Day One on Isla…

Let me just start out by saying, “It’s freaking HOT down here!!”  I looked on weather.com before I left and it showed showers for the next ten days with temps in the mid to lower 80’s.  NOT!  I don’t know what the actual temperature was, but I was sweating bullets and my hair looks like something from the Bride of Frankenstein.  (I am not posting a selfie, by the way.) 

It’s been almost two years since I did a Mexico post on my blog, so I am WAY out of practice.  I forgot how much work they are between taking all the photos, editing the photos, and coming up with something whimsical or thought-provoking to say.  My main objective for the posts on Isla this time is to show friends I work with where I go, how I go, and what I do when I’m there.  This first post will be a very basic “how I get to Isla” description, so it’s not going to be very whimsical or thought-provoking.  Besides that, it usually takes me 2-3 days to get my “Mexico legs” and come up with an idea of what I want to do.  I’m still on day one, so bear with me. 

I had the luxury of a non-stop flight this time.  It really IS a luxury.  My son downloaded the movie “Gravity” on my laptop and the length of the movie worked exactly with the time I could use my computer on the plane, so the time just whizzed by.  Got off the plane and went through immigration pretty quickly.  I have been through this where the lines go all the way back to the far wall. 

And the luggage area was pretty empty. 

I breezed through customs, too, and got the green light.  I wanted to take a picture of the “green light,” but they always rush you through that, so I didn’t want to slow things down.  I have never gotten the red light.  Although now that I’ve said that, I’m sure I’ll get it next time.

Out to the ground transportation where they wait like hawks to get your business and throw a bunch of additional services like tours and whatnot to your agenda.  I went with Best Day, as usual, because they’re inexpensive ($26 round trip from the airport to/from the ferry) and reliable.  I’ve never had to go through the Hotel Zone and I’ve often been the only passenger in the van.  The only time I’ve had drop-offs before me was when I scheduled trips to Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen.

Outside refreshment station.

 

It’s a 30-minute drive from the airport to the ferry.  It’s a very industrial area with a lot of car dealerships, offices, Sam’s Club and other businesses.  As you get closer to the ferry, they’re building a bunch of highrise apartments or condos.  I wonder how much they’re going for.

But you also see the typical little Mexican houses along the way, as well.

It’s always a welcoming sight to see the Gran Puerto lighthouse.

And then when you walk through the breezeway, you can smell the salty air and that beautiful blue sea welcomes you.

And then you’re saying ‘goodbye’ to the Gran Puerto lighthouse.

As I’ve said to many people, the blue of the Caribbean is just mesmerizing.  I don’t think you can ever get used to it.

They had a guy singing on this one.  I would prefer just listening to the waves crashing in on the side of the boat, but I think this has probably become a standard thing.

Since I just had a lame breakfast taco at the San Antonio airport, I was really hungry for some lunch.  Picus is always my first choice because I like to get my toes in the sand, but they weren’t open.  What?!?  Are they on vacation or something?  Anyway, I went to Minino’s, instead, and still got the toes in the sand opportunity.

Isn’t it amazing how clear the water is?

Here’s the restaurant…

And here’s my fish filet with garlic sauce. 

The brothers are still the entertainment there.  They seemed a tad out of tune this time…just saying.

I went back to the room to do a little organizing, but then went to Jax to check e-mails and make sure there wasn’t any fires at work.  Jax is owned by a couple from Texas.  I noticed they had redecorated the place since the last time I was there.  I saw this on the wall and had to take a picture because everyone at home will recognize Gruene Hall.

This is the view from Jax…

I posted the photo below on Facebook, but will share it here, as well.  This is how my first day ended.  I’ve never been to this restaurant before and now I can’t for the life of me remember the name.  I liked the fact that they had the beach chairs.  When I sat down, the manager or owner said, “You’ve been to Isla Mujeres before.”  I don’t know how he knew that, but I said that I had been here quite a few times.  He asked me what kind of music I wanted to listen to.  I told him, “Anything Mexican.”  (I don’t like it when I hear American music in restaurants in Mexico…I hear that every day at home.)  Anyway, I thought that was cool.  When I go to, like, Chile’s or Pluckers, they never ask me what kind of music I want to hear. 

I will have to work on pepping the blog up a notch with future posts.  But, hey…I have another 13 days to accomplish that!