We've reached the halfway point of our stay here. We've really enjoyed our time at Casa Musa, particularly since the last half of the month is virtually free. It's been a little bit of a whirlwind down here in Merida the last week or so. We've been going to non-stop meetings and I guess helping UBER get positioned into the Merida taxi culture. So, because we deserve it - today is a day of rest and relaxation. I'm here writing this in a lounge chair sitting next to my lovely wife who has been passed out for the past 10 minutes or so. I totally understand where the "siesta" thing comes into play, especially here. The sky is a shade of blue, a deep deep blue, that you never see up north, I don't know why. There is a constant, lovely breeze that comes from the north. I guess it's the ocean breezes. My chair is just on the right side of the shade line to make it perfect. It's absolutely impossible to resist falling asleep for at least a few minutes or so. Sure, every so often you hear the subtle tones of some great tune on the iPod, but you're relaxing and that's what makes it so perfect.

It's the little things like "crushed ice" rather than cubes. Because of our current living situation up north, we only have ice "cubes" - so I'd forgotten how good a Cranberry & Vodka tastes with crushed ice on a nice day. It truly is paradise - I guess it's just the little things that make me smile.

I've lain here in our "rented" casa trying to imagine what it will be like to be in ours, how will it look when it's finished, where will be my favorite spot for grabbing a few rays, won't it be nice to be in the heart of the Colonial city. "Ding Dong", the doorbell rings and its the ladies. They've arrived to clean our casa so I'm slipping on my shorts and raising the back of my lounger. At least I have to look respectable.

Last night we grabbed an UBER, again, and headed down to a restaurant called Bistrola 57. Our dinner was a little different, it seemed to be a "priced fixed" menu with three options for appetizer, main and dessert, all for the huge price of $109 Peso or about $5.50US. Again, what a country. After dinner we decided to do a little walking, there were lots of people walking the streets, sitting in the well-lit square and shopping at the many little boutiques that line the narrow sidewalks. So many of the walkers downtown are "gringos", so I guess I fit in with my CANADA ball cap and backpack. We walked into one store just to graze and the store's proprietor zeroed in on me, "Senior, a Panama hat would look tremendous on you and at only $1600Peso". Within two minutes we were down to $800Peso, so I guess the strategy is work on a 50% off rule quickly. All of the downtown core is very brightly lit and lots of pedestrian traffic. There was NO question at all about our safety or security.

A quick UBER trip home at $32Peso - $1.50US and we locked things up for the night. Each evening we seem to make a ton of SKYPE calls to our friends north of the border. It's nice staying in touch and I need to check on my Mom every few days just to make sure all is good. Thanks to those of you who continue to read this dribble, it just helps to make my day in sunny Mexico. Until the next edition Hasta Pronto.