*
Numbers in brackets {20} indicate position on map
- Puerto Morelos is a small fishing village on the Caribbean Sea,
along the eastern coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula, aka the Mayan
Riviera, 22 miles [36 KM] south of Cancún. It is in the Mexican
state of Quintana Roo.
- Casa Lalita is a dwelling with six double-occupancy rooms with
bathrooms and small fridges on the main floor. Faye Berton, the
proprietor’s living quarters are on the second and the Teaching
Space and Teacher’s Room on the third. It’s across the
street from the beach.
- Currently, you must have a passport or a certified birth certificate
and driver’s license to travel to Mexico, though we hear this
is being relaxed. Please check with your travel agent or airline
representative or the website www.TSATravelTips.us regarding the
ever-changing rules of flying.
- There are two terminals at the Cancún airport, one for
charters and one for regularly scheduled flights.
- Especially if you are new to the area, current guidebooks on the
Yucatan Peninsula have helpful information. You can also check www.puertomorelos.com.mx.
If you don’t speak Spanish, a pocket phrase book is useful.
Although you can get by with English, some effort will often be
appreciated. A good many Mexicans you will encounter do not speak
English.
- Last we checked, no shots are absolutely necessary for this area
of Mexico. There are Travel Clinics in the Twin Cities if you're
concerned. FYI, after you've been to this part of Mexico, you cannot
donate blood for one year.
- If you plan to call the US from Mexico, check with your long distance
carrier and/or cell phone company to find out what the process is.
Or you can purchase a phone card in Puerto Morelos or at home [36-50
cents/minute]. You may also want to call your health insurance provider
to find out proper procedure for medical emergencies in foreign
countries.
- There are no public phones at Casa Lalita, so you’ll need
to make other arrangements once in town if people need to contact
you. You can receive faxes [011-52-998-871-0361] and emails at the
internet cafe CompuTips {5} or at @ {21}*. In case of family emergency,
Faye can be contacted at 011-52-998-871-0284. Please, for emergencies
only!
- One way to make life a little easier in case of loss or theft
is to make two copies of your identification and any credit or cash
cards. Leave one copy in the States with someone you can call and
pack the other in your carry-on bag. If you bring two sets of credit
cards and ID, you can use one and hide the other set as a back up.
- Travelers cheques and/or cash seem to be the legal tender of choice.
You, in no way, need Mexican currency [called NP, New Peso] until
you are in Puerto Morelos, and even there US dollars are accepted.
Generally, credit cards are not. There are two money-changing venues
{$} around the town square, open until 9 or 10pm, no fees. Don't
accept damaged bills – they will not be accepted by shopkeepers.
There are two ATM machines {14, 36}, numerations are in pesos! Don’t
rely solely on your cash card, as ATMs can be out-of-service for
days. Your bank may charge higher fees for international with-drawals
and some limit how much can be withdrawn in a certain time period.
Bring US cash for transportation to Puerto Morelos [see next page]
and have some singles handy for tipping in the Cancún airport.
- In the winter, Puerto Morelos is generally in the 80’s.
Weather can also be cool and windy [you can check the weather by
going to www.weather.com]. The sun is strong: pack sunscreen, a
hat and sunglasses. The moist air is a powerful force against things
like cough drops, gel caps, leather and bandaids. Things do not
dry quickly, so if you plan to swim a lot, bring two bathing suits
and beach towels [Casa Lalita provides bath towels, but not beach
towels]. Or you can buy yourself a colorful pareo, like a sarong,
$9. It’s not a bad idea to bring extras of critical items,
like prescription glasses, or copies of written prescriptions. Some
other possibly useful items: disposable poncho; bug repellent for
visits to ruins; ear plugs if you sleep lightly; plastic zip bags
for shells and wet suits. If you’re bringing food, be forewarned
that it's illegal to bring vegetables, seeds or fruit into Mexico.
If you’re bringing a laptop, we suggest a surge protector.
Current is AC as in the US. In case your bags are lost, pack necessities
and anything valuable in your carry-on, such as medications, jewelry
and anything you’ll need in the first 24 hours of your visit.
- Carry your ticket and identification in an accessible place –
you’ll be pulling them out frequently during your trip.
You’re Off to Mexico!
- Before you land, the flight attendants will give you two forms
to complete: a customs declaration form and a Mexican Tourist Card
[immigration form]. On the latter, your "Main Destination"
is Casa Lalita, "city" is Puerto Morelos, "State"
is Q Roo. When you finish filling these forms out, put them with
your identification. The first is about your stuff, the second is
about you. You will need to present them after landing.
- After you deplane, follow signs to immigration [“Migracion”].
You will be somewhat herded. At the booth, present your identification
and your Mexican Tourist Card. They will check everything and hand
back all but their copy of the tourist card. Keep your copy. You’ll
need it when you’re leaving Mexico.
- After immigration, follow the signs to the baggage area and get
your luggage. You might need your claim ticket. If you have a lot
of bags, carts can be found for $1 US, or about 10 pesos. [Note:
Mexico uses the dollar sign to indicate pesos, so $10 can be either
dollars or pesos. Ask if it’s not obvious.]
- You can take a taxi to Casa Lalita. In the Charter Terminal, there
are kiosks in the baggage area where the workers speak English.
It’s $30-40 US per taxi and you can pay with US dollars. They
will give you a ticket to give to the taxi driver. If you can find
a bunch of people going to the same place, you can share the cost
of the taxi or a van, which can be around $70 US total.
- After baggage, you go through customs. You will need your customs
declaration form. Look for the miniature stoplights [or surging
crowd], where you will press a button. A green light [more common]
lets you go through; a red light means they will probably inspect
your luggage. If you have indicated you have food or other forbidden
items on the customs form, they may inspect your bags even if you
get a green light. Customs keeps the declaration form.
- Once past customs, proceed to the exit to your taxi. Expect mostly
Spanish and a little hustle bustle. In the Main Terminal, before
you get outside, you may want to hire service people to take your
bags and get you to a cab. Or you can do it yourself outside: $30-40
US for a cab, $70 US for a van. $2 US tip per person is fine. Other
options for the more adventurous include a $15 US Playa del Carmen
shuttle — you need to offer an additional 20 pesos for door
to door service to Puerto Morelos [Playa is south of PM]. There
is often bus service to Puerto Morelos, though this is not great
for the luggage laden. Look for “autobus” signs. It’s
about $4-5 US for a ticket to PM. You’ll get dropped on the
highway at the PM exit {33}. Proceed across the highway to the taxi
stand {34} and get a cab to Casa Lalita.
- The cab driver will know the way to Puerto Morelos. If you are
renting a car, follow signs to PM [also Playa del Carmen, Tulum],
not Cancún [Cancún is north of the airport]. It’s
about 15 miles south of the airport on highway 307. You’ll
get to a sign for PM at a stoplight and turn left [east] on Blvd.
Jose Maria Morelos. You’ll travel 1 and a half miles. The
first road you encounter that outlines the town plaza is Ave. Rojo
Gomez {15, 18}. Ask the driver to turn left, north, and check the
odometer. Casa Lalita {30} is exactly one kilometer [.62 of a mile]
or 6 blocks, counting discernible cross-streets on the left. Rojo
Gomez is a divided road. The three-storied Casa Lalita is on a corner
lot on the left and features many arches. You’ll see a break
in the divide as you’re just past the house where you make
a left U-turn. Take the next right to the south side of the house
and pull up to the iron gate. [If you get to a dead end on Gomez,
you’ve gone a block too far. If you’re totally lost,
find a PM taxi driver {16}.] Some guide books say you don’t
need to tip drivers; decide for yourself. Ring the bell and someone
will show you to your room. The stairs just inside the gate go to
a Faye Berton’s flat. The stairs by the kitchen go to the
Teacher’s Room and Teaching Space on the third floor.
- Puerto Morelos is in the same time zone as Central Standard time
in the US.
Ave Rojo Gomez
Welcome to Casa Lalita
Here are a few things you need to know while you’re here.
Numbers in brackets {20} indicate position on accompanying map.
- Check-in time is 3pm. If you arrive early you can leave your luggage
in the courtyard until your room in ready.
- For the comfort and health of all guests, there is no smoking
at Casa Lalita.
- Do not drink or brush your teeth with water from the tap. Drinkable
water is supplied in a 5-gallon bottle in the out-door kitchen.
If water is running low, go ahead and load up a fresh bottle [stored
under the bench by the front gate], or let the caretaker know. You
can shower and wash dishes in tap water. Air or hand-drying makes
dishes once again safe.
- It is very important that you put all toilet paper in the waste
basket, not in the bowl. This prevents ecological problems, keeps
the toilets from plugging and helps our delicate septic system.
This is a practice throughout the area.
- When using the shower, it is important that you turn off not only
the hot and cold water handles but also the shower handle. Otherwise,
the hot water continues to run and will drain the water heater!
The tile over the shower drain is there to block visits from members
of the insect family. Please keep it over the drain when not in
use.
- You may see many creatures here, including geckos and scorpions.
Geckos are harmless lizards. If you step on a scorpion, it will
sting you, feeling like a bee sting. It is as afraid of you as you
may be of it. So awareness, as usual, is your pal. Leave your shoes
outside your room, leaning against the wall. Don’t leave things
on the floor that will create a cozy place for them. In the kitchen,
go into the cabinets mindfully [there’s usually a small flashlight
available if it’s dark, and it’s not a bad idea to bring
your own]. If you find a scorpion in your room, you can shoo it
out the door and out to the street with a broom you’ll find
in the closet. If pain from a sting persists, seek advice. And with
all that said, even seeing a scorpion is not a common experience!
- The outdoor kitchen is for anyone staying at Casa Lalita. An outdoor
kitchen is akin to camping and the sea air corrodes metal before
your eyes. That is why you will find no toaster there. Dig around
and make yourself at home, you’ll find dishes, pots and pans,
a blender and coffee maker and basic tools. This is a communal kitchen.
You must clean up after yourself – food left out will attract
bugs quickly. Put garbage in the covered trash can.
- If you need to remove trash before Lucia, the housekeeper, arrives,
there is a can outside the gate to your right.
- If you need to do laundry, there are a couple lavanderias, {4
& 20}, the latter is full service. If you are sensitive to fragrances,
you'll want to bring your own soap and stay away from the dryers
and full service. You may hang any hand-washing or wet swim suits,
etc. on the clothesline in the back corner by the kitchen.
- There are several hammocks around the grounds for your enjoyment.
The roof has a great view, stairs are by the Teaching Space. There
is a communal bathroom with a shower on the third floor [this can
be used if your schedule does not coincide with check-in and -out
times]. The hammocks are not to be moved from their location.
- To get to the beach, the closest access is {31} on the map. Once
on the beach: to your left is a bit more quiet; to your right, on
the way to town, there are more people and hotels. Beaches by hotels
will be more populated and more groomed. The beach is public; you
can settle in most any where you like. Don’t walk on the seaweed
that accumulates on the beach. The bugs that live in it can create
quite an itch.
- As at home, use your common sense regarding walking alone in isolated
areas and at night.
- Please rinse the sand from your feet when coming back from the
beach. There’s a hose inside the gate for that purpose. Please
pull the hose either to the garden or the street so the sand does
not accumulate in the entryway.
- There is a bulletin board by the gate where messages for house
guests will be posted.
- At the end of your stay, leaving a tip for the housekeeper is
much appreciated. Check out is 11am.
Getting Around Puerto Morelos
According to Fodor’s Travel Guide, this port was once a point
of departure for Mayan women making pilgrimages by canoe to Cozumel,
the sacred isle of the fertility goddess. Puerto Morelos is a growing
little village, prospering from the boom of the “Mayan Riviera.”
Along with the sounds of the Sea, the birds and the breeze, you’ll
hear sounds of new buildings going up, the gas man and the fruit
truck man advertising their wares and the every day activities of
Mexican life – plus the sounds of many other languages being
spoken. Most people, Mexicans and Mayans, will give you a big smile
but don’t speak English. Here is some information and a few
observations collected over time from some of Casa Lalita’s
visitors.
YOUR BEARINGS
Walking “into town,” you’re headed south. The
water is to your left, east. The walk to the town plaza is one kilometer
[.62 miles]. The road from Casa Lalita to town is called Rojo Gomez.
The road parallel to it, one block west, is called Ave Niños
Heroes. The Crossroads [la Crucéra] is where you turned east
towards Puerto Morelos from the highway.
MONEY
Mexico uses the dollar sign to indicate pesos, so $10 can be either
dollars or pesos. There are two money changing places around the
square {$}. They’re open till 9 or 10pm, seven days a week,
no English. You can’t change Travelers Cheques for US dollars,
just pesos, so save some dollars for your trip home. There’s
a cash machine next to the grocery store {14} and one out at the
Crossroads {36}. ATM dollar amounts are in pesos! The machines are
frequently out of order. The closest banks are in Cancun or Playa
del Carmen. The exchange rate as of February 2006 was 10.2%. To
figure exchange rate: US money (x) exchange rate = pesos. So $1
US = pesos. $10 US = 102 pesos. Some merchants will shun torn money
but they can only refuse it legally if any part is torn off. Credit
cards are not accepted but in some places, US dollars are.
EATING OUT
A word about eating and drinking in Mexico. You've probably heard
of turista or Montezuma’s Revenge, essentially a wretched
case of diarrhea. This comes from drinking tap water, eating ice,
un-purified fresh fruit or vegetables and bad shellfish. You can
eat fruits and veggies you can peel and not contaminate while doing
so [see next section about eating "in"].
Puerto Morelos offers a wide range of dining experiences. Most all
restaurants cater to tourists, so you can drink the water, and eat
ice and fruits and veggies in these places without worries. Many
restaurants close Sundays or Mondays.
Here’s a sampling of eateries. [Codes: E=English spoken; V=vegetarian
possibilities; $=inexpensive; $$=medium; $$$=high end]
- Las Petitas {12}. Off the beaten path and down low from the street
is one of those places your tourist brain warns you to stay away
from. But the fish is so moist and delicious, you have to look again
to see tourists, ex-pats and villagers all eating here together.
The menu is limited but the ceviche is sooooo good... [$$]
- Le Marlin Bleu {8}. Shrimp tacos and salad w/potatoes were immensely
enjoyed here and also crepes with cajeta* – caramel made from
goat’s milk, not quite as sweet, just as yummy. Dinners were
just excellent. Owner Eric retains his fabulous French accent and
speaks English. [some E; V; $$]
- Nisha's {15 upstairs}. Nisha is Goyo's daughter. He designed the
place and it's the best perch in town. She lords over the kitchen
and you can get a special of pork tacos, salad and a liquado - fruit
water - for just 50 pesos. The liquados include chaya, a great leafy
green full of healthy stuff. Check out the salsa bar. [E; V; $]
- Pelicanos {10} got flattened in the hurricane but is busy re-building
and has a temporary location just a few doors south. They still
have the most sensational toes-in-the-sand beach location –
a favorite for a first margarita and plate full of guacamole. Or
try a pitcher of jamaica juice [ha-my-ka, hibiscus flower]. [E;
V; $$]
- Tio’s {13}, blue & white striped awning. It’s
a tiny place, great for a big bowl of intensely flavorful chicken
soup, complete with avocado and rice and tostadas on the side, just
30 pesos. Homemade stock at it’s finest! No English spoken
at Tio’s. [$]
- El Pirata {15} kind of like a drive-in without the cars. The stately
Azucena makes this place more festive every year. The vegetable
soup is delicious [and a blessing if you're needing fiber]. Pirata
salad, guac and sopes are yummy. The sangria is killer! Juan [Senior
Zinfandel] gets the Most Entertaining Waiter award this year. [E;
V; $$]
- Caffetto {8}. This place serves, among other things, Mediterranean
food and has a sister location in Minneapolis. Good options for
vegetarians. Try a fresh pineapple juice in their great glassware.
Some English [some E; V; $$]
- Mama’s Bakery {25} across the field. You’ll see the
sandwich board on the sidewalk. Wonderful eggs and coffee for breakfast
and sandwiches and soup for lunch, great desserts. This is American
food, so especially good if you’re homesick. You can also
order baked goods to go, loaves of bread, cakes and the like. [E;
V; $$]
- Tuna {31}. This was a favorite last year, can't get any closer
– it got washed away by Wilma. They are rebuilding and we
look very much forward to their re-opening. Antonio is the chef
and everything was top-notch. [some E; V; $$]
- Posada Amor {5} is a restaurant and hotel. Try the scrumptious
grilled fish and chicken mole. You’ll find a wide variety
of items at the breakfast buffet, served until 11am. [some E; V;
$$]
- Hola Asia {8} serves Thai, Chinese and Japanese food. Sorry to
say, it has suffered from the departure of the chef after the hurricane.
Pad Thai is good.... [E; V; $$$]
*You can try cajeta in the form of Obleas Las Sevillanas, cajeta
between round wafers, at the candy counter in Casa Martin grocery
store.
IF YOU WANT TO COOK FOR YOURSELF
You won’t find the endless variety available in American stores,
especially ones that carry what we call “health food.”
Between the grocery stores {8, 14} and the Farmers’ Market
{7} you’ll find basic items. Casa Martin {14} is like a rural
general store. The gourmet deli {8} offers a narrow selection of
things like good coffee, cheeses, rice milk and bee pollen. The
Farmers’ Market is Wednesdays only, you’ll find the
best selection of fruit and veggies there. Get there by 8-ish, it
goes fast. Walmart, in Cancún, very, very sorry to say, has
the largest variety.
You can eat fruits and veggies you can peel and not contaminate
while doing so. Other food has to be soaked in a purifier. You’ll
see a little blue bottle of it in the kitchen and/or at the grocery
store. You must use this if you’re preparing your own food
[dilute the purifier, essentially iodine, in bottled, not tap water].
You can buy fish from the fishermen! About 2:30-3:30, the fishermen
come in with the catch of the day. They go to a cement block garage
{15}, set back from the street, iron gates: Sociedad Coopertiva
de Produccion Pesquera. It transforms into quite a scene when the
catch comes in. There’s no English spoken. You will be amidst
fishermen arriving and weighing in. The fish are thrown into giant
coolers. You, as a retail customer, are secondary to the primary
business going on. NOTE: this building is under construction; you'll
find the fishermen on the pier by the lighthouse.
Don’t miss the fresh tortillas at the Tortillaria {23}. Bring
a dish towel to carry them in and separate them when you get to
the casa. They’ll still be warm when you get them. There’s
a convenience store north of the Tortillaria – you’ll
find eggs in a basket on the counter and they’re really fresh.
ODDS & ENDS
You can arrange for a taxi at the little wooden house {16} on the
plaza. Prices are posted at the stand. Varying levels of English
are spoken by cabbies, from none to pretty darn good. You can also
take the bus out of town, which is quite economical, but it is not
geared to tourists. Helps to speak the language. The bus stops are
out at the Crossroads {33, 34}.
You can rent a bike or a car at the Travel Agencies {6, 20}. Richard
Kimmel at Posada el Moro {19} is very helpful.
For phone calls, try any of the TelMex pay phones. You can use your
long distance company phone card or a credit card [expensive]. You
can buy a Telmex/Latadel phone card in town {$ or Casa Martin, 14,
behind the counter; insert and hit ABC for English}, 50 cents a
minute. Or check out Pixan for intractable phone situations {20}.
You can find a mail box on the wall of the gift shop on the NW corner
of the square {15}, to your right as you enter.
There are weekly AA meetings held at Mama's {25}. Drop by for schedule.
Internet cafés {5, 21} are now a staple of Puerto Morelos.
It’s around 20 pesos for an hour on-line, just walk in, nod
to the clerk, check the time and find an open spot. CompuTips {5}
has fax, the number is 011-52-998-871-0361. Printers too. Not much
English. Note: the @ symbol is different – often posted on
the wall [alt Q, alt 2, alt 64, good luck].
We’ve had root canals and CAT scans in Cancún and been
happy with the results. There’s a medical clinic in Puerto
Morelos {2} and a dentist in Cancún. Fernando Mendoza {28},
a dear friend of Casa Lalita's, formerly a doctor, now a massage
therapist, is really helpful. Puerto Morelos has no coop or health
food stores, so any supplements, herbs, homeopathic remedies, etc.
that you’re used to, you’ll have to bring from the States.
THINGS TO DO
- Go sight-seeing. Your guidebook will have thorough information
– Casa Lalita visitors have enjoyed the ruins at Chichén
Itzá and the incredible underground water spring Cenote Dzitnup
outside of Valladolid. Ruins and iguanas at Tulum. The beaches north
of Tulum are beautiful and less travelled. Cobá is a jungle
ruin site. You can snorkel in quieter, although more crowded waters
at Akumal, “Place of the Turtle.” Or swim with dolphins
at Xcaret. Sian Ka’an [“where the sky is born”]
Bioreserve and Isla Holbox on the Gulf of Mexico provide gorgeous
views of the water, one turquoise Caribbean, the other sea green
Gulf. You can ride around Isla Mujeres in a golf cart and visit
the turtles. There are guidebooks and infor-mation at the travel
agencies {6, 20} and check out the bookstore {8}. If you arrive
at heavily travelled areas before 11am, you’ll beat the tour
buses. When travelling, you need your passport with you.
- Go snorkeling. You can rent equipment, get a guide and a boat
ride at various places on the plaza, the pier and the beach. Juaquin
is family of Goyo's, speaks English and is good with tourists. Call
him on his cell 044-998-259-0602 or find him through Goyo. If you
have your own snorkeling gear, bring it along. You can snorkel along
the shore [but with a flag!]. You need a guide to go out to the
coral reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world. You can
also arrange to go fishing or rent a kayak.
- Just south of Ojo de Agua {24} there are nice coral heads if you
don’t want to go all the way out to the reef. On the map,
you’ll see a water spring or “cenote” [underwater
river rising to the surface] offshore from Ojo; this is the literal
“Ojo de Agua” – in English, “Eye of the
Water.”
- Go windsurfing. Tom runs a little kiosk on the beach called Koko
Dogz, just south of Ojo de Agua {24}. He can give you lessons and
he’s from New Hampshire, so he’ll know what you mean
by “Help!”.
- Go swimming. There’s two kinds of beaches, ones with reef
and ones without. Puerto Morelos has the advantage of the reef for
those who want to swim in calmer waters and snorkel. Beaches without
reef are like postcards – the waves are big and turquoise,
white sand for miles, shells to pick – like Magic Beach south
of town and beaches north of Tulum. Playa del Carmen beaches have
tons of tourists, but just north is Punta Bete, a gorgeous spot
[ask Faye how to get there]. Reality check: when exploring isolated
areas, please use common sense and don’t do it alone. This
area is generally very safe but over the years, a few serious crimes
have been reported. And sadly, some beaches are periodically plagued
with illegally dumped trash. But, typically, your travels will bring
you to some breathtaking views and fun, salt-water swimming.
- Hang out at cafe d'Amancia {8} and have a cappuccino frio or saunter
up to the ice cream shop {8} and try the coconut.
- Go shopping. There are many little places around and radiating
out from Puerto Morelos’ town plaza. Tatich {9} has nice clothes
and art work as does Artisolo {20, open evenings}. There is a cooperative
Handicraft Art Center {3} where you can buy hammocks – look
for our friend Mauricio who speaks English – and other crafts.
Eighteen families cleaned up a garbage dump to create this place
where the local artisans can make their art and sell directly to
the public. There's a "pet" crocodile in the back you
may be lucky to meet. Mayan Handicrafts {19} features crafts by
local Mayan women who are part of a local project that distributes
sewing machines for families whose men were put out of work by the
advent of synthetic gum! [See the following entry.] Bring home some
Mayan chocolate from Tesoros Mayas {6}. There are tourist places
all up and down the coast.
- Go to the Botanical Garden {32}. Take a cab, it’s a mile
or so south of the Crossroads on highway 307. Lots of exotic plants
are all meticulously labeled – there’s endangered species
such as spider monkeys swinging around and an amazing lookout tower
to climb. Also reproductions of a chiclero [old fashioned gum collector]
and a Mayan house.
- Go to the zoo. There’s a crocodile farm called Croco-Cun
run by biologists offering a tour with tons of information about
most of the animals and reptiles indigenous to the area. It’s
just north of Puerto Morelos off highway 307.
- Don’t miss the expat Goyo and Goyo’s Jungle Adventures.
You'll find him at his daughter's place, Nisha's {15}. Tell him
you’re staying at Casa Lalita and he’ll take good care
of you. He offers jungle tours and sweat lodges [temazcal]. The
lodge structure is based on the Mayan style with a gentle ceremony
good for first timers. He’s been in town for some 25 years
— he’s a terrific resource if you want a massage or
a reading, to know about the Mayans or how to open a coconut.
- Take a Spanish lesson with beautiful old soul Rosario. Faye will
draw you a map; Rosario is usually home, she has a schedule posted
you can plug yourself into.
- There’s always someone around to give you a massage. Fernando
Mendoza, who lives around the corner {28}, is a kind spirit and
a generous heart, a great sense of humor and gentle hands. He'll
bring his massage table to you.
- Get a pedicure at Lety’s {22}. Very reasonable!
- Check out the used bookstore {8}. Alma Libre Books is owned by
two ex-television professional expats Ron and Joanne. They are hugely
helpful, a great resource, as is their website, www.almalibrebooks.com.
Closed Monday and Tuesdays, and other days don’t try going
there during siesta.
Going Home
Check-out time is 11am. A tip for Lucia, the housekeeper, is much
appreciated.
You can squeeze three people with an average amount of luggage in
one cab for about 250 pesos [plus tip]. Ask for a wagon if you need
more space.
You'll go through Immigration in the States at your first point
of entry. That'll take 30 to 120 minutes, depending on the crowds.
On the airplane, you’ll fill out a customs declaration about
your purchases [no immigration form if you’re a citizen].
Items not allowed to be brought into the US include meat, fruit/veggies,
plant life, Cuban cigars, anything illegal, etc.
Especially if you’re flying a charter, not a bad idea to check
to see if your flight is on time before you leave Puerto Morelos.
Revised 2/06
Specific Notes for Yoga Retreaters
Trip Preparation
- Pack a yoga mat, if you have one [mark it so you know which one’s
yours]. A foam pad is helpful if your knees are tender; the floor
in the studio is made of handmade [so not perfectly even] terra
cotta tile.
- No perfumes or scents of any kind in the classroom, please.
Once in Mexico
- If you are a meditator, or have other practices, feel free to
use the Studio when not in use. You get to the Studio via the staircase
by the kitchen. Honoring the yoga tradition that Casa Lalita grew
from, as well as maintaining its comfort as a teaching space, we
ask that no shoes be worn in the Studio. On arrival day you may
use it after 10:30am; on departure day it can be used until 8:30am.
- There is a collection of books and tapes that can be made available
to you – please ask Faye.
- If you have been doing intensive practice, give yourself time
once you get home to make the transition back to life as you knew
it!
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