DIVERSION EXCURSION: THE RIVIERA MAYA

The Riviera Maya is that part of the Yucatan Peninsula that borders the Caribbean and centers around Playa del Carmen in Quintana Roo. It's a rapidly developing area with miles and miles of beautiful beaches, right on the Caribbean.

Having never been to an “all-inclusive” resort before, I had concerns about organized activities, eating at allotted times, wanting to leave the premises if I got bored, this sort of thing. I’m a wanderer and pretty much of a free spirit when I travel and don’t like keeping to a precise schedule. All my concerns went by the wayside at the Blue Bay Hotel and Resort.

By accident, I found a special offer from Travel Club Mexico here in Merida. They were offering 3 days and 2 nights at the Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda 5 star resort for only 3,674 pesos for two people, or the approximate equivalent of $277 US Dollars. Broken down, that’s less than $140 US per person (for everything). This incredible offer included round-trip transportation from Merida to the Blue Bay, via chartered, air conditioned bus equipped with a bathroom facility, movies, clean seats, and friendly atmosphere all around!

The Blue Bay is truly a 5 star resort in every sense of the word. Built in 2006, the facility is absolutely huge. There are almost 1,000 rooms, 6 restaurants and more beautiful oceanfront beach than I cared to walk! The rooms were exceptionally well-appointed, right down to small refrigerators stocked with sodas and beer.

The facility boasts 6 restaurants, each with fantastic cuisine. I could do a whole separate blog just on the fantastic spreads alone, but let it suffice to say the food was fit for a king. All first-class, all well prepared and presented in immaculate surroundings by a staff that just wouldn’t stop smiling! Yours for the taking: lobster, prawns, shrimps, calamari, filet mignon, steaks, chops, Italian, Mexican, French, Chinese, Sea Food, Steak House, and snack bars! Of course, it was all-u-can-eat at the buffets and more than ample portions for those restaurants you need reservations for. There are several bars located throughout the complex and all-u-can-drink is the word for the day! And, top shelf, too! The beer was limited to Dos Equis on draft – wow, what a terrible fate! But hey, I'm tough and can rough it when I have to.

There are nightly shows (free) to enjoy, also. I saw a Michael Jackson impersonator who was excellent, and a very lively, colorful Mexican dance troupe. There are side trips available for an extra charge as well as a luxurious spa and after-hours room service, all for an additional charge. Telephone charges, medical services, PPV TV services, laundry, and car rentals are also extra. (All things you can certainly live without for a few days!)

If you need a weekend get-away, do yourself a favor and try this before the special offers vanish. Take advantage of the economic woes of the US and Mexico (due partially to the Swine Flu scare), and enjoy yourself to no end! You’re worth it!

Travel tips from Merida Mikey: Wear comfortable shoes and sandals, bring plenty of beach clothing, sun screen and the like. As soon as you check in, next check with the Concierge and book your evening meals at the restaurant(s) of your choice. Gentlemen, be sure to bring a long pair of trousers as this is required dress for the evening meals in the restaurants that require reservations. Also, book shows early as they fill up fast. There are plenty of opportunities for side trips to some local water parks and the like and these can also be booked as you are checking in. Honestly, this is a fantastic deal and if you think you need to get away for a weekend, book it!

Go to: http://www.bluebayresorts.com/

Travel Agent in Merida: Travel Club Mexico (999) 987-1850

Ventas05@travelclubmexico.com

Just to give you an idea, check out some of these pictures:


The facility is huge and a well-tuned staff keeps the premises absolutely immaculate!


















The beach is a sight to behold!


















Some rooms even have private pools!



There are plenty of small shops on premises where you can pick up T-shirts and trinkets!


































You can always hitch a ride morning, noon, or night!


















The shows were quite entertaining and very colorful!
















































Merida Mikey Imbibes! (Probably just a diet Coke.)




All this, and more, for about the equivalent of $277.00 US for two people, for three days and two nights including transportation from Merida at an all inclusive 5 star resort. Can you afford NOT to go!?!

THE SAGA OF THE CLOGGED SALTSHAKER

Salt – you sometimes can’t live with it, but you definitely can’t live without it!

Salt is a mineral that our bodies require to maintain fluid balance and helps regulate blood and blood pressure, transmits nerve impulses, and helps muscle functions, including the heart, to contract and relax. Too much salt in your system can cause multiple health risks; too little, can cause metabolic imbalance and a host of other unwanted symptoms. Current government guidelines recommend less than 2,300 mg of sodium (about one teaspoon of salt) per day for those over the age of 2 years.

The history of salt is an interesting read and dates back to the beginnings of recorded history, including biblical references. In ancient times, salt was a commodity valued higher than gold! Today, salt is one of the least expensive items on your grocery list and is readily available absolutely everywhere and in a multitude of varieties..

The saltshaker - each home has at least one or more saltshakers in use. If you live in the Yucatan Peninsula or another area where the humidity is high, more than likely you have annoying problems with your saltshakers. The humidity dampens the salt and it, in turn, clogs the holes in the saltshaker. Sound familiar? When you go to use it, the salt just doesn’t come out, so you shake harder and harder, bang the shaker on the table to loosen up the salt inside, use a toothpick to poke the holes in the shaker, and keep shaking away in vain. I always found that frustrating.

I moved to Florida (humidity heaven) in 1966 and stayed put there until 1995. I found it odd that most restaurants had rice in their saltshakers! I thought how in the heck can you confuse the rice with the salt, and visa versa? I soon learned that the rice in the saltshaker was to help keep the salt loose and free-flowing! Great idea and it works! (Many restaurants also put a cracker in their sugar containers for the same reason. That little trick also works.)

Here in Merida, where heat and humidity was invented, we suffer with both and have to take extra precautions. I use rice in my salt shakers, but have also found another way to help keep the salt free-flowing. I found salt and pepper shakers with spring loaded lids! What a great find! I bought them at a kitchen gadget store in Florida, but haven’t seen them down here. If you get frustrated when the salt glops up and doesn’t flow freely from the shaker, I highly recommend using rice in the shaker (about 10 – 15 grains for normal size shaker, more for larger ones), and these wonderful shakers with spring loaded lids. They cost about $6.00 US, but are worth their weight in gold.

This may solve the dilemma of the clogged saltshaker and make retired life even a bit more relaxing than it already is! So, next time friend or family comes for a visit, you may want to request they bring you a pair of salt and pepper shakers. With lids, of course!

Cheap and nontoxic ways to get rid of bugs

For those of us living in a tropical or sub-tropical climate, some of these tips are worth their weight in gold! I do point out that they work in all types of climates too. They present non-toxic, environmentally friendly ways to get rid of pests!

I must confess that I did not write this article, only copied it. I give full credit to, and thank, Huddler’s Green Home Community. Ironically, I was recently discussing some of these very same tips with some friends and we were in mutual agreement that they work, and work well! So, thank you Huddler’s for compiling such a great tip list. I feel it is definitely worth passing it on to those of you who may not have seen it before.

Trust me when I tell you that I have used several of the methods described below, and they really do work. Best of all, they are nontoxic and green house friendly.

Try some of these tips to rid yourself of those pesky little critters that interrupt our siestas and retired life!



Cheap and nontoxic ways to get rid of bugs
By Huddler's Green Home Community

Summer is the time for picnics, going to the beach, and barbecues. Unfortunately, it's also the time for indoor pests. Commercial pest control is full of nasty chemicals, even though there are natural ways to fight off many pests. Here are some ideas for ridding your home of creepy crawlies, without needing a hazmat suit (and of course, saving you some money).
Remember: The number one rule to keeping many bugs out is keeping the house clean. So don't let your dirty dishes pile up, make sure to sweep and vacuum, etc. Prevent any need for nontoxic pest control by using nontoxic household cleaners or even make your own homemade cleaners.

Ants

Vinegar can be used to destroy ant trails. Without clear trails, the ants will get confused and may stay outside for a while. You can use it diluted with water or straight. And, of course, vinegar is also a great household homemade cleaner, so not only do you get rid of the ants, you get some cleaning done too.

Cinnamon and black pepper are both increasingly being used in garden and indoor insect control. You can try dusting the outdoor nests with either of these spices. Cinnamon is more beneficial as a natural barrier to stop them from coming in -- it's most effective when you find the source of where the ants are coming in.

Add borax to sugar. Many people believe that you should use a 50-50 concentration, however, ultimately the goal is to have the ants bring borax back to their nests. Starting with a lower concentration such as 5% or 10% borax to sugar and gradually increasing it to 40%-50% will allow the ants to have more time to bring more back. The mixture should be placed where you see the ants or on the ant trails.

Baby powder or talcum powder is not appreciated by these bugs. The theory is if you dust the ants and the trail, they’ll stop coming.

Liquid soap diluted with water is an easy way to wipe out your pests while not harming your people. When used outside as a spray, you'll want to dilute the soap, roughly 1 or 2 tablespoons per quart of water -- to kill the pests but not your plants.

Mikey adds: If you do this on a regular basis you will have NO bugs on your plants. I've done it for years, and it works.

Bay leaves, cloves, and cayenne pepper have long been used for ant control. Try putting one of these at their entry point, and in drawers, shelves, etc., where the ants are going, to prevent them from coming in.

Mikey adds: I learned this trick from my mom. She had Bay Leaves in every cupboard, under every piece of furniture, in every corner, you name it! She never had bugs, including those absolutely disgusting cockroaches. This really works well!

Peppermint can be sprayed around your home's perimeter and at ant entry points. This will deter them from coming inside.

Mikey adds: Peppermint is also great for deterring rodents! They hate the smell of mint!

Fruit flies

Clean up any ripe fruit droppings and take out the trash (or if you are a green superstar, your compost!) nightly for a few days -- fruit flies lay their eggs in overripe fruit.

Apple cider vinegar is a great natural way to get rid of fruit flies. Pour some into a glass, and place a paper funnel over the container. Fruit flies love the smell and will fly into the glass, but will not find their way back out the funnel (for 4 of 5 fruit flies...).

Leave a glass of cheap wine (apparently, fruit flies particularly like chardonnay) out. Mix a bit of detergent in it. The flies will sip on it and die shortly thereafter.

Mikey adds: This happened to me once! Obviously, I didn't die though!!

Make your own fly paper by boiling water, sugar, and corn syrup together. Spread the mixture on brown paper grocery bags and wait for the flies to stick.

Mikey adds: This sounds messy. It is probably easier to go to the store and buy fly paper.

Suck up flies through the back of an old hair dryer. The flies will go in the hot back end of the dryer and fry.

Mikey adds: Sadistic!!!!!

Basil deters fruit flies. Mix some basil oil with water and spray your kitchen.

Wasps

Make a trap from an old soda bottle to catch wasps. Using a 2-liter soda bottle, cut off the top 1/3 of the way down. Flip the top so that the bottle neck is facing down into the rest of the bottle. Tape or staple the bottle neck to the outside of the bottom piece so that it fits tight. Fill the bottle part way with soda or fruit juice. You could even line the top of the bottle with jam to help attract the wasps. Wasps will enter the bottle but will not be able to get out. Clean and refill the trap daily or as needed.

Remove the nest. If you find a hanging nest, wait until the wasps are less active (namely, at night). Carefully approach the nest. Put a cloth or plastic trash bag entirely over the next and quickly tie it off at the top. Remove the nest from wherever it is hanging, then submerge the bag under water and weigh it down with a rock.

Slugs

Slugs can be a huge pest in any garden. They're fond of eating plants, shrubs, and mosses, much to any gardener's chagrin.

Fill small bowls with stale beer and place the bowls strategically in areas of the garden where the slugs are most active. Slugs apparently like stale beer, so they climb in to drink and they meet their maker (they drown in the liquid).

Mikey adds: This is a tough one because beer doesn't hang around long enough in my house to go stale!

Other eco-friendly slug-fighting tactics include liquids that work similarly such as grape juice or a tea made from yeast, honey, and water.

I hope you try some of these tips to rid your premises of those pesky little critters. If all else fails, buy a can of Raid!

Pre-Columbian Arftifact?

Have you ever owned something and not known exactly what its intended purpose was? I’ve been lugging this “thing” around for about 25 years or so, and still am not sure why!

Provenance is as follows: I bought it at a garage sale about 25 years ago from a family that was cleaning out grandpa’s attic to settle his estate. I think I paid about eight or ten dollars for it. Supposedly, grandpa had trekked all over the world and had accumulated lots of trash and treasures in his travels. It was reported that he was particularly fond of traveling to South and Central America.

My piece of trash, or treasure if you will, was purported to be a Pre-Columbian oil lamp. Indeed, there is a place for the wick and a separate hole to put oil in. It is made of stone and is otherwise rather inconspicuous. Over the years, I’ve shown it to several different dealers and collectors, and not a one of them has ever confirmed its age or authenticity. In any event, I know it’s at least 25 years old! And, authentic or not, it makes a great door stop!

Here are a few photos and some dimensions. It stands just about 6 inches tall and is four and one half inches in diameter, slightly less at the base.

If you can identify this for me, I’ll be your friend for a long, long time! If you can’t, that’s OK, we can still be friends.

Any idea?

Educated guess?

July 8th is coming!!!

I received an interesting e-mail from a friend and thought I'd share it with you:


July 8th is coming!

AT 5 MINUTES AND 6 SECONDS AFTER 4 A.M., ON THE 8TH OF JULY,THIS YEAR, THE TIME AND DATE WILL BE: 04:05:06 07-08-09

THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL THE YEAR 3009!********

I had a deep feeling that you just needed to know this.

Cantina's in Merida

Cantina is a Spanish word derived from Italian, canteen, meaning wine cellar. Curiously enough, the word cantina is often associated with the Southwestern part of the US, meaning a bar that serves liquor.

The word “cantina” conjures up thoughts of an old wild west saloon where cheap liquor flowed freely, the piano player was always a bit off key and to survive, a man had to be quick on the draw and a woman had to be even faster on her feet! The term “cantina” has endured for many a year and is still widely (and sometimes wildly) used throughout Mexico. Merida is no exception and we have our fair share of cantinas. Today, free flowing liquor, honky tonk piano players, quick-draw cowboys, and dance hall molls are questionable. Not entirely impossible, but questionable!

Ironically, most cantinas do not allow, or at least discourage, women as customers! A bit sexist, but that is just how it is here and that is a long-standing tradition. Some cantinas do employ younger women as waitresses. When it is necessary to hire a waitress, the signs always read something to the effect “young woman wanted as waitress; must have a good presentation”. Fill in the blanks and take it from there!

There are some establishments that clearly display the word “familiar” by their entrances. Translated, familiar in Spanish simply means, family. Curiously, these establishments primarily employ waiters. Go Figure! So, if you see “familiar” displayed somewhere by the entrance, you know it is safe to bring the wife, kids and your mother-in-law, too. If not displayed, best to look elsewhere for your watering hole and leave the family at home. Some of the more elaborate cantina’s in Merida, such as Eladio’s and Henequene’s, proudly display that they are restaurants and bars and even offer separate play areas for the kids! The biggest rivalry in Merida is between these two establishments. They each boast multiple locations and advertise extensively for your business. Having visited both, I am torn to choose a favorite, although I lean towards Eladio’s.

Interestingly enough, most cantinas post notices to the effect “say no to drugs”, “sale of alcohol to minors is prohibited”, “avoid excess”, “it is prohibited to drink alcohol in view of the public”, and even some advise that “if you drive, do not drink”! I can only presume these are public service announcements on behalf of the benevolent proprietors?

Most establishments have the traditional swinging doors at each entrance and often include some sort of barrier wall so that when the swinging doors are opened, you still can’t see in! The way I see it is that this serves two main purposes. First, it complies with the law about drinking alcohol in view of the public, and secondly, and perhaps most importantly, your wife or mother-in-law can’t be just casually driving by or looking in to see if you are there! The establishments protect the privacy rights of their patrons!

Some cantinas offer entertainment in the form of a strolling minstrel, a trio, a full band, singers, and even dancers. The music is always upbeat and very, very loud. As I have come to learn, loud music is also a Mexican tradition. For the music to be good, it absolutely has to be loud; very, very, loud. Usually loud enough to give you a headache or drive you to drink! (I think the pub owners are on to something!!)

There is lots of competition between cantinas. Most people judge the worth of a cantina by how cold the beer is and how good the botanas (snacks) are and sometimes by how good-looking and friendly the waitresses are. There are a few “familiar” establishments here in Merida, staffed by waiters, and they will serve you various botanas as long as you continue to imbibe! I have actually had two dozen or so different botanas served to me while enjoying and imbibing the afternoon away. (Sometimes, far away!) There are lots of times you don’t know what you’re eating, but for sure you can almost always expect the unexpected! Everything from pigs ears to pigs hearts, fried pig skins, assorted chips and dips, and even traditional Yucatecan foods such as tamales, flautas, refried beans, empanadas, kibi, and plenty of salsas. The list can be endless, so you’ll just have to go and experience it for yourself!

This is one of Eladio's locations:

I I

Here's one of Henequene's locations:

As a public service announcement, I would ask that you please do your ex-pat part to help support the local economy and keep this wonderful tradition alive!

Thank you.

Mystical Mayan Medical Miracle (?)

I am a producer. Not of stage or screen, but of kidney stones. Admittedly, I know nothing about “birfing babies”, but I know lots about passing kidney stones. For the past 20+ years, I have been plagued with these damn things. I take medication (Allopurinol, 300 mg) each and every day to inhibit the production of stones. While it just doesn’t always work, I’m sure it helps. I normally pass about 3 – 5 stones per year. Multiply that times 20+ years and you’ve got enough stones to build a wall or pave a highway! (slight exaggeration!)

A FEW BAD MEMORIES:

Recently, while doctoring for pneumonia, bronchitis, gastritis, esophagitis, hiatal hernia, and uncontrollable reflux, the doctor asked me if I had anything else going on as if all that weren’t enough. At that time, I knew I had a large stone passing out of my right kidney as the pain was excruciating! After 20 years or so, you know when the stone is just a “stone’s throw away”! I mentioned the horrible pain I was in and the doctor advised me to go to a homeopathic pharmacy and purchase a product called Yumel. It is supposedly an old Mayan remedy for the malady of which I suffer.

Because I have so much faith and confidence in my doctor, I followed his orders. I went to the pharmacy he recommended and purchased two bottles. I actually forget the price, but it was very, very reasonable. I followed the simple directions, and within a few days the pain eased and I no longer could identify the stone. Normally, I can tell exactly where the stone is at any given time, but this miracle medicine actually dissolved the stone, just as the doctor told me it would. I now have no pain, no stone! Absolutely amazing what some herbal medicines can do for you. I do not know the pharmacology of Yumel, but I do know it is made from a seed that is common to the Yucatan, and perhaps even other locales.

If you are ever unlucky enough to have a kidney stone, rush out and get a bottle of Yumel. Of course, it is always best to check with your primary care physician first. To me, this medication is truly a Mystical Mayan Medical Miracle.

If you want to learn a bit more about kidney stones, the following is an excerpt from WebMD which is a great sight to check out for all that ails you!


From: http://www.webmd.com/

Kidney stones are created when certain substances in urine -- including calcium, oxalate, and sometimes uric acid -- crystallize. These minerals and salts form crystals, which can then join together and form a kidney stone.

Kidney stones usually form within the kidney, where urine collects before flowing into the ureter, the tube that leads to the bladder. Small kidney stones are able to pass out of the body in the urine -- and may go completely unnoticed by you. But larger stones irritate and stretch the ureter as they move toward the bladder, blocking the flow of urine and causing excruciating pain. Rarely, a stone can be too large to pass into the ureter and remains lodged in the kidney, but may still require treatment.

Why some people form kidney stones and others don't is not always clear. Kidney stone disease is more common in young and middle-aged adults than in the elderly, and more prevalent in men than women. People living in hot climates are sometimes prone to kidney stones because they may be slightly dehydrated, which concentrates the minerals in their urine and makes crystal formation easier. Medical evidence suggests that drinking too few fluids can exacerbate this chemical oversaturation of the urine.

Most urinary stones are composed of calcium oxalate crystals -- a kind of salt in the urine that's hard to dissolve. Uric acid, the chemical associated with gout, may also be involved. If your urine is chronically infected with certain organisms, you can be prone to getting kidney stones of a specific composition as well.

Certain people are frequent "stone formers." A person who has one stone has a 50% chance of developing another stone over 10 years, with about a 15% risk in the first year or so.