Here it is the almost the end of January and not one blogger has stepped forward to announce plans for the Third Annual Latin American Bloggers Meeting.
As you will recall, I hosted the first one here on Isla Mujeres. Last year it was held in Mexico and hosted by Teresa, Jonna and Mimi and Lin. It far surpassed the first one in quality and events.
As I and the ladies from Merida can tell you, it is a lot of work but also a lot of fun. Seeing blogger friends and getting to meet in person people that you only know by their blogs is simply awesome. I have met some great people and made some fantastic friends through these meetings.
So, Latin American Bloggers, time to start thinking about whether your city would be a great place to meet and if you think you can help organize it. It is usually held the third weekend of April. Time is flying and people need to make plans.
Are you listening bloggers from San Miquel de Allende and Mazatlan????
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Boats
I got back to the ferry dock to catch my boat back to the island a bit early on Monday. I had some time to kill so I thought you all might like to see some of the boats that call Gran Puerto home.
First we have the shrimper boats. They are easily recognizable by the long arms they use to troll for shrimp. They fold up when travelling or in port.
I'm not sure what the boat in front of them is. It says Tiburon II on the side. Tiburon meaning shark in Spanish. Come to think of it, it does really remind me of the boat that was used in Jaws. Just take away that cover in the back.
More shrimpers a little further out. I think they must have been docked because the harbor was again closed to any boat under 40 foot. But these are longer than 40 feet, I think. Maybe they were there dropping off their loads at the fish processing plant located next to the ferry dock.
Anybody who eats shrimp owes a debt of gratitude to these guys. Look at the condition of these boats that they take out onto the high seas. One guess as to whether or not I would ever go with them!
People ferries from Ultramar in dock for repair or temporarily out of commission.
Isla Mujeres as seen from the ferry dock. You have to look closely to see the little white spots on the horizon. It takes about 20 minutes to make the crossing.
Gotta go! Here comes my ride!
First we have the shrimper boats. They are easily recognizable by the long arms they use to troll for shrimp. They fold up when travelling or in port.
I'm not sure what the boat in front of them is. It says Tiburon II on the side. Tiburon meaning shark in Spanish. Come to think of it, it does really remind me of the boat that was used in Jaws. Just take away that cover in the back.
More shrimpers a little further out. I think they must have been docked because the harbor was again closed to any boat under 40 foot. But these are longer than 40 feet, I think. Maybe they were there dropping off their loads at the fish processing plant located next to the ferry dock.
Anybody who eats shrimp owes a debt of gratitude to these guys. Look at the condition of these boats that they take out onto the high seas. One guess as to whether or not I would ever go with them!
People ferries from Ultramar in dock for repair or temporarily out of commission.
Isla Mujeres as seen from the ferry dock. You have to look closely to see the little white spots on the horizon. It takes about 20 minutes to make the crossing.
Gotta go! Here comes my ride!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
New Parking
The new water and sewer lines have been buried. The new paver stones have been put in place. All of the speed bumps they originally added to Avenue Guerrero have been demolished. Sidewalks have been widened, the better to be ignored by tourists.
While all of this was going on, the street was closed and navigating around downtown on anything that had wheels was a nightmare. Parking? Don't even think about it. The municipal lot was blocked off from public access. One had to park where one could and make your way on foot to the grocery store, hospital or pharmacy. Or restaurant or night club!
They actually did a pretty good job on the street. It is wider now and it helps that they have banned all parking from the street. Usually this stretch of street that you see above is lined with cars, trucks, motorscooters and/or golf carts. Not now. They gave us this:
It is the new municipal parking lot, located next door to the new La Luna night club. I have parked in this lot exactly twice since it opened. In fact, you can see my little red car in the picture above. Right next to where the tourist on the golf cart is trying to squeeze in and block me from opening my doors. In fact, that is why I don't park there anymore. People park every which way. Sometimes even right behind you and go off to who knows where on their business. Last time I parked there I got into a yelling match with a pickup driver who pulled up right behind me and started to get out of his truck. All the while my car was running and my back up lights were on. I just don't want to have any more altercations so better to stay away.
I hope that the city paves this lot or somehow puts lane markers down so people have some idea of where and how to park. If I could only run for Mayor!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Health Update
I got some great news Monday at the doctor's.
I finally had my doppler ultrasound at the cardiologist's. He gave me a clean bill of health and said that he found no signs that the arterial blockage was still there. I am so relieved.
Evidently the meds I have been on dissolved the calcium (or whatever it was) buildup and it just went away. Of course, there are some nasty side effects going on, but he changed up my meds again to try to alleviate some of them. I hope to get rid of them for good though!
If the new meds do their job, I expect to be up and running as my old self again soon. Can't wait for that to happen!
I finally had my doppler ultrasound at the cardiologist's. He gave me a clean bill of health and said that he found no signs that the arterial blockage was still there. I am so relieved.
Evidently the meds I have been on dissolved the calcium (or whatever it was) buildup and it just went away. Of course, there are some nasty side effects going on, but he changed up my meds again to try to alleviate some of them. I hope to get rid of them for good though!
If the new meds do their job, I expect to be up and running as my old self again soon. Can't wait for that to happen!
Monday, January 25, 2010
The Wedding Dance
Groom: Will you marry me?
Bride: Yes! But the ceremony and honeymoon have to be on Isla Mujeres!
Groom: No way! Every time we go there on vacation you get drunk and do something silly!
Bride: Don't be ridiculous. I'm not going to do anything stupid on our wedding night!
You be the Judge.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Wanna See Me Cry?
If you do, just keep it up. Keep stopping me on the street and giving me donations of warm clothing and money (yes, hard cash!) for Project Warm Hearts.
Two people approached me yesterday while I was enjoying coffee at Aluxes Coffee Shop. Both readers of this blog, of course. One gave me a bag full of nice, warm, clean fleece jackets. The other came up with her husband and pushed a wad (a wad!!) of Mexican pesos into my hand. "For the kids", she said.
I almost cried.
Two people approached me yesterday while I was enjoying coffee at Aluxes Coffee Shop. Both readers of this blog, of course. One gave me a bag full of nice, warm, clean fleece jackets. The other came up with her husband and pushed a wad (a wad!!) of Mexican pesos into my hand. "For the kids", she said.
I almost cried.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
A Must Have
Here's something I have never done before; a product endorsement!
I was walking through the mercado the other day when I was stopped by a stranger. At least he was a stranger to me. I was not surprised to hear that he is one of my blog readers here on vacation. I get stopped quite frequently this time of year by readers. It is always a flattering and amazing thing to me to meet people who actually read this little blog.
At any rate, at parting, he reached into his day bag and handed me this CD:
Turns out he is a musician and wanted me to have a copy of his self-made CD. I graciously accepted it but mentally rolled my eyes. I have seen this CD for sale at Aluxes Coffee Shop* and did not give it a second glance. Why? Because I do not find the cover enticing at all. Other than it being a shot of Mr. Billingsley, it has nothing to do with the kind of or quality of the music inside.
People, if you like the island, tropical breezes and warm sunshine, you will love this CD. It is full of soft guitar music that alternately makes you envision lying in a hammock between two palm trees, having a glass of wine on your terrace or sitting on the beach watching the sunset. It is very soothing, tropical, almost flamenco like guitar playing. I played it as background music at a dinner party recently and my guests raved about it.
Unfortunately, there is no contact info, like an email or website, listed on the cover. No way to contact Mr Billingsley about ordering one from him. Since he does read this blog, maybe he can fill us in. I do know that if you are on the island, you can pick up a copy and a coffee at Aluxes Coffee Shop. I recommend you do both!
* this business is in no way connected with the condo building on the beach. It is downtown on Matamoras Avenue.
I was walking through the mercado the other day when I was stopped by a stranger. At least he was a stranger to me. I was not surprised to hear that he is one of my blog readers here on vacation. I get stopped quite frequently this time of year by readers. It is always a flattering and amazing thing to me to meet people who actually read this little blog.
At any rate, at parting, he reached into his day bag and handed me this CD:
Turns out he is a musician and wanted me to have a copy of his self-made CD. I graciously accepted it but mentally rolled my eyes. I have seen this CD for sale at Aluxes Coffee Shop* and did not give it a second glance. Why? Because I do not find the cover enticing at all. Other than it being a shot of Mr. Billingsley, it has nothing to do with the kind of or quality of the music inside.
People, if you like the island, tropical breezes and warm sunshine, you will love this CD. It is full of soft guitar music that alternately makes you envision lying in a hammock between two palm trees, having a glass of wine on your terrace or sitting on the beach watching the sunset. It is very soothing, tropical, almost flamenco like guitar playing. I played it as background music at a dinner party recently and my guests raved about it.
Unfortunately, there is no contact info, like an email or website, listed on the cover. No way to contact Mr Billingsley about ordering one from him. Since he does read this blog, maybe he can fill us in. I do know that if you are on the island, you can pick up a copy and a coffee at Aluxes Coffee Shop. I recommend you do both!
* this business is in no way connected with the condo building on the beach. It is downtown on Matamoras Avenue.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Making A Point
Something a little different today. My friend and fellow island inhabitant, Zina, has written a blog post today that hits the nail squarely on the head about some of the realities of living here.
Go take a look. Here.
Go take a look. Here.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Something I Hate To See
I had to make an unscheduled trip over to Cancun yesterday. I am so organized that I did not notice that one of the medications I take only had one pill left in the box. So off to Sam's Club where they are cheaper than here on the island.
As we were driving home from the ferry, I noticed police officers standing along the cliffs down the road from me. Then a little further along, more were lining the embankment. All were looking down into the water.
There is one spot where the road is now close enough to the cliffs that I can see down into the water. I was really expecting to see a body floating in the water. I was relieved to not see any. What I did see upset me almost as much.
It was a large bunch of driftwood. Very clearly the remains of some boat. Evidently some poor group of people never made it here to the land of promise and their dreams. I can only speculate as to their fate. I'm sure it was not pleasant.
As we were driving home from the ferry, I noticed police officers standing along the cliffs down the road from me. Then a little further along, more were lining the embankment. All were looking down into the water.
There is one spot where the road is now close enough to the cliffs that I can see down into the water. I was really expecting to see a body floating in the water. I was relieved to not see any. What I did see upset me almost as much.
It was a large bunch of driftwood. Very clearly the remains of some boat. Evidently some poor group of people never made it here to the land of promise and their dreams. I can only speculate as to their fate. I'm sure it was not pleasant.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Of Note
Gleaned from our local paper, a few tidbits:
I knew something like this would happen. Dredging near Cozumel island has disturbed the breeding grounds for the already endangered pink conch. Officials are analyzing the impact this will have on the species.
Yesterday 150 sweaters were given out in three neighborhoods on the island. The three poorest ones. I wonder who decides which one is poorer than the other?
Fishermen are turning to other sources for income. The lucky ones have another skill they can fall back on, like cement worker or carpenter. They have been unable to go out to do any fishing for 20 days now due to the cold weather and rough seas. We're talking boats 40 feet or less. Unless it was caught from one of the larger boats, you are all eating frozen fish and shrimp. But, like I always say, even frozen fish here is going to be fresher than anything you can get NOB right now.
DIF, Mexico's equivalent to our Welfare system, has announced a mass wedding ceremony will take place at city hall on the mainland. (Isla Mujeres is not just an island) More than 50 couples have registered already. Cheap but efficient way to get married.
Cold front #23 is expected to swoop in on us by this weekend. Temperatures will drop to 9C, 48F. Get your beach time in now and then prepare to bundle up again.
There you have it. Just a few tidbits from the island paradise.
I knew something like this would happen. Dredging near Cozumel island has disturbed the breeding grounds for the already endangered pink conch. Officials are analyzing the impact this will have on the species.
Yesterday 150 sweaters were given out in three neighborhoods on the island. The three poorest ones. I wonder who decides which one is poorer than the other?
Fishermen are turning to other sources for income. The lucky ones have another skill they can fall back on, like cement worker or carpenter. They have been unable to go out to do any fishing for 20 days now due to the cold weather and rough seas. We're talking boats 40 feet or less. Unless it was caught from one of the larger boats, you are all eating frozen fish and shrimp. But, like I always say, even frozen fish here is going to be fresher than anything you can get NOB right now.
DIF, Mexico's equivalent to our Welfare system, has announced a mass wedding ceremony will take place at city hall on the mainland. (Isla Mujeres is not just an island) More than 50 couples have registered already. Cheap but efficient way to get married.
Cold front #23 is expected to swoop in on us by this weekend. Temperatures will drop to 9C, 48F. Get your beach time in now and then prepare to bundle up again.
There you have it. Just a few tidbits from the island paradise.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Mexico Shots
I mentioned yesterday that people have died from the cold in the state of Chihauhau. The following picture was taken in 2007 in Creel, Chihauhau. This is a small town in the Copper Canyon region of Mexico.
Just how warm do you suppose the inhabitants of this house, and hundreds others just like it, are?
The governor for the state of the Yucatan announced yesterday that they will be distributing 84 thousand jackets and 30 thousand blankets to the citizens of that state. (it borders where I live, Quintana Roo) Temps there have been hovering in the 40s, around 4.5C.
Just how warm do you suppose the inhabitants of this house, and hundreds others just like it, are?
The governor for the state of the Yucatan announced yesterday that they will be distributing 84 thousand jackets and 30 thousand blankets to the citizens of that state. (it borders where I live, Quintana Roo) Temps there have been hovering in the 40s, around 4.5C.
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Good News
We're having a cold snap. I don't want to hear any snarky comments from you NOB folks either. It is in the low 60's, windy, drizzly and Cold with a capital C! And it's happening all across Mexico, north to south.
The Mexican health minister has reported that in the past few days, 9 people have died in Mexico from cold related causes. Mostly in the northern states of Chihauhau and Durango. I have been in the mountains of Chihauhau and even in the summer it is cold at night. I can't imagine how cold it is there now.
Here on the island the Red Cross has been handing out blankets and winter coats to people. All donated by people who care. Cancun has set up special cold weather shelters, mostly for the homeless. In this area, as most areas of Mexico, we have no auxiliary heat source in our homes. It is just not needed. Short of turning on the oven, there is no way to get the chill out.
So this cold got me to thinking about the people in Veracruz that we have all helped in the past with cash donations and hats. John Calypso mentioned to me that he saw an old lady walking down the street wrapped only in a flimsy shawl. He wished that he had an extra coat to run out to her. And just recently I found out that my friend, Jane H from Wisconsin, is again collecting gently used, washable coats to bring down to the residents of the island. They are always appreciated and she puts a lot of work into collecting these items. Of course, with airline restrictions being what they are now, she can't bring as many as she used to.
I announced on Christmas Day that Project Warm Hearts was being discontinued due to problems in getting the items to Veracruz and the people who need them. After I made this announcement, Kathy and Jaimie S of Pau Mau stepped forward again and basically offered to make sure anything that got donated this year, they would make sure it gets to Xico.
So B(ob) and I got to talking about all of this recently. We decided that if people are willing to help, we should at least be able to make sure stuff gets delivered. To that end, next November, for my birthday present, we are going to take a trip to Xico and personally deliver any donated items and as many hats as I can make to the people of Xico.
So the good news....PROJECT WARM HEARTS is now active and up and running again! That makes me very happy! But this year I want to concentrate on all the people of Xico, not just the children. How can you help? It's simple. Donate. I am really interested in the following items:
Warm coats. They should be washable and only gently used. Any size, color or style.
Sweaters
Hats, scarves and gloves
Socks
Small toys, coloring books and crayons. Miniature cars, dinosaurs, that sort of little thing. Stocking stuffer toys and items. Collect those free pens and pencils that businesses are always giving out.
I will be collecting these things and storing them here at my house until November. If you are planning a trip to Isla in the next 10 months, please consider bringing something extra in your suitcase. If you know somebody who is coming, send along a little something with them and encourage them to bring something. Just let me know the details of your visit and I will pick the stuff up from you.
Of course, cash donations are always welcome and I am going to work hard on getting a PayPal button on this page so you can just donate right here and not have to go off to some other website to do it.
So people, let's work together and make sure that next winter nobody in Xico has to worry about being cold, having a toy for their kids or maybe even dying from hypothermia. I already know what warm hearts you have. Step forward over these next 10 months and let's show what we are really made of!
The Mexican health minister has reported that in the past few days, 9 people have died in Mexico from cold related causes. Mostly in the northern states of Chihauhau and Durango. I have been in the mountains of Chihauhau and even in the summer it is cold at night. I can't imagine how cold it is there now.
Here on the island the Red Cross has been handing out blankets and winter coats to people. All donated by people who care. Cancun has set up special cold weather shelters, mostly for the homeless. In this area, as most areas of Mexico, we have no auxiliary heat source in our homes. It is just not needed. Short of turning on the oven, there is no way to get the chill out.
So this cold got me to thinking about the people in Veracruz that we have all helped in the past with cash donations and hats. John Calypso mentioned to me that he saw an old lady walking down the street wrapped only in a flimsy shawl. He wished that he had an extra coat to run out to her. And just recently I found out that my friend, Jane H from Wisconsin, is again collecting gently used, washable coats to bring down to the residents of the island. They are always appreciated and she puts a lot of work into collecting these items. Of course, with airline restrictions being what they are now, she can't bring as many as she used to.
I announced on Christmas Day that Project Warm Hearts was being discontinued due to problems in getting the items to Veracruz and the people who need them. After I made this announcement, Kathy and Jaimie S of Pau Mau stepped forward again and basically offered to make sure anything that got donated this year, they would make sure it gets to Xico.
So B(ob) and I got to talking about all of this recently. We decided that if people are willing to help, we should at least be able to make sure stuff gets delivered. To that end, next November, for my birthday present, we are going to take a trip to Xico and personally deliver any donated items and as many hats as I can make to the people of Xico.
So the good news....PROJECT WARM HEARTS is now active and up and running again! That makes me very happy! But this year I want to concentrate on all the people of Xico, not just the children. How can you help? It's simple. Donate. I am really interested in the following items:
Warm coats. They should be washable and only gently used. Any size, color or style.
Sweaters
Hats, scarves and gloves
Socks
Small toys, coloring books and crayons. Miniature cars, dinosaurs, that sort of little thing. Stocking stuffer toys and items. Collect those free pens and pencils that businesses are always giving out.
I will be collecting these things and storing them here at my house until November. If you are planning a trip to Isla in the next 10 months, please consider bringing something extra in your suitcase. If you know somebody who is coming, send along a little something with them and encourage them to bring something. Just let me know the details of your visit and I will pick the stuff up from you.
Of course, cash donations are always welcome and I am going to work hard on getting a PayPal button on this page so you can just donate right here and not have to go off to some other website to do it.
So people, let's work together and make sure that next winter nobody in Xico has to worry about being cold, having a toy for their kids or maybe even dying from hypothermia. I already know what warm hearts you have. Step forward over these next 10 months and let's show what we are really made of!
Friday, January 08, 2010
Need To Talk
I've got some really great news coming up that I will tell you about on Monday.
But first I need to talk to somebody. Jane H from Wisconsin and a fellow Coffee Talker, please send me an email with your email address. islagringo@yahoo.com
Thanks.
But first I need to talk to somebody. Jane H from Wisconsin and a fellow Coffee Talker, please send me an email with your email address. islagringo@yahoo.com
Thanks.
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
It's All Relative
I heard once that the definition of relative is this: one hair on your head is relatively little; one hair in your soup is relatively a lot. So I guess it depends upon your point of view.
Relative or not, it is cold here. I don't care if you are living someplace that is having below zero temps Fahrenheit right now or not. What is relative to me is how cold it is here, where I live. And it is cold.
Last night saw a new all time low for me here. It was actually 57F when I checked just before retiring for the evening. Now that's cold! We have all acclimated to the tropical weather that we so enjoy living here. So when a cold front like this comes through, it is hard to bear. We have no furnaces, no fireplaces, no way to get auxiliary heat at all. All we can do is close our doors and windows and put on every piece of warm clothing that we own. Which isn't a lot!
And according to our local paper, the end is not yet in sight. There is a cold front dropping down on the Yucatan from the southern USA. Temperatures this weekend are expected to hit a new low of 52F, 12C. I can't wait for that! NOT!
I feel sorry for the tourists. Imagine dreaming of your vacation all year and then getting here and freezing. It is so cold that people are avoiding the beach like the plague. You won't catch me there right now. And you especially will not see me in the water! The poor tourists are leaving just as white as they were when they got here.
But golf cart and motorcycles rentals are at 100%. There are none left to rent by 11 AM every day as people look for alternate forms of entertainment. And inadvertently make life miserable for all of us who live here. Yesterday a cart full of screaming, drunk tourists drove by and threw their empty beer bottles onto the beach as they passed. So don't criticize me for criticizing them please.
On another note, which tourists here may find interesting, there has been no fishing allowed for the past 10 days. So any restaurant that tells you that the fish or lobster is fresh today is lying to you. It will be frozen. Except for the restaurants that feature live lobster tanks. But really, even fish, lobster or shrimp that has been frozen for 10 days is likely to be fresher and tastier than anything you will find in the frozen northlands right now.
Along with the ports (ocean) being closed to fisher people right now because of the high winds (gusts of 45 mph so don't tell me we don't have wind chill!), they are reported that their overall catch is below 50% of what they were catching last year at this time. Especially lobster.
I wonder if all that dredging for sand for the tourists of Cancun has anything to do with the lack of lobster beds? Or is just over fishing. Remains to be seen I guess. Or maybe we will never know for sure. Either way, people who depend on this industry for their living are suffering right now.
And so goes it in Paradise.
Relative or not, it is cold here. I don't care if you are living someplace that is having below zero temps Fahrenheit right now or not. What is relative to me is how cold it is here, where I live. And it is cold.
Last night saw a new all time low for me here. It was actually 57F when I checked just before retiring for the evening. Now that's cold! We have all acclimated to the tropical weather that we so enjoy living here. So when a cold front like this comes through, it is hard to bear. We have no furnaces, no fireplaces, no way to get auxiliary heat at all. All we can do is close our doors and windows and put on every piece of warm clothing that we own. Which isn't a lot!
And according to our local paper, the end is not yet in sight. There is a cold front dropping down on the Yucatan from the southern USA. Temperatures this weekend are expected to hit a new low of 52F, 12C. I can't wait for that! NOT!
I feel sorry for the tourists. Imagine dreaming of your vacation all year and then getting here and freezing. It is so cold that people are avoiding the beach like the plague. You won't catch me there right now. And you especially will not see me in the water! The poor tourists are leaving just as white as they were when they got here.
But golf cart and motorcycles rentals are at 100%. There are none left to rent by 11 AM every day as people look for alternate forms of entertainment. And inadvertently make life miserable for all of us who live here. Yesterday a cart full of screaming, drunk tourists drove by and threw their empty beer bottles onto the beach as they passed. So don't criticize me for criticizing them please.
On another note, which tourists here may find interesting, there has been no fishing allowed for the past 10 days. So any restaurant that tells you that the fish or lobster is fresh today is lying to you. It will be frozen. Except for the restaurants that feature live lobster tanks. But really, even fish, lobster or shrimp that has been frozen for 10 days is likely to be fresher and tastier than anything you will find in the frozen northlands right now.
Along with the ports (ocean) being closed to fisher people right now because of the high winds (gusts of 45 mph so don't tell me we don't have wind chill!), they are reported that their overall catch is below 50% of what they were catching last year at this time. Especially lobster.
I wonder if all that dredging for sand for the tourists of Cancun has anything to do with the lack of lobster beds? Or is just over fishing. Remains to be seen I guess. Or maybe we will never know for sure. Either way, people who depend on this industry for their living are suffering right now.
And so goes it in Paradise.
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