Oh, Mexico!

Pool at Villas Claritas

Our Kitchenette

Bedroom

Our Little Private Patio

Our Bedroom - Note Travelcaster on the Bed!

My dear sister Barb toasted SL (Sweet Lorraine) and I on New Year's as to be congratulated for arranging our lives so that we could spend our retirement in travel. I had never thought of it as an accomplishment, more the result of good fortune, but there it was, we WERE spending New Year's Eve in Mexico, with a total of 17 Luberts, in-laws and outlaws.
We ushered in 2013 (the Year of the Snake!) at El Cid in Puerto Morelos, near Cancun Mexico with all my sibs except Brother Geoff, who needed to stay in Canada to run his snowplowing business.  Although he was sorely missed, my sister Sandy had made a cardboard cutout – christened  “Flat Geoffrey” who attended all the events as Sandy's photo journal shows.
We tearfully said goodbye to all our sibs and relatives, who headed back to maple syrup land, while we moved on to the second leg of our Mexican adventure. 
We are now ensconced in Villas Claritas in Puerto Morelos,  located along the beautiful Mexican Caribbean coastline in the state of Quintana Roo abut 20 km from the Cancun airport. This original coastal fishing village is now a quiet, mixed-use neighborhood of private homes, hotels, condominiums, restaurants, and tourist shops.  The town is named after Independence leader Jose Maria Morelos. Population about 10,000.
One hundred meters off shore lies the Puerto Morelos portion of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System – the second largest coral reef in the world. You stand on the beach watching the waves break offshore on the reef, protecting the waters and shoreline inside
If I were just a bit more naive, I would describe it as a “typical Mexican village”, but of course it is not – it knows that the tourist trade is its bread and butter. Still, many here do not speak English – even some of our waiters, which makes it easy to close your eyes and believe you are in old Mexico.  Of course it is a bit awkward when my waiter keeps asking me “Por que cierras los ojos, Signor?” - Why do you close your eyes, sir?
You also are reminded that you are not in Kansas, Dorothy, when you need to wash your market vegetables with a special disinfectant, and drink only purified water.
Our “B and B” is delightful: a bedroom, bath, kitchenette and private patio.  We have a pool where we get breakfast everyday.  It is a 10 - 15 minute walk to town and restaurants.
We have been here almost a week, taking in live music almost every night, shopping at the local markets, eating fish at the local restaurants, going for long walks on the beach, playing guitar, and exercising.  We have been careful with the hot sun, using sun block when needed, but still we are getting bronzed..  (these are after all, our golden years) 
Footnote:

 The strangest weather phenomenon occurred today.  Long ago, before we realized the nature of tequila and beer, we used to drink water.  Today, some of it fell freely from the sky!  People who have lived here for many years say this has happened before in the past.  My tan was no darker when we got back to our villa than when we left??