High Season Sunday in Chelem

Our Sunday started off slowly, we got up later than usual, drank a few cups of coffee and then headed off to the Bull Pen to meet up with friends for a nice Sunday breakfast. We hung out an hour or so and decided to head back into town and checkout the marketplace, buy a few mangoes and head home to relax. We have had a slow week with real estate, and boy were we ready for the break. Starting in September we are really busy with clients all the way through January. We pulled into the town square and couldn't even find a parking spot. One more week of high season and then we have our peaceful little fishing village back. School starts all over most of Mexico tomorrow except here in the state of the Yucatan where they have one more week of vacation.

Walking into the mercado from the west side, a mayan lady washing and bagging up fresh fruit

Fresh cut flowers intermingle with the fruit and chicken. The sign in the back: El Rey de Pollo, the king of chicken?


We bought a couple of these little yellow mangoes, they are so sweet, to me mangoes just taste and smell like paradise
Before you think that you could never afford watermelons here, remember the price is in pesos, comes out to about a dollar for a quarter of a nice sweet watermelon
Fresh chicken anyone.......

Just squeezed juices, orange, grapefruit, carrot, pineapple and more. Another one of my favorites is Jamaica, made from dried hibiscus flowers that are steeped like tea and sweetened.
Chelem is a fishing village, lots of fresh fish, octopus and shrimp at the market today
The dining section is empty, waiting for people to get out of church and come to eat
Outside in the town square vendors are showing off their wares
Handcrafted leather belts
Lots of water toys
Various baubles for the girls
Little sundresses, I bought one for 40 pesos, less than $4.00
Doug checking out the hundreds of sunglasses

Hundreds of hats
Yucatan candies and sweets
The church was so full that people were standing outside listening to the service
The beaches were packed downtown, look at all the people huddling up in the shade on the side of the building
Octupus boats
The beach is just full of people, while it is great for the local economy, I can't wait for everyone to go home!
They arrive by the busload
We ended up buying a couple of mangoes, a sundress, a pair of matching flip flops and a new leather wallet for Doug all for under $14 USD, not a bad haul!

Finally back home, away from the madness! Larry the lizard is patiently waiting for us to come home and bring him some goodies. He showed up a couple of weeks ago in our garden and has made it his new home, everyday he sits on our gate waiting for some bits of fresh fruit.

So just one more week of high season and it is back to peace and quiet again, the beaches will be empty the ocean clear and tranquil and the living good! Stay tuned for pictures of the quiet times, Chillin' in Chelem

Local Gringos Come to the Rescue

While this may look like a typical Thursday night at El Bull Pen, last night was very different......

On Monday, July 27th we had a very unfortunate accident happen in Chelem. Two of the local workers were working on an electric line when the ladder slipped. The worker on top of the ladder was killed instantly and the one holding the ladder is in critical condition at a Merida hospital. The prognosis for Oscar is not good, if he lives he may not walk again and has lost an eye. Abel, the worker who did not make it was 20 years old and left behind a pregnant wife, due to deliver in 2 more weeks. The other worker, Oscar has 3 small children. Thursday night at El Bull Pen we all got together to raise some much needed funds for these 2 families. At the end of the night I divided the money, over 6,000 pesos and we delivered it to the 2 families. It was a very emotional evening, they were overwhelmed that the gringos came to help in their time of need. We will be accepting other donations at El Bull Pen or see Doug and Teresa of Mayan Living Real Estate. We will also be having a food drive on Saturday night at the Bull Pen. Please open your heart for these desperate families with food, money or both. Let's give back to a community that has allowed us to be a part of their world. Thanks to all the people who made Thursday evening such a success!

These pictures were at the very beginning of the evening, by the end there were probably 30-40 gringos here, eating, drinking and donating money. We have also received money via paypal from some of our friends who aren't lucky enough to live here full time yet. Thanks go out to Don and Jody, Marilyn and Eric and Curtis and Sandy who cared enough to contribute.


Thanks again to all of you for opening your hearts and pockets! Chillin' in Chelem.

Another Work Week and a Great Party!

Sometimes we all have "one of those days." June 15th started out as one. We have found that many times when people visit Mexico they forget how to act. When you work with people anywhere in the world you never know what is going to happen. But when they leave their home and go somewhere else where no one knows them it's really different. Doug and I sell real estate for a living, it is our profession, our bread and butter and normally it's a great life.........Then you run into one or two people who make appointments and never show up, or they just show up without an appointment. It sort of throws a wrench in things. We schedule appointments so that we can dedicate as much time as our clients need to show them the area and see if it would be a fit for them. Buying a home is serious business and we treat it as such. Would you just stop by your doctor or realtor and expect them to see you back home? Would you make appointments and not bother to call and cancel? Of course not, ahhhh but this is Mexico! It's all different here, right?
The beginning of this week was just a mish-mash of people coming and going, trying to fit them in. Our car broke down while were with clients and Sean had to come and tow us home, how embarrassing! Thank goodness his wife Susan was kind enough to lend us her car until ours came home from the shop. In the midst of mass confusion, Robert comes over and asks us to have a surprise birthday for Patrick, within the next 4 1/2 hours. OMG! Talk about a community coming together! I made a few phone calls and alot emails with the help of the Martha Stewart of Chelem, Susan, and somehow we pulled it off. Patrick has to be everyones favorite person, he is so kind and so funny, we had to do something for him. Without his sparkling wit and love of people the Bull Pen would not be where it is today! And Robert, we are not forgetting you either, we know without you there wouldn't be lights, fans or yummy mixed drinks!


So this is the start, some food and a few decorations.....

Robert leading the unaware Patrick to his suprise party.


Look how cute he is! How can you not love this guy?

And the birthday kisses start, first a Susan kiss.
Then a Barbara kiss,

Next a Doug hug.
Ut Oh a cake.....we all know what that means here in Chelem, not so happy now are ya Patrick?



The crowd watches......... and waits....................

The candles are lit........

Another mordita! Yeah!!!!!!!! Strawberries are good for the skin aren't they?


All cleaned up Patrick and Star laugh it off.

This crowd needs something beside liquid nutrition,
Barbara and Jorge work on getting the food ready
Patrick is ready for a Tanqueray and tonic not food! After all it is his birthday!


Looking at the crowd we saw people from Utah, Texas, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Mexico, Delaware and Canada
And a couple of my favorites from the Village Idiot Pub, Sean and Susan, really from British Columbia

All in all it was a great time, spent with great people. The harried work week was forgotten with the company of good friends. I am always surprised at what a strong, good group of expats we have here. We are building a new community in another country and it is unlike any other in the area. We are here for each other, we understand good times and bad times, but what we understand the most is the value of friendship. It's not always easy, it's not always fun, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

Until next time, chillin' in Chelem

EXPAT BAR AND RESTAURANT FOR SALE - CHELEM,MX

$289,000 USD

HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO OWN A BAR AT THE BEACH?
Here's your chance! Located in Chelem, a fast growing little beach town just 30 minutes from Merida and minutes from Progreso. Owner says that all reasonable offers will be considered!!!!!This property offers four, one bedroom condos, a restaurant, bar and room for a pool. The Bull Pen is a working resturant and bar. Fully staffed with bilingual wait staff and manager. Since opening this has quickly become the local hangout. They offer Taco Tuesday, Italian Thursdays, Beer Fridays and more. This is the happening place in the Chelem/Chuburna area. Sunday baseball games are observed from the rooftop terrace under sunny yellow umbrella's. There is an enclosed outdoor patio which is the place to be in Chelem and host's birthday parties and other local events. It is the perfect place for shows, dances and more. This business opportunity is is only steps from the beautiful Gulf of Mexico water on a beach access road. It only 3 blocks from from downtown Chelem which offers local markets for fresh fruit and vegetables, shops, restaurants,bars and a growing expat community. The lot sits on a very large 42.5 by 19.4 meter lot. Come on down to the number one retirement haven in the world as quoted by International Living, have your own business and escape the harsh northern winters!

The front of the building

Side view of the condo's

View from the rooftop
Side view of the beach access and condo terrace
kitchen
Bedroom
Baseball Sunday on the rooftop terrace
Typical Friday night, drinks, food and friends


If you want any more information on this great business for sale let me know!