Isla…Day Two…

I woke up at 6:40 a.m. this morning because it was like there was a million lights in my room. The window treatments are definitely not designed for late sleepers, so I knew I wasn’t going to win that fight. That’s okay. I like waking up on the island and hearing all the sounds. Waking up on Isla is not like waking up on a resort. Isla Mujeres is mostly populated by residents who live and work there every day. This is not a resort to them…it is where they live. So at 7:00 this morning, they are bustling through the streets on their scooters on their way to work…

And their kids go to school right around the corner.

This is the gentleman who lives across the street from my hotel.

I remember him from my first visit to Isla back in 2006. Here he is then…

I’m glad he’s still there.

This is also across the street. While it might not be in the tidiest of conditions, I am in awe of the concrete swan work. I think it’s somewhat amazing that Mexican homes are adorned with these special decorations. I, for one, would love to have some swan work on my front porch.

I went for a walk along the beach first thing this morning…beautiful. I will have to say it seems strange not to have Sergio’s at the corner of the beach now, though.

Here’s another little house that’s been updated…

Here is another one of my favorites…although I don’t like the current color.

I liked this house so much before when it was aqua…

And had this little girl looking out the window…

I liked it so much, I even made a stained glass piece from it which I still have hanging in my window…

Oh, well…everything changes.

After my walk, I went to Alexia & Geovanny’s to have breakfast…

And, of course, I had to have the Huevos Motulenos for my first breakfast…

Then I walked around town a bit to see what had changed. Obviously, they’ve done away with the fountain in the Zocalo since I’ve been there. Whatever happened with that??

They’re building some new things along the malecon…

And re-doing some things…

Considering they face this view, you would think they’d have a good future.

But I went walking along the malecon, and there are definitely issues. They put these benches up about four years ago, and look where they are today. This is the only one left…the other ones have obviously been removed due to the wear and tear from the weather.

Continuing the walk along the malecon…the old hotel (I can’t remember the name) has been torn down. There’s no indication that anything is replacing it.

And just a blank space where no vegetation is growing and it just looks pretty bland. I guess I don’t understand why they can’t do something along the malecon which would make it aesthetically attractive while considering the elements of the weather. They keep changing it, but it doesn’t get any better. Who am I to know?

Here is a sign about protecting the tortoises…along the background of condos that have been deserted for years.

I went to the beach today and it was pretty much deserted.

On a positive note, I went to Bally Hoo for dinner. It is truly a great place to relax because the breezes are great and you just don’t feel the heat. Here were my views…