.

We agreed on this month's post. My second choice would have to be the one entitled Unadulterated Goodness and dealt with the marvelous chocolates created at Vasilow's Confectionery.

MAY

Is It Just Me - a somewhat snarky, but true, post of people wearing beach wear in public places.

Again, we all like this one. Or disliked it, depending upon whether you were a man or woman!

JUNE

Uncle - the events of the last break-in wherein I am ready to throw in the towel.

From The Deck - observations of the wildlife and sounds from my sister's deck in Michigan

JULY

South Point - pictures of the renovations going on out there

La Boda - highlights from my friend's wedding in Izamal

AUGUST

Where Have I Been - another personal status update

Snackbar El Tico - a feature article on my friend's new bar downtown. Someplace that remains on my "to visit" list several times a week.

SEPTEMBER

OSHA Be Damned - a humorous quiz wherein you attempt to correctly identify gas containers.

Up, Up and Away - the fireworks from the bicentennial celebration. I thought I did a fine job of capturing them

OCTOBER

An Ill Wind - photos showing damage to the beach across from my house and the wires leading into my house from strong winds

I Promise, I Won't - I loved this post! In fact, I still get a chuckle when I think about it. It was the picture of the the sign I saw in a men's changing room, asking the patrons not to pee on the floor!

NOVEMBER

Still Here - yet another personal status update. I wonder if they are so popular because I don't post about myself very often or ????

Dead Sheep Walking - pictures of the living lawn mowers that are kept on the grounds of our local slaughterhouse. They are still there and one of them recently had a baby. Too cute.

DECEMBER

Be Careful What You Wish For - the story of the dog and seven puppies I am currently fostering

Better Than Ever - the videos of Fireboy. What can I say? He fascinates me.


So, another year down the tubes. Here's hoping that 2011 is brighter, warmer and better for everybody. See you on the other side!

Overnighting in Oxcutzcab

Oxcutzcab (osh coots cob) is a major hub in the Yucatan. It is a central distribution point for fruits and vegetables heading out to points all over the state and the entire Yucatan peninsula. I have always been fascinated by this bustling market and community.





The entrance to the market building features this hand painted mural depicting Yucatecan market life.





Another section features these ladies in the traditional dress of the Yucatan. The huipil.





For those of you keeping track, we stayed at the Hotel Puuc, an easy walk from the market and central square. We paid 330 pesos for the night ($27.50) and on a scale of 1-10, Steve and I gave it an 11! It's that good.


The church in Oxcutzcab is the standard mission style church that is found in almost every village of the Yucatan. The difference here is that it has been maintained beautifully.

I would have loved to go inside and to show that to you too. Unfortunately, this church, like most of the ones we encountered on this trip, was locked tight. We didn't understand how or why a church would lock out it's congregation. Weird, if you ask me.

The town square is a pleasant place to sit, eat an ice cream cone, maybe some french fries or a marquisita while watching village life transpire. Including loud teenagers intent on establishing their social pecking order.

If you are touring the Yucatan, make time for an overnight in Oxcutzcab. It is well worth the time.

Chugging Along

When I first started to visit Isla Mujeres, way back in 1990, the main transportation over here was provided by wooden boats. They were far from romantic and far from comfortable. They took 45 minutes to cross. I hated them.

Then along came the fast, enclosed, modern boats. The trip was reduced to 25 minutes and it seemed like we sped over here. I think that was around 1995 or so.

Nowadays, the preferred way to cross is on the Ultramar catamaran ferries. Comfortable, modern, clean and fast. Around 20 minutes or so if we aren't fighting the wind or high waves.

A year or so ago, the powers that be allowed both ferry companies to significantly raise their rates. The caveat was that they both had to improve their boats and their service.

The Ultramar company bought all new boats. The ones that are in use now and have the blue lights that shine from underneath into the water at night.

The other company? Well, you can see from this picture what they did. A big fat nothing.

I don't think these boats have really been serviced since they were put into service. The doors don't seal properly, and on some of them, don't even close anymore. Which allows water to splash into them and on the passengers. I have heard stories where they just stop working during a crossing and have to be towed to shore. To me, scary stuff indeed.

The above picture doesn't adequately show the cloud of black smoke from burning oil which enshrouds these boats as they cross. Can you imagine sitting inside this and having to breath these fumes?! Yuk. Not to mention the pollution they are putting into the air.

The long and short of it? I think they are dangerous and I would never step foot inside one.

Better Than Ever

Yoday we celebrate the return of Fireboy to the island. His return always heralds the start of high season to me.

It is very clear that he has been working on and perfecting his art over the summer. He starts with a dazzling performance of firesticks. Which he lights with his hands! He also spends part of the performance surrounded by and dancing in fire. Wow.

His standard show with the fireballs on chains has been reved up quite a bit this year. He has three speeds he uses during the show - medium, fast and slow. Here is the fast part. Prepare to be amazed.

And here is where he slows it way down. Incredible that he can keep control of these things.

If you are on the island and happen to catch one his performances, show your appreciation for the talent, skill and originality of this guy. He lives on tips and 10 or 20 pesos in his hat is not going to kill you. It is well worth the money.

At Least It Wasn't In My Bonnet!

While sitting on the back porch the other day, I glanced down and saw this guy.





He was already dead, thankfully. I scooped up his gigantic dead body and took a picture of him sitting on a flyswatter. I sure hope his pals don't come around to visit. I have never seen a bee this big on the island. I hope the wayward winds just blew him in!



Did anybody watch the eclipse last week? I didn't make it up that late. I did, however, get a shot of the moon just as it came up over the water that night. Impressive.

A Hearty Thank You

I've had a few months now to put my thoughts together as to how I am going to tell the story of Project Warm Hearts this year. Of course, when it comes down to the wire, everything I had planned to say just doesn't seem adequate. I mean, how can I truly tell people how kind, generous, thoughtful, and warm spirited they are? Or how much their donations have meant to so many people. Me included.

I almost didn't continue with PJW this year. After the near disaster last year when the Mexican postal system decided that import duty had to be paid on every donation....whether store bought or hand made.....and refused to mail anything that did not have a receipt, I thought all was lost. But, as you remember, Kathy and Jaimie from Pau Mau came to the rescue and muled all of the donations to Veracruz. Bless them.

This year I fully intended to make the drive myself to hand deliver the items to John and Anita in Xico, the designated recipient community. Many things conspired against that and it just couldn't take place. After a few consultations with John and Anita, it was decided that it would be best to hand out the donations to needy and deserving individuals of my choice. Anita has already spent the PayPal donations on toys for the kids in Xico (with added funds thrown in by John and Anita, bless them too!) so there was going to be a party for the kids there anyway.

But before I get to the details of what happened here locally, I would like to thank a few people for making this dream of mine a reality. I may miss somebody and I apologise profusely if I do. Remember, my list of donors was stolen along with my computer last June.

I break out into a big smile whenever I even just think the name Jackie Conlon. This kind woman from Portland, and frequent island visitor, has so many points in her Karma bank that she could start making withdrawals anytime she wanted without touching the principle! This lady just gives and gives and gives. Not only here, but in her own community as well. The world should have more Jackies in it. So, thank you Jackie. From the bottom of my heart.

And then there are Ann and Alan Booth. Also island regulars and truly caring people.

Of equal importance are Croft Randle and Norma. I always want to switch his name around! Again, island visitors and faithful donators to PJW every year. They dig down every year and give so much to this project.

I thank all four of you most sincerely.

Also never failing to find room in their suitcases for something for the kids are Richard and Joanne Grainger. Over the years, these two delightful people have also become friends. They always find something really unique to bring down. Among the things last year were gloves with faces and string hair on each finger. Too cute. Thank you guys!


But really, the award for furthest travelled donation goes to Bill and Michelle Jones. They found room, don't ask me how, to bring down these gently used men's sweaters. Wow. I need to give them a special personal thank you.







Santa, or somebody similar to him, absolutely made me steal one of these sweaters for my own personal use! Hey, it gets freezing cold down here! One of these sweaters has helped keep me toasty as I sit at my computer in the evening. I am grateful.

I vividly recall getting the summons to go visit this lady. Kim Jones.




She, too, had found room to pack clothing and school items. Some really cute Christmas theme pencils that have been a tremendous hit to every child who has received one. Thank you, Kim.


The majority of the clothing items donated, as well as the 33 hats that I knit this year, have been given out to needy families here on Isla. Mostly to the residents of the neighborhood called Guadalapena. Some of the items have been taken to Cancun where they will be passed out by my best friend, LisaLoveLoca. Actually, they are being taken, along with the toys we were able to purchase with the cash donations, to poor villages just outside of Cancun, in the jungle.

And look, just look!, at what your donations were able to purchase!

I'm a sucker for Barbie dolls, or Barbie type dolls, since it was a Barbie doll that got this whole charity running in the first place. The ones you see pictured here were, in US money, $2.75 each. Small price to pay to give some little girl a princess to call her own.

See those giant balls? They were $1.66 each! And the trucks and car carriers and Jeeps we were able to buy. Most of them only $1.50 each. Giant earth moving machines. Plenty to keep a child's imagination flowing.

I mention the prices only to show you just how far even a $5 donation will go down here.

Next year, Project Warm Hearts is going to take a slightly different direction, with a slightly different goal. But always for the children. I will be giving you the details in February, along with a very special surprise fund raiser!

Again, thank you times one million! It is you guys, with your generous and warm hearts, that have made all of this possible for the third year in a row. I bow my head to all of you.

Merry Christmas to all of you, my faithful readers and companions throughout the year.

The Last Two

After a quick side trip to the village of Santa Elena for Steve to see the "mummies", there were only two ruins left on our route.

Sayil and Labna.



The ruins at Sayil set aways back from the parking area and it is a hike through the "jungle" to get to them. There isn't really much left there. But what there is, is magnificent.

As we passed some of the lesser, unidentified building, I was once again struck by the work of the archaeologists in putting these ruins back together. This reminds me of building a house number-by-number.





The main building at Sayil is this residential house, also called The Palace. Probably the original condo, as many as 30 different families lived in this building. I would bet money that they were the aristocracy of the time.




This building has been compared to one found in Crete, Greece. Strange to me how different cultures developed along the same lines architecturally. Columns, both plain and decorated, dominated this structure.




As we walked from separated building to separated building, we could not help but notice these giant trees. I made a note to find out what I could about them later. They certainly are impressive.

I asked one of my native Yucatecan friends about them. He said that they are called a Pich (sounds like peach) tree. Once abundant in the area, they are becoming extremely rare. The reason is a sad story that we are all familiar without around the world. This tree depends upon deer who eat it's seed and then spread them throughout the forest in the form of seeds in the feces. Unfortunately, the deer population in the Yucatan is almost non-existent, having been hunted to near extinction in the area. Thus there is no carrier for the next generation of trees. Eventually, they will probably all be gone from the Yucatan. Pity.







This building always reminds me of an ornate entrance to a 60's bomb shelter! It is actually the ruin of a temple called "the rooster" because the ornate headdress at the top of the building was once painted a bright red.







Moving on down the road, we stopped at Labna.




The first building one comes to, after taking the long path from the parking lot, is the palace. It is the longest building known to exist in this area.

The building adornment can still be made out. There is a serpent's head with a human face peering out from between it's jaws. (maybe they had giant boa constrictors in the region?) This was supposedly the representation for the planet Venus.

The symbol for Venus.

I was hesitant to walk down this causeway. It was blazing hot that day and I knew that it would be pure torture with my leg problem. But I also knew that one of my favorite pieces of ruin was waiting to be viewed at the end. And I wanted to share it with Steve.

It's not much, but I love it. This was once the entrance way to some imperial family's home. I love to imagine what the house itself must have looked like!

Directly across from this is the structure known as "el Mirador", which means look out, or viewpoint, in Spanish. I'm sure one could see a long way from the top of it. But, what, I wonder, was there to see other than a bunch of trees?

For just a quick moment, as we walked back to the parking lot, I thought I was in Costa Rica again. There, running like obedient little soldiers, was a colony of leaf cutter ants. They are fascinating to watch.

In order to get even this good of a picture, I had to stir the scent of their path to momentarily confuse them. Or get them to pose, whichever you prefer!

We made a brief stop at the Caves of Loltun after this. We wisely decided to give them a miss. Maybe another time. It is a cave system that travels more than 2 miles underground and is just a wee bit difficult to walk. Especially with one of us having a leg problem and the other still recuperating from a zip line accident.

So then it was on to another one of my favorite cities in the Yucatan, Oxcutzcab, for the night.

Meanwhile, Back On The Island

Here's a look at the rather new statue that graces the entrance to the Malecon. I think that it is one of the more lovely statues to be found here on the island.

The First Ruin

I can't believe that my road trip with Steve was a month ago already and that I am still writing about it! I guess I really did not want it to end and this is my way of stretching it out.

Our first stop on the way to the Ruta Puuc was at the ruin of Kabah. This is one of my favorites on the route. I love that as you are driving along, you round a corner and , Wham!, there it is on the side of the road. So unexpected and so grandiose. It is the only one that you don't have to trudge along a well-worn path to get to. I think Steve was impressed. Which was the whole idea!

Kabah was a major city in it's time and held great importance. I sure if you Google it, you can find out more. Honestly, I don't feel it is my job here to educate you, rather to entertain and titillate you and perhaps stir you to wanting to visit these ruins yourself.


The view from the entrance gate of the Palace of Masks. So named because of the 300 masks of Chac, the rain god, which adorn it.






Off to the right side is the Great Pyramid (or what is left of it) and the Atlantes (male figures which serve as support columns).




Climbing the steep, crumbling, perilous steps to the first plateau, one is immediately struck by all of the stone pieces lying about. All waiting to be pieced back together and put in their proper places on the facade.






It amazes me that archaeologists can even find two pieces that go together. It is like putting together a giant stone jigsaw puzzle, without the picture of what it should look like.

Once the proper pieces have been deciphered, they are placed on the walls.

I love how this palm just sits there, imposing itself on the view.

Once on the Pyramid, turn around and you see the vast courtyard. Of course, you have just walked across it to get to the Pyramid, but it is more impressive from above.

A closer view of the Palace.

Here you can see the scaffolding that the workers use to reconstruct. I wonder if they feel that they have to use a primitive scaffold because of where they are working?

Most of the buildings are full of little chambers. Usually fronted by these columns. Go inside only if you dare!

More of the Palace.

Everywhere one looks, there is something of interest.

Near the entrance/exit is this workers' shed. It is constructed in the original Yucatan tradition. Round or oblong mud hut with a grass roof.

I loved the collection of old wheelbarrows. Almost art.

A closer look at the hut.

And still closer. Notice how the mud is chinked in between the sticks.

I always enjoy Kabah. Not the most splendid or impressive of the ruins found in the Yucatan, but certainly one of the more entertaining. Be sure to stop there on your travels.