Nativity Scenes

Nativity Scenes are a plenty in Mexico at this time of year, in hotel lobbies, in the town centres, in windows, in homes, in front of homes, in shopping centres... The displays come in all sizes. The question I have is how did the wise men travel to the Bethlehem? All the nativity scenes in Mexico that I have seen have the wise men arriving on an elephant, a horse and a camel! I wish everyone a Merry Christmas of comfort and joy!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town - or is he?

If Santa Claus is coming to town, I´m not sure how is getting here or what he will wear! No snow here and only beautiful, breezy, sunny days you can only dream about! Here are some pictures of Santa in Merida and Playa del Carmen. Later today or tomorrow, I will try to post some wonderful Navitity displays. I hope you are experiencing the wonderful feelings associated with Christmas where ever you are!

Peace and Tranquility - A1) Hotel Maria Jose, Merida

On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, Alfredo and I travelled to Merida (a three hour drive), to renew Alfredo´s federal tourist driver´s licence. On Wednesday night, we stayed at a 48 room hotel en el centro (the downtown area) of Merid, Hotel Maria Jose. While there is lots to tell about the trip, we could not get over our hotel, so clean, yet so peaceful and tranquil in the hustle and busyness of Merida. We felt we had struck it rich. The members of the ¨Ballet de San Petersburg Russia¨were staying at the hotel , but we felt like we were the only guests. The ballet was performing when we arrived at the theatre and I only saw them depart on Thursday morning at breakfast. Upon our arrival, we were ready to book a room. It is traditional in Mexico that you always look at several rooms, before choosing the one you want. Well, when we decided, the manager said we could have the master suite for the same price. We paid 600 pesos ($55.00 CDN) for the night. We had a separate room, with chairs and a sofa. But, for me, the highlight was the outdoor patio, with sliding doors. The patio opened up to the heavens above! The front desk turned the swimming pool lights on just for us as we wanted a late night swim! As always, for me, the Mexicans can create such beauty and quietness in a country and city that is so noisy. Merida is a very large, old city full of hustle and bustle. Yet, we found this gem. I have about 20 pictures to share with you, ranging from the quiet settings this hotel created, to the entrance to our room, the hallways, parking lot and exterior shot of the hotel. I hope the pictures tell it all. There were others things I could share about our short trip, but we were struck with the hotels´peacefulness. Oh yes, the hotel allowed us to stay in the room until 2PM the following day, as Alfredo needed to go to the government office in the morning.

A2) Hotel Maria Jose, Merida

B) Hotel Maria Jose, Merida

C) Hotel Maria Jose - Merida

Raising the Barn...Well the Palapa!

On Thursday night at 5PM, the tearing down and reconstruction of a small palapa over the entrance to Las Borjas began. Las Borjas is a small apartment building across the street and one lot over to the right. By 8 AM, Friday morning it was finished. How cute is that! Hope blogspot will upload these photos in the correct order.

Back in the Saddle Again!

Well, not exactly back in the saddle BUT back in Mexico again! I arrived just a week ago, November 26th. We have done so much already. Alfredo and I went to the annual Jazz Festival two night on the beach, took a trip to Cozumel and Cancun, and went to see the movie, Amelia. Wow, Amelia Earhart was so strong and passionate. Even though her life ended tragically, she was doing what she loved. Today, there was a Eco Think Green Fair on the main avenue in Playa del Carmen. Organic sunscreen was selling for 200 pesos for 50 ml (about $18.00 Canadian dollars)! I was tempted to buy some organic mango chutney but actually made some myself a couple of days ago. There are so many things to do. When we went to the Island of Cozumel they were hosting the Ironman Marathon, so lot of cyclists on the highway. Once off the passenger ferry in Cozumel, we rented a jeep and headed off to the eastern coast of the island - away from it all. We stopped at a few places but especially enjoyed Chen-Rio and Playa Bonita. Here are a few pictures of Cozumel. Enjoy! And no, I did not stand up and ride as Alfredo drove the jeep, only for the photo op! The posed stance in the jeep, can not match the posed stance in Alfredo´s August mariachi post. Ha, ha!

Water, OneDrop.org

Water: Cenotes to Tinacos
Did you have the opportunity to watch the webcast, Poetic Social Mission, Moving Stars and Earth for Water, a global even on water related issues in October? One Drop Foundation’s founder is Guy Laliberte, also founder of Cirque Du Soleil. The non-profit organization helps fight poverty worldwide by ensuring that everyone has access to water now and in the future. The one night webcast featured people performing, from around the world, to help heighten global awareness of our water crisis. U2, Shakira, Jose Stone, Salma Hayek and Cirque du Soleil preformed as well as many others from around the global. Each presented preformed in their own country. You can still watch the night at http://www.onedrop.org/en/default.aspx

My palapa photo in this post features the entrance to the most beautiful cenote I have ever been to in my 6 years in Mexico. It is a recently found (3 months ago) cenote near Coba. It has been named Mutal Piramide Ha Agua (underwater pyramid). Cenotes are natural, clear, freshwater underground ‘pools’, which can be found in the Yucatan and along the Riviera Maya. They are great places to swim, snorkel or scuba dive. They were formed millions of years ago. Cenotes are part of a cave ceiling, which collapsed leaving natural entrances to the underground river system. In this area, there are only a few above ground lakes and rivers. All the cenotes are connected by underground rivers, explored by scuba divers. Swimming in an underground cenote is a most mystical, magical experience. It is most refreshing.


A tinaco is a plastic water storage tank located on the roof tops of many houses and buildings in Mexico. In this photo, taken from the apartment balcony, you can see four tinacos. The tinaco is connected to the plumbing system of the house. Most are lines with an anti-fungal material. These would be electrical (as is the one on the apartment) and have a sensor attached. When the water level is low, the tinaco has water pumped into it. The water is pumped up to the tinaco from your cistern or city water supply. A standard tinaco holds 1120 litres of water. I hope you will do a search on cenotes and tinacos!

Smile on My Face

As some of you know, I am back in Canada for awhile. Tonight, I spent some time in Party Packagers with a friend. I can't say why or it will ruin a surprise for a certain someone! I could not believe the people and families (with all kids in tow, large, big strollers for babies blocking the aisles) with carts filled with Halloween "stuff". Not that Mexico does not have "stuff", that is for sure, but I came home and opened my pictures of Mexico to bring me back to a place of serenity. I thought you might like them. I smiled to myself, imagining these citizens of Mexico in Party Packagers! My palapas, in this post, were taken in Coba. The one on the ground, is a new restaurant that opened next to the entrance to the ruins and the other is the top of a new zipline that is being constructed, over the lagoon. Watch out for the crocodiles! The others were taken from our day trip to Valladolid.

Valladolid, Yucatan

Could not resist taking this picture of this man walking down the street. I bet he has a whole history of life stories to share!
My grandfather would have enjoyed talking and exchanging stories with this shoe cobbler!









This is San Bernardino Convent. It is the oldest church in the Yucatan, built in 1552. There are cannons hidden in the church, used during the revolution.







This Calle 41 in Valladolid. The city planners renovated this colonial street which leads to San Bernardino Convent. I will post more pictures of this street!

Visit to Valladolid, Yucatan

Although I have returned to Canada, I want to continue to post on Under a Mexican Palapa! Two days before my return to Canada, Alfredo and I took another one of our many trips to Valladolid, Yucatan to buy my tri gold jewellry. Unfortunately, the prices had risen so much, it was the first time in 6 years, I did not purchase any earrings or bracelets. Valladolid is an old colonial city and is an hour and half car ride, inland, from Playa del Carmen. It is an ancient Mayan settlements. Many historical events began in Valladolid. Chichen Itza is a half hour from Valladolid. How could I not buy some of this lady's sewing!