Friday, 4 January 2019: Hacienda San Jose Pachul

What's that pounding?  That's the sound of the tile countertops being removed in preparation for granite. 

The amount of dust created is incredible.

Early yesterday afternoon we left Gemma in Abraham’s trusty hands and headed to Hacienda San Jose Pachul.  Only about a 40 minute drive from Casa Colibri but the act made both Justin and I feel as if we were on the road again.  We were headed somewhere new, but without Gemma.  We had no time constraints and the temp gauge was at 94'.  We took the turn off the main road at marker 21 as directed and entered another time.

Hacienda San Jose Pachul dates back to the mid 19th century when it was part of a hennequen plantation. The hennequen plants were transformed into sisal rope.  With the invention of synthetic fibers for ropes near the beginning of the 20th century, the hennequen industry collapsed. In the 1980’s the property was briefly turned into a cattle ranch. That venture, too, was abandoned. In 2006, the property was purchased by its present owners, Richard and Jose.  Jose is a trained chef from Mexico City and Richard was an art/antiques dealer.  Most recently from Canada, these guys have turned the hacienda into a phenomenal show-piece. We went in the early afternoon so we'd have time for signature sour-orange margaritas before a four-course dinner and spending the night in one of the only two rooms.  We were the only guest so we did have the entire premises to ourselves.  Richard and Jose expertly walked the tightrope of being attentive and invisible while seeing to our every wish.  

Jose in his kitchen

After a delicious soup and salad, our entre of Chile Nogada was simply mouthwatering -- and inspiring  (I looked up recipes the following day). Richard and Jose were kind enough to show interest in our project as they told a few stories of their own when we asked them to join us at dessert  They popped open a celebratory bottle of champagne when they sat down as they knew we were celebrating our anniversary.  They took me on a tour of their kitchen and pantry and I just oogled and ogled over their special spaces.  

Breakfast this morning was just as spectacular as dinner the night before

All in all, our celebration was simply … Fabulous!!!

After we left The Hacienda we went into Merida with the major intent of looking for our stove.  We found the one at Liverpool and it will be delivered in late January.  We went to Costco looking specifically for the table we'd seen before to use as an island in the kitchen,  instead we found a tv table.  

Back at home after a fabulous getaway I spoke with Stephanie.  Jason is engaged and fiancé, Sarah is expecting.  Daughter Sarah is in Cuba.  All are doing well thankfully.  

All the tile was chipped up on the countertops in the guest kitchen.  I never knew what a mess tile work was.  Dust was two inches thick on everything!

Tuesday, 1 January 2019: Casa Maria

Our life in Celestún and the tropics is phenomenal. When I think about the temps in Green Bay or in Kaiserslautern or even in Georgetown I just shutter. Weather here has been perfect--mid-to-hi-80's days, hi-60's to mid 70's nights. And if the weather is perfect, our house is on its way to that state. Work continues on our apartment and rooms, and we have a designer coming in to help with our main kitchen re-do.  Abraham has the gardens looking great with only occasional help and direction from Justin. We (actually Justin -- I got the placeholder website going but he did the lion's share on this one) got our website up yesterday. (www.casacolibrimex.com). We haven’t really decided how wholeheartedly we will pursue paying guests. We got the place for little enough that we can easily justify not working the business aspect at all, but it would be nice if it paid its own expenses. 

Most importantly--Justin and I celebrated our fifth anniversary yesterday. We’ve been celebrating since June to mark the day when we met. Who’d of ever thunk it. We’ve had lots of experiences in such a short amount of time. Wonder what’s in store next?  We were in Paris for our first anniversary, with friends Xavier and Nicole in Kaiserslautern for our second, in South Padre Island for our third and we’ve been here in Celestún for the last two. Next year???

We went to three parties last night. We started out the evening at Robbie’s for cocktails and then headed down the beach to Jeremy and Allison’s where he had roasted a pig. Our third stop was for dinner and midnight celebrations at Sandra and Peter’s.   We totally ran out of steam before the big celebration in the village, which we hear tends to go from around midnight until 5 AM.    

I don’t necessarily make resolutions any more.  I do pray — probably more now than in past years. Maybe I am just more aware of the political turmoil and I worry about the future of our planet. Certainly I am grateful as my life is full of abundance. 2019. Lets live to the fullest,  laugh more, love with abandon... and be amazed!

Justin walkin' the dawgs on New Year's Day

Sunday, 30 December 2018: Casa Colibri

Justin and I went for a morning swim before I took a run into town to go to the vegetable market.  Marie Francois and her son Antoine came to interpret for Soms who will be doing some masonry work for us.  We are going to get him to start on the area above the bathroom sinks where we want to hang larger mirrors.  He will also do some work in both kitchens and once we figure out what we want to do with closets, he will do that masonry too.  He is scheduled to come back next week on Thursday.  Let’s hope he shows up.  We haven’t seen or heard from Don Carlos again.  

I finally got back to cooking a bit today.  Since the stove top is out of commission, I have been too.  So today I made a chicken dish in my new crock and I made some caponata.  Justin watched football much of the afternoon.  Packers were shut out at home.  The game was not important as both teams are out of the playoffs, but … Aaron Rogers is out in concussion protocol.  Someone will have to answer to why he was playing at all.  

Saturday, 29 December 2018: Celestun

We started our day off with Roger and Chris at Peter’s.  They are delightful and upbeat.  They shared information about workers and places to go.  They especially sang the praises of the Pimsler on-line language program.  Apparently that is one the American military uses.  I’ve got to get back to learning Spanish.  Peter has been open every single day for two weeks straight and it must be taking its toll.  We heard that last week on Thursday, when we were there for Carole’s birthday, they set a record serving 85 breakfasts.  When he started, Peter planned if he served 15 each day, he’d make it with his restaurant.  I’d say he met his goal.  

Jorge stopped by for a beverage also.  Actually, he came by to 

get his dog Congo who likes to visit at our house.  Congo

knows how to get inside our yard but he forgets how to get out.

We putzed around the house and had a rather lazy day before we headed to Jeremy and Allison’s about 4pm.  I had never been inside their home and I wanted to see what they are doing for kitchen cabinets and for closets.  They are building an outside staircase and their house is like a war zone.  The construction is really messy and today, they were also in the middle of a plumbing crisis.  Tim and Janet were there too. I’d never met these two but Justin had.  Tim was helping Jeremy to dig the pit where they will roast a pig for New Years. As would be expected there was a lot more beer drinking that digging going on.  At least that was what was going on until Jeremy drove the shovel into his foot rather than into the sand.  Oh my!  Tim and Janet are quite the drinkers. They live here year round.  They sold everything when they left Tennessee a year and a half ago.  They’d never been to our house so as it got to be time for dinner, they came here for a drink before we all headed to El Palmar for still more beverages … oh and dinner too.  All in all, I was ready to call it a day.