Another Birthday Party in Chelem!

As most of us that live here know there is never an excuse needed for a party! However last night we had a valid reason, it was my friend Jennifer's birthday. Jennifer and her husband Bogie bought a house from us in Chelem last year and have been down many times since. They are great people who never forget to ask what we need and bring us down treasures from the US. They can't live here yet but are lucky enough to live in Houston so they can be here in just a couple of hours. These guys started out as real estate clients and I was lucky enought that they ended up being our friends!

Jennifer and Bogie, posing in front of the restaurant, La Playa


Jack and Barbara are also from Texas, Barbara's nephew is engaged to Jennifer and Bogies daughter, almost family! Jennifer recommended Mayan Living to Barbara after she bought her house, so Barbara can down and bought one too! I think that Jack is in the middle of a Texas tall tale!




More of Barbara's family that had come for a weeks visit, Cricket and Debbie.



Bogie, Jennifer, Carlos and me. I don't quite know how I got in the picture with Carlos instead of Doug! Carlos is the owner of La Playa restaurant, he speaks perfect English and is a wealth of information about the area as well as a great host.


After dinner it was time for the birthday cake. Here in Mexico it is a tradition to push the birthday girl's face in the cake. It is called a mordita (tiny bite, it also applies to paying a bribe......they take a small bite out of your money) However, since it's Jennifers first birthday here we cut her a little slack. But next year................watch out!

And finally, Jennifers favorite birthday gift of all, a hug from Victor!

So another typical night here in the Yucatan, hanging out with good friends. Until next time......Chillin' in Chelem!

Perpetual Vacation

Well the past weekend flew by in a flurry of activity. Friday we met up with a group of friends at the Bull Pen for "Beer Friday." The Bull Pen's business seems to increase every day, there were over 60 of us Gringos there this past Friday. I had a chance to catch up with my good friend Star, always a treat! The owners Patrick and Robert are very special people, whenever you stop in for a drink or bite to eat they come over, greet you and you feel like you are visiting with good friends in their home. They both have a wonderful sense of humor and concern for other people and it is truly a pleasure to see them doing so well.

Saturday we had plans to do things around the house. Mary had given me bags of plants and packets of seeds, I love to work in the yard, and mine certainly needs some work! So Doug and I are out in the yard digging and planting when an unexpected client show up so Doug was off with them showing them a property they were interested in while I finished up the garden work.. The clients came back and made an offer on a beautiful beach home, suddenly it was all business again. The cool thing about selling real estate here is that unlike the states business hasn't slowed down. More and more people are interested in the area, so one minute I'm planting yucca's and the next minute I'm making money!

That evening we took Mary and Neil out to dinner at La Playa Restaurant, a farewell celebration as they were heading back home to Idaho Monday morning. La Playa is the only restaurant in Chelem that is beachfront. It is owned by another close friend of ours, Carlos. Carlos is a local, born and raised in Merida, he spent 23 years in Chicago so his English is better than mine. He is a wealth of information about the local culture and how to get things done in the area. As we were sitting and having margaritas we saw the most gorgeous sunset. I have read for years that there are a few split seconds when the sun touches the horizon that there is something called the green flash. I have looked and looked at sunsets but have never seen it. Saturday night we all watched and we all saw the green flash, it was incredible! At the same time about 100 flamingos flew by, the sunset making their colors more vivid then ever. Of course none of us had brought our cameras so you will just have to imagine how beautiful it was!

Sunday morning it was back to the Bullpen for breakfast and then over to Neil and Marys to help them with last minute packing. They got all packed up and we relaxed with a couple of glasses of wine and then back home to get caught up on real estate emails. Life is so sweet here in Chelem, we live a perpetual vacation with a little work thrown in.

Breakfast with Neil and Mary


Mushroom and Cheese Omelets, home fries and pancakes!
Sunday Breakfast Crowd