Tuesday, 28 January 2025: flight to Oaxaca City

 

Quick breakfast and coffee as we loaded into our 3 minute taxi ride to the airport.  

I wasn’t able to check in on line so at the airport we were directed to an agent at the counter… no waiting.  Was that a good sign?

Uneventful flight, it really is so easy with only carry on luggage.

We headed to Alamo to pick up our rental car when Justin realized he’d forgotten his phone on board.  Then the cluster began.  Of course he couldn’t just go back on the plane.  He knew he’d left the phone in the seat back of seat 9D.  The airport security guard radioed on the pane, they said they had it and we were to go to the Volaris counter to wait.  At the counter four different Volaris employees said they knew nothing until they said the plane had already taken off to return to Merida.  What a mess.  Justin was beating himself up… what a mess.

We stopped in Coyotopec just outside the city at a road side food stand.

Chile rellenos, chicken in a fabulous red sauce, rice and beans and fabulous handmade tortillas.  The lady working there, Altagracias, was a dear.  She was so pleased that we were interested in her food.  I got tickled when she sat down at the table with us.  I dropped a pin in maps just in case we get to go see her again.

When we finished our lunch we bought fresh fruit from the stand next door.  

We loaded back in our car and headed to the beach!

On Cousin Mike’s recommendation, we checked into our hotel, Beach Hotel Ines.  Lovely.  We had our choice of rooms and, not surprisingly, we selected a beach view.

Humongous waves at the beach.  Perfect sunset.

Monday, 27 January 2025: to Merida

 

This season has been quite different from our previous time in Celestun.  We don’t have workers in the house every day since our main focus this year, so far, has been granite in two bathrooms.  It’s been a much slower time… I think I like it.  

Slower and truly focused on dogs.  We got both Yoda and Canello fixed since we’ve been back.  Somehow we didn’t keep Yoda calm enough and she has a small hernia at her incision point.  She’ll need another surgery in about a month.  Cannello has so much energy.  He just wants to play.  We’ve had both he and Yoda sleeping with us.  They’ve taken their turn wearing the cone of shame.  Poor Cessa, she’s not getting any attention at all.  And Mochi.  Our beloved Mochi.  She’s moving much slower these days.  She really doesn’t like Cessa but she plays with Yoda and Canello from time to time.  

However, today we head to Merida to go to Oaxaca.  We’ve wanted to go south for a while and now we are going to celebrate Justin’s birthday.  

Antonio was supposed to be at our house at 2pm and he didn’t show up until almost 4:00.  That was stressful. Justin’s phone has been acting up and he warned to go by the technologico plaza.  We felt like we wouldn’t make it before they closed — we knew we were running late but they got him in and he even had time for a haircut while they fixed his phone.   I went on to the hotel.  Justin joined me after about an hour and we celebrated.  One thing we celebrated was that he was still alive after haven taken an Uber moto ride from the technological center to the hotel.  We are on our way to Oaxaca!

Monday, 20 January 2025: Casa Colibri

MLK Day.  Inauguration Day

Honor?  Pride?  Justice?  

January 6…. January 20 …. Pardons

Troubling

I don’t even feel that I can construct sentences to convey my emotions.

It is funny ... after so many years of The Hatch Act and zero conversations about politics... my naivete, and my ignorance regarding politics ... it is funny to learn of my friends and their political leanings.   Admittedly, I am learning of my own political leanings, but I can't help but wonder about a lot of really smart people.

12 January 2025 : Boston's in Merida

 

Back to Merida for just a bit more football.  The Packers made it to the playoffs but today was the last game as it is one and done and the Packers fell to the Eagles.   There was quite the crowd at Boston's.   Many got there for the earlier game so Justin and I opted for sitting at the bar.  Scott and Kelly joined us there later.  

Wednesday, 1 January 2025: Casa Colibri

Yesterday Justin and I celebrated our anniversary and New Year’s Eve.  It was a quiet celebration and we are so good with that.

Long walk on the beach with the dogs… good food … my best friend.

We definitely followed the rules for the obligatory greens and black eyed peas. I made a breakfast casserole loaded with spinach for brunch. Texas caviar for mid afternoon snack was followed by a lentil tomato soup and ham. I read that for those in India lentils and raisins represented coins as a New Years tradition. I figured it didn’t hurt to have another check mark in the box.  With the size of the Indian population, they might be on to something

 

Tuesday, 31 December 2024: Casa Colibri

11 years!
Justin and I enjoyed an early dinner on the beach; this sunset never fails to impress. 
Then to watch a movie and snuggle in the couch with my man!
Susan is having a crappy anniversary and a crappy New Years since she is in the hospital in Corpus Christi.

Monday, 30 December 2024: Mérida

Antonio picked us up at our house yesterday to drive us in to Mérida. We dropped off the fixin’s for Bloody Mary’s at Rudolfo’s before checking into our City Express Hotel.
Back to Rudolfo’s for a most disappointing game. This loss to the Vikings was a huge loss!!!  The paella was a bit dry but filled with clams, shrimps, and the ever present salchicha. I fed mine under the table to Gordo and Bruno.

The game was even more upsetting because one of Rudolfo’s dogs went missing. We learned later that Kin was just upstairs hiding. Judit was a wreck, understandably.

Justin must be an official member of the club since he drinks Mezcal and eats crickets now. Me?  I’ll pass.

I had a little bit of an intestinal event this morning so I stayed at the hotel while Justin went to Home Depot.

Antonio and his wife Valaria picked us up in the early afternoon for errands and return to Celestún. We passed on rotisserie chicken from Sam’s because we opted for flat chicken from a local Pollo take out place. It came with salad, tortillas, salsa and marinated onions. We bought a dinner for Antonio and Valarie too. Yes, I could get used to having a driver.

Wednesday, 25 December 2024: Christmas Day in Celestun

We had a slow, slow day.  It was perfect.  No drama and just us. Buffet at Sol y Luna where Peter’s used to be.  Disappointing.  We’d walked into town so we took a trici back home.  We chatted up our new best friend before he and Justin exchanged phone numbers.  Maybe we have a local transportation guy too.  

We enjoyed Mediterranean fare for our Christmas dinner.  Zucchini garlic bites, olive tempanada cheese roll and pastitsio. Followed by cranberry lemon bars.  Plenty of leftovers to enjoy.  The zucchini bites were made with Mexican squash.  It’s always an adventure to cook with local ingredients.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it isn’t even close.  

Tuesday, 24 December 2024: casa Colibri

 

Our car dilemma might just be clearing up.  We don’t have a car since we drove.  We agreed that we’d learn to navigate public transportation but that might have just been us talking smack.  They say the bus from Celestun to Merida takes two hours but we hear it is really more like three.  Aaargh!  Since we will be here such a short time this winter we really don’t want to spend the money to buy a car just now.  I don’t want the drama of the paperwork involved.  Aaargh again.  

We used the heck out of our rental car.  On the first trip, the car was filled to capacity with our luggage, dog food, cleaning supplies and non perishable items.  The second trip, the car was filled with foods that require refrigeration, plants and three new pumps.  When we got back to Celestun we found we had no water and this time it wasn’t because the municipal water supply was lacking.  The third trip was for a new tv since our old one seems to have bitten the dust.  Didn’t plan on that expense.  Netflix will air two NFL football games on Christmas Day and we want to be able to plant in front of the tube.  

And, speaking of football, the Packers ran over the Saints on Monday.  The crew was at Bostons to share in the revelry.  That locks in the playoffs for the Packers.  Vikings next week.  

We found a new hotel on the Paseo de Montejo, City Express.  Close to Boston's, Home Depot and Sam’s.  We stumbled across a great little Italian restaurant we will want to be sure to go back to La Trattoria.      

Justin has noted that before we had a car and no garage and now we have a garage and no car.  We may have found a short term solution.  Yesterday we got an Uber to bring us back to Celestun.  As I was getting in the car, the driver asked me if I’d be paying with the app or with cash.  When Justin got in the car I told him what the driver was offering.  We took him up on his offer of a price cut and then asked him if he’d be available for other “as needed” transportation.  Our wish list skyrocketed.  We asked Antonio to pick us up here in Celestun next Sunday to take us to town then pick us up on Monday for a few errands and a return trip.  Please, oh please.  I hope this works.  

Wednesday, 18 December 2024: Meson de La Luna Merida

Today was go. Finally.  After changing our flights three times, we were finally at the airport and ready to go.  I haven’t travelled by air much so some of this was totally new to me.  Justin and I rearranged items from our carry on to checked luggage in the middle of the floor before checking our bags.  I was not aware that I shouldn’t have my computer in my carry on.  I forgot to ask what about last month when I only had a carry on.  Then, we both were pulled to a screeching halt in security when we realized we’d forgotten to empty our water bottles.  I left Justin with all our stuff, took the water bottles outside to empty them and then got in line to go through security again.  Thankfully we had plenty of time.  When it was time to board we got on the plane to find that my carry on didn’t fit in the overhead bin.  I turned on my call button and after a reasonable wait I headed to the back of the plane to seek assistance.  The steward told my there was really no problem, they’d print a tag and send it to hold luggage.  Yes, that would be the same place they told me a shouldn’t have my computer that we’d just repacked in the middle of the terminal.  Wait at your seat he said we will collect the luggage when everyone is seated.  We were seated in row  Like a salmon swimming upstream I made my way from the rear of the aircraft back to row 15.  That worked until our seat mate showed up and of all things, he wanted to sit.  A different flight attendant told me to take the luggage to the rear of the plane.  Ok… here I go.  Now I am

at the back of the plane and the steward in leading the way toward the front.  It was quite a different trek as most people were seated.  I got my claim ticket and it was time go go, right?  No, not just yet.  They came over the PA system asking for the individual who had had difficulty in getting their luggage overhead to identify themselves.  Oh, that’s me I think and turn on my call button again.  A totally new flight attendant accompanied by a rather large perhaps security official look at me curiously and say they were looking for a man.  I gesture to Justin and say “yes, it was us.  Both of us.”  They mention something about pushing and now Justin and I are confused too.  They left, still confused.  We should have taken off by now.  Everyone is seated.  They’ve made all the announcements in both Spanish and English and we haven’t moved.  And we still haven’t moved.  Then they come over the PA and say that they are sorry for the delay but “we had a passenger who got hands with a flight attendant and he was denied passage”. They needed to find his traveling companion to take statements etc.  oh, well, that does change the picture.  And here I was offering “ that was me” and “ yes, that was us.”  There’s quite a difference between pushing a flight attendant and being handsy with a flight attendant.  Whew!  We were over an hour late in leaving.  Thank goodness we didn’t have any connections.  

After landing in Merida we got our rental car for five days and headed to our hotel — Meson de La Luna.  I’d always wanted to stay here but since they are not pet friendly it wasn’t possible.  Just thinking about why I can stay here now makes me sad.