ISLA MUJERAS 1/21 - 1/27/2018
With daughter Grace leaving the previous week and son Chance, along with daughter-in-law Katie, coming the following Saturday, this week was mostly about getting to know the cruising community, both at anchor and in the marinas.
Since I'm behind again, below is a bunch of photos with captions, that pretty much some of the week. However, I also have the following other stuff:
1. I finished my 28 straight days of workouts with Tabitha a week ago last Friday. If you were to have asked me how it was going a week or so before then, I would have said the only way I was going to do this again, if it was led by someone with a name like Bubba. Anyway, the last week with Tabitha went well and the very next day I started the same program over. Plus, since my resistance rope broke, I am also doing the advanced version of Tabitha, which only has eight 30 second exercises.
2. I can't believe I've been here six weeks already. I can see why they call El Milagro the "Hotel California" of marinas. There are a half dozen or more boats who came here for just a couple days, me included, and are still here weeks and months later. The owner, staff, fellow boaters, hotel guests, facilities, the island, weather, prices, etc. are all great.
3. I haven't seen the dog that bit me, for a couple weeks now, which makes me think the dog whisperer wasn't that successful and/or the animal control people aren't as progressive as I thought.
4. The exchange rate has been between 17 and 18 pesos to the dollar since I've been here. Eating and drinking at real nice places on the beach cost 80-100% of an Applebee's in the States. While if you get off the beach and into the neighborhoods, it's probably costs 50% or less. If you pay with dollars, they typically allow 15 pesos to the dollar. So you're best off using pesos.
5. I thought I had dropped my camera one too many times, but after a day or two the screen came back on. Between being dropped and getting wet, I'll really be surprised if my camera or phone make it through the season.
6. All of the cab drivers, wait people, store clerks, etc. have been absolutely honest in all of our transactions and have corrected me to my advantage more than once. Also, once I left my phone on a golf cart in a public area for the better part of the day and it was still there when I remembered where I left it. And another time I left one of my VHF radios on the floor of my dinghy for several days and it was still there too. The streets seem to be very safe also. One cruising couple who are returning to the States and who've been to Belize, Honduras and Guatemala, said this is their favorite place.
7. I didn't think I would ever have to buy another t-shirt or baseball cap for as long as I lived. But as I look at my inventory, my newest shirt is from 2011 and my newest cap is from 2015. The shirts and caps I like are pretty much worn out, while the ones I don't like aren't going to get used anyway. So before I leave here, I'm going to buy some shirts and caps.
The latest itinerary:
2/13 - 2/19 +/- Sailing from Isla Mujeras to San Pedro, Belize, with stops along the way - Room for one with Ted and Chip on-board
2/21 - 2/23+/- In Cay Caulker - Room for one with Ted and Chip on-board
3/5+/- Flex time in Belize
3/6 - 3/11+/- In Belize sightseeing, snorkeling and exploring the mainland – Full, with Katie, Cindy and Brent on-board
3/12+/- Flex time in Belize
3/13 - 3/19+/- In Belize sightseeing, snorkeling and exploring the mainland - Full, though up in the air as to who is visiting when.
3/20 - 3/21+/- Flex time in Belize
Since I'm behind again, below is a bunch of photos with captions, that pretty much some of the week. However, I also have the following other stuff:
1. I finished my 28 straight days of workouts with Tabitha a week ago last Friday. If you were to have asked me how it was going a week or so before then, I would have said the only way I was going to do this again, if it was led by someone with a name like Bubba. Anyway, the last week with Tabitha went well and the very next day I started the same program over. Plus, since my resistance rope broke, I am also doing the advanced version of Tabitha, which only has eight 30 second exercises.
2. I can't believe I've been here six weeks already. I can see why they call El Milagro the "Hotel California" of marinas. There are a half dozen or more boats who came here for just a couple days, me included, and are still here weeks and months later. The owner, staff, fellow boaters, hotel guests, facilities, the island, weather, prices, etc. are all great.
3. I haven't seen the dog that bit me, for a couple weeks now, which makes me think the dog whisperer wasn't that successful and/or the animal control people aren't as progressive as I thought.
4. The exchange rate has been between 17 and 18 pesos to the dollar since I've been here. Eating and drinking at real nice places on the beach cost 80-100% of an Applebee's in the States. While if you get off the beach and into the neighborhoods, it's probably costs 50% or less. If you pay with dollars, they typically allow 15 pesos to the dollar. So you're best off using pesos.
5. I thought I had dropped my camera one too many times, but after a day or two the screen came back on. Between being dropped and getting wet, I'll really be surprised if my camera or phone make it through the season.
6. All of the cab drivers, wait people, store clerks, etc. have been absolutely honest in all of our transactions and have corrected me to my advantage more than once. Also, once I left my phone on a golf cart in a public area for the better part of the day and it was still there when I remembered where I left it. And another time I left one of my VHF radios on the floor of my dinghy for several days and it was still there too. The streets seem to be very safe also. One cruising couple who are returning to the States and who've been to Belize, Honduras and Guatemala, said this is their favorite place.
7. I didn't think I would ever have to buy another t-shirt or baseball cap for as long as I lived. But as I look at my inventory, my newest shirt is from 2011 and my newest cap is from 2015. The shirts and caps I like are pretty much worn out, while the ones I don't like aren't going to get used anyway. So before I leave here, I'm going to buy some shirts and caps.
The latest itinerary:
2/11 - 2/12+/- In Isla Mujeras preparing for sail to Belize - Room for one with Ted and Chip on-board
2/20+/- Sailing from San Pedro to Cay Caulker - Room for one with Ted and Chip on-board
2/24 - 3/4+/- In Belize sightseeing, snorkeling and exploring the mainland – Full, with Harpo, Jaynece, Pete, Elaine and Ted on-board
3/22 - 3/27+/- In Belize sightseeing, snorkeling and exploring the mainland – Full, with the Nelsen party on-board
3/28 - 4/4+/- In Belize sightseeing, snorkeling and exploring the mainland – Full, with DJ, Jennie and Delana on-board
4/5 - 4/11+/- In Belize sightseeing, snorkeling and exploring the mainland – Full, with the Nelsen party on-board
4/22 - 4/25+/- In Roatan and other Bay Islands of Honduras sightseeing and snorkeling - Full with the Nelsen Party on-board
4/26 - 5/1+/- In Roatan and other Bay Islands of Honduras sightseeing and snorkeling – Full, with Nita and family on-board
5/2-5/6+/- Flex time in Roatan
4/26 - 5/1+/- In Roatan and other Bay Islands of Honduras sightseeing and snorkeling – Full, with Nita and family on-board
5/2-5/6+/- Flex time in Roatan
5/7 - 5/13+/- In Roatan and other Bay Islands of Honduras sightseeing and snorkeling – Room for four
5/14 - 5/20+/- In Roatan and other Bay Islands of Honduras sightseeing and snorkeling – Room for four
5/21 - 5/27+/- In Roatan and other Bay Islands of Honduras sightseeing and snorkeling – Room for four
5/28 - ?/?? +/-, Stay in Roatan and then most likely head to the Rio Dulce in Guatemala for hurricane season, make trips back to the States to visit family/friends and explore the Guatemalan Highlands – Room for four most of the time
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| The first cruisers' event that I went to included salsa lessons at the Fenix bar, which is right on the beach. Salsa really didn't look that difficult, so I didn't bother with lessons. |
These are all El Milagro people at the Scorpion bar, which is popular with the cruisers. They offer 2 for 1 all the time. Beer, including a shot of tequila, is 25 pesos; mixed drinks are 50 pesos; and a good size serving of wings and fries is 80 pesos.
In the center is the resort manager, with family and friends. When the owner is here the staff doesn't start drinking beer until mid-afternoon. When the owner goes back to the states, which he has for a week several times, the drinking begins by late morning.
These and many more like them live just on the other side of the wall that's on the south property line. They get fed kitchen scrabs and left overs. The one on the left is about 3' long. You also see quite a few iguanas hanging out around the island.
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| This is another photo of Inga, the grumpyish German receptionist/book keeper. She adds a lot of character to the place. |
Here are are about 50% of my dock mates. Between birthday parties, going away parties, welcome back parties and 'just because' parties, we have quite a few dinners and drinks together. Besides Americans, they've included Canadians, English, Germans, Austrians, Mexicans, French, Spaniards, South Africans, Italians and Australians. It's all been very interesting, but language can really be an issue, particularly with the French.
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| This is the view from one of the toilets. The showers have similar views. |
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| This probably won't interest most of you, but I thought it was pretty clever. The grocery store has a very steep escalator, but without steps. Similar to a lot of airports, only those are more or less level. This one goes from the ground floor parking lot to the second floor store. To prevent the shopping carts from rolling they have installed plastic discs next to the wheels, which fit into the grooves of the escalator. You probably have to be here to appreciate it. |
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| This is a 3' needlefish hanging out above a huge school of what I've been told are sardines. Anyway, he waits until one looks sick/injured and then is on it just like that. However, if you look at his tail, you'll see that he was almost someone else's lunch |
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| For over a week I walked by this gentleman and another working on a patio. He had no idea what rugby was, league or union. |
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| This gives you an idea of the golf cart traffic, plus there are even more scooters. However, the rental golf carts all have governors and there are hundreds of pretty aggressive speed bumps, so no one goes too fast. |
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| Three of these ferries were delivered on a Creek ship from where they were made in South Korea. One will remain here, while the other two go to Cozumel. |
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| I'm still surprised by how unsophisticated the construction techniques and practices are. |
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| After school there are youth baseball, softball and soccer practices. |
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| This is to remind me to pay attention when walking. Unless you are looking perfectly straight ahead you don't see these signs, which are about a half inch closer to the ground than I am tall. The top of my head has hit the bottom of signs a half dozen times. Some of the same ones more than once. |
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| Sunrise from the marina. |
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