Some Saturday Charm

I love Isla Mujeres because it's quaint!  There's a charm about it I don't see in suburbia where everything is new.

The marquesita man must live on Juarez across from the Navy base.

 This litle dog loves to watch the street!

 The window at La Luz spa was open yesterday with the frilly curtains billowing out.

 Love this old wooden door!

This El Centro house has a new green paint job with new print curtains peeking through the diamond shaped holes in the shutters.

Gate across from the Navy base.  It's been yellow and pink for years, with glimpses of the blue Caribe through the glass.

 Hemingway's has a new floral curtain.  Kind of frilly for a cantina!

 The casa next door has a wash machine on the street that always seems to be in use.

Even the teddy bear gets scrubbed!  I missed the all time best clothesline photo on Juarez a few days ago.  The candy store across the street from the grade school on Juarez had a clothesline pinned with Cabbage Patch style dolls.  It was the one time I was without camera!

Love how the pastel colors flow from one casa to the next.

Old wooden door on the zocalo.  I recently saw an old photo of the area close to the square and this dwelling was one of the few I recognized as still standing.

 This house sits at the southern end of Juarez.  Love the paint and door!

 Another Juarez door.  Notice the old blue and cream floor tiles.

Looks like it's going to be a beautiful sunny Saturday!  Off to breakfast and the beach!

Perfect Playa Norte Day!

Are these lilies in bloom?

The Tuggui  man works so hard pulling that cart through the sand!

I'm a little shy, so I seldom post photos of myself.  Just kidding!   The stunning group of girls in front of us said they were going to get jobs, get a house, and live here.  (Never heard that before!)  Actually, I thought this photo was interesting -- sort of a cultural collision.  Men will probably like it for different reasons!

The colors on a hot summer day on Playa Norte are just stunning!  And yes, I know it's not officially summer, but it is here!

The area in front of Ixchel was crowded with chairs.  I'm not sure how many of them were filled.

 Craig headed back to the shade.

 A windsurfer in front of the Albatross.

Aim Higher

Instead of wishing for a retro pink Chevy golfcart, maybe I should aim higher!  Perhaps one of these?

 
  And speaking of boats, I snapped a lot of photos on this morning's walk.

At first I thought the Lety had become a floating planter!

And yes, I know, this last one isn't a boat, but it's on a dock.  How have I missed this for so many years?

Wonder what kind of snacks Dallas serves?  

On the Streets

My dream Isla transportation would be the retro pink Chevy golfcart.  When I win the lottery, I'll build my house on Isla and park one of these out front.  I'm not really a pink kind of gal, but this appeals to me!  I've never cared for Mary Kay makeup (if they even sell it anymore), but I might consider peddling the stuff if they gave these as sales prizes!

Craig just picked up a used Ferrari.  (Off the beach.)

I'm not sure what this VW Bug was advertising, but I heard the word 'marisco', so maybe a restaurant?

The morning moto lineup.

Cool red moto matches the red door.

Malatero trike on Juarez.

These used to be on the street!  In Cuba!

A taxi might be more comfortable, but a ride on a trike is another way to get there.

This buggy was parked downstairs this morning on Juarez.

And here's something else that runs on streets.  Tasha!  We were walking down the hill from the Navy base this morning on Juarez when Tasha, Craig's little vixen from December, came running by.

I greeted her by name and she turned around and ran back.  She was so happy to see us, but we didn't have a Fredy's porkchop bone with us.  After trying to hitch a ride on Tiffany's golfcart (with muffins in tow), she turned and ran towards the zocalo.  I guess she was in a hurry to be somewhere!  (In such a hurry that I couldn't get a decent photo of her.)

Isla Street Art

We wandered around El Centro yesterday since it really wasn't a great beach day.  I snapped some quick shots of the every changing art scene.

This poor little Isla mermaid, now missing everything but her torso and head, reclines on a Guerrero sofa.  By the way, did you know that Vincente Guerrero was one of the most prominent leaders in the Mexican War of Independence and the second President of Mexico?

I call this front patio around the corner from the Supermercado the Mermaid Lounge. It's an ever changing collage.

The shelf under the electrical meters even looks avant-garde.

The blank side of the building facing the vacant lot next to the Supermercado has been painted with murals since my last trip in December.  I wonder if the artist is the same one who painted the vacant walls of the Perla Caribe?  I totally agree with the message.  Enjoy your life now!  Carpe diem!

The other two murals on the same wall.

I tried to get Craig to stand next to this one with the same expression on his face, but he's just no fun!

Once again, the day dawned with overcast and light rain.  Yesterday the skies finally cleared in the afternoon.  Could this be June gloom?  Oh well.  I'm content to relax to the sound of the waves!

We're Back!

 

We're back!  As always, stress floats away the minute we're on that ferry!  No worries!  Here's a few photos from our first evening on Isla Mujeres.

Frigate crosses the full moon at sunset.

The Ultramar and car ferry passing at sunset.

Sun dropping into the bay.

After dinner at Qubano on Hidalgo last night, we headed to Medina and walked along the bay.

And ended up at the zocalo.

The food vendors were out in full force.  We were tempted by the pies, cakes, and marquesitas, but decided we were too full after Vivian's wonderful food!  Maybe tonight?

 Sunday dawned cloudy, but I'm hoping the skies will open to reveal some blue later today!

The End

In an effort to hurry up and finish the saga of our trips to Isla, I'll just show a video from our November/December trip. We actually tripped the light fantastic to Isla Mujeres three times in 2011. Looking back on it, we must have been crazed!





Today's just been nuts with all the usual pre-trip errands and chores in addition to trying to get our son settled at our house. Craig and I had forgotten how painful and debilitating a broken clavicle is. 
Depending on my wireless connection on the island, I'll try to continue posting a bit. Hopefully tomorrow at this time, we'll be landing in Cancun and on our way to the ferry.See ya when I see ya!