Our Big Fat Crazy Hiatus

Merida- Our Journey To A Beautiful Colonial City!

(Finally published after being set aside for a couple of years...my, that was a trip of a lifetime!)

It was an adventure to get back to the mainland, after our visit to Caye Caulker, Belize. There was a terrible storm going on as we sailed and we arrived sea-sick to a flood in Chetumal, Mexico. Roland's luggage got soggy in the knee deep water. There is no drainage in this city, so when it rains, it floods! We were grateful for the scenic cross-country bus trip to the colonial town of Merida.

We had a wonderful time in Merida, exploring the back streets and the majestic colonial buildings. The hotel we stayed in was tucked in behind a big wall on a busy street. It was a tranquil haven with delicious breakfasts served daily surrounded by artwork by the famous Mexican artist, Frieda. The people were very friendly and helpful. The city was not a tourist destination and the people were happy to show us around just because of pride in their fine city. The streets were narrow and constantly filled with diesel spewing buses at all hours! We loved to churches and traditional dance displays in the streets!

Roland got really soaked when he got off the boat from Caye Caulker,

Belize, en route to our new destination of Merida, Mexico via

the public bus through the scenic Yucatan Peninsula!

We made it safe and sound! Roland enjoying the central square area.

Brenda near the museum.

We joined in the fun at the Museum Mexican Revolution Exhibit.

One of the many churches in the city.

Dancing troupe in the central square.

Famous Catholic Church that the Pope John Paul II visited.

Busy Mexican streets!

A quiet early morning moment before the traffic got hectic.

Eating lunch at a Launcheria...this was a snack with lots of spice!

These were the hottest chilly peppers Roland ever tasted!

Cozy hotel room over-looking the inner pool courtyard with only Mexican guests in attendance.

View of inner courtyard pool from balcony- it is hard to believe that there

is busy traffic outside this tranquil oasis.

Roland chillin' on the balcony.

I'm lovin' it!

Breakfast area (and internet) with Frieda paintings all around.

What awesome artwork!

Artwork by Frieda and her husband, Diego.

Going to Caye Caulker was like living a dream...to a tropical island with sandy white streets used by cyclists and pedestrians only. In the two weeks we spent there, I saw only two vehicles...with the exception of golf carts! The vibe on the island was different from Mexico...it was a calmer place and the people of the island were a mix of Rastafarians, Expats, and Latinos. It was strange to hear English being spoken again as we walked down the sandy streets strewn with jumbled buildings both large and small, selling food and other goods. The best restaurants were the tiny family establishments that cooked the local favorites of rice, beans, and stewed chicken for $3.50! It was cheaper to eat out at a restaurant every night than to buy food. The grocery stores on the island all sold the basics and were high priced. The diving/snorkeling near the island was very memorable- we saw huge fish and tree-sized coral. The marine life has been protected for about 25 years so it is healthy and abundant. It was a relaxed and interesting island that we will never forget. Some day I would love to go back and visit the good friends we made there!

Roland waiting with our luggage in Playa Del Carmen as we wait for our ADO bus to Chetumal.

Brenda on the Chetumal Pier with the water taxi on the right. This pier also serves as customs and immigration for visitors traveling to Belize...the military officer and a drug-sniffing dog came later!

The inside of the water taxi...it was not a smooth ride!

Our first stop was Ambegris Caye, just a half hour boat ride from Caye Caulker.

Our hotel was Leeside Rooms, a charming place right on the water, run by Tom who showed us great hospitality.

Our bed was especially made Tom and was very high which afforded us a view of the ocean view.

Our eating area with a mini kitchen over looking some banana trees.

Tom and Polly-O the parrot in from of Leeside.

I made a new friend!

Enjoying a chat after a home cooked meal of lobster made by Tom...Polly-O looking on from the deck ledge.

Roland scuba diving in the second biggest coral reef in the world!

The streets were sand like the beach...bicycles and golf carts are the preferred form of transportation...
many people also walk around in bare feet!

This sign cracked me up- "Drinking is fun!"

Some houses near our hotel....most of the houses are on stilts.

This is the police station...the officers are rarely seen and ride around in golf carts....

This is a closer view of the sign.

The barber shop around the corner from our room.

The Reggae Bar in town.

A view of Front Street.

His name was Guru and he ran the carving shop where we bought some bowls and carvings on Front Street.

One of the houses downtown...this was a pretty one with coche shells along the steps leading up to the front door.

I took this photo before it got dark- the BBQ on the left was right on the street and the meat or seafood to be grilled later were displayed on the table without refrigeration....it tasted delicious!

Fanta Corner, as I called it, was our turn off to our room, this little boy is walking with bare feet...

Here I go to the beach at the Split to get cooled down...all the bikes in town are a touring style and old fashioned looking...

This was our favorite restaurant. We could get a typical Belizian meal of rice and beans
with stewed chicken for $3.50 CDN

This is the Caye Caulker Community Centre complete with a Public Library, Post Office and other offices.

Here I am with my Canadian friend and fellow-teacher, Joni. She started Ocean Academy School
because of a need she saw for a secondary school. She has relocated on the Caye and is
now married to a Honduran man.

These are some of the girls that visited the library after school.

(Brenda and Marconi in the Puiblic Libary) I met and listened to this boy read on two occasions, to help out my Canadian teacher friend, Joni, who tutors him. He was interesting boy...he is a student and also sells popcorn to the locals and tourists alike to help make money for his family. He loved this shark book!

This is Sandra the teacher at Ocean Academy School and a librarian too. She is also a Canadian who relocated to Caye Caulker after marrying a local fisherman and has three children.

I called this Crab Lane because it was literally crawling with crabs...a blue type and another one with some red markings. They lived on the sandy street in the holes they dig and hid in the low grass and shrubbery...It was creepy to to walk on this lane at night without a light because you could hear the crabs but hardly see them!