Our dearest friend, Country, had a birthday on the 3rd and we took her to dinner in Puerto Aventuras. It's a planned community, very nicely done with a central lagoon and canals leading to the ocean. Lots of yachts moored inside and both condos and homes spread along the lagoons and the ocean. Around the main lagoon there is a nice walk lined with restaurants with outdoor seating. We picked Richard's as he has excellent steaks. There are dolphin in the lagoon, they are the trained ones that work in the tourist ride. It is nice to sit and have dinner while they are jumping and swimming right next to you.

Uh oh! I'm off on a tangent... I've always hated the 'swim with a dolphin' rides, to me it is horrible to keep them penned when the open ocean is so close. The more popular these rides become, the more dolphin will spend their lives in captivity. My greatest wish a couple years ago when hurricane Wilma was bearing down on us was that the pens would break open and the dolphin would escape. I got my wish, the pens broke and the dolphin were freed into the ocean.

It didn't turn out as I thought though. Most of them returned on their own after the storm. The trainers went out in boats and called and the others came to them. I don't think they lost any. It seems that these are captive bred dolphin who have no idea how to feed themselves and who are not accepted by the wild dolphin pods. They were lost and hungry and just wanted to go home. I'd still like to see these rides go broke and out of business so that no more dolphin would be bred as entertainers. I still tell anyone who asks me about the rides that I recommend they not support them. But, I realize now that it is too late, it was always too late, for these dolphin.

//returning from tangent//

Three houses on a street in Mérida, I like the colors.

The next day we left on a whirlwind trip to Mérida to show Country and Sky our house and the city. We were packed into the RV, 4 humans and 3 dogs, but it actually worked very well. We were up and gone early and out late plus the weather was perfect so we could sit around outside under our awning when we were at the RV.

Wednesday morning we took a tour of renovated colonial houses in the centro. We saw some gorgeous renovations, some innovative ideas for using unusual spaces and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour. It's given every Wed morning from the Mérida English Libarary.

A Kitchen in one of the homes.

I loved the walls in this B&B, they sanded them down but left traces of all the layers of colors. Really beautiful.

We walked and walked, spent some time in our house and then walked through the main mercado and the main square. We also did a lot of eating, panuchos and tamales and caldos. We even managed to spend one afternoon out at the beach east of Progreso.

We had breakfast at Café Habana, where the coffee is excellent and my café con leche was served in a thick glass - the espresso is poured in first and then hot milk is added - it's a coffee lovers dream.

We also had a really nice dinner at Pancho's in the centro. The food is very good there and the courtyard seating in the center of the block is very nice. They make really good mojitos as well.

December 12th is the day of the Virgin de Guadalupe, the mother of México. Plus, it is advent and the celebrations are starting that lead up to Christmas.

For one or another of these reasons, the sound of fireworks is becoming more common. Our poor Akumal beach dog, Hombre, has apparently spent too much time north of the border because he has become very afraid when he hears fireworks. Chica and Cuba ignore them and he used to ignore them. I feel bad for him because fireworks are a part of life here and he is going to have to get used to it again or just be miserable. One night when the fireworks were going off, he climbed on top of Cuba while she was sleeping. It seemed to comfort him and she just looked up and then went back to sleep. Eventually he went to sleep too and they stayed like that for a long time.

The good news once we were back in Akumal, I picked up the covers for the banco cushions and they are great. She did a really good job and I am very happy with them.

I gave up on the marble tiles, I just didn't like them. We covered the top of the banco with the floor tiles and I'm happy with it.

Mimi has some paint to touch up and I have the kitchen curtain people to harass until I get them. I'm going to take the marble tiles back and see if I can exchange them for these really beautiful quartz lamps that he has. I know I'd never get a cash refund but I might be able to negotiate a lamp.

We may really have this place ready for renters by December 15th!