An Elegante Hair Cut

Getting your hair cut anytime, anywhere can be an adventure.  Getting it cut in Cozumel, adds an extra layer of adventure.  I kinda like it.

Most years, I arrived in Cozumel with longish hair that's easy to tie up. Practical in this climate.  Then went to Dona Lety to get it cut before coming home.  She was super pleasant, gave me a good enough cut (hair grows back!), and charged about $4.  Wonderful!!!

But her shop is gone now.  I truly hope she's happily retired & enjoying some well earned time off.

So time for a change.  A few changes!  Get my hair cut at the beginning of my trip. Shorter hair! At least in back.  Off my neck. No elastics required!  And a new shop.  There are many.  But which??  

So.....on my way home from LaMonina, with a mojito still affecting my capacities.... I stopped at "Elegante", a fancy hair dresser on the Malecon (main water front street).  I'm mostly happy with the results.  The cut is fun.  But I definitely have less hair than expected.  And without some clips holding the front parts back, I have some pretty big clown puffs at the front....

Pictures

1 - 3) How could I resist such elegance!  

4) My lunch at Billy's Asadero.  I need to come here at least once each year.  They moved since last year, just down the street a little.  Good call. The new location is bigger and prettier. Still a good deal. 1kg of perfectly BBQed boneless porc chops for about $21.

5-6) Such a nice sight!  A man selling plants from his tricycle.  I love how so many people offer so many services and products this way!

 

A Big Winter Rain!

I'll never forget, years ago, when I was scuba diving here in Cozumel, the dive master said..."I don't know why you guys come here in winter to dive...it's so cold".  Hmmmm....

It is easy to forget that Mexico is part of North America, and that it's winter here also, in January.  And to locals, it's kinda cold.  Including the ocean.  Apparently, it warms up quite a bit in the summer.  For diving that would be nice.  It's easy to get cold deep down when you're not moving much.

But I like the Nortes (winds from the north) that come here in January.  I even like the big rain they can bring.  Don't get me wrong. I'm grateful for being able to wear a skirt, tank top, and sandals throughout my second summer.  But I do very much like a great big rainy day! And the cooler nights that come with the Nortes!

Pictures

1) The rain drops were so big at times, they look like snow flakes in this picture!

2-4) Some parts of the streets accumulate lots of water! There is a storm water sewer system, but you can see in picture 3, where the water is bubbling UP, they can get overwhelmed.  And like at home, sometimes leaves and other debris block them

5) I really biking down towards the water on Calle 3.  It just has a nice feel to it. The best part is always seeing the ocean as I get close to that part of the road.  It was especially striking on this cloudy rainy day!

6) This sculpture, which represents the coral reefs and aquatic life, also looked so much more dramatic with the cloudy sky.

 

Junk Bugs

"Junk Bugs are cute, but the load they carry are gruesome."  That was the title of the article I found when I googled "Bugs that look like little piles of dirt".

A few times now, I've found on various surfaces, a little pyramid shaped pile of dirt. About the size of a pencil eraser.  These little things just seemed kinda out of place.  Surprisingly well attached.  And, were they moving?  Ever so slightly?  Turns out, probably yes.

When I arrived, I found one on the top tip of a chair back.  I looked at it fairly closely.  But I had lots to do, so didn't think too much about it. But when I found one on my Sudoku book.  That was really weird, and prompted me to ask Google.

The article says that, at the base of the pile is a Junk Bug, the larval stage of what will become "a green lacewing, a delicate and lovely flying insect".  Google says the Junk Bug is a voracious predator, common around the world.  They feed by stabbing their hollow horn-like mouth parts into other insects, and sucking out their innards.  Then they pile the dead bug carcasses onto their back, to create a portable camouflage that protects them from other predators.  Very clever!!!

Pictures

1) The Junk Bug on my Sudoku book.  Apparently, you can see eyes and legs at the bottom of the pile. I'll have to look more closely next time

2) A green lacewing, courtesy of google

3) A ridiculously cute tricycle!  I saw it, the little kid and dad in a local park.  I asked dad for permission to take a picture, when the kid was close to the bike.  dad said yes.  The kid walked away.

4) A piece of sargasso sea weed on the ground near a sculpture.  I love the texture of both.

5&6) While visiting friends, in their super nice house!  On the second floor of a building. This cat came in for a visit. He was actually one of 4 that come a go.  Fun! 

7) A tree dropping its beautiful flowers! 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

The Critters Say Welcome Back

I'm back in Cozumel! How many years & times now?  7 as it turns out.  As usual, friends here gave me a warm welcome.  But this time, I think some of the critters went out of the way to say hello.

I'm staying at the same apartment, deep in the hood as last year.  With the beautiful terrace and pool.  

On my second day back, while doing yoga by the pool, I heard a soft fast drumming behind me, very close to my right ear.  I'm so glad I didn't move!  It was a hummingbird!  Did it think my ear was a flower???  I'll never know for sure.  But it was delightful!

The next day while swimming in the ocean, near a favourite restaurant, La Monina, I saw an eagle ray!!!  I've seen them be fore while swimming.  But rarely, and never in that area.  Pat, and the other Canuck / Cozumel folk on the beach, said the ray was welcoming me back to the island.  What a nice thought!

Pictures

1-2) My view towards my terrace from the pool deck. And a view from the terrace.  I think there's a parrot!!!  in the tree that looks dead.  

3) Google lent me this picture of an eagle ray.  I wish my view of it was as good as this one. Such amazing creatures!!

 4, 5, 7) La Monina.  A great little water front place.  Pretty. Sun or shade. Chill. Not pushy. 

6 &8 Pelicans often fish in the little pool of water, and off the dock at LaMonina. I love how they don't seem to care about the humans around

Canoe Trips with the Canoe Gang!

....Are my first summers!!!  I think it's time to mention them a little.

In each of the last 3 summers at home, I've had the pleasure of joining a wonderful group of people for canoe trips: to Lady Evelyn lake in Temagamie, the French River in Georgian Bay, and what lake??? In Algonquin Park.  

How did this come about?  My longtime friend Vadim! We've been talking about paddling together for a long time.  When someone had to bow out of a trip close to last minute, he asked if I was able & willing to join. I love retirement!  Yep!!! I was available!  

Each trip had highs and lows, of course.  Some notable highs....so much skinny dipping!  That memorable moment with Nicki's thigh.  Fresh sushi and cinnamon buns. Animal poo with other smaller animal bits in it. Hundreds of tiny frogs on a portage path!  The incredible scenery!  Especially on the French River trip. 

And of course, making new friends!!  I am so grateful to have been welcomed into their lively, kind, fun circle.    

This last summer, I also went on my first canoe camping trip with Toby, with Miss Mango, the canoe I now share with me friend Melissa.  The waves on Crotch Lake were a bit scary on our way to our campsite.  But the view from from there made every tense minute so worthwhile!  I'm still very glad we left our camp though. Mostly set up, to paddle then drive home and stay warm and dry on that chilly very rainy day! It was fun to get back to our site the next day, all set up, like our very own mini cottage! 

I desire to remember too...I've had lotsa time floating on my beloved Ottawa River. Fixing furniture. And plenty of smaller delightful moments too.

Pictures..

1- The canoe gang, and our flotilla of gear!

2 &3 - The view from our Crotch Lake campsite.  Beautiful!

4- I love the irony of this picture!  The Travelodge included a buffet breakfast.  Nice.  But there was a Goldwing Convention in town, so the seating inside was full.  We ate our breakfast perched on rocks outside.  Practice for days to come!

5&7 The cinnamon buns and sushi.  The sushi was perfect!  The cinnamon buns were super yummy too, just a little singed.

11- I love setting up my tent close to the water.  But Susanna and Vadim sometimes take it to an extreme level!  

12- This was how Christine greeted us on one of the trips, as we gathered at her place for our group departure.  I love this picture!!!

.

Painting with the Kids

I think this is becoming a thing for me.  To offer painting lessons to local kids while on vacation.  
It requires a bit of effort, but it feels pretty special. 

Once again, I brought more art & craft supplies on this trip than I can use.  Including some watercolour painting supplies.  But I don't regret it.  Because it enabled me to offer painting classes to Jorges 3 kids - Mateo, Matias, and Regina.

During a visit, I showed pictures of my art to "La Mama de Jorge" (she refused to tell me her name!) and his son Matias.  Matias seemed especially interested.  I had already met his younger sister Regina.  They both seemed calm and curious.  Good candidates for painting lessons.  So I offered.  Then I found out there's an older brother, Mateo.  Matias must've told Mateo I'd done rooster paintings. And I think Mateo is a very big fan of roosters.  Because he immediately asked about that, when I met him!!  And pretty much every time since! 

On the agreed upon day, we set up on a small table.  Close to the very big chicharron cauldron!   Despite our kinda precarious setup, it went very well.  Jorge seemed like such a proud and caring dad.  He checked on us several times, and helped Regina in such a nice way.  Saying to her, "Mi Amor".  

We're scheduled to do it again soon.  We painted flowers and a kinda fish bowl the first time.  Next time....a cute little bird, and a rooster!  Based on a picture I took of Mateo's most handsome rooster at the farm!! 

Pictures

1) The kids proudly showing their paintings after our first lesson.

2 &3) Farm day pictures that fit in well here...When we arrived, at the agreed time, to go to the farm, the family invited us to participate in birthday festivities for Jorge's dad, Filipe, who turned 70.  They were all so happy!  We sand happy birthday in English for them.  They sang it in Spanish.  After the sparkler, but before they cut the cake, Filipe took a big bite right out of the cake!  There were lotsa pictures.  Fun!  That's "La Mama de Jorge", Filipe's wife, in the yellow t shirt.  She pretended to push Filipe's head into the cake when he took his big bite.  Everyone thought it was very funny!

4) The rooster we're gonna paint next lesson.

5&6) More pictures of the kids with their paintings.  Delight !

   

A Visit to Jorge's Farm

I'm slowly kinda developing a friendship with a local family.  

This week, I got to visit their small family farm.

You might recall my post, Jorge and Flor Make Chicharron, from February 1, 2022.  It turns out they were making the chicharron from animals they raised themselves.  Which makes things a little personal and sad.  But less sad, because I think these animals had a mostly good life, at Jorge's little farm.

When I found out Jorge had a farm, I was excited about the potential of visiting it!  When he found out I work at an agriculture museum, he invited me to do just that.  So cool!! 

The adventure started with a ride in Jorge's very old and well used pickup truck.  I'm not sure who had the best, or safest seat?  Toby sat in the bed of the truck.  He said it was the most dangerous thing he'd done all year!   But since he was riding with two kids, aged about 12 and 6, and they seemed relaxed, he thought it must be ok???  I shared the cab of the truck with Jorge and his very kind wife Maria.  I was pressed against the door pretty tight.  I kept hoping it would stay shut!!  

The farm was small, and a seemed little improvised in spots.  But really, it was pretty well organized practical.  And we could tell that Jorge and his family cared very much about the welfare of his animals.

 

We got to pet his horse Luna, watch the pigs enjoy a shower and meal, pick up some chickens, all while being followed by a big turkey intended for a family member's birthday dinner :(

We also got to chew on some tart, not yet ripe tamarind right from the tree, and see how a spice called achiote grows! 

Pictures

1) Mateo and Regina seem to love the farm.  Mateo was especially proud of his roosters.  He wanted me to take pictures of them for him.

2) This kinda handsome turkey followed us around though most of our tour.  But he didn't want us to pet him :(

3-4) Jorge feeding tortillas to one of the pigs, and Jorge and Regina petting the pig while it eats.  Sweet.

5) The breeding pair of pigs were keen to say hello to us!!

6) A family member giving a welcome shower to the pigs.

7) This hen was lying on about 5 eggs, and 2 very young hatchlings.  Mateo liften the hen a little to show me.  Then he so gently put the hens wing over the young chick.  His tenderness was very heartwarming to see.