Well yes, there is more to share on the subject of traveling with your family. Now that we're back, I see how we could have done certain things better - and as these elements reveal themselves along the weeks following our return, I will take the time to write about them.
Schooling... a very big undertaking. Yes, your kids will have the experience of a lifetime - but they will eventually get back to their classroom and be expected to tango along. It is absolutely possible to keep-up with the program and teach or further explore certain concepts, especially with today's technology. With the kind cooperation of Leo's teacher and his tutor, I was receiving his homework every week, printing it on the small portable printer I had purchased for that purpose (HP DeskJet), and once he had completed it I would take a photo of each page with my iPhone, and email them back to his teacher. We also had a few tutoring sessions via Skype, and in general communication was not a problem. It does take time to prepare additional projects to add to the homework, making it fun and stimulating, but that's not really the biggest challenge either - at least not for us.
The biggest challenge is for the kids - when they return to school. It is impossible to replicate the pace and the social spectrum of the school environment. Although we did talk about it with the kids, trying to prepare them, the change of pace is exhausting for the first couple of weeks. It's true for everyone in the family of course, but in our case - because we are both self-employed and have some flexibility in our time management - it's the kids who had the most drastic and rapid change of life style. We landed in Toronto at 9:30pm on Sunday, and they were at school at 8:15am on Monday. Sure, they were excited and happy to see their friends - but it's important to let the dust fall and expect some repercussion within the first three weeks.
So schooling your kids is an amazing experience, and I do think that everyone should try it to some extent at least once. But make sure that the re-integration is part of the plan. Tighten the communication with the teacher a couple of weeks prior to your child's return, and follow-up during the first couple of weeks. You should schedule a meeting sometime during the second week to take the teacher's feedback. That being said, be careful to not overwhelm the teacher by requesting time-consuming tasks (that could spoil the situation...). You should ask how he/she prefers to communicate, and be open to adapt to that choice.
Dylan is in Grade 6 and had no problems with the change. Leo is in Grade 3, a loaded year for any student, and we are helping him in picking-up the pace. Weekly tutoring for homework and general overview, weekly math sessions with aunty Heather (who was once a math teacher), and scheduling play dates with his school friends on a regular basis. And we will keep it going until things start to flow more smoothly.
Two weeks since we returned home, and the dust keeps falling!
Somewhere between Izamal and Sudzal, Yucatan.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Home Swee... caugh caugh caugh!!!
Work work work. Back in the swirl of my Toronto life, and I mean right into it!
I vaguely remember that only 3 or 4 weeks ago, I was imagining myself painting the house and making it all so nice, with all the time in the world while the kids are at school. Almost like a perfect DIY home improvement episode, Debbie Travis meets Martha Stewart in my living room - and it's all done by the time the kids come home from school, welcoming them with a plate of hot cookies. Hey... Pop that bubble already!
The reality is that I hit the ground running, making sure that the kids have warm clothes and a decent lunch and dinner every day, trying to run the businesses while looking for my darn winter boots - which I suspect are in the garage together with the raccoons, and a whole bunch of things that should be back in the house by now. Caught a cold and getting by with a Tylenol buzz, these things really dry out the mucus out of one's head! To make things more interesting, I have no idea where my other winter pants may be so I have been wearing the same darn pants for over 10 days!!!! Thank God they are charcoal grey... and I do have many nice tops to draw the attention upward. But of course, everyone else in the house have what they need. Oh Big big sigh.
I am trying to find it in me to embrace this homecoming with serenity and satisfaction, but I think it's too soon. I have to roll up my sleeves and do the work, settle things one room at the time, not think too much, and try to find a moment to wash my pants.
I vaguely remember that only 3 or 4 weeks ago, I was imagining myself painting the house and making it all so nice, with all the time in the world while the kids are at school. Almost like a perfect DIY home improvement episode, Debbie Travis meets Martha Stewart in my living room - and it's all done by the time the kids come home from school, welcoming them with a plate of hot cookies. Hey... Pop that bubble already!
The reality is that I hit the ground running, making sure that the kids have warm clothes and a decent lunch and dinner every day, trying to run the businesses while looking for my darn winter boots - which I suspect are in the garage together with the raccoons, and a whole bunch of things that should be back in the house by now. Caught a cold and getting by with a Tylenol buzz, these things really dry out the mucus out of one's head! To make things more interesting, I have no idea where my other winter pants may be so I have been wearing the same darn pants for over 10 days!!!! Thank God they are charcoal grey... and I do have many nice tops to draw the attention upward. But of course, everyone else in the house have what they need. Oh Big big sigh.
I am trying to find it in me to embrace this homecoming with serenity and satisfaction, but I think it's too soon. I have to roll up my sleeves and do the work, settle things one room at the time, not think too much, and try to find a moment to wash my pants.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Math of the Aftermath - with a little cake!
Crunching numbers... and it looks like despite the business hurdles I have encountered in the past few weeks, the financial plan is still afloat without having to make drastic adjustments (ouf!). So I keep moving forward with a strong focus on the next school year, and soon I will be posting to hire two new teachers for Le Petit Atelier, and possibly one piano teacher for The Little Workshop. It will be a very busy fall and winter, and if all goes well I will be teaching in Mexico again in the spring of 2012. Next trip will be solo and yes... shorter. Very much looking forward to it : )
We came back almost two weeks ago, and I am still organizing our home - pulling out boxes of household items and business material. I also realised that the printer I gave to a friend in Mexico had a cable that belongs to my good printer here... so I will have to replace it - one of the many little errands on my endless 'to do' list. The first week back was good, but now that the routine is kicking in again I must say that I find it difficult to adjust. I'm not too sure what it is... maybe I'm not completely back yet, or maybe I discovered the hard core hippy in me, or maybe I'm asking too many questions!
The boys seem to be well adjusted to the Toronto life, although Leo caught a bad cold and was sick for the past few days. Dylan is doing good, as if he never left, and he seems to be doing well with his school work. Dylan grew quite a bit, he is taller than me now! Leo is getting weekly tutoring sessions at home, just as we did before our departure. His tutor is a G3 teacher at his school, and this is an ideal situation to provide Leo with the adequate extra help he needs. Leo knows that he has to work hard, and he is not so motivated unfortunately. As far as school is concerned, it will be a difficult road until June. At some levels Leo has matured very nicely, but school is still not his thing.
And with the homecoming, comes the home cooking. It's good to be in my own kitchen! Back to planning and making school lunches and home dinners - but with a new energy. Still on with the honey series, here is one very nice discovery - perfect for pot-lucks or brunch. Enjoy!
HONEY GINGER CAKE
1/2 cup melted butteR
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
4 tsp grated lemon peel (I used orange peel, very nice too!)
4tsp grated fresh ginger
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Blend sugar and honey into butter, add yogurt, eggs, lemon peel and ginger - Mix well
Sift together flour, baking powder and salt.
Fold liquid ingredients into dry mixture.
Pour into greased 9" pan (a 'tube pan' - as for angel cakes - might actually be best since the centre of my cake was uncooked), bake 30-35 minutes
Cool and remove from pan - Dribble with Honey (optional) and serve.
We came back almost two weeks ago, and I am still organizing our home - pulling out boxes of household items and business material. I also realised that the printer I gave to a friend in Mexico had a cable that belongs to my good printer here... so I will have to replace it - one of the many little errands on my endless 'to do' list. The first week back was good, but now that the routine is kicking in again I must say that I find it difficult to adjust. I'm not too sure what it is... maybe I'm not completely back yet, or maybe I discovered the hard core hippy in me, or maybe I'm asking too many questions!
The boys seem to be well adjusted to the Toronto life, although Leo caught a bad cold and was sick for the past few days. Dylan is doing good, as if he never left, and he seems to be doing well with his school work. Dylan grew quite a bit, he is taller than me now! Leo is getting weekly tutoring sessions at home, just as we did before our departure. His tutor is a G3 teacher at his school, and this is an ideal situation to provide Leo with the adequate extra help he needs. Leo knows that he has to work hard, and he is not so motivated unfortunately. As far as school is concerned, it will be a difficult road until June. At some levels Leo has matured very nicely, but school is still not his thing.
And with the homecoming, comes the home cooking. It's good to be in my own kitchen! Back to planning and making school lunches and home dinners - but with a new energy. Still on with the honey series, here is one very nice discovery - perfect for pot-lucks or brunch. Enjoy!
HONEY GINGER CAKE
1/2 cup melted butteR
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
4 tsp grated lemon peel (I used orange peel, very nice too!)
4tsp grated fresh ginger
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Blend sugar and honey into butter, add yogurt, eggs, lemon peel and ginger - Mix well
Sift together flour, baking powder and salt.
Fold liquid ingredients into dry mixture.
Pour into greased 9" pan (a 'tube pan' - as for angel cakes - might actually be best since the centre of my cake was uncooked), bake 30-35 minutes
Cool and remove from pan - Dribble with Honey (optional) and serve.
Honey Granola Bars... to ease the pain!
Okay, the doodoo hits the fan. While I was away one of my teachers fell ill, and I had to credit a few classes to my clients. I am actually replacing her until further notice, which is fine since it gives me a chance to recoup some of the losses. This means that until the end of March, I work for... not much. But it's part of the entrepreneur's package, and I don't see this as a big problem.
But... I hit another hurdle today, and had to cancel an after school series. The TDSB requires proof of insurance, which I arranged remotely from Mexico in mid-January. A certificate was issued and sent to the TDSB permit department, but unfortunately the school received the green light about 24 hours too late (@%&#!!!!) and the registration forms were not distributed on time for the set deadline (which had already been postponed). This is the second time that this happens to me - same pattern - and same loss of revenue (ouch!). So... I decided to work with the system (kind'a slow), and postpone all TDSB series to September 2011. This will allow for all permits to be issued well ahead of time, and for the entire school year. Furthermore, I can add other TDSB schools to this program - and maximise my insurance coverage. Good! Done!
How to cope with unforeseen troubles? Ahhh... sweets. I still found the time to try the following Honey Granola Bars, and they are delicious! I must say that I listen to the little devil on my left shoulder and added chocolate chips... hi hi! So here it is, feel free to change some ingredients (cranberries instead of raisins, or half and half, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds instead of chopped almonds, etc.).
HONEY GRANOLA BARS
1 cup granola
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup raisins1/3 cup toasted wheat germ
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 slightly beaten egg
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
-In a large bowl combine granola, oats, flour, coconut, almonds, raisins or chocolate pieces, wheat germ, and brown sugar.
-In a small bowl combine the egg, honey, butter or margarine, and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients. Stir together until all ingredients are moistened.
-Spread evenly in a greased 12 x 7 x 2-inch baking pan. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 30 to 35 minutes or until light brown on the edges.
-Cool completely in the pan (I always set the pan on a cooling rack). Cut into squares or bars. Makes about 24.
ENJOY! Next : Honey Ginger Cake. Yum!
But... I hit another hurdle today, and had to cancel an after school series. The TDSB requires proof of insurance, which I arranged remotely from Mexico in mid-January. A certificate was issued and sent to the TDSB permit department, but unfortunately the school received the green light about 24 hours too late (@%&#!!!!) and the registration forms were not distributed on time for the set deadline (which had already been postponed). This is the second time that this happens to me - same pattern - and same loss of revenue (ouch!). So... I decided to work with the system (kind'a slow), and postpone all TDSB series to September 2011. This will allow for all permits to be issued well ahead of time, and for the entire school year. Furthermore, I can add other TDSB schools to this program - and maximise my insurance coverage. Good! Done!
How to cope with unforeseen troubles? Ahhh... sweets. I still found the time to try the following Honey Granola Bars, and they are delicious! I must say that I listen to the little devil on my left shoulder and added chocolate chips... hi hi! So here it is, feel free to change some ingredients (cranberries instead of raisins, or half and half, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds instead of chopped almonds, etc.).
HONEY GRANOLA BARS
1 cup granola
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup raisins1/3 cup toasted wheat germ
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 slightly beaten egg
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
-In a large bowl combine granola, oats, flour, coconut, almonds, raisins or chocolate pieces, wheat germ, and brown sugar.
-In a small bowl combine the egg, honey, butter or margarine, and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients. Stir together until all ingredients are moistened.
-Spread evenly in a greased 12 x 7 x 2-inch baking pan. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 30 to 35 minutes or until light brown on the edges.
-Cool completely in the pan (I always set the pan on a cooling rack). Cut into squares or bars. Makes about 24.
ENJOY! Next : Honey Ginger Cake. Yum!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Apple and Honey Muffins
I tried this last week in my search for good ways to use my beautiful Mexican farm honey, a gift from a friend on the last day of our big three month Mexican adventure. These muffins are made with healthy ingredients, they are chewy and moist, very tasty, and the kids love them - a winning combination! Here it the recipe, enjoy!
Apple and Honey Muffins
1/2 cup of margarine
1/2 cup of honey
1 cup of finely chopped apples
2 eggs
Vanilla to taste
1 cup of plain yogurt
2 cups of flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
cinnamon to taste
Preheat the oven to 380F. Mix the Margarine with the honey, add the eggs and vanilla, and add the chopped apples. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and cinnamon - and gently fold the honey-egg mixture into the flour mixture. Pour into a prepared muffin pan, and bake for 22 minutes.
Note that I added some blueberries in the second batch I made, and it was great.
Next - Honey Granola bars... hope it's not too sticky!
Apple and Honey Muffins
1/2 cup of margarine
1/2 cup of honey
1 cup of finely chopped apples
2 eggs
Vanilla to taste
1 cup of plain yogurt
2 cups of flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
cinnamon to taste
Preheat the oven to 380F. Mix the Margarine with the honey, add the eggs and vanilla, and add the chopped apples. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and cinnamon - and gently fold the honey-egg mixture into the flour mixture. Pour into a prepared muffin pan, and bake for 22 minutes.
Note that I added some blueberries in the second batch I made, and it was great.
Next - Honey Granola bars... hope it's not too sticky!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Tips for Traveling families - Accommodations
Before I get going with the tips, I must say that I really enjoyed writing while I was away - and now I don't really want to stop... One of my favorite part of the blog was to share recipes. Who's kidding who... food is a delight to explore!
Among the souvenirs I stuffed in my luggage, I have a big bottle of honey which is very special to me, because it was a present from a great new friend. I started to look for good 'honey' recipes the day after our return, and I started to experiment. So. dear followers, I would love to stretch the pleasure and share more culinary discoveries as I get to use my little treasures... like the honey, achiote paste and vanilla that I brought back. I will also be looking for the right ingredients for my Mexican concoctions, and share my findings. More recipes coming soon! But for now, here are some tips planning a family trip in the Yucatan Peninsula :
Accommodations is one of my favorite part when planning a trip. I have tried a wide range of lodging types throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, from camping, to luxurious villa, and everything in between. Depending of the length of your stay, I would recommend that you try different types accommodations within your comfort level.
You will find a very wide selection vacation homes online, and for vacation houses here are some good and reliable sites to browse through : kab-yucatan.com (highly recommended), VRBO.com and VacationRental.com are also pretty good. You should also take a look at the accommodation section of the Yucatan Today web site - yucatantoday.com. Note that Yucatan Today is an excellent source of information when planning your trip, and the printed monthly magazine is available for free throughout the state, and contains all the maps you need to get inside and out of the beaten path.
For pricing - The longer your stay, the better the daily rate. Watch for seasonal tendencies too, rates before Christmas or after Easter are lower - and in between these two Holidays is the high season. When looking for a rental home, you should check the special amenities like bikes, snorkeling equipment, or kayaks, and WiFi and parking, which are often included in the deal. As for air conditioning, it is unlikely that you will need it from December to February inclusively, when nights are nice and cool.
Things you should know: Electricity and water are precious resources which are tightly managed. Hot water is usually available only in the shower, and not in the kitchen. The power lines are subject to surges, so it is recommended to bring a small power bar to prevent damages to your electronic devices. Purified water is usually available in big water cooler dispensers, or bottled water is supplied in hotel rooms. Also, pretty much everywhere in the Yucatan Peninsula, you do not put toilet paper in the toilet.... no - not even for number two. It all goes to the garbage bin.
Starting in April, it gets increasingly hot until August inclusively, and temperatures often reach 40 celcius at the peak of the hot season. If you can handle the heat, it's the best time to observe pink flamingos (Gulf coast hosts the biggest population in the Americas), sea turtles come to lay their eggs on beaches all over the peninsula (Caribbean and Gulf coast), and it's also the season to swim with the biggest fish on earth : the gentle whale shark (around El Cuyo and Holbox Island)
Camping is also possible, and good destinations are Holbox Island, and the Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve near Tulum. I have not seen camp grounds along the Gulf coast, but modest and clean hotel rooms are easy to find if you are on a budget.
Finally, if you are looking for exquisite snorkeling and scuba diving, go to the Costa Maya (Majahual and Xcalak). If you are looking for amazing beaches, the so called Riviera Maya is great (try Tulum). If you are looking for interesting colonial architecture and archeological sites, go to the state of Yucatan - which also has beautiful beaches on the Gulf coast, very laid back and tranquil.
Okay... it seems that this concludes this post - Moving on to the food - and the occasional update on the aftermath of leaving town for 3 months : )
Among the souvenirs I stuffed in my luggage, I have a big bottle of honey which is very special to me, because it was a present from a great new friend. I started to look for good 'honey' recipes the day after our return, and I started to experiment. So. dear followers, I would love to stretch the pleasure and share more culinary discoveries as I get to use my little treasures... like the honey, achiote paste and vanilla that I brought back. I will also be looking for the right ingredients for my Mexican concoctions, and share my findings. More recipes coming soon! But for now, here are some tips planning a family trip in the Yucatan Peninsula :
Accommodations is one of my favorite part when planning a trip. I have tried a wide range of lodging types throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, from camping, to luxurious villa, and everything in between. Depending of the length of your stay, I would recommend that you try different types accommodations within your comfort level.
You will find a very wide selection vacation homes online, and for vacation houses here are some good and reliable sites to browse through : kab-yucatan.com (highly recommended), VRBO.com and VacationRental.com are also pretty good. You should also take a look at the accommodation section of the Yucatan Today web site - yucatantoday.com. Note that Yucatan Today is an excellent source of information when planning your trip, and the printed monthly magazine is available for free throughout the state, and contains all the maps you need to get inside and out of the beaten path.
For pricing - The longer your stay, the better the daily rate. Watch for seasonal tendencies too, rates before Christmas or after Easter are lower - and in between these two Holidays is the high season. When looking for a rental home, you should check the special amenities like bikes, snorkeling equipment, or kayaks, and WiFi and parking, which are often included in the deal. As for air conditioning, it is unlikely that you will need it from December to February inclusively, when nights are nice and cool.
Things you should know: Electricity and water are precious resources which are tightly managed. Hot water is usually available only in the shower, and not in the kitchen. The power lines are subject to surges, so it is recommended to bring a small power bar to prevent damages to your electronic devices. Purified water is usually available in big water cooler dispensers, or bottled water is supplied in hotel rooms. Also, pretty much everywhere in the Yucatan Peninsula, you do not put toilet paper in the toilet.... no - not even for number two. It all goes to the garbage bin.
Starting in April, it gets increasingly hot until August inclusively, and temperatures often reach 40 celcius at the peak of the hot season. If you can handle the heat, it's the best time to observe pink flamingos (Gulf coast hosts the biggest population in the Americas), sea turtles come to lay their eggs on beaches all over the peninsula (Caribbean and Gulf coast), and it's also the season to swim with the biggest fish on earth : the gentle whale shark (around El Cuyo and Holbox Island)
Camping is also possible, and good destinations are Holbox Island, and the Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve near Tulum. I have not seen camp grounds along the Gulf coast, but modest and clean hotel rooms are easy to find if you are on a budget.
Finally, if you are looking for exquisite snorkeling and scuba diving, go to the Costa Maya (Majahual and Xcalak). If you are looking for amazing beaches, the so called Riviera Maya is great (try Tulum). If you are looking for interesting colonial architecture and archeological sites, go to the state of Yucatan - which also has beautiful beaches on the Gulf coast, very laid back and tranquil.
Okay... it seems that this concludes this post - Moving on to the food - and the occasional update on the aftermath of leaving town for 3 months : )
Monday, February 14, 2011
Back Home
A very long day of traveling yesterday. Everything was fine until we got to Philadelphia, and high air traffic delayed our landing by about 15 minutes. With that, we had to retrieve our bags and go through customs, and check in again, to finally find out that our next flight was in terminal 4 - which we could get to by shuttle bus. Waited for the bus for about 15 minutes, and finally got to the terminal - the four of us running to the gate - which of course was at the far end... So what was supposed to be a comfortable 90 minute connection turned into a race against the clock and the line-ups, and we missed our flight by 5 minutes. Crud!
I went to the service desk right away and was able to get us four seats on the next flight to Toronto... phew!!! Re-routed our luggage to the same flight, hoping that we would find it all on the Toronto carousel. We had time to sit down and have a meal, and the flight home was great. No line-up at the customs, all our luggage made it, and we were on our way home about 15 minutes after landing. Sweet!
It's very good to be home.
I am not done with this blog just yet, I want to wrap things up with some family travel advice on destinations and accommodations, and some of our very positive stories about Mexico - because there are many!
I went to the service desk right away and was able to get us four seats on the next flight to Toronto... phew!!! Re-routed our luggage to the same flight, hoping that we would find it all on the Toronto carousel. We had time to sit down and have a meal, and the flight home was great. No line-up at the customs, all our luggage made it, and we were on our way home about 15 minutes after landing. Sweet!
It's very good to be home.
I am not done with this blog just yet, I want to wrap things up with some family travel advice on destinations and accommodations, and some of our very positive stories about Mexico - because there are many!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Last Day
Cool and rainy today, so we will not go to the beach. We met more great people, this time here at the Posada this morning. A couple who are in the process of building their home in the jungle - very cool. They plan on working on sustainable gardening in the area, and have very good ideas about the production of good soil - which is scarce in this part of Mexico. Beautiful project. I hope we hook-up sometime in the future, it would be fantastic.
Funny thing, they know the musicians that Tim met yesterday - also very good people. We went to see them play last night, and were very impressed... great musicians! It turns out that Tulum has a very active community of excellent world class musicians, and when they are not on tour they come here to their beach houses. Sweet! The band we saw is called Casa Verde, a collective of traveling musicians. The singer, Isabelle, is very talented and her voice is warm and velvety - in a very latin kind of way. We got our hands on one of their recordings, and downloaded it at once. We will go to see them play again tonight, a flamenco gig on the beach - should be fun. We have a lot of pesos left... so we will treat ourselves to a great dinner on the beach too - raising our glasses to the end of our great adventure.
We are all packed now, the only clothes in the dresser are the ones we will be wearing to travel home. Raina (who we met this morning) has first pick on what we are leaving behind. These guys leave a number of items here in Tulum as they travel back and forth to supervise the upcoming building of their home, and it feel good to know that it will be put to good use.
I must say that Tulum was a beautiful surprise to me. I have been here before, and many years ago when the only attraction was the archeological site. As with the rest of the so called 'Riviera Maya', it has developed very fast and the main street is filled with vendors, restaurants and bars. The beach side, before the entrance of the reserve, is filled with eco-resorts which are for the most part - very pricy. So over the years when I came here, I must say that I had developed a negative bias about Tulum. A beautiful part of the planet which had become a 'made for tourists' attraction.
But this time around, our hotel is downtown (as opposed to the beach), and I had the opportunity to discover the vibrant community which makes this place so special. As I said, many excellent musicians live here - and so there is good live music every single night. The vibe is very friendly and welcoming, and that part of Tulum was a delightful discovery. We have friends here now, and suddenly the town has a face and a soul.
So it is with great delight that we will be joining the good people that we met here, spend our last evening in very good company, and end this day with a big smile on our face. Serene and happy.
Funny thing, they know the musicians that Tim met yesterday - also very good people. We went to see them play last night, and were very impressed... great musicians! It turns out that Tulum has a very active community of excellent world class musicians, and when they are not on tour they come here to their beach houses. Sweet! The band we saw is called Casa Verde, a collective of traveling musicians. The singer, Isabelle, is very talented and her voice is warm and velvety - in a very latin kind of way. We got our hands on one of their recordings, and downloaded it at once. We will go to see them play again tonight, a flamenco gig on the beach - should be fun. We have a lot of pesos left... so we will treat ourselves to a great dinner on the beach too - raising our glasses to the end of our great adventure.
We are all packed now, the only clothes in the dresser are the ones we will be wearing to travel home. Raina (who we met this morning) has first pick on what we are leaving behind. These guys leave a number of items here in Tulum as they travel back and forth to supervise the upcoming building of their home, and it feel good to know that it will be put to good use.
I must say that Tulum was a beautiful surprise to me. I have been here before, and many years ago when the only attraction was the archeological site. As with the rest of the so called 'Riviera Maya', it has developed very fast and the main street is filled with vendors, restaurants and bars. The beach side, before the entrance of the reserve, is filled with eco-resorts which are for the most part - very pricy. So over the years when I came here, I must say that I had developed a negative bias about Tulum. A beautiful part of the planet which had become a 'made for tourists' attraction.
But this time around, our hotel is downtown (as opposed to the beach), and I had the opportunity to discover the vibrant community which makes this place so special. As I said, many excellent musicians live here - and so there is good live music every single night. The vibe is very friendly and welcoming, and that part of Tulum was a delightful discovery. We have friends here now, and suddenly the town has a face and a soul.
So it is with great delight that we will be joining the good people that we met here, spend our last evening in very good company, and end this day with a big smile on our face. Serene and happy.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Counting Down... One Full Day Left
We're having a good time, relaxed and enjoying the last bit - happy about our great adventure and happy to go home soon.
Yesterday we went to the beach, in the amazing Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve. We played in the waves for a couple of hours, it was so much fun! We were taking it in, on this perfect Caribbean beach, miles and miles of it, with only 2 other families around. What a blessing to be able to enjoy this together, and what a great way to spend one of our last days here.
Today Tim wanted to get a shave at a barber shop that we spotted, and so we just went to town and walked around. Tim went to get his shave, the real thing... with a blade... he loved it. I took the boys for a cold beverage and when Tim came to meet us, we all went for one of our last taco meal at a little luncheria. Then we came back to the Posada, and while I decided to start packing, Tim decided to go back to town and hang out on his own.
It was about 3pm when he left, it's now 7:40. He sent me a FB message - 'met some people, going to a party to jam, will play with them tonight at 9:30 on the main strip - will come home before then to pick you up.' It would be fun, I hope the boys will be into it...
Funny how Tim gets in gear for that sort of outing less than 48 hours before our departure. Three months with pretty much all the time in the world, and it's only now that he ventures out to find musicians. Better late than never I guess! The important thing is that he followed his own comfort level, and I hope that tonight will be an amazing time for him.
So with that we're pretty much packed... yes - Tim's timing works very well on that front too - smarty pants... : )
I merrily got rid of a whole bunch of dead weight, and I think we are making it within the allowed 50lb per bag. Phew!
Now all I have to do is figure out where to drop off the rental car, and process our check-in on line. And best of all, it leaves plenty of time for another afternoon at the beach!
Yesterday we went to the beach, in the amazing Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve. We played in the waves for a couple of hours, it was so much fun! We were taking it in, on this perfect Caribbean beach, miles and miles of it, with only 2 other families around. What a blessing to be able to enjoy this together, and what a great way to spend one of our last days here.
Today Tim wanted to get a shave at a barber shop that we spotted, and so we just went to town and walked around. Tim went to get his shave, the real thing... with a blade... he loved it. I took the boys for a cold beverage and when Tim came to meet us, we all went for one of our last taco meal at a little luncheria. Then we came back to the Posada, and while I decided to start packing, Tim decided to go back to town and hang out on his own.
It was about 3pm when he left, it's now 7:40. He sent me a FB message - 'met some people, going to a party to jam, will play with them tonight at 9:30 on the main strip - will come home before then to pick you up.' It would be fun, I hope the boys will be into it...
Funny how Tim gets in gear for that sort of outing less than 48 hours before our departure. Three months with pretty much all the time in the world, and it's only now that he ventures out to find musicians. Better late than never I guess! The important thing is that he followed his own comfort level, and I hope that tonight will be an amazing time for him.
So with that we're pretty much packed... yes - Tim's timing works very well on that front too - smarty pants... : )
I merrily got rid of a whole bunch of dead weight, and I think we are making it within the allowed 50lb per bag. Phew!
Now all I have to do is figure out where to drop off the rental car, and process our check-in on line. And best of all, it leaves plenty of time for another afternoon at the beach!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Four Nights in Tulum
We arrived in Tulum at around 3:30pm, the road was good and the trip went very well. We took the highway from Merida and turned South at Valladolid. We were on these roads before and we navigate easily now. We stopped again at the pottery vendor close to Coba, I purchased a couple of pieces for my collection. Once in Tulum we made our way to Posada Yum Kin, a charming little inn behind the back streets of the town. It' a beautiful place, quiet and comfortable, big pool for the children (and us!). We have a nice suite with kitchen, and a big shady veranda with a hammock. Perfect!
I started to put the food in the cupboards, realising that I will not pack it again. Whatever we have left on Sunday morning will all stay here - and it gives me another styrofoam cooler to pack fragile items - great! No cooking tonight though... we'll find a luncheria to have a quick bite, then go to the grocery store to get some supplies for the next 3 days, and that will be all for grocery shopping. The next time I shop for food, I will be across the street from my house!
This last bit of the trip is a bit difficult for me. I have just realised a long time dream and although in many ways it marks the beginning of a very exciting phase of my life, I feel deeply moved by this experience. It has provided a lot of answers on personal matters, and shed light on a very promising road ahead. On the business front, it has given me the energy to move mountains and have tons of fun along the way. I come back home with a bounce in my step, and renewed energy that will take me a very long way ahead.
It will be interesting to see what effect it has on each of us in the coming months (and years). Tim and the boys have a very special place in their heart for Mexico, as I was hoping they would. When I come back here to work in the coming years, I hope they will want to accompany me occasionally, and re-immerse themselves.
What will we do in Tulum in the next 3 days? No idea. I'm done planning - mission accomplished. For the next 3 days, I only go with the flow!
I started to put the food in the cupboards, realising that I will not pack it again. Whatever we have left on Sunday morning will all stay here - and it gives me another styrofoam cooler to pack fragile items - great! No cooking tonight though... we'll find a luncheria to have a quick bite, then go to the grocery store to get some supplies for the next 3 days, and that will be all for grocery shopping. The next time I shop for food, I will be across the street from my house!
This last bit of the trip is a bit difficult for me. I have just realised a long time dream and although in many ways it marks the beginning of a very exciting phase of my life, I feel deeply moved by this experience. It has provided a lot of answers on personal matters, and shed light on a very promising road ahead. On the business front, it has given me the energy to move mountains and have tons of fun along the way. I come back home with a bounce in my step, and renewed energy that will take me a very long way ahead.
It will be interesting to see what effect it has on each of us in the coming months (and years). Tim and the boys have a very special place in their heart for Mexico, as I was hoping they would. When I come back here to work in the coming years, I hope they will want to accompany me occasionally, and re-immerse themselves.
What will we do in Tulum in the next 3 days? No idea. I'm done planning - mission accomplished. For the next 3 days, I only go with the flow!
Goodbye Yucatan
So strange to be to this point of the trip, checking out of Mérida and Yucatan this morning, only 4 nights left, I feel sad. The packing work will hide those thoughts soon enough, but right now... I wish I could stay for another month.
Yesterday was very laid back and fun, in late afternoon we went to the Museum of Anthropology and really liked it (Tim and I anyway..). The ground floor is dedicated to the Maya civilisation, with many original statues from various archeological sites of Yucatan. Beautiful pieces of jewelry, tools, and the deformed skull bones of some noble members of society. To the ancient Maya, it was aesthetically desirable to have a flat and receding forehead, so they would shape the skull in that way with helmets and other apparels. Being cross eyed was also considered beautiful, and they would place various ornaments to hang between the eyes to try to achieve that. Interesting!
The second floor is dedicated to the great Mexican revolutions, and I still could not sort them out... It displays an impressive collection of historical photographs, which left me moved and speechless. Mexican history is scared with so much hardship, and if you include the ancient history of the Maya it gets overwhelming. We purchased a book on the history of this country, it's not too big and will help me demystify Pancho Villa and the Zapata brothers, among others. Looking forward to reading it.
We went to an Indian restaurant last night, food was okay... no vibe whatsoever though. And we went to check out the serenata in Santiago park. Every Tuesday night since Valentine's day of 1984, people gather here to dance on the music of a live orchestra. It's lovely to see so many people get together and simply enjoy good company, dancing together, what a nice tradition. It's not the only one... every Thursday is in Santa-Lucia part, and there are at least two other nights of the week where this tales place in other parks. I think they know how to live these fine people of Mérida!
Okay, time to pack... about 3 to 4 hour drive ahead of us - fun going through pueblos getting there... Saludos!
Yesterday was very laid back and fun, in late afternoon we went to the Museum of Anthropology and really liked it (Tim and I anyway..). The ground floor is dedicated to the Maya civilisation, with many original statues from various archeological sites of Yucatan. Beautiful pieces of jewelry, tools, and the deformed skull bones of some noble members of society. To the ancient Maya, it was aesthetically desirable to have a flat and receding forehead, so they would shape the skull in that way with helmets and other apparels. Being cross eyed was also considered beautiful, and they would place various ornaments to hang between the eyes to try to achieve that. Interesting!
The second floor is dedicated to the great Mexican revolutions, and I still could not sort them out... It displays an impressive collection of historical photographs, which left me moved and speechless. Mexican history is scared with so much hardship, and if you include the ancient history of the Maya it gets overwhelming. We purchased a book on the history of this country, it's not too big and will help me demystify Pancho Villa and the Zapata brothers, among others. Looking forward to reading it.
We went to an Indian restaurant last night, food was okay... no vibe whatsoever though. And we went to check out the serenata in Santiago park. Every Tuesday night since Valentine's day of 1984, people gather here to dance on the music of a live orchestra. It's lovely to see so many people get together and simply enjoy good company, dancing together, what a nice tradition. It's not the only one... every Thursday is in Santa-Lucia part, and there are at least two other nights of the week where this tales place in other parks. I think they know how to live these fine people of Mérida!
Okay, time to pack... about 3 to 4 hour drive ahead of us - fun going through pueblos getting there... Saludos!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Mérida
9am, the boys are still asleep (all three of them) and I am out in a cafe with the laptop. Nice.
I'm always the first one up, enjoying the peace and quiet, and the cool morning. I started our last load of laundry and snuck out the door. It seems that I can't take it all in, running out of energy by dinner time and unable to enjoy the evening scene in this great city. It's a wonderful place to walk for hours, and we certainly enjoy the change to an urban environment!
Yesterday we went to the public market. Actually there are a few markets side by side, and we went into the deep of it all, turning onto narrow ailes filled with fruit, or grilled fish, or the hair dressers, butchers, shoes, traditional clothing, spices and tortillas... it seems endless, like an overpopulated labyrinth of merchants, full of life. I love it. And then in the middle of it all, a wide opening with lunch counters, tables and chairs - the Mexican public market version of the food court. All Yucatan fair, with tacos, tamales, panuchos and salbutes. We sat down for awhile and savoured the food. I could see that we were all savouring the moment too, deep into the market. The boys ordered their food in Spanish and did not get startled when the waiter asked questions, they answered casually - I'm so so proud of them both!
The guys went back to the house and I walked on Paseo de Montejo - filled with glorious colonial architecture, and lined with interesting sculptures. Got home, had a cold shower and laid down. I was wiped! I still fund the energy to take Dylan to the skateboard shop though, he is getting new wheels and it will be ready this morning. Taco dinner with a roasted chicken that we bought at the market, we can't seem to have the motivation to cook anymore...
Today is our last full day in Merida. I will take Leo to the Museum of Anthropology around the corder, and walk around downtown. We are going to an Indian restaurant tonight, an artist we met on the street yesterday is showing her work there. After that I am hoping to go and enjoy the live music and dancing at the 'serenata' of Santiago Park tonight. And then... packing. Tomorrow : Back to the Caribbean coast, Tulum is our next destination.
I'm always the first one up, enjoying the peace and quiet, and the cool morning. I started our last load of laundry and snuck out the door. It seems that I can't take it all in, running out of energy by dinner time and unable to enjoy the evening scene in this great city. It's a wonderful place to walk for hours, and we certainly enjoy the change to an urban environment!
Yesterday we went to the public market. Actually there are a few markets side by side, and we went into the deep of it all, turning onto narrow ailes filled with fruit, or grilled fish, or the hair dressers, butchers, shoes, traditional clothing, spices and tortillas... it seems endless, like an overpopulated labyrinth of merchants, full of life. I love it. And then in the middle of it all, a wide opening with lunch counters, tables and chairs - the Mexican public market version of the food court. All Yucatan fair, with tacos, tamales, panuchos and salbutes. We sat down for awhile and savoured the food. I could see that we were all savouring the moment too, deep into the market. The boys ordered their food in Spanish and did not get startled when the waiter asked questions, they answered casually - I'm so so proud of them both!
The guys went back to the house and I walked on Paseo de Montejo - filled with glorious colonial architecture, and lined with interesting sculptures. Got home, had a cold shower and laid down. I was wiped! I still fund the energy to take Dylan to the skateboard shop though, he is getting new wheels and it will be ready this morning. Taco dinner with a roasted chicken that we bought at the market, we can't seem to have the motivation to cook anymore...
Today is our last full day in Merida. I will take Leo to the Museum of Anthropology around the corder, and walk around downtown. We are going to an Indian restaurant tonight, an artist we met on the street yesterday is showing her work there. After that I am hoping to go and enjoy the live music and dancing at the 'serenata' of Santiago Park tonight. And then... packing. Tomorrow : Back to the Caribbean coast, Tulum is our next destination.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Our Last Sunday in Yucatan
Last night's concert ended-up being somewhat disappointing. There was no live music... The show opened with the Folkloric Ballet of Merida, who offered a few dances from the state of Veracruz. They are good dancers, but it seems like these guys are everywhere - being featured somewhere in town many times per week. Overexposure? Anyhow...
The following act was a great local singer, burlesque Mexican, she was very dramatic and funny, but she sang on pre-registered music. I still enjoyed the whole thing, they really keep at it despite some obvious financial hurdles and put on shows - good on them. It seems that this city needs to figure out a way to get musicians on stage! This is surprising, because there is a great musical tradition of Trova here. Wondering if there is a new generation picking that up, I sure hope so!
Today is our last Sunday in Yucatan. Church bells ringing, Symphony concert at noon, and I believe that the Santa-Lucia park will be filled with artisans today. The weekends are lovely in the city. People work a lot here, long hours and often 6 days per week. But on weekends, and especially on Sundays, they take the time to relax and stroll around with their spouse and children, and sweethearts walk around holding hands, it's very nice. And today, we will join in.
The following act was a great local singer, burlesque Mexican, she was very dramatic and funny, but she sang on pre-registered music. I still enjoyed the whole thing, they really keep at it despite some obvious financial hurdles and put on shows - good on them. It seems that this city needs to figure out a way to get musicians on stage! This is surprising, because there is a great musical tradition of Trova here. Wondering if there is a new generation picking that up, I sure hope so!
Today is our last Sunday in Yucatan. Church bells ringing, Symphony concert at noon, and I believe that the Santa-Lucia park will be filled with artisans today. The weekends are lovely in the city. People work a lot here, long hours and often 6 days per week. But on weekends, and especially on Sundays, they take the time to relax and stroll around with their spouse and children, and sweethearts walk around holding hands, it's very nice. And today, we will join in.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
8 DAYS TO DEPARTURE
Eight days left. This is surreal, I can't believe that I will be snapping into winter mode on February 13. I am thrilled about the adventure we had, and thrilled about going home and seeing my friends, but I am NOT looking forward to he cold. I admit that winter is a big nuisance to me. I can do fall and spring, but winter is something I would avoid. Fly away with the birds every year, that would be fantastic! Julie and the geese! Big sigh.
I will buy an extra bag and attempt to pack everything within the weight allowance. Quite a challenge, but I am determined. And I almost bought an Irish Harp... imagine that... if I followed my impulses I would come home with a couple of piñatas too !!!
Jeanne-Marie and family came for a quick tour of downtown Merida today. I took them to the market, through the historic centre of town, and we went for a nice little restaurant to sample some regional food. It was very nice. They are probably in Cancun by now, their flight back to Toronto leaves at 6am tomorrow (ouch!!!).
Going to see an outdoor concert tonight - Noche Mexicana. It's a series of concerts aiming at bringing other regions of Mexico to Merida. Not sure where the band is from tonight, we shall see. There is also a poetry reading just around the corner in a small cafe. The Yucatan Symphony is playing a daytime concert tomorrow as well, I really want to go - Tim and Dylan have their tickets, and I think I convinced Leo to be my date : ) There is always so much to see and do here, it's a good taste of urban life and quite a change from the past three months. Merida Blanca - 469 years old!
Time to make dinner, Saludos!
I will buy an extra bag and attempt to pack everything within the weight allowance. Quite a challenge, but I am determined. And I almost bought an Irish Harp... imagine that... if I followed my impulses I would come home with a couple of piñatas too !!!
Jeanne-Marie and family came for a quick tour of downtown Merida today. I took them to the market, through the historic centre of town, and we went for a nice little restaurant to sample some regional food. It was very nice. They are probably in Cancun by now, their flight back to Toronto leaves at 6am tomorrow (ouch!!!).
Going to see an outdoor concert tonight - Noche Mexicana. It's a series of concerts aiming at bringing other regions of Mexico to Merida. Not sure where the band is from tonight, we shall see. There is also a poetry reading just around the corner in a small cafe. The Yucatan Symphony is playing a daytime concert tomorrow as well, I really want to go - Tim and Dylan have their tickets, and I think I convinced Leo to be my date : ) There is always so much to see and do here, it's a good taste of urban life and quite a change from the past three months. Merida Blanca - 469 years old!
Time to make dinner, Saludos!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Dear Followers...
So sorry I could not blog during the past week - difficult to connect, and most of my online time was spent on business matters. I am booking meetings and preparing to hit the ground running when I come back to Toronto.
We had great company visiting this week. Jeanne-Marie and her partner Mark, and one of Dylan's best friend Alexandre arrived last Friday. The house situation turned out to be quite ridiculous... we were in a big, slick, Malibu style beach house with a pool - the only thing missing was the full time massage therapist. Oh... and Brad Pitt. It was the sweet life (a lot of that lately...).
Thank God, Mother Nature was very kind to us all week (no stinky grass either). We swam in the ocean a few times, had great meals together of course, went to shop in the public market, and did a lot of relaxing. Yes... me too! I am learning.
I also went to teach my last classes at the Telchac preschool, and left them all the other instruments I had brought from Canada and the ones I purchased here, together with a nice collection of scarves to dance, and a cd of spanish children's music. I am so so so happy about that part of the trip... Everything I was hoping for in the development of a teaching relationship in the Yucatan peninsula has happened in Telchac Puerto. The stars were lined-up and I met incredible people, was able to do my thing and make a good contribution to the learning experience of these children. And everything is in place for me to come back and do it again, and continue to grow this amazing relationship with the children of Telchac. I will be back. I also received an email from the owner of the Montessori school in Majahual, she also wants me to go back. Things are looking good.
We left the coast and arrived in Merida this afternoon (one hour drive), and settled into our little downtown house called Casa Mango. A cute two bedroom home with a small yard and a pool, in a wonderful location. We are right in the art gallery district, one block from the beautiful Paseo de Montejo (wide avenue lined with magnificent colonial mansions), and about five blocks from the historic centre (central square and cathedral). We will not need the car this week, we will walk walk walk this beautiful city - and we are thrilled!
This is also our last call for shopping. I spotted a very cool vintage clothing store just around the corner, it's on my to do list for tomorrow : )
We had great company visiting this week. Jeanne-Marie and her partner Mark, and one of Dylan's best friend Alexandre arrived last Friday. The house situation turned out to be quite ridiculous... we were in a big, slick, Malibu style beach house with a pool - the only thing missing was the full time massage therapist. Oh... and Brad Pitt. It was the sweet life (a lot of that lately...).
Thank God, Mother Nature was very kind to us all week (no stinky grass either). We swam in the ocean a few times, had great meals together of course, went to shop in the public market, and did a lot of relaxing. Yes... me too! I am learning.
I also went to teach my last classes at the Telchac preschool, and left them all the other instruments I had brought from Canada and the ones I purchased here, together with a nice collection of scarves to dance, and a cd of spanish children's music. I am so so so happy about that part of the trip... Everything I was hoping for in the development of a teaching relationship in the Yucatan peninsula has happened in Telchac Puerto. The stars were lined-up and I met incredible people, was able to do my thing and make a good contribution to the learning experience of these children. And everything is in place for me to come back and do it again, and continue to grow this amazing relationship with the children of Telchac. I will be back. I also received an email from the owner of the Montessori school in Majahual, she also wants me to go back. Things are looking good.
We left the coast and arrived in Merida this afternoon (one hour drive), and settled into our little downtown house called Casa Mango. A cute two bedroom home with a small yard and a pool, in a wonderful location. We are right in the art gallery district, one block from the beautiful Paseo de Montejo (wide avenue lined with magnificent colonial mansions), and about five blocks from the historic centre (central square and cathedral). We will not need the car this week, we will walk walk walk this beautiful city - and we are thrilled!
This is also our last call for shopping. I spotted a very cool vintage clothing store just around the corner, it's on my to do list for tomorrow : )
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