Louisiana for Christmas

I woke up in my hammock this morning and opened my computer to find a voice message from my daughter asking me to PLEASE come home...well I couldn't stand it...I was out on the afternoon flight!!
I spent Christmas Eve and Day with my family in Louisiana.....my mother, sister, youngest daughter, aunt, nephew, and cousins, inlaws...my sister and her husband are building a house on the same land where my mother and grandmother were born! I guess Santa thought Kevin was really good!me, sister Pam (the blonde), Bonnie, my youngest daughter and my mom

Mayan Riviera

I have been fortunate to enjoy the view of the Caribbean from some of the finest homes in the Mayan Riviera this week! Whether its from a cabana, a tent, a hammock, a deluxe suite, or a fine home, the essence of the Caribbean is magical!!

Composting Toilet

It is on my mind to become more involved in Dinah's composting toilet projects that she has going on here in the Yucatan.....today she was called upon for her expertise in putting in the final touch to the actual operation of one at a private home in Tulum, Mexico. You can see more photos at the following link http://picasaweb.google.com/divadelmundo/CompostingToilet

Punta Allen

I finally made it to Punta Allen! I was here 29 years ago when it was a very small lobster fishing village....it is still small, remote and fairly primitive. The sandy, rutted, coconut road has improved somewhat but it still took 3 hours to drive 30 miles. Very nice pristine beaches on the way down with treasures of seashells and even a skeleton of a Toucan's beak! The village is at the end of a narrow spit of land between the Caribbean and a lagoon, nestled in Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve. There are cabañas for rent on the beach, also tent camping allowed....and of course FRESH seafood! Creative accommodations as well.
We stayed at Cuzan in this cabaña on the right.

Underground Cenotes

Some of the cenotes here are underground, accessed by a steep ladder in a small opening in the rock or in this case a nice staircase. Because of the small opening, there is a need for artificial light to see the amazing cave atmosphere...there are stalagtites and stalagmites underwater....and crystal clear cool water....it is like swimming in an underground aquifer....it's easy to see why the Maya's say this is the entrance to the underworld...because it is true...this whole peninsula is a honeycomb of limestone(karst formations) filled with water. These are located about 5 kilometers from Coba...called Cenotes Tamcach-Ha and Choo-Ha.

Coba Ruins

Took a little road trip to the Maya ruins of Coba, about an hour and a half south of here. Built in about 500 AD., it has the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan at 137 feet offering a spectacular view. This photo is from a postcard that was obviously taken from an airplane. It is estimated that at the height of the civilization there were 50,000 inhabitants. There were many unexcavated areas that you could walk around in so it didn't feel so touristy. You can also rent bicycles as it is a large site. Also one is allowed to climb the pyramid which is not allowed anymore in some other ruin sites like ChichenItza and Tulum.

Friend from Baja visits

A friend I met in the Baja last year, Tarmo, was passing through the Yucatan and stopped in to see me...its such a small world of international travelers I am finding!.....we shared a big fried grouper and shrimp ceviche at a local restaurant.

Virgin of Guadalupe

One of the most important and spectacular celebrations in Mexico takes place on the 12th of December, when thousands of pilgrims from all over the country stream into the Basilica in Mexico City where the miraculous image is kept, to pay homage to Mexico's Patron Saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe. The celebrations are not just in Mexico City but everywhere....fiestas, parades, dancing, singing, etc.
I was helping a friend shop for a refrigerator in Cancun when this parade passed by. They even threw me candy like we do in our Louisiana parades.

Jungle Zip-Line

I was invited by 2 new friends from Colorado, George and Steve, to try out a new form of entertainment in the jungle...Zip-Lining.....one way of accessing the tree tops!! It consisted of putting on a harness, climbing up a chicle tree to a high platform where you attach the end of the harness to a taught cable that is stretched to another tree. One is propelled by gravity...there were about 10paths of cables so the thrill lasted a while...I allowed myself to be talked into doing it upside down on one of the sections by one of the Costa Rican boys. He accompanied me as the way to stop is to grab the cable with a thick leather glove so he performed that duty. What fun!