Day off with the girls - Komchen

Even though we have been a two car family for a few months now, I still feel that we only have one car. Real estate had been keeping us so busy that I just had to have my own car, there are times that we need it for clients, as they tend to come en mass, and times that I just wanted to run to the store by myself. I never dreamed that I wouldn't have my own car when we moved here. I bought my first car at 14 and have had one ever since. Things change when you move to Mexico! Many couples share a car, others don't have a car at all. Anyway Doug's truck has been in and out of the shop recently and he has been using my car. I was starting to get cabin fever and ready to have a little "me" time, when Marlene mentioned that she and Barbara Bell were going off to a little village to buy some plants. Boy was I in! We left Chelem around 9 am and headed off to Komchen. Komchen is a small village/puebla about 40 minutes from here down winding, narrow. back roads. It is a town so small that I didn't see a gas station or restaurant, just a few small tiendas and houses.

This is leaving Chelem and crossing the lagoon, it's always a great day in paradise when you see flamingos!

As we entered into Komchen there were flowers blooming everywhere.


The nursery was across the street from a small tienda, you had to walk through a field and hang a right. If you didn't know it was there you would never find it.

It was like walking through a jungle maze....


Marlene and the owner

My favorite! Barbara picked out a truckload literally, of plants, 3 royal palms that were probably 12 foot tall each, less than $15 each. We filled the back of the truck with a variety of different tropical plants for under $80.


Hot, thirsty and hungry we walked across the street to the tienda which we had heard served lunch.



Check out the homemade brooms and squeegies!

There were only 3 small tables so we ended up sharing with some very nice Mexican gentlemen. Barbara is so happy with all her plants, she just can't stop smiling.




Barbara and I each had a plateful of fried chicken, boneless breast, hammered and breaded, served with rice, salad, tortillas and a soft drink.

Marlene had meatballs in a some kind of soup with spaghetti noodles and fresh herbs. Total for all three of us, less than $12.


Time to load up the truck and head back to Chelem

Most of the way home there wasn't a lot to see, just jungle and narrow roads, but, we all thought these arches were kinda cool. I always wonder, who lived here, where are they now, what did they do?






We came to another little town as we were on our way home, I think it was Caucel, but don't quote me on that. This little boy was so cute, just sitting there all by his self, smiling, happy with the world.





A very common form of transportation here in the Yucatan. Maybe if I buy one of these, Doug won't be using it all the time!


Ahhhhhh as we cross back over to paradise and my own little world...... another pink flamingo.

What a great day! Everything here is about the journey, not the destination. Here we have time to stop and enjoy life. We live in such a beautiful place, full of wonderful people, how blessed I am! I talk to clients all the time, their world is hectic, it's getting cold, it's raining and snowing. Here it's snowing sunshine! Till next time, I'm just chillin' in Chelem.

High Season Sunday in Chelem

Our Sunday started off slowly, we got up later than usual, drank a few cups of coffee and then headed off to the Bull Pen to meet up with friends for a nice Sunday breakfast. We hung out an hour or so and decided to head back into town and checkout the marketplace, buy a few mangoes and head home to relax. We have had a slow week with real estate, and boy were we ready for the break. Starting in September we are really busy with clients all the way through January. We pulled into the town square and couldn't even find a parking spot. One more week of high season and then we have our peaceful little fishing village back. School starts all over most of Mexico tomorrow except here in the state of the Yucatan where they have one more week of vacation.

Walking into the mercado from the west side, a mayan lady washing and bagging up fresh fruit

Fresh cut flowers intermingle with the fruit and chicken. The sign in the back: El Rey de Pollo, the king of chicken?


We bought a couple of these little yellow mangoes, they are so sweet, to me mangoes just taste and smell like paradise
Before you think that you could never afford watermelons here, remember the price is in pesos, comes out to about a dollar for a quarter of a nice sweet watermelon
Fresh chicken anyone.......

Just squeezed juices, orange, grapefruit, carrot, pineapple and more. Another one of my favorites is Jamaica, made from dried hibiscus flowers that are steeped like tea and sweetened.
Chelem is a fishing village, lots of fresh fish, octopus and shrimp at the market today
The dining section is empty, waiting for people to get out of church and come to eat
Outside in the town square vendors are showing off their wares
Handcrafted leather belts
Lots of water toys
Various baubles for the girls
Little sundresses, I bought one for 40 pesos, less than $4.00
Doug checking out the hundreds of sunglasses

Hundreds of hats
Yucatan candies and sweets
The church was so full that people were standing outside listening to the service
The beaches were packed downtown, look at all the people huddling up in the shade on the side of the building
Octupus boats
The beach is just full of people, while it is great for the local economy, I can't wait for everyone to go home!
They arrive by the busload
We ended up buying a couple of mangoes, a sundress, a pair of matching flip flops and a new leather wallet for Doug all for under $14 USD, not a bad haul!

Finally back home, away from the madness! Larry the lizard is patiently waiting for us to come home and bring him some goodies. He showed up a couple of weeks ago in our garden and has made it his new home, everyday he sits on our gate waiting for some bits of fresh fruit.

So just one more week of high season and it is back to peace and quiet again, the beaches will be empty the ocean clear and tranquil and the living good! Stay tuned for pictures of the quiet times, Chillin' in Chelem

The Ultimate Fathers Day in Chelem

Where is in the world could you experience what we did in a few short hours with our local Mexican family? Since we moved from Delaware, Fathers Day, Mothers Day and similar holidays just haven't been the same, after all the kids are back home. Yesterday we had a marvelous day! We had the chance that many of the local gringo's don't get to experience. We have been so blessed that a local family has taken us in as theirs. These lovely people include us in everything, fiesta's, anniverseries, local cooking, child raising etc. They held surprise birthday parties for both Doug and I last year and all showed up with food and presents. The latest in a long list of great surprises was yesterday. Eduardo knew that we were missing our boys, Jake and Justin. He called us and wanted to take us a boat ride over in the lagoon. Sounded like fun and we had never been on a boat on that side. I took so many great pictures but it is never the same as the experience! Here are a few of my favorite shots. Remember that when you move to Mexico the most exciting and gratifying party is experiencing the local culture!


This is leaving the local harbor, it is right by the seafood store that I wrote about earlier
Captain Jose taking us off on our new adventure in Chelem


Part of our family, the girls are Eduardo's sister, Orsula, the baby, Yomara and his wife Marta

We hadn't been in the water 3 minutes when came across our first flock of pink flamingos. I am totally enamored with them, took about 10 pictures but will only subject you to one! Aren't they just gorgeous?

As soon as reached the other side of the Ria, about 5 minutes they took us on a trail that lead to a cenote. Look what was swimming in it! A sea turtle! Contrary to what they say about turtles this one was quick, I took a lot of pictures but even this one which was the best, I ended up cutting off his head. Oh well, you get the idea.

We jump in the boat again and head another minute or two away and this is what we see



We take a short walk and there are small palapas and piers for shade and swimming


Our Mexican family portrait. We all got in to cool off, clothes and all. The water was incredibly salty, if was hard to keep our feet on the sand. This is the area where the locals catch shrimp and crabs

Even Mama got in with her dress on. One of the things that I love about the Yucatecos is that they never leave the old or the young behind.
Yomara loved the water and was like a little fish!


As did her Papa and uncles, and don't forget Mama!
Of course by now we are thirsty, time to head over to a little lagoon front restaurant and have a few cold cervezas



Yomara is swinging while we enjoy free appetizers and cold beer
All to soon the day is over and it's time to head home, time to put my flip flops back on (thanks Deron) and get back to the real estate business. I'm totally recharged and invigorated. Just another day in the paradise that we call Chelem. I am so blessed to have both wonderful gringo and Mexican friends and family! Till next time, I'm just chillin in Chelem!