Lupita's Quinceañera, Isla Mujeres, Mexico!

A little girl becomes a young lady. If you are ever invited to a Quinceañera celebration - go!

Decorations, gifts, and our invitation.

Last Saturday, Lawrie and I, plus my sister Joann, attended this very special event at the invitation of our friends Freddy and Yadira Medina. It was the Quinceañera or celebration of the fifteenth birthday for their daughter Danaee Guadalupe, or as her family calls her, Lupita. 

Primarily a Latin American celebration, it is very different from any other birthday, as it marks the transition from childhood to young womanhood.  The celebration, however, varies across countries such as Cuba, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico.

There are generally several parts in the Quinceañera celebration following the Thanksgiving Mass. Parts of the celebration are usually previously practiced, oftentimes for weeks in advance, sometimes even months.

Lupita arriving at the church

At five-thirty in the afternoon, Lupita arrived at the church for her Thanksgiving Mass, done up with chic makeup, elegantly coiffed hair, including a tiara, manicure, pedicure and a gorgeous purple and silver ball gown. She was escorted down the attractively decorated aisle by relatives and her godparents (padrinos). As is the custom, the tiara had been given to her as a reminder that to her family, she will always be a princess. Or as her stylishly beautiful grandmother, Sra. Norma Medina said, "She will always be my Barbie Doll." During the mass, a nine-piece band sang hymns and played music.

Later, around nine in the evening, Lupita's family and friends gathered for the celebration party at the Playa de Mexico beach club on Sac Bajo.  Freddy and Yadira (her parents), plus brother Diego and other family members, spent many hot, sweaty hours decorating the huge palapa, setting up the bar, organizing tables and chairs for hundreds of guests, and lighting dozens of candles along the pathways. It looked fabulous.  Freddy's former Soggy Peso co-workers pitched in to help out for the night. Kash was the head waiter, and Freddy's nephew Yo-Yo was the head bartender.  And then the party got started!

A toast to Lupita

Music was provided first by a disc jockey and then later by Javier and the Band With No Name to keep guests entertained while they waited for the formal events to begin. 

Lupita was at the entrance, greeting guests and handing out party favours with her mom, grandmother, and various aunties. Next was the toast to Lupita - given by Lupita's beautiful aunt, Freddy's youngest sister. 

Proud papa changes Lupita's sneakers to high heels

For us, the best part of the evening was the very emotional and symbolic ritual of the shoe, changing from the shoes of a little girl to the high heels of a young woman.  

Freddy got down on one knee to carefully remove the black and white sneakers and replace them with white satin high-heeled bootlets. He was so proud, so happy, and at the same time, tearful to see his little girl growing up.

Freddy, dancing with his daughter

The first waltz started with her dad, and then her padrino, uncles, brother, and finally the invited guests. As each man cut in to dance with Lupita, he would bow, extending his right hand, and begin the dance. When the next man cut in, the dancing partner would twirl Lupita, gracefully handing her off to the new partner. For the final waltz, she was handed back to her dad.

The evening then segued into dancing, chatting, and mingling until midnight, when the main course was served, a delicious roast pork dinner with all the trimmings. This led to more dancing, but by now most of the gringo contingent had given up for the night. Lawrie, Joann, and I were the last gringos to head home to our beds, but the party was nowhere near over! The preschoolers were still dancing as we slunk out of the entrance around one in the morning. 

Lupita and her many cakes

After we had left, there was the cutting of the cake ritual. The beautifully decorated cakes looked so yummy, I was sorry we couldn't stay awake to sample the goodies. This was followed by more dancing until the wee hours of the morning. 

In some Quinceañera celebrations, the family and closest friends attend a special breakfast, known as the recalentado (re-warming), in which any food not consumed during the night before is warmed again and served with beer or soft drinks.

How do they do it?  We are such party wimps.

Hasta pronto

Lynda and Lawrie

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Bloomin' bougainvillea, retiring to Mexico!

Bougainvillea sprawling over Maria del Mar

Moving to Mexico in October 2008, I was ecstatic about the gardening possibilities in a tropical zone. I love gardening, and especially love flowers. The entrance courtyard was perfect for a grouping of large terracotta pots that could hold a profusion of flowering plants. 

The ocean side of the house had unlimited possibilities for a garden, either in pots around the patio, or perhaps a few set into the beach area. 

We also have two upper decks that would look stunning with terracotta pots overflowing with brilliantly coloured flowers. I could hardly wait to get started.

My 1st attempt at growing Bougainvillea.

The first plants that we bought were eight raspberry red Bougainvillea, that ever-present thorny vine that climbs and clamours over houses, hotels, restaurants, and fences everywhere in Mexico. Four vines went into the planter in the carport, and four more into a planter in the courtyard. I had thought to mix in a variety of colours, such as strawberry pink, flame orange and snow white, but decided to stick with one colour and build the colour palette with other types of flowering plants. The plants responded beautifully to their new home, quickly sending up four and five-foot-long shoots into the air, grasping for things to climb. And then the cooling winter winds started! Disaster!

Bird of paradise that lasted a few months

It turns out that the cool winds that enticed us to build our oceanfront casa on the windward side of Isla Mujeres are hell on gardens. Even though the temperature seldom drops below 20°C (about 68°F), tropical plants are a wussy lot, turning brown and dying back at the slightest dip in temperature, and especially when a cool, salty wind blows across their leaves. Even the tough invasive plants such as the Moon Vine, a white-flowered, night-blooming blooming and very fast-growing relative of the Morning Glory, turn black and wither into the ground waiting for the arrival of warmer weather in April or May. Sissies, they have no idea of what cold really is!


Our 1st Flores de Mayo

But I was not to be deterred! I will overcome this minor setback. Out came the Bougainvillea, and in went a Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May, otherwise known as a Plumeria). It did fine, offering a profusion of yellow-orange flowers, until the winds started. At that point, every leaf on the plant dropped, and we were left with a stark-naked plant to grace our carport entrance for the next six months. I have also tried Gardenias in pots along the outside wall of the courtyard with their heavenly scent perfuming the air, causing passersby to comment on the delightful smell. Died! They hated the winds in the winter and hated the intense heat of the summer.

Then there was the month of Geraniums - cheerily displaying their blooms from various terracotta pots. Ditto the above results. At some point, I even tried purple Chrysanthemums, thinking them tough enough to at least survive the cool winters. Nope! The salty winds killed them as well.


My Favourite!  Orange Hibiscus with Red Centre

Finally, Hibiscus thrived on my upper street-side deck, tucked away from the winds. We have had months and months of delightful eight-inch vibrant orange blooms with a deep red centre. Stunning! Until August arrived, nearly killing the plants with the intense afternoon heat. Rats! We moved both pots out to the ocean-side of the house, playing a dangerous game of waiting until the heat abates on the west side, hoping to move them back before the breezes intensify on the east side of the house.

Our ocean-side patio.

So what thrives on an ocean-front lot? Coconut palms. We now have five pots of coconut palms on the patio. The upper deck has two recuperating Hibiscuses and one presently healthy Rosemary plant. The courtyard currently has one palm, an assortment of citrus trees that I am experimenting with, a large pot of orange Canna Lilies, and another pot holding a yellow Hibiscus. So far, so good. Not exactly the Gardens of Babylon, but it's a place for small lizards, geckos, beach dogs, and cats to lounge.

It's still paradise for us, with or without the Bougainvillea.

Cheers from paradise. 

Lynda and Lawrie

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Death in the Vineyards Mysteries

The Adventures of Thomas and Sparky

Pilates on a moto: daily life in Mexico!

It's new!  It's easy!  And it's guaranteed to tighten up your core muscles (abdominal 6-pack, butt muscles, hamstrings, and calf muscles). Be the first in your group to try Pilates on a Moto. Our exercise program is available for kids, dogs, men and women.

Carry an 8-foot extension ladder on a moto

There are only two pieces of equipment required for this new and exciting exercise: a moto (either a scooter or motorbike will do) and a helmet. Below are a few suggested exercises:

1.  Carry-an-8-Foot-Extension-Ladder-on-my-Moto: Equipment required includes the moto, helmet, and an extension ladder. Hold the ladder with one arm, and get on the moto. The balance and coordination required to start the moto, and move forward while holding the ladder will give your body a good all-over workout.  Watch out for pedestrians and telephone poles while you are performing this exercise!

2. Carry-a-4-Foot-by-4-Foot-Mirror:  This exercise requires the participation of a second person. The driver mounts the moto, holding it steady while the friend gets on behind, holding a 4 x 4 mirror.  When the moto is moving, the wind resistance on the mirror will provide a great workout for the rider, and increase his heart rate as he cannot see anything. This exercise also works well with a 3-foot diameter plastic patio table, large boxes, or ventilation fans.  Use your imagination, try different items to get a full-body workout.

Push-a-friend-to-the-gas-station

3. Push-a-friend-to-the-gas-Station:  It takes a lot of coordination and balance to perform this exercise correctly, as one moto is stopped dead, out of fuel, and must be pushed slowly by the driver of the working moto -using only his right foot - to attain driving speed. 

The person on the non-functioning moto will achieve some degree of exercise, anticipating the movements of the driver who is pushing him.

4. Let-My-Dog-Drive-the-Moto: This exercise will require the participation of your canine friend, who must keep his or her front feet balanced at all times, on the handlebars of the moto. This is a very popular exercise amongst both the gringo and the local community. It gives your pet a complete body workout, as well as providing a bit of humorous distraction for other drivers.

Watch for our DVDs and companion illustrated book appearing soon on Amazon.com!

We are seriously in awe of the locals' ability to balance and drive. 

Cheers, Lynda and Lawrie

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Aging Pets:

A few weeks ago, I asked my friend Dr. Delfino Guevara, our local veterinarian, what happens when one of our cats or dogs dies?  

Delfino popped by our house with a booklet on pet cremation. I knew it was available in Canada and the USA, but I never thought that it would be available here in Mexico. Delfino said the cremation service employees in Cancun will come over to the island and retrieve the animal, and then return the ashes to the island. The prices were definitely less expensive than in Canada. 

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Isla Mujeres Mystery Series

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Death in the Vineyards Mysteries

The Adventures of Thomas and Sparky

                       

Lost our marbles …over sea marbles, Isla Mujeres Mexico!

A marble? A perfect black and cobalt-blue marble somehow had made its way to our beach. 

Huh! I asked Google and discovered that there appear to be several theories as to how marbles arrive on beaches.

First of all, there is the obvious reason: kids playing with them. However, we have not actually seen any kids on this island playing with marbles, and marbles in general seem to have lost out to other, more sophisticated toys in the mid to late 60s.

The second possible reason is that house painters have been known to toss a handful of marbles into a paint can to help stir the ingredients while they are working. Back in the “old days,” it was acceptable to dispose of empty cans in the ocean, thereby allowing the ocean currents to work the marbles out of the remaining paint and eventually deposit them on the beach.

The third possible reason is the one that really fascinates me. They were used as ballast in ships’ holds. Cool! Maybe there is a sunken treasure ship just waiting to be discovered.

1983, Lynda Rusty Duck Antiques on Bowen Island BC

In one of our previous incarnations, when we were still working for a living, Lawrie and I owned an antique store on Bowen Island in British Columbia, Canada. (My apologies for using that four-letter word - work.) 

We have always been interested in things antique or classic. Lawrie had an enormously varied collection of classic English and American cars, and a 1959 mahogany Continental Chris Craft speedboat. 

When we travel, we enjoy researching our Irish, Scottish, French, and Canadian genealogies. 

Lawrie fixing my Overlander delivery truck

Before moving to Mexico, we owned a collection of antique furniture, toys, and hand tools. 

When our friend and nearby neighbour, Marcy Watt, loaned me a book, “Pure Sea Glass” by Richard LaMotte, I was hooked.  

I started sorting through all the bits and pieces that I have collected from the beach along this side of the island and have found a few really interesting shapes, colours, and patterns. 

One large fragment had an embossed design. Unfortunately, that photo is hiding somewhere in my vast collection of photographs. 

(I searched my photos and found the image! I still have no idea what the letters or design mean.) 

The marble that I found is in much too perfect a condition to have survived a number of decades, grinding its way from the deeper parts of the ocean, across the reef in front of our house, and onto the beach. 

Interesting book about sea glass

But the romance of a sunken ship somewhere in the deep waters east of our island…well, that’s just too good to let go without a struggle.

Hasta luego

Lynda and Lawrie

Grab your copy today!

Isla Mujeres Mystery Series

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Death in the Vineyards Mysteries

The Adventures of Thomas and Sparky