Here's the webcam LINK, which also has time lapse of the past 24 hours.

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From the City....

Raising awareness about single use plastic ban
The City is conducting informative talks and providing information to merchants about the state law that bans single-use plastics, and they are promoting the use of alternative products to protect the environment. Informational meetings with businesses have been held so that they are aware that they have until April to sell these products that they have in stock and in their warehouses. Companies that have been notified include Chedraui, Super Aki, Super Willis, and Dunosusa. Alternatives include cardboard and biodegradable products to replace straws, plastic bottles, styrofoam plates, plastic bags and food wrappers. Verification and enforcement of the law will begin in April.

Another announcement about the upcoming Governor's visit & talk with the residents.

The government continues to support sports in the municipality
Feb 6-- Uniforms of shorts & tee shirts were given to teams who will be participating in the state Olympiad (youth Olympics) for the categories of 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 in basketball. The next match will take place on the weekend in Tulum.

Mayor: The "Windows to the Sea" will remain open LINK
In response to citizen complaints, the Mayor personally reopened this access near Punta Sur along the Caribbean Coastal Road (aka perimetral/Payo Obispo). He said the City has not given permission to close this road and it should remain open and no one is allowed to block this public access.

TVisla Mujeres

City seeks to reduce single-use plastic use LINK

Cold Front #38 arrived with cooler temperatures

José Magaña Víctor, leader of the Isla Mujeres taxi union "Gustavo Díaz Ordaz" announced that next week members will begin to receive documentation of the partners who have acquired a lot in the Continental Zone. LINK

Despite the strong winds, the Ultramar ferries continued to operate normally VIDEO

Feb 6 --Strong "Surada" winds from the south caused the port to remain closed since Wednesday to boats under 40 feet, and prohibited trips to Isla Contoy and tours in the Bay. LINK

Feb 6--Increased surveillance by Navy (photo).

VIDEO Mayor personally responded to citizen complaints and opened an access to the sea at Punta
Sur.

Feb 6--Video of residents complaining about blocked access, noting it is illegal to sell property that is in the Federal Zone, which is in the Mexican Constitution and asking that the authorities reopen the access (which they are standing next to by Punta Sur).

VIDEO of installation of the drainage network at Punta Sur by Aguakan

Isla Mujeres al Dia

Due to the strong winds, a large sailboat (the Thor Heyerdahl) was unable to dock by itself and was assisted by two boats. (photos). The port was closed for boats under 40 feet, suspending nautical & fishing activities, but the ferries were allowed to continue operating.

VIDEO of sand forming dunes on Rueda Medina and the sidewalk, blown from Playa Centro

From Por Esto :

Southern "surada" winds close port, except for ferries

Cierre de puerto por “surada”

Feb. 7 There was a general port closure on Thursday, except for the ferries, due to the strongest "Surada" of 2020 causing gusts exceeding 55 kph. In the afternoon, it began to weaken with the imminent arrival of Cold Front 38, which was expected to bring cooler temperatures in the early hours of Friday, according to the Harbor Master. The closure began at 7pm on Wednesday, when the surada began to gain strength, intensifying in the early morning.
A small fishing launch sunk where it was moored, due to large waves, but its crew quickly bailed it out and rescued it without incident. No recreational boats arrived, and Playa Norte was least affected by the winds, due to its geographical orientation. The wind was affecting Playa Centro, (and some of the sand was blown onto the sidewalk and street of Rueda Medina.)
An official with the Harbor Master's office said strong winds aren't expected over the weekend until Sunday, and full recreational were expected to resume of Friday, and fishing activities the following day when the water "clears up", to harvest lobster.

Confederate 200 peso bills circulating

Circulan billetes falsos de 200 pesos

In recent weeks, various stores, mostly convenience stores, have detected counterfeit versions of the old edition of the 200 peso bill, with Sister Juan Ines de la Cruz on it. A 7-11 employee said they were quickly rejected, and brought in by "tourism promoters", who presumably received them from a client or when making a purchase somewhere.

Access to sea reopened near Punta Sur

Liberan vía de acceso al mar en Punta Sur

See above. Taxi drivers and residents complained about the sudden closure on Wednesday of a coastal access near Punta Sur, and the Mayor personally went to the site and reopened it, confirming that there it is not under any federal concession, and should remain open. The access is located between Manzana/block 49 (south of the street) and Manzana 50, in an area zoned for low density housing (HI-A). This access serves as an entrance for taxi drivers to take visitors to places where they can be in the presence of iguanas, cacti, and other natures, and observe the natural beauty and panoramic views.

Volunteers clean the mangroves

Voluntarios limpian el manglar

This information has already been translated.

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This blog is brought to you by....

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"Reverse Sunset" (looking east from MVC)

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Fine dining a few steps away at Da Luisa or try the neighborhood eateries a couple blocks farther. We provide a list of links & direction to over 20 eateries within ten minutes walk, including Mango Cafe, Mike's Pizza, Brisas, Rosa Sirena, Coco Jaguar, Manolitos, La Chatita, Green Verde, Kash Kechen Chuc, and the large department store-grocery Chedraui & the local craft brewery. Visit marinas, bars, & beach clubs that are minutes away by bike or on foot. Attend Yoga classes a couple villas away at Casa Ixchel. Fresh juice, produce & tortillas a few blocks away in the village, as well as a variety of other stores.

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Full moon rising over the Caribbean

February 9 7:21 (sets 7:45a)
February 10 8:26
February 11 9:30
February 12 10:32
February 13 11:31
This is the first of four supermoons for 2020. The Moon will be at its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.

Sunset ~6:38-6:51p (beginning vs end of month)
Sunrise ~7:24-7:08am
Painting by Pamela Haase at MVC

February Events

Provided by MaraVilla Caribe & Isla Mujeres Daily News & Events

Thursday afternoons ~3p-8p Artist Fair on the Paseo de la Triguena off the Town Square at the malecon by the food trucks.

Sunday's at 1p there may be baseball games at the stadium in front of Chedraui. There are two teams, the Pescadores & the Cockteleros.

Some Sunday evenings 8p on the Town Square "Noches Magicas" performances

Fishermen in this region are banned from catching grouper and octopus during February. LINK

The Thor Heyerdahl traveling school-sailboat visits in late January-early February with about three dozen high school students on board. Under the tutelage of the experienced crew, the students learn to work together, sailing and navigating, as well as receiving their normal lessons. They sail from Germany to the Caribbean, departing in October and returning home in May.
The ship is named for the man who sailed a hand made raft "Kon Tiki" from South America 5000 miles across the Pacific to the Tuamotu Islands in 1947, to demonstrate that ancient people could have made long sea voyages, creating contacts between apparently separate cultures. LINK

Sunday, Feb. 2 Baseball at the el Pescador field at 1p. The playoffs begin and the Cockteleros will play the Astros of Tulum.

Monday, Feb. 3 is the day off for Constitution Day and an official holiday.

Monday, Feb. 3 On the first Monday of each month, there is usually a civic ceremony in the morning, often on the Town Square around 8am.

Feb. 4-8 The Island Time Music Festival benefits the Little Yellow School House and has two free events for the general public--on Tuesday and Friday at 7:30. LINK LYSH provides education and therapy for special needs kids on the island.

Wednesday, Feb. 5 Constitution Day

Feb. 14 Dia de Amor y Amistad (Day of Love and Friendship) The City provides a free Collective wedding event including the ceremony, cake, and paperwork for residents.

CARNAVAL Feb. 21-25

All events are free, and it's a good idea to have change & small bills to tip the dance troupes when they dance in the streets and at businesses. They spend a couple months preparing their costumes and choreography & show incredible stamina dancing for hours day after day.

FRIDAY--8p Town Square--Coronation of the Kings & Queens, Dance Troupes, Dance to the music of Master Kumbia

SATURDAY CUBAN NIGHT--8p Town Square--Dance Troupes, Dance to the music of MegaBoom

SUNDAY--BEACH CARNAVAL--3p Playa Centro--DJ's
**1st PARADE--3p--Rueda Medina
AFTERNOON OF FANTASY--5p Town Square--Children's show & Inflatables, Dance Troupes, Kid's Costume Contest
NIGHT OF FANTASY & DIVERSITY--8p Town Square--Dance Troupes, Comedy w Silvanna Show

MONDAY--BEACH CARNAVAL--3p Playa Centro--DJ's
**2nd PARADE--3p Rueda Medina
REGIONAL & COMEDY NIGHT--9p Town Square--Dance Troupes, Costume Contest, Tila Maria Sesto Comedy Show

TUESDAY--BEACH CARNAVAL--3p Playa Centro--DJ's
NIGHT OF JUAN CARNAVAL--9p Town Square--Burning & Will of Juan Carnaval, Dance to the music of Alberto Barros & su Orquesta

Lobster season ends Feb. 29th (Lobsters kept in captivity continue to be available).

Sources for Weather Information:
LINK to Civil Protection Q Roo weather bulletin (Spanish)
LINK to Mexico National Weather Service (Spanish)
LINK to satellite images for the Mexico National Weather Service
LINK to GOES East Band 16 GIF (animation)
LINK to a private weather station on Isla Mujeres

BUS INFORMATION
The ten 31-passenger buses travel on four routes, from 6a to 10p, turning around near the Convention Center, behind the downtown Mercado, and going south thru El Centro on Rueda Medina. #1 & 2 are the "Colonia" routes and #3 & 4 are the "Tourism" routes. The overhead digital display & cardboard sign in the windshield provide the route information. The bus numbers don't indicate the route, they are numbered consecutively, 1 thru 10.
At the edge of town....

Route 1 goes southward down the western side of the isle on Rueda Medina and returns northward on Jesus Martinez Ross to town. Its west-east transit is Paseo de los Peces in colonia La Gloria.
Route 2 goes southward down the eastern side of the isle on Jesus Martinez Ross** and returns northward on Medina to town. Its east-west transit is also Paseo Peces.
Route 3 goes southward down the western side of the isle on Medina, then in & out of the Sac Bajo peninsula. If there are passengers for Punta Sur, it goes there & returns northward to town on the Caribbean Coastal road. If not, it returns east on Peces and returns northward on the Caribbean Coastal road to town.
Route 4 goes southward down the Caribbean Coastal road directly to Punta Sur & Garrafon, then northward in & out of Sac Bajo, then returns northward on Medina to town.
**Routes #1 & #2 aren't exact opposites--#2 takes J.M. Ross northward all the way from Peces thru Salina Chica, but #1 going southward turns left/east off JM Ross before entering Salinas, taking the Caribe Coastal road thru Meteorologica, and I've heard it turns right/west back into the colonias by Madera Food & Art. All four routes go thru Bachilleres, past Maravilla Caribe Bed & Beach and all four routes go past Chedraui.
The map isn't a bus route map, it's a street map, showing how Jesus Martinez Ross follows the Caribbean coast until becoming the main street of Salina Chica and going on to La Gloria, while the Caribe Coastal road (aka Payo Obispo) follows the coast. The east-west transit, Paseo de los Peces, is shown, but not labeled, at the edge between colonia La Gloria and the Mundaca Hacienda. Its east end intersects the Caribbean Coastal Road by the Cemetery & its west end intersects Rueda Medina by the Mundaca Hacienda.
Downtown the main bus stop is at the parking lot just south of the passenger ferry terminal, and across the street. You can flag them down anywhere you see them outside of town. Chedraui is on the west side/Medina. Tortugranja & DD are in Sac Bajo. Garrafon is at Punta Sur. Bachilleres is on the eastern Caribbean coast, north of the colonias.
The 10p rate is for state residents & the senior citizen rate is for INAPAM card holders.Tourists pay 38p/$2usd per person per ride and can purchase an all-day pass for $9usd/175p. You pay as you board and exit thru the back door. The front seats are for seniors, disabled & pregnant women. The buses are air conditioned.