ISLA MUJERAS 2/11 - 2/17/2018

We arrived in Belize a week ago last Sunday afternoon (2/18); have been at Cay Caulker since last Wednesday morning (2/21); and this past Saturday (2/24),  Harpo, Jaynece, Pete and Elaine, all old ISU Rugby friends, joined Chip, Ted and I. 

As far as the week of 2/11 to 2/17 goes, Chip and Ted arrived that Sunday morning. We spent Sunday and Monday introducing them to the El Milagro people, eating at various restaurants, visiting the downtown area, checking out the North Beach area, watching the parades leading up to Fat Tuesday, etc. While I was  sick, Monday night to Thursday night, Chip and Ted rented a golf cart for a day, explored the island, got massages, ate out some more, cleaned the bottom of the boat, helped me change gear lube and generally got us ready to depart for Belize. With the help of Julio, I completed the paper work required for checking-out of Mexico, as well as said goodbye to all the El Milagro people who have become friends.

Chip and Ted, with a pretty unenthusiastic witch, at Monday's parade. There were daily formal parades beginning the Friday before Ash Wednesday and running through Fat Tuesday, plus many impromptu ones.

 These dancers stopped in at the fish camp next door to perform. 

Ditto

This group came into El Milagro's courtyard.

Here's a bunch of parade photos.

 

 

 

Chip, Ted and I at North Beach.

I wanted to spend a day just going around Isla Mujeras and taking photos of different things. That didn't happen, but this would be an example.

Two of the five people aboard a French Canadian boat.

Clay, the Captain of Whipper Snapper, needed to see if his hookah still worked. So, I volunteered Chip and Ted to be guinea pigs as they cleaned the bottom of Starship.

The hookah is in the water.

Chip being assisted by Brit.

Ted and Chip did an adequate of job of cleaning the Starship's hulls.

Ted resting on one of El Milagro's hammocks after the bottom cleaning.

Inga keeps this little guy in the same cage as her parrots.

This prickly sea urchin was removed from El Milagro's beach area and placed under the dock.

Not surprisingly, Chip and Ted fit right into the morning BS session.

Some of the cruisers started getting together for morning yoga sessions. I wasn't one of them, but I think Tabitha and I kind of shamed them into doing something.

This is how some of the fish camp people routinely finished their day, with beer, rum/coke, ceviche, beans, rice, tortillas, etc.

This is Julio helping me with the paperwork for checking-out of Mexico. You have to pay fees when you both enter and exit the country.

Being checked out by Immigration. A German boat was checking out at the same time.

Chip, Ted and I are with the remaining cruisers who were at El Milagro when I first arrived. By now, only one is left.

We have pulled the gang plank and are ready to go.

 

Chip and I as we leave Isla Mujeras, the water is really pretty.

View of open water from the helm.

Some crew, huh?

Going by Cancun, which is a LOT different than Isla Mujeras.

Ditto

Sunset Friday night.