"Hell-hot" in Merida

Here it is only mid-May and I’ve already had my fill of temperatures in excess of 100 degrees fahrenheit. I’ve lived here for 14 years, but for some reason, have never gotten acclimated to the Yucatecan heat. And, I moved here from Florida! You’d think it wouldn’t be so bad to get accustomed to it, but I just have not. It seems each new summer is hotter than the one before.

I do manage though. I plan all “outdoor” activities in the early morning before the sun is full or early evening after the never-ending ball of fire starts to gradually fade away. The hottest hours of the day seem to be from noon until around 3 or 4. Normally, I try to be indoors, preferably at home, but on occasion I do venture out to shop. If I do go out in the hell-hot heat, I make sure to use the air conditioner in my car and I only go to air conditioned stores. No exceptions! If I’m home, rest assured that I have my air conditioners and fans on to keep cool. I also do siestas - a great Mexican tradition!

I try real hard to keep myself well hydrated by drinking plenty of liquids. I can’t always do the multiple glasses of water thing, but I do drink other beverages, some carbonated, most are not. And here’s a word about a nice cold, refreshing, delicious, wonderful, can’t live without it, beer. Beer is a diuretic! Yes, it will make you urinate more and perspire more, and you will loose as much liquid as you have taken in and then some. Not a good choice, but hey – I’m not perfect!! And, I’ve never seen a death certificate that says “died from drinking a beer”.

If you have to be in the sun, be sure to use a good sun screen to block those sun's rays and prevent skin cancers, especially melanomas. Force yourself to drink copious amounts of liquids, even if you don’t feel thirsty, to avoid getting dehydrated. Melanoma and/or dehydration can kill you while sun screen and liquids could save your life.

If it sounds a bit like I am preaching (even if to the choir), that would be because I am.

Amen!

H1N1 Swine Flu: A Personal Scare

After spending six weeks in Florida for medical problems unrelated to the flu, I finally decided to return home to Merida on April 14. I flew my usual route from Tampa, Florida, to Houston, Texas, and then on to Merida.

While at the Houston Airport, I did notice lots of folks coughing, sneezing, texting, talking, more coughing, chasing kids with runny noses, sneezing, and of course talking loudly on their cell phones, sharing their individual calls with everyone around them. On board the plane, there remained lots of coughing and sneezing but there was a reprieve with the cell phones.

After I got back, I started with a dry cough that led to full blown flu symptoms. The Swine Flu was just making headlines and they published the symptoms. Cough, headache, ache all over, temperature, nausea, vomiting, etc., and so on. Good Grief! I had each and every symptom. I fought it for three days on my own and lost the battle.

I first went to the Emergency Room at Clinica Merida and saw the Doctor there. He immediately ordered a series of three breathing treatments, 30 minutes apart and then, a chest x-ray. He told me I had something going on with my lungs, an infection, and gave me three medications to take. I had absolutely no confidence in this doctor or the medications he prescribed. I did get the meds, used them as directed for two days and felt absolutely no relief.

We called Star Medica, explained my symptoms, and asked to see a specialist. They immediately set me up with a doctor who specialized in epidemiology, Public Health, and in addition, was a medical doctor. I went to see him and he immediately put me in the hospital. I needed IV antibiotics to fight the symptoms I had plus regular breathing treatments and oxygen 24 hours a day. I had left lower lobe pneumonia and bronchitis.

The test kits for the H1N1 virus were just received from the CDC in Atlanta the afternoon I was admitted, and I had a nasal swab, throat swab, and blood work. The results showed that I did not have the H1N1 Virus! I thought for sure I did. This “quick test” is not 100%. My lab work and such were forwarded to Mexico City for final diagnosis.

The doctor and hospital far exceeded my expectations. Absolutely everything was just wonderful. Clean, modern, efficient, helpful, sympathetic, and caring treatment like I have never had before in a hospital. I would highly recommend the hospital and the doctor I saw, who is now my primary care physician. (Dr. Jorge Teyer)

And, my hat is off to the Mexican Government for their swift reaction to the possible pandemic of the H1N1 Virus. Schools were immediately closed. Public gatherings were cancelled. Offices and banks were closed. People were advised to stay indoors. Sporting events were allowed, but no spectators. Protective masks were handed out. And just about everything was cleaned and disinfected. I was pleasantly surprised at the fast action from the Government. In addition, after I was discharged from the hospital, two nurses from the Government showed up at my home with an informational sheet on the flu, and a 5 day supply of Tamiflu, one of the two medications that are used to fight the H1N1 Swine Flu Virus. This was free of charge!

There are really two little morals to this story. First, if you do not have confidence in the hospital or the doctor you are seeing, change hospitals or doctors. Your initial instincts are usually correct. And second, if you are sick, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Don’t wait like I did thinking you are the toughest guy on the block because you’re not!

Merida Mikey on Remembering Names

I’ve always been one of those people that hardly ever forgot a face, but often have one hell of a time remembering names! I’ve never been able to figure out why, but that’s just how it is. So, if I’ve ever forgotten your name, please forgive me!

Actually, some characters we meet are easier to remember than others. For example, these two characters are easily recognizable and named by the majority of the people on this planet!



(If you get their names wrong, sign out of this blog NOW!)

Of course, that’s Mickey Mouse and his main squeeze, Minnie. They’ve been living together in sin since around 1928. Personally, I don’t see Mick’s attraction, but have concluded he must have a foot fetish (and her, too)! I don’t think that’s how Walt Disney wanted us to view this common law couple, but that’s how I see it! And thank God Mick’s not allergic to polka dots! If I were the wardrobe police, I’d arrest the little rodent!

And how about that Snow White!?! Now there’s something to ponder. Living alone in the woods with 7 dwarfs (dirty old men all of them, for sure)! What the hell is so “Snow White” about that? I think Walt Disney wanted to entertain not only the darling little children with this fantasy, but us adults, too! (Thank you, Mr. Disney.)



While Snow White is almost as recognizable as the common law rodent couple, the 7 dirty old men she lives with in the woods are a bit more difficult. Can you name them????? I can (because I looked some of them up on the net)!

Here’s a bit of a teaser for you. Here’s a picture of Snow White and the 7 dwarfs:


(I wouldn’t vote for any of them, nor would I buy a used car from any of them!)


And here are their individual pictures. Now, get a piece of paper and a pencil, number from 1 to 7, and see how many you can name! (HINT: None of them are named “Sleazy”, so don’t even go there!)

If you get them all correct you win a free trip to Dizzy World to hang out with the Rodent and his Squeeze and dine on Velveeta cheese sandwiches. If you don’t get them all correct, you have to sign a blank check, send it to me and I’ll fill it in!



(WARNING: If you look them up on the net prior to taking this test, your computer will crash, your sex organs will shrivel up, the fleas of a thousand camels will infest your armpits, you will have 7 years of bad luck, and be forced to hang out with The Rodent and his squeeze and shine their shoes, iron her polka dot outfits, and eat Velveeta cheese sandwiches!!)



Get ready, get set, go:



#1


#2


#3


#4



#5

HEY! HEY! JUST 'CAUSE YOU PUT ON SOMBREROS DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE GETTTING INTO THIS BLOG! OUT! ANDELE! ANDELE!

#6



#7


Scroll down for the answers!








And the answers are:



#1 - Dopey: the youngest, sweetest, and silliest of the seven, and the only one to be completely bald and beardless; wears a too large lime green tunic and purple cap.*

#2 - Grumpy: the grouchiest and most curmudgeonly of the group, though even he is supremely devoted to the beautiful Snow White; wears a red tunic, long white hair and beard.

#3 - Doc: the only one of the dwarfs to wear glasses (so presumably the most intellectual); wears an orange-brown tunic, long white hair and beard.

#4 - Happy: the most rotund of the dwarfs; wears a brownish two-tone tunic, yellow cap, long white hair and beard.

#5 - Bashful: evokes his bashful nature through a classic pose of shyness (hands clasped behind back, shoulders slightly raised, eyes upturned); sometimes difficult to distinguish between Sneezy and Sleepy; depicted in purple tunic and magenta cap (on video), as well as long white hair and beard.

#6 - Sneezy: frequently shown with one finger underneath his nose, as if trying to stifle a sneeze; sometimes difficult to distinguish between Sleepy and Bashful; wears a yellow-brown tunic, long white hair and beard.

#7 - Sleepy: perhaps the most difficult to differentiate between Sleepy and Bashful, though he wears a perpetually sleepy looking, heavily lidded expression on his face; wears a brownish tunic, green cap, long white hair and beard.

NOTE: Keeping track of all seven dwarfs is actually quite simple once you have mastered this simple mnemonic device: two S’s, two D’s, and three emotions. Two S’s: Sleepy and Sneezy; two D’s: Dopey and Doc; and three emotions: Happy, Bashful, and Grumpy.




How’d ‘ya do? Do I have a check in the mail???????

A STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE . . . . . . .

My Dad always worked in the food and beverage industry, and often partnered with his brother, my Uncle Mike. Together, they either owned, or managed, nicer restaurants and bars. I remember that Dad would always dress properly for work. His standard attire was black dress slacks, a freshly pressed white shirt (very light starch) with French cuffs, and a black bow tie that he tied himself! (I never did get the hang of that.)


















Dad was always one of those people hard to buy for at Christmas, birthdays, and other special occasions. However, he did have somewhat of a passion for cuff links! That really made it easy on us! Over the years, he amassed a collection of probably 30 pairs of cuff links and an equal amount of tie tacks and tie bars! Some were plain, others were fancy. There were silver ones, gold ones, and gaudy ones, too! He enjoyed them all immensely, wore every pair of cuff links he ever owned, and the best part was that they were real easy to buy and wrap!







When Dad passed away 9 years ago, that collection of cuff links and assorted tie tacks and tie bars went to me (the only child) as did the jewelry box I had special ordered and crafted for him in 1965 when I was living in Peshawar, West Pakistan. Personally, I haven’t worn French cuffs in years and years, but decided I’d keep the majority of those wonderful, memorable treasures and just knew that one day, I’d have a use for a pair of those cuff links or tie tacks/bars.

That day has come! Here in Merida, Guyabera shirts are always popular and you are considered “well dressed” when wearing one! I decided it was time for me to get down and go a little bit “native”. So, off I went to the local shirt factory and got measured for a long sleeve, dress Guyabera, with French cuffs! I opted for the color black as I knew it would set the cuff links off better and they’d be more noticeable! And I will wear it! (Somewhere, someday!)





So, here’s to you, Dad! And thanks for this memorable stroll and adventure down memory lane.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

No Pictures, no fanfare, just some thoughtful words in this blog.

I have a friend, a retired teacher, from Turin, Italy who spends about 4 or 5 months every year here in Merida. He speaks only Italian and Spanish. Although I am of Italian descent, I only know a very few words in Italian and most of those are swear words and a few obscene hand gestures! And, my Spanish really needs some help, but my “Spanglish” is perfect!

My Italian friend had a houseguest from Turin, a chemist, who was a former student of his! This guy was traveling alone to check out Mexico and left his wife and kids at home in Italy. He naturally spoke Italian, but only a few words in Spanish and a few words in English!

I was invited to his farewell party, and readily accepted the invitation to go and have the opportunity to say “chow”. At the party, there were a total of 15 people or so. Some spoke Mayan, some spoke Spanish, some spoke Italian, and only two spoke English! There was a very nice older couple who were artists of sorts in that she had painted 65 different Cathedrals here in the Yucatan, and he never left home without his guitar. Together, they were an awesome duo as she sang and he strummed out the tunes on the guitar. Some songs were in Italian, some in Mayan, and some in Spanish.

Now if you have the picture, we were a gathering of 15 people and we did not have a common language. However, communication wasn’t really a problem and everyone accepted each other’s language and customs without reserve. We all got along just beautifully and everyone was smiling, laughing, singing along, and we all had a great time.

Here’s the food for thought: What would it be like if the entire world could get along and accept others for what they are and not what we want them to be as we 15 did at this little gathering? Can you just imagine it? Wow – it would be awesome! What would the news networks talk about? Wouldn’t it be incredible to see that happen in our life time? I think so.

Diversion Excursion: Tixkokob, Yucatan, Mexico

Here in the Yucatan, our temperatures reach “hell-hot” in the summer months and air conditioning for most of us Gringos is a necessity, not a luxury. The locals, on the other hand, fight the heat in different ways. For example, we Gringos prefer sleeping in a bed, while the locals, from the poorest to the richest, usually prefer sleeping in a hammock!

The hammock hawkers roam the streets of downtown Merida where the tourists frequent and sell their wares. Hammocks make great souvenirs and are easy to pack in a suitcase – no worries about breakage!

There is a little pueblo, Tixkokob, less than one hour from Merida that is well-known for its hammocks, all of which are hand made! Quality varies as do prices. We decided to take a trip there to buy some hammocks and look around to see if we could get into any trouble!

We found plenty of hammocks to buy, but not too much trouble. Because it was on the warmer side, we decided to stop in to a cantina and have a few cold beers to freshen us up! We got freshened! We enjoyed some ice cold beer and snacked on prepared pigs ears! Sounds a bit gross, but they are good when prepared properly. They’re especially good when you wash them down with a cold one! (or two!)

But buying hammocks was the most fun! They vary in quality from the very fine (about $50.00 US), to the “serviceable” (about $20.00 US). They have hammocks to sleep in, sit in, rest your feet on, and the color schemes are endless. Some are nylon, others are cotton, and still others are made from various synthetic fibers. Nylon usually lasts the longest, is easier to clean, and holds its color better than cotton. However, some people say that the nylon hammocks are a bit warmer than the cotton ones. I guess it all boils down to personal choice, but most folks swear that it is cooler to sleep in a hammock than a bed because of the way the hammock is made with the open-weave designs.

Personally, I have a fear of falling out of one of the damn things so I sleep in a bed in an air conditioned bedroom with a ceiling fan and a floor fan (when needed)! No hammocks for me, but I know that I am in the absolute smallest of minorities here in the Yucatan!

There are several interesting shops to visit, and one store even sells all the supplies you would ever need to make your very own hammock! Lots of luck! It's easier to buy one already made and your chances of survival are greatly increased!

A nice little trip, interesting shops, great prices for quality handmade merchandise, and the beer was ice cold! Life is good!!

Diversion Excursion: The Mexican Caribbean – Costa Maya and Mahahual, in the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico

I’ve been to Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, and Tulum, but never further south down the coast. So, when my friends asked me to tag along on their adventure to scout out some ocean front property, I accepted before they could finish the sentence. Off we went for 4 days and three nights!

Mahahual is approximately 500 kilometers (300 miles) from Merida. There’s not much to see along the way, but I always enjoyed the Mexican countryside. We were in no hurry to get there as we already had confirmed reservations at a nice hotel so we stopped several times for food, gas, and leg stretching.

The hotel was only 10 months old and was quite comfortable and reasonable, as we managed to talk the desk clerk into giving us some very nice discounts! Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t very cooperative during our entire stay. It was quite cool, windy, overcast, windy, even a bit of precipitation one day, and oh, did I mention the wind?

Undoubtedly, the waters of the Caribbean are delightful and a sight to behold. Even though we didn’t get much sunshine, you could surely appreciate the clear blue waters and the breaking waves over the reef. Regretfully, it was just a bit too cool and windy for me to go swimming in the Caribbean or in the hotel pool for that matter! Some dive shop activities, snorkeling, jet skiing, and banana boat rides were also cancelled due to the inclement weather conditions. Even heard rumors some cruise ships couldn’t dock because of the rough seas and high winds.

Our time was spent viewing ocean front lots and playing tourist. The devastation of Hurricane Dean, a category 5 storm that made landfall in August of 2007, was still quite visible. The mangroves were really hit hard and there were still lots of homes and businesses that had been abandoned and not repaired/rebuilt. This was a disturbing sight to me having been through a hurricane and having lost quite a bit myself at one time. I guess you could say bad memories linger longest and fade the slowest.

Huge cruise ships dock at Mahahual and the malecon (boardwalk) is full of restaurants and vendors who cater to the arriving, unsuspecting tourists. While there, two very large cruise ships docked and a torment of tourists flooded the beaches and malecon. One ship had the capacity for 4,500 persons, the other about 3,000. That equates to lots of Gringo dollars for the Mexican economy and the vendors and the restaurateurs are right there with their hands out. The unsuspecting tourist is also right there with wallets wide open and “eyes wide shut”!. For the vendors and restaurateurs, this is a match made in heaven!

Time to talk a bit about discrimination. Not being the “new kid on the malecon”, so to speak, I quickly learned that the vendors have two prices and most restaurants have two menus! And they all readily admit to it!! One price for the locals, while the other is for the unsuspecting Gringo tourists off the boats! The Gringo prices are inflated as much as 400%! I don’t mind a person working for a living and making a buck, but to me, this is equivalent to date rape! I held fast and refused to pay the prices for the few things I wanted from the vendors, and I managed to pay what I consider to be the normal price. If you go on a cruise, anywhere, not just Mexico, it would definitely pay you to do a little homework regarding prices and this sort of thing.

On a much brighter note, we did manage to find a new little place on the malecon that was selling 16 ounce draft beers for only $1.00 US, and shots of tequila from a barrel no less, for the same price. Yes, I partook (is that a good word?), but did not over indulge (too much). So, I was dancing on the malecon to old disco songs – so what! Everyone enjoyed it! My dance partner and I had a great time as her husband doesn’t do much dancing.

The Mexican Caribbean is a beautiful place to spend some time, so if you get a chance, go. But my dear Gringo friends, be forewarned about the discrimination in pricing!

Caveat emptor!




The waters of the Caribbean are quite nice, but when it gets windy and cool, the tourists, and even the locals, disappear!




The hotel was quite comfortable, the pool quite inviting, the weather quite uncooperative!





All said and done though, the Mexican Caribbean is a delightful place to behold. The crystal clear blue waters are quite different than the waters we see on the other side of the Yucatan Peninsula where I live. Our beaches are still exceptionally nice and the waters are also crystal clear, but the waters are green! Not with algae, but that's just how Mother Nature painted it!


You pay dearly for "blue" vs. "green", that's for sure! But, don't miss the opportunity to go if you are fortunate enough to have the chance to do so.