Merida's Nativity Scene

Steve passed on a Challenge from Laurie in Honduras for the rest of us Latin American bloggers to post our City 's Creche (Nativity Scene).

Since I now have my new camera, I decided to go to the Plaza Grande to track down the Creche, photograph it, and blog it

The first is a shot of the whole display - These figurines are bigger than life size, they are huge; and downright goofy looking. Then the closeups of left, then right. This is Merida's Creche!
And as is traditional, the cradle and baby Jesus won't appear until the 25th.

Meme Challenge

Wayne aka IslaGringo posted a blog meme challenge he found - read his post here http://bnwisla.blogspot.com/2008/12/lazy-post.html

Take your 6th photo folder and the 6th photo found there - post it and describe it.

Well, how ironic that the 6th folder is my Blog Photos folder, and here is the 6th photo;

This photo is from the 2008 MELL (Merida English Language Library) Chili Cookoff.

The MELL hosts an annual chili cookoff and street sale. They get special permission to block their section of Calle 53 for the day, set up tents and rent out space to vendors to sell any and everything. Antiques, plants, cherubs, old clothes, you name it it shows up for sale. This has become an incredibly popular event among not only the Expats but Yucatecos as well.

In addition to the sale the Chili Cook Off takes place.

Aspiring Great Chefs prepare a large batch of their secret recipe chili, and for 100pesos, all of which goes to the Library, you get a small bowl and a spoon and a ticket that entitles you to taste as many chilis as you can or as you want. You then get a ballot and vote for your favorite.

This photo is under the chili tent during set up; once the tasting starts it is packed tight.

It really is a fun event and quite worthwhile. There is also a beer and soda stand where you can buy a beverage, I believe this booth is run by the Library itself so all profits, profit the MELL.

The 2009 Chili cookoff is Sunday, January 25. Mark your calendar and plan your visit!

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Sidebar: The MELL also has a WishList set up with Amazon - You can help us both out by using the Amazon Link here on my page and accessing/ordering stuff for the MELL.

Here is the MELL's WishList info

AMAZON.COM AND MELL- Are we on your Christmas List?

We are often asked what titles we are looking for at MELL. To this end we have created a MELL WISHLIST on Amazon.com that our members can visit. If you go to Amazon.com, access Wish List, and enter the MELL email meridaenglishlibrary at hotmail dot com you can see the complete list. If you wish to buy a title for us, that would be wonderful!! MELL does not buy new if there is a good quality used book for purchase. If you do purchase a title online it is best if you have it shipped to your US or Canadian address and then brought back with you in the future.
Used books are generally much cheaper, but normally you pay shipping to the original seller. AMAZON often provides free shipping to a US address.

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words - Well so much has been going on since I lost my camera - and none of it has been photographed. I wish I had the abilities of Paul aka HammockMan, or Theresa to paint pictures with words, but alas my prose falls flat.



I have been to numerous events worthy of photos since that fateful mid November camera meltdown; Art openings, Flower Shop Open House, dinner parties, flower shows, The Fair at Xmatkuil, Thanksgiving came and went, Gallery Events, Book Signings, the beach, friends have come and gone, a Quartet Concert, Guadalupanaos, Artisan Craft Fairs, amazing street scenes, family of 4 or was it 5 on a motorcycle (yes, all with helmets), alters, creches, novenas, posadas, big fancy ass birthday parties, little intimate birthday parties, the Women's Club Annual Sleigh Ride/Dinner/Dance, other bloggers visiting, funny pet photo opportunities, the chicks are growing and not nearly so cute and adorable as before, my own orchids blooming and dying off, I made peanut butter and would surely have shared that experience (can anything be more monotaneous and boring than shelling, twice (the hulls then the husk) a bag of peanuts, oh by the way Tom has decided that he likes a little salt in his homemade peanut butter, well maybe next time.


Oh man, I need a rest! My new camera arrives late on the 19th, so I'll miss another blogger visit, but maybe Theresa will take a photo. I have a yucatecan friends birthday on Saturday so maybe, just maybe I'll get the camera in time to charge everything up and be ready for that.

Gratuitous photos from Septembers Charro Parade

Well, I did it!

I ordered a new digital camera today. I decided on the Panasonic Lumix DMC FS5, with 30mm wide angle lens, 10.1 megapixel, 4x optical zoom, and 4x digital zoom.

OOOHHHHH AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH

IF, and it's always a big IF, everything goes as planned it will be here on the 19th of December.



It took me so long to finally make a decision that, even though it is a free shipping item, I had to pay extra for expedited shipping to get it to my friends before they start their route to Merida. They are slated to leave their home early on Monday, the 15th. So, of course AFTER having completed the entire process and getting my email verification all the caveats to their shipping policy come out.



I got my order in before 1PM est, which should ensure my order is shipped tomorrow, and with the Blue-Star 2-day UPS it should reach my friend by Friday. WELL, the caveat after the fact notice states it may take them 48 hours to verify all my info. WHAT!!!!! I called immediately upon reading this but even though it is a computerized system, my order won't show in the system for several hours so I have to wait and call in.

It's Ok, I'm Cool, No Stress, *%#@)>

I really should be studying...

Yes, I really should be...But it's been such a while since I posted, and there has been so much going on...My current clase de español ends Thursday with the final exam, so yes, I really should be studying.

I still don't have a camera, although I think I've decided on a Panasonic Lumix (anyone want to offer comments or suggestions, please do). I was able to borrow a friends battery and test my camera to eliminate the battery as the issue. I GOOGLED my camera and found several with similar issues. The suggestions were to bang the camera on a hard surface, and to restrict the lens as it tried to move when powering the camera on. Seriously, those were the suggestions. I do have a lead on a repair shop here so will be pursuing that as well.

I've been sick, I have some sort of cold, URI, seriously sore throat, blah, blah, blah. I'm getting better, now it's all the aftermath; snort, choke, cough, hack... you get the picture.

We have a friend from Denver in town, he'll be here several months, but only spent a few nights with us, he is now settled into his own little place and out exploring on his own.

There have been a whirlwind of social engagements; one of which was an evening with Jonna and Mimi, Theresa and husband, Wayne, Billie and Ned. Billie and Ned, came over from San Miguel de Allende, Wayne came in from Isla Mujeres, and well the rest of us are Meridanos. It was a lovely evening, Restaurant Reforma, one of Tom's and my favorite is consistently good food. Tom and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening conversing with Mimi, Theresa and husband; Billie, Ned, Wayne, and Jonna being at the other end of the table. We probably should have done a switch around at some point but the evening just went to quickly.

There have been parties, gatherings, concerts, art openings, craft sales, a yard sale, and a myriad other activities. All too tempting to ignore even when under the weather.

The chicks are getting big, not sure just yet what we're going to do with them. Now that we have a puppy I'm not sure I can just let them loose in the back yard which was my original thought.
The cold spell seems to be breaking, we were waking to 68ºf, which I have to tell you that is pretty damn chilly when your blood has thinned. The pool is consistently at 69ºf which is WAY TO COLD for me, although Tom still gets in 6 out of 7 days. We're exploring solar heating for the pool.

Well, enough for now, I really should be studying...