PlayadelSoul and His Oversized Piehole

Although we have had a few rainy days, in the past month, I am going to consider last night as the starting point to the “tropical season”. An hour or so after sunset, I started to see some flashes of lightning. I went outside to check and the skies above were a little cloudy, but nothing unusual. I looked towards the south and could make out the lines of a storm, but it looked to be at quite a distance. Went back to watching “Who’ll Stop the Rain”, which my friend, Tony, had lent me. An hour later, as I was out back smoking, I felt a huge raindrop hit my newly shaven head. Five minutes later, the skies opened up and the lightning strikes were constant. This went on for a couple of hours. After midnight, it passed and I was finally able to get to sleep.

This morning, as I was driving into work, the main road leading out of my neighborhood was completely flooded. At the middle of the lake, it was about a meter deep. Thankfully, I am driving a new vehicle with a higher clearance, and had no problems. Others were not so lucky as a taxi and a small Chevy had stalled out in the middle of the water. Came into work and found that we have developed new leaks (they change location, every year). Time to call the roofers to put yet another coat of impermeabilization on. Also time to check my plywood supply.

Previous plywood applications (in anticipatin of Dean, I believe)

As current conditions have the flow out of Africa a lot further south than normal, anything that may pop up, soon, could cause us a problem. Like most people with some time here, being prepared is vital to peace of mind. We may go another year with no direct hits, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be monitoring each and every tropical wave, depression, storm or hurricane. It is part of the price we pay to call this place home.

Post Wilma, if I am not mistaken (or could be Emily)

and, some flooding from Dean (which actually hit way south of us)

“We know what kind of campaign they’re going to run,” said the presumptive Democratic (sic) nominee.  “They’re going to try to make you afraid.  They’re going to try to make you afraid of me.  ‘He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name.  And, did I mention he’s black.”

Love the generalizations, Senator.  Who are “they?”  Are you suggesting, in this post-racial world” that anyone in opposition to your campaign is a racist?  Healing, huh?  Unity, my ass. 

Let’s talk about your record or lack thereof.  Let’s talk about your grand plans and how you plan on paying for them.  Let’s talk about your flip flops on campaign financing, Cuba, and NAFTA.  Let’s dicuss your misogynist campaign staff.  Let’s talk about the people you hang out with and do business with.  Let’s talk about your claims of not taking PAC money and all of the PAC members, their families, and employees who appear on your donator’s list.   Let’s talk about what Social Security is, as you seem to believe it is a welfare program.  Or, we can preempt that by claiming any of those issues are based on race.

And, did I mention that he’s a sleazeball politician trying to sell an elixir by the brandname “Change.”

As we are travelling to the US, in August, we needed to get the boys their US passports. Being their first time, it was necessary to go to the US Consulate in Merida to apply. We decided to make a long weekend out of it and, as Sunday was Father’s Day, we planned to do a lot of things.

We left Playa at around 1PM (I had to work and my wife had her English class), after some shrimp tacos at Floresta, and decided to go the back route, which is down to Tulum and over to Valladolid via Coba. I had not driven this way, in a while, and was pleased to see that the roads had been improved. It is just as fast as going via Cancun, and about 200 pesos cheaper (tolls). The scenery is much nicer, to boot.

Arriving in Merida, we quickly found our hotel, Dolores Alba, which had been recommended by a friend (Libby from intheroo.com). We had booked over the internet and gotten a room, for the four of us, for 510 pesos a night. The hotel was centrally located, clean and had a nice swimming pool (which would come in handy). It had a nice colonial feel in the lobby, which was decorated in Frida Kahlo prints (not something for the kiddies, really). That woman, while talented, was whacked.

Saturday night, we headed down Paseo Montejo to go to Suburbia and WalMart. We needed to buy some clothes for the kids (white pants and shirts) for Aaron’s kindergarten graduation. After, we headed out for something to eat. Driving down the Prolongacion Montejo, the kids spotted the Colonel and KFC it was. As we don’t have one in Playa, this was a treat. Secret recipe and all. Afterwards, we crossed the street for some Baskin Robbins, and then it was back to the hotel for some shut eye.

Woke up late on Sunday (9AM) and were slow in getting started, but made up for it. It is a family tradition to eat breakfast at Cafeteria POP in Merida, when we are there. It is an American style diner located about two blocks from the cathedral. After scarfing down some hotcakes with bacon, we were off to the zoo.

I am almost ashamed to say that we saw barely one animal, as we were soon caught up in the variety of rides. As it was Father’s Day, the kids were not going to argue with me spending lots of money on them. First up, riding the horses.

Then, power tubes (going to get one of these if I ever make my way to SCTX’s Toobin Event)

Then, high powered motorcycles


As soon as I got my hog legs back, we headed for the teleferico, which is a chair ride that runs over the park. Kind of like a ski lift. The sign said no one over 70 kilograms allowed. They let me on, so I am guessing I am under. As the guardrail in front of us was so tight against my belly, I was unable to remove the camera to take photos. It was pretty cool, though. Not high enough to instill fear in the kids, but just enough to look around.

Then, off for a popsicle break. Did I mention that Merida is the White City because if you wear any other colors, you will melt like the Wicked Witch. Dumbass me, wore black.


Kids with Mexican hero, CriCri

As we were finishing our treats, the boys noticed an inflatable playground. Off we went. They adapted to it, quickly and soon found a way to catch more air on the way down. They also discovered how to block your brother from making it to the top.

It was time for the jewel of the park, the train. As we toured around the zoo, we actually did catch some animals (although none on film). Merida’s zoo is a Noah style zoo, where there are two of just about everything. Well, except deer. There were hundreds of them.

We bought t-shirts for the boys and decided to head back downtown for the festivities of Merida en Domingo. (Unfortunately, the battery in the camera went dead, at this point.) I love this weekly event. The streets are closed off, vendors set up and a couple of stages have ongoing entertainment like dancing, singing and comedy. The food is varied and there is something for all ages. We met my wife’s friend and her kids and walked around a bit. Then, it was off to the Cafe Habana, where daddy could enjoy some coffee in the AC, while the kids ate ice cream.

Later, we drove back down Paseo Montejo and ate at Checkers (see recurring visits to American fast food joints that don’t exist in Playa). Then, back to the hotel. Tomorrow is the day we have to go to the Consulate.

There are ongoing art exhibits along Paseo de Montejo, and the latest is recycled art. My kids loved this one.


And, this was one of my faves.

Woke up early, ate at POP and then headed over to the Consulate. Had to go throught three checkpoints of security and entered to find hundreds of people, waiting. Good thing for us that they were waiting for visas, because I went straight to the window in my most cocky of Americans walk and was helped, immediately. 45 minutes later, after submitting documents and being asked some questions (don’t know if they were official or if the guy hadn’t seen an American in awhile), we were approved and done. Time to head home.


We drove back the way we came, and decided to stop at a little hacienda about 10 kms outside of Valladolid, for lunch. We were the only ones there, and ate outside. I heard some bird noises, so went to investigate. Turns out that the hacienda was host to a little aviary where we saw peacocks and other birds (no idea what they were called, but one looked like a birdpig). I had poc chuc, the kids tacos and my wife some sopa de lima. Off we went, again.

After Tulum, we decided to check out some of the side roads to the beach and found a couple of new spots to hang out at, in the future. We arrived home around 6PM. I checked in at work, and found that my assistant had had her baby. Called and congratulated her, put some clothes in the washer and called it a night.

All in all, a very nice Father’s Day weekend. Can’t wait to go back. Permanently, if I can manage it.

After almost 10 years of living in cities where the economy is based on tourism, I have become accustomed to making adjustments in my personal and working lives. Although we do not work with tourists, our business is based on those who do work in the industry, having enough money to pay their monthly tuitions. Normally, we slow down some in July and August, due to low season. This year, the season arrived a month early.

As I oversee 25 employees and feel responsible for their keeping food in their pantries, this early arrival came as a bit of a surprise. I had employed 3 new teachers, anticipating a new contract with one of the largest hotels in the area. The contract is still going to happen, but as with a lot of things in Mexico, it is taking longer than it should to come to fruition. So, here I sat, overstaffed, wondering what the hell I was going to do.

The Gods intervened, when my boss decided that we had had such a successful 2007, that all of my staff should be rewarded. He gave them all checks for two weeks of work, as a bonus. I have worked for this man for nine out of my ten years, in Mexico (the one year I didn’t was because he sent me to another school owner to get some experience so that when he needed me, I would be ready. When the time came, he actually had to reimburse the other owner for the time and money they invested in me), and he never ceases to amaze me. He wasn’t even aware of the early low season.

So, newly energized, I headed off to the hotel, today. They ended up giving us more than I had intended on asking for. They want their staff, from the maids to the managers, speaking English and are willing to pay for it and provide the space (rent free) to do it. That is not the norm, around here. I will let you know which hotel, as soon as we have them speaking a little better.

Anyways, if you happen to be visiting during this season, try to tip that extra dollar or two. You would be surprised how far it can go and the differences it can make. English is gold, and many students spend 1/3 of their income studying in order to improve their lot in life. Add to that, the fact that the government just implemented price increases on the basic necessities (gas, tortillas, bread, milk, etc. are all price controlled) without an increase in the minimum wage (the minimum determines salaries through a complex formula only a government worker could understand), and you can see that $10 to $20 more, a week, can change someone’s standard of living.

Thanks for taking the time to read.