About Us

 
Los Ojos del Loro (The Eyes of the Parrot)

Address:

Calle 7, #272,  (entradas 166 y 168) 

about halfway between Chelem and Chuburna' Puerto, Yucatan Mexico  

House is on Calle #7, the road closest to the beach, not beach front but second row of houses. Off of Highway 9, turn at Entrada 166 (Jural) or Entrada 168 (Bufeo)

Chuburna Puerto, Yucatan, Mexico 97336

Leaving out of Chelem, going to my house, the “incomplete” list of entradas (roads) are Casa Tryee, Villa Casa Blanca, Tortugas, Osito, then Las Dunas Restaurant, one more mile to go … Arrecifes, Chuchos, La Calle del Sol, Araba, Macabi, Jurel and then Bufeo….. turn right onto Bufeo 168) and go to end of that road (to the road closest to the beach) turn Right, mine is 3rd house on right. It is White with a Clay colored front and Blue trim.

 Many friends and family have stayed in the house through the 15 years I have owned it and also quite a few Airbnb guests. I enjoy living there for parts of the year. Three weeks to 6 weeks at a time are recommended as it is not in a tourist area. It is more like a home for you away from home. Stay a while and make friends and come back every year!

Car Rental and Transportation

You cannot legally drive a rental car into Mexico from the US. therefore you would need to rent onei inMexico.

I’m currently using Uber, motorcycle Tuxtuxs and the bus system for transportation. (if the Uber comes all the way from Progreso, give him a little extra).

If your flight come in late, and  you want to spend the night in Merida, I recommend Hotel La Paz. It is located next to the bus station for Progreso and you can make a reservation online ahead of time.

The bus station in Merida coming out to Progreso is in El Centro on 61, next to Hotel La Paz. To find the bus station from the front of the big Cathedral in El Centro, you walk left,  diagonally across the park to the corner  (61) Turn left and walk down 2 blocks and bus station to Progreso is on the left.

If you take the bus from Merida to Progreso, it drops you at the bus station, (there are grocery stores there if you need to shop before going to the house) You simply walk across the street from the bus station and ask the drivers of the small buses (cambies) if they go all the way to Chuburna’ Puerto.  Chelem is not far enough. You need a bus to Chuburna’ (cost is 15 pesos, 70cents). They may direct you to the next block to the east for that bus. Ride the bus and ask to get off at the “Bufeo” (Entrada Number 168) and walk down to the house.

I sometimes take the bus to Chelem (12 pesos, 60 cents) and shop for food in Chelem, and take a tuxtux motocycle taxi to the house.  Or you can take a taxi or  Uber from Merida. 

There are these sweet motorcycle taxis now in Chelem. I would suggest that when you get to Chelem, you gather the phone numbers of several of these drivers and call them from the house. They prefer Whatsapp. They will come out and pick you up and bring you back and forth to Chelem. It works  that way for Chuburna too!. They asked for 60 pesos, I give them 100. The house is exactly half way between Chelem and Chuburna’ Puerto. 

History

In 15 years, Los Ojos del Loro has been transformed from a small "Flattop Cottage" into a two story dwelling that would be perfect for two couples traveling together or a family with children (well behaved pets welcome). The upstairs bedroom/ bathroom has breakfast area and access to three rooftop patios with views of the Gulf of Mexico and interior waterway  (Ria). 

When you come downstairs, you enter the "Grouper Room" named after the fat grouper set in the floor in broken local stone. This room is perfect for gathering in the morning, reading and relaxing. Through two doorways you enter the original house with sleeping area, living/dining area, kitchen and full bathroom. Out the two back doors is a tiled patio with two square concrete game/eating tables and tiled counters with large sink for outdoor cooking or laundry.   The back of the lot is fenced with a gate. There are concrete walls between houses.

The summer of 2022, the backyard plan was completed. A fill and dump pool, local stone patios, a large palapa with concrete table and new flower beds are ready to be enjoyed.

Things I like about my house and location.

House is located nearly dead center of where the Chicxulub Astroid hit Earth 66 million years ago. The impact was centered in the Gulf off shore from the house. This is the event that caused the cenotes (underground swimming holes) to form.

It is quiet at night and you can hear the ocean waves breaking on the shore. The house is Mayan construction, so it is much cooler than “glass windowed” American construction. The beach area is 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Merida. Much of the time I don’t even use the fans.  

The population is Mayan/Mexican/and expats from all over the world. The house location is near the “action” on the beach road and I enjoy the vendor’s  different calls, bells, triangles, music, etc. I like spending evening time on the roofs, enjoying the sunset.  I swim almost every day in the Gulf of Mexico. The water is waist to chest deep for a great distance out and the waves are calm or just a bit of a wave.  Very good for swimming or morning kayaking.

 My Favorite things to eat:

#1 Fried Fish OMG I live for my deep fried fish.  You can ask to look at your fish. Check for size and to see if the eyes are clear... Indicates freshness.

 #2 Sopa de Lima – Salty, chicken/turkey soup w/ tortillas in it.

 #3 Cochinita Pibil – Spiced Pork Sandwich 

Area Interests

There are weekly events such as Karaoke, Bingo and bands  at restaurants in the pueblos and Progreso. You can locate yoga, massage, language classes, ladies groups, art classes, cooking classes, etc.

There are dozens of cenotes all over the place that you can swim in. Many have ruins near them to walk through. 

Beaches

Walking out the front door, turn left or right and walk to an entrada to go to the beach! Any entrada will do. The water is calmer in the morning. I have a selection of rubber water shoes you can use if you want. Watch for the espalones (sticks along the water). Just  step through them carefully.  I swim everyday and have not encountered anything dangerous, but take care.....it is the Real world! There are many types of birds, including Brown Pelicans, Frigatebirds, Sea Gulls, Terns, Cormorants, Doves, Warblers, Crows, Mockingbirds and hummingbirds. 

There is a huge beach just beyond the fishing village of Chuburna' Puerto and there is the beautiful beach at Progreso with its brand new, miles long Malecon.  There you will find restaurants that serve on the beach, bicycle rentals and a lot of entertainment.

 There are 3 restaurants within walking distance of the house now. Costa Azul, Maasai Maya, and Cielo del Puerta and a well-stocked convenience store on the highway about a 1/3 mile away.

Directions to various places

If you are renting a car, just drive to all the ruins and pueblo sites you want to visit. Watch those topas (speed bumps). If you are going to Merida for the day, you can drive to Progreso, park where there are no yellow painted curbs, and take the bus into Merida for the day.  There are free museums and entertainment all over Merida. Progreso has a lovely beach and beach restaurants and it is a fun place to go for the day. Lots of shopping too. A day walking around Chelem or Chuburna is nice. Any pueblo off the road going to and from Merida is fun to visit too. All are safe and have shopping and specialty crafts. 

You can get your first meal in Chelem. Just find a roasted chicken (near the "Willy's" grocery store) and they will sell it to you with several sides for about $5. 

Grocery store in Progreso- I usually shop at Aurora Bodega or Soriana. Aurora Bodega is the first store you come to as you enter Progreso from Merida. It is on the right past the first gas station. To get to My house from Aurora Bodega, you go straight across the road in front of the grocery store parking lot, and then turn left (it's a one-way street). Turn right at the small glorieta (traffic circle) and follow the signs to Chelem/Chuburna….. all Westbound roads lead to Chelem and to my house. Hard to get lost if you just keep going West.  (I sometime get to a group of big yellow buildings between Progreso and Chelem, but if you just follow the road around you end up at the sculpture of three monster-sized Crabs and at that roundabout and you go right out onto the bridge and around to Chelem..) 

Property Manager

Carlos Pool is the property manager. He lives in Chelem and speaks Spanish and English.

Technology

Wifi Totalplay, Password is on the router. 

 There is a DVD player you can attach to your computer and

 watch movies and listen to music. 

If you have Netflex or other streaming services, you can sign in through the TV.  My smart phone works fine here. Check with your phone plan for any rates or options for foreign travel.

Electric

House Electricity is on the wall facing the front of the house. Turn breaker on if necessary (down is on). There is also a breaker at the road, facing the house. There is a freestanding fan and ceiling fans. 

Water/Water Heater/Stove 

Water comes from a well. Shower/laundry/dish water is not filtered, but totally safe for showering/dishwashing. Drinking water is filtered. Filtering system is under kitchen sink. You can drink this water. It comes from a separate small faucet close to the kitchen faucet.

If you want, you can have one of the 10 gallon Crystal water bottles filled in the pueblos and along the highway two hand pumps in the kitchen.

Hot water heater switch is next to the light switch in the upstairs bathroom. Down position is On. There is hot water in the kitchen, back outdoor laundry sink and showers. No hot water in the bathroom sink downstairs.

Gas stove/oven:   Light match FIRST, turn eye/oven on while holding flame near eye of stove. Make sure there is no smell of gas before lighting match.

Toilet: do not put toilet paper/feminine products/or any type of paper products in the toilet. Place in the bathroom waste basket and dispose of with the everyday trash. This is the rule in all of Yucatan, not just in my house.

 Trash days are Tuesday and Friday. Set trash out that morning. 

Notes when leaving

Please just try to think that no one may be in the house immediately. Clean "perishable" food out of the fridge and give to the neighbors. Make sure dishes are washed and fabrics are clean and dry if possible . You can hang things inside the house if you have to. Just string the clothes line across the room tying it to the hamaca hooks.  Leave the refrigerator on.

Leave the shutters slightly open when you leave…. enough to let air circulate, but not enough to see in.

You don’t particularly need to get the floor clean….. it will be dusty in a couple of days anyway!  

Mi Casa es tu Casa

In my house, make yourself at home! In that spirit I mean relax and enjoy whatever you find in the house including clothing. I have worked on collecting many things that you might enjoy in many categories. There are board and card games, beach “stuff”, some art supplies, recipes that work in Mexico, various cooking equipment,  etc.

 There are “collections” of pretty linens/table clothes, pillows, art, books, movie DVDs  and music CDs. I watch Netflix on my laptop. There is a television with a "Firestick" available that you can use your subscriptions on. There is "Totalplay" WiFi. 

There is a tent for sleeping on the roof, a mosquito net, kites, snorkel gear, yoga and exercise equipment, totebags, hats…. Just look around...

.

Rules and General Notes

Please lock the doors anytime you go away, even if you are just going next door. 

Do not put toilet paper/feminine products/or any type of paper products in the toilets. Place in the bathroom waste basket in the plastic (grocery) bags provided and dispose of in the everyday trash. (this is not just my rule, it is the standard for all of Yucatan, restaurant, airport etc.).

No smoking in the house, . 

Keep everything as aired out as possible. It being a hot humid climate, air circulation is imperative in order to keep fabric items fresh.

Be very careful not to tangle the hamacas.  It is extremely difficult to untangle one, and they are My beds. Try to leave things better than when you arrived for the next person.

If you run out of something such as toothpaste, dish detergent, shampoo, etc., replace it for the next guest.

Don’t drop any food on the floor, be fastidious about cleaning up in the kitchen. Ants find anything very quickly. Place a drop of “Terra” on the floor here and there to keep the ants “occupied and dead”. 

I check my clothes and shoes for scorpions. It is a wise idea. (remember that you have spiders at home where you live) They are not a deadly variety, no worse than a bee sting… you might feel bad for a day and have some swelling, but that’s about the worst. I have not seen one in several years.

If you break something, let me know. Most everything is “pretty” but of little real value. Stuff happens and things do break. Replace it if you feel like it or need it, otherwise, don’t worry about it. Make sure you clean the stove well so that it will last. I used vinegar and water sometimes to keep metal from rusting as quickly. Putting vinegar on ANY metal in the house is appreciated. Rust never sleeps in Yucatan.  

There are several very affordable laundries, one a short distance on the highway toward Chelem and several in Chelem. Rubber Ducky is on the right as you enter Chelem.  Personally, I hand wash my laundry in the outdoor sink. I use the large plastic bowls to wash, rinse and carry wet clothes to hang on the clothes line on the back patio.

There is a freestanding large closet downstairs and a wardrobe upstairs for hanging clothes.

Sleeping

Hamacas: Be very careful sleeping in them making sure they are hooked in securely. You sleep on the diagonal, so you are sleeping flat, for the most part. You can easily sleep on your side in them. You will just have to practice with the sheets/blankets. It is an art to sleep in a hamaca, but it is worth the effort and practice.

There is a Queen sized bed in the upstairs bedroom.

The 2nd bed can be made downstairs by pushing the two “custom made” lounge chairs together to make a double bed. There are an assortment of sheets, quilts to use for bed dressing. There are 6 inch foam mattresses on the lounges.

The Locals

Many Mayan/Mexican people  are bilingual. Many are trilingual. Many speak Mayan as their first language. They are sweet and gracious people.  Please pay them for any services they provide. We are in their country as guests. Do not assume anything. If you meet a Mayan on a bicycle on a dirt road, he may speak 3 languages, have been to the “States” several times and traveled widely and is a very skilled craftsperson. You will be pleasantly surprised with the local population.

Locals travel the beach road selling their “wares”. They yell out what they are selling, play music/instruments etc.  as they walk or drive by. You can purchase, pastries/sweets (pastillas),  bottled water, (agua), and fresh fish, etc.

Safety  

The police patrol the beach road 24/7 several times a day. You can tell when they pass by at night because they have their police lights whirring.

Wear the rubber shoes when in the water. I have a variety of sizes at the house or you can bring your own. Some places have a row of sticks horizontal to the shore. Be careful walking through them.

 I have never seen any dangerous animals/fish in the water, but that being said, it is a natural habitat and I haven’t “met” all the locals.  

To get from the house to the water, you need to use the legal entrances at each entrada (road coming in from the highway). Please refrain from walking through people’s yards to the beach. 

Medical

Chelem – Next to “The Bullpin” restaurant.

Dr. Adrian Esparza-speaks English

Chuburna’ Puerto – Drive to Chuburna…. You will come to the series of small “road bumps” with two large speed bumps (topas). That is the school zone. The medical clinic is on the left beside the school.

Driving

Pay extra attention to your driving because of the topas (speed bumps). They are sometimes poorly marked and they are everywhere you drive. Also, do not drink anything and drive.  I think it is zero tolerance, and you don’t want to be finding out the hard way. Best just to have a designated alcohol free driver.

 Watch your turning always because there are many bikes, motorcycles that use the “pull off on side of the road” lane as another lane of traffic. It is a practice to carefully pull over on the highway to that side lane, and turn into your road from there.