Back in Mexico

Been an interesting week, first just getting off the boat was an adventure all its own. Seas were coming up so we did not know if the chopper could land or not, then it was a wild ride back to land staying low and close to the water so the pilots could see. Once on land it was easy getting to the Airport, but not a sure thing what time the flights would take off. As luck had it I was lucky at both New Orleans and Houston, flight took off close to on time and I arrived in Dallas at 5pm. Only been going since 10pm the night before so was starting to drag. Now time to find the car rental and a hotel for the night. Once outside Dallas ( 2.5 hours later ) traffic I found a hotel and called it a day. Skipped dinner, took a shower and crashed at 9pm for the night.

For the next few days I stayed at our house in Wills Point, only problem was a broken water pipe that meant the water was shut off.. Oh, Joy... Now the main reason for coming back was to get meds that Kay needs to take and can not find in Merida... It took from Friday the 5th until Tuesday the 9th to get all the correct meds, can not do this often... Cost too mush to reschedule airline tickets and rent a car for a week...

Made it back to Merida the 10th of Feb. 2010... Since then Kay and I have spoken and we will go back to Texas and regroup. Need to find a place that is close enough to the border to allow us to drive out when meds are needed.. Looking at places between 600 and 800 miles form the border... So that is were we are today, packing and getting ready to hit the road again...

One more week on the Boat

This is Thursday, Jan. 28th, 2010. I have one week remaining until crew change. Went outside this morning and had to take a few pictures of the sunrise. When I see a sight like this I wonder why I want off the boat so bad. Then I recall that this is winter and the next 14 to 17 foot storm is just around the corner. Fact is we are expecting one this coming weekend, I am just hoping it will not be real bad and that it will come down in time to go home on the 4th.

When I get off I plan to go to Dallas/Wills Point Texas for a few days, have to check on things and pick up the odd item or two. Then it is back to Mexico on the evening of the 7th.. In a strange sort of way I do miss Mexico, looking forward to walking on the beach with Kay and the dogs, and being able to sit, stand, sleep, or eat when I want to and not when it is scheduled. LOL..

Enjoy the Sunrise.

Riding the wave in the Gulf of Mexico

Been on the boat for two plus weeks now so thought I would do an update on all the fun of work.
Have a new supply boat that bent the crap out of our side rail when it tried to come along side the first time. That run was called off because of bad weather,, second try the next day went much better and we got some much needed food and replacement parts.

Next few days were spent sorting out and taking inventory on all supplies, in between working on any gear that went down. Once that was all done it was time to secure everything for bad sea's.

That brings us to today, currently riding waves from 14 to 18 foot and just trying not to fall on my face when I walk. Nothing can be done as far as work goes except to monitor what is going on so we know what to fix when it is all over in 48 hours...

Hoping to load a few photos of the Back deck area that I work in, it shows the type of Sea's we are having.

50% trip completed Sunday morning...

Thoughts along the way

Just for the heck of it, and I am bored, I decided to write down some thoughts along the way back to the boat. Sunday was the first time I used the Merida airport and I did not know what to expect. As things turned out it went very smooth, seems like everyone I came across knew better English then I do Spanish. Each time I started to ask a question or answer one, we ended up speaking English. Even knowing it was the best/fastest way to go, it would have been nice to try to see how far I could have gotten with my bad, really bad, no make that really,really, really bad Spanish. I did my normal thing when going through security, took off shoes, pulled out plastic bag with toothpaste, and other small containers of liquid, took off sweater, took notebook out of bag, ETC...... Once on other side I watched others go through not doing any of this... Some even smiled at me as I was putting myself back together.. I soon found out why, when you get to the gate area you have all bags inspected and you are wand down, before allowed to enter the waiting area at the gate.

The flight itself was smooth and boring just the way I like them. Once in Houston I rented a car and was off to find my hotel. Talk about drivers shock, after being in Mexico traffic I felt like I was on the moon. People stop for red lights and do not take off five seconds before it turns green. A turn signal means that car is more then likely going to turn. Not one car stopped in the middle of the street using four ways to let out of pick up a passenger, busses did not cut me off not even once. Strangest part.... I missed the Mexican traffic... LOL....

After finding the hotel and checking out the room I went and found a place to eat, Not sushi but it was good. Sitting in the room that night I found I missed my room in Merida, why I asked. It has no heat, I have problems sleeping because of street noise, and I would like a bed instead of the hammock. Well the reason is simple, it is not the place you are at , but the people you are with that matter. Next time back I have to remember this.....

Monday was a simple day of shopping to get items I will need on the boat that I could not find in Mexico. I was also able to find my Sushi restaurant and had some very good Sushi, and California rolls, along with some new rolls called dirty dogs. It was all great, but the lack of company was not... Good food is always better when you share it with someone. Rest of the day was spent watching television, and eating take out Sushi.

Tuesday I drove to one of out old stomping ground places from when we leaved in the area. I wanted to check on some of the people that we used to see whenever we went they and see how everyone was doing. Could have saved myself the drive, not one person I knew was around, hung around for a little then decided it was time to go. It had started to rain and I needed to turn in the car before going to the airport to catch my flight.

Turned in the car, no problem. Now waiting for the flight to start boarding... Yes all security crap that I did in Mexico still has to be done in the states...

Turns out we changed gates three times before boarding the plan at 5:50pm, scheduled departure was 5:55pm, took off at 6:45pm landed in New Orleans at 7:40pm.

Made it to the crew hotel for 8pm, found out I will be on the 05:30 am wake up list for departure in the morning to the boat.. Best eat and get some sleep tomorrow is going to be a long day..

Wake-up call at o530, out of room and on the way to the boat. Count down to my return to Mexico begins... LOL...

Last Day last day trip

Last night we went to the Xmas dinner at Buddy's, just to try and meet people. Luck was on our side this time. We were seated next to a lady that was able to tell us about an area we had not yet looked at.

I do not have the time to go into details ( packing for the boat tonight ) but here are some photos, took over 200 about 80 made the cut, so this is just s peak.. Kay will do more research in and about the area, but I think we may have found what we have been looking for.

Just to top things off, found a small restaurant that seared a great fish cake and shrimp lunch.

Sorry about not going into detail but lets just say I have high hopes for finding a home in the Yucatan once again.

Getting ready to return to the boat

Time has come, it is now time to start getting things lined up to go back to work. Will be leaving Merida on the 27th of Dec. flying into Houston. Will stay in Houston until the 29th when I go to New Orleans to meet up with the rest of my crew, then on the 30th we all go back onto the Geco Snapper for five weeks.

Still have to sort out what I will take with me and pack, can only carry 15lbs of gear due to helicopter weight limits. We take one from the port to the boat, boat does not come to port for crew change unless planed or a problem.

Have to go to Houston first so I have time to get things I need for the boat that I have not been able to find down here. Like allergy pills so I can breath during the day and sleep at night. Will also take the time to go to a "good" Sushi restaurant that I know. Can not believe all Sushi down here has cream cheese in it, I just happen to be allergic to all milk products so it drives me nuts.

When I get off in Feb, we are thinking of driving up to San Miguel de A. and checking it out again, it seems better to me after Merida then it did before. Good food is a big factor to me, and it is not to be had here unless you know someone from here that will cook for you. That is not likely to happen so time to move on and see what can be found.

So I will be here for Christmas but not for the first... So Happy Holidays to all...

Three weeks

Not sure what this post is going to turn into, just feel like doing a self check on how I currently feel about being in the Yucatan ( Mexico ).

First the pros..

• The weather is okay, not great ( rain, and clouds )
• Walking the dogs on the beach ( sometimes )
• People are friendly
• Super Wal Mart is in area (21/12/09)
• Started to understand how streets work in Merida (21/12/09)
• Lots information to be found on area sites and blogs (21/12/09)
• Great Vet. for the dogs, "IF" we do leave will miss her. (24/12/09)
• Mega Food Store just off Cup. my type of store, has background music, NO loud intercom like Wall World, Plenty of room to move around in, always cash reg open, no headache when I leave. (24/12/09)

Next the cons.

• Very few photo oops.... unless I make them
• Tourist places like Chicken Itsa to crowded and not allowed close to anything
• Unable to take dogs places overnight due to lack of hotels that allow them
• I can not go places overnight because I will not leave the dogs
• Food sucks...... Have had a maximum of five good meals in over three weeks
• Can not find any of the foods I like in any of the markets
• Do not understand enough Spanish to communicate, ( my fault )
• No place to go for a walk alone were I live, because of my lack of Spanish
• Super Wal Mart is in area (21/12/09)
• Misinformation to be found on area sites and blogs (21/12/09)

This will be ongoing for next few days.... so that I allow time to change mood, first edit done after a truly shitty day...

Drive to Del Carmen, not allowed to stay at a hotel that was booked, drove back to Merida, Electric out, door to my room closed and locked, key to room did not work, kicked in f^%$#@ door, internet not working once power back. Found problem with internet next day, BAD ^%^%^%&^ modem from cable company, replaced with my modem, internet now back up..... Notice none of this items are on the pro or con list....

Casas in Our Area

Seems like all I see are photos of how everything here is so great. It is true that some of the homes here are just wonderful, clean, pretty, and well maintained. However it is just as true that right next to it you may find a place people are living in that is not so great. So today during a 15 min. walk of the dogs I took some photos of different homes along the way. All of the houses are on the same two streets, some right next to the other... Just thought this was of interest, to me if no one else.

WOW, Did not get lost today!!!!

First I want to thank whoever left the information about Assis, We were able to find it without any problems and set things up to have some curtains made. It is located next to the super Bodago and the 7 eleven, just past the circle with Burger King on Prolongacion Montejo.. Nice place to get curtains made, but if looking for off the shelf good luck. At first we thought we would have to use our poor spanish and hope for the best, but one of the ladies does speak a little english so it was better then we could have hoped for. Now time will tell how things work out because our appointment is not until Dec 28th...

We also went down to the airport section of town and found the DHL and the FED EX again no problems getting there or back, maybe just maybe we are starting to learn our way around, or we just got lucky.... Either way it was nice not to be lost.

So not a very exciting day, but you know I kind of like it. We are back at the house, did all the things we wanted and are not exhausted or frustrated. Good day!!!

Day at the Beach

This weekend we decided to take time off and smell the roses so to speak. Took off to explore beaches, thought we would start off in Progreso again and see what else was around. Welll as things turn out as far as beaches go not much else once you get out of town. After driving around looking more at the houses for rent and sale, we turned back and went to Buddy,s for dinner.

Found out about a Saturday night get together that was held in town at 7pm and decided why not stay and go check it out? So we checked into the Hotel Isadora for the night.

Took the dogs for a walk along the beach, and went and checked out the get together.

Made for an interesting day, not to mention staying at a hotel without planning is always fun...

Went back to Buddy's and purchased tickets for Dec 25th dinner... This time we will plan better for an overnight stay...

Next day ( Sunday ) get up and had to use same clothes d/t lack of planning... Then drove around taking photos of what ever bird would stay still long enough for my small camera. Results below of the best... So ends the weekend...