July 6 - 9, 2021: Days 15

July 6 - 9, 2021: Days 15 - 18

Well, times have been slow. We've gone through a hotel change, a smidge of food sickness, my birthday, walking on the beach, swimming on the beach and sitting on the beach.

All of which is to say that things have been pretty alright. The hotel we were in when we first got here was right on the main street, which ran along the malecón and the beach. We were alright with the street noise until one day, the food cart under our balcony played the same one-minute long message, repeated every minute for nine hours. The hotel said there was nothing they could do about it, so we left. Of course, this was coincident with Francine spending the day laid up for what might have been Montezuma's Revenge. So, we changed hotels, to one four blocks from the beach but nicer and super quiet - in the process saving about $120 even after paying the one night penalty fee.

Sunset, Progreso Beach

On Monday, the beach reopened. Due to all of the above, it wasn't until Wednesday when we were able to experience it, which we did. The water was nearly always flat and usually about 80℉ and we took advantage of it. Two days we walked and swam. One day, we rented chairs and walked and swam. It was fantastically, gloriously boring.

And so ended, without any sort of glorious bang, days fifteen, sixteen, seventeen and eighteen.

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July 18, 2021: Day Twenty-Seven

Today is Sunday. On Sundays in non-corona times, they shut down the more glamorous part of the Pasejo Montejo and allow for bike-riding. In corona times, they shut down the north-bound lane of the more glamorous part of the Pasejo Montejo to allow for bike-riding and allow the traffic to flow south like normal. We decided that this would be as good a time as any to take a walk on the Pasejo Montejo. Actually, we've been walking up and down this street ever since we came back to Mérida from Progreso. They call the road the "Champs Elysée of Mérida". I have also heard Mérida referred to as the Paris of México. Let me start by saying that I can see the resemblance, but any references to Paris are a bit of a stretch, if you've been to Paris. If you haven't been to Paris, I think maybe the resemblance might be enough. There are a lot of Haussmann-esque homes here, but unlike in Paris, they are isolated, they don't run for blocks and ...

Overview

This year, we are spending thirty-eight days in México. To be exact, the Yucatán peninsula, México. My new calling (minister) provides me with ample vacation time, which I totally mismanaged, leaving nearly half of it untaken. My contract year ends on July 31, so nothing like waiting till the last minute. I also have two weeks per year which I am to dedicate to learning and becoming a better minister. Then, I have one week of General Assembly/Ministers’ Meetings. Normally, General Assembly means travel to a convention hall somewhere, but this being Corona Year Deux, General Assembly is virtual again, meaning as long as I have internet, I’m there! Yucatan Trip Itinerary So, we took off the Tuesday before GA, which is the second of three days of Ministers meetings, which like General Assembly is also virtual. There is a gap of a few days which I’ll get some work done as well. Add it all up, and you’ve got thirty-nine days....

June 28, 2021: Day Seven

Francine had a half day of work today so we worked in the morning and then headed out on a small trek. We walked down to the beautiful malecón. Malecones are a pretty uniquely Latin American thing from my perspective. The only American word we have - and the one often used - is "boardwalk", but that's not accurate. A malecón is a pier or a sidwalk on a sea wall that runs along a seashore. This one had pedestrian paths and bike paths. I've never seen that before. It was Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa, with all the glitz stripped away. Unlike the one in Guayaquíl, this one did not have a retail presence. Malecón, Campeche From the malecón we walked to the market, which turned out to be closed. Then, we got a salad lunch back in town. Later in the day it was off for a trolley tour of the city. It is quite a nice city in almost all respects. Its certainly nicer than the historic center of Mérida. Its about 1/8 the population of ...

2021 Visit to the Yucatán

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