Anyway, it was a day filled with bright sunshine, loud music and good food…and I really think Bebé had a great day, because the beach is always better with a friend…

A friend has a big brother that will help you into the water.

A friend will realize how much fun it is to throw wet sand.

A friend will laugh at your jokes.

A friend will let you sit behind him...

...even if you put wet sand in his hair.

A friend will hold your hand...

...all the way.

And a friend will leave you alone to nap if you really need to.

My little Spartan wonders when they will let us into the circus tent.

Circus

Atayde

I spent 400 pesos (30 usd) to sit in the palco or box seats so we would have a front row seat and avoid the crowds. I wasn’t going to buy any of the plastic crap they sell, but then a man came and put a fabulous balloon right in Bebé’s hand. At least it was only 20 pesos (1.50 usd).

When does the circus start Mommy?

The circus started with loud music, darkness, flashing lights, and eight HUGE (and I mean HUGE) tigers coming out into the ring. At this point there was a wire barrier up. Bebé was scared, and to tell you the truth, so was I. I must have seen only seen wimpy miniature tigers in my life, because I could not believe how big and scary looking these tigers were. Of course, as well as scared, I instantly felt sad. These tigers should be running around in nature somewhere, they shouldn’t locked up in a cage. I found it strange and unnatural that eight HUGE tigers did not eat their one small Mexican trainer.

Lots of huge tigers.

After the tiger part was over, the wire barrier came down and the circus was underway! We saw clowns, horses, camels, acrobats and monkeys. No elephant.

There were three of these beautiful horses.

This chica was very bendy.

I have absolutely no idea how these people pulled this off.

Cool glow in the dark ninja acrobats.

It is really hard to take pictures of the circus. These were the best of many many blurry ones.

This circus would have been fine without the animals. Everytime they came out I was excited, yet sad, and again, a little scared. It would have been easy for one of those huge horses to jump the barrier and crush us. All of the trainers had a whip and a stick. A friend later explained to me that the animals are afraid of the whip because they’ve probably been hit with it before, and that the other stick actually gives them an electric shock. I have no reason not to believe her.

The saddest part of all was intermission. The brought out a baby tiger (ok fine it was totally cute but still) and a gorgeous horse and people had their pictures taken with them. I actually felt a little sick.

Notice how the horsey's head is tied down.

All in all, it was a great evening because my Bebé was an angel and we had a great time together, just he and I…

…but I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to go to the circus again.

On Christmas morning Bebé got one gift out of his stocking (a Barney DVD) too keep him busy until Papi got up. Once he did, the gift frenzy began. I was really excited about this year since Bebé understands more and can open his own gifts.

Small and artificial but loved.

Perhaps another Barney DVD...?

Bebé’s favorite gift by far…

Sweet ride!

Bebé loves having Spikey around.

My lovely friend asked us over for Christmas day and she was cooking so we were IN! Of course Papi had to work so Mom, Bebé and I headed over to her house in the afternoon armed with 4 bottles of wine. (We really like wine.) Her son, husband, suegros (oops sorry, in-laws) and another couple and their daughter were also there so it was a fun, large group.

Their Christmas tree is bigger and better than ours.

I'm sweating from wine she is sweaty from wine and cooking.

Almost time to eat!

Yum! I ate it ALL.

Wake up angel you're missing dinner!

Everyone but Sleeping Beauty and I.

Goofy boys hiding after dinner until...

Boo! I rip away the curtain!

Time for dessert...YUM!

It was a wonderful Cancun Christmas. Hope you had a wonderful one too wherever you were.

I’ll spare you the usual pictures (we always stop in all of the same places) and only share a few of my favorites.

As usual, the boat ride over was spectacular. Can I say it again? I never get sick of seeing the water!

As usual we rented a golf cart (the large one with the “trunk” please) and set off on our whirlwind tour of Isla. As always, we had to stop at the spot right after Parque Garrafon to take photos.

After making our way around the entire island, we stopped so Mom could get a piña colada. We stopped in front of a seafood place, Cocteleria Minino and she got a huge delicious fresh drink that was obviously not made from a mix. Then she got another. While we were sitting there this guy pulled up with his doggy who obviously loved riding around on the moped.

Next we headed to eat at some restaurant that I can’t remember the name of. It was directly across the pedestrian street from Mama Roma downtown. It was very good. Papi loved his burritos, they have a kid’s menu and various vegetarian choices which was great for Mom. My enchiladas de mole were yummy too.

Next, we headed over to Chuuk Kay, where we always make a stop as they have live music on Sundays, a play area for kids and good food and drinks. We hung out there for an hour or so, and then it was time to return the golf cart. During the ride back Bebé climbed over the seat to sit on Grammy’s lap.

Next…time to catch the boat. We like to take the boat from Puerto Juarez instead of from the Hotel Zone because of the huge parking garage. It was a little chilly but there was a talented guy playing guitar and singing and the sunset was breathtaking.

The Money Shot.

Adios Isla Mujeres! We’ll be back soon!

Hi everyone,

Barbie´s Adventures in Mexico…what do you think of that for a book title? (People in Chicago used to call me “Ghetto Barbie”. I’ll explain someday.)

Well, I am legal again, that is, a legal tourist. I am still working illegally. The process has begun to get my work permit. Thank God! Anyway, Bety (I don’t know what I would do without her) (I do now as she dumped me as a friend lol) and I took the 5 1/2 hour bus ride to Chetumal on Saturday. Her friend who works for the government picked us up and took us to the border of Belize and Mexico. There he proceeded to set up an “arrangement”. You see, you have to stay in Belize for 72 hours to get a new visa when you enter Mexico. Of course for 500 pesos, this law can be overlooked. We walked over the bridge and into immigration in Belize. Betty couldn’t get in because her passport was expired. She told me to go into Belize and wait for her. I sat there for about 15 minutes and then suddenly realized that I wasn’t really supposed to wait for her! I paid my exit tax, left Belize, went back to Mexican immigration, paid my “special fee” and I was a legal tourist again. I was in Belize for about 20 minutes. I really wish that I could have seen more of the country… (or any of it for that matter)

Anyway, after lunch (cerviche and beer I remember it well) and another 5 1/2 hour bus ride, I was back in Cancun ready to teach salsa at the Shrimp Bucket (and then no doubt go out dancing and drinking until 5am, ah those were the days).

Work is fine. I had my first class this morning, and then prepared the ones for tomorrow. I have classes tonight from 4 until 9 also. The children are at 4. I can’t wait to see how that is!

Thank goodness they still want me to teach Salsa at the restaurant even though I can only so it on Saturdays. Maybe later I can get the schedule I want here at school.

Side note. No more internet cafe! I can use the computers here at the school for free!

Love, Kristin

Well it’s Thanksgiving day, and I am so thankful that a friend invited Bebé and I over for a real American home cooked Thanksgiving dinner. Since I moved to Cancun, there have been some years that for one reason or another, I wasn’t able to celebrate Thanksgiving, and since I have always loved this holiday, I would feel pretty sad. There have also been great Cancun Thanksgivings, where friends and I cooked, and even invited people who had nowhere to go. Those years I felt really happy.

When I was growing up Thanksgiving was pretty much the same every year. My grandma and grandpa would come over to our house and we would watch a lot of football (the Lions play every year you know). My mom would made this yummy green frozen (non-alcoholic) drink, and then at halftime we would eat dinner. We had all of the traditional favorites. Even after my mom became a vegetarian, she would make us a turkey. In the evening we would watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. My dad always joined us as he loved all of the Charlie Brown specials.

These memories are simple, but I cherish them. I have so much to be thankful for, my son, my family and friends, my health, my freedom, my job…I try to remember these things each and every day, not just today.

What are you thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving.

Bebé’s first daycare was very small, and in general I loved it. There was one lady that was kind of a metiche (interfering, meddling) you know, the kind that tells you for instance what or how to feed your child. However, other than that and the fact that it had very restricted hours, it was a nice place. I felt my son liked going there and that they took good care of him. However it closed in a very odd way and we had to find a new daycare.

The new daycare has been great as well. It is much larger and they are only closed two days a year and open early and close late. Bebé is with Papi on weekday mornings and then goes to daycare from 11:30am until 6:30pm which is wonderful since many kids have to go 9-10 hours a day. He loves going and always seems very happy there. I hate to say it but he is better behaved there than he is at home! Another thing I love is that two of the children that went to his old daycare are also there.

The daycare recently had a Day of the Dead/Halloween party. Here are a few pictures. My son wouldn’t wear the hat and I was at work so I couldn’t to paint his face. (Who am I kidding he never would have let me do that?!) However, I’m sure he enjoyed the fiesta since there was a piñata (he is obsessed with them) and chicken nuggets.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that daycare is CHEAP in Mexico. We pay less than the equivalent of 200 US Dollars per MONTH (Yes moms…not per week, per month!) and an inscription fee of less than the equivalent of 300 US Dollars a year.

Last Wednesday, November 2, the Day of the Dead in Mexico, I had the opportunity to attend the Xcaret Festival of Life and Death Traditions. This is a colorful festival that celebrates Day of the Dead traditions. What I love about the Day of the Dead (el Dia de los Muertos in Spanish) is that it is a day to remember, honor, and celebrate our loved ones who have passed on. I also love that it is so colorful and visual and that death suddenly becomes, well, cheerful! Just look at the lovely lady below!

Una Catrina

I went to the festival with a friend and her two sons. We were all very excited. Just a few minutes after arriving her older son lead us to the entrance of a path. We followed him and it ended up being a damp (it rained on and off) 45 minute walk through the jungle and underground caves with two strollers.

Where the hell are we?

 

We decided the children wouldn’t decide which way we would go anymore.

Luckily while we were lost in the jungle they did get to see some monkeys, deer and jaguars, but I was there to cover the festival for work…so we needed to check out some dead stuff!

We headed to the cemetery which is so cool, but it was filled with people and because of the way it is built, you have to view it in a single file line and the line was moving SLOWLY. By the end we were ready to kill someone, but I did get some good pictures.

 

 

 

 

The cemetery is raised, so there is a great view from the top.

 

 

 

When we finally escaped from the cemetery, we had some dead bread (pan de muertos) and then we ran into a friend who was dressed like Catrina. Fun! Bebé didn’t recognize her but I found her in a crowded room full of people!

 

Catrina or Kelly?

 

We didn’t stay for much longer. It was now dark and the park was packed. (They had to cancel the first two days of the festival because of “Hurricane” Rita.) Plus Bebé had grown tired of riding in his stroller AND of walking. He wanted my friend’s son to carry him.

 

 

Here are a few more pictures…

 

 

 

 

 

 

The festival was very cool and I’m excited that I finally got to go. Hopefully I’ll have the opportunity again next year. You must go if you ever have the chance.

 

 

We went to a cool kid’s salon in Plaza Las Americas. They have a little slide, portable DVD players, chairs that have steering wheels, lollipops, and kids get to pick a little toy when they are finished with their haircut. It’s not very expensive either. It costs 150 pesos for a haircut, less than 15 US Dollars. However, none of this seemed to matter to Bebé. He was NOT excited about getting a haircut. The patient lady had to give him a lollipop before she could even begin and he couldn’t have cared less about the car chair…we had to sit him on Papi’s lap.

He went back and forth between being semi-content and really fussy…

…but in the end…mission accomplished!

They both look thrilled!

The only reason I am OK with this is because I know the curls will grow back.