OUR FIRST MEXICAN SUMMER

 OUR FIRST MEXICAN SUMMER:

Retired so no more excuses... It is Time to Quilt..... 

 I am bound and determined to finish several quilting projects I brought with me.   My friends Syd and Debra are master quilters and after visiting with them and their husbands (Carl, whose paintings grace our walls and Frank who operates the top notch Flamingo motel in Castlegar) during our trip to BC,  I am excited about unpacking my quilting projects.  My palapa is the Mexican version of the gazebo Debra and the gals in Castlegar often sew in. 

Now that I have publicly declared my intent I expect you all to hold me too it!!!!.  Progress reports will be forthcoming...but of course, not while the weather is beautiful and the pool beckons.  

In the meantime,  you may have heard that Michael Phelps has decided to retire after these Olympics.. We suspect it has to do with Gord having learned to swim this summer.   Here he is in the deep end just about to start his butterfly stroke!

Papadzoles:

While los niños nadan ( the children swim) with their padre/abuelo
(dad/grandpa) Paulino looking on, Minerva taught me to make Papadzoles... 

Can you see the pelota?? ( ball)

MMM so good and on the list of foods to serve our friends and family when you come to visit.  


Common Sites on the Beach

Sunset watching... Lots of cameras every night!!!

Fishing with a line on a reel; baited with a hook and bait ....NO FISHING ROD because, as our neighbour tells us, you must experience feeling the tug of the fish.  Even when fishing from the boats, they seldom use fishing rods.

Vendors selling sweets, sandwiches and cotton candy walk up and down the beach... calling out   Merangue!!!!  The candy man has a triangle to signal his approach. 

Sharing our wonderful Pool. 

 Harold, the boy we sponsor to go to school, with his brother, Fabrizio,  and sister, Hanitzia.

First time playing Scrabble. The children made the words, abuela ( grandmother) helped, and I learned more Spanish!

Our contractor and his family have become good friends... This is the same family who introduced us to the beisbol games we enjoy... so now we can return the favour by inviting the children and their parents for a day in the pool...

All of the children we have come to know are happy, easy going and very pleasant to spend time with.  They are polite and have mucho paciencia ( much patience) with us as they speak only Spanish, speaking slowly and using hand signals to convey their message.  Then when we respond they help us with the pronunciación.

             
 Barco Pirata y el capitán Jack Sparrow

 A 3 hr. sunset cruise out to the ocean....for sure on the list of things to do with friends and family.   We made the ships facebook page!. ( click on the address below)
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.318978751531433.66447.100002579328070&type=3 

Chuburna Fiesta : Vaqueria ( pronounced -Backayrea) is a celebration of a time in the past when landowners would organize fiestas to thank their hired hands after the branding of the cattle. The dances, and music are called jaranas. This music is a marvelous combination of Spanish folklore with Mayan music. The music was played by a local band with the clarinet and saxophone as prominent instruments.

Grandè Margaritas....a necessity while sitting along the street waiting for the dancing to begin!

 In the state of Yucatán the "terno" is the name of the female's three-piece vestment. It consists of three embroidered satin pieces: a tunic called "hipil" in Mayan; the embroidered collar called "jubçn"; and the skirt, called "fustán". 

 The local mestiza women wear a rebozo ( thin shawl), use a coral rosary as a necklace and a giant bow on their heads called "cinta colorada".

 The men wear the Caribbean guayabera, a name given to this shirt because of its four pockets big enough to fit several guava fruit in each.

Believe it or not this fiesta started at 11:30 p.m.... dancers came from many of  the pueblos and as you can see, even the children are involved.
Late evening fiestas in the fishing villages are not uncommon and given the fact that, in the past, they would start after the farm work was done, it is easily understood.

An Evening Swim Before Bed.

Buenos Noches amigas....  

Dorothy and Gord 

Cool Rainy BC

HI..  My Blog is usually about the nuances of our Mexican Life but in this one you catch a glimpse of our trip back to Canada.


Reality: we have 2 dogs SO;
a)  Gord planned to go back to BC in June to take care of business with his building in Nelson and to visit with our son in Calgary and our friends in that part of the country. 
b) I was going to travel to Manitoba in September to visit with my parents, family, children and friends.


THEN: we were able to find care for both dogs for three weeks so :


IN JUNE we both traveled back to Canada which included playing in the snow............ (of course) 


IN JULY I am finally sitting down to resume BLOGGING..  where does the time go???


Here is a quick look at our trip, soon to be followed by continued living in Mexico.    


 The Rocky Mountains on our drive from Calgary to Castlegar

ONE OF MANY SKI RESORTS ...remember this is the middle of June!!!!!!

PERFECT SETTING FOR A BOAT RIDE...BRING YOUR FISHING POLE

APPROACHING THE KOOTENAY PASS; 6OOO feet above sea level 

A JUNE SNOWFALL ... WE WOULD HAVE NEEDED SNOW TIRES THE WEEK BEFORE!

                                                                                          

STOPPED TO PLAY IN THE SNOW 

 After the 6 hour drive from Calgary, we arrive at our previous home, Castlegar BC, nestled in the Selkirk Mountain Range. 

MANY SCENIC TRAILS TO RIDE ...  our former neighbour/friend, Jocelyn and her horse Tally and the rainbow during a meal with other friends, Steve, Mark, Kate and Eric. A view we used to have from our home in the mountains. 

We had a great visit with friends Phyllis and John;  and it was special to have lunch with the folks I used to work and garden club with. 

           JOIN friends Lisa and daughter Scotti ON THE ANNUAL SCULPTURE WALK ..

 Swinging in the tree & 
walking over the bridge with Gord at the Art Farm. (art & community garden)

LOOSE PARTS!.  can you find the saw blade? where are the scissors? Oh look, there are some forks.  I see a gear and a bicycle chain.  

Two on the bench....and Scotti make three! 

We returned to Calgary June 25th to stay with friends, Bob and Carol. After a tour of where son David works and an opportunity to stay with both he and Julie in their new home I headed to Winnipeg and Gord returned to Mexico. Those10 days in Manitoba went so quickly.  I was able to see where my daughter works, catch up with both my kids and squeeze in a lunch with 3 very dear childhood friends as well as July 1st festivities with family.  We will see everyone else sometime next year; unless you plan a trip to see us first!!

Oh it was so good to visit but also so good to be home in Mexico!!! Neither Gord or I felt any moments of regret for the decision we have made but also during our visit were reminded of the adventure we had moving the British Columbia and of our children, family and  many friends we continue to have across the country.  Here is a photo of the free, private accommodation awaiting you all when you come to visit us!.

( ignore the ladder in the palapa..that is only for me to spray for the wood eating insects.... you will not be required to do this during your stay; in fact, I was doing it to ensure there would still be a palapa when you arrive...lol )

Hasta Luego ( until then) 

Dorothy and Gord 

Daily Living: Doctors, Dogs and Celebrations

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES...COME ON....IT'S A CELEBRATION

Gord has passed the 5 year mark being cancer-free!!!.  He is now back in the general population with regards to his health.  Here's to you honey! 

TIME FOR MY ANNUAL CHECK-UP: What is the health care like in the Yucatan????

What??? I don't need a referral to see a specialist???  I can choose one and phone them myself?

Yes it's true... I made an appointment to see a gastronologist at Star Medica, a hospital in Merida.  Doctora Icaza, who speaks English, saw me the next day for 45 minutes and charged me 550 pesos which is about $40.00 

I went downstairs to the clinic to book an ultrasound and blood work for the next morning with the results in my hands at 5:00 that day.  Cost totaled $3295 pesos ( $240.00)

Note: the doctor does not receive my results... In Mexico the patient is responsible for picking them up, taking them to the doctor for a joint review and then keeping them at "su casa". ( their home) Here I am with photos of my endoscopy and ultrasound............................................ oh that's what my pancreas looks like!!!  and yes, that is a full bladder"       

Back to the Doctora 2 days later with my results which she thoroughly reviewed with me for about 35 minutes with a plan to follow-up with an endoscopia.(  esophagus, stomach and duodenum She apologized that she could not do it the next day, having been away at a conference, so we scheduled it for 2 days later.  Her bill for this visit was $425 pesos ($31.00).  

I returned to the hospital and was escorted with Gord to the room where the doctor joined us several minutes after. Her assistant made sure I was very comfortable as she got me ready for the anesthetic. Dr. Icaza  put me to sleep with Gord at my side.  She explained to him what he was seeing on the monitor as she performed the scope.  When I woke up she brought us a hard copy and disk with pictures of what she had scoped, telling me all was fine!.. Always good news. This procedure was $1,150 pesos  for the doctor and $2445 pesos for the hospital (total of $262.00).   

                                                                

 EFFICIENT,  FRIENDLY, CLEAN, AND MAS RAPIDO ( VERY FAST)...

2 DOCTOR VISITS, BLOOD WORK, ULTRASOUND AND ENDOSCOPY ALL WITHIN 2 WEEKS AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FASTER IF SHE HADN'T GONE TO THAT DARN CONFERENCE...LOL.

WE NOW HAVE 2 DOGS... I mentioned "Ita"in previous blogs and  realized she was never properly introduced. She was being fostered here at the beach by some friends and as they said " she is the bookend to our Zeus" As a pup she was abandoned in the doorway of a tienda ( store) in Merida and had mange which often means death. The store owner took her to the local shelter where she spend 3 months with the shelter's veterinarian and then in the carport of one of the shelter's workers.   She came for a "playdate" and got along well with Zeus who moped around after she had left so now she has come to live with us full time. 

MEXICO IS A COUNTRY OF MANY CELEBRATIONS..  

DIA DE TRABAJO  ( Day of the Worker or as we know it Labour Day. 

Crosses like this are erected by the los trabajadores (workers) wherever construction is happening.  They try to outdo each other using local materials, plants and flowers.  In Progreso there was a procession with banners, music and of course the requisite fire works...  

DIA DE MARINER : specific to the fishing villages of Chelem and Chuburna to remember fishermen who have died and to pray for the safety of others. 

Our friends Paulino and Minerva invited us to attend this special day with them at the Chuburna Port ( Puerto). Paulino is a fisherman and they both want to learn English so we see them weekly to speak English and Spanish...while son, Cristian nadaren ( swims) 

The day began with an Open Air Mass, ( in Canada when the priest blesses with holy water he uses a gold aspergillum ( tool); in Chuburna he uses a handful of local foliage dipped in a pail of holy water) 

We attended the service from under these trees 

 Crowning of the Mariner Queen

The captain of the Port crowns a young woman and gives her flowers...note the stature of the Virgin to the left. 

The statue of the Virgin and flowers are on this boat which led 30 Lanchas (boats) out of the puerto to the ocean where flowers are thrown overboard for those who have died at sea.  

Our skipper and his family

Note:  no life jackets... and later during the fiesta we saw young men carrying boxes of beer onto the boats right in front of the Policia ( police).  Life on and by the sea is very relaxed in these villages.  

We sampled more of the local food and I learned how to dance a customary Mayan dance in anticipation of the upcoming Chuburna Pueblo Fiesta in August. 

Abrazos de la playa  (hugs from the beach)

Dorothy and Gord