Casa Cenote Post Dean

[Gale in KY]

Credit to SThompson

The pictures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10165134@N07/sets/72157602795325530

The comments
Got back last night and saw Gary. His place is a wreck! He said he lost everything he owned. They only thing he has was the clothes on his back when he was rescued at 4:00 am! He wasen't expecting that kind of storm surge from a hurricane 200 plus miles away. He said there was no wind only water. He even lost his truck and now has a bicycle. He didn't have time to drive out, his truck was already under water. It is really sad. He has funds in place and is starting to rebuild now. He is working on a sea wall to help protect the resturant from a surge. Although nothing would have stopped that last storm surge! He has a positive outlook and refuses to give up. This is the third hurricane in two and a half years for him. I took pictures and will post a few later. I haven't even uploaded them from my camera yet.

[mexigirl]

Thanks so much for the info and pictures Gale! Was the whole bay badly damaged or mostly his place because of his location on top of the cenote?

I feel so bad for him. We just love sitting in his restaurant and enjoying the view and breezes.

We have property just around the north side of the bay. I hear from the owners forum that there are 4-5 houses being built over there. Did you drive down that far? I can't wait for my visit the end of this month.

[Gale in KY]

I didn't go Mexigal..these were taken by a Locogringo member..I just brought them over here for our viewing (dis) pleasure.

I have heard the damage was sporatic, tidal serge caused more damage than wind, as usual with a hurricane, the water damage is always the biggest problem.

Seeing these though, I can't even imagine weathering the storm in Mahahual, that must have been hell on earth.

[Sthompson]

Hey there. I was cruising this message board and saw my post from Locogringo! Just wanted to say HI. I've been a loyal fan of Casa Cenote and The Roo for years. I am looking forward to 14 full days of exploring more of the Roo and Costa Maya in March so I was checking out some different accommodations in Tulum. I'll be lurking and asking questions. I look forward to meeting some of you Tulum lovers.

[mayaflya]

Welcome! We stayed at Tankah last March (at Slice of Paradise) and have reservations at Villa Dolce Vita at Soliman Bay this March. I've seen the pics of Oscar y Lalos and your shots of Casa Cenote, but in general, how did the other properties on these bays fare after Dean? Should we be worried?

[Sthompson]

We didn't actually see the other areas of Tankah but I have heard they are fine. I think Casa Cenote and Oscar and Lalos suffered such bad damage because of the close proximity to the cenotes. Don't quote me on that though.

[mayaflya]

We didn't actually see the other areas of Tankah but I have heard they are fine. I think Casa Cenote and Oscar and Lalos suffered such bad damage because of the close proximity to the cenotes. Don't quote me on that though.

Sorry, couldn't resist ;-)

[Sthompson]

For your viewing pleasure...here are my "before" pictures taken in July. We had a great visit. Gary had just had a wedding the night before we got there and things were really looking great. I was so glad to see things returning to normal. I feel really bad for him.
http://flickr.com/photos/10165134@N07/sets/72157600970977117/

[firecop680]

That looked like a nice place until.... Dean came to town.

[Lynnette]

Welcome! We stayed at Tankah last March (at Slice of Paradise) and have reservations at Villa Dolce Vita at Soliman Bay this March. I've seen the pics of Oscar y Lalos and your shots of Casa Cenote, but in general, how did the other properties on these bays fare after Dean? Should we be worried?

I'm sure everything is back to normal. Here is a link to the Nah Uxibal newsletter where Jeanette describes their experience with Dean. Once again, the mangroves prove how important it is to keep the area ecologically sound!!

http://nahuxibalvacationrentals.com/pr/newsletter.pdf

[sonofabeach]

Wow! That's was one of our favorite stops down there. Such a cool beach dive. I hope it all works out okay.
http://widget.slide.com/rdr/1/1/3/W/100000009c7595f/1/96/dgEcOkdW6D9FncMUxJcLY3HDBvp_KBdu.jpg (http://www.slide.com/s/alfDnnsZ6D8wYr334_Z5O6TDv_ZK7MTj?referrer=hlnk)

[NiceTom]

Any word about the cenote? Does it have a bunch of rubbish in it? What about the sailboat?

[Sthompson]

The day we were there the cenote was very cloudy. It had been raining the day before. But I heard there are all kinds of things in it. There was a mattress sitting right on the edge! The sailboat is sitting across the road between his house and Villa Gummerson.
http://http://www.rockyou.com/photos/photo_view.php?instanceid=5503789
This picture was posted by somone else. I'm not sure how to post the picture, so I will do it this way. I'm still figuring out this message board.
If this link does not work I may need help from someone.

[mayaflya]

The pic posting can be a little tricky, but in this case, all you need to do is paste the code from the "image" link on the website into your reply..like this:
http://img308.rockyou.com/imagehost/5/5503/5503789/5503789_943779d71194618141_m.jpg

There's a little icon in the posting toolbar that looks like a little mountain with a sun/moon rising above it. If you click this icon when you are typing your post, it will open a dialog box that you can paste your picture's URL into (Make sure you delete the URL that defaults into the box if you already have one in your copied link). This dialog basically adds the "image" code (the letters IMG in brackets) to each end of your link. Some picture hosting sites work better than others, so you may want to test the one you want to use before you upload all your pictures to it (don't ask me how I know).

Hope this helps, and thanks for your info on Soliman/Tankah!

[Sthompson]

Ok let me try again.
http://img308.rockyou.com/imagehost/5/5503/5503789/5503789_943779d71194618141_m.jpg

[mayaflya]

Bueno!

[Sthompson]

Ok I did it. I just copied and paste(d) the IMG code directly in the post, not using the little image box. ??? Not sure how, but it worked. Thanks

[mayaflya]

It's the same result, I should have been more clear. The website that your picture was hosted on had a box that you could copy the IMG code from..the little mountain icon is another way that you can add the IMG code to a web address. You can also just type the code into your post if you want....it's all good!

The IMG code just tells the picture to display in the body of the message, rather than just appear as a link.

[xamachdan]

Gayle,
Are you in Mexico now? I will be there Nov 14-20 to work on Xamach.
I need to stop in and see Gary- we were at Xamach together 1 day before Dean and were celebrating that it was going South. I can't beleive he got hit so bad and we were spared major damage.
Anyway, let me know.
XD

[Gale in KY]

Dan..unfortunately, I am stuck in chilly, dreary old Kentucky right now..won't be putting my feet on paradise soil until December 9th.

I hate this so much for Gary..he has been slammed 3 times in two years..and I know this time had to be the most devesating of all, after thinking that Dean was going to miss the area.

When you talk to him, tell him that there are alot of us out here pulling for him..and if there is anything I can do to help out when I get down there, just hollar!

[FITZ]

So is Casa Cenote alive and kicking? We'd love to stop by and spend some time next week. (note: NEXT WEEK!!!!)

[Gale in KY]

We could use an up to date report back on things there Fitz..Dan will be there too in the next week or so..be sure to let us know how things are going for Casa Cenote.

[beachreader]

Dan, if you or Gary need some muling done, let us know. I'm sure I could bring a few things.

[PhyllisB]

Seeing these though, I can't even imagine weathering the storm in Mahahual, that must have been hell on earth.

More to come on this, Gale - we took a trip down. It's hard to even find the words. On the one hand, you want to encourage people to go - they NEED folks to spend some money on hotels, food, etc - but on the other, it's no place to spend a vacation at the moment. And probably not for a while. Maggie's pictures hit home with me when she posted them, but to see it in person was just a totally different thing altogether. I'd say awesome - but would mean it more literally - awe-inspiring --- amazing what a hurricane can do. Flattened that town. Totally flattened it.

What I'd love to do would be to participate in a mission-type group, where you go for a week just to help people build. Running down there with some donations was good, and I'm sure appreciated, but was not nearly enough. I'm crappy at organizing, and don't have the local contacts, but that kind of thing would be incredible, I think. And better than a couple of tourists going down and spending money on a meal or two.

They are working hard though - the local people - and some of the business owners - they are committed. That was heartwarming.

[mexigirl]

We just got back from Tankah on Wednesday night. I couldn't believe Casa Cenote. In fact everything in the middle of the bay sustained some damage. They had to clear away sand in order to get down the road. It reminds me of the snow piles we have here in Minnesota now. I took some pictures that I'll post later this weekend when I have time.

For me, the good news was the north side of the bay was fine. No problems this time. Hurricane Emily did a real number on us two years ago, but Dean didn't touch us. There are at least four new houses being built right now on the north side. I spoke with my neighbors and saw their new house. Wow, is it gorgeous! They plan to start renting soon.

[Sthompson]

He said he was going to be ready for the Barbecue on Sunday. Do you think it will happen? Did you go up and see how things were going?

[SeaBabe]

So, I am not clear on whether Casa Cenote is up and running? I will be down there in early Jan. I really liked the food there, and the cenote! Do you guys think it'll be back to normal by early Jan?

[mexigirl]

I took these pictures of casa cenote last Monday. It looks there is a long way to go yet.
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/HP_Administrator/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/playa%201207/IMG_0975.JPG
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/HP_Administrator/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/playa%201207/IMG_0976.JPG
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/HP_Administrator/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/playa%201207/IMG_0977.JPG

[mexigirl]

ok clearly I didn't post those pictures correctly:)
One more time, with feeling
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/HP_Administrator/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/playa%201207/IMG_0977.JPG

http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDPfRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6 xqpxQPPGxonJxoaGxv8uOc5xQQQGPJ0e0P0nlqpfVtB%3F*KUp 7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQon%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442
http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDofRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6 xqpxQPPGxonJxoaGxv8uOc5xQQQGPJ0e0P0nGqpfVtB%3F*KUp 7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQPl%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442
http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDPfRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6 xqpxQPPGxonJxoaGxv8uOc5xQQQGPJ0e0P0nlqpfVtB%3F*KUp 7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQon%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442

[mexigirl]

I must be an idiot. What am I doing wrong?

[SeaBabe]

I don't know what you're doing wrong. I haven't ever posted pics on this forum.

[PhyllisB]

Well, it looks like some of them are on your hard drive, and that won't work. The others look like they are online at snapfish, so I"m not entirely sure why they aren't working. I'll look for Gale's thread on posting pictures and bump it up.

[mayaflya]

Nobody's an idiot....for some reason, some picture hosting sites link and other's don't. The two that I use most often for sharing albums with friends, Kodakgallery and Snapfish do not work for pics on this forum. Anything I want to post here I have to upload to my Flickr account. We should make a list of the sites that work that we can refer people to. I've heard others use Photobucket successfully. It's always a good idea to do a test upload before you move your whole album...

[SeaBabe]

Bottom line is, it sounds like Casa Cenote will NOT be functioning by early January.....??

[mexigirl]

following Gale's instructions for pictures with mixed results. I think I'm an idiot after all. :D

http://s267.photobucket.com/albums/ii283/caribchicky/th_IMG_0978.jpg

http://s267.photobucket.com/albums/ii283/caribchicky/th_IMG_0975.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii283/caribchicky/IMG_0976.jpg?t=1197333381

[SeaBabe]

Hey, good news! On Loco Gringo, someone who seems to know, said that Casa Cenote is actually already up & running!

[mexigirl]

That is good news. Where's there's a will there's a way. I'll be sure to check it out when I'm back there early next month.

[SeaBabe]

That is good news. Where's there's a will there's a way. I'll be sure to check it out when I'm back there early next month.

I'll be down there in early January too. Maybe we should see who else will be have a get together... maybe see if anyone from LocoGringo will be there too. I have gone to a few LG get togethers down there... What are your dates? We could all hook up at Casa Cenote and support Gary... whoever he is... everyone seems to know him but when I've been there I've never met a Gary... I guess he's a gringo?

[mexigirl]

Cool! I arrive on the 6th and leave for home(boo!) on the 11th. My 2 girlfriends are coming with me. We are staying in our condo in Playa but I will probably make a day trip to Tankah on the way to Xel-ha/Tulum for my friends. When will you be there? Where are you staying?

[SeaBabe]

Cool! I arrive on the 6th and leave for home(boo!) on the 11th. My 2 girlfriends are coming with me. We are staying in our condo in Playa but I will probably make a day trip to Tankah on the way to Xel-ha/Tulum for my friends. When will you be there? Where are you staying?


I arrive on the 4th, will be in Playa a few days and then head to Tulum either on the 6th or 7th depending on what availability I can find. Zulum still has not answered my emails! I will be down there 5 nights and probably do Xel Ha on the Saturday the 12th, since I think I recall that it's cheaper on weekends? And a night back in Playa on the 12th before flying out on the 13th. Maybe the best thing is to hook up at a bar (like Mezzanine?) in Tulum on some evening, or at Casa Cenote... and maybe we can find a few others who'll be down there and create a little GTG :)