Costa Maya, Mexico, Feb 15, 2013

Remember Costa Maya. That is what the embroidery says.  Holland America set up a wonderful tour just for the quilters.  We had a private tour to a village to see ladies working on these beautiful pieces of embroidery.  We had about a 45 minute drive to our destination.  Our tour guide, Gerardo, was wonderful.  He explained about the terrain, the people, and history of the Mayan culture.  The time sped by.  I was expecting hills. The country was flat, and wet.  He had so much information to share with us.

When we arrived, these ladies were working on their needlework.  Gerardo, explained that they met each day for 5 hours to work on their stitching. One young lady was doing needle punch and the rest were embroidering. None of them spoke English. You can see in the background the colorful work they did.  You sometimes get the feeling when you visit the souvenir shops that this is somehow done mass produced.  It really is done individually.  

The young ladies made us lunch.  We each got to try either a chicken or vegetarian tamale or both.   I also tried one of the local beers.  All was very good.

Here Gerardo is explaining how the tamales are made. They were made over a charcoal fire, using a cast iron  pot. The tamales are laid in a circle around the pot with an opening in the center.  This allows the heat to come up through the center and around the sides to cook them.

Here we are enjoying our lunch.  Twenty of us were on the excursion.

We were able to purchase the embroidery pieces that the ladies  had made.  Then before we boarded the bus, the ladies presented each one of us with a piece of their handwork.  Here I am with the one I received.  Gerardo was kind enough to take pictures of each of us as we received our embroidery.

This is the house that one of the ladies and her family live in.  Gerardo , had explained how the thatched roof was far more durable and economical. If it rained the water does not travel, as it does in our houses. They just replace the one area where the leak was. They do not have to trace back to where the water entered.

When we got back to the harbor, there was a dolphin show.  After many shots, I did get one  with the dolphin in the air!

One more  shot of the ladies and 2 gentlemen that were on our trip.

Two Holland American ships were in port.  Can you believe that blue sky and the gorgeous blues in the water.

Here is Ron, sunning himself on our veranda.  He had agreed to come along if we could have a room with a veranda.   He got his wish.  Let me tell you, he enjoyed every minute of it.  He sat out during the day to watch the water go by, or at night to check out the stars and moons positions.  He would take his reading material out there and enjoy the fresh air.

The quilters that went on our excursion had the greatest time.  It was a wonderful, special day.

Mary