Seaglass Back

I'm officially down for the count. I've diagnosed myself with seaglass back. Evidently the strain of all that bending and squatting, combined with the backpack full of bricks (actually seaglass and a laptop) that I drug all over the Cancun and Phoenix airports, has finally done my back in! The backpack was heavier than my duffle bag because I wanted to avoid paying extra for being overweight! (Thank God they didn't weigh me after all the guacamole and enchilada suizas I consumed!)

My back was just sore until Saturday morning, but I struck the final blow with my newly purchased bottle of Fabuloso from Walmart. I was so excited when I saw it on the shelf, and anxious to see if my house would have that smell if I mopped floors with it! So I tackled the mopping with my sore back and now it is locked! I could barely drive Craig to the airport Sunday morning, and now I'm walking around like a 90-year old woman!

In addition to the back, the laptop finally is permanently down for the count. I purchased an external hard drive on Friday and was able to pull all my photos and important files off. That was timely since it was the last time I was able to get the dang thing to start. It's now dead as a doorknob!

I decided to buy my next laptop at Costco since theirs come with a 2-year warranty automatically. In addition, they have technical concierge service where English is the native language. Not to be a snob, but it can be amazingly frustrating when you can't understand the instructions of what they're telling you to do!

Anyway, I'm back up and running online now. Unfortunately, I'm still down for the count physically. Michael's here and is taking Saby for walks. Hopefully, the stinky stuff I'm rubbing on my back (Ultra Bengue from Mexico with naproxen) combined with Advil and some exercises will get me up and running soon. Well -- walking, not running! : )

I snapped a few photos around the cemetery on Isla in one of the rain lulls last Saturday before Ida hit.

Actually, this first one was taken from Ixchel.

As Seen on Isla!

I've seen Tarzan on Isla before, but never as frequently. One morning as a friend and I were walking up to The Elements for breakfast, the friend said, "Oh God, look who's here!" It took me awhile to realize he was referring to the distinctive vehicle, and yes, it is Tarzan's. It has that Mexican flag on the back which you can barely see in the photo.


I've seen photos of Tarzan in the early days, and I've also seen him walk down Hidalgo when he was a little bulkier and muscled. But I'd never noticed that he has the beach concession just east of Chimbo's until we stayed on Playa Norte. Someone will have to tell me how long he's been there because I've spent my time hanging on the Caribe side outside of town for a few years.

After seeing his sign on Playa Norte, I felt the need to get a closeup photo of Tarzan. But I'm shy about asking celebrities for their pictures and autographs. Ha! If you look closely at the photo below, that's Tarzan in the white trunks taken from on high.

As I was walking down Playa Norte post Ida one morning, Tarzan asked me if I would like a lounger and umbrella for 70 pesos. I should have told him that Mr. Chimbo next door gives me a single lounger and umbrella for 50 pesos. Anyway, I said I was just walking the beach. He said, "You WILL want to come back here after you've walked the beach because I have the best loungers and I am in the center of Playa Norte -- the best location." Actually, there was a faint whiff of a sewer smell in the air, but I didn't let on. It was my big opportunity to ask him to pose and give the yell, but I just couldn't get up the nerve! Dang!

P.S. I know I have a very warped sense of humor. (Cue the yell again!)

Some Ferry Fotos!

Yesterday, I collapsed into Rip Van Winkle mode. I fell asleep on the sofa in the afternoon and could hardly rouse myself for dinner. Then I slept through Survivor and finally went to bed around 9 p.m. I woke up once in the night, and then slept until 7 a.m. So I hope I'm caught up now!

Leaving Isla was bittersweet. I was definitely glad to have the extra three days on the island after the hurricane, but anxious to get back home! It was hard to leave waking up to a view like this every morning.

I love the service at Media Luna. I had mentioned to the guys at the desk that I would need a cab when I left. When I checked out at the front desk around noon, they had remembered and a taxi was waiting!

Here's one of the old Ultra Mar's arriving with passengers from the Palace Resorts. Guess they found a use for them!

Soon we were underway and out on the water. Ahhhhh. What a lovely way to end a vacation -- on the turquoise waters of the Caribe. That's one of my favorite things about a trip to Isla. No car required! Saves money and reduces stress!

Adios Isla until next time!

Unfortunately, when I feel asleep yesterday, my computer went into hibernation. I've spent hours trying to get it back up, and it finally awoke from the dead this morning. So I MUST get my photos loaded onto the memory sticks today! The beast is dead!

Home Sweet Home

Home again, home again, jiggedy jig! Love it!

I have the sandals soaking in oxyclean and detergent in the washer hoping it'll take the horrible smell out from all those days wading in the big puddles in town.

Craig scheduled an 8 a.m. appointment for us to sign some papers. UGH! But it doesn't matter because I woke up at 5 a.m. anyway! I'm on Central time. Then I'll run to Costco and buy memory sticks to get everything off this computer because it is ready to crash. Yesterday, when I turned it on, there was a Fatal Error screen and I thought all my trip photos would be lost. I was able to get it running again, but now the battery isn't charging and there's a pink line down the screen. So I'll get all my files off and go looking for my next laptop. This one is shot! I think all the moisture on Isla in addition to its prior woes fried it.

My camera's also going back because what good is it if the lens doesn't operate in a humid climate? We travel to Isla and Kauai! Not sure what to replace it with because I met other people with expensive cameras at Media Luna who were having the same problem. When you try to zoom, it zooms all the way out and shuts down. It's fine now, but I know next trip, I'll have the same problem.

On my morning walk yesterday, I took some cellphone photos, mainly in the mercado where I buy my morning O.J. I'm already missing those 10 peso bottles of fresh squeezed orange juice every morning! But I found a little package of Bimbo donuts in my bag and ate those!

Slug Bug on Juarez

Big papayas and fruit in the Mercado

My favorite fruit shop. I should have bought a bolsa!

Are these beets???

Mmmmmmmmmmmm. I'm dying for one of these already! BLT on ciabatta from The Elements.

Travel Day!

I love Isla, but I'll be glad to be back home tonight. Missing Saby, Craig, the arid Arizona climate, and just my old life in general. Homesick. It's been a total adventure, from beautiful 709 at Ixchel where we lived like rock stars, to the Rocamar and the crashing waves of the hurricane reverberating on the seawall, and on to the peaceful lovely Media Luna.

I'll head out around noon to the ferry for my trip home. There's a little bit of what my friend Ricardo calls chippi chippi (light rain and I have no clue how to spell it) in the air this morning. I took my morning walk down Medina past the Navy base. Boats are coming back into the marina again, the usual suspects were hanging out on the street corners, the cabs and scooters were pouring into town, parents were dropping their children at the elementary school, etc.... Just another day in paradise.

I snapped a few photos of my peaceful day yesterday.

And especially for Jana -- the pile of bootie from Playa Media Luna. Thank God for the litterers of the world! But I wish they'd restrict themselves to dumping glass. And please give us more red, pink, and blue bottles!

Some Playa Norte Photos

But first, the view at my new home away from home -- Media Luna.

Late this afternoon, I decided to take a walk around the corner and see how Playa Norte had been affected by the hurricane. The tide is still high, so it's hard to know if the changes will be permanent.

In front of Villa Kin on the Avalon Cove, I had to wade through water to get through that stretch.

The water is still pretty high under the Avalon bridge and they were trying to prop up some pipe. Hope it's nothing to do with sewage! Just kidding, because I'm sure it was too small for that!

Nabalam appears to be the worst affected. I couldn't even wade around the beach bar/deck. I had to go back to the street and emerge back onto Playa Norte by Maria del Mar. Last week, they were working diligently to sandbag, and I thought they were losing sand then. Now, they're back to square one in the area of their beach restaurant.

The area just to the other side of the Avalon bridge.

And the beach restaurant at Nabalam.

I couldn't tell for sure about the Maria del Mar area because last week I didn't think it had gained much since March 2008.

On down the beach in front of Ixchel, it didn't appear to have changed much. But I did notice down at Chi Chi's that they had lost some sand because whales that were buried last week are now exposed. I asked the waiter at Chi Chi's this morning and he said they had lost some sand, but it would be back tomorrow. I think the whales they're using from Ixchel west to the tip are very effective at adding sand.

Looking north from the Ixchel beach toward Chi Chi's.

I didn't go beyond the Chi Chi's area today, so I have no clue about Playa del Sol. When I got back to Playa Media Luna, there was a reverse sunset in the southeastern sky.

Not to change the subject, but this afternoon, I made a trip to the Fire Opal to visit Ricardo so he could show me what to do with the seaglass. He wrapped a piece with wire to make a pendant. I also saw a couple of cool necklaces that I ended up buying. When you're on Isla, check him out. He's moved across the street from his old location and has a lot more jewelry, especially the quality stones. I also think he's got more beaded necklaces.

The piece on the left has a quartz stone in the center. The middle necklace is one of my pieces of seaglass. It's kind of a lilac color, but you can't tell that on the gold background. And the beaded piece on the right is one Ricardo made himself. It has small pieces of turquoise and amber. I think it's my favorite!

The Calm After the Storm

After eating a bowl of soup late afternoon at Sancochos, I took a stroll down Medina with the camera. By the way, the crowd at Sancochos was in prime form. You'd never know there was a hurricane. Lots of fishermen and locals seemed to be out in the streets. I saw a lot of people who'd really been celebrating hard if you get the drift! The marina at Bally Hoo was empty, and lots of pangas were pulled up onto the beach.

Suddenly I noticed the setting sun. It was one of the most spectacular sunsets I've seen on Isla through it's entire progression. I guess Ida was giving Isla a little parting present.

I was so glad I got off Hidalgo and took that walk! Absolutely stunning! My return flight home is booked on Wednesday afternoon, so I'll be hanging around a few more days. I plan on an early morning treasure hunt tomorrow!

Hurricane Ida

I'll just post a progression of photos I've taken today from dawn on.

The surf was up at the Rocamar, where I was the sole person except for the staff. It was a weird feeling. I'm used to staying out on the island by myself, but not during a tropical storm/now hurricane. The sound of the surf there was deafening for the past few days and increased last night around 10 p.m. I was up every few hours checking to make sure it was not over the seawall and onto the malecon. It wasn't, but sure looked like high tide from my room! The new rooms are very well remodeled because not a drop of water came in anywhere, and there were squalls during the night that pounded on the glass and balcony.

Dawn

Looking north, early morning.

From the room. Notice waves on top the rock!

Around 9 a.m., the maid knocked on my door waking me. I'd decided to just block it out and get some sleep. I got the message from the staff that they wanted to move me to Media Luna or Maria del Mar. Not sure if the concern was the upgrading of the hurricane to a Cat 2 or just that it was silly to keep staff there for one person, but I was much relieved to move off the malecon and sea wall. An extremely nice man came up the street in a white pickup to the rescue and whisked me off to Media Luna just in time for breakfast.

The surf is huge here, but there are lots of people walking about. I think I'll head into town now for a bowl of soup. Craig is going to rebook me for a Wednesday flight, the eye has passed, and life is good. Senor Bueno in the nice truck told me that Isla was on the north side of the storm, which was a good position. The worst of the squalls were probably last night. All that was expected as the eye passed was high surf and a little wind.

Surf's up on Playa Media Luna.

And that, my friends, is the Beck report. I'll take some photos around El Centro later this afternoon, but I wouldn't expect any damage. All is well on Isla Mujeres!

Postcards from the Edge

When I woke up this morning!

I haven't seen a sunrise or sunset of any consequence in a couple of days! Too many clouds and heavy downpours! Heavy squalls happen almost every hour with room to get the errands run in between. The current one has been dumping for the past half hour.

No one on the island seems too concerned. Current word is that Ida will be a tropical storm. My flight is due to leave at four in the afternoon tomorrow, so I highly doubt it will lift off since my last glance had the tropical storm hitting this area at 7 p.m. tomorrow night. And I really don't want to cross that water in a boat tomorrow, so I'm hoping the flight is cancelled so I can reschedule afterwards. I plan on spending one more night at the current location (Craig calls it ground zero where the seawall failed in Wilma) and moving to a less exposed location on an upper floor.

My current theory is that one must eat before the storm so they're not hungry when the storm hits. Any excuse for over-consumption will do! Last night I had the chicken enchiladas in green sauce at Sancochos chased down by half banana/half Almond Joy ice cream at Cool. This morning was a small bottle of O.J. combined with a BLT ciabatti sandwich at The Elements followed by a fried banana and papaya juice at Poc Chuc. The Poc Chuc stop was merely to get out of the latest downpour/squall. Cesar offered a safe room at The Elements if my flight is not leaving, and I think I might take him up on it. I would never want for wonderful food in the storm, and he has it hurricane proofed! I remember people stayed there in Wilma with no problems.

The rain and wind have blown so hard through my location right now up on this hill, it seems like the tropical storm arrived at least a day ago! You know how I said I love the rain? Well, I haven't experienced this much rain at once in years. I started looking for a poncho this morning and price gouging has started. 150 pesos for a small poncho. I don't think so. I went to the novelty shop catty-cornered from Mirtita's and found a raincoat -- very brightly covered -- for 40 pesos. It's not substantial and it won't close, but it will do the job!

I plan on going down to Ricardo's Fire Opal shop this afternoon with my seaglass and seeing if he can make some sort of necklace for me. He said he'd show me. Sounds like fun. My own little craft class on Isla! I can't quite believe he'll come on the ferry today, but he said he would!

I took some photos with my phone over on Playa Norte before this all started! And I found my upload cord when I was searching for a poncho in my bag! I'm sure I packed the damn thing, but it is not to be found.

And here are a couple of pics from people sandbagging several days ago at Nabalam. Unfortunately, I think it looks like they might be losing some sand again?




I'll post when I post. I'm in the Rocamar office right now on my laptop using a direct connection, so I hate to impose too much! All the staff here is so nice! And the hotel is lovely!