Yesterday we started the day at Genesis Resort, an eco0tourism resort literally out in the middle of nowhere by the ruins of Ek Balam. A lovely spot, and a great example of everything one can do with a small but not insignificant piece of property. After a healthy breakfast, we headed out to explore the ruins of Ek Balam, truly a lovely site, and we climbed to the top to enjoy the miraculous views, Tanya in more practical shoes, this time... Then on the road to the coast, our destination and current resting place. We had run out of cash, I needed gas, and thankfully Ralph had 250 pesos in his pocket, so we gased up, ignored grumbling bellies and hit the road. If there was money in selling rocks and brush, Ralph thinks there would be a ton of money to be made in the Yucatan. One long winding road looks like the next here, both sides high with brush and trees, only the occasional speeding car keeps the growth from overtaking the road. Our first glimps of the coast was in Dzilam del Bravo, a small fishing village, and from there the road through lagoons and salt flats was accompanied by the occasional town where one could see the results from a hurricane long past. Rebuilding takes time, and money, and desire.
And now we sit in the lap of luxury, taking a day and a half to chill and lounge by the pool and read books and swim in the remarkably warm and boyant Gulf. We meet our friends planes beginning tomorrow. More adventures to come!
I should mention the wind. At precisely 5 to one in the afternoon, someone opened the door and let the wind in! What a change... from a still, hot morning to a hold onto your drink afternoon. This will take some getting used to!
Friday, May 4, 2007
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Que Bueno
Hola!
Ralph and I are sitting in Valladolid, having just visited the local cenote and wanted to check in with everyone. We are having a truly lovely time, I think balancing adventure with rest. This morning asçt Hacienda Chalante we went horseback riding before breakfast, then sat on the patio and Ralph had what he terms his ¨Morning Cigar¨while I flipped through a cookbook I brought fantasizing about cooking at the beach house next week.
We continue to comment about the heat. It is sometimes lovely, sometimes oppressive, sometimes just there. The brain eventually moves beyond, but by 3ish I am ready for a dip in a pool, any pool, please tell me where I can find a pool! Merida I miss already, its bustling streets, crazy traffic (who knew the buses could go that fast) and our oasis of a hotel there, where we would stumble back in during the late afternoon for Ralph´s ¨Afternoon Cigar¨and my nap and dip in the pool before heading out to dinner.
We climbed our first Mayan pyramid yesterday in Ixmal, and I had practical mexican shoes on (read: heals). Ralph laughed, shook his head and mentioned something about never knowing when you need to salsa. I made it up and back without incident, though! Hurray for me!
Ralph and I are sitting in Valladolid, having just visited the local cenote and wanted to check in with everyone. We are having a truly lovely time, I think balancing adventure with rest. This morning asçt Hacienda Chalante we went horseback riding before breakfast, then sat on the patio and Ralph had what he terms his ¨Morning Cigar¨while I flipped through a cookbook I brought fantasizing about cooking at the beach house next week.
We continue to comment about the heat. It is sometimes lovely, sometimes oppressive, sometimes just there. The brain eventually moves beyond, but by 3ish I am ready for a dip in a pool, any pool, please tell me where I can find a pool! Merida I miss already, its bustling streets, crazy traffic (who knew the buses could go that fast) and our oasis of a hotel there, where we would stumble back in during the late afternoon for Ralph´s ¨Afternoon Cigar¨and my nap and dip in the pool before heading out to dinner.
We climbed our first Mayan pyramid yesterday in Ixmal, and I had practical mexican shoes on (read: heals). Ralph laughed, shook his head and mentioned something about never knowing when you need to salsa. I made it up and back without incident, though! Hurray for me!
Thursday, April 5, 2007
A more authentic Flamingo trip...
If you are looking to do something different, something the whole world has not done yet, and you have already visited Mayan ruins, Merida's Centro Historico, and the downtown market, the coast of the Gulf of Mexico should be your next stop.
San Crisanto, a beautiful coastal village 18 miles east of Progreso is a place where there are very few tourists, no lines, no buses and only the noise of the ocean, the wind and the sea gulls.
A visit to San Crisanto now offers the mangroves swamps of the Yucatan, the gulf waters, the cenotes, the fresh water springs, and all the beautiful birds. With machetes miles of trails through the mangrove forests have been cut out , connecting crystal clear cenotes. Until now, only one of these cenotes has been open to the public. Paddling quietly through these light-dappled groves is like traveling through a tropical Venice. You and your friends and family can relax and enjoy the songs of the birds and the sights of the beautiful surroundings while your gondolero poles quietly through the shallow canals.
After about 25 minutes of pleasant travel through the mangrove groves, you will get to a cenote where you will stop for a swim, and maybe even a swing on the vines hanging over the water. The natural habitat of the Yucatan is a site not to be forgotten.
San Crisanto, a beautiful coastal village 18 miles east of Progreso is a place where there are very few tourists, no lines, no buses and only the noise of the ocean, the wind and the sea gulls.
A visit to San Crisanto now offers the mangroves swamps of the Yucatan, the gulf waters, the cenotes, the fresh water springs, and all the beautiful birds. With machetes miles of trails through the mangrove forests have been cut out , connecting crystal clear cenotes. Until now, only one of these cenotes has been open to the public. Paddling quietly through these light-dappled groves is like traveling through a tropical Venice. You and your friends and family can relax and enjoy the songs of the birds and the sights of the beautiful surroundings while your gondolero poles quietly through the shallow canals.
After about 25 minutes of pleasant travel through the mangrove groves, you will get to a cenote where you will stop for a swim, and maybe even a swing on the vines hanging over the water. The natural habitat of the Yucatan is a site not to be forgotten.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Cooking, anyone?
Hello Amigos!
Peter, one of the Mexico Gang, and I are entertaining doing a mini cooking class on the Thursday morning of the first week. We were wondering if anyone else was interested? Below is a description of the half day, which includes lunch, and the website link to it is above. Let me know if you are interested. Cost is about 150$ p.p.
From the website:
YUCATAN EXPRESS Created by popular demand, the Yucatán Express is ideal for those who have a tight travel itinerary that doesn't allow for attendance at a regular public class - or for those who would simply rather eat than cook! This overview class includes a thorough explanation of the culinary history of Yucatán, as well as a trip to Mérida's ever-fascinating market. We end the experience with lunch at a typical regional restaurant, where Chef Sterling will help you navigate the menu and order a broad sampling of Yucatecan specialties.9:00 AM - 2:00 PM*. MINIMUM CLASS SIZE: 2
THE RESTAURANT WE REGULARLY VISIT IS HACIENDA TEYA. Located on the Cancun highway on the outskirts of the city, this restored 19th century hacienda is renowned for the Yucatán's most authentic and expertly prepared cuisine. A trip to the hacienda for a meal is never a disappointment. Sample regional specialties, such as Pan de Cazon ("shark pie"); Queso Relleno (a Gouda cheese stuffed with spiced meat); and the hacienda's memorable Papadzules (egg-stuffed tortillas bathed in a pumpkin seed sauce). Chef Sterling will help you order, and will explain every item on the menu. We'll make certain that we order several dishes, including appetizers and main courses, so that you experience the full range of Yucatecan flavors.
Peter, one of the Mexico Gang, and I are entertaining doing a mini cooking class on the Thursday morning of the first week. We were wondering if anyone else was interested? Below is a description of the half day, which includes lunch, and the website link to it is above. Let me know if you are interested. Cost is about 150$ p.p.
From the website:
YUCATAN EXPRESS Created by popular demand, the Yucatán Express is ideal for those who have a tight travel itinerary that doesn't allow for attendance at a regular public class - or for those who would simply rather eat than cook! This overview class includes a thorough explanation of the culinary history of Yucatán, as well as a trip to Mérida's ever-fascinating market. We end the experience with lunch at a typical regional restaurant, where Chef Sterling will help you navigate the menu and order a broad sampling of Yucatecan specialties.9:00 AM - 2:00 PM*. MINIMUM CLASS SIZE: 2
THE RESTAURANT WE REGULARLY VISIT IS HACIENDA TEYA. Located on the Cancun highway on the outskirts of the city, this restored 19th century hacienda is renowned for the Yucatán's most authentic and expertly prepared cuisine. A trip to the hacienda for a meal is never a disappointment. Sample regional specialties, such as Pan de Cazon ("shark pie"); Queso Relleno (a Gouda cheese stuffed with spiced meat); and the hacienda's memorable Papadzules (egg-stuffed tortillas bathed in a pumpkin seed sauce). Chef Sterling will help you order, and will explain every item on the menu. We'll make certain that we order several dishes, including appetizers and main courses, so that you experience the full range of Yucatecan flavors.
Chicxulub
Pronounced (cheek-shoo-LOOB), this is the closest village to our beach house. Super famous for a giant crater that crashed into the Yucatan about 65 million years ago, Chixulub is the epicentre of this crash. Try Googling the town name and read up on some of the hypothesis about how this crater changed Earth. Some say it is what killed the dinosaurs, others say not a chance.
Although I'm sure our time in Chixulub will not have quite the same impact globally, I'm also sure memories to last a lifetime will be made!
Although I'm sure our time in Chixulub will not have quite the same impact globally, I'm also sure memories to last a lifetime will be made!
Sunday, April 1, 2007
The Beach House
This place, friends, is worth the trip all on its own! Check out more pictures at www.casadogre.shutterfly.com
Cuzama - are you up for the adventure?
This antique wooden buggy type cart pulled by the horse is the mode of transportation used on the almost-famous "Cuzama cenote trip." Traveling through the lush sisal plantations of the Yucatan with three wonderful refreshing cenotes as the goal of the trip, this day trip is something truly unique that you can do while visitng the Yucatan Peninsula.
The goal of this trip is to relax, enjoy the peace of the Yucatan countryside, and have a refreshing swim in three different cenotes...a perfect trip for a hot day! The first cenote, Chelentun (Chay-len-TOON), has the easiest access. The cement stairs and handrail make it easy to go down for a swim in the crystal clear water. After a swim and some photography, it is time to head back up 
the stairs, back onto the truck and on to the next cenote. This cenote, Chansinic'che (Chahn-seen-eek-CHAY), is a bit harder to get into. The first thing you will find is a hole in the ground and a ladder made out of the railroad tracks. Descend the ladder for about 10 meters or 30 feet and you are in another transparent cenote for another refreshing swim. The next and last cenote is Bolonchoojol (Bow-lawn-chew-HOLE). This impressive cenote is the subject of MANY pictures used for publicity on cenotes in the Yucatan. The entrance is also a hole in the ground with a railroad tie ladder. The hole looks narrow but once you get down, you will find yourself in a huge, well-lit cavern with the crystal clear blue toned water of the cenote. In the middle of the cenote the stalactites have formed what looks like a huge tree. Enjoy your swim here and don't forget those photographs!
the stairs, back onto the truck and on to the next cenote. This cenote, Chansinic'che (Chahn-seen-eek-CHAY), is a bit harder to get into. The first thing you will find is a hole in the ground and a ladder made out of the railroad tracks. Descend the ladder for about 10 meters or 30 feet and you are in another transparent cenote for another refreshing swim. The next and last cenote is Bolonchoojol (Bow-lawn-chew-HOLE). This impressive cenote is the subject of MANY pictures used for publicity on cenotes in the Yucatan. The entrance is also a hole in the ground with a railroad tie ladder. The hole looks narrow but once you get down, you will find yourself in a huge, well-lit cavern with the crystal clear blue toned water of the cenote. In the middle of the cenote the stalactites have formed what looks like a huge tree. Enjoy your swim here and don't forget those photographs!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)