Red Cross Fundraiser in Progreso

Today we went out to Progreso to the Fundraiser for the Red Cross out there. They were raising money to equip the new ambulance. There were lots of Americans, Canadians and Mexicans out there. They were serving 'Gourmet' Hamburgers (made with real beef, no fillers!) :) and homemade potato salad. Some friends of ours were making the food and helping with the Fundraiser so we went to help out too.

There were kids groups there doing dances, and drumming, and magic tricks. They were all wonderful and had fabulous costumes. :) A great way to spend an afternoon! The weather was good- 90 degrees, but we had a cool breeze in the Reception Hall. I am not sure what they raised, but I'm sure it will help outfit their Ambulance in Progreso.

Pictures here and there...

I've been taking it easy after being in the hospital, but was looking through some photos I had taken...

Old Fortress of the Penitentiary- walls 20 ft high!

Old Penitentiary

Monument of the Patria (Patriotism) in a traffic circle

my garden



got bored, made new kitchen curtains!



My View from the Emergency Room....

my toes, a blue curtain, stylish gown with Blue Stars, IV bag with pole.... this was  my day in the Emergency Room at Hospital Star Medica here in Merida.
 This is the first class hospital here in Merida. I went to the Emergency Room, and was inside  seeing a Dr. in less than 10 minutes. Had an EKG in less than 15min, then had blood tests done, and settled back for the wait. The specialist was called and was in the room less than 30 minutes later.
The good news was that after all the tests, I was not having a heart attack, but was severely dehydrated. (I know- drink MORE water in the tropics!!)
When all was said and done, after 4 hours there, the bill was $400. (no insurance, just our part) That was paying the specialist fee, the emergency room, and the IV bags- 2 they gave me, and the shot I was given.
Wasn't really planning on visiting Star Medica, but overall it was a good experience. And most of the nurses and Doctors spoke English! :)

the moral of the story: Drink more water!! (I am not planning a repeat visit- so I am taking this to heart!!)

Merida Zoo- FREE!

Went to the Merida free Zoo downtown today. Big flock of Flamingos!

Big Tiger sleeping.





There were more big Cats in this zoo than I have ever seen!

Monkey

Peacock in the Bird area- a huge screened in area that you could walk through.

White tiger beside the rocks

Toucan

There were lots more animals there: llamas, deer, turtles, Coatamundi, racoons, parrots, iguanas, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, mountain goats, ostriches, and macaws. It was a big zoo with plenty of shade for walking around. There was a train there to ride around, but it wasn't running today. There was a park for children too beside the zoo, with playground equipment, and even small 4 wheelers that they could ride.

Camels, Moto Taxi and Hyatt???

The Circus tent is in town this week, and I saw these camels beside the road.

Moto Taxi

Hyatt Hotel downtown- yes there are nice hotels here in town!! :)

Trip to Chicxulub and Progreso

Progreso boardwalk and beach

Today was a beautiful day for a drive- 76 degrees. :) We drove out towards Chicxulub pueblo and checked out the town, then took the highway to Chicxulub Puerto(the port town), and then went up the beach road to Progreso. We stopped and had lunch on the Boardwalk at a Cafe on the beach. Then walked along the Boardwalk (Malecon) for a while. There are lots of people vacationing here now, the weather is nice, it's spring. It's hard to tell Spring here though, there are always flowers! :) But I have seem more varieties of flowers this month. 

Progreso pier- windy today!



Pedi Cab

Typical Mayan house- with the palm thatched roof and limestone walls

Agave Farm

Church in the main square of Chicxulub Pueblo

sights around town

Garden on the roof terrace

metal sculpture in the park



interesting metal scrollwork on the windows



entrance to a house

palm lined street into downtown



skinny ad truck



Regional Carnaval Merida 2011





Went to the Regional Carnaval last night in Merida. Left the house at 4:30pm got back at midnight. Met up with new friends from Canada before the Carnaval started and went to dinner, met more friends from England visiting, they all joined us to watch the parade. We had reserved seats along the Carnaval route, mine was upfront! :) This was the last of the night carnavals. All the ladies and men wore Regional dress, ladies in their beautifully embroidered dresses, and men in white shirts and pants. There were also re-enactments of ancient Mayan ceremonies with the costumes (the headresses with tons of feathers were beautiful). There were old and young in the parade, it is truly a family thing. When the Carnaval ended, the bands set up on the side streets and parks started playing and the party continues all night for some, I couldn't take any more fun for one day and went home.

Visit to Dzibilchaltun

Went out to visit the Mayan site Dzibilchaltun today. It is only 10 miles from Merida, very close. The name means 'place where there is writing on the stones'. The big Temple is called the Temple of the 7 dolls. There were 7 small sculptures found here, but they were taken to a museum in Mexico city. The doors and Windows are openings that show the sun rising on the Equinox. Very interesting how the Maya knew when these were, they were great Astronomers.

There is a Cenote (fresh water lagoon) were they got fresh water. One end is shallow, the other is over 140 ft. deep and continues into a tunnel. National Geographic came and filmed the underwater cave, and dug out some artifacts here.

Trying to figure out how to say the name? it's Dzibilchaltun- (tzee-BEEL-chahl-toon).  :)

Kids Carnaval in Merida- salutes New Orleans!

Kids Carnaval In Merida saluted all the famous Carnivals around the world, this one was for New Orleans!

Littlest Carnaval goers

Even the tiny kids were dressed up in costumes for the pre-school Carnaval.