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Isla…dia tres…

Okay, so I know I’m a bit behind on the posting. Please cut me some slack…after all, I’m in paradise. Besides that, I’m starting to adapt to island life where everything runs much more slowly. It’s something I could easily get used to.

So, yesterday, I had breakfast at La Cazuela M&J. They’re noted for their cazuelas which are various versions of an egg dish cooked and served in a small cast iron skillet. They are very good, but they’re BIG and much more than I have an appetite for in the morning.

I opted for the Huevos Maya, which was a perfect size. I posted this on Facebook with the comment that the thing that looks like a cornbread muffin is actually a little pile of potatoes. Wanda replied, “Mashbrowns! Love them!” Haha! That’s exactly what they are…potatoes mashed into a little square. Thanks, Wanda.

M&J’s is a really cute little place and is only open for breakfast and lunch…no dinner.

Remember when they used to be located outside the Roca Mar Hotel? It was hot sitting out in the morning sun there eating hot cazuelas! Even though you don’t get a view of the sea while eating at their new location, it’s a much nicer place now.

Speaking of their old location, this is what is there now.

And this is where I was for three hours today getting my hair highlighted. I kid you not…three hours. She did an absolutely wonderful job and I just love the color. Here was my view from the chair.

And here are the results. I guess I’ll have to come back in six months for a touch up.

I needed some libation after this, so I stopped by Picus to get my shrimp cocktail and a cold one.

The Mexican ladies at the table next to me were feeding the seagulls with their leftovers so I joined in. (Are these seagulls? I’m not really sure.) These guys can really get scrappy with one another when food is involved.

Then another quick walk down the beach. There is virtually no seaweed on the island. I don’t know whether they remove it in the early hours of the morning, or whether they just don’t have a problem with it. The beach at Puerto Morelos just down the coast always has a lot of seaweed.

Dinner was at a place I’d never tried before.

Spinach and cheese ravioli. It was okay. The prices were really high, but I’m finding that all the prices have gone way up since in the last time I was here. No more dollar beers, that’s for sure.

Okay, so I know this was somewhat of a lame post, so I’ll have to get on the ball. I’m leaving right now to get some pics of the town so I don’t get fired from my blogging job. See you later!

June 20, 2014 | Categories: Uncategorized | 2 Comments

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…

Tomorrow is my pamper day. I’m getting my hair highlighted. Sweet.

June 19, 2014 | Categories: Uncategorized | 1 Comment

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.