The Mayan adventure (Hacienda Xcanatun)

Enchanting garden at Hacienda Xcanatun.

 It has been about a month since we arrived in Puerto Progreso, and so far our experience has been pleasant. We haven't found anything exciting to do in town but, we're enjoying the house and pets we're taking care of.

 Sometimes I get a little anxious with so much tranquility; I have to admit that I'm the one who has to be active most of the time but, I'm learning to slow down and enjoy a mellow time as well. Painting keeps my mind occupied and, helps me not to get grumpy ha ha!

JJ's birthday present... He posed for me at the Grand Canyon :O)

 We have been exploring the area and visiting some of the fishing villages right next to Progreso; these are very small towns where the main attractions are the beautiful ocean, the beach and the quite environment... not really much to do but, we appreciate the gifts that mother nature gives us.

 Locals have given me advice about places to visit, most of them are within driving distance; they actually told me about Xcanatun, this is a little community between Merida and Progreso that has a beautiful hacienda from XVIII century.

 Back in the days this hacienda was one of the most important producers of sisal in Yucatan; this plant is a species of Agave, and it produces a stiff fiber that is used to make various products like rope, twine, paper, cloth, carpets, etc.  Now in days this beautiful place has been converted into a boutique hotel that also has a restaurant bar and a SPA.

 Finding out about this place gave us the perfect excuse to explore it and celebrate JJ's birthday by having a nice dinner. Since it was a weekday, the restaurant wasn't to busy so we had the outdoor terrace for ourselves... We felt very special!

 After enjoying our delicious dinner, we were able to go for a walk around the property. Unfortunately, the tour was to short and the front desk agent was in a hurry but, we were able to appreciate the amazing architecture and the beautiful gardens.

  I hope the owner of this hacienda reads my blog so we can get a special tour and learn more of its history, then I can take more pictures and show them to you :O)

This is how we ended up having a great day by learning some of the history of Yucatan and, by visiting a beautiful historical building that has been rescued by its present owner... Safe travels my friends!

The Mayan adventure.

Our travel adventure continues, this time at the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico; it is amazing how everything falls into place when we set our mind to anything that we want to do.
Last year we had the opportunity of spending a week between Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Ciudad del Carmen and Merida but, we didn't have enough time to explore the area and experience the Mayan culture so we put it on our bucket list to make our way back and live the Mayan adventure.

We are recently house sitting in Puerto Progreso, this is a port city located on the Gulf of Mexico; fishing is one of the main industries so this is the perfect place to enjoy the best "pescado frito" (fried fish) which is the traditional dish in town.

The four mile pier that goes into the ocean is a colonial architecture formed by beautiful arches that gives an amazing contrast to the Gulf; this port is a new cruise ship destination so it's emerging as an international resort, and it's the perfect stop to take day trips to the beautiful colonial city of Merida and some amazing Mayan ruins that are close by.

The long boardwalk that goes along the ocean is the perfect place to enjoy the breeze while having a walk, there are some restaurants and bars where to sit down and relax while having a margarita too... Wherever makes you happier!

It has been two weeks since we arrived here, and we have one more month to explore the surroundings before we finish house sitting. So far we find Progreso to be a very peaceful town with a very laid back life style, it has all the basic amenities of a medium size city but, is not a fancy resort destination. The beach and the ocean make this place very attractive, specially for a group of expats that feel they have found a little hidden gem; they say it's safe, tranquil and very affordable. 

So far we are enjoying being in Progreso but, after two weeks we already know this town is a little to quite for us. We like to be able to go out to a cafe, cultural events, a nice outdoor restaurant, etc; and this is something that we´re not finding here but, it's part of the adventure of exploring new places. We would be house sitting in Merida for two months so we are very excited about exploring this amazing colonial city... To be continue!

Safe travels my friends!