Jean and Sonia's wedding.....part 1

All of you who have followed this blog over the last 5 years, will remember this handsome fellow, keyboardist for the Men in Blues, who played at David Lau's 3 nights a week. Jean has not been in PM this year, due to contracting cancer, and almost died from complications from his treatment over the last few months. He is now in remission and came back for a very short special visit this week.....to get married to his longtime love, Sonia. 

We are dear friends of Jean's, and honoured to be invited to this very special wedding.

The nervous groom checks on the sound system before the wedding.











The wedding was held at Kimberley's lovely home....here comes the bride, her Mom, and 2 bridesmades.......












Kimberley officiated at the ceremony.....Sonia and Jean did their vows in the tropical garden.











Jean's brother, Charles did a lovely reading........











....and then sang Amazing Grace, which had everyone in tears....such an incredible voice - talented brothers for sure......














Serge was the ring bearer, and Charles and Serge's wives were the bridesmaids......










After the ceremony, the group posed for a happy moment.........










and 2 Mexican musicians, guitarist and tenor, accompanied by a wonderful violinist, entertained the wedding party..........

OPERA........????? In Puerto Morelos....????

Saturday night, the Cancun Opera Company had their star tenors, baritones and soprano do a concert, on the beach, on an amazing stage - FOR FREE.....gotta love Mexico!!!!!










The stage itself and the sound production - this is the sound crew - did an awesome job........










Decoration, lighting, sound production.....it was all amazing.....the show began with our traditonal Mayan dancers doing a few numbers....I was enjoying it so much I forgot to take pics.....doh!!!!!











Each opera singer sang several songs from popular operas, and then the 3 tenors.....oh, my.....did a couple of numbers together.













The 3 tenors........!!!!







3 tenors and the soprano, who had the voice and range of an angel. There was an intermission, and they set up the stage for the second half as if it was going to be mariachi music or something, and none of us had eaten, so we left and went to the Cantina for supper. Turns out we missed amazing singing in the 2nd half.....oh dear.......









But look who dropped back to town for a night....our dear friends Mark and Tanya from Kamloops, who joined Miki, Diane and I at the Opera and the Cantina for dinner!!!!












They are happy and healthy, all set to work at their lodge for the summer, and looking forward to being back in November for the winter!!!!












Yah, not a great shot, but you get the idea......










The next night we were invited back to Steve and Robins - AGAIN - gosh, we owe them so many dinners.....for one of Steve's famous "Bowls" - rice noodles, grilled peppers, pork ribs.....oh, my, so delicious........
We picked up an I Wanna Pizza as an appetizer - yum...one of PM's newest and most popular restos.











Camera is doing weird things in the night light....looks like everyone is moving.....












But we had a lovely evening, great food and the BEST hosts......!!!!!

Puppies to Canada!!!!!

Our friend Lee, owner of eco resort Genesis in Ek Balam, brought 4 puppies to our house overnight on her way to Ontario, where 2 of them already had forever homes and the other 2 foster homes. There are 2 black from one litter and a brindle and brown from another...........











The 2 wee black ones were abandoned on the road at 4 weeks, and are much smaller and shyer than the two Lee has raised at Gensis.









This fat boy loves to eat.....and whine....even while he was eating, so none of us got a lot of sleep overnight. Botas was pretty good, but pretty much ignored the babies running everywhere.












On our way to the airport....2 little black ones in the small kennel, the 2 big ones in the bigger one.







Lee with the 4 puppies on the lawn of the airport after she got checked in and all the paperwork approved. One last pee and run in the grass before their 4 hour flight to Hamilton Ontario. They all arrived safely and are happy in their new Canadian homes!!! Good job, Lee - those are 4 very lucky puppies.

din din and hockey.....

Fabulous dinner at Steve and Robin's the other night......













not sure what is happening with the camera.....oh dear.....we all have auras.......










First night of the Stanley Cup playoffs.....Hockey Night in Puerto Morelos, on the pool deck.......












we plug in the computer and the TV outside, get the game streamed on NHL.com, and then plug the computer into the TV so we can see it on a bigger (well, 22 inch, but bigger) screen...........












then we pop in and out of the pool to stay cool during the game....still 30 degrees at 10 pm.......











Botas isn't much of a cheerleader......he would rather chase his ball...........

More goodbyes and dancers!

Met Judith and 2 pals for a drink last night at Pangea to say goodbye to Tink, another friend who is leaving tomorrow to return to Amsterdam.









The place was packed - lovely beachside location with great food, a breeze off the ocean, and cruise ships sliding past in the night.....












These 2 amazing Flamenco dancers and guitarist wowed us before, and here they are again.....














They dance together, they dance individually........















and the wonderful footwork and expressions are awesome......














Both women have such finesse and grace - every movement is precise and lovely.....and very dramatic.....and the Spanish guitarist is simply unbelievable.....














Tink was invited to join one of them - and she did a great job in her bare feet and bikini outfit........









Goodbye dear Tink - happy travels in Europe and southeast Asia - PM will miss your smiling face!

dinner and laundry......

Robin and Steve invited Shelly, Gino and I for dinner this week....another fabulous meal, boys!! We leave May 1 and S & G leave May 10, so these gatherings will have to last us till next winter.











Laundry day - I wash all our clothing by hand in a big wash tub, and dry it on the line in the courtyard...makes for a colourful yard on wash days!









Most on the line, shirts on hangers from the tree - it all dries very quickly and smells wonderful being outside.












One of the little males I had neutered this winter hangs out, plays with clothes pins, and sleeps in the lawn chair.......








Someone (local kid?) put a small elastic around his neck, so I changed it for a big one. So many black cats, it is hard to tell who is who in the zoo!!