tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88188644110937325542024-03-13T23:57:07.734-07:00My Mérida LifeStories and pictures about our life in Mérida, Yucatán, MéxicoSara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-88965130239776656992016-01-28T16:20:00.000-08:002016-01-28T16:20:25.754-08:00PARA NOSOTROS SI ES PERSONAL
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Carta
originalmente en inglés de los ciudadanos norteamericanos avecindados en
Mérida, Sara y Ty Bateman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="ES-MX">(Leer original en </span></i></b><span lang="ES-MX"><a href="http://mimeridavida.blogspot.mx/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">http://mimeridavida.blogspot.mx/</span></i></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">)<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jueves 21 de enero, 2016 <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ty yo nos
enteramos de un santuario en la comunidad de Uman aun mucho antes de llamar
hogar a Mérida. Encontramos el santuario por casualidad mientras indagábamos
información de Merida en internet. En la página de Evolucion vimos fotos de
perros rescatados y decidimos que como estábamos en Texas todavía y no podíamos
ser voluntarios físicamente, la única forma de ayudar era mediante donativos
monetarios a Evolucion. Como los seres humanos han domesticado perros, es
nuestra responsabilidad el cuidar los animales de companiia con respeto y
dignidad. Debemos ser defensores de aquellos que NO tienen voz. Creemos que por
esta razón muchos de nosotros hemos apoyado y muchos continúan apoyando a
Evolucion. Queremos ser parte de la solución para mejorar la vida de los
perros. Simplemente amamos a los perros. Creemos que el corazón de la comunidad
local y extranjera es sincero en esto.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TvpAIfE_-GI/Vqqk5PgoZ5I/AAAAAAAAAuI/Apdpw-2vwEI/s1600/paty3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TvpAIfE_-GI/Vqqk5PgoZ5I/AAAAAAAAAuI/Apdpw-2vwEI/s320/paty3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aquí esta
nuestra historia. Su nombre era Panque y era una adorable bolita de pelo negro,
andaba de aquí para allá en su silla de ruedas. En Junio de 2012, la
publicación de Evolución A.C. en Facebook <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“se solicita casa para siempre para Panque”</i></b>
nos estiro el corazón. En esas fechas, respondimos patrocinando totalmente una
súplica de Evolución para cubrir los costos de amputación de una perrita
llamada Paty quien tenía una pata trasera deformada gravemente. Un amiga y
voluntaria se ofreció a llevar a Panque para que lo conociéramos; ella estaba
convencida que seriamos los padres perfectos para ese perrito en silla de
ruedas. Sin embargo, nosotros rechazamos el encuentro. Mientras leíamos la
publicación de Panque una vez más, yo llame a Silvia Cortes para pedirle la
dirección del hogar temporal donde se encontraba Panque. Un fuerte hedor a
heces y orín llenó el aire mientras tocábamos la puerta de herrería de la
dirección. La puerta se abrió y al entrar me recibieron una docena de perros
grandes y el pequeño Panque en su silla de ruedas. Fue ahí que me di cuenta que
este no era un hogar temporal, sino más bien un lugar con un trabajador
contratado a donde estaban alojados los perros. Al ver las condiciones en que
vivía este perrito, decidí llamar a Silvia para informarle que me estaba
llevando a Panque directamente al veterinario para que fuera evaluado. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nos
comprometimos a adoptar a Panque aunque cabe mencionar que nunca nos dieron
papeles de adopción. NO sabía que íbamos a encontrar debajo de su pelo
enmarañado lleno de heces. Cuando llegamos a la clínica veterinaria me
sorprendió que el veterinario conociera a Panque. El Doctor Tony de <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Planned Pethood</b> quien examino a Panque
inicialmente para Silvia Cortes le informo en su momento que el perro tenía
defectos de nacimiento y que estos defectos no tenían cura y sería que se
realizara la eutanasia. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A
petición mía, Panque se le hizo otro examen, se bañó y se realizaron
radiografías nuevas. Era tanto mi deseo de ayudar a este perro, que era difícil
aceptar la desesperanza de esta situación. Cambiamos su nombre a Rico que
significa “gobernador noble". <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Durante
los siguientes cuatro meses y medio, amamos y cuidamos a ese niño dulce que no
tenía uso de sus patas traseras y requería cuidados todo el día. Mientras Rico
estuvo bajo el cuidado de Evolución se le permitió andar sin la silla de ruedas
arrastrando la parte trasera de su cuerpo. Esto desgastó el tejido de sus
piernas hasta dejar solo hueso (en sí, el hueso estaba plano), también se le
había dejado en su silla por periodos largos de tiempo, las correas que
ayudaban a mantenerlo en la silla le había dejado lesiones en sus piernas. Una
vez limpio y fuera del pelo enmarañado era obvio que estaba desnutrido. Era
incontinente y dormía en pañales. Cada vez que orinaba nosotros le quitábamos
las vendas sucias, lo lavamos, secamos y vendamos las piernas de nuevo.
Consultamos la condición de Rico con dos veterinarios locales, uno en Cancún y
el ultimo en la Universidad de Texas A&M. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Basándonos
en los resultados y la condición de Rico, le pedimos una junta a Silvia Cortés
y tres de los voluntarios de Evolución. Durante esta junta Silvia y las
voluntarias estuvieron de acuerdo en que Evolución no tenía las instalaciones,
el personal ni las finanzas para cuidar a un perro como Rico. Ninguna
explicación fue dada del porque Silvia no había seguido la recomendación del
Doctor Tony. Se habló de muchas ideas para mejorar. Las voluntarias y Silvia
tuvieron una junta poco después donde se creó un esquema para implementar los
cambios necesarios. Habría expedientes y las recomendaciones del veterinario
serian implementadas. Los perros que estuviesen muy enfermos que no se pudiesen
cuidar debidamente y los considerados no adoptables recibirían eutanasia.
Silvia y los voluntarios nos aseguraron que los cambios en la política de Evolución
tendrían lugar. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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Rico
murió con dignidad en mis brazos el 12 de octubre de 2012; dejando roto nuestro
corazón. Amigos de Rico fue establecido en memoria de Rico, simplemente para
ayudar a Perros. En los últimos tres años y medio hemos aprendido y hemos
necesitado cambiar muchas de nuestras creencias originales para ser más eficaz
en cómo nos enfrentamos a la abrumadora tarea de perros abandonados y
maltratados en Yucatán. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Lo único
que no ha cambiado y no cambiara es nuestro deseo de apoyar organizaciones e
individuos que trabajan sin cansancio por la mejoría de vidas de los perros en Yucatán.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1p2xLKbi5uY/VqqmB11aDzI/AAAAAAAAAuU/TxCFItKeEFw/s1600/IMG_1184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1p2xLKbi5uY/VqqmB11aDzI/AAAAAAAAAuU/TxCFItKeEFw/s320/IMG_1184.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paty</td></tr>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A finales
de Octubre, después de perder a Rico preguntamos cómo estaba Paty y como había
reaccionado a la amputación. Nos quedamos impactados cuando nos dijeron que a
pesar de que la amputación se había pagado completamente cinco meses atrás la
amputación <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>no había ocurrido.</u></b>
Nos informaron que estaba desnutrida y anémica y no lo suficientemente fuerte
para la cirugía. En vez de recibir cuidados necesarios para su anemia, Paty
sufrió negligencia y olvido. Bajo el cuidado de Evolución, Paty fue forzada a
arrastrar su pata deforme 5 meses más de lo necesario. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dSCxqa7K8PY/Vqqneq5hdnI/AAAAAAAAAuc/VM9BaLorSzc/s1600/patty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dSCxqa7K8PY/Vqqneq5hdnI/AAAAAAAAAuc/VM9BaLorSzc/s320/patty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Solo
podemos especular lo que hubiese pasado si NO preguntamos por Paty. Pagando
nosotros mismos le pedimos a Silvia que llevara a Paty a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pet Chalet</b> un centro de cuidados para perros. Le dimos casa, comida
casera, croquetas, vitaminas de hierro y con la persistencia de Pet Chalet
preparamos a Paty para su cirugía. En solamente dos semanas el peso y anemia de
Paty mejoraron y pudo tener su cirugía. Evolución no pudo llevar a cabo esta
tarea en cinco meses. Nosotros pagamos por la rehabilitación de Paty en Pet
Chalet. Mientras todo esto pasaba Paty seguía siendo propiedad de Evolución A.C.
<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A estas
alturas ya teníamos una inversión monetaria considerable en el bienestar y
salud de Paty. Durante los meses que Paty estuvo en <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pet Chalet</b>, nuestro otro perro Adie fue diagnosticado con cáncer.
Adie y yo viajábamos constantemente a Houston para tratamiento con un
veterinario oncólogo. No era una opción en ese momento que pudiéramos adoptar a
Paty. Después de seis meses en Pet Chalet y sin opciones para adoptar Paty regresó
a Evolución saludable y feliz. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCFrwX3MsaY/VqqosOw3XNI/AAAAAAAAAus/ImeXnCcAspk/s1600/paty4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCFrwX3MsaY/VqqosOw3XNI/AAAAAAAAAus/ImeXnCcAspk/s320/paty4.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">En enero
22 del 2014, fui a Evolución en Umán para unirme a Jeff Damon, el doctor Jeff
Young y Steve Goward de <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dog Trust</b>.
Jeff Damon y yo estábamos desarrollando un programa de entrenamiento para los
perros adoptables. Steve Goward estaba ahí a petición del Doctor Young, para
evaluar y asesorar profesionalmente a los refugios de animales en la península
de Yucatán. Este fue el día en que le tocaba evaluar a Evolución. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">En cuanto
llegamos le pedí a Silvia que me permitiera ver a Paty, quien en ese momento
tenía siete meses en de vuelta en Evolución. Un empleado entro una área oval
bardeada con caminito de concreto y aproximadamente treinta perros grandes. El
empleado saco a Paty de una habitación adjunta a esta área bardeada. Paty se
esforzó en llegar a mí y yo pude ver sus costillas. Pude ver su columna, tenía
lesiones en la piel, cuando levanto su cabeza para olerme yo pude ver el dolor
en sus ojos. Solo olfateo rápidamente y se fue cojeando de vuelta a la habitación.
Yo deje de respirar cuando vi su cola roja e inflamada, de donde salía materia
y con el hueso expuesto. Sus muslos estaban cubiertos de diarrea, pulgas
brincando de su cuerpo. Paty necesitaba atención médica inmediatamente.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Insistí
en que Silvia sacara a Paty para que la examinara el Doctor Young, (él había
hecho la amputación) después de mi tercera petición, Silvia saco a Paty pero no
antes de haberla limpiado y vendado la cola. Silvia nunca respondió a mis
preguntas de que le había sucedido a su cola, cómo un perro que recibía pensión
mensual por un patrocinador pudo llegar a estar en esas condiciones. (Unos
extranjeros dueños de un negocio localmente nos dijeron que ellos patrocinaban
a Paty mensualmente por internet). Una vez más me encontré rescatando a un
animal de su rescatador. Dada la condición en que Paty se encontraba, todo el
camino a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Planned Pethood</b> pensé que
eutanasia seria lo recomendado. Paty Pesaba solo veinte libras (9 kilos) y a
pesar de eso necesito cirugía de emergencia en su cola ese mismo día. El hueso
expuesto ponía en riesgo su columna vertebral. Ese día Paty comenzó su largo
trayecto hacia su recuperación. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Después
de cuatro meses, cuatro cirugías, tratamiento para parásitos internos y
externos, infecciones internas y externas de bacterias, infección en un ojo y
erliqui<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">a (</span></span><span lang="ES-MX" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1;">Ehrlichia canis)</span><span lang="ES-MX" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">pudimos traer a esta niña dulce a su nueva
casa. Juramos que nunca permitiríamos que sufriera otra vez. En medio del
tratamiento de Paty nos reunimos una vez más con Silvia, discutimos sobre la
negligencia y maltrato de este perro bajo su cuidado. Pedimos los expedientes
médicos; nunca los recibimos. Fue en esta junta que también incluyo a Patricia
Holland; cuando preguntamos qué sucedió con la cola de Paty, la respuesta fue.
Paty se comió su propia cola. Se pueden imaginar el sufrimiento físico y
emocional que un perro debe tener para mutilarse de esta manera? Búsquenlo en Google
es bastante perturbador. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Las últimas palabras que TY le dijo a
Silvia Cortes y Patricia Holland fueron, “ Esto NO puede pasar otra vez”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paty NO se
deterioró de la noche a la mañana, estuvo bajo los cuidados de Evolución y tomo
siete meses. Silvia Cortes, Patricia Holland y los voluntarios de Evolución
tomaron una decisión consciente de ignorar lo que estaba sucediendo. Tomaron la
decisión consciente de ignorar el sufrimiento de Paty. Estamos seguros NO
hubiese sobrevivido si no la hubiera encontrado ese día en Evolución. Paty
hubiera muerto enferma, en dolor, estresada, triste y SOLA. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Esta es
Paty el 22 de Enero del 2014 el día que la rescatamos de Evolución. </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Evolución
se compromete al cuidado hasta que sean adoptados o tengan una muerte natural. </span></i></b><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">(extracto de la página de Evolucion A.C.
Dic 14, 2015, 4:46pm Facebook) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">¿Es esta
la Muerte Natural que Paty hubiera sufrido? El día de hoy, Paty es feliz y
saludable en nuestra casa. Pesa17 kilos. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHFQAr5Lu_4/VqqsY6r4jQI/AAAAAAAAAvg/_puPIsNrur0/s1600/IMG_0551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHFQAr5Lu_4/VqqsY6r4jQI/AAAAAAAAAvg/_puPIsNrur0/s320/IMG_0551.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Paty Hoy (Enero de 2016)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 16pt;">Un poco de Historia:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">En octubre,
2010 patrocinamos la construcción de la bodega de alimentos en el albergue Evolución
con un costo total de $1800.00 Dólares. Nuestra familia también hizo
contribuciones a nuestra petición. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Lo único
que puedo decir es WOW! Su generosidad en conjunto con TY y Sara ha sido
increíble. Por medio de las contribuciones de su familia hemos podido mejorar
las jaulas, crear una instalación de almacenamiento para las medicinas y 23+
bolsas de comida para perros que se entregan semanalmente a nuestro santuario. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">(Extracto
recibido por correo de Linda Letcher a nombre de Evolución A.C. con fecha de
12/12/2010) From: slv_cc@.com <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To: sara_bateman@com <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">CC: patintheyucatan@com <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Subject: Thanks a lot! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Date: Mon,
12 Nov 2012 22:35:30 +0000 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Estimada
Sara hoy compramos la desparasitación y ya está en el albergue. Simplemente no
tengo palabras para decirte cuanto apreciamos esto y la gran ayuda que es.
Ahora podemos desparasitar a todos nuestros perros en todas nuestras áreas al
mismo tiempo lo que significa un resultado óptimo en el albergue. Gracias,
muchas gracias por tu ayuda que ha significado muchas mejorías en la vida de
nuestros perros. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">(extracto
de correo enviado por Silvia Cortes) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Dos veces pagamos la desparasitación de 180
perros en Evolucion con un costo de $900.00 Dolares. Tambien hacíamos donativos
de $100 Dolares mensuales por internet. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">From:
tybateman@.com <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">To:
patintheyucatan@.com; sara_bateman@com <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">CC:
slv_cc@.com Subject: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">RE:
Second Spay and Neuter Clinic in Uman <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Date:
Sun, 12 Jan 2014 10:56:07 -0600 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Hola
Patricia/Silvia 2013 fue un año de aprendizaje para Amigos de Rico. En el
futuro queremos concentrar nuestros esfuerzos en las clínicas de esterilización
y en educación. Estas son las áreas en las que sentimos tendremos el mayor
impacto con nuestros escasos recursos. En este momento queremos conceder
15,000.00 pesos a cada una de las 2 clínicas de Umán ($30,000 pesos total).
Esto por supuesto es aparte de los $100.00 dólares mensuales que donamos a
nombre de Rico. (Extracto de correo a Evolución, 10 días antes de rescatar a
Paty) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">También
donamos $10,000.00 pesos para completar la construcción del edificio de
cuarentena. Podría continuar ya que también se hicieron donativos en efectivo. Por
favor no mal interpreten mi declaración pública como presunción, solo incluyo
esta información para aclarar que en el pasado hemos apoyado Evolución
fuertemente y tenemos una larga Historia con Silvia Cortes, Patricia Holland y Evolución.
Algunos de nuestros amigos y comunidad extranjera han adoptado y tienen
historias de éxito. Nuestra y la preocupación de muchos es la incapacidad de
controlar el número de perros en Evolución debido a su filosofía. Los perros
que requieren cuidados que van más allá de la capacidad de Evolución, salud de
los perros que es puesta en peligro al no seguir las instrucciones de un médico
veterinario, perros que no reciben cuidado médico, perros que son mantenidos
fuera del albergue, perros escondidos en cuartos como Paty son los que un
voluntario nunca vera. Y los perros que no han recibido los cuidados de Silvia
y Evolución. Negligencia y sufrimiento son un resultado directo de tener más
animales de los que el albergue puede cuidar efectivamente. NO solo son los
perros los que sufren cuando un animal es descuidado por la organización al
punto en que Rico y Paty fueron descuidados. ¡La gente sufre! Los niños que
visitan el albergue y ven la sobre población y condiciones de los perros pueden
crecer creyendo que este trato al animal es lo correcto. Los veterinarios
sufren mientras balancean las líneas del comercio y empatía. Silvia sufre y los
voluntarios sufren. ¿Sera posible que la lealtad a la organización tiene
prioridad al bienestar de los animales bajo su cuidado? La cultura de Yucatán
sufre cuando las organizaciones que ofrecen educación sobre el cuidado correcto
de los animales es culpable de cometer las ofensas que ellos mismos condenan
con la educación. Nosotros como comunidad extranjera sufrimos porque nos
dividimos cuando estar unidos sería mejor. Ty y yo hemos sufrido corajes, dolor
y desesperanza por Rico. Sufrimos el coraje e insensatez en la negligencia de
Paty. Hemos sufrido la culpabilidad de NO demandar justicia por Paty. Encontrar
la solución a este problema es difícil. Hemos tenido dos reuniones con los
líderes de Evolución y aún continúan los problemas y las políticas ineficaces
que ocasionan la pérdida de vidas y falta de cuidados de los animales bajo su
resguardo. Creo firmemente que como comunidad todos queremos encontrar la
solución. Como una organización que existe gracias a los donativos, deberíamos
exigir transparencia de Evolución en cuanto a sus finanzas y expedientes
médicos. Deberíamos pedir revelación de las casas y bodegas donde se albergan
animales. Debemos exigir que haya nuevas y efectivas políticas y que sean
implementadas. Los donadores deben requerir el seguimiento de estas políticas.
El dinero habla a gritos en Enero 2014, TY y yo retiramos y Amigos de Rico
retiramos nuestra ayuda financiera y no apoyamos a Evolución o Silvia Cortes en
buena fe hasta que se incluyan políticas efectivas y que estas se lleven a
cabo. Amigos de Rico si cumplió su compromiso para las clínicas de
esterilización. El gobierno no le entrega ninguna ayuda al albergue y no tienen
programas que lidien con este problema. Esto hace que el albergue dependa al
100% en donativos y trabajo voluntario. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">El
albergue fue fundado con la filosofía de respeto por la vida- dando a todos los
seres de la oportunidad de sanar, ser rehabilitado y vivir vidas felices y en
paz. El objetivo es mantener esta filosofía<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">(</span></i></b><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Extracto de Evolucion AC (Inglés) Facebook
14 de diciembre 2015 16:46) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Dicha
Filosofia NO fue cierta para Rico y Paty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Señales que un animal sufre de abuso según
la sociedad Humana y ASPCA.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Incapacidad
para proporcionar requisitos mínimas de nutrición, saneamiento, refugio y
atención veterinaria. (Paty) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Las heridas
abiertas, lesiónes permanentes o enfermedad que no está siendo tratada, la
falta de atención veterinaria (Paty y Nico) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Delgadez
extrema o emaciación, los huesos pueden ser visibles. (Paty y Rico) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Los
parches de la piel, erupciones escamosas baches. (Paty) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Los
signos de aseo inadecuado. (Paty y Rico) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">De
descarga pesada de los ojos o la nariz <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Los
signos visibles de confusión o somnolencia extrema. (Paty) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Los
animales alojados en sobrepoblacion. (Paty y Rico) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Animal
se mantiene en una zona llena de heces y orina (Rico) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Más
animales que pueden ser debidamente atendidos (Paty y Rico) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Desafortunadamente,
Rico y Paty sufrieron negligencia al punto de abuso en manos de una
organización que debió haber cuidado de ellos. Nosotros cumplimos con los compromisos
financieros y Evolución A.C. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>NO</u></b>
actuó responsablemente y <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>NO</u></b>
ha sido transparente. Esto para nosotros ya es cuestión de confianza. Solo les
pregunto si somos una familia a que ha encontrado no uno sino dos perros
atendidos inadecuadamente por Evolución A.C. ¿De cuantos más NO sabemos nada? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Ty y Sara
Bateman <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 12pt;">Amigos de
Rico<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
</o:p><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
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</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></td></tr>
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</div>
Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-49737255494536979872016-01-21T14:13:00.000-08:002016-01-28T05:07:05.029-08:00 It Is Personal To Us<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Long before Ty and I called Merida home we became aware of a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>dog sanctuary in the nearby community of Uman
. We found them by chance while scouring the internet for information about
Merida. On Evolucion</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s website, we saw the
pictures of rescued dogs, and decided<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>because we were in Texas and could not physically volunteer, to offer
financial donations to help the dogs of Evolucion.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> As human beings who domesticated dogs, it is our responsibility to treat
companion animals with respect and dignity. We must be advocates for those who
have no voice. We believe this is the reason many of us have in the past and
many still continue to support Evolucion. We want to be part of the solution to
improve the lives of dogs. We simply love dogs. We believe the hearts of the
local and expat communities are sincere in this.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MFAacPZkonw/VqE_Tlb45uI/AAAAAAAAAso/oApGRQx5iCU/s1600/paty3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MFAacPZkonw/VqE_Tlb45uI/AAAAAAAAAso/oApGRQx5iCU/s320/paty3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here is our personal story. His name was Panque, he was an adorable
little ball of black fur, wheeling around in a doggie wheelchair. In June of
2012, the Evolucion FaceBook post asking for a </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">forever home</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">”</span><span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">for Panque tugged at our
heartstrings. At the same time, we responded by fully funding a plea by
Evolucion to cover amputation costs for a dog named Paty who had a severely
deformed back leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A friend and
volunteer offered to bring Panque to us for a meeting; she was certain we would
be perfect parents for the little dog in a wheelchair. However, we continued to
decline this meeting. While reviewing the </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Panque</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">”</span><span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">post one more time, I
phoned Silvia Cortes to ask for the address of the foster home where Panque was
staying. The strong order of urine and feces filled the air as I approached the
house and knocked on the iron protector. The door opened and I was greeted by a
dozen or so large dogs and little Panque in his wheelchair. I realized this was
not a </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Foster
Home</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">,
but rather a location with a hired male worker where dogs were being housed.
Seeing the conditions this little dog was in, I decided to phone Silvia
and let her know I was taking Panque directly to the Veterinarian for
evaluation. We committed to adopt Panque although there were never any adoption
papers. I was unsure what would be found under his feces matted fur. When we
arrived at the clinic, I was surprised the Vet knew Panque, Dr. Tony of Planned
Pethood made it clear to me after his initial examination of Panque for Silvia Cortes
he had informed her his birth defects were untreatable and he should be
euthanized. At my request, Panque was given another exam, grooming and new X-rays.
In my desire to help this dog, it was hard to accept the hopelessness of his
situation. We changed his name to Rico which means </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Noble Ruler</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. For the next four and a
half months we loved and cared for that sweet little boy. He had no use of his
back legs and required around the clock care. While under the care of Evolucion
he been allowed to drag himself around which had worn the tissue on his legs
down to the bone (in fact the bone was worn flat), being left in the wheelchair
for extended periods of time, the straps had left lesions on his legs. Once he
had the matted coat removed it was obvious he was malnourished. He was
incontinent and slept in diapers. Every time he urinated we removed his dirty
bandages, washed the urine off his legs, dried him and wrapped his legs with
new bandages. We consulted two local veterinarians, one in Cancun and another
at A&M University Veterinary School in Texas about Rico</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s condition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
W</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">e requested a meeting with Silvia Cortes
and three volunteers of Evolucion. During this meeting, Silvia and the
volunteers agreed Evolucion did not have the facilities, staff or finances to
care for a dog such was Rico. No explanation was offered as to why Silvia had
not followed Dr. Tony</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s recommendation. Many ideas for improvement were
discussed. The volunteers and Silvia met later and an outline was created to
implement necessary changes. Records would be kept, and Veterinarians
recommendations would be followed. Dogs to sick too be cared for properly or
were deemed not adoptable would be euthanized. We were assured by Silvia and
the volunteers that changes in Evolucion policy would take place. Rico passed
away with dignity in my arms on October 12, 2012; we were broken hearted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Amigos de Rico was founded in memory of our little Rico simply to help
dogs. In the last three and a half years we have learned much and have needed
to change many of our original beliefs to be more effective as we faced the
overwhelming task of neglected and abused dogs in Yucatan. The one thing that
has not changed and will remain is our desire to support organizations and
individuals who work tirelessly to improve the lives of dogs in Yucatan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NoDLhX0OXDQ/VqFKWBSst-I/AAAAAAAAAts/0XapiXVfBdw/s1600/IMG_1184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NoDLhX0OXDQ/VqFKWBSst-I/AAAAAAAAAts/0XapiXVfBdw/s320/IMG_1184.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paty</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In late October, after Rico</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s passing, we inquired about Paty and how she was
getting along following her amputation. We were shocked to discover in the five
months since her procedure had been paid in full she had not yet had the
surgery. We were informed she was underweight and anemic and not strong enough
for the surgery. <strong>Rather than care for her anemia, she was neglected and
forgotten. Under Evolucion</strong></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";"><strong>’</strong></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>s care, she was needlessly forced to drag her deformed
leg an additional five months.</strong> We can only speculate what might have happened
had we not checked on her status.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dVuWyaYFvHs/VqE-J-zJJwI/AAAAAAAAAsA/jQxbkhv-8aw/s1600/patty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dVuWyaYFvHs/VqE-J-zJJwI/AAAAAAAAAsA/jQxbkhv-8aw/s320/patty.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paty, the day she was brought to Pet Chalet</td></tr>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">At our own expense we requested
Sylvia bring Paty to Pet Chalet a local dog care center, we provided home
cooked food, kibble and iron supplements, and with the commitment from Pet
Chalet we prepared Paty for surgery. In two weeks her weight and anemia improved
and she was able to undergo surgery. A task Evolucion did not accomplish in
five months. We paid for her to rehab after surgery at Pet Chalet. Through all
of this, she remained the property of Evolucion. By this time, we had made a
significant financial investment in the health and welfare of Paty. During the
months Paty was at Pet Chalet our other dog Adie had been diagnosed with
cancer. Adie and I were making frequent trips to a Veterinary Oncologist in
Houston for treatment. It was not an option for us to adopt Paty at that time.
After six months at Pet Chalet and no viable offers for adoption, Paty was
returned to the Evolucion facility a healthy, happy dog! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_HdnxoiuJUc/VqE_sCnAUbI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/M7Zkji8JzcU/s1600/paty4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_HdnxoiuJUc/VqE_sCnAUbI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/M7Zkji8JzcU/s320/paty4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paty, before being returned to Evolucion</td></tr>
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<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On January 22, 2014, I drove to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Evolucion in Uman to meet with Jeff Damon, Dr. Jeff Young and Steve
Goward Of Dogs Trust. Jeff Damon and I were developing a training program for
adoptive dogs. Steve Goward was here on request from Dr. Young to
professionally assess, evaluate and advise the animal shelters on the Yucatan
Peninsula. This was the day he was to evaluate Evolucion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Upon arrival I asked to see Paty. At that point, she had been back at
Evolucion for seven months. A male worker entered a large oval fenced area with
a concrete pad, and 30 or so large dogs. He brought Paty out of a room attached
to this fenced area. As she labored to come to me, I could see her ribs. I
could see her protruding vertebrae. She had skin lesions. As she raised her
head to smell me, I could see the pain in her eyes. <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">She only took a quick whiff and turned to hobble
back to the room. I gasped at the sight of her missing tail, red, inflamed,
oozing, with the bone exposed. Her thighs were coated in a layer of watery
diarrhea, flies hovering above her. She was in desperate need of immediate
medical attention. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wnDg5EQyY9A/VqE-V9L0uiI/AAAAAAAAAsI/hFFjJZspl7k/s1600/paty%2Btail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wnDg5EQyY9A/VqE-V9L0uiI/AAAAAAAAAsI/hFFjJZspl7k/s320/paty%2Btail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I insisted Sylvia bring Paty out
for Dr. Young to examine (he had performed her amputation), Sylvia did bring
Paty out after my third request, and after she had cleaned off the feces and
bandaged the tail. Sylvia never responded to my questions about what had
happened to her tail or how a dog who had an online sponsorship could be
allowed to get into this kind of shape (we were told by local expat business
owners that they were Paty</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s online sponsors). Once
again I found myself rescuing a dog from the rescuer. On the drive to Planned
Pethood, given the shape she was in I was certain euthanasia would be
recommended. She weighed just 20 pounds. However, she had emergency surgery on
her tail that very day. With the exposed bone she was at risk of her spinal cord
being compromised. That fateful day she started the long road to recovery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yREzd-t8vdU/VqE_WNCSQdI/AAAAAAAAAsw/kJE2QQUiTUY/s1600/paty%2Btail2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yREzd-t8vdU/VqE_WNCSQdI/AAAAAAAAAsw/kJE2QQUiTUY/s320/paty%2Btail2.png" width="280" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After four months, four surgeries, treatment for internal and external
parasites, internal and external bacterial infections, eye infection and
ehrlichiosis, we were able to bring this sweet girl to her new forever home. We
vowed to never allow her to suffer again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During the time of Paty</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s treatment we once again
found ourselves in a meeting with Silvia discussing the neglectful treatment
of a dog under her charge. We asked for Paty</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s
records, which we have never received. It was at this meeting which also
included Patricia Holland, when we asked about Paty</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s tail, <strong>We were told by Silvia that Paty had chewed off
her own tail. Can you imagine the emotional and physical suffering a dog would
be under to perform this kind of self mutilation? Google it, it is quite
disturbing.</strong> The last words Ty said to Silvia Cortes and Patricia Holland were, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">this cannot happen again</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Under Evolucion</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s care Paty did not
deteriorate overnight, it took seven months. Silvia Cortes, Patricia Holland
and the volunteers of Evolucion made a conscious decision to look the other
way. They made a conscious choice to ignore her suffering. We are certain she
would not have survived had I not found her that day at Evolucion. She would
have died a sick, painful, stressful, sad and lonely death. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NjebQBRDA9E/VqE_QUisoRI/AAAAAAAAAsg/n9T9gCbSQyo/s1600/paty1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NjebQBRDA9E/VqE_QUisoRI/AAAAAAAAAsg/n9T9gCbSQyo/s400/paty1.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jan.22, 2014. The day Paty was rescued from Evolucion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Evolucion has committed to care
for until they are adopted or die natural deaths (excerpt from Evolucion AC
(English) Dec 14, 2015, 4:46pm FaceBook post)</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Is this the </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">natural</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">” </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">death
Paty could have suffered?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In our home today she is a happy,
healthy and loyal 38 pounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WB-dkY2sgR0/VqFKmmN9uVI/AAAAAAAAAt0/wgiKcgzwSh4/s1600/IMG_0551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WB-dkY2sgR0/VqFKmmN9uVI/AAAAAAAAAt0/wgiKcgzwSh4/s400/IMG_0551.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paty today</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A little history:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> In October 2010 we fully funded the building of a bodega to store the
dog food on the grounds of Evolucion, at a cost of $1800 US. At our urging,
family members also made contributions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">All I can say is </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">‘</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">wow!</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">’</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Your generosity along with that of Ty and Sara has
been amazing.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Through your
family</span></i><i><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">’</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s
contributions we have been able to substantially improve the kennels and create
a storage facility to house medical supplies and the 23+ bags of dog food that
are delivered </span></i><i><u><span lang="NL" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: NL;">weekly</span></u></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
to our sanctuary. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(excerpt received by email
from Linda Letcher on behalf of Evolucion, dated 12/12/2010)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">From: </span></i><a href="mailto:slv_cc@hotmail.com"><span class="Hyperlink0"><i><span style="color: #4687ff; font-size: 12pt;">slv_cc@.com</span></i></span></a><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To: </span></i><a href="mailto:sara_bateman@hotmail.com"><span class="Hyperlink1"><i><span style="color: #4687ff; font-size: 12pt;">sara_bateman@com</span></i></span></a><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">CC: </span></i><a href="mailto:patintheyucatan@gmail.com"><span class="Hyperlink2"><i><span style="color: #4687ff; font-size: 12pt;">patintheyucatan@com</span></i></span></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Subject: Thanks a lot!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2012
22:35:30 +0000<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dear Sara the dewormers were
bought today and we already have them in the shelter. I simply have no words to
let you know how much I appreciate this and what a great help this is, we can
deworm all our dogs in all their areas at the same time which means an optimus
result in the shelter. Thank you, thank you so much, your help has meant a lot
of improvments in our dogs life. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(Excerpt email received from
Silvia Cortes)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Twice we paid
to deworm the 180 dogs at Evolucion at a cost of $900US. We also made monthly
donations of $100 per month online. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">From: </span></i><a href="mailto:tybateman@hotmail.com"><span class="Hyperlink5"><i><span style="color: #4687ff; font-size: 12pt;">tybateman@.com</span></i></span></a><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To: </span></i><a href="mailto:patintheyucatan@gmail.com"><span class="Hyperlink6"><i><span style="color: #4687ff; font-size: 12pt;">patintheyucatan@.com</span></i></span></a><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">; </span></i><a href="mailto:sara_bateman@hotmail.com"><span class="Hyperlink7"><i><span style="color: #4687ff; font-size: 12pt;">sara_bateman@com</span></i></span></a><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">CC: </span></i><a href="mailto:slv_cc@hotmail.com"><span class="Hyperlink8"><i><span style="color: #4687ff; font-size: 12pt;">slv_cc@.com</span></i></span></a><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Subject: RE: Second Spay and
Neuter Clinic in Uman<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2014
10:56:07 -0600<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: IT;"> Hello Patricia / Silvia,</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> At this time Amigos de Rico
would like to grant 15,000.00 pesos to each of the 2</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">upcoming Uman clinics (30,000 mxp total). This of
course is in addition to the 100.00 usd monthly donation to Evolucion from
Rico. (excerpt from email to Evolucion, 10 days before I rescued Paty)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We also donated $10,000MXP to complete the construction of the
quarantine building. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I could go on as many more cash donations were made as
well. Please do not misunderstand our public disclosure of contributions as
boasting, I have only included this information to make it clear that in the
past we have been avid supporters of Evolucion and have a long history with
Silvia Cortes, Patricia Holland and Evolucion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="-ms-text-justify: inter-ideograph; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Some</span> of our
friends and fellow expats have completed successful adoptions and have positive </span><span lang="NL" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: NL;">volunteer stories. Our
concern</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> and the concern of many is the
inability, due to philosophy, to control the number of dogs in Evolucion. The
dogs who require care beyond Evolucion</span><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s capabilities, d</span><span lang="DA" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: DA;">ogs</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> whose health is compromised when professional advice is not heeded, dogs
who do not receive proper medical care, dogs who are warehoused off site, dogs
hidden in rooms such as Paty, which a casual volunteer might never see, and
dogs who in the past, Silvia and Evolucion have not responded to with effective
care. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="-ms-text-justify: inter-ideograph; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Neglect and suffering is the direct result of housing
more dogs than a shelter can adequately care for.</strong> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="-ms-text-justify: inter-ideograph; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not
just the dogs who suffer when an organization neglects dogs to the point Rico
and Paty were neglected. People suffer! Children who visit Evolucion and see
the overcrowded conditions, and the dogs who go untreated may come to believe
this treatment of animals is acceptable. The veterinarians suffer while walking
a line of commerce and empathy. Silvia suffers, and the volunteers suffer. Is
it possible loyalty to the organization takes precedence over the welfare of
the animals under their care? The culture of Yucatan suffers as the
organization offering education for proper animal care is guilty of the offenses
they teach against. And we, as an expat community suffer, when we stand
divided, when standing together we would be more effective. Ty and I have
suffered the anger, the grief and the hopelessness of Rico. We suffered the
anger, and senselessness in Paty</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times Roman";">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s
neglect. We have suffered the guilt of not demanding justice for Paty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Finding a solution to this ongoing problem is
difficult, we have had two meetings with the leaders of Evolution and yet the
problems and ineffective policies continue at the expense of some dogs in their
care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I believe as a community we all truly want to find a
solution. As an organization who exists solely on donations. We should ask for
public transparency from Evolucion with their financial and medical records. We
should ask for public disclosure of off site foster homes and dog warehouses.
We should ask for new and effective policies to be implemented. The donors
should require enforcement of these policies. Money speaks loudly. In January
2014, we and Amigos de Rico withdrew future financial contributions and no
longer support Evolucion or Silvia Cortes in good faith <strong>until</strong> effective
policies are instituted and enforced. Amigos de Rico did complete our
commitment for the spay and neuter clinics.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p> </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> The government provides no support to the shelter and
does not have any effective programmes themselves to deal with the issue. That
leaves the shelter to rely 100% on private donations and on volunteer workers.
The shelter was founded on the philosophy of respect for all life - giving all
beings the chance to heal, be rehabilitated and live happy, peaceful lives. The
goal is to maintain this philosophy (excerpt from Evolucion AC (English) Face
Book post Dec 14, 2015 4:46pm) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="-ms-text-justify: inter-ideograph; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></i><span style="font-size: large;">T</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">he above philosophy did not hold true for Rico or
Paty.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Signs that an animal has been abused
as outlined by the Human Society and ASPCA:</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">*Inability to provide even minimal
standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter and veterinary care. (Paty)</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">*Open wounds, ongoing injury or
illness that is not being treated, lack of veterinary care (Paty and Rico)</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">*Extreme thinness or emaciation, bones
may be visible. (Paty and Rico)</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">*Patches of bumpy, scaly skin rashes.
(Paty)</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">*Signs of inadequate grooming. (Paty
and Rico)</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">*Heavy discharge from the eyes or nose</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">*Visible signs of confusion or extreme
drowsiness. (Paty)</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">*Animals housed in crowded conditions.
(Paty and Rico)</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">*Animal is kept in an area littered
with feces and urine (Rico)</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">*More animals than can be properly
cared for (Paty and Rico)</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: large;"> </span>Sadly, Rico and Paty suffered neglect to the point of abuse in the hands
of an organization who should have been their advocate. We were committed with
financial contributions and Evolucion did not act responsibly and have not
been transparent and accountable. The issue for us is trust. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ask you, if we are just one family who
happened upon not one, but two dogs who were improperly cared for by Evolucion,
how many others do we know nothing about?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ty and Sara Bateman<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Amigos de Rico<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-9543611667517738892013-01-25T15:19:00.000-08:002013-01-25T15:19:02.714-08:00A Forever Home <br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I peek to
see if Momma is still there, she is, I snuggle down in what Momma calls “your
stroller” it is my special place and I love it. Momma changes the padding every
night and it is all soft with cotton. I close my eyes listening to the sounds
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Home</i> while Momma makes soft sounds
in her sleep assuring me all is well I drift back to sleep, remembering the
first time I ever saw her…….</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PShiX7ls51U/UQMGuXCCHjI/AAAAAAAAAn0/EcRNphf5ymw/s1600/Rico+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PShiX7ls51U/UQMGuXCCHjI/AAAAAAAAAn0/EcRNphf5ymw/s320/Rico+016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UHjYExD8arI/UP0dDUkQZJI/AAAAAAAAAng/wRDyFsD1LYg/s1600/Panque%2B022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UHjYExD8arI/UP0dDUkQZJI/AAAAAAAAAng/wRDyFsD1LYg/s400/Panque%2B022.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the door
opens I drag myself as fast as I can helped along with a set of wheels. The
woman looks me directly in the eye as she says “baby boy, you are mine now”. I
am a little nervous as we ride in a car then the woman carries me through a
door and says to me “baby boy, we are home”. I pick up the scent of a dog as
the woman says “Adie this is your new brother” I do not know what a brother is
but, from the sound in the woman’s voice it must be good. Adie seems sort of
snooty and my guess is, not at all glad to have a baby brother. She circles me
sniffing from a distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman says
“Adie be nice” Adie raises her nose in the air, jumps on the sofa and lies down
with a snort. Of course I have never seen a sofa or a swimming pool or had my
own bowl or the glorious new things the woman calls “toys” but I am learning
very fast.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is dark
now and everything is strange, the sounds in the house, the smells. Every time
the woman touches me it is soft and when she scratches my ears I feel a warm
sensation through my body. She reaches for me and says “Momma loves you, Baby
Boy”. Momma gives me a bath and now I smell like flowers which I don’t like,
but Momma seems to enjoy it because she snuggles me and rubs my ears “you are a
clean boy” she says nuzzling her nose against my skin. Every morning a man
comes through the door and Momma says “Alejandro is here”, Adie gets very
excited barking and jumping around, so I decide I will do the same except when
I get excited I pee. Alejandro comes outside to say hello, first he say’s “Adie
Cookie?” Adie seems to like cookies because she sits and lifts her paw to shake
Alejandro’s hand. Then he offers me a cookie, cookies smell delicious, so I
take it from his hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes I
sense empathy and patience from Momma. She sits me on the counter which is
another of my special places. I know it is special because Momma rubs my ears
and talks very sweet to me. There is something in my special place I do not
like, water and the soap that smells like flowers. Yuk!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A basket holds assorted things to bandage my
legs. Momma places everything in front of my nose for me to inspect. She softly
reassures me as she dots cream on my legs where I have no hair or skin then she
bandages my legs. When she is finished she sits me on the floor and I am free
to go explore. I drag myself around feebly attempting to mark my territory on
my expedition; I am embarrassed as Adie watches me dribble pee on my newly
bandaged legs, she struts off with her nose in the air. I pull myself along
with my strong front legs, I let out a yelp as I catch up to her, she jumps onto
the sofa putting as much distance between us as possible because she knows I
cannot jump. I am a puppy and my gums hurt, I decide to chew on a rock. Momma
places a bone in front of me; bones are much tastier than rocks. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Momma tells
Adie and me to sit; I try to be very good like Adie. I know Momma has a
Pup-A-Roni so I start to wiggle over to her even though she told me to “Stay”.
Momma is very patient and tells me “Sit-Stay” I try not to wriggle until Momma
says “Come Rico” then as fast as I can I drag myself over to her out reached
hand to gobble the delicious tidbit as she says “good boy Rico”. I have learned
that I am a good boy and my name is Rico. Sometimes, Momma calls me Ric-o-Roni.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Adie gets
very happy when Momma says “Daddy is coming home” I do not know what a Daddy
is….. Then I hear someone come through the door snooty Adie makes a complete
fool of herself, jumping, snorting, and twisting every which way. I drag myself
as quick as I can to see this new man… So this is a Daddy! He reaches down with
his large hand and gives me a gentle rub under my chin. I am excited to meet
him, so I pee. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One morning Momma and
Daddy are busy, Momma puts me on my special counter and a terrible thing
happens, she washes every inch of my body even my ears. I do not like it one
bit so I poop in the water. She says “oh, Baby Boy” and proceeds to bath me all
over again. There is a good part to having a bath, when Momma is finished she
wraps me in a dry towel and holds me close gently rubbing every inch of me. It
feels so good, I snuggle my nose to her chest as she looks me straight in the
eye drops her face to mine and says “Rico, I love you, Baby Boy”! I close my
eyes and let my body go limp, I am safe and I am secure even if I do smell like
flowers. Daddy says “let’s go” Momma holds me securely in her arms as we walk through
the front door. I raise my nose in the air to take in all the new smells. Momma
places me in a soft comfortable seat with my favorite toy “Teddy Bear”. I like
the seat; I can see out the windows as Daddy drives, I see a lot of people and
cars, but I do not see any other dogs in car seats. The motion in the car makes
me sleepy and since I am clean and have my Teddy Bear, I decide to sleep even
though I smell like flowers. We go to another of my special places. Momma says
“Patricia is my Physical Therapist”. I sense so much love and gentleness from
Patricia. Because she is so sweet, I lie very still and let her rub me all
over, I let her rub me until she is tired of rubbing, then Momma takes me home
and I nap. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vgfHWYRGJAY/UQMMpnFpOXI/AAAAAAAAApM/Qke6EDZZTZw/s1600/Therapy+for+Rico+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vgfHWYRGJAY/UQMMpnFpOXI/AAAAAAAAApM/Qke6EDZZTZw/s400/Therapy+for+Rico+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every night Momma washes
me and places me in my stroller, as she rubs me and places a kiss on top of my
head, she says “here is your Teddy Bear, good night sweet boy” I give her hand
a lick. She rolls me beside her bed. I hear her ask “Adie you want Momma to put
you on the bed”? Adie can still be a little snooty as she eyes me from her pillow.
Momma says “night Baby Girl, night Baby Boy”. As she turns off the light I
snuggle into position so I can see Momma and check on her during the night.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the mornings Momma sits
a bowl mounded with the most delicious food in front of me. Adie gets a bowl
too. I eat all of mine then I help Adie eat hers. When all of the food is gone
I spend a long time helping Momma by licking the bowls clean. My bones no longer
poke out, making it much more comfortable to lie down on the cool concrete.
When Daddy is home he slips me and Adie little treats of food from his plate.
Daddies are the best! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One day
Momma is very upset, I can sense her sorrow. I can smell the salt on her cheek.
She and Daddy are talking to Dr. Tony. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the car Momma and Daddy talk, I feel their
sadness. Daddy reaches over to touch her hand and then pats my head. At home
that day Momma is sad so I sit in her lap as much as she needs me too, I let
her scratch my ears, because it makes her feel better. I rest my head on her arm;
I look into her eyes to let her know how much I love her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Momma, Adie
and I are up early, which I like because Momma holds me and tells me I am a
good boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hear a knock; I drag myself
to the door as Dr. Tony steps inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am excited to see Dr. Tony again and decide to chew on the hem of his pants. I
sense sadness in Momma, a deep and mournful sad as she scoops me into her arms
and gently places me on the bed, she crawls onto the bed beside me for a good
snuggle. She brings her face to mine and kisses the top of my head; I wiggle
and lick the tip of her nose to let her know she is a good Momma. I feel her
heart beat; I smell the salty wet .I feel her love and grief as she says “Rico
you are a good boy”. Dr. Tony is very gentle when I feel a prick on my thigh. I
look into Momma’s eyes and I know she loves me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I smell the
trees and the flowers, I watch as a leaf slowly floats through the air, I jump
to catch it in my mouth and toss it back into the air. I am so happy, following
the trail through the woods, sniffing and lifting my back leg on every bush to
mark my territory; I chase an iguana until he disappears into a hollow log. It
is a bright and beautiful day; in my heart, I hear Momma say “run Rico, run and
play”! So I do, I run like the wind!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gJtrnUsVNQU/UQMOlPZ6_7I/AAAAAAAAAp4/ZpzNxIReVZE/s1600/Drag+Bag+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gJtrnUsVNQU/UQMOlPZ6_7I/AAAAAAAAAp4/ZpzNxIReVZE/s400/Drag+Bag+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Rico </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">March 9, 2012 – October 12, 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Rico was the
little dog in the wheelchair, both hind legs twisted and unusable from birth. He
did not see his handicap and would drag himself playing with toys and chasing
our Schnauzer, Adie. He struggled to do ordinary dog things, but always seemed
to have a smile on his sweet face. He was a little guy but huge in spirit and
touched everyone he met with his special brand of charm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He was
abandoned by his first family, and rescued by a local shelter that was smitten
by the little guy, but struggled to provide the care Rico needed. We were told
he was probably unadoptable, he was at the bottom of the barrel, but this
little dog captured our hearts and changed our lives forever. Through Rico’s
challenges which sadly he was unable to overcome we recognized a need in
Yucatan to help Special Needs Dogs. The little unadoptable dog in a wheelchair
found his “Forever Home” and will live in our hearts forever. He will always be
remembered through Amigos de Rico Memorial Foundation and our hope is countless
dogs and their families will find help through the generosity of the donors and
volunteers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>Please ''LIKE'' Amigos de Rico facebook page:</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/AmigosDeRico">Amigos de Rico</a></o:p></span></div>
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Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-71629121500933768132012-07-15T17:18:00.001-07:002012-07-15T17:18:54.601-07:00Our Neighborhood: Pedro Infante<em>One of the unique things about our neighborhood that a lot of people probably don't know about is the tributes and statue to Mexico's idol of the 40's and 50's, Pedro Infante. </em><br />
(<em>Most of the text below was gathered from The Yucatan Times and Wikipedia)</em><br />
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<img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l3z0ZZej-EM/UANFs9lT4VI/AAAAAAAAAlk/6W1gQZFcSxM/s400/368px-Pedroatodamaquina.gif" width="245" /><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">José Pedro Infante Cruz (November 18, 1917 - April 15, 1957), better
known as Pedro Infante, is perhaps the most famous actor and singer of the
Golden Age of Mexican cinema and was the idol of the Mexican people, together
with Jorge Negrete and Javier Solís, who were styled the Tres Gallos Mexicanos
(the Three Mexican Roosters). He was born on November 18, 1917 in Mazatlán,
Sinaloa, Mexico. He was raised as a child in Guamúchil. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">His
film career began in 1939 with him appearing in more than 60 films, and
starting in 1943, he recorded about 350 songs. For his performance in the movie
Tizoc, he was awarded the Silver Bear of the 1957 Berlin International Film
Festival for Best Actor and also a Golden Globe in Hollywood, for 'Best Actor
in a Leading Role', awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">Though he
made millions, he always represented the common poor carpenter he once was.
Infante was a symbol of someone who had worked himself up from nothing. To many
Latin Americans, he wasn't just an actor and singer, but much, much more. Fifty
five years have done nothing to erase his influence and to this day, flowers
are taken to his grave in Mexico City.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;">Since 1945, Pedro Infante chose the city of
Merida as his getaway from fame, the ideal place to relax and have fun as he
could not do in any other part of Mexico. He was always surrounded by fans that
never let him rest.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;">In Merida, the citizens saw him as a
Yucatecan, they would greet him but never bother him for autographs, or ask him
to sing for them. He was free to go to public and popular places with no
problem, whatsoever. The Yucatecan food was one of his favorites.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;">He had a home on Itzáez Avenue, where he used
to bring his fellow actors, and even Ismael Rodriguez, his head manager used to
stay there to work on new scripts for their upcoming films. He also liked to
tour around town on his powerful Harley Davidson motorcycle.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The city where he chose to relax and have fun, years later would become the place where he lost his life in a plane crash on property at Calle 87 x 52 y 54.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">The death of
Pedro Infante on the morning of April 15, 1957, was announced by radio
personality Humberto Rodríguez, of radio station XEMH </span><span style="color: black;">of Mérida, after one of the
firefighters discovered the bracelet engraved with the name "Pedro Infante",
plus the winged insignia that symbolized his aviator license. This was around
8:15 am; at 11:12 am, Manuel Bernal, of Mexico City radio station XEW</span><span style="color: black;">, gave the news
saying: <i>"this Monday, April 15, 1957, Pedro, our beloved Pedro...this
has been confirmed, has died in a tragic accident in Mérida, Yucatán"</i>.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ghK1kPnpQ1c/UANJ7SDEXVI/AAAAAAAAAl4/r1I-VDQGLQU/s1600/Texas+Misc+May2012+113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ghK1kPnpQ1c/UANJ7SDEXVI/AAAAAAAAAl4/r1I-VDQGLQU/s400/Texas+Misc+May2012+113.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calle 87 x 54 y 52</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;">There is a plaque bearing his name on the
exact site where his charred body was recovered from the wreckage. Also killed in the crash were Marciano Buatista, Capt. Victor M. Vidal, a young woman named Ruth Rosell Chan, and a young child named Baltazar Martin Cruz.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TZCwrNCH53E/UANXSSjmGOI/AAAAAAAAAmE/WQxChgVPgMQ/s1600/Texas+Misc+May2012+116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TZCwrNCH53E/UANXSSjmGOI/AAAAAAAAAmE/WQxChgVPgMQ/s400/Texas+Misc+May2012+116.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The corner of Calle 54 y 87</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YjW3z6sdL9M/UANX6bcKXUI/AAAAAAAAAmM/j63yYnS1aMA/s1600/Pedro+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YjW3z6sdL9M/UANX6bcKXUI/AAAAAAAAAmM/j63yYnS1aMA/s400/Pedro+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calle 62 x 91</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V8rE9QXoygk/UANZRz6_UCI/AAAAAAAAAmU/dx8pkEoOWs8/s1600/Pedro+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V8rE9QXoygk/UANZRz6_UCI/AAAAAAAAAmU/dx8pkEoOWs8/s400/Pedro+005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Every April 15th, there are festivities and celebrations at the corner of Calle 54 x 87 and also at the small plaza with his statue at Calle 62 x 91.<br />
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Below is a small part of the investigation and probable cause of the crash:<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><em>The aircraft
climbed to a height of 100m and made a 65deg left turn. The aircraft continued
to climb to 150-200m and made another turn. The Liberator yawed left, lost
control and nose dived into the ground, killing a child on the ground. Among
those killed aboard the plane was Pedro Infante, a famous Mexican singer,
actor.<br />
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PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accident was due to a maneuvering error which
consisted in making two turns onto the Mexico City heading without conforming
the distance and procedure specifications and below the prescribed altitudes
and speeds. This error was aggravated by a probable shifting of the load due to
improper securing."</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">To this day you will often hear the music of Pedro Infante playing in the neighborhoods of Mérida.</span></span></div>
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<br />Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-79025313466981155792012-05-28T17:11:00.000-07:002012-05-30T19:57:30.552-07:00Our Neighborhood : Cocina ''La Casa De La 60''<em>Where we live is not unlike most neighborhoods in Mérida. Our address is considered to be in ''Centro'' but, just barely. We live in far South Centro (Hence, ''Casa Sur''). We're proud of our neighborhood and have made some good friends here. In an ongoing series, we'll tell you about some of our favorite places here.</em><br />
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Of course, we have many <em>cocina economicas</em> in our area. One of our favorites is ''La Casa De La 60''. It is just up the street from us and boy do they serve up some good food. We usually get our food <em>''para llevar''</em> (to go) but they do have a few tables where you can <em>''comiendo en nuestra casa''</em> (eat in our house), as they say. Good food and good people, come give it a try!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MoVaWB2HsCY/T8QEh8RC8sI/AAAAAAAAAkY/ApgSPTx-afU/s1600/DSCN0456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MoVaWB2HsCY/T8QEh8RC8sI/AAAAAAAAAkY/ApgSPTx-afU/s400/DSCN0456.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
No big sign, just a small family run business<br />
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The name of the business and the menu are posted on the front door. Three different meals per day.<br />
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A peek inside, you won't find a cleaner place to eat anywhere.<br />
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The prices. 35 pesos for a full serving (<em>entera</em>), or 20 pesos for a half meal when you get them to go. 3 pesos for the disposable plates, but they've never charged me the 3 pesos. The prices to eat there are 40 pesos <em>para entera</em> and 25 pesos for the half order.<br />
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Today Sara ordered the <em>Tortitas de Carne </em>with rice and a stack of warm <em>tortillas </em>and it was excellant.<br />
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I ordered the <em>Pollo Empanizado,</em> breaded and fried chicken with rice, a nice salad, and some great macaroni soup w/ chicken livers and hearts mixed in. It was very good!<br />
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Meet the good people that own and operate this fine place, from R to L, Mirium (the owner), her daughter Gisela, and the grand daughter Fatima (age 10).<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FxoIyCRreuk/T8QPM2HuVkI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/aecDartVjSE/s1600/DSCN0447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FxoIyCRreuk/T8QPM2HuVkI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/aecDartVjSE/s400/DSCN0447.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
They are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday thru Saturday. They are located at the <em>esquina </em>of Calle 60 and 85 (or, <em>El Iris</em>).<br />
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I almost forgot, Sara and I ordered the 1/2 meal and it was almost more than we could eat. The total price,with tip was 60 pesos (a little over $4.00 usd<em>, Que bueno).</em><br />
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They don't have drinks but, not to worry......There is ''Tienda Iris'' right next door where you can get a couple of sodas for 10 pesos!<br />
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<em> Buen Provecho!</em>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-81903925939833878822012-04-18T18:14:00.001-07:002012-05-28T17:12:58.713-07:00J.D. Ware, Artesano<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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''Hecho A Mano''...... Made by hand. <br />
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There is just something about those three words that tells you that what you are looking at is something special. In Mexico, it can be something as simple and satisfying as a good cigar or as complex as a finely woven Yucatecan hammock. Here, a lot of things are ''Hecho A Mano''.<br />
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We first met Jeff Ware at the <a href="http://yucatantoday.com/en/topics/arte-mano-spring-show">AANY Show</a> last year in Mérida. He had a display of pocket knives, kitchen knives and hunting / camping knives that were beautiful, sturdy, functional and sharp. They were all made by him, by hand. <br />
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Before Fathers Day rolled around that year, I knew that I wanted to get my father something special. Something from Mexico, our new home. Something ''Hecho A Mano''.<br />
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I contacted Jeff and told him what I was thinking about. A single blade pocket knife with a wood handle, engraving on the blade, and of course the silver escutcheon pinned to the handle with nickel silver pins (hammered and polished 1920's silver 10 centavo pieces that Jeff finds locally). I mentioned that my father was 80 years old and that it was a Fathers Day gift.<br />
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A couple weeks later I went to Jeff's shop to pick up the knife. I was amazed at the craftsmanship, how sharp it was, and just the feel of it in my hand. The handle was made from local Dzalam wood. Jeff explained how he had made the handle a little more slender so that it would be comfortable to carry. Noting my fathers age, he made the spring a little thinner so that it would be easier to open, the thumb notch on the blade was a little bigger and easier to grasp. He gave me a tour of his workshop and showed me the tools that he uses to make his knives.<br />
I was very pleased with his work and I'm sure my father was as well.<br />
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Fast forward almost a year........When Sara was constructing her kitchen in Casa Sur, I knew that I had to get Jeff to make her a set of kitchen knives. She is quite the cook and a good set of knives are important.<br />
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It is a lengthy process to make these knives and I couldn't begin to explain it but you can read about it <a href="http://www.jdwareknives.com/the-workshop.html">here.</a> It is an interesting and informative read.<br />
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Here are some pictures of the process:<br />
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Jeff has quite an interesting and inspirational story about how he came to be a knife maker in Mérida, learning from a matchete maker in the mountains of Oaxaca years ago. You can read his story <a href="http://www.jdwareknives.com/the-artisan.html">here</a> .</div>
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Our knives will see alot of use and we are very proud to own them, as will our grandkids someday.</div>
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Thanks Jeff.</div>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-26839626791266874462012-04-09T05:56:00.000-07:002012-04-09T05:56:14.787-07:00Testing, Testing.......Is This Thing On?.........Can You Hear Me?Yesssss, We're still here. We have been inconsistent bloggers lately (our apologies to the people that commented and their comments were not published for a couple of months. We appreciate you.)<br />
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We have been busy enjoying our home, this great country, and most of all our family and friends.<br />
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I'm sure Sara will write more in detail about what's been going on the last several months but, in a nutshell we have:<br />
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1.Finished the reconstruction on the inside of our home.<br />
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2. Sara went to the States for a couple weeks and got our ''stuff'' shipped to Mérida (with great help from her sister, thanks Jerr.)<br />
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3. With a lot of help from friends, We got everything unpacked and Sara got it looking like a home.<br />
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4. My parents came to visit for a week, they're first time to Mérida.<br />
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5. Of course, we had to have a party while they were here, complete w/ a great mariachi band.<br />
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6. Spent a week of enjoying some of the local attractions.<br />
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Here are a few pictures we hope you enjoy:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s1kDgLTy1a0/T4LV6h7TOuI/AAAAAAAAAhI/_2CInsLkl7w/s1600/IMG_1109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s1kDgLTy1a0/T4LV6h7TOuI/AAAAAAAAAhI/_2CInsLkl7w/s400/IMG_1109.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loading the shipping container in Texas<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KOMqgoAeIgA/T4LWc2Rt4bI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/8O4Tsm_y44E/s1600/IMG_1160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KOMqgoAeIgA/T4LWc2Rt4bI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/8O4Tsm_y44E/s400/IMG_1160.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Headed to Mérida via Panama City and Progreso</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4RpG4b0wsHU/T4LXbd80cEI/AAAAAAAAAhY/UvKkcTQJ1OQ/s1600/IMG_1523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4RpG4b0wsHU/T4LXbd80cEI/AAAAAAAAAhY/UvKkcTQJ1OQ/s400/IMG_1523.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Mariachi's at the party</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H32NuG2d0nI/T4LX-eIXsmI/AAAAAAAAAhg/9GGixcUFj0E/s1600/IMG_1572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H32NuG2d0nI/T4LX-eIXsmI/AAAAAAAAAhg/9GGixcUFj0E/s400/IMG_1572.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, it was a good party !!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XUUNvH_hcbM/T4LYb0kpKwI/AAAAAAAAAho/WMHUP7ZScZc/s1600/IMG_1451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XUUNvH_hcbM/T4LYb0kpKwI/AAAAAAAAAho/WMHUP7ZScZc/s400/IMG_1451.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hacienda Sotuta de Peon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-crpRQmpEBHs/T4LZs6PzwhI/AAAAAAAAAhw/afLG82d6VlE/s1600/IMG_1461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-crpRQmpEBHs/T4LZs6PzwhI/AAAAAAAAAhw/afLG82d6VlE/s400/IMG_1461.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My parents </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tvAyfC5skR4/T4LaFtPpZkI/AAAAAAAAAh4/kXpyAabJMk0/s1600/IMG_1496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tvAyfC5skR4/T4LaFtPpZkI/AAAAAAAAAh4/kXpyAabJMk0/s400/IMG_1496.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Old hacienda outside of Mérida</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nkk3ntVP3ho/T4LaawyGfTI/AAAAAAAAAiA/L3nfZjrKisk/s1600/IMG_1578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nkk3ntVP3ho/T4LaawyGfTI/AAAAAAAAAiA/L3nfZjrKisk/s400/IMG_1578.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Flamingos at Celestun</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pqn-eLIyumc/T4LaskOh0RI/AAAAAAAAAiI/HpI01u23ev0/s1600/Jo+Ann+and+Al+210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pqn-eLIyumc/T4LaskOh0RI/AAAAAAAAAiI/HpI01u23ev0/s400/Jo+Ann+and+Al+210.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Only in Mexico</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B3Th71hXRGU/T4LbAZYJmsI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/NIikW-xZ_YI/s1600/DSC04039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B3Th71hXRGU/T4LbAZYJmsI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/NIikW-xZ_YI/s400/DSC04039.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Uxmal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7gamSHjfcS4/T4LbN9685HI/AAAAAAAAAiY/TkeEIHHdNn0/s1600/May+2012+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7gamSHjfcS4/T4LbN9685HI/AAAAAAAAAiY/TkeEIHHdNn0/s400/May+2012+013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Progreso beach and pier</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-19503113866111719582012-01-11T19:38:00.000-08:002012-01-11T20:55:31.565-08:00If It Wasn’t For Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rAOJaq6iCTA/Tw5Rb5QRkpI/AAAAAAAAAhA/SW6oE4bO-jk/s1600/Texas_Flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" kba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rAOJaq6iCTA/Tw5Rb5QRkpI/AAAAAAAAAhA/SW6oE4bO-jk/s400/Texas_Flag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has been a year today since Ty and I pulled away from the curb of our daughter’s house in Midland, headed for Mérida. This morning we talked about time and the fact that in Texas time raced by and here in Mérida the pace is slower and much more relaxed.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have taken some ALL IN FUN ribbin'</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> here for the way we talk and to tell you the truth it makes me proud. In light of all the good-hearted FUN, I decided to help my new friends out and fill y’all in on a few “Texasisms”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s not bad grammar; it’s just how we talk in Texas.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dun - finished “cook until dun”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fixin’ - going to, “I’m fixin’ to cook supper”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">R -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘’ We really miss R family’’</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sumpin’ – You gonna fix sumpin for supper?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mera – mirror</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tal - towel</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tak’n’ta - (take-un-tuh) “ He’s tak’n’ta’ drinkin’ “</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thang – thing</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Up – a state of being “she’s all gussied up” (she is dressed up) “he’s all bowed up” (he’s mad)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nuther – another</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Warsh – wash</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Off - The doctor says, “He’s pretty bad off.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Texas it is perfectly ok to shed syllables such as: Flor’da (Florida)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can also forget about g’s at the end of any word: goin’, comin’, fixin’, takin’.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">L’s are optional, as in light bub.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can also stretch out a word by adding several more syllables Sheeeeeeit (s#@t)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coke is any carbonated drink.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Conniption is a fit “When she didn’t get her way she threw a conniption fit.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dinner is any meal other than breakfast</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Supper - the evening meal</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dumber ‘n’ durt – really stupid</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prolly - probably - Prolly gonna rain today.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Id’n’it (isn’t it) - Id''n' it a purty day?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every Texan either knows a Bubba or has one in their family that also goes for girls called Sissy.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have both in our family (I know, but it’s the truth)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From the </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">list, you might be safe in concluding speaking Spanish with a Texas accent is like a whole ‘nuther language. ‘Cause we talk a little slow in Texas. Por Favor sounds more like Poooour Faaaaavooooour!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If ya haven’t had enough……. here is some Texas trivia:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you ask “How far is it to Dallas from Midland” the answer would be five hours (mileage is irrelevant we count mileage in hours)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is a sixteen-hour drive from North to South and sixteen hours East to West.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Texas is not just oil, cotton and cowboys (or cowgirls). Today’s Texas produces award winning wine’s, olive oil and Dell Computers. Lavender and sunflower fields rival the Tuscan countryside. You can eat a Gourmet meal at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Riata</i> in Alpine or have a perfect steak at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tom Perini’s Ranch</i> in Buffalo Gap. You can dine on Tex-Mex in small Mom and Pop Café’s in any town or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chuy’s</i> in Austin. You can walk the beach and dine on fresh shrimp, oysters, crab and flounder. You can row your canoe down a bayou and have a Cajun style crawfish boil or fried catfish. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Couture’ fashion visit Dallas Market Center. If your hankerin’ to scoot a boot head over to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Billie Bob’s</i> a huge honkytonk at the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fort Worth Stockyards</i>. You can enjoy East Texas’ piney woods and Caddo Lake with Spanish moss draped cypress trees. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can climb a granite monolith or lazily inner tube on the Guadalupe River then dine on authentic German Cuisine. Eat the sweetest peaches from Fredericksburg in a pint of Blue Bell Ice Cream and of course the world famous Pecos Cantaloupe. You can trek around the “Caprock” in the Panhandle dropping down into Turkey, Texas, the home of Bob Will’s. You can hike the Chihuahuan Desert and visit Langtry, home of colorful Judge Roy Bean. You can visit small farming towns and cosmopolitan cities. You can visit Austin, Music Capital of the world for Texas Country, Blues and Rock and Roll or check out The Nutcracker at Bass Hall in Fort Worth. You can visit my hometown of Uvalde, home to Matthew McConaughey!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can visit citrus groves and two international lakes. You can explore Spanish missions and see Aggie’s in action. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok, I could go on and on and on. Guess you can say we are proud to be Texas transplants to Mexico. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/LAxbT7DExsM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-78295021827314373882012-01-02T06:25:00.000-08:002012-01-02T06:25:31.695-08:00We Have Changed Our Minds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gYjRfvthUiY/TwG91hgZqVI/AAAAAAAAAg4/JVsDRzEhC7M/s1600/Yaxcopoil+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gYjRfvthUiY/TwG91hgZqVI/AAAAAAAAAg4/JVsDRzEhC7M/s400/Yaxcopoil+017.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After living in Mexico for a year, Ty and I have changed our minds. Life here in Mérida is well…. Not exactly as we thought it would be.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In this last year, we have of course been thoroughly engrossed in restyling this wonderful old house. I have commented several times I will be glad to be finished with construction and START my life in Mérida! While selecting photos for a “Year in Review” video to email to family and friends I realized we did a lot more this last year than live “under construction”.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our year started with scrambling to tidy up the details of moving south of the border, visiting family and friends and saying goodbye to everything familiar and comfortable. In the “Honeymoon” stage of our move, we were enthralled with the little things that make Mexico different from the United States. Women riding side saddle on the back of a motorcycle in a dress and flip flops, women in white embroidered dresses with tubs of flowers perched on their heads, music spilling over the stacked stone walls and street vendors at your door with fresh tortillas, breads, pastries, fruit and dirt! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When your mind changes it is often painful, the stretching, the tossing out of what you had thought for your entire life, the grasping of new concepts and then REALITY! I have said, “I spent an entire lifetime learning how to live only to move here and find those skills absolutely useless”. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The seasons have changed in the year we have been here and so have we. We have changed our minds; we no longer feel we must have the latest gadget, the most stylish clothes or a microwave. We have changed our minds and sometimes our minds are thinking in Spanish first! We have stood in awe at the foot of a Mayan pyramid and stood in awe at the beauty of a colonial building. We have heard the melody of a folk song and the bark of a roof dog. We have watched men in flip-flops build our house. We are not living the life we dreamed ……. We are living the reality of a much richer life than we had dreamed possible. When you meet people who are writers, artists, chefs, photographers,</span><a href="" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> small town attorneys and history teachers, you cannot help but be enriched by the experience of knowing these people. When you meet people who have little income and few material possessions but live a simple and fulfilled life you cannot help but see the richness of their lives and re-evaluate your own priorities.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have lived through the heat, the dust and the mosquitos, a language barrier, and missing our family so much we ache. We have worked through the challenges little by little and shed a lifetime of preconceived ideas. This brings us to the realization WE HAVE CHANGED OUR MINDS!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ty, Gringa Dog and I wish you all a wonderful year ahead and we hope for each of you a life where you too will have the opportunity to CHANGE YOUR MIND!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stay with us this year as we continue our adventure of living in Merida!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-49319569673774865802011-12-21T05:05:00.000-08:002011-12-21T05:05:32.302-08:00White Christmas in Mérida<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My little neighbor lady Elsa has her house decorated with twinkling lights and the ever present light up Virgin de Guadalupe complete with music. I stand at my window at night peering across the street and listen</span><a href="" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> to the sound of a familiar carol as her lights twinkle. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Malls and department stores are decorated American style with sparkling trees, Santa and elves. While shopping, if the signage was not in Spanish and the carols over the sound system not in Spanish, I would think I was in any mall or department store in the States.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beautiful poinsettias are everywhere, lining the edge of the cities fountains, only here the locals call them ‘’Noche Buena’’. Christmas tree lots sprang up overnight with fragrant beautiful noble firs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Calle 60, Mérida’s main northbound artery through centro has been reduced to one lane of traffic, as people spill over from the sidewalk, their arms laden with shopping bags. One man walking with multiple bags slung over his arms and a handmade twig manger precariously balancing atop his head weaves his way through the many pedestrians.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Gringo Christmas parties have been in full swing, complete with a blend of Norte Americano Christmas treats and traditional local fare.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday morning I was treated to a walking three-man band, stopping to play at your door for a small propina.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mérida is an enchanting city on any day but, add the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas and it is storybook perfect.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for me, I am having a White Christmas in Mérida, as the polvo from our interior restyling covers every surface, and floats through the air creating an ethereal white wonderland. Instead of a fragrant pine Christmas tree, I have been selecting palm trees, bird of paradise, and blue agave for our hacienda style landscape project. Adie and I are here without Ty and even though we are a little sad to not be surrounded with our family this Christmas, it is my first Christmas in Mexico and it is truly a magical time!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ty, Adie and I wish all of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS………..</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FbM47pI5YrE/TvHY1ibOsMI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/itTacPWYExA/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FbM47pI5YrE/TvHY1ibOsMI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/itTacPWYExA/s640/017.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-6602365237998147082011-11-20T07:05:00.000-08:002011-11-20T07:05:11.166-08:00Acqua Cocina Creativa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0yvCx7fn7gg/TskN0OJPi1I/AAAAAAAAAe4/a5jyk3Xn8dY/s1600/Acqua+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0yvCx7fn7gg/TskN0OJPi1I/AAAAAAAAAe4/a5jyk3Xn8dY/s400/Acqua+020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I celebrated my first birthday in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mérida</i> and since I am twenty-nine AGAIN, Ty wanted to treat me to a relaxing and delicious birthday date. I chose <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Acqua Cocina Creativa</i>. We head out for a late lunch, arriving at the restaurant about four thirty. The sun hangs low as we are graciously greeted by Fernando and shown to our outdoor table nestled under a stand of bamboo. The sidewalk dining area overlooks a quiet boulevard with several other restaurants in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GoVLNqsF33o/TskOcVTiRRI/AAAAAAAAAfA/3kkvYRUNdzM/s1600/Acqua+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GoVLNqsF33o/TskOcVTiRRI/AAAAAAAAAfA/3kkvYRUNdzM/s400/Acqua+022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ty selects a midrange red wine and we have a choice of menus, Spanish or English, the Spanish version is much more romantic, but with the English menu we will know exactly what we are ordering! My mouth waters at the descriptive selections, it was difficult to decide given the variety of tempting appetizers and entrees.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ANuXxp_b3lY/TskPO7145gI/AAAAAAAAAfI/k4Y-BpztObk/s1600/Acqua+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ANuXxp_b3lY/TskPO7145gI/AAAAAAAAAfI/k4Y-BpztObk/s400/Acqua+024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To begin our evening feast we select a wonderfully spicy Tuna Tartare served with blue corn tostadas. Ernesto (the owner) comes by our table to say hello, he is a friendly and warm fellow who says <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mi casa su casa</i>.</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PO9l1I64s6U/TskPpzM-YVI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/cVfjLwzu_0s/s1600/Acqua+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PO9l1I64s6U/TskPpzM-YVI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/cVfjLwzu_0s/s400/Acqua+028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We enjoy the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Acqua </i>Salad of dark leafy spinach, pungent creamy goat cheese, crunchy sweet caramelized pecans and balsamic vinegar dressing. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tJHfQJu_oiA/TskQMg6kHwI/AAAAAAAAAfY/H3sVdQk0Vro/s1600/Acqua+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tJHfQJu_oiA/TskQMg6kHwI/AAAAAAAAAfY/H3sVdQk0Vro/s400/Acqua+030.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Fernando and Mauricio place our entrees before us and the first thing we notice is the wonderful presentation, Ty has selected a creamy dish of gorgonzola cheese sauce, penne pasta and roasted tomato topped with large grilled shrimp. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s2zIkwlv0YQ/TskQfrwMkpI/AAAAAAAAAfg/XDmLv55zvHQ/s1600/Acqua+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s2zIkwlv0YQ/TskQfrwMkpI/AAAAAAAAAfg/XDmLv55zvHQ/s400/Acqua+033.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> I swoon over the asparagus and bacon rice soufflé topped with slices of succulent duck breast in a dark balsamic thyme fig sauce. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V07m8OQbM-I/TskRRLhjbRI/AAAAAAAAAfo/Tbo334K2s98/s1600/Acqua+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V07m8OQbM-I/TskRRLhjbRI/AAAAAAAAAfo/Tbo334K2s98/s400/Acqua+047.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The twinkling city lights, the soft breeze rustling the bamboo and our taste buds completely satisfied,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Fernando</i> tempts us with a scrumptious dessert and after dinner aperitif. We relent, not sure we have room for another bite, when the Cinnamon Almond Streusel arrives we do not hesitate to put away the entire dessert.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I8wvqv07VtY/TskRqYdtZsI/AAAAAAAAAfw/XIuANrrmVNs/s1600/Acqua+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I8wvqv07VtY/TskRqYdtZsI/AAAAAAAAAfw/XIuANrrmVNs/s400/Acqua+051.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chef Pablo Gomes<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lingering over our after dinner drinks, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pablo Gomes</i> the chef who expertly prepares <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Maricela’s </i>recipes, comes by our table, shaking Ty’s hand he inquires as to whether or not we have enjoyed the meal. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-umVOdamvASs/TskS2h-tYjI/AAAAAAAAAf4/13AA244zRFM/s1600/Acqua+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-umVOdamvASs/TskS2h-tYjI/AAAAAAAAAf4/13AA244zRFM/s400/Acqua+045.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> Fernando and Mauricio</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fxt0sLs8E7c/TskTtGPvtDI/AAAAAAAAAgA/nCuFk1LxbDA/s1600/Acqua+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fxt0sLs8E7c/TskTtGPvtDI/AAAAAAAAAgA/nCuFk1LxbDA/s400/Acqua+050.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> Some of the staff of Acqua</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Maricela</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> has managed to carve out a comfortable dining experience with creative recipes and ample servings. Their staff’s attention to detail is impressive. We spent around a hundred dollars including tip, we had one bottle of wine, an appetizer, salad, two entrees, dessert and three aperitifs. While the restaurant decor is ultra-contemporary (not really our taste), inside can be a little noisy as it fills with people, the tables outside are relaxing and comfortable. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fernando</i> inquires about calling us a taxi as he places our doggy bag on the table, Adie will be disappointed when we do not share.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Maricela</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ernesto</i> have created a wonderful place to dine in our beautiful city and I believe the name of the restaurant says it all, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Acqua Cocina Creativa</i>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Acqua</span></span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Avenida 21 # 73 x 12 y 14</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Colonia Mexico</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">999-926-8211</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V-gLP0BJznU/TskWA-v1mCI/AAAAAAAAAgI/ICsAvT3hNTQ/s1600/Acqua+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V-gLP0BJznU/TskWA-v1mCI/AAAAAAAAAgI/ICsAvT3hNTQ/s400/Acqua+048.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-29288339614650292082011-11-16T04:38:00.000-08:002011-11-19T08:11:25.103-08:00Hamish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tiws0c-u83I/TsOs6jdfG6I/AAAAAAAAAew/WCMKKoUVBQs/s1600/DSCN0263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tiws0c-u83I/TsOs6jdfG6I/AAAAAAAAAew/WCMKKoUVBQs/s400/DSCN0263.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had the opportunity to meet Hamish through two great folks who became our first friends here in Mérida. Being just two doors down from our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Casa Renta</i> it was easy to bop back and forth for little visits. Hamish always greeted us with a smile and welcomed us into his home. He moved slowly as age had caught up with him, but his eyes reflected the heart of a youngster. I well remember a party at his house, in his quiet manner he greeted each guest and mingled with the crowd, when he had enough, he laid down, unfazed by the music and chatter of the guests. When I visited Hamish, with his crippled gait he would approach me with his favorite toy, wet with slobber I would tug gently and he would tug back. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hamish passed away last week and left sadness in the hearts of our dear friends and in ours as well. I have thought of what a dog brings to human lives, of what Adie has brought to our life. The unconditional love dogs have for their human companions is never ceasing, the smiles that cross our faces as we watch them play and their unwavering devotion, we welcome them into our homes and they become a family member. They sense our emotions and alert us of danger. They simply love us and we love them back.</span></span></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rainbow Bridge</span></span></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 16.2pt;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.<br />
<br />
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.<br />
<br />
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.<br />
<br />
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.<br />
<br />
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.<br />
<br />
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.<br />
<br />
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.<br />
<br />
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....<br />
<br />
Author unknown...</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-71768155155573891682011-11-01T15:27:00.000-07:002011-11-02T02:31:25.072-07:00On A Sunday in Mérida<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On an almost crisp or should I say less hot and humid Sunday in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mérida</i> you have a smorgasbord of activities to choose from. You can choose to walk your dog along the beautiful <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paseo Montejo</i>, you can bicycle the historic streets of centro or you can head north to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Colonia Chuburna</i> to an open-air market called a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tianguis</i>. Since I am an avid estate sale and flea market shopper, that is exactly what a couple of my girlfriends and I decided to do. With the morning a comfortable temperature and clouds threatening at least a sprinkle or two, we head out shopping bags in tow to see what goodies we might unearth.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1R7UKQjnQYA/TrBfQAnVX5I/AAAAAAAAAcU/-Zd_WomCHSc/s1600/Tianguis+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1R7UKQjnQYA/TrBfQAnVX5I/AAAAAAAAAcU/-Zd_WomCHSc/s640/Tianguis+003.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The pretty and simple red stucco church has parishioners spilling out onto the lawn, and the smell of street corn drifts through the air as we begin our expedition. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iXZiL4wnuTs/TrBf8RdZB5I/AAAAAAAAAcc/XApw12TMcMw/s1600/Tianguis+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iXZiL4wnuTs/TrBf8RdZB5I/AAAAAAAAAcc/XApw12TMcMw/s400/Tianguis+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Many vendors have used clothing, which was clean, on hangers and in good shape, my friend Sara sorts through the clothes for interesting fabrics to make designer pillows. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Linda searches the new and used jewelry for interesting beads; she takes apart her finds to create new earrings, bracelets and adornments on her hand knitted pillows and shawls. I just like the thought of finding anything interesting. I buy a little cross body tapestry tote for 25 pesos and admire a large wood carving which started out being priced at 1600 pesos, but by the time I began to walk away the vendor had reduced it to 1200 pesos, with no haggling on my part. As interesting as it was, I passed it up.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ekD44l_5PdY/TrBlEAkL3II/AAAAAAAAAck/cv-segobfuk/s1600/Tianguis+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ekD44l_5PdY/TrBlEAkL3II/AAAAAAAAAck/cv-segobfuk/s400/Tianguis+016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YfxukslFn94/TrBlmBiG7yI/AAAAAAAAAcs/Jlq-TH2MwnQ/s1600/Tianguis+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YfxukslFn94/TrBlmBiG7yI/AAAAAAAAAcs/Jlq-TH2MwnQ/s400/Tianguis+007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tIXcrXsTQKY/TrBm02-UvPI/AAAAAAAAAc8/-YWSFMRSLAk/s1600/Tianguis+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tIXcrXsTQKY/TrBm02-UvPI/AAAAAAAAAc8/-YWSFMRSLAk/s400/Tianguis+008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8iajtpmTF7w/TrBoNFAPruI/AAAAAAAAAdE/4vQqaqbHaqc/s1600/Tianguis+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8iajtpmTF7w/TrBoNFAPruI/AAAAAAAAAdE/4vQqaqbHaqc/s400/Tianguis+010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MBhgzkvhkno/TrBo9EG8zGI/AAAAAAAAAdM/YkeoB5bZ5OI/s1600/Tianguis+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MBhgzkvhkno/TrBo9EG8zGI/AAAAAAAAAdM/YkeoB5bZ5OI/s400/Tianguis+020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What I could not pass up was at Alejandro’s plant stand where I bought a lavender plant and two tropical plants of some kind which were very reasonably priced.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fxJYwt-RI_Y/TrBpuZOQ9wI/AAAAAAAAAdU/CkW66Viry1g/s1600/Tianguis+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fxJYwt-RI_Y/TrBpuZOQ9wI/AAAAAAAAAdU/CkW66Viry1g/s400/Tianguis+013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ov90Lbwrqr8/TrBqdTlDHMI/AAAAAAAAAdc/DCH-qRmTBdg/s1600/Tianguis+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ov90Lbwrqr8/TrBqdTlDHMI/AAAAAAAAAdc/DCH-qRmTBdg/s400/Tianguis+014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After we had completed our tour of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tianguis,</i> we stopped in to see Miguel at his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">vivero</i> (nursery). From the street it looks like a small place with nice plants, truth is it is more like maneuvering through a well-kept jungle, flowers of every color lighting our way. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NGfT7is8Dzs/TrBrnMd6cDI/AAAAAAAAAdk/5tmevdJjD1g/s1600/Tianguis+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NGfT7is8Dzs/TrBrnMd6cDI/AAAAAAAAAdk/5tmevdJjD1g/s400/Tianguis+025.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WiS9WmcHGRE/TrBsUBNvxUI/AAAAAAAAAds/xvfTqEkpYTs/s1600/Tianguis+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WiS9WmcHGRE/TrBsUBNvxUI/AAAAAAAAAds/xvfTqEkpYTs/s400/Tianguis+026.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UDE0_tcv_Mo/TrBs3hUo_MI/AAAAAAAAAd0/tx5tk4CfTtI/s1600/Tianguis+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UDE0_tcv_Mo/TrBs3hUo_MI/AAAAAAAAAd0/tx5tk4CfTtI/s400/Tianguis+029.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I choose two gardenia plants with fragrant white blooms and four bags of fine composted coffee colored dirt.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oo4ukiWaHWA/TrBtiIOCxBI/AAAAAAAAAeA/ljlL28JRW9g/s1600/Tianguis+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oo4ukiWaHWA/TrBtiIOCxBI/AAAAAAAAAeA/ljlL28JRW9g/s400/Tianguis+024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our shopping complete and our tummy’s growling, Miguel suggests a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cocina economica</i> where we dined on hot off the grill chicken, tortillas and macaroni soup. Lunch including drink set me back a whopping 46 pesos ($3.50 usd).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WaW_xWbyxc0/TrBulom1AZI/AAAAAAAAAeI/uyuIhnEE1pY/s1600/Tianguis+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WaW_xWbyxc0/TrBulom1AZI/AAAAAAAAAeI/uyuIhnEE1pY/s400/Tianguis+032.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uC9NnF3YvVE/TrBvEaF2pjI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/ZOvWjX21_KM/s1600/Tianguis+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uC9NnF3YvVE/TrBvEaF2pjI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/ZOvWjX21_KM/s400/Tianguis+033.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qnw_GwYI24U/TrBwAI61NEI/AAAAAAAAAeg/E8zrD-NR078/s1600/Tianguis+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qnw_GwYI24U/TrBwAI61NEI/AAAAAAAAAeg/E8zrD-NR078/s400/Tianguis+036.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iYsfYXDIVt8/TrBwUoXxCLI/AAAAAAAAAeo/19282Tn2IMU/s1600/Tianguis+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iYsfYXDIVt8/TrBwUoXxCLI/AAAAAAAAAeo/19282Tn2IMU/s400/Tianguis+035.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I dropped my friends off and headed to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Casa Sur</i> for a wonderful Sunday siesta!</span></div></span></span>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-77945997665820761312011-10-18T17:29:00.000-07:002011-10-18T17:38:57.188-07:00Casa Sur – Phase 1<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Usually when we make a post on our blog, Sara does the writing, we both decide on the pictures, and then I post it. However, I’ve talked her into letting me write this one.The reason I wanted to write it is because I wanted to say a few words about my wife. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We started the additions to the back of our house in April and it was finished in early September. That’s over 4 months through the hottest time of the year. Now…..Because of my job, I have to travel quite a lot so there were many days when I wasn’t there. Sara was there every day (except the few days that she went into hiding because of the jackhammer). At the start of the project she spoke very little to no Spanish. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She greeted the workers everyday with a buenos días, she told them hasta mañana every evening. She made sure every night that there were plastic containers filled with water and put in the freezer so they would have ice the next day. When she cooked more than we needed, the extra always went to the albañiles. She knows every one of their names, whether or not they are married, and how many kids they have. She knows what they like to do on their time off and what sports they enjoy. She has eaten with them, told them jokes, somehow gotten across her vision of how things should look, and when needed she scolded them. I’ve seen her laugh over this project and I’ve seen her cry. The one thing that remained constant (a rarity here in Mexico!) was the respect that she showed these men working on our home and their eagerness to return that respect and make her happy with their work. At the end of this post is a YouTube link for a video that Sara made about the construction, beginning to end. Sara had a cookout for the guys when the work was finished and presented each with a DVD of the video. You could see the pride in their eyes as they watched the video detailing the work that they had done, all by hand.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I could go on and on but I’ll stop here, I think you get the idea of how proud I am of her. And…..Her Spanish is coming along pretty darn good now.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, without further adieu……..You might remember how the back of our home looked when we started the project:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wGmRJYIZhM4/Tp4GRauk1wI/AAAAAAAAARM/NBVVzyVd7QA/s1600/DSCN0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wGmRJYIZhM4/Tp4GRauk1wI/AAAAAAAAARM/NBVVzyVd7QA/s400/DSCN0256.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And then, like Sara says, how it looks after we ‘’made it our own’’:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N5bpGaNPDHM/Tp4HfIFsfxI/AAAAAAAAARU/gWqqXW519qo/s1600/Mas+Terraza+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N5bpGaNPDHM/Tp4HfIFsfxI/AAAAAAAAARU/gWqqXW519qo/s400/Mas+Terraza+009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nxbDPpWqtvk/Tp4IUdlS4-I/AAAAAAAAARc/Kh3tRg9WjzE/s1600/Mas+Terraza+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nxbDPpWqtvk/Tp4IUdlS4-I/AAAAAAAAARc/Kh3tRg9WjzE/s400/Mas+Terraza+005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g8BMTYgussM/Tp4I6qdUlFI/AAAAAAAAARk/DVrTV9aZrVQ/s1600/Mas+Terraza+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g8BMTYgussM/Tp4I6qdUlFI/AAAAAAAAARk/DVrTV9aZrVQ/s400/Mas+Terraza+006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I_HLj6NmOYU/Tp4JWR1JDWI/AAAAAAAAARs/DxriRTDpd6o/s1600/Mas+Terraza+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I_HLj6NmOYU/Tp4JWR1JDWI/AAAAAAAAARs/DxriRTDpd6o/s400/Mas+Terraza+007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YXmhZ-PuEqE/Tp4J91PtaeI/AAAAAAAAAR0/ONaYRW6vDVo/s1600/Mas+Terraza+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YXmhZ-PuEqE/Tp4J91PtaeI/AAAAAAAAAR0/ONaYRW6vDVo/s400/Mas+Terraza+010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tp7zMYfGQRc/Tp4LTjmZ-1I/AAAAAAAAAR8/QkYYJEZdgjk/s1600/Mas+Terraza+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tp7zMYfGQRc/Tp4LTjmZ-1I/AAAAAAAAAR8/QkYYJEZdgjk/s400/Mas+Terraza+004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cAZTLUx2G_A/Tp4L_JTHopI/AAAAAAAAASE/pGbZmbieZWs/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cAZTLUx2G_A/Tp4L_JTHopI/AAAAAAAAASE/pGbZmbieZWs/s400/001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Wu9kCT28cE/Tp4MtC7ykRI/AAAAAAAAASM/1sGkCwUmkJs/s1600/Mas+Terraza+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Wu9kCT28cE/Tp4MtC7ykRI/AAAAAAAAASM/1sGkCwUmkJs/s400/Mas+Terraza+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vuNWGtKJMuo/Tp4Ng3GDthI/AAAAAAAAASU/C57zY_2C3tE/s1600/Terraza+night+view+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vuNWGtKJMuo/Tp4Ng3GDthI/AAAAAAAAASU/C57zY_2C3tE/s400/Terraza+night+view+012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EbSUyqX9mRs/Tp4OBRSWYwI/AAAAAAAAASc/Aej-XoxZZxY/s1600/Terraza+night+view+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EbSUyqX9mRs/Tp4OBRSWYwI/AAAAAAAAASc/Aej-XoxZZxY/s400/Terraza+night+view+021.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OU3Xqc4cB9M/Tp4OnngO20I/AAAAAAAAASk/vdnf8XFYhoo/s1600/Fiesta+por+Albaniles+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OU3Xqc4cB9M/Tp4OnngO20I/AAAAAAAAASk/vdnf8XFYhoo/s400/Fiesta+por+Albaniles+034.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In typical Yucatan tradition, each albañili left his hand print</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHHSZR2LnGM/Tp4PBzAHc6I/AAAAAAAAASs/s8Yw0f7yChU/s1600/Fiesta+por+Albaniles+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHHSZR2LnGM/Tp4PBzAHc6I/AAAAAAAAASs/s8Yw0f7yChU/s400/Fiesta+por+Albaniles+019.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sara with her albañiles</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3MgpbetomA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3MgpbetomA</a>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-73800308620949768052011-10-16T12:54:00.000-07:002011-10-18T15:44:38.879-07:00We’ve Always Been Crazy<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our friends and family told us, we were crazy to move to Mexico, later we were told it was crazy to live in the house while it was under construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know what, they were RIGHT!!!!!!! Waylon Jennings said it best, “I’ve always been crazy but it’s kept me from going insane”.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everyday progress continued on the building project, every day we watched as our dream began to take shape. <span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Twenty-five feet concrete beams created the bones of the roof, below was a network of tree trunk support braces. Cement blocks filled in the gaps between the beams and cement poured on top created the roof. </span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N8-V8TrAoac/TpsjRM7E3QI/AAAAAAAAAMc/UjuIt24nSks/s1600/we+have+roof+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N8-V8TrAoac/TpsjRM7E3QI/AAAAAAAAAMc/UjuIt24nSks/s400/we+have+roof+035.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-XJxv52J1o/Tpsj6SO5H4I/AAAAAAAAAMk/42DMFxE7FoY/s1600/we+have+roof+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-XJxv52J1o/Tpsj6SO5H4I/AAAAAAAAAMk/42DMFxE7FoY/s400/we+have+roof+023.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1rZdBUjwsPo/Tpskgr9tY1I/AAAAAAAAAMs/288yL_pXDR4/s1600/Guys+on+the+roof+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1rZdBUjwsPo/Tpskgr9tY1I/AAAAAAAAAMs/288yL_pXDR4/s400/Guys+on+the+roof+028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ehd-9LQO9A/TpsnXiDH0aI/AAAAAAAAAM8/FrIPVVUw8-o/s1600/Gravel+in+the+Comedor+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ehd-9LQO9A/TpsnXiDH0aI/AAAAAAAAAM8/FrIPVVUw8-o/s400/Gravel+in+the+Comedor+024.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLtPuezOkd4/Tpsn6aZR2TI/AAAAAAAAANE/kxcYKtSwSFc/s1600/Gravel+in+the+Comedor+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLtPuezOkd4/Tpsn6aZR2TI/AAAAAAAAANE/kxcYKtSwSFc/s400/Gravel+in+the+Comedor+018.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chipped and smoothed by hand we soon had the arches we had longed for. With a hand designed and cut out metal jig, Julio artistically applied the arch moldings. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jneiCMfZG28/Tpso9g593tI/AAAAAAAAANM/_YSwj2-Kxik/s1600/July+2011+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jneiCMfZG28/Tpso9g593tI/AAAAAAAAANM/_YSwj2-Kxik/s400/July+2011+016.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YBLHTC6dvr8/Tpspr5sTk5I/AAAAAAAAANU/VQorZSjSdaU/s1600/July+11+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YBLHTC6dvr8/Tpspr5sTk5I/AAAAAAAAANU/VQorZSjSdaU/s400/July+11+020.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-3jEWPMSFI/TpsqLPuQAdI/AAAAAAAAANc/CKMzaSmY_-8/s1600/Balastrades+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-3jEWPMSFI/TpsqLPuQAdI/AAAAAAAAANc/CKMzaSmY_-8/s400/Balastrades+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mamposteria </i>pool walls now smooth with concrete soon became a sparkling blue tiled swimming pool with a gurgling fountain. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NhoUJN12mio/TpsrKojvlII/AAAAAAAAANk/77pAqMEFgNk/s1600/Antonio+Pequeno+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NhoUJN12mio/TpsrKojvlII/AAAAAAAAANk/77pAqMEFgNk/s400/Antonio+Pequeno+026.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-plzbh518_GU/Tpsr874BIzI/AAAAAAAAANs/RWsrr6Hm9_4/s1600/Pool+tile+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-plzbh518_GU/Tpsr874BIzI/AAAAAAAAANs/RWsrr6Hm9_4/s400/Pool+tile+034.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--QK5qBRCjqQ/TpssskWdrrI/AAAAAAAAAN0/cVgidqPg6JI/s1600/Rufina+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--QK5qBRCjqQ/TpssskWdrrI/AAAAAAAAAN0/cVgidqPg6JI/s400/Rufina+006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A combination of Ticul stone and white concrete created the floor around the pool and terraza. We decided we needed an outdoor cooking / grilling area because……well, you just do. And,that pool pump / filter equipment of course needed its own little house out in the yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SzfAX9Uhz5I/TpsvtOIzzdI/AAAAAAAAAOE/oIRWfdikvg8/s1600/cocina+exterior+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SzfAX9Uhz5I/TpsvtOIzzdI/AAAAAAAAAOE/oIRWfdikvg8/s400/cocina+exterior+008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Mt0FF8FhbM/TpswW3nbI6I/AAAAAAAAAOM/nQcABGH3N2M/s1600/Terraza+Floor+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Mt0FF8FhbM/TpswW3nbI6I/AAAAAAAAAOM/nQcABGH3N2M/s400/Terraza+Floor+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DqIOxMMr4H0/Tpsx06ovklI/AAAAAAAAAOc/-238di1o6cU/s1600/plaques+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DqIOxMMr4H0/Tpsx06ovklI/AAAAAAAAAOc/-238di1o6cU/s400/plaques+024.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SkIfZXkVQag/TpsyTf3VczI/AAAAAAAAAOk/5A-QdYTp1DE/s1600/Tile+Roof+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SkIfZXkVQag/TpsyTf3VczI/AAAAAAAAAOk/5A-QdYTp1DE/s400/Tile+Roof+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c12BctngU_k/Tpsy820XOmI/AAAAAAAAAOs/UoOmeSmCD7Y/s1600/cocina+exterior+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c12BctngU_k/Tpsy820XOmI/AAAAAAAAAOs/UoOmeSmCD7Y/s400/cocina+exterior+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-daExZQqaQAQ/Tpszj1PMPCI/AAAAAAAAAO0/vuWAINYqllg/s1600/Antonio+Pequeno+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-daExZQqaQAQ/Tpszj1PMPCI/AAAAAAAAAO0/vuWAINYqllg/s400/Antonio+Pequeno+018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our pool equipment / pump house</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The forest of tree trunk braces came down revealing a large living area, the perfect place to dip your toes in the pool and enjoy a glass of wine. Paint, ceiling fans, chandeliers, all of the details began to come together! Soon we were roasting hot dogs for the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">albaniles</i> on the grill under the French tiled roof. The day we had anxiously awaited arrived and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">albaniles</i> packed up their few tools, said <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hasta Luego</i> as they walked out the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7kLkduoI97c/Tps0kcpjWOI/AAAAAAAAAO8/2qRibeRQE3Y/s1600/July+2011+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7kLkduoI97c/Tps0kcpjWOI/AAAAAAAAAO8/2qRibeRQE3Y/s400/July+2011+028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We moved around the new environment taking it all in, not believing it could actually be complete. Reflecting back on the dust, the noise, the lack of privacy, we really had lived through the process!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I relate it to having a baby; during labor, you think survival is impossible, then you smile at the little bundle placed in your arms and the pain of delivery is miraculously erased from your memory. It was worth it!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><em>Oh, the pictures that go with this last part..........well, that's to be continued (real soon).................</em></span></div>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-22116695695366858672011-10-07T14:37:00.000-07:002011-10-07T14:37:04.979-07:00Just Like Camping, Only Better<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We started our life in Mérida with the few belongings we could cram into our midsize SUV. We each had a duffle bag stuffed with clothes and personal items. Ty found out after we arrived that what he thought was another medium size suitcase of clothes was actually stuffed full of knitting and needlepoint supplies, I do have my priorities! We brought Adie’s stuff; her wire crate, her portable crate, her car seat, her stroller, her life jacket, 3 bags of food (just in case we couldn’t find her brand) a case of canned mixed vegetables (Adie loves veggies on top of her dog food), her soft bed for napping and her airplane carrier filled with toys. We brought laptops, surge protectors, cameras and an iPod docking station and one set of high thread count sheets. Ty brought a suitcase filled with miscellaneous stuff, which he would then use for his trips back and forth to work.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The month we stayed at the beach was a simple time and we hardly even unpacked, same for the Casa Renta. When we bought our house, we were grateful the previous owners included some furnishings with the house. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qa2GKK_m7-0/To9ly5Vs-0I/AAAAAAAAALk/0QPi87Gg6N0/s1600/Traveling+Palm+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qa2GKK_m7-0/To9ly5Vs-0I/AAAAAAAAALk/0QPi87Gg6N0/s400/Traveling+Palm+005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They would be leaving the stove and refrigerator, a small simple Mexican bed, a breakfast table and chairs, a patio table with chairs, a loveseat, a chair, a rocking chair, 3 lamps, a small computer desk, one <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ropero </i>(a piece of furniture made to hang clothes), 2 night tables a television and 3 bookcases. </span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UhnC_ryXnv8/To9oTag_CII/AAAAAAAAALs/CQ0uo3RsgnY/s1600/Traveling+Palm+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UhnC_ryXnv8/To9oTag_CII/AAAAAAAAALs/CQ0uo3RsgnY/s400/Traveling+Palm+006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We needed to buy dishes, pans, trashcans, towels, glasses, silverware and utensils, not to mention a coffee maker; you know the essentials of living. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wreVyo-OIck/To9qjm7dxkI/AAAAAAAAAL0/upHOxsKOsF8/s1600/Jerr+Misc+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wreVyo-OIck/To9qjm7dxkI/AAAAAAAAAL0/upHOxsKOsF8/s400/Jerr+Misc+069.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We bought another<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> ropero</i> and ordered a king size bed which would take at least six weeks to arrive. We bought two fold up bag chairs for comfortable sitting and two Yucatecan hammocks. We could “get by” until we completed the restyling of our house, had a pool and patio built and shipped our belongings from the States.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyY_fuYpXqA/To9sN_uepkI/AAAAAAAAAL8/v0IV5dyRwIE/s1600/Traveling+Palm+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyY_fuYpXqA/To9sN_uepkI/AAAAAAAAAL8/v0IV5dyRwIE/s400/Traveling+Palm+007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It has been a simple existence, preparing simple meals. I am a true nester so I have tried to create a comfortable area to live in, in spite of our lack of STUFF. We gave some of the furniture we did not need to the albaniles. While Jerrie was visiting, we slept in one air-conditioned room, her on the small bed and Adie and I on a hammock, and we watched the ongoing construction from the comfort of the fold up bag chairs.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wNO8xMJPNV4/To9suUKd_2I/AAAAAAAAAMA/Jr1NYyB5h9I/s1600/Jerr+Fri+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wNO8xMJPNV4/To9suUKd_2I/AAAAAAAAAMA/Jr1NYyB5h9I/s400/Jerr+Fri+066.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siesta time<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I grew up in an outdoor loving family, fishing and camping trips were often and fun. Ty camped with his Boy Scout Troop, in the mountains of New Mexico summer and winter. When we married, maybe because we loved it, or maybe we were too broke to do anything else our family vacations were mostly camping trips to rivers and lakes. We would go to the Texas Hill Country and lazily tube the Frio River and camp. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-skxwP7l91x4/To9t5b78hxI/AAAAAAAAAMI/bTabQz9KYxA/s1600/BG%255B7%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-skxwP7l91x4/To9t5b78hxI/AAAAAAAAAMI/bTabQz9KYxA/s400/BG%255B7%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the beginning, we cooked on an open fire, slept on the ground and had only a flashlight for light. As time passed our gear mimicked our life and soon we could easily fill up the back of a pickup truck and a ski boat with all the necessities for a few nights stay at the lake, we even had monogrammed drink koozies.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O5dEl_F9ZS0/To9um4NN4lI/AAAAAAAAAMM/_7w81O-eJQs/s1600/BG%255B3%255D+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O5dEl_F9ZS0/To9um4NN4lI/AAAAAAAAAMM/_7w81O-eJQs/s400/BG%255B3%255D+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In retrospect, we needed more stuff to camp for a couple of nights than many of my neighbors in Mexico need to live their simple lives on a daily basis. Since I am a nester, I would bring along tablecloths, my special camping dishes (I really dislike eating on a paper plate) and the kids and I picked flowers to grace our camp table. </span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BduZZ4APQks/To9vlO1b7bI/AAAAAAAAAMU/THICSy0-QnU/s1600/BG%255B3%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BduZZ4APQks/To9vlO1b7bI/AAAAAAAAAMU/THICSy0-QnU/s400/BG%255B3%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As our family grew, our kids married and had kids; we still camped even though money was not as much an issue, it just seemed like good family fun. Our grown children and grandkids have expressed that some of their fondest memories are from our many camping trips.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ahp07nhTg64/To9wFA8XMtI/AAAAAAAAAMY/7UT_eMK9FFE/s1600/BG%255B1%255D+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ahp07nhTg64/To9wFA8XMtI/AAAAAAAAAMY/7UT_eMK9FFE/s400/BG%255B1%255D+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">O<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>ur first nine months of living in Mexico has been………….well, it’s been like camping, only better.</span></div><br />
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</div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-42273642685538989102011-10-02T13:18:00.000-07:002011-10-02T13:19:25.868-07:00She Was Warned<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the wonderful things about living where people vacation is….your family and friends will now vacation to your home at the best of times, and the worst of times. In spite of warnings, and I am not talking about warnings from the US government about travel to Mexico, I am referring to my warning to visitors who come in June, to a home “under construction”. My oldest sister, Jerrie wanted to visit, so she did, in spite of the mess. Ty and I knew if anyone could handle the conditions, she could. I spoke with Jerrie before she boarded her flight to Mérida and reminded her “It is hot, the house is dirty, the workers are here every day, there is construction going on and the back yard is a disaster area, oh, and did I mention it is HOT!” </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The day my sister was to arrive happened to be the day the<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> electricista</i> decided to chip out the wall in the guest bedroom for the installation of the air conditioner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3vKwhciV1KY/Toi4pjiHMOI/AAAAAAAAAKk/6vnd560ksvU/s1600/Jerrie+053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3vKwhciV1KY/Toi4pjiHMOI/AAAAAAAAAKk/6vnd560ksvU/s400/Jerrie+053.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">With her arrival just hours away, I found myself accessing the situation-standing ankle deep in debris and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">polvo</i> (white powder) coating everything.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_LxjjQYAqU/Toi5dq0WkVI/AAAAAAAAAKo/U9CQIf6rbu0/s1600/Dig+%2526+Cinco+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_LxjjQYAqU/Toi5dq0WkVI/AAAAAAAAAKo/U9CQIf6rbu0/s400/Dig+%2526+Cinco+034.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard the doorbell, it was Maria, Lupita and Alejandro; the troops had arrived to clean the house. Maria took one look at the mess and started giving orders in Spanish, Alex scrambled to the bodega for the shovel and Lupita headed for the garden hose. Yes, you heard right, Lupita brought the garden hose in the house and started washing everything down, this<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>obviously is one advantage of living in a stone and concrete house. Alex began scooping the debris into buckets and carting it outside. Maria made it clear I was to stay out of the way and pointed to a hammock hanging on a Ramon tree, barked an order to one of the albaniles, and in what seemed like an instant he had tidied up the area and strung out the hammock. In spite of the anxious anticipation of our arriving guest, Adie and I are lulled to sleep by the gentle sway of the hammock. When Maria and her crew leave, the house is sparkling clean. Jerrie arrived that night to see Mérida in all of her twinkling glory. She had a good laugh about my day.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We spend our days watching the ongoing construction and our nights visiting the many entertainment venues in Mérida’s Parks. </span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HHvHxMjfX0A/Toi77cIAgCI/AAAAAAAAAKs/qHk59D_qxX4/s1600/DSCN0360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HHvHxMjfX0A/Toi77cIAgCI/AAAAAAAAAKs/qHk59D_qxX4/s400/DSCN0360.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerrie and Sara at ''<em>Serenata en El Parque Santa Lucia''</em><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Hn7noS7diM/Toi9icgtjpI/AAAAAAAAAKw/PbJSHWA1ZW0/s1600/DSCN0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Hn7noS7diM/Toi9icgtjpI/AAAAAAAAAKw/PbJSHWA1ZW0/s400/DSCN0358.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entertainment at Santa Lucia park. It's been happening every Thursday for over 40 years, and it's free.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pqowU7l6oYc/Toi_OH0MIEI/AAAAAAAAAK4/eW0Z1-8kIQU/s1600/Merida+February+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pqowU7l6oYc/Toi_OH0MIEI/AAAAAAAAAK4/eW0Z1-8kIQU/s400/Merida+February+036.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>''Noche Mexicana''</em> at the Remate de Paseo Montejo, every Saturday night, it's free also</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WkndQ4ey35s/Toi_7aZ_N6I/AAAAAAAAAK8/7qaTbYMWj5E/s1600/Merida+February+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WkndQ4ey35s/Toi_7aZ_N6I/AAAAAAAAAK8/7qaTbYMWj5E/s400/Merida+February+041.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Noche Mexicana</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">About that construction thing going on back at the house........</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We are constantly amazed at the albaniles efficiency using so few tools. With the foundation for the pool complete, we stand by, as the wire mesh is unrolled and secured to the walls and floor of the pool. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JBbvNw6NJgQ/TojBYQHovAI/AAAAAAAAALA/imAWcDfcOqs/s1600/Jerrie+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JBbvNw6NJgQ/TojBYQHovAI/AAAAAAAAALA/imAWcDfcOqs/s400/Jerrie+055.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Forms for the steps spanning the width of the pool are filled with concrete and rock. </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Marcelo, Julio and Jose secure boards on top of the columns and on top of tree trunk support braces then stack <a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"></a>concrete blocks to create the forms for the arches; these forms will eventually be chipped away leaving behind graceful arches.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ux3fGtVMGLA/TojCf_BZb-I/AAAAAAAAALE/6kXgs-7xaWs/s1600/Sotuta+de+Peon+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ux3fGtVMGLA/TojCf_BZb-I/AAAAAAAAALE/6kXgs-7xaWs/s400/Sotuta+de+Peon+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zjWkgelkSVY/TojDDsJK8RI/AAAAAAAAALI/kWpVDSlUj_M/s1600/Sotuta+de+Peon+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zjWkgelkSVY/TojDDsJK8RI/AAAAAAAAALI/kWpVDSlUj_M/s400/Sotuta+de+Peon+006.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v6q7h6_ESBk/TojD_5_JioI/AAAAAAAAALM/Nuk6sA4_YMc/s1600/Sotuta+de+Peon+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v6q7h6_ESBk/TojD_5_JioI/AAAAAAAAALM/Nuk6sA4_YMc/s400/Sotuta+de+Peon+010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9aDJcDW9vE4/TojEq6jPpeI/AAAAAAAAALQ/uJ7ZWHx-Rts/s1600/Sotuta+de+Peon+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9aDJcDW9vE4/TojEq6jPpeI/AAAAAAAAALQ/uJ7ZWHx-Rts/s400/Sotuta+de+Peon+039.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LtSm0tKVNrA/TojFMlCddaI/AAAAAAAAALU/8Gou1HPUX18/s1600/DSCN0350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LtSm0tKVNrA/TojFMlCddaI/AAAAAAAAALU/8Gou1HPUX18/s400/DSCN0350.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uOXwOq3no2Q/TojFtrXpnJI/AAAAAAAAALY/b6jUele7ndQ/s1600/Sotuta+de+Peon+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uOXwOq3no2Q/TojFtrXpnJI/AAAAAAAAALY/b6jUele7ndQ/s400/Sotuta+de+Peon+044.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nd752qOmgrE/TojGIXQF8oI/AAAAAAAAALc/XNHIhQet1mU/s1600/DSCN0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nd752qOmgrE/TojGIXQF8oI/AAAAAAAAALc/XNHIhQet1mU/s400/DSCN0361.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jerrie agrees, “Mexico is an adventure and you don’t even have to leave the house”</span></div></span>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-63096321475978752412011-09-25T14:03:00.000-07:002011-09-25T15:52:53.167-07:00It’s What’s For Dinner<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ya’ll know we are from Texas. My Dad was an avid hunter and fisherman. I grew up eating venison, dove, quail, squirrel, with an occasional domestic rabbit thrown in for good measure. Ty comes from a West Texas ranching heritage so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cabrito </i>(kid goat) prepared from roasted to barbequed was often served on his Grandmother’s table. Ty’s job has taken him to the far corners of the earth so he has consumed local food from New Guinea, Africa, Burma, Kazakhstan</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, Bolivia, Argentina, and Peru. We love good food!</span></span></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When we moved into our new Mérida home, we became accustomed to the family of iguanas who lounged in the sun, ate the leaves off our plants and scurried to their home in the rock wall whenever <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gringa Dog</i> made an appearance. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NcrTmyKXjuk/Tn-OFgDzP0I/AAAAAAAAAJo/0lwcGZ6tmYs/s1600/Iggy+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NcrTmyKXjuk/Tn-OFgDzP0I/AAAAAAAAAJo/0lwcGZ6tmYs/s400/Iggy+015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As the construction debris began to take over their space we saw less and less of our family of iguanas. As I have mentioned before most everything seems unfamiliar here, but this is just my impression, for thousands of people here it IS familiar, it IS normal, it IS life as usual.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ud4De6o7St4/Tn-wFtTSzFI/AAAAAAAAAKc/Wxyn0Qmb_v4/s1600/The+Dig+II+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ud4De6o7St4/Tn-wFtTSzFI/AAAAAAAAAKc/Wxyn0Qmb_v4/s400/The+Dig+II+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One afternoon, when I knew the guys were finishing up their work for the day, I went outside to say “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hasta Manana”</i>, they were all gathered together with hushed voices and all eyes glued to me as if anticipating something. As I stepped off the back step my eyes fell upon what they were anticipating a reaction to…. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAE9qaWEA0w/Tn-P0-eNBFI/AAAAAAAAAJw/A5Xj7LT2_vE/s1600/Dinner+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAE9qaWEA0w/Tn-P0-eNBFI/AAAAAAAAAJw/A5Xj7LT2_vE/s400/Dinner+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There neatly bound with twine was the largest of our iguanas (at least I think it was our iguana, as it is hard to tell them apart). Instantly I told myself to mask my shock and proceed as normal. Somehow, in my not very good understanding of Spanish I managed to comprehend, some albaniles and their family would be feasting on Iguana. In fact, it probably made its way back to our house for lunch the next day disguised in some wonderful spicy mole. I hope my reaction was one of honest curiosity, as I would not have wanted to offend these men. Ty has worked in countries where iguana was standard fare. Iguana to these guys was just dinner.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As the days went by the mounds of sand and gravel slowly began to disappear, mixed with cement then hand carried by the bucketful, and skillfully poured and smoothed into place. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cTqB5m1ByJc/Tn-wj95l71I/AAAAAAAAAKg/FRLY9fQ9aSw/s1600/The+Dig+III+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cTqB5m1ByJc/Tn-wj95l71I/AAAAAAAAAKg/FRLY9fQ9aSw/s400/The+Dig+III+011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D3iMwUj2Ek0/Tn-Rn4pCV3I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/4eptCdF8zbw/s1600/Furniture+and+Dig+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D3iMwUj2Ek0/Tn-Rn4pCV3I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/4eptCdF8zbw/s400/Furniture+and+Dig+015.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">PVC pipes were set in the mamposteria walls for the pool drain and filter. The plumbing for the pool jets were installed in the walls of the pool. </span></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLbVeaS3pRQ/Tn-SYCZeTlI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/t4sTQWka0xg/s1600/Columns+and+Protectors+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLbVeaS3pRQ/Tn-SYCZeTlI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/t4sTQWka0xg/s400/Columns+and+Protectors+010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our beautiful patio and pool area</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The concrete columns were placed over the rebar towers and filled with cement, sand, and gravel; soon they would begin the arches.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5cp6lB5bqXo/Tn-S5Tg7-VI/AAAAAAAAAKA/OG-fg6ZSoxc/s1600/Columns+and+Protectors+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5cp6lB5bqXo/Tn-S5Tg7-VI/AAAAAAAAAKA/OG-fg6ZSoxc/s400/Columns+and+Protectors+006.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwecFORV60U/Tn-TNxAPgHI/AAAAAAAAAKE/yJGi0nsSQFY/s1600/A+Work+in+Progress+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwecFORV60U/Tn-TNxAPgHI/AAAAAAAAAKE/yJGi0nsSQFY/s400/A+Work+in+Progress+021.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-djf8S13KrL8/Tn-TkbBONfI/AAAAAAAAAKI/BRDwXcN3HKI/s1600/A+Work+in+Progress+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-djf8S13KrL8/Tn-TkbBONfI/AAAAAAAAAKI/BRDwXcN3HKI/s400/A+Work+in+Progress+012.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wafHBz4spck/Tn-UchnkHlI/AAAAAAAAAKM/CHmrHbBeXoo/s1600/A+Work+in+Progress+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wafHBz4spck/Tn-UchnkHlI/AAAAAAAAAKM/CHmrHbBeXoo/s400/A+Work+in+Progress+018.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kg2CgJFbB8I/Tn-UyudRVHI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/lnMuvUs1kM0/s1600/A+Work+in+Progress+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kg2CgJFbB8I/Tn-UyudRVHI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/lnMuvUs1kM0/s400/A+Work+in+Progress+014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S5TO0Jchwc0/Tn-VHtAkYYI/AAAAAAAAAKU/EL1UmFzQ578/s1600/A+Work+in+Progress+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S5TO0Jchwc0/Tn-VHtAkYYI/AAAAAAAAAKU/EL1UmFzQ578/s400/A+Work+in+Progress+022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> It appeared we all had fine-tuned our routines; we began to eat when the guys ate and take our siestas while they took theirs. Every day we anticipated what would take place on the construction site that day! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We began to joke, “Living in Mexico IS an adventure and we don’t even have to leave the house”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-873250296529087472011-09-23T16:03:00.000-07:002011-09-23T16:03:52.648-07:00“My Merida Life”<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been thinking about our blog. Thinking about the name we chose. Thinking of us, Our life, past, present and future. I am not sure if it has occurred to you, our readers, however one day it hit me. “My Merida Life”, a blog about one couples odyssey in a foreign land sounds singular to me! When Ty first presented the name, I jumped on it, I thought it was perfect, not realizing maybe it should be “Our” instead of “My”. We delegated the various jobs of writing, posting, etcetera according to our personality. Guess who does most of the writing and who does the detail work?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFT2K8Hj72U/Tn0KpW7wtQI/AAAAAAAAAJY/7UwK0usbHBs/s1600/BG%255B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="382" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFT2K8Hj72U/Tn0KpW7wtQI/AAAAAAAAAJY/7UwK0usbHBs/s400/BG%255B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We met in July of 1974, married in July of 1976; our entire adult history has been a shared experience. We have had our difficulties, had our share of triumph and tragedy. We raised two sons and a daughter, lived in seventeen different houses and we are Grandparents to eight Grandchildren.</span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--X0yQDunGPA/Tn0LmfsGnCI/AAAAAAAAAJc/Gbo1kQLFlDo/s1600/Holding+hands+by+the+seashore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="246" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--X0yQDunGPA/Tn0LmfsGnCI/AAAAAAAAAJc/Gbo1kQLFlDo/s400/Holding+hands+by+the+seashore.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With most of our family in Playa del Carmen<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my mind’s eye when I think of Ty, I see the young handsome man I married. I see the proud Dad around our dinner table. I hear his dry sense of humor in observing everyday occurrences. I see my “Hunk a burnin’ love” with gray in his hair and life’s expression around his eyes.</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LfeV0cbuJbY/Tn0M_5eQKTI/AAAAAAAAAJg/DC-d70sek-U/s1600/BG%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LfeV0cbuJbY/Tn0M_5eQKTI/AAAAAAAAAJg/DC-d70sek-U/s400/BG%255B1%255D.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's right, eight grandkids.....OK, it's an older picture</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This leads me to the conclusion “My Merida Life” is the perfect name for “Our” blog. If you knew us, you would totally understand. We are the epitome of opposites attract. Ty is more reserved, quiet, thoughtful, dry witted, introverted and solid. I am a never met a stranger, free spirited, impulsive, permanently distracted good-hearted women. I have always said, “Together we make one really nice whole person”. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am not meaning to sound all sappy or paint a picture of a perfect relationship, we have our issues. It just took seeing it in print to really analyze what I always knew to be true. We are “My” not “Our”. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If “our” blog ever seems a little schizophrenic you now know why!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HhncIezGFz4/Tn0OHJakKmI/AAAAAAAAAJk/UIVTmi3w9qA/s1600/kiss+in+the+sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="387" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HhncIezGFz4/Tn0OHJakKmI/AAAAAAAAAJk/UIVTmi3w9qA/s400/kiss+in+the+sunrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-45156619082242348222011-09-19T18:43:00.000-07:002011-09-19T18:48:13.250-07:00Back To Reality<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the movie Doctor Zhivago, Yuri and Lara visit a house in the frozen tundra of Russia, white with ice, it is an ethereal moment in the movie, and the house is a ghostly white winter wonderland. I can relate to that scene except the temperature was 100 degrees and it was not ice, it was dust. While Ty, Adie and I frolicked in the aqua waves of the Caribbean, our house was being picked apart with a hammer and chisel leaving behind a fine white powder that crept its way into every tiny crack and crevice and coated every surface inside and out.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dh8MwcafDsg/TnfhzAjzM-I/AAAAAAAAAIg/RrhkFJjUhq8/s1600/Dig+%2526+Cinco+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dh8MwcafDsg/TnfhzAjzM-I/AAAAAAAAAIg/RrhkFJjUhq8/s400/Dig+%2526+Cinco+017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The overhang attached to the house, where the new porch will be had to be removed leaving a jagged scar on the walls, exposing the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mamposteria</i> (stacked stone). After four hours of mopping, wiping, mopping a second time and washing every dish, our dust covered abode was again inhabitable. We fall into our chairs<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"></a>, exhausted, open a cold one, and have a good laugh.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5Mkmk5jGUU/TnfjJwFpa0I/AAAAAAAAAIk/2vGUiBd81qU/s1600/More+of+the+dig+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5Mkmk5jGUU/TnfjJwFpa0I/AAAAAAAAAIk/2vGUiBd81qU/s400/More+of+the+dig+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Debris from “The Dig” is carefully screened for valuable dirt, the remaining rock shoveled into buckets and dumped on the ever-increasing mounds in the back of the yard. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tdOWZqJz8kI/TnfpTiaE8FI/AAAAAAAAAJE/GhYeS9Z_lUc/s1600/Dig%252C+Dig+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tdOWZqJz8kI/TnfpTiaE8FI/AAAAAAAAAJE/GhYeS9Z_lUc/s400/Dig%252C+Dig+009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S9M7M9tYp4s/TnfkNLFRPBI/AAAAAAAAAIo/Uu4ijlPslgk/s1600/Dig%252C+Dig+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S9M7M9tYp4s/TnfkNLFRPBI/AAAAAAAAAIo/Uu4ijlPslgk/s400/Dig%252C+Dig+007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">With anticipation, we stand gazing into the hole and watch as Jose places the first stone to create the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mamposteria</i> wall of the swimming pool.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Julio</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jose</i> work hard, taking great care in selecting and placing each stone. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0mgTCEfDK3g/Tnfk_7XxZ2I/AAAAAAAAAIs/p4dr_F7STM8/s1600/Dig%252C+Dig+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0mgTCEfDK3g/Tnfk_7XxZ2I/AAAAAAAAAIs/p4dr_F7STM8/s400/Dig%252C+Dig+022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The columns arrive and are neatly stacked in the corner awaiting their installation. Four-foot holes are dug near the foundation of the house to check the stability of the walls then once it is determined the foundation is sound they are filled in and yet more deep holes are dug for the footings of the columns.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Prmb0AkbAaM/TnflnsIX3aI/AAAAAAAAAIw/jp5ajW7AfSo/s1600/We+have+columns+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Prmb0AkbAaM/TnflnsIX3aI/AAAAAAAAAIw/jp5ajW7AfSo/s400/We+have+columns+004.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ojWRBHCbDkY/TnfuCmD2GyI/AAAAAAAAAJM/BWVICl-SYNQ/s1600/Dig%252C+Dig+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ojWRBHCbDkY/TnfuCmD2GyI/AAAAAAAAAJM/BWVICl-SYNQ/s400/Dig%252C+Dig+024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qigHRH4Dd6U/TnfudpGBL0I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/iF-IetVkpgE/s1600/Dinner+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qigHRH4Dd6U/TnfudpGBL0I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/iF-IetVkpgE/s400/Dinner+005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JjA5lYP4LrI/Tnfu-CsCKvI/AAAAAAAAAJU/OHzs2nRVkm8/s1600/More+Dig+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JjA5lYP4LrI/Tnfu-CsCKvI/AAAAAAAAAJU/OHzs2nRVkm8/s400/More+Dig+006.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Handmade rebar towers are placed into the deep holes and filled with rock and cement.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DiG12Iu_Nd8/Tnfohy4vHbI/AAAAAAAAAJA/pQjc-eZha8M/s1600/More+Dig+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DiG12Iu_Nd8/Tnfohy4vHbI/AAAAAAAAAJA/pQjc-eZha8M/s400/More+Dig+010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Before long, we have the footprint of our swimming pool.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> By the way, today is Adies birthday. She's four.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KCZJIWl7oxk/TnfrRiaRFcI/AAAAAAAAAJI/5nT9IwYgWks/s1600/adie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KCZJIWl7oxk/TnfrRiaRFcI/AAAAAAAAAJI/5nT9IwYgWks/s400/adie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div></span></span></span></span></span>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-25896716582275526332011-09-16T18:41:00.000-07:002011-09-17T02:21:18.943-07:00Our Get Away<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cuota</i> road cuts a straight path through the jungle of The Yucatan Peninsula from Merida to Cancun. The divided highway with steep tolls is a quick if not a little boring route, missing all the charm of the pueblos and activity you would find on the<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Libre</i> road, however it offers a quick and easy path to the enchanting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mayan Riviera</i>! We took this route cutting off at the Cancun Airport exit over to Highway 307, which traverses the Caribbean coast from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cancun</i> to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chetumal</i>. Our destination for the night is charming Hacienda Paradise, a pet friendly hotel near <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Playa del Carmen’s</i> Fifth Avenue. We have always enjoyed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Playa </i>and have fond memories of walking the pedestrian only tourist area and the sugary sand beaches to the west in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Playacar</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Playa</i> is seductive, luring you with clean white powder beaches, crystal turquoise water and a bohemian international appeal. Across the channel, you can watch ships seeking port at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Isla</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cozumel</i>. After you have had enough sand and sea, you can find a sidewalk café for a good meal and people watching. Hurricane Wilma furiously changed the once rustic “Playa” to an upscale and fun place to vacation. Strolling the newly cobblestoned Fifth Avenue makes for easy window-shopping, the stores wares spilling out onto the sidewalk enticing you to spend your American dollars and Euros on their many upscale items. You will most likely see more Europeans than Americans. We settle into our room and Gringa Dog inspects the “Doggie Welcome Basket” filled with treats and toys, the hotel has provided a doggie bed plus water and food bowls. After a leisurely walk on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Playa’s</i> north beach we have a scrumptious meal at the famous “Blue Lobster”, while the splurge was pricey the meal was delicious.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Note to self: <em>Insert neat pictures of Playa del Carmen here the next time you go and remember to take pictures.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Early the next morning Ty steered the car onto “<metricconverter productid="307”" w:st="on">307”</metricconverter> with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tulum</i> just an hour away we figured why not! It really is not an attractive stretch of road, passing scrub jungle, construction sights and elaborate walled all-inclusive resort entrances, as dull as it is you know just a few meters away are what must be the most beautiful beaches in the world. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zYqBIUq2u2Q/TnPmm2l_NxI/AAAAAAAAAH4/ac73K2of8AE/s1600/DSC03459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zYqBIUq2u2Q/TnPmm2l_NxI/AAAAAAAAAH4/ac73K2of8AE/s400/DSC03459.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Traveling down the road, you pass the exits for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Xcaret</i>, which would be the Yucatan’s version of Disneyland, signs for various <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cenotes</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Xelha</i> and countless other tourist sights. Even though Gringa Dog was in tow we decided to check out the visitor center at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tulum</i> ruins, arriving well before the tour buses we found we almost had the place to ourselves, for a while anyway. The vendors petted Adie, ask her name and she was welcome everywhere but The Ruins. Did you know there are three <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tulum’s</i>; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tulum Pueblo</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tulum</i> Ruins and the hotel zone, you really need a car to get around here, as it is some distance between the three areas. Turning left onto the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Boca Paila</i> road, which winds its way through the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sian Ka’an Biosphere</i>, ending in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Punta</i> Allen, we drive the narrow road past one EcoChic Hotel after another and believe me an EcoChic room with no A/C and a mosquito net does not come cheap in Tulum, but the view is mesmerizing. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KgcjVPmyZCA/TnPnnTZ2nnI/AAAAAAAAAH8/OrHyxZtCQBc/s1600/Caribbean+Escape+043.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KgcjVPmyZCA/TnPnnTZ2nnI/AAAAAAAAAH8/OrHyxZtCQBc/s400/Caribbean+Escape+043.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We are limited to the only Gringa Dog friendly hotel around, just steps from the water’s edge we will be spending the night in a simple beachfront cabana at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Zamas”.</i> </span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nUCDmy7hVpo/TnPvaGC0HHI/AAAAAAAAAIE/iidUTAb9wzs/s1600/Caribbean+Escape+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nUCDmy7hVpo/TnPvaGC0HHI/AAAAAAAAAIE/iidUTAb9wzs/s400/Caribbean+Escape+030.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5dA0pbmbk54/TnPwBXKEHUI/AAAAAAAAAII/iEKg-6WRGGA/s1600/DSC03471.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5dA0pbmbk54/TnPwBXKEHUI/AAAAAAAAAII/iEKg-6WRGGA/s400/DSC03471.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pvwxoBShAws/TnPw9fEYuMI/AAAAAAAAAIM/ZgnGeDsmduY/s1600/Caribbean+Escape+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pvwxoBShAws/TnPw9fEYuMI/AAAAAAAAAIM/ZgnGeDsmduY/s400/Caribbean+Escape+040.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adie loves the beach<br />
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We nestle our butts in hammocks under the palapa-covered porch, drinking cold beer from our styro chest watching Adie play in the sand. In the evening, we sat on the porch and enjoyed the sounds of the waves as a local band cranked out tunes from the stage of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Que Fresco”, Zama’s</i> beachfront restaurant.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GjrLGv_rKZM/TnP3MuTgaiI/AAAAAAAAAIU/pF5JksxflHE/s1600/DSC03476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GjrLGv_rKZM/TnP3MuTgaiI/AAAAAAAAAIU/pF5JksxflHE/s400/DSC03476.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JE3Dpkry-cw/TnP33jASLGI/AAAAAAAAAIY/y7jHH2UAyCI/s1600/DSC03456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JE3Dpkry-cw/TnP33jASLGI/AAAAAAAAAIY/y7jHH2UAyCI/s400/DSC03456.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The sunrise over the ocean lures me from under the mosquito net and reality sets in, we must head back to Merida, Casa Sur and that blasted JACKHAMMER. This short Caribbean getaway was a much needed<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"></a> shot in the arm to get us through the remaining months of construction.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JXn5IiSx_UE/TnP4f3D3olI/AAAAAAAAAIc/AJHpCvjFrUw/s1600/Caribbean+Escape+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JXn5IiSx_UE/TnP4f3D3olI/AAAAAAAAAIc/AJHpCvjFrUw/s400/Caribbean+Escape+029.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that is a ''ceiling fan'' under the mosquito net. Pretty neat</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><em>While Playa del Carmen and Tulum are great places to visit, they are of course, very ''Touristy''. There are just as nice beaches, cheaper hotels, and great restaurants in the area if you are willing to go just a little more ''local''.</em></span></div>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-75400997417252534832011-09-13T16:06:00.000-07:002011-09-13T18:54:09.294-07:00Jack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Beautiful Merida is one “Hot Mama” in the months of April and May. With the temperature climbing to a sweltering 100F several times, readings of 95F seemed like a cold spell. Dust particles (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">polvo</i>) from the ongoing “Dig” floated through the air and coated every horizontal surface (We have no glass in any of the windows of our home to allow better air circulation, only metal protectors and screens called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mosquiteras</i>). I was also, in what seemed like a continuous state of pedicure, brushing and pumicing to keep my feet clean! Our routine was set, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Albinales</i> arriving six days a week at 8:30 and quietly having their breakfast before starting work. The rhythmic sounds of the digging bar, the scrape of the shovel, the dumping of the debris-filled buckets onto the increasing mountain of rock and dirt. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ukVmGuugeNw/Tm_WwXxmZBI/AAAAAAAAAHU/xm23NMbk0E4/s1600/The+Dig+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ukVmGuugeNw/Tm_WwXxmZBI/AAAAAAAAAHU/xm23NMbk0E4/s400/The+Dig+011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The work only ceased at 2pm for lunch and a short siesta, then back to the task, the hot <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yucatecan </i>sun giving no reprieve. I had heard several expats refer to the locals as a gentle people, and watching the workers, I began to understand this is a very true statement. Looking back, I am still amazed with how quiet the guys were, speaking softly to one another, even reserved in their laughter.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-233xItgJXG4/Tm_XHBia0oI/AAAAAAAAAHY/NCjQjRoo6T0/s1600/The+Dig+III+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-233xItgJXG4/Tm_XHBia0oI/AAAAAAAAAHY/NCjQjRoo6T0/s400/The+Dig+III+010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The workers arrived one morning with the JACKHAMMER, shattering the quiet digging with the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"></a>high-pitched pings of “Jack” crunching through solid limestone. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DnBltal-G3k/Tm_bgRQs6PI/AAAAAAAAAHk/_eX5ICRFM38/s1600/The+Dig+II+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DnBltal-G3k/Tm_bgRQs6PI/AAAAAAAAAHk/_eX5ICRFM38/s400/The+Dig+II+013.JPG" width="300" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FiTc7JYrzcw/Tm_Z0N0t74I/AAAAAAAAAHg/aalvwtdBdyM/s1600/The+Dig+II+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FiTc7JYrzcw/Tm_Z0N0t74I/AAAAAAAAAHg/aalvwtdBdyM/s400/The+Dig+II+012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For three days the hammer intermittently chipped at the rock along with periods of quiet digging, I was thinking this is not so bad, I can deal with this, Alberto assured me, “We will only need the jackhammer for a few days”. </span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xgloed4nv6A/Tm_cZ_5Fw6I/AAAAAAAAAHo/nPACSnD7K0o/s1600/Dig+%2526+Cinco+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xgloed4nv6A/Tm_cZ_5Fw6I/AAAAAAAAAHo/nPACSnD7K0o/s400/Dig+%2526+Cinco+028.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The ping reverberated off the walls inside our stone and concrete house so by the end of the fourth day, Adie with cotton stuffed in her ears and a towel wrapped around her head looked at me with troubled eyes, which seemed to say, “Can we just get the hell out of here?” I was sitting lifeless, my ears ringing, only able to form single syllable words, tears streaking my dusty cheeks.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0smHibEAWLg/Tm_c_6nHt6I/AAAAAAAAAHs/DZYHM8_DzVU/s1600/Dig+Update+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0smHibEAWLg/Tm_c_6nHt6I/AAAAAAAAAHs/DZYHM8_DzVU/s400/Dig+Update+008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I awoke hot and sweaty on the morning of day five, punched the phone number for Javier (more about him another time).I heard his sleepy voice say “Good morning, Sara”, through tear filled words I explained, “Adie and I have to go somewhere, I need to find a hotel that will accept dogs”. In a calm reassuring voice, he said, “I will be at your house in thirty minutes”. I threw a few clothes in a bag, gathered Adie’s things and left with Javier.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We sought refuge in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Casa Esperanza</i>, a beautiful bed and breakfast near <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Parque de Santa Lucia</i>, Sergio and his three labs greeted us and made sure we were comfortable. Falling on to the comfortable bed, I was lulled to sleep by the hum of the air conditioner. Adie and I enjoyed swimming in the hot afternoons and she made three new friends. The wonderfully restored mansion with its inviting verandas was the perfect retreat and Sergio the perfect host. The in house <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tienda “Alma Mexicana”</i> offers unique items from central Mexico and a large selection of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dia de Muertos, Katrinas.</i></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-urh6-pNFMFs/Tm_e2B3wdHI/AAAAAAAAAHw/43HV69sdpJI/s1600/DSCN0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-urh6-pNFMFs/Tm_e2B3wdHI/AAAAAAAAAHw/43HV69sdpJI/s400/DSCN0323.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The courtyard at <em>Casa Esperanza</em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What started out as a three night stay ended up being a week, when Ty arrived from the states we took a little two night Caribbean getaway to Playa del Carmen and Tulum. We spent the next three weeks dropping Adie off at Dr. Tony’s (for daycare) while we roamed the streets of Merida until late in the day when we hoped it would be safe to go home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ok, so Alberto was off by about four weeks, cheers erupted from me and I am sure the neighbors when “Jack” was loaded up and carted away.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e0ni7yVLahw/Tm_gQR761VI/AAAAAAAAAH0/Txeib7mq0lc/s1600/Dig+%2526+Cinco+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e0ni7yVLahw/Tm_gQR761VI/AAAAAAAAAH0/Txeib7mq0lc/s400/Dig+%2526+Cinco+031.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>If you are looking for a great bed and breakfast in Mérida, Casa Esperanza would be a really good choice:</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.casaesperanza.com/">http://www.casaesperanza.com/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div></span>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-37250726769423750822011-09-09T19:20:00.000-07:002011-09-09T21:52:02.799-07:00The Dig<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The afternoon tropical rain has just passed, leaving the city clean and fresh. I walk down the steps into the pool saying “Adie come to Mama”; she answers with a splash, swimming to me, and then back to the steps, running around to her favorite jumping off place to start the cycle again. After our swim, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gringa Dog</i> nestles in my lap; we sit awhile enjoying the soft sound of the fountain in the coolness of the evening. My mind wonders from this peaceful retreat, to the flurry of activity that has been our life for over four months. First, let me say, we bought a great house; the previous owners had taken great care and made it their home for eight years. We did not buy a ruin, we bought a home, and then we started making it ours. We wanted the addition of a porch, built to enhance the charm of our old colonial, a retreat to sit and watch the rain, to dine alfresco, to entertain, and a pool to enjoy all year round. Did I mention Gringa Dog loves to swim?</span></span></div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ri7761UFQe4/Tmq8UQjcGOI/AAAAAAAAAGg/EONeEy8bkIk/s1600/DSCN0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ri7761UFQe4/Tmq8UQjcGOI/AAAAAAAAAGg/EONeEy8bkIk/s400/DSCN0256.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back of our home when we bought it</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I sat for hours drawing and redrawing the plans, settling on our favorite design, we began searching for a contractor. We utilized several resources and after a couple of interviews hired a local man to manage the job. He brought in his architect and engineer and we looked forward to seeing our dream go from paper to reality.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OWML8FFItvM/Tmq7LHciVFI/AAAAAAAAAGM/11yvPpwEB_0/s1600/A+Work+in+Progress+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OWML8FFItvM/Tmq7LHciVFI/AAAAAAAAAGM/11yvPpwEB_0/s400/A+Work+in+Progress+010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buen Provecho</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Albinales is the name for concrete construction workers in Mexico, who arrive in the back of a pick up every morning after making the forty-minute drive from Motul. First on their agenda is breakfast, sitting communally on buckets or cement blocks around a piece of plywood, they consume homemade dishes of eggs, tomato and chilies, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">carnitas</i>, the always present black beans, a half kilo of<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> tortillas,</i> and a bag of habanero peppers, all<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>washed down with a three liter Coke.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VheopvNj9_E/Tmq7YWOQlwI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/w6Q_Zle_578/s1600/April+2011+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VheopvNj9_E/Tmq7YWOQlwI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/w6Q_Zle_578/s400/April+2011+008.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Using a pick, shovel, and a digging bar Carlos, Juan and Antonio begin digging the soft shallow layer of dirt. Carefully removing the grass and transplanting it to a new location. Alberto watches and gives direction with the excitement of starting a new job. Since we are living in our house, we are totally immersed in local culture; it arrives every morning in the back of a pick up! </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FkwTIdI8Bmk/Tmq8d3YopoI/AAAAAAAAAGk/YNXEGKKVkIY/s1600/DSCN0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FkwTIdI8Bmk/Tmq8d3YopoI/AAAAAAAAAGk/YNXEGKKVkIY/s400/DSCN0270.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the end of the first day</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Yucatan Peninsula is solid limestone shattered eons ago by a meteor, some places in Yucatan have less than a quarter inch of soil. Dynamite has been outlawed to build swimming pools (although used in the past), and since everything comes in through the front door, heavy machinery is really out of the equation. Our swimming pool will be dug by hand along with the strong arms and backs of men descended from the Mayan pyramid builders.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N0X_YfoNo6o/Tmq807Eb_DI/AAAAAAAAAGs/Wj4iI464MVQ/s1600/DSCN0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N0X_YfoNo6o/Tmq807Eb_DI/AAAAAAAAAGs/Wj4iI464MVQ/s320/DSCN0292.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7aDGnW-3xYQ/TmrCSRCOpqI/AAAAAAAAAHA/3v9F3WMVPIg/s1600/The+Dig+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7aDGnW-3xYQ/TmrCSRCOpqI/AAAAAAAAAHA/3v9F3WMVPIg/s400/The+Dig+014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3UDnQlPwco/TmrC0tmxUXI/AAAAAAAAAHI/LFMUgBIIqAM/s1600/The+Dig+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3UDnQlPwco/TmrC0tmxUXI/AAAAAAAAAHI/LFMUgBIIqAM/s400/The+Dig+004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the layer of topsoil, then a layer of cement, more dirt, and another layer of cement.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IrlbJg2XGpo/Tmq72foTNHI/AAAAAAAAAGY/Kalq4WZXMoc/s1600/April+2011+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" nba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IrlbJg2XGpo/Tmq72foTNHI/AAAAAAAAAGY/Kalq4WZXMoc/s640/April+2011+032.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Below the second layer of cement was some dirt, a lot of old tiles stacked up, and solid limestone</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The digging is easy as we soon discover there are several layers in the first few feet. Evidently, over the hundred and thirty year history of the house, porches or driveways for carriages had been constructed, now long covered with additional layers of tile, concrete and dirt. The workers find old bottles, coins, pieces of tile stamped with French writing, a horse shoe, fossil rocks too numerous to count, and a broken <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Metate y Mano</i> (stone corn grinder).<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"></a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDrOChzXgd0/Tmq8n-95wTI/AAAAAAAAAGo/3qG_x62xQh4/s1600/DSCN0290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDrOChzXgd0/Tmq8n-95wTI/AAAAAAAAAGo/3qG_x62xQh4/s400/DSCN0290.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K3LbP13EAiw/TmrD1gdhyeI/AAAAAAAAAHM/27D9HPDJzHE/s1600/The+Dig+II+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K3LbP13EAiw/TmrD1gdhyeI/AAAAAAAAAHM/27D9HPDJzHE/s400/The+Dig+II+005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8fWpTuSep3E/TmrEfIaRk3I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/ySC8_oD4AsI/s1600/DSCN0277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8fWpTuSep3E/TmrEfIaRk3I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/ySC8_oD4AsI/s400/DSCN0277.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of our finds. Still looking for the Spanish gold.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We soon become accustomed to the repetitious tap of the digging bar and the scrap of a shovel, for now at least it is music to our ears. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></span></span></span></span></span></span>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-70770574318131002112011-09-01T18:57:00.000-07:002011-09-01T18:57:14.428-07:00Una Sorpresa (A Surprise) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Morning arrives warm and humid, over coffee Ty and I discuss our list of errands for the day. Around ten o’clock we set off with our “to do” list. We have a couple of household errands then groceries; I like to plan my errands in a circle so to speak to be more efficient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes a full thirty minutes to arrive at Home Depot where we make our selections quickly and head over to Costco. Yes, it is true at least once a month we make a Costco run to buy things, which have some familiarity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I take my time pushing my cart up and down the air conditioned aisles, before I know it my cart runneth over and I know I’ve blown my monthly grocery budget. We cram the purchases in the ice chest we keep in the back of the SUV and head up the street to a little taco stand for lunch. With our tummies full, our shopping finished and ready for a hammock siesta we head south to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Casa Sur”.</i> We unload the groceries into the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sala</i> (front room) realizing we hear a strange sound; it is the sound of gushing water! We hurry to the back door where we stand, momentarily speechless, slowly it begins to register, we look at each other for confirmation and say at the same time “ the guys are filling the new pool with water”………. Oh, Did I forget to mention <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Casa Sur”</i> has been under construction for the last four months, in fact we broke ground April 19 just twenty days after we moved in! You know what they say ‘’ we bought the house of our dreams now we change everything………’’</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join us as we navigate the world of construction in Mexico….</span></span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WQ9Q8mQSVGA/TmA2hkfTiSI/AAAAAAAAAGI/sxxv_sMsLzw/s1600/April+2011+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WQ9Q8mQSVGA/TmA2hkfTiSI/AAAAAAAAAGI/sxxv_sMsLzw/s400/April+2011+011.JPG" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breaking ground on the new pool 19/04/2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818864411093732554.post-75680562023726667902011-08-30T15:31:00.000-07:002011-09-01T19:01:10.953-07:00Como se llama tu casa?<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Many things are different here in Mexico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, most things. Well….. Everything! One of the different things I love about Mexico is the houses are often affectionately given names by their owners. How this all began I am not certain, but maybe the practice harkens back to colonial times. The grand old <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">haciendas</i> had names, used primarily to distinguish them from one another, similar to the large ranches of Texas which of course have names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Communities sprung up near the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">haciendas</i> where the workers and their families lived, the haciendas may have fallen into ruin but many of the small communities around the crumbling haciendas that dot the<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Yucatan</i> peninsula today still carry the name of the original <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hacienda</i>. Naming your home is a very charming thing to do and most expats take great care in doing so. There are many names I absolutely love: such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Casa Suenos, Casablanca, Casa Azul, Casa Las Sirenas, Casa de dos Tortugas, Casa Buena Vista</i>. </span><br />
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</div> <span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Expats often select a name describing a feature of the home, themselves or what they hope their home will be, using<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Casa Rima</i> our friends from Texas carried over the name of their sailboat. From observation, we have concluded most Yucatecans do not name their homes. As you walk the neighborhoods, you see plaques attached to homes such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La Familia Gomez</i>. Choosing a charming name for a home seems to be a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gringo </i>thing! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the purchase of our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Merida</i> home, we began to muse over what name to choose, we had some good laughs with names such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Casa Cerveza, Casa</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iguana</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Casa Adie</i>. It brought back memories of naming our children and pets. We pondered and we pondered but nothing was sounding right.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course living here in an old colonial home was our dream, of course, our home offers the hope of a simple and secure future. We considered Casa Amarillo, but I did not want to be tied down with a certain color for the facade, what if someday I painted the façade, pink, lime green or turquoise we could find ourselves in a constant state of renaming our house! One day as most things go with us as a joke we decided House in the South, we are south of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">centro historico</i>, we are from a southern state in the US; we thought it all made perfect sense. The Spanish translation is simple and strong. A beautiful stone plaque engraved </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“CASA SUR”</i> </span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">will soon hang near the front door.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vYAkBoEV0u0/Tl1jCDT6BhI/AAAAAAAAAGA/Y2sHqa2qsHs/s1600/plaques+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vYAkBoEV0u0/Tl1jCDT6BhI/AAAAAAAAAGA/Y2sHqa2qsHs/s400/plaques+039.JPG" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h-XFTBdTZNA/Tl1i7RT5aPI/AAAAAAAAAF4/4HBNXGROCck/s1600/plaques+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h-XFTBdTZNA/Tl1i7RT5aPI/AAAAAAAAAF4/4HBNXGROCck/s320/plaques+036.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_nOPhFTwJ-8/Tl1i-xv0r9I/AAAAAAAAAF8/u7KEHkv1p-s/s1600/plaques+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_nOPhFTwJ-8/Tl1i-xv0r9I/AAAAAAAAAF8/u7KEHkv1p-s/s320/plaques+038.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sara and Tyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10899039193948235069noreply@blogger.com3