Tetanus and Immigration

So back in November while enjoying the Fair at Xmatkuil with friends Lida y Diana we came across a City Government (Ayunamiento)expo, among other things, they were offering, free of charge, vaccinations for Tetanus. We took advantage of this offer. After we received our vaccination we found out that we needed a second injection, in two months.

Well today was the day. We made plans to go with Lida y Diana to IMSS which is a local medical facility for our second Tetanus injection, then to reward ourselves for good preventative health care we would go for sushi.


Also, back on January 7 we took in all our paperwork to renew our FM3's which are the documents that allow us to live in Mexico. We had all our paperwork in order and it was all accepted and we were told to return in 5 business days. We returned in about 7 business days; unfortunately the official that needed to sign all the documents was away in Mexico City We were at lkeast given the paperwork to be able to go to the bank and make our payments. Here, a nnumber of businesses don't accept direct payment for services; You take a paper with the account info to the bank, make the payment, then return with your receipt. Done deal. Well once we recived our account info we went to the bank and were told to return the next Monday, which was this past Monday. So we decided to return today. We signed in, got our number, waited about 7 minutes, got our FM3's, checked em over and were out in less than 30 minutes. Now we're legal for another year. We have always had tremendous good luck with our Immigration experiences. We hear stories from people about how horrible it is, the wait, they can't speak english, unorganized... Well I think it has a lot to do with attitude and outlook. We don't wait till the last minute, or go in with a hurry up and get it done attitude, and I have enough Spanish for them to at least realize I am making an effort, AND we don't get an attitude when things don't go our way. We save all that for after we get home then we drink ourselves stupid, and have a big cry! Just kidding, I'm checking to see if you are really reading this stuff!

Carnaval is coming

Carnaval is coming, it starts Wednesday night, January 30 with a 'Burning the Bad Moods' celebration and then continues until February 6.
To read all about it here are two links - Yucatan Today, and/or the local Government webpage.

Things are underway, the City is sprucing up; tree trunks are being painted white, businesses along the parade route are putting up protective fences, plants along the seating area are being removed or cut to ground level, decorations are being put up.
This years theme is 'The Wonders of the World', to help promote and celebrate Chichen Itza as one of the newly designated Wonders of the World'.


Also, Each year before Carnaval all the Paseo de Montejo art work is removed, and then a new dispaly is installed after Carnaval is over. There are normally about 20 pieces. The art work are all larger pieces, some kinetic some not, some clearly recognizable, some thought provoking. It makes evening strolls along Montejo incredibly interesting.

Carnaval time is love/hate with the residents. It's fun, glitzy, prideful, crowded, loud, destructive, scary, exciting...

This year we will be missing it - we are going on a 6-day, 8-arqaeological sites whirlwind tour... more on that later.

I've been stressing over my next blog entry - what should I write ---
We've just been so busy with everyday stuff that we haven't been on a big adventure.

For our friends and family back in the US who keeping waiting/expecting us to return - well it's not gonna happen, at least not for quite a while. We are so happy here.

Our days are quite full, we are enjoyong the exploration of this region, and the people.
We entertain quite a bit,that means we have people over for

meals; we eat, laugh, drink,laugh some more...We also go to others homes with pretty much the same routine, always a good time.

Tom goes on Sundays to Faye and Victor's for football, sometimes I go, but boy sometimes it's just nice to be home alone. Tom also has Monday Night football and cigars at Mercer Cigars Tom does stuff with the Men's Club, and has his occasional boys day with George which means Home Depot and hamburgers, at least that's their story and they are sticking to it! I do activities with the Women's Club. Get together with girlfriends, There are the Garden Club meetings, and the work in my garden, which is an ongoing project. Luckily I have Tiburcio to do the heavy digging and cleaning.
A friend, Joanna, wrote a book "Tomando Agua de Pozo" see an article here and here - She invited me to be a contributor in her book. What an honor; anyway so I've been busy lately with stuff with her since the book was just released. We had meetings to review our works after the editors had finished, to see the art work, to view the draft book, the book launch party, and finally a post party for all the contributors. It's been tremendous and I am so proud and happy for Joanna. She did a marvelous job, and I love the book. ps I can send copies back in mid February if any of you are interested, 200pesos = less than 20bucks

There are a number of evening local events we like to attend, there are art gallery openings frequently, symphony, ballet, musical events, dancing - We are renewing our FM3's, paying our taxes, we have to go for our 2nd of two shots for Tetanus, and need to get to the clinic to start our hepatitis A&B shots. I've been doing some computer/techie stuff for groups and friends; newsletters, brochures, blog set up, etc. We are trying to get to the lumber store to order the wood for the pergola, we're getting ready for a 6-day, 8-archaeological site trip through parts of Campeche and Quintana Roo. We are also planning for an upcoming visit by friends which means we take horrible advantage of their generosity and order all sorts of stuff to be sent to them for transport to us here. So keep this in mind when you decide to come visit, You'll be packing for 4.
It's a full experience here, so much to see and do, so much color and varity, so much to learn...

Rights, Freedoms, and Privileges

I was thinking about Rights, Freedoms, and Privileges today. Actually I've been thinking about them for a few days; Ever since I did the blog on the Cementerio.
I had a few comments/observations about the Cementario that I had intended to make but that were a bit unflattering to the local Aynamiento (City Government). I elected to remove those comments.

I am a guest in Mexico. I am here and can remain here at the Governments choosing. As long as I bring in enough money to support myself, spend it liberally, don't break any laws, don't offend anyone in a power position, and don't get involved in or make any comments that could be construed as defamatory or against the Mexican or local Government I am welcome to be here. Should I do anything that can/could be misconstrued, I could be asked and / or escorted out of the Country with just what I have on my person.

I, We, US Citizens take so much for granted. It really is something to be able to say whatever you want, no matter how controversial, and know you are free to do so; no reprisals, well except family and friends, ok maybe some reprisals, but really you wouldn't be escorted out of the Country, you might get the s##t beat out of you...
But really it is a privilege to be a citizen of the USA, even if I don't agree with, condone certain things that happen there.
Thank to all those foreigners that decided to make that great expanse theirs.

Cementerio General

OK, so I keep saying I'm going to start walking in the morning; sometimes I do take a short walk around the hood, but it's typically only 20-30 minutes. My plan has been for a while to walk down to the Cementerio General on Calle 81, do a turn around the cemetery and return. Well today was the day; I awoke about 5:30 and tossed a bit trying to get back to sleep but just couldn't, so seemed like the perfect day to start. I grabbed the pile of dirty clothes that were in a pile on the floor and dressed in the living room; Tom likes to sleep in.

So off I went - the bike is the paper delivery guy, he was also having a bit of a visit.

This second picture is the entrance to the cemetery on calle 81.

The central north/south street in the cemetery is an actual numbered city street and is really quite busy.

The cemetery is immense, I took only a few generic shots..

Tom and I were talking the other day as we were passing through a village whose

cemetery we had visited a while back at which we were both quite shocked to see

bones and skulls. You would never experience that type of thing in the US and we were initially

quite shocked by it, but I'm not really sure why. After all they are just bones; anyway what is quite typical here is they inter the body of the newly dead within 24 hours of death. There is no embalming here. Then after a time; enough for the goopy parts to decompose the bones areretreived and set into a small cement box and set with the family crypt or mausoleum. If no mausoleum or crypt, the the box is set in a cubbyhole type structure along with other family members.

I did come

across the

grave of

Felippe

Carillo

Puerto,

And across the street was a marker for Alma Reed.

If you'd like to know more about either of these people then do an internet search, their stories and activities/ties to the Yucatan are quite fascinating. Or click here

I kept thinking this could become a regular walk for me but after doing it this one time I don't think so - the exhaust was debilitating. Unfortunately most of the route is along a busy bus route and it seems the buses in this area are in horrible repair and spew such incredibly toxic filth into the air that by the time I got home I was a bit wheezy. I'll have to continue to search for a good route within myt neighborhood.

When we lived in Colorado Springs we had a terrible problem with squirrels, there were just so many. We used to catch them then transport them for release to local cemeteries; we had three with a few miles. I think that must be what is happening here in the Cementerio General. There were so many dogs, and in such horrible condition. Really Sad, I couldn't even take a picture of them.

Our visit to sac nicté

Friend Elizabeth has a little Maya Compound in a small village about 75minutes outside of Merida. In addition to it being her personal retreat, she has been known to rent it out to others. It is 3 maya-style houses; one is a private sleeping house that handles 2 hammacks, there is a bathroom palapa that is quite spacious with a large shower, toilet, sink AND hot running water, the third is the casa principal which includes kitchen/dining, and supports 2 hammocks.

There is a lovely lap pool full of clear well water, a real working windmill, comfy hammock-chairs for lounging, and beautiful planted grounds teaming with birds and butterflys during the day.

We, along with another couple recently spent the day tromping around admiring the preponderance of vegetation, visiting, bird watching, swimming, lounging in the sun under beautiful cloud sprinkled blue skies, eating, drinking, laughing, and visiting.

It was a wonderful day – This is a link to all the photos we took that day - photos at sac nicté

There are cenotes in the area, haciendas-both abandoned and in restoration, biking, and who knows what else you may find of interest to do. If you’d like to spend a little time and experience a local village I’m sure Elizabeth would be happy to help.
see Elizabeth's sac nicté blog here

Our visit to the Asseradero

We designed a Pergola for the garden; 4 cement columns, cement platform base 9x9 feet, with wooden beams for a roof to allow dappled sun, and from which to hang windchimes and support flowering vines.

We contracted with an albanil (mason), Manuel. The platform and columns are done and look pretty good. In fact we are all currently enjoying our morning time out in the ‘unfinished’ Pergola.

The ‘unfinished’ part is the wood for the open roof; we want a hardwood, puc te is the most common hardwood for exterior use. We need 2 main beams, and 20 small cross members. But we need them all to be 3.5meters long, and that is not so easy to find.

We’ve been to 4 madereria’s (wood stores) so far. The second one was able to supply the two main beams we needed for 418 pesos each, and the cross beams at 148pesos each. That’s about 360 bucks. We thought it seemed high so continued to look.

We finally heard about a sawmill (asseradero) down in the far south part of Merida. Off we went….Well we found the sawmill with no real problems and it’s a really cool place; huge felled puc te trees lying around, wood bits n pieces, furniture being built, broken furniture, huge machinery, both running and not, dogs and cats.
After being greeted by a worker the owner who came out with a huge smiling face saying loudly, mandeme (talk to me). He invited us to sit, which we did, and after a bit of a chat about what we wanted he quoted us a price of 800pesos each for the 2 larger beams. When I expressed a bit of shock over the price, he exclaims it’s barato while stroking his elbow (this stroking of the elbow indicates something or someone is cheap), less than we’d spend for dinner. I don’t know where this guy eats but we rarely spend 160 dollars on dinner.

Our Pergola remains unfinished, we continue to enjoy it, and we ponder our options for the needed/desired roof.

Click here to see the rest of our pictures at Asseradero Alvarado

It's COLD!!!!!!

I can't believe how cold it is; frente frio diezyocho (cold front #18) went through 3 days ago and it's been in the 60's since. Actually according the the Diario it got down to 58ºf/14ºc and since we are close to the airport where the 'official' temperature reading is taken I'm gonna say we were at 58ºf/14ºc also.

As some of you know we, actually I, decided we didn't need windows/glass in the windows and doors to the back of the house. And it's true we don't, but this cold wind is ripping through here. We created a house with GREAT airflow! You just can't stop some of it. Tom has been reciting the "I told you so's". blah, blah, blah...

We've been wearing long pants and multiple layers, Tom even has shoes AND socks on. I'm toughing it out and am still in sandals. But 3 layers of shirts. Had to get Matt his heating pad out, it's on high.

Today we had sun for the first rime in days and Tate and I spent quite a bit of time out in the sun trying to get warm.

Today we also went again in search of the wood for the techo (roof) of the pergola, but that's for another blog since I took pictures.

I hate the cold!