8.Celestun

8.Celestun Day 8-Tour to Celestun Biosphere Reserve 54 miles from Merida.

This tour extension was part of my plan from the beginning, for I wanted to see the main feeding area of the American Flamingo, as well as other species of waterfowl and shorebirds among the mangrove forest and open waters of this shallow estuary of 2-meter deep waters. I was most impressed with the exciting 10-seat covered motor boat trip across the estuary to the flamingo feeding area, including a stop at a fresh-water spring with tiger herons and fish below the elevated walkways.


One Tiger Heron	Two Tiger Herons...good camouflage

Flamingos live in families of about 100. The youngest are the lightest in color.

A fresh fish lunch was provided in nearby Celestun. While our lunch was being cooked, I walked across the beach to firm, wet sand and down the beach a half-block where I discovered not one, but two lighthouses within 40 feet of each other. One reminded me of a small leaning tower of Pisa, as it seemed ready to fall from what I presume was a hurricane undermining its foundation. Behind it was an active revolving reflector lighthouse, 12 meters high, signaling 4 intermittent flashes. They were so close, it was not difficult getting them both positioned in one photo frame.

Our restaurant chairs and the nearby beach.	New and old lighthouse, showing hurricane undermining

Upon our return to the Hotel Merida, we had dinner with Dorothy, Pat, and Wanda since they would leave the following morning. After that dinner, we strolled back to the hotel, stopping at a plaza to listen in the pleasant evening breezes to Flavio play Spanish guitar and sing, and to have flaming Mexican coffee.

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