Wait! Jeanine! Alma Libre!!!!! I've met you...!!! :-) OMG so cool. Full circle. You've been there before there was a there there. My last trip to QRoo was 2015. But I think I went to the shop in 99 or so. I wrote a piece called 48 stamps on a passport...so it's hard to remember all the trips. I started going to Oaxaca for culinary trips later on (I was a chef/restaurateur) and then driving I started touring interior and gulf states. But this made me smile. A wonderful store and a staple in PM. :-)
We'd sold the shop by then, Michele. Think it was in its 3rd iteration, w/ Caleb and Nicole. And am SO GLAD Alma Libre lives on!! Yeah, we opened in 1997. NO one came to Puerto Morelos. There was no sign for it on 307. We'd drive up to the hwy and put a sandwich board sign saying Alma Libre Libros BOOKSTORE OPEN. It was wild. I'll send you some photos by email of what the town square looked like then. It was empty. We'd pray for a 100 peso night, really! Then we'd go spend it on dinner at one of the few restaurants, making sure we 'spread it around' haha. Ahhh yes, the good ol' days.
Thank you Liz! That was Hurricane Wilma (Oct, 2005) and it too was horrendous and a Class 5. Gilberto (1988) was the first known hurricane to hit the area b/c Cancun and QRoo were such newbies (1974). Lafitte is such a darling spot. We were almost right there! The story continues...... and thanks for reading.
That's right! I was supposed to fly down the day it hit, was so glad to have missed it. But, I loved Capitan Lafitte back then, still haven't found anything like it. And I have gone there more recently and love the staff and the new cabins but it's not the same when you are surrounded by resorts. Love that you are posting these memories!
Thanks! Lafitte was special. Truly special. What's wonderful is when we hit that right spot at sometime in our lives, and realize, no matter when, that it was--perfection? paradise? fabulous? You hit it right! And please keep reading b/c the saga continues.....
Loving this story, Jeanine! Adventures in Real Estate: Mexico Edition - it can indeed be a bumpy ride, and not just due to the cobblestone streets. Looking forward to reading how it all turned out!
Ha ha, thanks Mike. In writing/reading it, it's loco that we pushed on through. I guess naiviteé (no matter how old ya are) and a desire for a beach and a palapa can go a long way ):
Wow! I can imagine the stress! Loved Playa Del Carmen (and the cenotes) when I was there 20 years ago! Sounds like such a brave adventure you’ve been on. 🙌
It truly is. And at the Merida Cemetery, they have properly paid homage, especially to Carrillo Puerto, his brothers and bodyguards. Even from the beginning when Reed discovers famed archeologist Thompson has stolen sacred antiquities from the victims of Chichen Itza's cenote (and he admits to it) and then onward to the amor callido of Reed and Carrillo Puerto, to the last sad moment, when on order to shoot Carrillo Puerto, his brothers and bodyguards, the firing squad shoots above them, and then the lieutenant orders those men to be shot, and they too are assassinated. I love the photo of Carrillo Puerto's statue. It's beautiful. (and sad).
An adventure and transaction not for the faint of heart! And only for those with optimistic, adventurous spirits, with hearts under the spell of Mexico. So fun reading about the rollercoaster of emotions and turns of events. Looking forward to the next segment!
Hola Chapin! Thank you so much!! I really appreciate your support and that you like reading about our land saga. It does go on... How fun to be going to CR and looking for a place.! Near the mountains or near the beach? It's a beautiful country. On another note, my husband is 4th generation San Franciscan and I think he was born w. sour dough in his blood ): We love it! During the pandemic did more baking than now, but maybe I will have renewed interest now seeing your newsletter. Love that your starter is decades old. So great. Thanks again for your interest. What an adventure you have coming up. I look forward to hearing your stories as well. Hasta la vista, amiga, buen viaje y saludos !
"My brother has a friend in the governor’s office and ..." such a perfect description of life in Mexico.
Asi es, Joyce.... that and "no problema?"
Wait! Jeanine! Alma Libre!!!!! I've met you...!!! :-) OMG so cool. Full circle. You've been there before there was a there there. My last trip to QRoo was 2015. But I think I went to the shop in 99 or so. I wrote a piece called 48 stamps on a passport...so it's hard to remember all the trips. I started going to Oaxaca for culinary trips later on (I was a chef/restaurateur) and then driving I started touring interior and gulf states. But this made me smile. A wonderful store and a staple in PM. :-)
We'd sold the shop by then, Michele. Think it was in its 3rd iteration, w/ Caleb and Nicole. And am SO GLAD Alma Libre lives on!! Yeah, we opened in 1997. NO one came to Puerto Morelos. There was no sign for it on 307. We'd drive up to the hwy and put a sandwich board sign saying Alma Libre Libros BOOKSTORE OPEN. It was wild. I'll send you some photos by email of what the town square looked like then. It was empty. We'd pray for a 100 peso night, really! Then we'd go spend it on dinner at one of the few restaurants, making sure we 'spread it around' haha. Ahhh yes, the good ol' days.
Love this Jeanine! And I stayed at Capitan Lafitte before the hurricane in 2006 (?) loved that place!
Thank you Liz! That was Hurricane Wilma (Oct, 2005) and it too was horrendous and a Class 5. Gilberto (1988) was the first known hurricane to hit the area b/c Cancun and QRoo were such newbies (1974). Lafitte is such a darling spot. We were almost right there! The story continues...... and thanks for reading.
That's right! I was supposed to fly down the day it hit, was so glad to have missed it. But, I loved Capitan Lafitte back then, still haven't found anything like it. And I have gone there more recently and love the staff and the new cabins but it's not the same when you are surrounded by resorts. Love that you are posting these memories!
Thanks! Lafitte was special. Truly special. What's wonderful is when we hit that right spot at sometime in our lives, and realize, no matter when, that it was--perfection? paradise? fabulous? You hit it right! And please keep reading b/c the saga continues.....
Loving this story, Jeanine! Adventures in Real Estate: Mexico Edition - it can indeed be a bumpy ride, and not just due to the cobblestone streets. Looking forward to reading how it all turned out!
Ha ha, thanks Mike. In writing/reading it, it's loco that we pushed on through. I guess naiviteé (no matter how old ya are) and a desire for a beach and a palapa can go a long way ):
Wow! I can imagine the stress! Loved Playa Del Carmen (and the cenotes) when I was there 20 years ago! Sounds like such a brave adventure you’ve been on. 🙌
Thanks. Yes, stress city. It amazes even me that we pushed on through. But it is definitely a conversation starter ):
I’m sure all the effort was worth it in the end! When you have such a happy place, the road my be bumpy but the destination beautiful.
Thank you. In every life a little rain must fall. And it definitely is 'the journey.'
🫶 so true!!
This is a hell of a story!
It truly is. And at the Merida Cemetery, they have properly paid homage, especially to Carrillo Puerto, his brothers and bodyguards. Even from the beginning when Reed discovers famed archeologist Thompson has stolen sacred antiquities from the victims of Chichen Itza's cenote (and he admits to it) and then onward to the amor callido of Reed and Carrillo Puerto, to the last sad moment, when on order to shoot Carrillo Puerto, his brothers and bodyguards, the firing squad shoots above them, and then the lieutenant orders those men to be shot, and they too are assassinated. I love the photo of Carrillo Puerto's statue. It's beautiful. (and sad).
Nerves of steel, y'all!
Sadly, we had nowhere else to go! And it does go on...
An adventure and transaction not for the faint of heart! And only for those with optimistic, adventurous spirits, with hearts under the spell of Mexico. So fun reading about the rollercoaster of emotions and turns of events. Looking forward to the next segment!
Thank you, Barbra! The saga continues...
"Eminent domain!" I'd literally go into shock upon hearing those nasty words. Now you really have me on the edge of my seat!
And Lana, gracias, bc you know the end of the story! And even at this unbearable juncture, we were far from resolution.
What an adventurous story! 🌴 Buying land in a foreign country can indeed be a rollercoaster ride. Thanks for sharing your experiences! 🌎
Hola Chapin! Thank you so much!! I really appreciate your support and that you like reading about our land saga. It does go on... How fun to be going to CR and looking for a place.! Near the mountains or near the beach? It's a beautiful country. On another note, my husband is 4th generation San Franciscan and I think he was born w. sour dough in his blood ): We love it! During the pandemic did more baking than now, but maybe I will have renewed interest now seeing your newsletter. Love that your starter is decades old. So great. Thanks again for your interest. What an adventure you have coming up. I look forward to hearing your stories as well. Hasta la vista, amiga, buen viaje y saludos !
Tartine!!! Fabulous fabulous bakery. So glad we connected. Buen viaje and keep me posted on when you head south. Too great!