A Canuck in Cancun

The Winter of our Discontent

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:24:00 +0000

The weather this year has sucked. Really sucked. For months it's been cold or rainy or cold and rainy. We've had more "nortes" (cold fronts) than any year since I've been here and some say more than the last 20 years. I know, it's colder up north, I get that, but up north houses were built to stay warm, have central heating and everyone has nice warm clothes. Here the houses were built to stay cool and we live in tank tops and flip flops. One of my big reasons for choosing to live here was the year round heat and sunshine and this winter hasn't given me much of that at all! When I complain to my northern friends, I don't expect sympathy, truly, they are covered in piles of snow and suffering a million degrees below zero, but they can escape when they go inside. Here, when it's 9 C (50 F) outside, it's the same inside. Shivering, shaking fingers that just can't find the correct letter on the keyboard, icy cold showers and conditioner that is so cold it won't come out of the bottle. Who would ever have thought that in Cancun I would be wearing a wool turtleneck with a fleece sweater over it and a t-shirt underneath, long fuzzy pyjama pants and thick socks and still be cold?

We caved in and bought a space heater. Ludicrous! Space heater in Cancun? Yes, when we realized that it just wasn't going to warm up again we bit the bullet and bought our little life saver. We used it mostly at night to warm the place up before bed, but I'll be honest there were a few days where the chill in the house was unbearable and we sparked it up in the middle of the day. I've gone through more hot chocolate in a couple of months than I have for the last six years. There were days I actually wished I had gloves.

The weather has not been conducive to doing much of anything. Cancun is made for outdoor activities, but in the cold and rain the beach and jungle are really not that appealing. My skin is back to its pasty, white Canadian translucency, desperately in need of some sun! It's been far too long since we've been able to play in the ocean or catch some rays. Our exercise is limited to jumping around to Michael Jackson songs and using online tutorials to learn the "Thriller" dance.

This past weekend we headed over to Isla Mujeres to see some long-lost friends from Canada. The day was kind of "meh", cloudy and not exactly warm. I was wearing long pants and a heavy denim jacket and had Max bundled up. Our friends were quite content in their bikinis while I shivered on the beach! I think they thought I was a bit nuts, but the body gets accustomed to hot weather and can't deal with the chill anymore.

Of course the last couple of days have been nice. "Of course" because I've been at work and Max has been at school. It seems when we do get a nice day it's always on a work day. Murphy's Law is being enforced! I'm hoping, fingers crossed, knocking on wood that the nice weather is here to stay, though the grapevine says we're due for more "nortes" this year. I am sooooo over it though, I am ready for the three-shower-a-day heat again, bring on the humidity, bring on the days hot enough to cook an egg on the sidewalk! I WILL NOT complain about the heat this year, I promise on my honour, not a peep of "Oy vay, it's so hawt, the humidity is killin' me!". My mantra when the heat comes will be "Que rico, que rico, que rico!"

The Almost NOlympics

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:04:00 +0000

Ah, winter of 1976. The year Dorothy Hamill inspired the five year old me to wear my hair in that funky bob for the next 10 years. The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, the days off school to watch skiing and skating and curling. I fell in love with the Olympics that year, Dorothy was my first idol, then the summer Olympics in Montreal ensured a lifetime obsession by giving me (and the world) a little Nadia Comaneci. Since then, I have adored the Olympics, always a pleasure to watch countries come together in peace and share in the love of sport. Families gather around the warmth of the television to cheer on their countrymen and bond over the losses, the wins and the human interest stories.

I was bursting with excitement for this year's Vancouver Olympics, who could blame me? "Canada" and "Olympics" in one easy shot, a way to share my love of both with my son. I wept during the opening ceremonies, I love that Canada had a message about the environment and featured our indigenous peoples. KD Lang blew me away, the effects were great, I enjoyed myself immensely (yes, even through the tears). Unfortunately it was a bit late at night so Max was asleep, but when we awoke the next morning I was ready to watch events all day long and teach my son a thing or two about Canada, world geography and sport. I turned on the tv and went to the station that had shown the opening ceremonies. Nothing. I searched through the listings, nada. How could it be? The Olympics were just starting and we had no coverage? (Grab heart, throw other hand over forehead, weep and cry "woe is me!")

This happened every day. Me with great hope in my heart, seeking some Olympics on tv, online, everywhere. The main online portals had streaming video, sure, if you live in the US or Canada, they were blocked in Mexico. I found a stream for the first US/Canada hockey game but promptly got attacked by a virus. There were a few days where we found broadcasts between 2 and 3 in the afternoon, but never enough and never the high profile events that I wanted to see. I fell deeper and deeper into a NOlympic depression, feeling left out of the whole thing, like being the only kid in class who was not invited to the party.

And then, oh joy, oh bliss, the local channel decided to run the ladies figure skating final!! I wept (ok, perhaps I'm a little sensitive, yes, I cry, get over it Hubby!) and fell in love with Joannie, felt enormous pride in her medal and actually woke Max up to tell him about it. Then a real bonus, the figure skating gala was televised and I was able to weep and fill up my half-empty Olympic heart a little more.

The highlight of the winter Olympics for any good Canadian is the hockey. I will admit, I actually despise the game, but I love Canada and Olympic hockey is much more enjoyable to watch than the fight club they call NHL. I decided not to sit at home and wait to see if it was broadcast, we set off for Hooters (yeah, I know, shhhh) and set up camp with my maple leaf flag flying proudly from our table. A good friend joined us, we watched the game (no sound, argh), and I pretended my Pacifico was a Moosehead. Oh such joy to win that game, my Canadian heart swelled (no tears, we were in public you know!), I got a little tipsy and we made our merry way home.

I watched some of the closing ceremonies (yes, more tears, brutal eh?) and then fell soundly asleep. My NOlympics had changed to the OH!lympics and I was a happy girl. I wish we could have seen more, that Max could have learned more and perhaps found a hairstyle idol of his own but I am happy that he at least got a sample of all that the Olympics are about and a little taste of Canada thrown in. My fingers are crossed that Mexican television gets it together for the London 2012 summer games so we can rock out with the gymnasts and skullers and soccer players (nope, don't like soccer either, but I've got some tears saved up for Mexico!)

CANDi- Cats and Dogs International Coming to Cancun

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:34:00 +0000

CANDi (cats and dogs international) is an international organization devoted to saving the world's strays, one animal at a time. This fantastic organization is coming to Cancun April 19-23 for a free spay and neuter clinic at the municipal pound where they expect to sterilize 450 cats and dogs. They will also be working with the local authorities, training in humane methods of euthanasia to replace the current (horrible) practice of electrocution. In addition, CANDi will be improving the conditions of the pound, painting, adding new kennels, refrigerators for medicine etc.. They[ll be working with local organizations Rescate Malix, Isla Animals and Cancun Animal Rescue as well as international groups Humane Society International and the World Society for Protection of Animals.

They need your help! CANDi needs to raise $15 000 for the clinic and improvements to the municipal pound. Donations from Canadian and American citizens are tax deductible, please click here to find out how you can contribute. In addition to the funds needed for medical supplies, CANDi is asking for donations of the following items:

Bathtub - to offer free dog washing at the pound

paint and paint supplies - to add color and a better working enviroment to the walls

bottled water for the volunteers working during the clinic - about 14 cases

kennels - to hold the dogs before and after surgery

ice - to keep the water cold

ice coolers

used towels - to help with the surgery

a refrigerator - to hold medicine

tables, the folding kind would be great

chairs, even the plastic pepsi ones would be good

dog and puppy food

plastic cups and plates and forks, sppons, knives

garbage bags, all sizes

gauze and Q-tips for ear cleaning

permanent markers

pens

duct tape

masking tape

tarps - to cover and protect us from the rain and sun

a local artist who could come and help paint murals of animals and people

I've said it before and I will say it a million times over, the problem of stray animals in Cancun is horrendous! Thousands of animals roam the streets in very bad conditions, covered in mange, starving, injured and abused. In addition to these unwanted and uncared for animals, there are thousands of very poor people who love their animals dearly but do not have the resources to take care of their medical needs. CANDi is one of the fine organizations trying to make a difference in Cancun, I admire and respect them and will do what I can to assist in their generous efforts. Spread the word, donate what you can and know that your contribution is doing a world of good. If you are planning on being in Cancun, why not adopt a doggie while you are here? It's easier than ever before and organizations like CANDi and Isla Animals are doing all they can to facilitate international adoptions and rescues, you can read some beautiful adoption stories here on the CANDi page. I thank you in advance for doing whatever you can do, together we can make a difference!

Become a fan of CANDi on Facebook, visit the CANDi page and join, spread the word!

Protect the Green Belly Button

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:29:00 +0000

For a long time we've been reading about the Mayor's proposal to build a new city hall in one of the last remaining green areas in Cancun, known as "el ombligo verde" ("the green belly button"). We've been witness to the protests against this action and have seen signs around the neighbourhood asking the Mayor to please stop the destruction of the environment. This green area is about two blocks from where we live, beside the "new"cathedral that has never actually been completed. A few weeks back some astonishing aerial photos appeared revealing that the area had already been stripped, bare earth where once there was jungle, done from the inside out so that it was not obvious that the work was being done. "Officially" there was an order for the work to be halted, but that order has obviously been ignored, we can hear the machinery ripping the place to shreds. I can't believe what they were able to accomplish under the noses of citizens who did not want this to happen, until we saw the photos we had no idea that they had already destroyed the area.

While it seems that protests are futile at this point, we decided to take part in yesterday's "human chain", an effort to surround the green area with people and bring attention to the "ecocide" taking place in our city. A few hundred people came out, with placards and green "belly buttons" painted on foreheads (and various other body parts), even the environmental doggies wore their green paint with pride. I had mixed emotions about the event, I was happy to be a part of an obviously passionate group of people, but saddened by the relatively small number of citizens that turned out. I was able to give Max a little environmental lesson and I was proud that he was a part of the action. He is Cancunense, this is his city too, what's going to be left of it by the time he is an adult?

I could rant and rave about this all day, but where is that going to get me? I think I'll just share some photos of some really great people standing up for what they believe in.

My Little Green Protester

Tough Guy

Dude, your belly button is green!

The banner reads:
"Nothing is more important than our Mother Earth. Less cement, more conscience"

Kermit the Frog was on hand, he says
"I live in Cancun and love nature, reforest our green!"

"It's not about religion, nor politics, it's about ecological conscience"

"Halt the ecocide in our municipality"

Groovy eco-street art

"Yes to the green belly button, yes to nature!"

Thanks to all who came out, thanks to all who have signed petitions and done their part to protect the city. Shame on the government for allowing this to happen, not only destroying our green areas, but doing so in secret and agains the wishes of so many citizens of Cancun. Shame shame shame.

Ex-pat Schmex-pat

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:37:00 +0000

Last week I received yet another email from yet another "ex-pat" website asking for my input in helping others relocate. I usually try to help, but I am starting to become annoyed by the term "ex-pat". I don't feel like an ex-pat anymore. I associate the word with someone who has recently relocated outside their country of origin or someone who has changed their location temporarily or someone who only associates with other "ex-pats" instead of becoming part of their new community. I don't really fit in those categories. Living in a country outside of my birth country is no longer new, it's no longer about adjusting or making comparisons between there and here, it's just the life that I am living, I am simply a resident of Mexico who happens to have been born somewhere else. In a relatively short time (year and a half? two years?), I will be a citizen of Mexico, will I still be called an "ex-pat" then? Holder of dual citizenship? MexiCanadian? Am I doomed to a lifetime of being called "ex-pat", implying that I am not a part of any community except for that of others who have chosen to live outside their country of birth? Why so many questions? Hey Canucka, who put a bee in your bonnet?

I don't know why my panties are in a twist about this. I don't know why people would assume that I am an "expert" in the area of relocation. Hey, read the bio folks, I didn't plan this move, it just kind of happened, I came on vacation and didn't go home, do you really want to take advice from someone who would do such a thing? If I had sat down and planned this move, it probably would never have happened. I always laugh heartily when someone sends me financial questions about relocating. You're kidding right? I live pay cheque to pay cheque with no assets and no savings and you want to ask me about money? HAHAHA. Sorry, you've got the wrong girl.

Now, if you want to talk about the emotional aspects of living in another country, I might be able to help you. MIGHT. Every person has a completely different experience, everyone has totally different coping mechanisms and no two people will react the same to the same set of circumstances. But I can at least give an idea of the kinds of things that usually bother people when they move to Mexico and offer suggestions on how best to cope. I've witnessed enough meltdowns from people who try to make the move to determine "this is the wrong way to handle it". I've also seen the success stories and can say "this has worked for some people". How someone else handles adversity is completely up to them, but I'm willing to play counselor with a "buyer beware" caveat and small print declaring "I am not an expert though I have played one on TV".

I am Canadian. I am a resident of Mexico. I'm a mom. I'm a Pisces who loves long walks on the beach. I'm short, creative, sensitive, cute, generous, and funny. I've got plenty of labels, must we use the "ex-pat" one too? Or am I just moaning about something ridiculous because it's Monday and it's raining? Can someone help me get this knot out of my knickers?

Help for Haiti from Cancun and Quintana Roo

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:38:00 +0000

The tragedy in Haiti has struck the hearts of everyone around the world. Organizations in every country are contributing to the relief effort and the kindness and generosity of humankind is clearly evident in the response to pleas for help. The local community in Cancun is doing their part in many ways, mostly through the local "Cruz Roja" (Red Cross) which has set up collection centers for donations around the city and at their main location. The word is being spread through the Cruz Roja event page on Facebook, please join if you feel you can make a contribution. I've been receiving messages with lists of supplies needed and a plea for assistance in packing the boxes to be sent to Haiti. We've contributed medicine and medical supplies and today Max and I went to the Cruz Roja to spend the afternoon doing whatever we could do to help. Max was eager to participate, he jumped right in filling boxes and counting their contents, feeling very proud of himself to be working alongside the firefighters. If you are in Cancun, please, donate an hour or two or sixteen to the Cruz Roja to help the people of Haiti! They need people daily from 9 am to 9 pm.

Further south in Quintana Roo, "Hope for Haiti" events will be happening this Sunday, January 24th, 2010 in Akumal, Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos. "Hope for Haiti" is a grassroots effort being organized to raise funds specifically for Doctors Without Borders to assist in the disaster relief in Haiti. With music, food and entertainment, all proceeds will benefit those whose lives have been devastated by the earthquake in Haiti. Locals and visitors, please do what you can to attend these events, just click on the links for all the details. If you are unable to attend but would like to contribute to the cause, please click here to make a donation to "Hope for Haiti".

Back to the Beach

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:52:00 +0000

For a girl with a beach addiction, the last couple of months have been torture! Between health issues and cold temps, we haven't had any beach frolic time since November 22nd!! No wonder I've been miserable. Sure, I've run out to the hotel zone to catch photos of the beach recovery for work, but a short hour in my uniform is not the same as playing in my bikini for an afternoon. Yesterday the sun was out and it was warm enough for a quick trip to the new beach at Playa Delfines in the hotel zone, oh thank you Mother Nature! I picked Max up from school, made him promise to do his homework when we finished with the beach and dashed out to la playa to catch the last couple hours of sunshine.

The beach project is almost done, they should be finished in Cancun this week so I knew we'd have a wide stretch of sand. The work is currently behind the Solaris hotels, probably a kilometer away from where we were, but the pipes were still on Playa Delfines. No biggie, just toss Max over and make a little jump myself. There is a big ledge of sand near the water's edge, but it was scalable and Max had a ball scrambling up and down all afternoon, making sand angels, "Just like in the snow in Canada mommy!". Apparently the Christmas movies made an impact, he's never been to Canada let alone made snow angels.

Within ten minutes of being on the beach we had some excitement. The lifeguards started blowing their whistles like mad then made a beeline for the water. A teenager had got in trouble in the waves and was going down. Baywatch moment (without the ripped abs and great hair) ensues, they rescue the boy and drag him onto the beach. They pumped his chest for a minute, he vomited water and all was well. Good lesson moment for Max to treat the sea with respect and to be grateful to the lifeguards. We both went up and thanked the guards for their quick action and attention and they listed the rules of the beach to Max. Number one (I thought this was a good rule, but number one?), no wearing street clothes in the sea. The kid who went down was wearing JEANS. Number two, don't swim where no one else is swimming. Makes sense to me. Number three, ask the guards where it's safe to swim. Number four, don't drink and swim. This was in response to the second big whistle moment of the day when two idiots walked into the sea in their jeans hoisting their beer bottles over their head. They didn't understand why the guards kicked them out and said they would bring the cops down if they went in the water again. Overall, I was impressed by the guards and their attention and care to what was going down.

When the sun started to go down and the clouds started to gather, I got a chill and realized our adventure was coming to an end. Max insisted he wasn't cold, but he actually got up and left without a fight (a big deal these days). We walked up to the top of the hill, had a little kibi snack and were on our merry way home practice to our sums. An afternoon on the beach refreshed our bodies, minds and souls and we thank the goddess of the ocean for her perpetual ability to renew.

Now, mother nature, listen up, no more "nortes", we need our sun, sea and sand! Just look at that little boy's face, see what happens when you bring us nice weather?

Hotels in Mexico

It Came from the North

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:01:00 +0000

Normally we consider Cancun to be a tropical paradise, land of sunburns and heat stroke, but the winter months can bring us the dreaded "norte", cold fronts from the north that leave us shivering. Being a Canadian girl, you might think that the cool temperatures would be tolerable, it's not like we have snow and minus zero, but after a few years here the blood thins and the body just cannot accept that it is less than 75 F/23 C. This week has felt FRIGID, temps have gone as low as 57 F/14 C. I know, I know, we are hardly suffering like those of you where it's minus a million with piles of snow, but there are some things to keep in mind. Houses here are built to stay cool, there is no central heating, windows don't shut all the way and very few people have a wardrobe for what are really Canadian fall temps. Most of us are lucky enough to actually live in cement houses where we can snuggle up with a couple of pairs of socks and our loved ones under two blankets, but there are many in the country who do not have that luxury. Many folks in the small pueblas live in palapa style huts, nothing to keep out the cold temps. These people are often the poorest of the poor, they do not have the funds to go out and buy warm clothes or take precautions against the cold. This climate is dangerous for many, this week four people died in the northern states of Mexico because of the cold. (It's even colder up there than here, some states have been hit with temperatures below zero). So while I bitch and moan and shiver, I have to remember that we are certainly more fortunate than a whole lot of people.

The biggest problem in our house is trying to keep Max warm. This is a kid who loves to be naked, will not sleep under a blanket and really hates wearing a jacket. We have to wait until he falls asleep and then smother him in sweat pants and long sleeve shirts, then all night long we pull up the blankets after he kicks them off. Max is such a weirdo, I don't know if he is just "being contrary", but we're freezing our butts off the other night and he slyly walked over and turned on the air conditioning! I can't imagine that he was actually feeling hot, but who knows, maybe his constitution is totally different than ours and he just doesn't feel it. Maybe he needs a little visit to Canada for a polar bear plunge, could be just his thing. I'll be happy when this norte passes and we can actually get some sleep around here.

Speaking of things that come from the north, my good friend Matt and his fiancee are in Cancun! I posted a while back about an online video contest and you fine folks helped out with the voting. Hurrah, thank you, he won the contest and I get visitors from Canada! We're meeting up with them for dinner tonight and I can't wait to see them. We should be spending more time with them this weekend, in between their jaunts to Chichen Itza and Xelha. I'm hoping that they're not disappointed in the weather we're having, though I suspect after coming from the bitter cold of Toronto that this feels like heaven.

Here's hoping you are warm and cozy wherever you are, I hope to heck this cold front passes and I can get back to sweating like a pig real soon.

I Want a Bionic Body!

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:53:00 +0000

Ok, ok, I've been MIA, I am sorry! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and all that good stuff to you all, I hope 2010 has kicked off to a good start for everyone.

Now, let's see, what's been happening around here. I think the biggest thing is that I just can't seem to get healthy and that is causing problems in so many other ways. Way back at the beginning of December I came down with a heck of a flu, off work for a week and sick for probably three weeks with a heavy cough. Near the end of my recovery, I had the "back incident" that knocked me out again. More recently I had a another scary health issue. I'll warn you, this might be considered "too much information", but heck, that's reality.

The Saturday after Christmas I woke up with a very sore breast (see, told you). The pain was constant and intense and I proceeded to do a little exam. I didn't find any lumps and just took some ibuprofen. Sunday I still hurt, then Monday came and the pain was almost excruciating. It was Monday that I found a lump, probably three centimeters in diameter and it really seemed to spring up overnight. By Tuesday the pain was intolerable and the fear of the big "C" was firmly planted in my brain so I took Max to a play area with nannies and got myself into the E.R.. By now the breast was red and hot, like someone had taken an iron to it (and that's pretty much how it felt). The docs checked it out, said it was a breast abscess and sent me home with antibiotics and pain killers and orders for a mammogram and blood work. The next few days were awful, the pain was horrid and I felt like I had a flu through my whole body. I stayed home by myself on New Year's Eve as I just couldn't bear the thought of going to a party and grimacing every time my bra rubbed the wrong way. The lump kept getting bigger and the pain kept getting worse until finally this past Sunday I started to feel some relief. I am still on the meds but seem to be on the mend, the lump has shrunk to about a centimeter and the pain has dulled enough so that I think I can actually tolerate the mammogram this week to see what led to the infection.

So I really haven't been healthy since November. This leads to depression (not the only cause, there are other things going on including the general holiday blues and some other personal stuff). I feel "meh". Just "meh". Add to the mix that the weather has been freezing cold and I haven't been to the beach in a month and I am just a big ball of "meh". I have got to dig myself out of this hole, get over the "meh" and get back to life. My new year's resolution has been to get healthy, start eating better (well, eating more often, I've got issues), taking my vitamins, switching from regular Coke to Coke Zero (a little thing to some, a big thing for this addict) and getting some exercise. So far, it's going ok, it's still a battle forcing myself to eat during the day, but I am trying! Once I get this whole boob thing sorted out, I'll start with an exercise routine and hopefully feel like my old energetic self again.

I think what I really want is to be Jaime Sommers, a bionic body would rock my world! Just think of what I could do. Always healthy and if something does go wrong, just twisting a screw or replacing a faulty wire would do the trick and I would be back to flying over the trees in a wink. Where oh where are the Oscar Goldmans of the new century? The Bionic Woman was awesome in the 1970's, just imagine what a bionic body would be like in 2010! Oh to dream.....I guess I'll stick to eating some apples and taking vitamin supplements since I am pretty sure my health insurance doesn't cover the whole bionic thing. Too bad.

Cancun Beach Recovery Dec. 22/2009

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:38:00 +0000

The Cancun beach recovery continues on its merry way, working south down the hotel zone strip. Incredible changes? Yes! Controversial? Of course. It's impossible to know what the long term environmental impact will be, but in the short term, this is a project that will keep a million people in the state employed. No beach, no tourists, no tourists, no jobs, no jobs, no food, no food, crime goes sky high. I'm split on this one to be honest, love it and hate it at the same time. The beaches look incredible and I am happy that tourism will come back ($$$), but I hate what this is probably doing to the reefs where they are dredging up sand. Anywho, what I think is neither here nor there, it's not going to change matters so we might as well enjoy the benefits of the project which are really huge, stunning beaches.

I went out to the beach this morning to see what I could see and was once again amazed by the progress. I stopped by Playa Marlin (the public access beach by Plaza Kukulkan and Barcelo Tucancun) and was wowed. Two weeks ago I couldn't walk down that beach, rocks everywhere and water crashing against the wall. Now it's humoungous and I walked all the way down to the Royal Sands. There was a very happy group of guests there as it was the first day they had opened the beach, put out lounge chairs and umbrellas and allowed people to enjoy the new stretch of sand. I drove a bit further south and checked out the area next to Cancun Palace and Le Meridien. The bulk of the equipment is at Le Meridien and the Ritz right now and should be hitting the Cancun Palace and the Marriotts next week (my own guess, I don't have any official word on that). Here are a couple of pics, you can see the whole set by clicking here.

Playa Marlin Before and After

Royal Sands Beach After

Looking out at the beach behind the Royal Sands

Video of the brand new Royal Sands Beach

Whatever you think of the environmental impact of the project, you can not deny that the work is pretty amazing. Now, let's hope they take all the precautions they are supposed to to make it stick and that we never have to do it again! I also urge people to take care of the beach, bring a bag for your garbage and pick up a little bit of what others leave behind as well, keep our beach clean and safe for wildlife and all of us please! I would hate to see all of this being done only to find the beaches full of the detritus of humans.

Peace out!

Holiday Greetings from Canucka and Family

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:29:00 +0000

The very first Simpson's episode from years and years ago starts with Marge writing the family Christmas letter, "We've had some sadness and some gladness this year...", a classic TV moment. This time of year I seem to take on her raspy voice in my head, though I refuse to wear the blue beehive so I thought I might write our own family Christmas letter.

Dear Friends and Family,
Ho ho ho, feliz navidad! It's been an odd year, one of changes and struggles, two steps forward, fourteen steps back. Hubby and I both have new jobs, my switch a bit more complicated than Hubby's, in fact the change for me was probably the most difficult hurdle we faced this year. Who knew that taking a step forward was going to cause so much stress? I'm happy with my new challenge and enjoying the work so all the hassles were worth it! I will miss teaching and want to send a special greeting to all my old coworkers, love you all and I want to say thanks to my new coworkers for giving me a warm welcome to their world.

Piggy flu was "News of the Year" around here, the whole brouhaha of H1N1 took its toll on the country of Mexico and certainly on the city of Cancun. Both hubby and I took pay cuts and lost hours for the forced closures of businesses and bazillions of tourist dollars were lost due to the media frenzy. We're grateful that we did not get sick, but saddened by the deaths and illnesses of so many around the world. If I had to find a positive side to the flu, at least I had a lot to write about for a few months!

Max is a pretty typical four year old and he is the center of our universe. And he knows that and uses the information to his advantage! He's a pretty smart cookie, but he never, ever, EVER shuts up! He is doing great in school, at least in terms of his exam results and what he is learning. We get "the talk" from his teachers every week about his behaviour, he bounces off the walls all day and won't sit down to work, but at least he's not a biter or a spitter like some kids in his class. He's still got the same girlfriend, I think they're going on two years now, must be love! He's obsessed with Michael Jackson and his moonwalk is coming along nicely. The genital grab and thrust move is perfected (yeah, we're thrilled).

We had a few adventures this year, enjoying Garrafon Park, Rio Secreto, snorkeling all over the place, cenote visits, a vacation in Akumal with my parents, a trip to Chichen Itza and the absolute highlight, swimming with whale sharks! We are so fortunate to have an abundance of opportunities to explore our natural world and teach Max about respect for the planet and how to enjoy life to the fullest. While life in Mexico is not all sunshine and light, at least we can escape from the negatives and immerse ourselves in the positives that surround us in this beautiful place. While it's easy to become depressed thinking about politics, corruption, pollution, poverty, and crime, we need only look to the natural and historical world around us to find the balance in our souls.

We're looking forward to the new year and the new decade and all that 2010 will bring. From myself, Hubby and Max, we wish you a very happy holiday season and a fantastic new year! May all your wishes be fulfilled, may your cups be full of tequila, may you have sun on your back and an ocean breeze in your hair. Salud!

The Paper Chase Continues

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:49:00 +0000

It would have been really nice to think that after chasing paper all over North America for my FM2 for almost three months that I would be done and could just settle in to a "work/get paid/work/get paid" routine. But oh no, of course not, life in Mexico can't be THAT easy. To work in Mexico you need paper on top of paper and copies of the copies.

When I got my first job here years ago I had to register with "Hacienda", basically the Canada Revenue Agency (IRS for you Americans) and with IMSS (social security). That makes sense, you work, you pay taxes, easy. There are some not so easy parts attached to this though. You have to bring piles of ID but as a foreigner we have different ID that can be confusing for some poor office drone who is accustomed to Mexican after Mexican just coming in with their IFE card (national identification, like a voter card). The biggest confusion is the "apellido materno". In Mexico, everyone has two last names, the father's name first followed by the mother's maiden name. All ID has both names on it, every form you'll fill out anywhere has the line for it. As a Canadian without a "apellido materno", this has caused several problems over the years. I have learned not to fill in that particular line of the forms as inevitably the entire form will have to be done again as my mother's maiden name is not on my identification. Registering with Hacienda was a few months of battling nitpicky paperhounds and with IMSS it was just a mess. (It doesn't help that my name is easy to spell incorrectly even for fellow Canucks). Between the misspellings and the non-existent mother's maiden name, what should be a simple procedure just turns into a giant headache.

So, I've been registered for years, have my CURP and my RFC and my IMSS, the full abcedario of numbers. The problem I am currently having is that no one can seem to find my IMSS number. I went to IMSS yesterday to get this straightened out. I put on my best Mexicana face and patiently endured more than three hours of waiting in line. When they finally called my number (408), I got to the window and they said "no tenemos sistema, regresas mañana". Basically, the system was down......and has been down for weeks! So why on earth do they allow thousands of people to wait hours in line only to tell them one at a time that the system is down? How about some bristol board and a magic marker for a sign that says "Hoy No" (not today). I truly thought my head would explode. So the battle continues.

The other lovely piece of paper that I need to work is called the "antecedente no penales", a document I had to get from the police swearing that I don't have a criminal record. Last week I spent three hours of my life with that tramite (application), submitting digital fingerprints to AFIS, photos, more copies of my ID floating in the files of the government, I'm surprised they didn't ask for DNA. Luckily I picked up the completed and stamped document yesterday and all was well, apparently I am not an international jewel thief on the run. Aside from the time I spent in lines and the endless copies, this was just about the easiest paper I have ever "tramited" (I'm making up words now).

So, you wanna move to Mexico, are your papers in order? Here are the things I have learned to always carry with me:

1. Passport and two copies of the picture page
2. FM2 and two copies of the picture page, the address page and the latest "proroga"
3. Comprobante domicilio, original and two copies. The comprobante domicilio is a water, electric or phone bill, you must carry one that is recent and it must have your address on it. Some places don't accept phone bills, so it's best to carry water and electric. Funny how this document is requested EVERYWHERE, but it doesn't even have to have your own name on it. Go figure.
4. CURP/RFC numbers
5. Valium and a flask

I am a grumpy girl these days, hours of my life spent waiting in line and chasing paper. I figure once this is all done, it will be time to renew my FM2 again, so I might as well just get used to it. My kingdom for a doppelganger, a clone who is specially created just for lining up for tramites! I'd give an arm and a leg for that, well, at least a piece of my DNA. Clone would smile pleasantly after hours in line, be able to sweet talk the tired clerks or tell them off in flawless street Spanish when the tired clerks become tired jerks. Oh clone, how I would love thee! Alas, clone is just a dream, I must continue the paper chase today and try again with IMSS. Send me any extra patience you've got please!

Back to Back

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:34:00 +0000

A long time ago in a galaxy 2382 kms away, I was a dancer. No, not THAT kind of dancer, a ballet, tap, jazz, modern, Hawaiian, Scottish fling kind of dancer. I started young and spent my childhood in classes and travelling for competitions and when it came time to go to university, I chose to study a BFA in dance. That dream came to an end when I had a bad fall and put my back out of commission, ending my life as a dancer forever.

I was forever in and out of physical therapy, massage therapy, shiatsu, acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, if it was going to ease my pain, I was doing it. After a few years I started doing yoga and pilates and trying to gain strength and mobility again. When I arrived in Mexico, it all kind of went out the window for a variety of reasons and I have not been taking care of my spinal health. The only exception was during my pregnancy when I thought my back might implode with the pain of carrying that load. I saw a chiropractor two or three times a week while knocked up and he did a great job of keeping me on my feet.

Since then I have had pain on and off, headaches and I never feel exactly "right". After last week's incident, it was obviously time to get checked out and start taking care of business. I visited with a great osteopath and this week went for x-rays to check out the ole skeleton. Reading the report from the radiologist was enough to make me paranoid, lots of big medical words (in Spanish of course) which I Googled madly. I have a whack o' knowledge of my inner workings and studied a lot of physiology and biology, but there were a couple of things I didn't quite get. Syndesmophyte for example, a growth on the ligament (yes, had to look it up). Is that bad? Good? Normal? Am I a freak? A hunchback in the making? In the end I decided to relax and look to the experts for an analysis.

After visiting with the osteopath last night, I feel better, concerned, but motivated to make some lifestyle changes. In the most basic of terms, I have C-curve scoliosis and the spine is also twisted and torqued. There are lesions on some of the discs, the discs are not aligned, some discs are degenerating and others are starting to come together. There are some cysts on the lumbar discs that are a bit of a concern, but the osteo is going to get a third opinion on the matter. The radiologist recommended getting a CAT scan, but the doc wants another opinion before sending me for a very expensive test. He said the treatment is the same whether we get the test or not, so it's probably not necessary. (I hope not, 7000 pesos is a bit out of our price range).

For now, the plan of attack is simple. Visit with the osteo once a week for massage and gentle therapies and swim, swim, swim. Once I get strong enough, I can start some yoga and pilates classes and the visits to the doc will go down to once or twice a month. I am very happy with this doctor, he is not calling for prescriptions and surgery, just exercise and care. I am really happy with his prices too, a perk of the job gets me a rate of 200 pesos per consult/treatment, yes, about $15 USD for massage, adjustments, the whole shooting match. Can't beat that with a stick. Now, to find the time to swim without a 17 kg sea monster named Max hanging off my neck, wish me luck!

Ironwoman I am Not

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:30:00 +0000

I was a busy lady last weekend, jetting south (ok, there was no jet, just a funky old VW convertible) to Playa del Carmen for the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival then over to Cozumel for the Ironman. Part work, part pleasure, though I guess calling it "work" would be a bit of a stretch. My dear friend LisaLoveLoca joined me in the adventure, picking me up in Carmen (yes, the car has a name) on Saturday morning for a kid-free weekend.

La Rana Cansada

We arrived in Playa in the early afternoon and checked into our hotelito "La Rana Cansada". Heather had recommended the place and it was perfect for us. Cute little garden with birds singing, a resident doggie named Jazz, a swan towel on the bed, and at 500 pesos, not a bad deal. We dumped our bags, got in our swimsuits and set out into the wilds of 5th Avenue. My online friend Janie was staying in Playa and we made our way towards her hotel to see if we could find her. Behold, Janie and her husband were on the beach with another local friend! We spent the afternoon chatting and getting to know each other in person and enjoying the company. As the sun went down, we started to shiver (when your body is used to high temps, anything under 80 F is shiver time) and went back to the hotel for sweaters and jeans. We grabbed some tortas on a back street and made our way towards Mamitas beach for the start of the jazz fest.

Al Jarreau!

The show was just awesome. Huge stage on the sand, great sound and light system and a few thousand people enjoying the performances. A few thousand people sharing one bathroom was not a highlight of the night I must admit. Al Jarreau was a great showman and Herbie Hancock rocked it. We left before the end of the show to try to avoid the mad crush, waltzed back to the hotel and crashed out for the night.

LisaLove and the best tortas in town

The next morning we agreed that coffee was necessary and that cochinita tortas from the street vendors near the bus station were essential. Caffeinated and full of greasy pig, we hopped on the Cozumel ferry and went to sea. Some of you may know that my first home in Mexico was in Cozumel, but it had been about four years since I had been over there. I was completely disoriented when we got off the boat, they've gone and built a whole new ferry dock that left us bewildered. Exiting the ferry dock and seeing the town square, all was familiar again so we set off in search of some Ironman triathlon action.

Rutger Beke Ironman Cozumel Champion

Cozumel was ALIVE for Ironman, it was so fantastic to see so many locals out cheering on the athletes and people from all over the world waving flags in support of their country's participants. I just can't believe what the human body is capable of, the winner finished the race in about 8 hours and 19 minutes. 8 hours and 20 minutes of full out exercise? Zoiks Scoob! I enjoyed my day immensely, though I knew I was going to be sore from trekking all over Playa and Cozumel carrying a heavy pack, purse, cameras, water, blah blah blah.

In "my" crow's nest at Viva Mexico!

What I didn't realize was that I was going to be more than sore. By Monday afternoon I was immobile, screaming in pain and crying pitifully. Hubby took me to see an osteopath and he gave me a massage, some sort of hot suction thingy, a good crackety crack and the TENS. I walked in with a pain level of about 11 (on a scale of 1-10) and left at about a 9. The doc ordered up some x-rays and some pain meds and told me to chill. No salsa dancing, no heavy lifting. Tuesday morning I could not even get out of bed, I was literally stuck, not just painful to move but not capable of moving. I was trapped in bed all day until Hubby got home to help me get out, help me get dressed and to get me the heating pad and liniment. I'm slowly gaining mobility and the pain is lessening, but I am still achy and can only move my neck a wee bit. Will go to the lab for x-rays tomorrow to see if this is disc damage or just a result of gettin' old and being out of balance.

I am soooo not an Ironwoman. Apparently I get injured just watching triathlons.

What's Up With Canucka

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:15:00 +0000

Well hi. I haven't disappeared completely, here I am! And I can finally share the skinny, give you the scoop, let the cat out of the bag as to what I have been up to and why I haven't been posting. Four score and....ook, about three months ago a company approached me about coming to work for them. After five happy years of teaching, I wasn't all that interested in making the move. A little negotiating here and there and they made me an offer that was tough to refuse and I accepted the new position. No more pencils, no more books, no more getting up at the butt crack of dawn to turn "boos" into "bus". I quit my wonderful teaching position and said goodbye to some of my oldest friends in Cancun.

I knew that the toughest part of making the move was going to be immigration, it's always stressful and never seems to go the way it should for me. The company promised that they would take care of all the arrangements and we moved forward with all the documentation. Legally and technically, you must quit your job before you can make the application to change but you are not allowed to start the new job until you have permission from INM. Let's just say that not everyone follows the rules, ahem. A few weeks into the process and human resources contacted me that they needed further documents for the immigration ordeal. Documents that I have never had to produce before and that needed to come from Canada and be "apostilled". I quickly discovered that the apostille does not exist in Canada and went about finding out what I needed to do. Blah blah blah, high school diploma and university transcripts, authenticated and legalized and Fedexed to Mexico (only $500 CAD uh huh). Once here, they all needed to be officially translated and finally brought in to the INM office. I was fretting, stressed, making myself crazy. Here I am getting a job in social media (will get into that in a second) and all my education was in dance. Yes, that's right, I went to university for dance, you know, a wise investment in my future. I thought for sure I was going to be denied and left up the creek without a job. What my education of more than 15 years ago had to do with my current job, I will never know, but in the end the papers were approved and I have my FM2 in my hot little hands again. Thank all the gods, goddesses and powers that exist in the universe, I am not going to be deported and I can work and actually talk about my work!

So, onto the job. My title is "community manager" and I am responsible for writing several blogs (four at the moment) and developing a "social media" presence. In simplest terms, I guess you could say I blog and play on Facebook and Twitter all day, though in reality it's a bit more involved than that. Of course, living where we do, it's a tourism company, hotels, tours and destination marketing. I am trying to accomplish everything in part-time hours (part of the negotiation) and I find myself busy busy busy. I go to bed at night thinking about work, I wake up in the morning thinking about work. It's not exactly a stressful job, but it does take over my brain. Part of my job includes "fam trips" (familiarization trips) in order to be able to write about tours, hotels and destinations from experience. Rough life huh? My job really is about doing things I love, exploring Quintana Roo and the Yucatan and writing about it, photographing it and sharing my experiences.

The only drawback is that I find I have no time (or energy!) to take care of my own blog. After writing all day, I only have enough left in me to take care of Max and have a bit of down time and nothing left for CancunCanuck. I was really hesitant to write about the new job before getting my FM2 in hand, so I am hoping that now that I am FREE to write about whatever I want, I'll get back into the groove again. I miss this blog, I miss catching up with all the other fabulous bloggers that are in my circle and I am going to make a huge effort to get back on the blogging horse. I know, promises, promises, someone kick me if I go too long without a post, 'kay?

Catch you soon, hasta pronto, I hope life is grand wherever you are!

Cancun Beach Recovery Update

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:56:00 +0000

Just a real quick update on the beach recovery project in Cancun, things are moving along! I went out to have a look at the action this week and my jaw quite literally hit the ground. I started talking to myself, just one word over and over "Wow.......wow......WOW!" We had been in the area a week previously and the difference is astounding. Check out these before and after pictures (as close as I got to being in exactly the same position, close enough that you get the general idea). These photos were taken from the Playa Cabana beach club behind The City discotheque.

Lifeguard Chair Before
(there is literally zero beach below there, water
was crashing against the wall)

Lifeguard Chair After
(Just a bit more beach)

Looking towards Punta Cancun Before
(here you can see the water hitting the wall)

Looking towards Punta Cancun After
(can't even see the sea!)

This is truly an impressive project, incredible what they can do in a week. The project is full steam ahead now, all the protests that were being put forth by environmental groups have been overturned and the sand moves on. I'll be honest, I am of a mixed mind on this. I know that it is absolutely essential for Cancun to have a beach in order to keep thousands of people employed. I also know that this will have a negative impact on the environment as they drag sand from Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. One can only hope that the partners in this plan do try to minimize the damage to the reefs and the eco-system. On another note, since we have already "been there, done that" with beach reconstruction only to see it disappear, it's essential that the partners follow through with their maintenance plan and to ensure that safeguards are in place to prevent further erosion of the beaches. While I support the project this time around, I would be against them trying to do it again if it fails, throwing millions of dollars away and destroying the eco-system. Do it right, maintain it and bring us all the joy of these gorgeous white beaches (and let us keep our jobs hallelujahamen).

My 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:34:00 +0000

My friend Steven who writes the blog Travel Ojos nominated me to share three of my best travel secrets on A Canuck in Cancun as part of Trip Base Blog tag. The final list of travel secrets will be published in a special blog post and shared everywhere! (Now I am not sure I want to tell, the point of a secret is shhh, right? Just kidding of course, happy to share a couple off the beaten path places that I love). If you are a regular reader of this blog, you've heard me speak of these places before, but let's share the wealth, shall we?

1. Isla Holbox- Awww, my happy place. This small island off the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula is relatively undiscovered. No huge resorts, no theme parks, no timeshare salesmen, just small palapa style hotels on an unbelievably gorgeous stretch of beach. Holbox is best known as a jumping off point for swimming with whale sharks, a once a year phenomenon that will knock your socks off. It's also a great place for bird watching, with a population of flamingos and other birds gathering on the "Isla de Pajaros" off the west side of the island. To get to Holbox, you have to make your way to the small pueblo of Chiquila, about 2 1/2 hours from Cancun. Once in Chiquila, make your way to the docks and catch a small boat for a 20 minute ride to the island. Be sure to bring cash, there are no ATM's or banks, it's a truly rustic retreat. There are some "high end" palapa hotels like Sandra's, but reasonably priced hotels can be found. To really get in the rustic groove, bring a tent and camp out at Ida y Vuelta's camp ground. For a fantastic meal, you must try the famous lobster pizza at Edelin's, heavenly! This is truly a place to get away from it all and one of the best kept secrets around.

2. Cenote Azul- Cenotes are becoming more and more popular with tourists, especially with the development of "eco-parks" like Hidden Worlds and Aktunchen. For those who don't know, a cenote (pronounced "seh-noh-tay") is a natural sinkhole in the limestone, usually filled with fresh water. They were the main source of water for the ancient Mayans and considered to be sacred places. Quintana Roo and Yucatan are chock full of these wonders, many of them still undiscovered. Cenote Azul is still a local's secret! While you'll pay $50 USD (or more) to go to the cenote parks, Cenote Azul is a mere 50 pesos to enter. Take a walk down a rocky jungle path and before you even see the cenote the aroma of "fresh" will hit you. At the end of the path you'll discover a little Eden, a great place to swim and refresh, investigate the beautiful jungle fauna and even snorkel and chase the abundant little catfish that thrive there. Jump off the cliff if you dare! You won't find many tourists here, but on Sundays the local families fill the rocks around this natural pool.

3. Tacos Rigos- "Que Ricos los Rigos" (how delicious is Rigos!) is the tag line for this taqueria in Cancun. With over 20 years in business downtown, it's a favourite with locals for their delicious and inexpensive tacos. Go for lunch and order from the "comida corrida" menu, a starter (usually three soup choices), a main and a dessert for 53 pesos, a bargoon! I'm addicted to the regular old tacos de arrachera, but Hubby loves to freak me out by ordering the "tacos de ojo" (eyeball tacos). The walls are covered in a huge mural of cartoon characters, bright and garish and ever so fun. Rigos is not too far from Market 28, so we occasionally see tourists in there but it's still pretty much a secret spot for most travellers.

Now, it's my turn to nominate five bloggers to participate in the "Three Best Kept Travel Secrets". I'm going to step outside the box and nominate some folks that are not necessarily in Mexico and not necessarily travel bloggers, I'm just dying to hear what they have to say!

1. Sara of La Gringuita Diaries in Chile
2. Fned of Fned's blog in Paris, France
3. Minshap of Both Sides of the Coin in Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
4. Gary of The Mexile in Mexico City (DF as we say)
5. Mindy of The Rosas Standring Family in Tulum, Mexico

Lionfish (Pez Leon) in Quintana Roo

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:27:00 +0000

The first time I heard about the "pez leon" was in this post from Anna, a fellow ex-pat in Mexico blogging in Cozumel. Since her post in April, I have read various reports of lionfish problems in Quintana Roo and today I had my first up close and personal encounter with these deadly reef assassins.

A bucketful of deadly beauty

We were having a lovely day on the beach in Puerto Morelos when we noticed a man going in and out of the water with a net and a bucket. We didn't think too much of it until a news crew showed up to interview the man. (An "only in paradise" news crew in bikini and swim trunks no less). I got my metiche (nosy) nose in the mix and approached to hear the interview and get a peek in the bucket. I saw the most beautiful fish, striped like a tiger with gorgeous wing-like fins. I promptly stepped back when I realized that I was looking at the deadly "pez leon" or lionfish. There were five in the bucket and the man said that there were a "monton" (a whole lot) right off the shore of the beach. The interview drew a crowd (I'm not the only metiche out there) and afterwards there seemed to be fewer people braving the waters on this beautiful Sunday.

Hard-hitting News Crew

The pez leon is not native to the Mexican Caribbean and is fairly new to this region. The first reports I can find are from the beginning of 2009 when people started to find this predator in the waters near Cozumel. The lionfish is more commonly found in the Indo-Pacific but have shown their ability to adapt to the warmer waters of the Caribbean Sea. There is speculation that the species was released into the Gulf of Mexico after a hurricane hit in Florida in 1992, destroying an aquarium with a few of these creatures and emptying them into the ocean. The lionfish is dangerous as it kills the coral in the reef, preys on other marine life and has poisonous spikes that can do significant damage to humans and could be deadly. The lionfish apparently has no natural enemies in these waters to help control their population and they are reproducing and spreading rapidly.

The CEA in Akumal recommends that divers report any sightings of lionfish but to NOT try to touch or capture this dangerous creature. Several environmental agencies are working together to capture and eradicate the population of lionfish in the hopes of preventing further damage to the reefs and the marine life that make this area home.

Lionfish
photo courtesy NOAA

While this all seems dire and serious (and it is for the future of the reefs), I have read NO reports of humans being harmed by the lionfish in Quintana Roo. They tend to keep their distance from divers and snorkelers and do not aggressively attack, but all who enter the waters in Quintana Roo need to be aware of these creatures. Do not approach them and do not touch them, report any sightings to your dive master or snorkel tour leader. If the worst should happen and you should come in contact with the poisonous spines, seek medical help immediately.

We enjoyed the rest of our day at the beach and yes, we did return to the water, perhaps a little more trepidatiously and more aware of might be lurking, but no little fishies were going to scare us off. We'll be back in the waters soon (and keeping an eye out for these gorgeous killers).

I Need a Little Something from Canada

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:48:00 +0000

This is what we call a shameless plug. Begging perhaps. A little cry for help. My good friend Matt from Toronto and his fiancee Kate have created a little ditty and entered the video into a contest to win a trip to Mexico. Now, I must admit, I'm being a bit selfish in my request for your votes, I would be the biggest winner in this whole thing as I would get a visit from some great friends from Canada! Oh sure they could win a free vacation, but I'm betting they'll bring me some Triscuits if I ask real nice.

Check out their video, it makes me smile!

Now, head over to the Hilton contest site and give a big thumbs up vote for "Why Kate Deserves to Go to Mexico" (you can vote once a day, more if you go to a different internet cafe every hour). You could help these ever so lovely people escape the dreary Canadian winner and help me get a little bit of love from home. (And Triscuits.)

Vote for me! Er, I mean, vote for Matt and Kate!

Vicks on the Soles of My Feet

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:34:00 +0000

After my little adventures in chasing Ida last week, I've come down with a nasty infection. Now, logically I know that it is a myth that you get sick from being wet or cold, you get sick from coming in contact with germs and bacteria, but regardless, I am blaming Ida. Wading in flooded streets just to run to the corner store, going to the beach to capture waves on film and getting a wee bit wet, then the ins and outs of air conditioning inside/humid and warm outside, somewhere along the way my system lost its ability to fight the germs and here I am at home with a nose full of mocos. It really hit me like a tonne of bricks, totally fine and healthy as a horse on Sunday night, a tickle in my throat Monday morning and by Monday afternoon a full on "Ithinkimgonnadie" sicky woman moaning on the couch.

I thought I would be ok just using the usual remedies, lots of liquids, echinacea, vitamin C and rest. And of course, Vicks Vaporub. If you live in Mexico, you know that Vaporub (pronounced vah-poh-roob) cures all. Not only does it get spread on the chest and back like mom used to do, but under the nose (in the nose in some cases though I am trying to convince Hubby that this is NOT appropriate or healthy) and on the soles of the feet. Soles of the feet? Ok, the first time I heard this I nodded and smiled and smeared baby Max's feet, all the while thinking it was a bunch of horse hockey. Now it's just part of the routine. Why or how it works is beyond me, but we slather the stuff on our tootsies, snuggle it all in under warm socks and somehow we feel better. Chinese medicine indicates that the feet are connected to the rest of the body (reflexology anyone?), so I suppose there is a good reason for it, just seems odd to me. Whatever floats yer boat, eh? (Such a Canadian expression!)

I woke up Tuesday morning feeling worse, having trouble catching my breath so off to the hospital we went. I don't have a GP here, I just rely on the ER if things get beyond my ability to self-medicate. Amerimed ER is our hospital of choice, we never wait to see a doctor and the price is right. Heck it's cheaper than the rate our pediatrician charges for a regular consultation. I paid 400 pesos for an ER visit, yep, less than $40 USD. No surprises in the diagnosis, an infection in the throat and upper respiratory system, antibiotics, painkillers and a decongestant were prescribed and an order to stay home for three days of "reposo" (rest).

So here I am, groggy from meds, walking around on squishy, greasy, Vahpohroob covered feet and trying not to cough on my boys. Drinking herbal tea (specially imported by Rivergirl, thanks amiga!), sleeping most of the day away and reading crappy books. The house is quickly becoming a disaster area, but I just don't have the oomph to get off my butt and clean. I can't smell anything anyway, so if something is rotting somewhere it's just going to have to wait. I'm CRAVING hot n sour soup from my favourite Szechwan restaurant in Toronto, but methinks I'll just have to make do with Hong Kong (not nearly as good). I should be back on non-greasy feet soon, but for now, I am off to bed (yes again, the dishes can wait!) to sleep away the sickies.

Hurricane Ida a Non-Event in Cancun

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:39:00 +0000

Well phooey and phew. "Phooey" because we had such an exciting build up and then nada (we like a little storm excitement around here), "phew" out of relief that nothing horrible happened. Hurricane Ida has come and gone from Cancun and the Yucatan Peninsula, making her way into the Gulf of Mexico. We did have a lot of rain this week, but not what I would consider "hurricane rain" and certainly no wind came our way. Even when she was at the closest point to Cancun, we were dry and wind-free. Friday and Saturday brought much heavier rains than today when she was supposed to make her biggest impact. There was some serious flooding downtown, but that's it, no pasa nada! Back to real life, school and work tomorrow and hopefully sunshine will be returning very soon. Usually after a big storm we're back to blue skies fairly quickly, I suspect by tomorrow (Monday) or Tuesday the tourists will be bronzing their backsides on the beach once again.

I took a trip out to the hotel zone this morning to grab some photos and video of the ocean, I was hoping for some waves and got'em! I got kicked off the beach at Playa Delfines by Civil Protection, but snuck back in to a couple of different spots. I'm such a rebel.

Foamy Beach at Playa Delfines

Surfer's Heaven
(though I saw no one foolish enough to try)

I LOVE A Stormy Sea

I wouldn't want to swim in it, but it was gorgeous to look at

And video from yesterday's flooding downtown....

And that's that. My thoughts go out to of all those in Central America who suffered much more than we did here (at least 42 dead in El Salvador) and I wish lots of luck to those still in Ida's path. For those of us in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, we're all good, we're done with Ida and hopefully done with hurricanes until next year.

Tropical Depression Ida- Cancun Weather

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:35:00 +0000

The last few days we've been watching the storm named Ida as she has made her way north over Central America. Yesterday it was a category 1 hurricane as it hit Nicaragua, lost strength over land and was downgraded to a tropical storm, then further downgraded to tropical depression. It is now moving into the Caribbean Sea and making its way to the Yucatan Peninsula. There is a lot of speculation about what may happen over the next couple of days, all we know for sure is that we are going to get wet! It's been raining all week and today it has really been coming down hard. Streets are flooded and word on the street is that tuna is a hot item in the supermarkets. The civil protection agency has put the state of Quintana Roo on low level alerts (green alert at the moment), advising the population to prepare for some bad weather.

In looking at the various weather sites, it seems there is no definitive forecast for what Ida may become in the next couple of days. Lots of speculation about her intensity, though it seems fairly clear that she will cross over the Yucatan Peninsula. Currently Ida is "just" a tropical depression, meaning lots of rain but no serious winds. We'll be watching the National Hurricane Center, Stormpulse and Dr. Jeff Master's Wunderground blog to see what develops over the next little while. It appears the worst of the bad weather will hit sometime on Sunday afternoon, with the storm moving into the Gulf of Mexico on Monday. In the meantime, we're sticking close to home, trying to stay dry! Depending on what happens in the morning, we may just be making a tuna run ourselves, though I am not overly concerned at the moment.

Cancun Beach Recovery Has Begun

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:30:00 +0000

After many set backs and problems and a pile of political back and forth, the beach recovery project has started in Cancun. I took a little trip out to the hotel zone today (Sunday) to see what I could see and to try to get some pictures. What luck, I could see, I took photos and I chatted with one of the guys working on the project!

Today they were working behind the Sunset Hotel. There was one large boat, two mid-sized boats and one little "panga" out in the water. Large pipes were coming from the big boat to the shore where several pieces of sand moving machinery were waiting. The man I was speaking with told me that there are two of the large boats, moving back and forth between Isla Mujeres and Cancun, taking turns bringing sand to the hotel zone. The large boats weigh about 15 to 20 tonnes when empty and are carrying 5000 cubic meters of sand with each trip. Unloading the sand onto the shore takes about 45 minutes to an hour, quite an impressive feat. The two mid-sized boats apparently take care of the large pipes, while the small panga runs desperately around with a "maya" (that's what the guy said!), a type of fence hanging in the water that they are using to try to prevent the sand from flowing back out to sea during the process.

My contact said they will be working north right now, heading from the Sunset to Punta Cancun (Dreams), then they'll work their way south along the hotel zone. He told me that all of the work in Cancun should be completed in about three months, they'll then move on to Isla Mujeres, then to Playa del Carmen and finally to Cozumel. I do want to be clear, the man I was speaking with was not doing so in any official capacity, so take the information as "word on the street" rather than gospel, I have no way of knowing if his information is totally accurate. Please don't ask me when the project will be at your hotel, I have absolutely no way of knowing that, sorry!

Here are some photos of the big event....

The Big Boys of Sand Recovery

Closer View of the Big Beast of Sand
(it's sitting really low in the water as it was full of sand at this point)

The Pipe Chaser

The Little Panga With Maya
(can you see the dark stain of sand trying to escape?)

Danger! No one was allowed past this point
for obvious reasons

Ta Da! The Sand, The Sand, The Sand is Coming!

How Many Men Does It Take to Rebuild a Beach?

I managed to take some video of the event as well, not the highest quality video, but video nonetheless.

And there you have it, we have begun! In a few months time, if all goes well, if the aluxes doesn't interfere and mother nature keeps her nose out of things, we'll have the big, beautiful beach that is necessary for the future of Cancun and the tourism industry. Good luck team, mucha suerte!

Keeping Busy in Cancun

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:40:00 +0000

Busy, busy, busy. I haven't been this busy in a long time, I'm invigorated and exhausted at the same time. Life is all over the place and so is my mind. Still waiting for immigration papers, Max got sick, lots of writing to do and a couple of side trips, a bit of a crazy week.

Chichén Itzá

Monday and Tuesday I checked a couple of big things off my "must do" list by visiting Chichen Itza and Il Kil. Yep, six years here and had never been, just tough to do with a small, energetic child. Chichén was better than I even expected, after all that I've read and photos and videos and personal accounts, it held up to the hype. Il Kil was incredible, the "Shrangri La" of cenotes. The Mayaland Hotel was peaceful, full of green space, fruit trees and birds. A lovely, exhausting couple of days.

The Cenote Il Kil

Max got sick on Thursday night, woke up Friday morning with a fever. I had to stay home with him, poor little guy is just a different beast when he's sick. He's normally bouncing off the walls and non-stop chatter, but he just lay on the couch, all pasty white saying "baaa" like a little lost sheep. Saturday he was still warm, but feeling better so we just kept him home and tried to get him to keep still, but by then he was going a little loopy being cooped up.

I had plans to visit Holkan Kingdom on Saturday and left Max and Hubby to fend for themselves for the morning while I rode ATV's, the Shotover Jet and did a round of ziplines. I got to know some new friends better and had an exhilarating morning, nice adrenaline rush. Body. Hurts. Now. Again, again, faster, faster!

ATV Ride, Yeehaw...
(seriously, I think I said "yeehaw" on the trail)

Today (Sunday!), Max was a bit better and we needed to get out of the house. Thought a bit of fresh air, sunshine and ocean water would do us some good. Puerto Morelos was "tranquilo", calm waters, not too hot, not too windy, Max joined in a few pick-up soccer games with some big kids, I nodded off for a while and Hubby went for a little snorkel. The time change was really noticeable (and disappointing), the sun went down so early! We started to get "chilly" around 4:00 and came home, a bit earlier than normal for us. A much needed day to relax and unwind.

And now I am writing this blog, which could have been three blogs, alas, you get the summary and not the thesis on each topic. I'm sunny and tired and smelling of cocoa butter. Off to try to catch up, unless I just hit the hay. Either way, ciao for now, later skater, catch you on the flip side. (See how relaxed I am after a day in the sun?)

Michael Jackson is Coming to My Party

cancuncanuck@hotmail.com (CancunCanuck) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

When Michael Jackson passed away, Max was a pretty confused and curious kid. Number one, he didn't really know who MJ was and number two, he didn't understand why mommy was crying like a baby over the man. My parents were here at the time and we watched the memorial service together, mourning the man who had played a huge role in my childhood. Max had a million questions. "What's in the box?", "Why is Michael Jackson in the box?", "When is he coming out of the box?", and so on and so on that lead to difficult conversations about death and dying.

Aside from having to explain the whole idea of passing away, I took the opportunity to give Max a little music history lesson. From "ABC" to "Man in the Mirror", we watched the videos, watched MJ's evolution and learned all about "Billie Jean". We talked about the message of the songs and Max was really into everything that Michael had to say. Every day Max would talk about Michael Jackson, trying to dance like him, singing "Beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it" over and over and over until I felt like "beating" my head against the wall.

Months later and he is still obsessed. He asks me to put on Michael Jackson songs every day. And Michael Jackson is coming to his party. Apparently the whole death and dying conversation hasn't really sunk in. I explain over and over that MJ can not come to the party, that he can not come back to the world, but Max insists that he will write him a letter and he will come back. Max has taken to telling strangers that MJ is coming to the party. In the line at the grocery store. At the bank. On the beach. At school, everyone knows that Michael Jackson is going to Max's party when he is a big boy of five. The other day we were at Coco's Grill and Max made his very first DJ request, running up to the booth and asking the DJ to play all Michael Jackson songs. He then proceeded to dance to "Thriller" and "Bad" and "Don't Stop til you Get Enough" in the shallow end of the pool. (Thank you Mr. DJ, you made a little boy very happy).

I'm not sure when this will pass, though I know it will. I dig that the kid likes the music and the message and he's got some mean Micheal moves. I am just not sure what to do about his party. We could absolutely get an impersonator to come to the party and have a great time with that, but will it confuse the whole death issue? I know that at five the line between fantasy and reality can be fuzzy, and I don't want to destroy illusions or crush the kid, would it be horrible to tell him that it's not the real Michael Jackson? Or do we just avoid the whole thing and get Spiderman? I hate to disappoint the kid, he really really wants an MJ party (and heck, I would have a whole lot more fun with that than with superheroes!), but I don't want to confuse him after months of telling him that he can't come back.

Well, his birthday is not until April, perhaps he will have moved on by then. Here's hoping it's on to something easier to explain, like zombies. In the meantime, we'll continue to practice our moonwalk and play with our pretend chimp Bubbles and carry on with plans to "heal the world and make it a better place".