Thursday, 2 April 2020: Brussels

Day six of self-quarantine.  Actually, the day looked a lot like Day five and Day four.  
We got a new router delivered from Century Link.  And, here was another first for me today ... I ordered groceries and picked them up from Marchant's.  The fire department would have delivered but I said I'd pick them up.  I don't think I like this.  Sure, it was convenient, but ...substitutions and all ... To quote the line from The Military Child Coalition , this is "living in the new normal."  

Justin had the first fire of the season

Yesterday I started cleaning up around the boat house.  We have a huge barn door on the water ide of the boat house.  When we leave, we close the door and then Justin screws 5-6" wood screws through the frame for security.  Well, Mother nature decided those screws were just fluff.  The continual wind and pounding waves stripped the screws out so that the entire door was tilted back, rocks were washed inside and then the entire mess froze.  There was still a good bit of ice in the floor of the boathouse so I started moving the stones on the outside.  And then I moved some more and then some more.  I figure this task will take at least four days... once the ice had all melted.

I didn't take any pictures before I started.  This photo was at the beginning of the second day.  And, once I get all the stones out of the way so that the door can fall back into place, I still have that many stones that were washed inside.  

All these stones were washed up beside the boathouse and deposited in front of the passage door on the side.  This too needs to be cleared so the grass can grow.  

 

 Looking up and down the bay from our shoreline there is still lots and lots of ice.  

Bulbs we planted last fall are trying to emerge.

 Today, I switched locations and worked on raking near the driveway. 
Justin says "scratching the grass"  is good.  Hmmm?  We left early last year and all the leaves hadn't fallen so there were plenty of clean-up.  That along with all the debris in the yard from the bay... we will be cleaning up for a long long time. 

Tuesday, 31 March 2020: Brussels

Day four of self-quarantine.

Justin took the shutters off the front windows a couple of days ago so now we can see the the bay.  Ok, we can see the ice in the bay.  We've been going for a walk each day.  I've been cooking and enjoying it.  I am trying to make sure i use the fresh produce first.  Shrimp can stay frozen and grits can stay in the pantry so that dinner will wait.  Instead, we are enjoying pasta with fresh zucchini, an eggplant dish and one of our favorites, berries and yogurt for breakfast.  We've aso got delicious eggs from Tony and Mo.  

I found out that Marchants will deliver or, if you'd prefer, they will pull your order and you can pick it up curb-side.  I'll place my order on Thursday since that is the day they get their delivery.  Last week, they didn't get any toilet paper so we will hope some comes in this go-round. 


Jordan, Kris and the kids stopped by yesterday.  They didn't even get out of their truck but is was a nice visit.  It was a special day since it was Willow's third birthday.   

When we went through the mail, we found Justin's driver's license along with this note.  What a great guy to have taken the time to mail this back to us.  Faith in mankind?  Restored!

Like so many others, Justin and I are watching all sorts of things on Netflix.  We' saved the final season of West Wing; Ozark has a new season out; we are continuing with Vikings and we are about to give up on Blacklist.  Schitt's Creek is an easy "go to" when I want mindless diversion. 

 We've found a few cooking shows that serve to break things up and I am still looking for something light, cheerful and not bloody.  


Oh how I long for the days when I was worried about impeachment and jury duty.  Sure I could clean the house from top to bottom, but that will come in time, right?  For now, I'll enjoy the sunset from inside.  

Thursday, 26 March and Friday, 27 March 2020: Austin to Brussels

We made the quick hour drive from New Braunfels to Austin to Dellene's house.  We needed to pick up mail and our rings.  I still think that it is wise not to wear good jewelry when travelling so we leave our rings at Dellene's house.  If I am gone half the year, I want my bling when I can.  

We stood outside in her front yard and visited for about an hour.  Justin was there for a bit and then took Gemma for a walk so we could have some much needed girl time...such as it was.  She brought out chairs but I stood since I felt like there were roots sprouting out of my butt for sitting in the car seat so long.  

We left Dellene's house about 10:00  morning and we drove... and we drove... and we drove.  I had the first shift so I drove all the way through Texas and well into Oklahoma.. I relished in every single bluebonnet I saw.  I am sure Justin got tired of me exclaiming "Look!  Look!"  

And, boy oh boy, the roads sure are good in Texas...especially compared to Mexico!

What's this with the price of gasoline?  We saw gas as low as $1.44!  Last year in Wisconsin we were paying over $2.60.  Even though I am pumping our our gasoline (gone are the days of full service like in Mexico), but the low price is nice.  

We don't flush TP in Mexico and we don't flush it in Brussels either since we have a holding tank there.  I am totally out of the habit of flushing it even when I can.  

We stopped somewhere in Oklahoma for BBQ.  It wasnt Texas BBQ but it was still 1000 times better than anything we will get in Wisconsin.  And, even though it was take-out, we totally enjoyed our dinner... as we kept driving.  

Justin talked to Erich and Jordan almost every day we were on the road.  Erich is in the middle of his divorce so that pretty much monopolizes the conversation unfortunately.  Equally unfortunate is Jordan's take on the Corona virus.  He says it is not "if" but "when" we will get it.  Most disconcerting.  

My first grocery list for the season

 We got into Green Bay about 10:30 am.  After very quick stops at Costco and Pick n Save we rolled into our driveway in Brussels to begin our 14 day self quarantine.

Getting the house up and going is always a challenge.  I’d made the phone call from the road to get our phone and internet connected.  Thankfully we arrived in the daylight and, thankfully, I could access my keys easily and quickly.  Justin got the water and gas going... or so we thought.  The water works enough to flush but it isn’t quite right in the kitchen.  Jordan turned on our heaters and plugged in the frig a couple of days ago thankfully.  

We’d been in the car for three weeks it seemed but we were home...safe and sound.  3,124 miles door to door.

Wednesday, 25 March 2020: Puebla to New Braunfels

On the road at 4:30am. 55’ in Puebla as we begin Day Three.  

The drive was pretty easy as the roads are good and we've rather got our routine down.  We  stop to stretch and switch drivers pretty often.  And we keep rolling.

We would have arrived at our hotel in Matahuala about 1pm and it seemed silly to stop for the night so we kept driving.  We crossed the border at Puente Columbia just after dark and then headed into to New Braunfels, just north of San Antonio, to meet Craig.  We’d brought a few things for Jeremy and Allison.  Since their plan to purchase the property in Celestún fell through, we brought a few things back for them... party lights, swim fins, mask and snorkel, swim vest for the dog, and a box of receipts.  I’m sure Allison doesn’t really want to know just how much money they lost on the house.   Anyway, her dad met us in the Kohl’s parking lot at 11:30 pm for the handoff.  Yes, we started in Puebla this morning at 4:30 am and we met Craig in New Braunfels at 11:30pm.  It was a long day.  

We were shocked to see the  cavalier attitude toward the Corona virus by the good folks at the border.  They were wearing gloves but no masks.  When we asked then, they said it was a personal choice.  I guess that makes sense...I can’t require that masks be worn unless I provide them.  The kid at the border leaned into the car as he chatted with Justin almost bragging about the ten cases in Laredo.  I wanted to shout, "Dude!  Don't touch my car!  Don't breathe on me!"

Justin and I had decided to do everything we could do to minimize our risk of exposure on our travels.  We had our hand sanitizer, our soap, our alcohol.  We had our protocol for getting in and out of the car after bathroom stops.  We had most of the food we'd need in the car.  We had a strong plan.  Well, enter the emotional aspect of it all.  Somewhere between San Antonio and New Braunfels I had a total meltdown.  As I sat blubbering in the passenger seat, I told Justin he'd just need to give me a moment.  Even though I knew I wouldn't be able to see Dellene and I knew I wouldn't be able to see Uncle Harold and Charlsy... even though I had agreed that it would be best to keep driving... when I saw a  huge Texas flag waving in a spotlight in the dark, I lost it.  This plan meant I would even get to see bluebonnets since we'd be driving through Texas at night.  I fell apart.  Justin said that I hadn't had to hit him over the head all that hard so after we met with Craig we checked into our hotel for the night.  It was just after 1am.  

Day three in the books.  Puebla to New Braunfels— 970 miles. 

Tolls for today was 1339 MXP. 

Celestun to the border —  Totals: 1,547 miles and 2,474 MXP 

Tuesday, 24 March 2020: Villahermosa to Puebla

Banana bread and frittata delicioso for breakfast... in the car.  I still needed coffee.  When we stopped at a local Oxxo, I saw that they had small, pre-bundled bag of sugar, creamer, sleeve and lid.  Gone were the piles where everyone can touch everything.  I was discouraged to learn that I had to take a new cup and that I couldn’t refill my travel mug but I so understand the practice.  

As we progressed on our journey I found well stocked bathrooms.  Toilet paper, soap and paper towels. This was a never before seen plethora  of supplies in Mexico!  I’ve heard there is a TP shortage in the states.  I know where it is! 

Charlsy can’t visit with Uncle Harold.  She so worried that he will think she has abandoned him.  They’ve put a shelter in place guidance in effect in Galveston County. This is good news that they are finally taking things seriously.  Kim is in California with her parents.  She was afraid if she waited she wouldn’t be able to get to them.  Brian is I still in Florida.  He’ll have to go back to Canada but it is too early now since it is still to cold.  What a mess.

One of the ways we are limiting exposure as we are on the road is by eating in.  We had way too much food left in the frig and freezer (plus everything that Robin and Evan left) so we made decisions and plans for road food.  Last night in V

illahermosa we had cold boiled shrimp and watermelon.  Probably better than anything we could have gotten almost anywhere in town.  I knew we’d have a full kitchen here in Puebla so we brought chili for tonight and I’m cooking a turkey breast for tomorrow.  We can have turkey, cheese, olives etc or we can have turkey sandwiches.  Most days I’m all in for a taco or a bowl of pazole from a street vendor, but not so much today.  

Pulled into Hotel Villas Magnolias about 5pm.  This hotel is a known friend for us.  Andres was here to greet us and to tell Justin a cold beer was ready for him.  Maybe he does remember us?  

Day Two in the books. 410 miles; about eight hours drive time; 890 pesos in tolls

Monday, 23 March 2020: Casa Colibri to VIllahermosa

Is this what we are hurrying back for?

Justin was up way too early this morning.  I didn’t get up until about 5:00am.  We still needed to close and lock the storm shutters, strip the bed and start the laundry, clean out the safe, pack chargers, tell Abraham about Max’s medication, pack the cooler... blah, blah, blah.  Justin decided this morning that he had to paint a Colibri on one of the walls on the roof.  With the new paint looking just fabulous, we wanted a Colibri upstairs.  So that also meant cleaning up.  We were finally on our way about 9:30.  I had figured anything before 10am and we were “on time.”  

Driving out of Celestun was rather surreal.  We told them at the checkpoint that we would not be returning until the fall.  Once we pulled out, we knew we would not be able to return since Celestun has shut down its borders too.  The Yucatan as a whole has been very proactive.  This is a good thing... until you are driving out.  I hadn’t realized until today that this means Abraham can’t go home to his home each week.  This is how he gets money to his mom.  Instead, he’ll be spending his day off, Mondays, in Celestun at our house.  

Farther down the road we ran into a couple of “sanitary check points.”  They asked where we were going and where we had started.  They took out temperature at one of the checkpoints.  The guy held the probe to our forehead... very quick and non invasive.  I declined the informational paper he was distributing as I didn’t want to harbor any virus in the car.  

We stopped for one last swim early afternoon.

We’d made a travel plan with soap, disinfectant wipes and antibacterial hand sanitizer.  We’d also made a protocol for after we stopped anywhere.  We’d also agreed that once back in the states, where there was no full-service gasoline, that I’d pump the gas.  We’d read that Gus pumps were one of the most prevalent inflection points.  Since most of those suffering (dying) are men, Justin is more at risk than me.  Ok, sure, I’ll do our gas.  Let’s fry not to need to stop at night or when it is raining.  Let’s try.  

We pulled into our hotel about 6:30 pm.  Allison told us about this hotel, Hotel Baez Carrizal.  We’ve been happy with our hotel in Ciudad del Carmen but we wanted to get a bit farther down the road.  This spot turned out fine despite the fact that google maps did not provide directions that were anywhere near accurate.  We called and the hotel staff forwarded directions through What’s Ap.

I broke with the plan when I went inside looking for a luggage cart.  I didn’t see one but the guy saw me looking so he followed me to the car.  Great!  He touched every bit of our luggage as he placed it on a cart that had been touched how many other people and all their stuff... huge mistake.  

Day One in the books. 356 miles; about eight hours drive time; 245 pesos in tolls

Sunday, 22 March 2020: Casa Colibri

Aholi asked me to make the cake for Bethania’s first birthday.  One day when she was here for massages so ate lunch with us.  I served a banana-chocolate bread as a dessert.  She really liked that and said it would be great for the birthday cake.  I made Bethania's with bananas and blueberries so as to keep the sugar content minimal.  I also tried a frosting made of dates.  It was a bit different in color and texture but it tasted great.  I tried my hand a piping the frosting but that was pretty much a bust.  Cream cheese frosting doesn’t really hold into shape very well and the date frosting had too much texture to pipe.  I had fun trying though; I hadn’t working with a piping bag and tips in at least a hundred years.   I made the banana bread into a two layer cake for adults and then I made a small, three layer cake that Bethania can have for her “smash” cake. Justin and I delivered the cakes but we didn’t visit.  We observed the two meters recommended distances with Aholi and the baby.  Aholi has cancelled the birthday celebration.  She was planning for about 20 people but it will only be Aholi, Tony and the birthday girl.
Aholi sent the pictures after they celebrated.

Today we finished doing what we need to do to get ready to depart.  I shut down the grande cocina; Justin and Jonathan tarped the boat.  Or at least half of it...we needed one more tarp so Jonathan will go to Coolsa and buy another one and then finish the task for us.   The car was pretty much loaded before we fell into bed.  Sure do hope we are doing the right thing.  

Saturday, 21 March 2020: Celestun

Nancy wasn’t able to come to work this week.  She lives in Kinchil and she would not be able to get into Celestun.  I’d had to cancel my mani/pedi and my massage and now our housekeeper.  All the restaurants and hotels in town are closed. Except for going to the beach each day, Justin and I hadn’t left the house in three days but today I needed to buy lunch for our workers so we drove into town.  I typically like a deserted beach and I get that out on my end of the beach almost any time.  But at noon, on a Saturday in March, in the center of town in Celestun, the beach was uncannily empty.  It was kinda                                                                                                              spooky and disconcerting.  

Also disconcerting is the fact that Max’s scrotum is swollen.  I contacted our vet who said it might be a reaction to the sutures.  He’s not been licking or worried about the area.  We’ve been very good about giving him his antibiotics and cleaning the area with antiseptic spray.  Thankfully we were able to get the meds she prescribed at the farmacia in town — prednisone for 5 days and then Meloxicam for 10 days.  Abraham will tend to Max when we are gone. I sure would have preferred that there not be any hiccups.  

Friday, 20 March 2020: Celestún

We’d made arrangements with Isaac’s team to come to our house today to install the granite over the oven in the grande cocina and to cut away some granite in the small kitchen so we can install a bank of drawers.  Oscar and Miguel were stopped at the checkpoint location.  What a surreal experience! Abraham and I had to don mask and gloves and drive to meet them at the checkpoint just outside of town.  We had to pass some of the barriers into in the road and pull in to a center “neutral zone.”  I didn’t even get out of the car but Abraham had to go talk to the guards (I’d heard they were members of the National Guards), tell them who we were, where we live, etc.  They took our license plate information.  Finally Oscar and Miguel, who were also required to wear mask and gloves, were given permission to come to our house for three hours to complete the work.   There was talk of a police escort to make sure they only came to our house but I think that part didn’t materialize.  Even after they left I still had to wait until tomorrow before I could move the microwave.  Now if we can just get Antonio here to start making the drawers.

A couple of days ago Sandra told me that she was vouching for some guest saying that they were family members so they could come to Celestun.  As much as I wanted the granite finished in our kitchen, I know I was breaking the rules.  As much as I respect the Mayor and the good folks in Celestun to try to do the right thing, and as easy as it was for Sandra and me to bend the rules, I know it is not the right thing to do.

Peter come by for one last visit.  Since his restaurant is closed, he has plenty of time to chat.  He and Justin had the last few beers we had in the frig.  Seems you can’t buy beer during this time either...wow!  

Ricardo and Leo have been here each day this week painting.  Jonathan has been here too.  He does a really good job at the patching and prep work that needs to happen prior to painting.  Lolita has been here for about the past two months but since she can only come on Sundays, we  needed some more help.  And our house looks fabulously.  It’s funny. Even though you know how much difference a bucket of paint can make, I am still amazed at the transformation.  Justin and I questioned why we didn’t get this done earlier so we could enjoy it more.  And it will be a bit faded before we get back but still... for today it looks great.  

Thursday, 19 March 2020: Casa Colibri

I checked the Weather Channel about 7pm.  37’ and rainy in Brussels (feels like 31’),  78’ and fair in Austin (feels like 82’) and here in Celestun? 87’ and clear (feels like 91’)

If you are a farmer like Dellene’s new friend, the weather is always on your mind.  For me, not so much.  Justin thinks I have an extremely narrow comfort window.  I think I am really good at putting on a sweat shirt or taking off a layer.  

Justin and I thought we were pretty well insulated here at Casa Colibri.  We even entertained the idea of sheltering in place here.  Yes, we’d get air conditioning installed in a red hot second before we thought about staying here for the entire summer but we really don’t want to be here all summer.  Plus, even though Justin is a permanent resident and can stay indefinitely, I am a tourist and my 180 days are almost up.  

The Japan Olympic committee decided to suspend Olympics. The world wide committee didn’t make the decision, but the good folks in Japan did. Kudos to them.  The Olympic flame will keep burning in wait.

The news headlines are that borders will be closed tomorrow at midnight. I was on the phone this morning with the consulate here in Merida and with Border and Customs Protection in DC and in Laredo.  These good folks tell me that there had been no executive order...that they have no directive and no information.  They also tell me that citizens will not be denied access to their home.  

Tuesday, 17 March 2020: Casa Colibri

St Patrick’s Day.  Parades and Celebrations are cancelled all over.  St Patrick’s Day will look a bit differently for many this year but nothing compared to how different Easter will look.  If there is one time of the year to mess up Christian celebrations, it will be Easter. No Bueno!  Schools all over are also closed, some until August!  Do you know how many kids rely on free and reduced lunches... and breakfasts?  No bueno!

I called Travis County Clerks Office yesterday to learn that we don’t have jury duty.  We are still going home anyway.  I sure hope we are making the right decision.  

Justin and I started, in earnest, packing and winding down.  We packed away all the alcohol.  It seems just too risky to leave it sitting out in the kitchen.  Justin stowed all the sails and various boat parts.  I started covering and tucking away small appliances in both of the kitchens.  When Meche left Celestún, she gave me two crock pots, a fry cooker and a couple of other small kitchen appliances.  She stored her appliances in large plastic bags.  I didn’t think the plastic was such a good idea in this climate so I started storing everything in old pillow cases. That seems to work to protect and to keep items clean.  

Celestun has become the first port town in the Yucatan truly respond proactively to this corona virus crisis.  No tourists... they are being turned away at the bridge.  Yes, this sleepy little fishing village is taking a bold step forward.  Now, the flip side is that typically twenty to twenty-five thousand people come to Celestun for SemanaSanta, Easter, or more specifically, Holy Week.  If restaurants are closed and tourists aren’t coming to town, crime will go up.  It broke my heart to cancel our last massage with Aholi and I cancelled my last mani/pedi with Mayra.  Justin got his last visit in to his favorite pelicaro (barber).  Peter says his restaurant is closed until who knows when.  Tuesday was the last day for Pilates, but that was the plan all along.  

Max isn't too bothered by much of anything.