Lots of History and Lots of Fun...

January 31, 2011

I am a little behind on last week’s blog as our company has arrived as well as another run of really hot weather, which means that I am spending less time on the computer and more time out and about enjoying the sights and sounds of the Yucatan.


This week we visited Hacienda Souta de Peon, the only working hacienda left in the Yucatan. One of the richest periods of this area was in the centuries (1600s-1800s) when the henequen or hemp plantations were the main industry. These plantations were owned by about 50 families who controlled all the wealth of the land. They worked on a master-servant relationship whereby about 400 families worked the land in return for housing and supplies from the masters. Each hacienda even printed their own money to pay workers but it could only be spent in company stores. Sounds a little like the merchant-fisher relationship.

One of the archways to the hacienda

Relaxing on the hacienda porch...

Spinning the rope...

In the processing room...Don said it reminded him of the wood room in the mill.

All of the haciendas went out of business after the revolution as the government confiscated much of their lands and gave it back to the farmers. The Hacienda Souta de Peon was resurrected as a tourist site when a businessman reclaimed it back from the forest, replanted a few acres, restored the main house and found the old machines used in the rope making process.

On the horse drawn cart out to the fields...

The hennequen plants, they are a cross between a cactus and a pineapple.

This tour was very interesting as the hacienda is very well done and the process well explained by our young guides. It also provides work to the local people as it is open year round. We were there at a low period but during the Mexican holidays people come from all over the country to visit the hacienda.

We visited an older Mayan man who demonstrated how to sleep in a hammock,not like a banana.

We also had an opportunity to swim in a cenote which are underground caves filled with flowing water that runs through the limestone shale which is all over the Yucatan. It was amazing so clear and refreshing! Since the pictures are taken inside they really don't show the true beauty of this wonderful place.

Don going down into the cenote.



Swimming in the cenote. It was awesome!



This was also a week of good food…

Sweet papaya and coconut cream...

We were invited to Brin’s house for supper with fresh chicken ( it was killed by her neighbour the day before) and  home made noodles. Quite a treat! Brin’s Mexican neighbours, Lupe and Martine, also dropped by for a visit and with Brin’s help in translation we had a wonderful evening.

Fresh chicken and all the trimmings...

Also tried the corner chicken joint that we often pass but never stop though the smoke coming from the grill is always tempting. We thought we ordered just chicken but as an appetizer received a half kg of fried chicken wings. Too much for us to eat so we brought it home and Dawn and Matt finished it when they got there that evening. They flew into Cancun and with three buses later were yelling at our gate to let them in.

How about deep fried chicken wings?

Half a chicken each!!!

They have enjoyed the first few days here around the pool and with a trip into Merida for Domingo en Merida. Not many pics as my camera battery gave out when they first arrived.

Matt checking out the street food...

Don and Dawn in Merida

Probably the highlight of the week for me was our English Activity group we held on Saturday in the Chicxulub town square. There were a small group of us that planned the hour of activities and a dozen or more children showed up to participate. We did some whole group activities and games as well as small conversation circles. The children were so eager to learn and as usual so polite and well mannered. Some of them even brought their school exercise books so they could write the new English words they were learning. I also picked up some new Spanish words as well. We are going to have it again next Saturday and hope that these children and others will be there.

Playing our name game...

Our conversation circles...

My little circle...Johana, Nadye and Neidion

This week we are sticking close to home as Dawn and Matt are here to relax and enjoy the pool and the weather, though we are all looking forward to a trip to Chichen Itza on Weds.