Author: BOLT
BOLT = Black Old Lesbians Traveling
Our mission is to inspire fearless, serendipitous and penniless travel. We are Kathy and Marci Halili Akoma, two retired African-Americans. Join us as we share our travels with you. We hope to hear about yours.
Contact us at boltraveling@gmail.com. Like us on www.facebook.com/pages/bolt. Follow us @boltraveling
THE WORLD IS OURS...SEE YOU THERE!
BOLT Reviews: Playa Bonita Beach Club
Just a short 3o minutes away from Mérida, Mexico is the city of Chelem. This sleepy little pueblo is home to the perfect spot for a getaway.
Playa Bonita Beach Club is the perfect spot for a day trip. For only 100 pesos (about $5 usd) you can spend all day on a comfortable beach lounge.
There is a lovely little pool, changing rooms and very clean restrooms.
I was especially delighted by how good, I mean really good the food and drinks were. There is a full, moderately priced menu. The waiters were attentive and friendly. You can have your food brought to your oceanside lounge or table.
I enjoyed a lovely walk along the beach and several people were actually enjoying time in the waves. All in all I spent a perfect day at Playa Bonita Beach Club. I can’t wait to go back!
If you have a special getaway spot in the Yucatan or wherever you are, we’d love to hear about it. Comment here or write us at BOLTraveling@gmail.com
Los parques de Mérida
One of the many things I have come to appreciate about Merida is the multitude of parks, green spaces, and walking paths.
It seems that no matter what direction I walk, I will eventually come upon some type of park. It’s really lovely!
Yesterday a small group of us visited Parque de la Alemán. This space is really great because walkers can walk and skaters can skate.
As I embark upon Girl Treks 21 Day #blackhistorybootcamp walking challenge, I’m grateful for all the parks and walking paths surrounding me.
When Life Gives You Radishes…Make Pickles!
In this case it was my lovely neighbor/friend, Tai, who gave me a small bag of radishes. I love salty, spicy, briny foods and since I had a free Saturday afternoon I decided to make some pickles.
I make quick pickles which are really easy. Using any vegetable or vegetable combination, quick pickles are soaked in brine in the refrigerator as opposed to the more complicated outdoor fermentation process. Quick pickles do not require canning and are ready to eat in a day. They last several weeks in the fridge, although ours don’t usually last that long.
I made 4 different pickles today and the simple recipes are below. They all use a hot 50/50 vinegar to water liquid for brining. I don’t use precise measurements for this type of recipe. I taste as I go along. Be careful with the salt!
Be creative, use combinations and amounts that you wish. Your pickles will be a delicious adventure!
Radish Carrot Pickles
Combine chopped carrots, sliced radishes and white onion chunks. Season with a tablespoon each of pink salt and chopped garlic. Add whole red peppers and banana peppers. Pack into clean glass jars. Pour the heated mixture of white vinegar and water over the veggies. Close, cool and then refrigerate.
Sweet and Spicy Red Cabbage Kraut
Combine chopped red cabbage, a tablespoon of chopped ginger and 3 grated apples (any kind). Add a tablespoon of salt. Pack into clean glass jars. Pour the heated mixture of apple cider vinegar and water over the veggies. Add honey to taste (I used 4 tablespoon per jar). Close, cool and then refrigerate.
Asparagus Spear Pickles
This is the easiest pickles. Trim the asparagus. Add salt and red chilis to taste. Pack into clean glass jars. Pour the heated mixture of white vinegar and water over the veggies. Close, cool and then refrigerate.
Radish Carrot Relish
This is my all time favorite! Finely slice radishes, carrots and purple onions. Add garlic, salt and whole black peppercorns to taste. Pack into clean glass jars. Pour the heated mixture of white vinegar and water over the veggies. Close, cool and then refrigerate.
As you can see I am not a professional chef or recipe writer but I hope you will try one of these recipes. Even better…create your own pickle combo! Please share if you do.
!Chichen Itza!
Chichén Itzá is a complex of Mayan ruins on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. We loved our visit to this sacred and amazing place, currently listed as one of the 7 wonders of the modern world.
A massive step pyramid, known as El Castillo or Temple of Kukulcan, dominates the ancient city, which thrived from around 600 A.D. to the 1200s.
Graphic stone carvings survive at structures like the ball court, Temple of the Warriors and the Wall of the Skulls.
We had a great guide, who took us all over the complex. He was very informative and full of facts about the ancient city and culture.
We learned about Chacmool (also spelled chac-mool) is a particular form of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican sculpture depicting a reclining figure with its head facing 90 degrees from the front, supporting itself on its elbows and supporting a bowl or a disk upon its stomach. We were able to see these figures in several places including at the top of structure pictured above.
Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s really an architectural wonder. The temple has 365 steps—one for each day of the year. Each of the temple’s four sides has 91 steps, and the top platform makes the 365th. Devising a 365-day calendar was just one feat of Maya science. Incredibly, twice a year on the spring and autumn equinoxes, a shadow falls on the pyramid in the shape of a serpent.
There’s a sound and light show in the evenings which we hope to come back for someday soon.
If you want more information or have any questions about our visit to Chichen Itza please write us at boltraveling@gmail.com. As always, I hope you enjoyed this post. I enjoy sharing our travels with you.
A Visit to Centro
We’ve been in Merida over a month now and are starting to explore the area.
Exploring safely in the time of Covid means making careful choices. We are selecting areas where there is lots of open air space for walking and that are not too crowded.
Of course we wear masks, are careful to keep our hands sanitized and maintain social distancing.
Today I’m posting pictures of a trip I took into Cento (the historical center of Merida).
I really enjoyed walking around the colorful streets, seeing old churches and just enjoying the beauty of this city.
There are lots of vendors, selling clothes, food and drinks. I bought some lovely Mexican style blouses.
Kathy and I are looking forward to exploring more of Merida and the Yucatan. I’m looking forward to sharing our adventures with you! If you have been to the Yucatan before please give us your suggestions for places to visit.
Day Trip to Progreso
My dear sister, Kimberly, will be leaving Merida in a few days. It was a hot day today and a beach trip was just what we needed! Less than 30 minutes away from Merida is the little beach town of Progreso.
For a 200 peso (10 USD) Uber ride we were dropped of right at the beach.
It was lovely seeing children playing and people of all ages enjoying themselves.
We walked along this lovely pier.
Of course I had to get my feet wet. It was really wonderful to walk along the sand!
There are also lots of stores selling clothes and souvenirs.
Progreso is a really nice way to spend a hot day, see some sights and take some pictures. I’m glad we went!
Mérida is ranked the 3rd-most-friendly city in the world
Check out this article at https://yucatanexpatlife.com/merida-is-ranked-the-3rd-most-friendly-city-in-the-world/
LOOKS LIKE WE MADE A GREAT CHOICE!
The pandemic means that we are not having a Kwanzaa celebration this year. It has been enjoyable to review pictures from Kwanzaas past and to re-read and re-share this post.
Nuestras Primeras Dos Semanas en Mérida
Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since our arrival in Merida. Because of Covid concerns we haven’t done much exploring yet, outside of getting to know our new neighborhood. Here is a summary of our first two weeks in pictures.
So, our new life in Merida is comfortable, quiet and beautiful…all we could ask for during these difficult times. We look forward to exploring and sharing more as the weeks progress. Stay safe! Love and light to all!
