Virtual SA: Mexico...Cancun

 

And we are back to Virtual Mexico!

Hola!

Today's destination...Cancun.

First, I must tell you that the name means "...nest of snakes..."

...you have been warned...

Luckily, this seems to be confined to just outside the airport, taxis, and money-changers.

Next the city and its tourist attractions can be divided into two distinct sections.

A narrow long strip of beach-front aptly known as The Hotel Zone...where the Spring-Breakers and twenty-somethings migrate endlessly.

https://youtu.be/zQrG-GooqlA

Row after row of expensive hotels...bars...curio and swim shoppes...and beaches filled with the well oiled bodies of youth. Punctuated at night by the mating call of the female college student:

"I'm ssooooooooooooooooooooo drunk."

Maybe in my 20's...okay?

"Old Town Cancun" is a district of historical architecture...including the Tequila Museum. It is the home of several sprawling market-places where you can find damned near anything.  An underwater sculpture museum. It has some of the best cafes...street vendors and authentic Mexican food you will find. As well as a beach for those of us who are no longer hard-bodies...and a sea turtle rehab area. 

The pace is restful.

Relaxing.

Cancun Walking Tour 

https://youtu.be/ej3PNZEYZIM

The first thing you will notice about Central Cancun is that it is not as slick...pre-packaged...perfect palm tree lined streets.

It is real.

Grittier.

It is also way less expensive...everything from hotels to food.

Do's and Don'ts of Cancun

https://youtu.be/e4-CuXW7oOc

 

 Next time we will check out the Marketplace.

Until then...

 

Caturday...Book and Movie...Spring Cleaning Begins

 

The grass is greening up...and visions of gray morels are already dancing in my head.

So...it must be time for Spring Cleaning!

Totally Cinderella Day here...with trash bags and brooms and implements of cleanification. And everything clamoring to be scrubbed...polished...dusted...thrown away....laundered or washed.

The Sofi-Cat is staying well away.

The end of today culminating is a long soak in a warm bubble bath.

Making a long-simmered pot of soup from the remains of the steak...asparagus...brown rice...onions...potatoes and various odds and ends that will find their way into the stock-pot.

...I did bone broth long before it became a thing...

Seriously Millennials...when did this even become a thing?

Now for 59.00 to as high as 145.00, you too, can buy pre-made bone broth.

Isn't that cute?

Or...you could just save the bones from good steak, chicken and such...roast them....toss the whole business into a stock-pot with the odds and ends from your veggie drawer and simmer with water until...gasp...you have fine quality bone broth like Grandma used to make.

Oh...and it is free.

sigh

Tomorrow starts DST...again.

 So, anyway, set your sundials ahead one hour.

And try to convince your cat that 7AM is now 8AM...good luck with that.

Just began my new book

Will review it when I am finished....but thus far quite engaging.

This week's movie

An old one..but new-to-me...with Sir Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin.

Very enjoyable, edge of your seat stuff...and a surprise actor that I didn't know was in this:

Bart the Bear

(now deceased)

The photograph is with his handler for scale.

He was 9 feet tall and weighed 1,500 pounds.

Later he was diagnosed with cancer...underwent two surgeries and was euthanized at 23 in 2000.

I was a Bart Groupie through the years...somehow missed this one.

He was amazing and sometimes terrifying.

This intimidation scene out of The Bear is probably some of his best work. He excelled in throwing up clawsful of gravel and jutting that lower lip out while bellowing and displaying a mouthful of Grizzly teeth.

Hopkins and Baldwin played well off each other as they tried to survive a plane crash, being stuck in the freezing wilderness, a rampaging grizzly bear...and each other.

Very highly recommended!

Now back to the cleaning...have a great week!

Love,

Carla and The Sofi-Cat

 

 

"Find a good Netfix and chill!"  -Gadget

 
 

Virtual SA: Mexico...Mayans...And Hot Chocolate

 

Perfect timing...as both my mug from Los Cabos and my ring from Tijuana have arrived!

Today we will explore Mayan Chocolate...and in particular the Mexican Hot Chocolate picture above in my new mug.

Mayans believed it to be the drink of rain god, Chaac.

The hot chocolate drink is made from pulverized, fermented, roasted cacao beans mixed in hot water with corn meal and chilies some sugar or honey can be added for sweetness...but overall the original thick hot bitter drink was...well...hot and bitter.

I have added sugar and a bit of chili power.

The aroma is nice.

So is the flavor.

The chilies bring out something surprisingly hidden...an earthy tone you don't usually get in hot chocolate.

Very nice surprise.

Truly a beverage fit for a god.

Love the ring. Heavy and hand-made at a fraction of the cost you would pay here in the states!

Mayan Bar Chocolate for Sale.

https://www.zotterusa.com/product/100-maya-cacao

May have to try one!

 

Next time we will check out Cancun.

Virtual SA: Mexico....Mayan Chichen Itza Ruins

 

Opened the news this morning to learn that four American travelers in Mexico were kidnapped at gunpoint on the way for a minor cosmetic surgery...and are STILL missing.

Another plus of virtual travel...no one forcing you into a truck at gunpoint.

You're all welcome.

Anyway...here we are.

The Mayans constructed this pyramid and the surrounding city between 600-900 AD and it remained bustling and a focal point until roughly 1200 AD.

The Mayan name means "At the mouth of the Itza well"...and is pronounced Chet-chen  Utzah.

National Geographic 360

https://youtu.be/zJCrrTk-dLQ

https://youtu.be/kyvw6G9Max0

 Drone Footage

https://youtu.be/m7LFODaiyE4

Full Tour

https://youtu.be/u6_B695UPxE

I hope you've enjoyed this tour of Chichen Itzu and next time we will try Mayan Hot Chocolate!

Until then...

Update: Two of the four kidnapping victims were found dead...one more is shot and the fourth uninjured.

They are back in the US and Mexico is currently holding/incarcerated the five cartel members responsible.

Weekend Update

 

This week has been a week of ups and downs.

John was having a lot of trouble with shortness of breath...not good.

Then we got the results of the complete PET scan.

At first we were terrified that what we were seeing was a spread of the original cancer...but thankfully...not so.

In fact- the tumor is very very small and (we think) dead at this point...so that is good!

But...the immuno-therapy is causing lung irritation and inflammation per the doctors and he has been removed currently...and is being given steroids to stop the response and heal the damage.

sigh

He will remain off the immuno-therapy until at least mid-April.

Hopefully they will keep him off it, altogether.

Yeah, it has been a fairly stressful week..

 Taking this weekend and pretty much relaxing.

                                               "You scairt us, Dad!" - Gadget

 

Busy month shaping up...birthdays...brunches...and a small trip later.

But today we rest.

Watched a movie KB suggested for me last night

Which was absolutely outstanding.

Now I MUST read the book!!!

Great twist at the very end.

The weather has been all over the place, too. From lows of 25 to highs of 73 and everything in between...but Spring is coming.

Saw my first robins today, and boy are they FAT!

Must have spent the whole winter somewhere warm, just eating. 

...kind of like me...

Off to a deep bubble bath!

Have a Great Weekend.

Love,

Carla & The Sofi-Cat

 

"...very funny....now can you just roll me over toward the feeder..."

 

Virtual SA: Mexico...Cenotes

 

What is a Cenote?

(pronouced Ce-No-Tay)

This is a cenote...a limestone erosion or collapse creating a cave or a sinkhole of water.

Mexico is dotted with them...open and closed.

In the US we call them Blue Holes, and have several. 

The cenote above is one of the most popular and is called Ik Kil. It is known for the array of flowering plants and vines that trail over its edge and its clear blue water...perfect for an afternoon dip and escaping the hot sun.

Once used as a water source for the Mayans...as well as a place for human sacrifice to the rain god, Chaac.

They were known as the Gateway to the Dead.

Some of these are quite deep and gold, silver, jade and many human remains have been found by archeologists.

The water can be freshwater, salt water or a combination of both...a many types of marine life and fish are found in them.

Cenotes

https://youtu.be/kTY9Ou1Xyho

 

They can range from very small to open and sprawling, and the water remains a cool 77 degrees.

Diving Cenotes

https://youtu.be/rmnQLcOMz50

Ik Kil is also close to the next tourist attraction we will visit...

The Mayan Ruins.

Until next time...

March...

 

 

And we've made it through another Winter!!!

Looking forward to decorating for Spring...