DIVERSION EXCURSION: FORT SAN FELIPE, PUEBLO BACALAR, QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO

Located approximately 425 kilometers (265 miles) from Merida, the little pueblo of Bacalar, population 10,500, is nestled along the shoreline of the magnificent Laguna Bacalar. It is small, quiet, and unassuming. We found one pizza parlor that doesn’t have a phone number and doesn’t deliver! That really describes the lifestyle of the population. Declared to be “Pueblo Magico” in 2007 by the Governor of Quintana Roo, this quiet little village goes about its daily business without fanfare.

Interestingly enough though, directly across from the main square there is a hidden treasure just waiting for you to discover! There is a magnificent old fort with a museum that I just couldn’t resist.

Fort San Felipe was built in the 1700’s under the orders of Don Antonio Figueroa y Silva, Field Marshall of the Yucatan, when the current state of Quintana Roo was part and parcel of the Yucatan and did not yet exist. The purpose of the fort was to protect the Bacalar population from frequent attacks by pirates and to defend the entire region from harassment from the traders in Campeche wood. (The swashbuckling Johnny Depp, in full regale, would be right at home here!)

The views from the old fort are nothing less than spectacular, and the reinforced walls and moats surrounding the fort have stood the test of time. Below are some photographs that need little to no explanation. Enjoy!

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

I am by no means a photographer in any way, shape or form, but every now and then you are fortunate enough to snap a shot that is a “real keeper”. I think I have done so on my recent trip to Laguna Bacalar, Quintana Roo, Mexico (which I will blog about later).

Shortly after 6 AM, I was snapping shots of the sunrise and this is one that I caught. A real keeper, wouldn’t you say?

With God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr - IT'S COLD! EVEN IN MERIDA, YUCATAN, MEXICO!

Well, it's not cold enough to make a snowman here, but we are feeling the effects of the cold front that is sweeping North America! Our temperatures have dipped to (in Farenheit) the very high 40's and low 50's in the mornings and evenings, but we do warm up to around 70 - 75 during the day and that is quite comfortable compared to our Northern neighbors who are literally freezing to death in this horrible cold front that is moving through the US and Canada. There are no immediate changes forecast in the near future either! Brrrrr!

For the local Yucatecans, the current temperatures brought on by this cold spell are unbearable. They are all bundled up as if they were going ice skating, and we Gringos have changed from shorts and T-shirts to long pants and T-shirts!

I have never been in a home in Merida or the surrounding area that has any heating system at all; air, yes - heat, no! We really just do not have a use for such a thing here in the Yucatan. (Unlike my friends in Canada and the US and other parts of the world who are probably thinking of putting their thermostats up just one more notch as they read this blog!) My family in Western New York State report that the snow plows are working overtime and they tell me how much snow they have and how cold it is, plus the wind chill factor, the ice conditions, etc., and so on, and I just shiver! I am so thankful to be where I am, here in Merida.

My friends in Florida, The Sunshine State, report they are expecting a frost and the farmers are preparing their orange groves and strawberry fields for a very cold, frosty evening. They burn smudge pots in the orange groves to save the crops and they water down the strawberries to create a thin coating of ice on the plants and fruits which, believe it or not, saves them! The strawberries won't be ready to harvest until February so here's hoping they can be saved as well as the orange groves. People are scurrying to cover their precious tropical plants and shrubs with old sheets and tarps and whatever else they can find to save them.

Because Mexico uses the metric system for measurements and Centigrade instead of Farenheit to measure temperatures, I often get confused. I think I have the temperature thing down pretty good. Here's a quick and easy formula for you to convert centigrade to farenheit without needing a calculator and a degree in math:

1. Take the Centigrade temperature.

2. Double it.

3. Add 26.

4. You have just converted Centigrade to Farenheit. And, it is fairly accurate.

Or, you can go to: http://www.allmeasures.com/temperature.html This is a great site for converting temperatures and is easy to use!

To all my readers, I wish you a Happy New Year, filled with the promise of peace, health, and prosperity. And in addition for you folks north of Merida, stay warm and cozy! If the cold gets to be too much for you, come on down!!!

THE ELUSIVE ALUXES OF THE YUCATAN: FACT, FICTION, OR?

For those of you who may not know, “aluxes” are the Yucatan’s equivalent of leprechauns, elves, gnomes, trolls, faeries, and other names for wee, little, mischievous people, be they mythical, imaginative, legendary, or otherwise!

The Maya themselves would claim that the alux are the spirits of their ancestors, or the spirits of the land itself, and precede contact with Western civilization. Stories of aluxes live on, even in today’s high-tech society.

Wikipedia (http://.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alux) tells us that the Maya peoples from the Yucatán Peninsula, Guatemala, and Belize conceive an alux as being small, only about knee-high, and in appearance resembling miniature traditionally dressed Maya people. They are generally associated with natural features such as forests, caves, stones (especially Mayan ruins), and fields but can also be enticed to move somewhere through offerings. Their description and mythological role are somewhat reminiscent of other spirit-like mythical entities in a number of other cultural traditions as the tricks they play are similar.

I readily admit that I have never encountered an alux or a pink elephant. Not even after several tequilas! However, I know several locals who will swear on the souls of their loved ones that they have experienced such an encounter with an alux.

About 10 years ago, a friend and local Mayan fellow from a nearby Pueblo related his experience to me about his encounter with an alux. It occurred at the Mayan ruins of Dzibichaltun, just outside of Merida. He was working there and spotted the alux hiding behind a bush. The alux was smoking a cigarette and swaying from side to side, observing his movements. He describes the alux as being very small, somewhat crouched over, and walking with a lumbering, side-to-side gate. He then proceeds to duplicate the walk of the alux! He has recanted this story to me on several occasions and the details never change. He is definitely a believer. He also relates that both his father and grandfather have had similar encounters with aluxes!

Another friend, a local, relates seeing several aluxes at a nearby hacienda. He describes them as being only 12 inches high or so, but swears that they inhabit the land there! I asked if he has seen them only once, and he firmly states that he has witnessed them on numerous occasions, as have his family and friends.

I have talked to other locals who absolutely believe in these little fellows and readily admit to seeing them, or at least knowing someone who has witnessed a sighting! The alux of the Yucatan, are deeply imbedded in the local culture. We even have a large hotel here in Merida named “Los Aluxes”. The terminology, “alux”, appears throughout Mayan folklore, legend, history, and persists in day-to-day conversations.

Fact or Fiction? As for me, seeing is believing. However, the adamancy of the locals who claim to have witnessed an alux brings into question their actual existence and authenticity. I guess you could say while I do not absolutely “believe”, I absolutely do not “disbelieve”! Perhaps it’s just that vivid imaginations abound in the Yucatan Pennisula? If you live in the Yucatan, or visit here, ask around about aluxes. You may be surprised at what you hear, or see!!

Personally, I would welcome such an encounter!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MERIDA, YUCATAN, MEXICO!

Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous New Year!

I received a special Christmas greeting from a friend and thought I'd share it with you. It defines Christmas and captures the spirit of the season and the joy of the occasion! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Just click on the link below, volume on, sit back, relax, and enjoy a very special Christmas Greeting from me to each and every reader of my blog!

Merry Christmas!

<http://ecard.ashland.edu/2004admission/index.html

DIVERSION EXCURSION: LA ZONA LIBRE, BELIZE

I’ve been going to the Zona Libre (Free Zone), on and off for the past 4 years or so. I always take a bus excursion and leave the driving to someone else! The buses are clean, comfortable, air conditioned, equipped with a bathroom for when you just can’t hold it any longer, and movies! It’s an approximate 6 hour trip, depending on weather and traffic. We always stop about half way there to get out, stretch your legs, use the facilities, and get something to eat. Personally, I always bring a sandwich and a snack as I’m not fond of eating along the roadside, although I have and survived it!

The bus leaves Saturdays at 7:00 AM from the Fiesta Americana Hotel here in Merida, and returns Sunday morning at approximately the same time. We arrive in Belize around 1:30 in the afternoon, and leave at 1:00 AM for the return home. That gives you approximately 12 hours of shopping and casino!

I have been there with other tour operators, but my personal preference is Royal Travel. I have become friends with the owner, Tony Peniche, and can attest that you get one great deal with him. The cost of the trip is 300 Mexican pesos, round trip. That is the approximate equivalent of $24.00 US dollars. Pretty reasonable, don’t you think? There is always a tour guide, Cruz, and he speaks fairly good English. Tony often goes with his wife Diane to replenish his bar!

Admittedly, I am not a “shopper”. I have only shopped in the free zone two or three times in all the trips I have taken, but they do have some great buys there. Liquor and clothing are at the top of almost everyone’s list. You can find things there that you can’t find elsewhere.

This past trip, I purchased a good supply of cheese for the upcoming holidays; some for personal use and some to give as gifts. I buy my cheese from a store called “Chavez”. I find they have great prices and you get great service. Everyone in the free zone is genuinely happy and makes you feel welcome. (Probably because they know you’re there to spend money, but also because that is their nature.) You can spend either, (1) US Dollars; (2) Mexican Pesos; or (3) Belizean Dollars. There is never a problem exchanging currency!

Navigating the Free Zone is also very easy. You can catch a “taxi” for 10 Mexican Pesos, about 75 cents or so, and they will take you anywhere in the Free Zone you wish to go! Just wave one down as they pass and they are happy to accommodate you!

Your choice of stores is endless and it would be extremely difficult to visit them all in just one trip. Here are some of the stores I happened into on my last trip there.

And if you need a blue Christmas Tree, the Free Zone is where you need to be!

This little store sells only Liquor that is made in Belize. You can stop by for free samples and get a buzz on while shopping.

If you are interested in going, you should carry your immigration documents with you. You do not have to pass through immigration going or coming other than an occasional cursory “hi, where you headed”. The officials know and recognize the tour operator and there is never a hassle. In four years (probably 30 trips for me), I have been asked only once for my passport and my Mexican immigration papers. And then, the Immigration Official just briefly glanced at them and told me to have a good trip back to Merida.

On your return trip from Belize, you do have to pass through Customs. This too, is somewhat cursory, but if you abuse the import laws, you could have your merchandise confiscated or given an option to pay some outrageous taxes. You are allowed three (3) liters of alcohol, and the equivalent of 3,500 Mexican Pesos worth of purchases, per person. That will buy you a bunch of stuff in the Zona Libre!

The Golden Princess Casino is actually two separate buildings. One has nothing but slot machines and is also the hotel. The main casino is slot machines and table games such as poker, blackjack, and roulette. There are no “craps” tables. They play Texas Hold ‘Em, and some crazy variations of three-card poker and Caribbean poker. They have live entertainment and the casino is kept very clean and orderly. As long as you are “wagering”, you may order anything at all you care to drink! Whiskey to make you frisky, beer to make you cheer, gin to make you grin, or just plain, old-fashioned bottled water or a variety of soft drinks, coffee, this sort of thing. In addition, you can order free food (nothing special or to write home about), and later in the evenings they come around with various snacks and plates of fruit and salads, dispersed free to the “wagerers”

All in all, for only 300 Mexican Pesos/$24.00 US Dollars, you can’t go wrong. Most of us can eat and drink that much! If interested and in Merida or the surrounding area, give Royal Travel a call and ask for Tony or Cruz, and book your very own diversion excursion!

GREEN TANGERINES: WHO'DA THUNK IT!

Having lived 30 years in Florida, I was always taught to choose an orange or a tangerine by its vibrant color, firmness and fragrance! I can’t tell you how many times I have been disappointed in those beautiful, wonderfully smelling, bright orange citrus fruits that are pretty much inedible after you peel them because they are either too “pulpy/pithy” or too bitter. But! They sure do smell good!

The other day, I encountered a little Mayan gentleman on the street, pushing a fruit and vegetable cart, selling his wares. He asked me if I wanted some tangerines, only 10 pesos a bag (about 15 or so). That converts to approximately 5 cents a tangerine! I really didn’t particularly want them right at that moment, but purchased a bag just the same. Much to my (then) chagrin, they were small and very green! I asked if they were sweet and he assured me that they were. What else would he say, I thought. Check out these green tangerines in the photo below:

I cut one open to try it and was pleasantly surprised to find that it at least had a fragrant citrus aroma and was the right color on the inside! See for yourself:

I quartered it, peeled it, and thought “what the heck, give it a try”! I like eating my citrus fruits the way the locals do, so I put a few drops of lime juice on it, sprinkled it with ground red chili pepper and ate it! It was one of the sweetest tangerines I have ever eaten. I was absolutely shocked at the sweetness of this green tangerine!

I am currently on the lookout for that little Mayan guy pushing his fruit and veggie cart!