Posted by Toni in Cincy on November 15, 2001 at 20:00:57:
We are still having the best time, beautiful weather, sky etc. There were noodles in the casa, so I spent a lot of time floating and playing w\the noodles. You know, those big foam floating tubes. Fun!! Of course Mark made fun of me playing. Hahaha
He did a twice a day noogie walk…(AKA tittie walk) > pretty quiet, so not a lot to gawk at. He was very disappointed. There were some older noogs but few perkies!!! Alas for Mark. It is a daily quest that he handles very well.
We spent a lot of time enjoying the dogs that live at Aventuras. There are about 5. All owned. Misty is quite a hoot. She joins you on your swims whether you want her to or not!! I was enjoying the water, a distance out, and here she comes, swimming quite a way. Then she just waits for you to hold her. She did the same to Mark. We got a kick out of that. Her young owner swam w\her every PM. Misty loved it. Big yellow Lab.
We did see the little Mohawk dog at the beach bar. You know ..one of the ugliest little dogs you can imagine. I have forgotten its name. But for all who love and know it…Still doing well.
Finally had the big Loco party.!!! Met at Lol-ha. Marcy and Memo joined us as well as other Americans who live and own property in Akumal. We sat at the “Local’s Watering Hole” I felt like a real Akumalic!! Hahaha. Great seeing Kay again. We met the Mahan’s who used to own Casa del Mar. (I always wanted to buy that place.) Now they own that gorgeous very pricey Miramar. The one that is about 10,000 a week. I might be exaggerating but it is very pricey. I am just jealous. Gave Kay her US flag. She was going to put it in her garden. I could have brought a lot more, everyone wanted one. I promised the one I had on the beach patio to Marcy. She too wanted one. So take flags if anyone still wants them there.
We also saw Commander Robin again. We have not seen him in 2 yrs. He was there as well. You might know him. Retired from the Navy. Dives all the time. Has the beautiful big black Lab Panther. Panther sits very patiently on the beach and stares out at the water until the dive boat comes back. She then swims out to join him. My daughters and I have been on quite a few dives w\Robin. He and his sister now own a Casa back near Yalcu. He is selling his small efficiency at Luna Azul if anyone is interested.
Anyway a good time was had by all; Kay was telling us that she has a pair of Toucans visiting her garden!! Can you imagine? What a treat! Marcy was saying her son saw one flying on the road into Aventuras. Alas!! we did not see one on that road. We did see a fox, lots of egrets, warblers, Kiskadees, lot of shore birds. Magnificent Frigates. Pelicans. And Ospreys a lot. We also observed a pair of beautiful White Ibis roosting in the trees several mornings. I digress…..We yakked, drank and talked. Very interesting hearing what it is really like living in Mexico. About Pueblo Akumal, the library, schools etc. Had a great time. They are all long time residents and really have some good stories to tell..
Marcy and Memo own U-Na-kin. Condo’s @ Aventuras. We visited them a couple of times and they came up to see us several times as well. They are Kay and Gary’s very good friends. They have a 14-yr. old son Lucas. He goes to a bi-lingual school in Puerto Aventuras. Tests are in English as well as Spanish. They manage several properties @ Aventuras . They were very helpful giving us ideas on traveling to Merida. Years ago they used to camp for months at Xcacel. They took Luke as a baby too. So they know quite a few people. Marcy and Memo were very good friends of Pat Quattlebaum. The turtle lady at Xcacel. They had some great tales to tell about Pat and were very wonderful people. We really enjoyed hearing what has transpired and what is happening all along the coast. We will definitely keep in touch. So if you run into Marcy and Memo please say Hi for us!!. He looks like Jerry Garcia!! Honest!! I have a good pic of Kay, Marcy and Memo to post when I figure out how. Was sorry to say goodbye to Kay, thought we would run into her again, but no such luck. Till next yr then!
Time seemed to be flying by. We went to the Panaderia in Pueblo Akumal. Wonderful baked goods. We had given one of the young guys a lift from Aventuras to Pueblo Akumal and he showed us where it was. Off to the right in Pueblo AK. . Somewhere, no sign. Just a house. Bought a lot…only cost 11 pesos. Across from the house was an open impromptu barbershop. Try and find the panaderia if you can.. Great stuff.
Earlier this yr. we joined CEA. $100 a yr. You get a discount at several Akumal businesses. Alas!! NOT Super Chomak!! Hahaha We used it each time we ate at Turtle bay and Lol ha. Easily saved over $50. In 3 weeks, for only 2 people, that is a big savings. Plus I got a discount on my dives as well, So we probably got back 75.00 give or take a few bucks. So please join join join. !!! We stopped by CEA several times. Very quiet, really only a very few people around. We didn’t see that any programs were going on at the time. But it was pretty quiet w\few people there in Akumal. I imagine they will be getting much busier now that winter is coming. So please if you are going, consider not only donations to the school but also joining CEA. At Turtle Bay you get 20% off . That is a real savings. The food there was wonderful. We had some breakfasts, lunches and dinners there. Every meal was great.. Not always open though, just have to check.
Only went to Playa twice. Had to get my 5th Ave fix, people watching fix and of course my shopping fix. Lot of changes along 307. There is a “shanty town “ just past Puerto Aventuras. Right along the side of the road. Little huts w\hammocks, small huts serving as restaurants. All for the workers on the big AI’s. Tough, tough life!!They are living on the side of the road all week.
Of course huge changes in PDC too. That town changes soooo fast. The Zocalo is all torn up, no playground, no benches. Looks like major reconstruction. The little church was closed both nights we were there, so I don’t know if it is open. The bus station is unbelievable. Looks like a huge spotless, very international place. What a change. Stores will open, you love it.. and it is gone next visit. New ones pop up all the time. PDC was still fairly busy, mostly Europeans and AI’rs.
We had a great meal at Yaxche. All Mayan food. Sat in the courtyard next to the waterfall. Both Johnny Cairo’s and Watergrille were closed, Kay thought because of the slow season. The second time we went up ate at D’Ambasciata. We like that place a lot too. Very good. Karen’s Pizza was empty. One night when we passed …no music..
We have never been there when there was not a band..The old Huancayo band reincarnated numerous times is one of our favorites. One night as we passed there was someone playing a guitar. Very quiet indeed. But you will be happy to know the Churro Guy is still on the zocalo corner and I got my churro fix too!
We did meet a very interesting lady while we were eating at D’Ambasciata. She stopped to talk. I didn’t realize that we did not get her name until after she left…. But she is American, has a condo just behind La Joya in Akumal. She also works in PDC. She had just finished volunteering w\YARF. The Yucatan Animal Rescue Foundation. She talked a lot about the better conditions now for the dogs and cats. Very nice and very interesting to hear about how YARF works, what it does in education as well as care. There is a donation box at Super Chomak, so be sure and drop off your change. I can’t believe we did not get her name>>hmmmm
Oh …the newest grocery\superstore had just opened one Sat while we were there. It is on 307 just S. of the Ave Juarez entrance into PDC. Huge mega store. It was also a topic of conversation at the LocoG party. Called Chedraui . Can’t miss it. On the left. Everyone and I do mean everyone in PDC was carrying a Chedraui grocery bag that day!! Supposedly better than Super San Francisco. So check it out.
One Sunday we headed down 307 past Tulum and went to Chunyaxche Ruins. AKA Muyil. Right off 307. It was a beautiful drive. Like the old 307. No berm, no painted lines. Ohhh what fun.. when the 3 billion ton truck as long as 4 football fields either passed us or played chicken w\us. Ahhh there is nothing like a relaxing drive in Mexico!!
But it really is a beautiful drive. The trees, flowers, flat straight road. Other than the behemoth trucks there really was very little traffic., Free entrance to all Ruins on Sunday. We still tipped the gate guy a few pesos. No one else there. Very hot, muggy no breeze, There are only a few ruins excavated. It was really interesting to see. The largest pyramid was very beautiful; again if I can figure out how to post I have some good photos. Walked around. Lot of ruins not restored . We read earlier this year…a book by Michel Peisell. “ Lost World of Quintana Roo”. Written in 1960 or 61. He walked the entire Yucatan Coast in 57 or 58. He spent a lot of time @ Chunyaxche. If you can find the book, get it, good book!!! So we really enjoyed seeing it. Small place, no one there. A very quick visit.
Getting ready to head to Merida, our first visit ..Hate to leave the beach, but we want to see Merida. . Merida report to follow later