Day of the Dead- Hanal Pixan

Day of the Dead is a little different here than in some parts of Latin America. There are altars set up in each village, and the best one is selected to go to Merida to be set up on Oct 29 in the main square. On the altars to those that have died in the family, will be food they liked, momentoes for them (toys for children that passed away, and beer and cigarettes for the adults) there will be pictures of the deceased and flowers.
Nov. 1 is the day they celebrate the children that died. Nov. 2 is All Saints day, then the altars have offering and flowers for the saints the family worships. In Mayan this ceremony is called Hanal Pixan.

Hubby decorated for an adult Halloween party in Chelem, he made this Catrina skeleton out of palm branches.

They do not practice Halloween as we do in the US, and there are no 'trick or treaters' coming to the door to ask for candy.

Shells today

 It is amazing the beautiful shells that are just laying on the sand as you wander down the shore, the waves lapping at your toes. wonder if I can find all the names of these?

Birds- flamingos, spoonbills and storks

A lone male flamingo searching for food in Telchac



Flamingos and babies in Sisal




Heron in Telchac




Roseate Spoonbills in the Marsh in Progreso




Two wood storks roaming the marsh in Chelem

There are birds everywhere in Yucatan. It is hard to catch the smaller ones, like the hummingbirds, the cardinals and the sandpipers, but the bigger ones are still for a longer time and easier to photograph.
These are just a few I found while I have been roaming around Yucatan.

Sunsets at the Beach...beautiful

Thinks I like in Summer....

Without internet it is impossible to update blogs and check on things.... wow. Not sure how we used to make it without all this technology at our fingertips.
that said, I will try to update now that we have moved and have internet up and running again....

Summer in Yucatan is hot, not just hot but sticky hot. But, the way to bear it is a cool dip in a friends pool, or having a KFreeze frozen cappucino from OXXO. :)

Don't you love these woven deck chairs? I see them all over at people's houses, but haven't found one to buy yet.
They are from Campeche and I am not sure I can convince hubby to drive all the way over to Campeche for a chair.... if I tell him there were Pirates there.... maybe.

Earthquake in VA!

oh my, I got a message from home about a 5.9 Earthquake in Va. That is very unusual to say the least.
Folks are posting on Facebook all about it, and some say they felt it up in Canada! the Center was in Virginia, close to Charlottesville. Buildings in Norfolk Va were evacuated and people sent home. Things were moving all over. My son posted his brick apartment building was moving.
Here's the details from the US Geological : http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Quakes/se082311a.php

Not sure about why that happened, but there was also one in Colorado about the same time. hmm.
Strange.
Well, this makes me glad that I live in Yucatan Mexico! There have never been any earthquakes here!!

Death in my family.....

It is hard being in another country when you find out a loved one is doing poorly and in Hospice. There are a lot of things that go through your mind, do I drop everything and rush there?, can I do anything there if I do?, will people think I am insensitive if I stay here?, can I even get a ticket out of here that quickly?
My father was in an Assisted Living Home since he had Dementia (possibly Alzheimers) and needed more assistance than my sister could give. She has been his primary caregiver since my mother passed away about four years ago.
When we decided to move to Mexico, I knew that I would miss my family, but also knew that this would be a better place for me to live. I visited my dad just before we left the US and told him I was moving and he said goodbye to me (not knowing who I was, or where I was going, or what I was talking about). It is very hard for loved ones to go through caring for a parent who doesn't remember you or even their spouse of 50 years.
When I got the call about my dad in Hospice, I was very conflicted about what to do. I then heard he had passed away quickly after that.
My two sisters in VA are dealing with all the final details. His cremation had been prepaid and was in place.
There will be a memorial for him Sunday. My heart is there even if my body can't be there this time. <3