Saying Goodbye For A While

I'll be saying goodbye to Isla Mujeres next week. Not forever, but for a bit of time.

I will be returning to Michigan for the rest of the Summer and early Fall. Perhaps longer, I'm just not sure. I'll be with family again, the same place I was in May. Personal reasons that I don't care to go into here in this public forum.

I will be posting from Michigan. So if you want to follow along, please do so. Just do not expect posts from our about the island for awhile.

I hope that you will join me as I once again discover what the great NOB land has to offer!

Catching A Wave

Regular readers will be very familiar with the rock formation across from my house that I refer to as Crocodile Rock. But did you know that it has a cousin, just a bit to the north?

Meet Iguana Rock.






This is a favorite fishing spot for local lads and Gringo retirees alike. I think it is more to practice their skills or pass the time than to actually catch anything.

While looking out at the ocean that day, I happened to spy some movement in the water directly in front of my house. This is about the normal size of waves on a normal day.






Two of our local fun seekers where out there with boogie boards.






And evidently having the time of their lives.








I like how they even donned surfing wear. Perhaps to protect them from the jagged rocks that lie very close to the surface?

At any rate, it was fun to watch them having fun.

Clean Up Time

Here in the tropics, hurricane season is in full swing.

One of the things that happens is that the city puts out the word to all residents to clean up their properties and get rid of any loose objects that may become projectiles in high winds.

As you can see, my neighbors do not think that this applies to them.









Trust me, even as a hurricane comes ashore, that stuff will still be there. Makes me a bit angry, it does.

Charlie

I haven't posted anything about our "nephew", Charlie for awhile. I thought I would share a couple of pictures of how he is growing. Hard to believe that he is four months old now.

Charlie seems to always be happy. I have yet to hear him cry. Oh, he'll start to fuss a bit when he gets hungry, but he just isn't one of the kids who feels the need to cry all the time. Thankfully!

Carlos and Andrea are perfect parents. It warms my heart to see the three of them interact. Especially Carlos. It is so clear that he loves this kid. And that the kid loves his Dad!






About to give Daddy yet another beso. (kiss)






Is it any wonder that this kid is good looking?







I love this picture. It just makes me want to hug him all the more!

A Different Perspective

Normally, if we want to really view the sunset, we head over to Playa Sol on the north end of the island. Recently we decided to check it out from a different vantage point.

These sunset pics were taken from the north deck of the restaurant Bally-Hoo.







Although it wasn't all bad, I didn't enjoy the sunset from this perspective as well as Playa Sol. I don't think I will go there again for sunset. I will continue to go there for breakfast though. Can't beat it!

To The Beach!

On a slightly overcast day recently, I took a drive down to the beaches to see what, if anything, has changed. With the constantly changing currents and storms, the beach never seems to stay the same. Here is what I found.

This is the side beach to the Hotel NaBalam, across from the Avalon. Notice my beach/water guide, that stick, is now deeply in the sand. I think last time I posted it was well into the water.






Even in the middle of the channel, the water level is low enough that lovers can take a stroll, hand in hand.






The view from the bridge. Plenty of room to spread out your towel. Not many people to see though.






This is the beach on the other side of the bridge. In front of the old Casa Maya, now renamed Villa Kin. One of my readers asked for a picture of the condition of it. As you can see, it is doing just fine.








Here's a close-up of those people out by that rock in the photo above. Loving this zoom!









Now we are over at the true North Beach, at the Hotel Maria del Mar. They have added this new deck off the side of that huge new palapa that they built. Not sure what the upstairs will be used for, but underneath is quite evident.








Even though I personally dislike the swing seats, I am glad to see that they are sturdy.







This beach has always been great for waders, children, people a bit afraid of the water and for just cooling off. It takes a long time to get any depth to it and it is always clear.

This so totally disgusts me that I am almost (almost!) at a loss for words. The Hotel Maria del Mar has the concession for this stretch of beach. Which means that they can set up lounge chairs, umbrellas and those icky, germ infested beds and charge for them. But can they maintain the beach area and make it a pleasant place to be? Evidently not. It would appear that the peso is more powerful than the rake. (not to mention, this stuff stinks!)

Despite the greed of the entrepeneurs, North Beach has always been a bit of a magical place. How much better does it get, sitting under a palm tree with that gorgeous blue water in front of you? Not much.

Staying On The Malecon

Walking south from the destruction of the Perla Hotel along the malecon, one comes upon some new artwork/murals painted on the walls. Again, no signatures, but I am assuming they were painted by school children. Or at least somebody without a lot of training.







To me, they have almost a Grandma Moses type quality to them. Primitive but interesting. And, if you ask me, they are drawn to scale!





No matter the quality, I still think it is great that some color and ingenuity has been added to the otherwise bleak walk along the malecon. Of course, one could always look to the left out to sea.







Just past the wall where the above picture was taken, the malecon gives you the choice to turn right and head over to the town square with its' fabulous hardly-ever-functioning fountain, or to the grocery store. Along the way, you will pass by another one of Isla's newer statues.

This one a salute to the ever burgeoning industry of whale shark watching and snorkeling.





A very good depiction of this fish. Of course, I have never seen one in the wild. Nor do I think I ever will. Unless I am hi-jacked and taken to sea by some depraved individual.

I have also been led to believe that this is not to scale. The statue is much smaller than the mammoths you will actually encounter out to sea. There are some very fine pictures and videos on the web of this activity.

Translated: Whale Shark. The largest fish that is known to exist on the planet today. Habitat in the warm oceans and seas, in the area of the tropics.

I guess that is about all you really need to know.

Coming Down! Or Not.

Some things are just sad. Like the demolition of the old la Perla hotel on the malecon. This used to be a bright jewel as you strolled the old malecon. The pool always looked refreshing.

For several years now, it has just been boarded up and rumors have flown about its' demolition and the subsequent use of this prime piece of real estate. But nothing ever happened.


Then, maybe a year ago, they brought in wrecker balls and bulldozers and started to rip it down. For a bit. Just as suddenly as they started, they stopped. Nobody seems to know why.






The rooms just stand empty and forlorn. And, as the local paper will point out with righteous indignation, it is a dangerous place to be around, it is a hazard to anybody walking by it, should it suddently decide to give up the ghost and fall. Plus it is a magnet for wildlife. Both the four legged and two legged kind.






See what they mean? There are no barriers between the malecon where people stroll and these piles of debris. I agree with the local paper. It is time to get this cleaned up and move on.






Here you can see its' proximity to the malecon and the ocean.








Since I was right there, I thought I would get a shot of the hurricane surge/wave barriers that are in place to protect the malecon. I'll let you know how that does or does not work out.

Playa Mexico

There's another (relatively) new place on Isla for you to go pass the time and relax with the water, sun, sand and maybe a cocktail or two!

Playa Mexico has now opened its' doors on the Sac Bajo road. The entrance is just past the old Cristal Mar Condos, so not very far past the turtle farm. In fact, it may be the old Playa Tiburon. Not really sure about that.

There is a small parking lot for your car, golf cart or motorscooter. After you leave the parking area, you are led down this garden path to the giant palapa.






And I do mean giant. This thing is huge.





Although not open when we there, the restaurant area looks like it would be a great place to dine.









Passing through the restaurant area, there are a few steps down to the actual beach. The main bar sits off to your right. If it is your first visit, your first drink is free!








There is a huge volleyball area, should you feel the need to work up a sweat.

Of course, the obligatory swing seats at a bar. Whoever thought up this idea should be shot. (IMHO) They are nothing but knee bangers and not comfortable at all.

The actual beach area lies between two docks. I'm sure these used to host tourist boats from Cancun. I doubt that they see much activity now days. A friend of mine says it is great to walk out to the end and jump off. I'll take his word for it.

Here's a better shot of the beach area. Like most of the beaches on the west side of the island, those facing Cancun, it is covered with seagrass. You can only go a little ways out before you encounter it. If it doesn't bother you to wade or swim with seagrass rubbing against you, go for it. Me, it gives me the creeps to even think about.

There is plenty of room though to put a lounge chair in the water. Another drink just a waiter away!

Kite sailing off a boat in the bay area.

Usually though, the most activity that you will see is the occassional fishing/tourist boat pull up to the dock next door.

The day we were there, there was a young Italian man with a couple of surfboards. He was sharing them with whoever wanted to go for a paddle on them. I'll leave you then with pictures of him getting his exercise while enjoying the sun and surf.

Looked like a lot of work to me!