Avenida Juarez -- Isla Mujeres

My favorite street on the island has always been Avenida Juarez.  In addition to being the most colorful street, it's also the best place to people watch as locals go about their daily business.  Here are some of my Juarez shots from the past few trips.

 

In December after annoying locals for years with my camera, I finally got punked on Juarez while taking photos of a procession.  LOL  It's about time!

Walking on Water: Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres

Some people love to sunbathe.  Us -- not so much.  Our favorite past time at the beach is water walking.  We love to take the plunge and walk from one end of Playa Norte to the other out by the buoy line.  We found out February water temps are slightly chillier than November/December -- probably in the high 70's -- but still very doable.  By March, the water was wonderful and warming up!

He used to hate going to Playa Norte, but like me, just loves to get in and walk.  It's good exercise!

Small pangas drop sightseers and snorkelers just beyond the buoy line towards the eastern side of Playa Norte. 

One of the smaller Albatross boats drops anchor just beyond the buoys so daytrippers can enjoy Playa Norte.

The Punta Sam car ferry crosses the northern tip of the island on its way to the dock.

 

Fenix Beach Club by the Mia bridge.

This guy makes it look so easy!

 

 

Happy Monday!  I've been back four days now and have almost recovered from jet lag.  Hope 2017's treating everyone well!

 

I Miss the Village!

The struggle is real.  I'm missing the village.

I miss the convenience of walking into town, plunking down in a chair overlooking the street at Mogagua, and ordering my 60 peso fruit plate with yogurt and granola for breakfast. 

 

Afterwards I stroll around El Centro.

 

 

Matamoras always seems to be festooned with street banners.  Locals must have a lot of fiestas on this street! 

 

Evidently I'm not alone in my love of people watching.  These giraffes stand on the curb everyday watching humans pass by.

 

A lone chair waits on the sidewalk on Juarez.  I imagine someone else watches the village pass by from that perch.

 

I photographed this woman strolling down Hidalgo decked out in local finery on one of my morning walks.

 

December's a special time of year on the island with Catholic confirmations and first communions for boys and girls.  This pretty young girl and family were walking down Hidalgo after a ceremony at the church.

It's always fun to spot Senor Queso Oaxaca walking the streets selling his cheese.

 

On this November morning walk, I noticed a mural painter with a work in progress.

 

Another morning I heard laughter above me and looked up to see men building a palapa.

 

Sometimes we're joined by furry friends on our morning walks.

 

 

 

Mary, from her position atop the church in the zocalo, occupies the ultimate people-watching perch.  I guess I'm in good company with my daily habit!

 

 

The Best Part of Waking Up . . . .

I used to hunt seaglass every morning on Isla Mujeres.  Since I have a wheelbarrow full of it in my garage at home, I've switched to snapping photos on my morning walks.  I love capturing the island as it wakes up each day.

The morning Coca-Cola delivery to OXXO on Hidalgo.

 

The fruit and vegetable lady setting up for her morning sales.

This man's carrying at least twenty-one dozen eggs.  That's what I call a tricky delivery!

 

Navy guys returning from their morning run.

 

 

A double tasker strumming the guitar on his morning walk.

 

 

Dad with Mini-Me on his shoulders taking a morning stroll down Hidalgo.

 

 

Large group headed to Playa Norte on a Sunday morning.

 

 

Getting ready for the day in the lobby at Poc Na.

 

 

The orange juice man starting his day.

 

 

The pan man with a full load to sell.

 

 

Vendors sweeping water off Hidalgo after a morning shower.

 

 

 

 

The Sunday Lost and Found

I keep getting 5 a.m. text messages on my phone from Yahoo with on demand passwords that I'm not requesting.  Like many people, I have a long abandoned Yahoo email that I created years ago and someone's evidently trying to hack it.  Early this morning when the text alarm once again woke me up, a mental flashcard with Flickr on it raced across my brain.

I wonder what happened to those Flickr online albums?  I think that's why I created the Yahoo account.  Would I still be able to access my old photos?

Why yes.  Here's a blast from the past from the Isla Mujeres lost and found.

This lavanderia is still there.  Can you guess where?

 

This house has been repainted and many people pass it on their way to Playa Norte.

 

 

This casa on Juarez had a brand new paint job.

 

I'm not sure if this shop is still there.  I'll check on my next trip to Isla Mujeres!

 

A tienda in the market.

 

Look how empty the docks were!  I think these pics were taken in November 2009.  The port was closed for days with a small craft warning, and then this happened.

That's the boil from Hurricane Ida -- another 5 a.m. wakeup alarm!

 

 

Good Times at Green Verde!

Green Verde headed my list this trip of new restaurants to try during our month on Isla Mujeres.  It did not disappoint! We loved the food, service, and ambience.

After hopping in a taxi and telling the driver Green Verde, I knew the man had no clue.  He'd never heard of it.  In my bad Spanglish, I directed Medina norte de Kash Keken.  He replied, El Centro?  No, near Construrama. As I tried to point the way from the back of the cab, the passenger in the front seat fortunately got involved.  I could tell he knew the location and started giving instructions in Spanish.  Soon we pulled up in front of Green Verde.

The door was open!  Tipycal Mexican Food!  Note they're open for breakfast and dinner Thursday through Monday.  

The view peaking through the kitchen window from the sidewalk out front.

We soon found a table in the garden at the side of the restaurant.  Green Verde has outdoor seating in addition to indoor tables.  The indoor tables came in handy another night when it was pouring rain!

We were quickly served tostadas with a really good salsa, and offered cups of tequila punch gratis as we perused the menu.  

One of my absolute favorite dishes at Green Verde was the mole enchilada plate.  The sampler includes three different kinds of mole sauced (green, red, and pumpkin) enchiladas.  Yum!  I liked it so much, I ordered it again on the second trip!

Unfortunately, my cellphone photos of other dishes and the interior weren't suitable to post, but all the items we ordered were wonderful.  The steak arrachera burrito and Azteca soup were other faves on our visits!

Put Green Verde on your list!

Green Verde is located south of El Centro on Medina north of Kash Keken.   The directions listed on Trip Advisor are Av. Rueda medina esquina Albatros | Junto a Construrama, Isla Mujeres 77400, Mexico.