Thursday, August 26, 2021

Isla Mujeres News & Events Thursday, August 26


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Our Northern Zone of the state continues in Orange thru Sept. 5, as does the Southern Zone. There are decreases in all of our Zone's municipalities except Cozumel, with Isla Mujeres having the largest decrease in the state. Our Zone's Contagion Rate decreased again, to 0.86, which means each infected person is infecting 0.86 other people and the curve is declining. The vertical axis of the graphs indicates the average new cases daily and the horizontal axis shows the entire pandemic with the past 15 days highlighted in grey.









    The Depression is now Tropical Storm Ida after the hurricane hunter plane found sustained winds of an estimated 40 mph (65 kph). The northern Yucatan Peninsula is still advised to monitor the progress of the storm, and our area was removed from the Key Messages in the second Advisory, concerning expectations of life-threatening heavy rain, flash flooding, and mudslides.
Compared to last Thursday's hurricane, this time we're on the 'back' side which tends to be less intense. And we're not under any watches nor warnings at this time, although western Cuba is.


Monday....Isla Mujeres reports a total of 40 deaths from C-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, with 421 cases and 368 recuperated, officially. (Not all cases make it into the official statistics.) The Geoportal still has data from 8/20, which reported 11 active cases by colonia in Isla Mujeres as five in La Gloria, two in Salina Grande, and one each in Salinas, Downtown, 23 de Noviembre, and Meteorologico.

>>Both zones of Quintana Roo remain in Orange this week (thru Aug 29) on the state epidemiological light and the state remains in Orange on the Federal semaforo (thru Sept. 5).
>>Roughly half of the state's population lives in Cancun's municipality of Benito Juarez (>900k of 1.86 million), therefore the status of our Northern Zone is heavily influenced by their statistics, which haven't been good. They've experienced an explosion of cases this summer, approaching 250 daily (reported officially). At the height of the pandemic last summer, they topped 50 daily, which occurred again with the Christmas-NY holidays. They're still exceeding 200 per day, but there's finally been a downturn in the past two weeks.
>>In Isla Mujeres this summer, new cases have exceeded two per day, compared to the height of last summer when they exceeded three daily. The graphic shows a 4% increase over the recent 15-day period (in grey), with a downward trend toward the end.
>>The Contagion Rate for the Northern Zone has finally dropped below 1, indicating that each infected person is infecting less than one other person. It's 0.94, down from 1.12.
>>This week, vaccines are being administered in other municipalities, but currently none are scheduled in Isla Mujeres, where 81.5% of residents have received their first dose and 58.5% are fully vaccinated, with a total of 20,846 doses administered. The Governor has reported that 90% of C-19 patients hospitalized in the state are unvaccinated, with 8.5% having one jab and 1.5% fully vaccinated.

These graphs are from last Thursday's video.



   
 
   Naval personnel conducted tours and provided assistance in affected areas of Quintana Roo after the passage of Hurricane Grace, including personnel for the Fifth Region Naval base in Isla Mujeres. The Marine Plan, activated due to the presence of Hurricane Grace to assist with the necessary preventative actions, is in the Assistance phase.
     There have been 376 members of the Navy involved, as well as 49 vehicles, with naval air and land units, in addition to the Search and Rescue unit, who actively participate in safeguarding human life at sea, evacuations, draining sewage, and removing brush and debris, among other activities. These activities were carried in coordination with the state and municipal Civil Protection authorities.
 
     A temporary platform is being built at the airfield for the casting of cement structures for use in the construction of the new Naval hospital. It will be used for the placement of a scale (una báscula) for use until December, when the work should be completed, and then everything will be removed, according to a spokesperson for the EMSA company, who are in charge of Mexican Naval works throughout the country. Construction on the Naval hospital began a month ago and casting of the structures will begin in 15 days.
     Concerns have been expressed about authorization of the work at the airfield, and (a representative of) VIPSAESA (VIP Servicios Aéreos Ejecutivos, S.A de C.V), who administrate the runway, said they did not know who authorized them.

Photo credit Arturo Pena..Dolphins in the Bay 


On Friday morning after Hurricane Grace, ZOFEMAT (Federal Zone) employees removed debris and about 25 tons of sargasso from North Beach and Playa Centro, to provide islanders and visitors with beaches in the best condition. The arrival of the sargasso and debris was a result of winds from Hurricane Grace, of about 100 kph (62 mph). It was taken to the Trash Transfer Facility.
So far this season, about 661 tons have been removed from the beaches of this vacation destination. An increase in sargasso began in June and between June 20 & August 20, 412 tons were removed. The ZOFEMAT crew removed a smaller amount on Saturday, which had arrived during the night, and was taken to the Trash Transfer Facility.


     More than 150 sea turtle nests located in an incubation pen on Media Luna beach were lost during the passage of Hurricane Grace. It is possible that some of the affected eggs could be rescued.
The pen was in compliance with SEMARNAT regulations and was reportedly established when the Tortugranja pen was exceeding capacity. However, it is noted that in 2020, the Tortugranja facility had enough space to protect more than 900 sea turtle nests.
      It is also noted that there were complaints from former volunteers alleging mismanagement and removal of some eggs by Tortugranja employees, or one in particular, allegedly without action being taken by the facility's Director.
      The Tortugranja most recent update reported they had protected 592 nests so far this season with 68,062 eggs. These consist of four Hawksbill nests with 552 eggs, 27 Loggerhead nests with 2945 eggs and 561 Green nests with 64,565 eggs.Source & Photo--La Tertulia

 

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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, 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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Public events have been suspended due to C-19, mostly. Some holidays have featured online competitions and events. 

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

LINK to US National Hurricane Center 


Sunday, August 22, 2021

Isla Mujeres News & Events Sunday, August 22

 


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email: info@mvcisla.com

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Isla Mujeres News & Events on Facebook 

Isla Mujeres History on Facebook & Website  
 
Our Northern Zone of Quintana Roo remains in Orange thru August 29th, as does the Southern Zone. Our Zone's Contagion Rate has decreased to 0.94 from 1.02 last week, which means each infected person is infecting less than one other person and the curve is declining. The Northern Zone's hospital occupancy is at 53%, with occupancy of beds with ventilators at 25%. One hospital in Cancun is at 90% occupancy. The Growth Rate of cases in the Northern Zone is at 0.93. 
 
>>Q Roo remains in Orange on the Federal Semaforo for Aug. 23-Sept. 5 with 16 other states, while 7 are in Red, 7 are in Yellow and 1 is in Green. 
 
>>Since the start of the pandemic, Isla Mujeres has reported 420 cases of C-19 with 39 deaths and 368 recovered. 
 
>>As of August 20th, the Geoportal reports a total of 11 active cases by colonia in Isla Mujeres as five in La Gloria, two in Salina Grande, and one each in Salinas, Downtown, 23 de Noviembre, and Meteorologico. 
 
 >>In Isla Mujeres, 81.5% of residents have received their first dose of C-19 vaccine and 58.5% are fully vaccinated, with a total of 20,846 doses administered. 
 
>>The graphs represent the entire pandemic with the past two weeks in grey. The left axis is the number of cases daily and "aumento" means increase while "disminucion" means decrease.














The Tortugranja turtle sanctuary has protected 592 sea turtle nests and 68,062 eggs, of which four nests were Hawksbills with 522 eggs, 27 nests were Loggerheads with 2945 eggs, and 561 nests were Greens with 64,565 eggs.
A provisional incubation pen was established on Playa Media Luna/Half Moon Beach with a SEMARNAT permit. Although this is considered a low season, the numbers are good compared to the low season in 2018, despite the loss of some nests during Hurricane Grace.



The beaches of Isla Mujeres are ready to receive visitors after the passage of Hurricane Grace.






"Ocean First" from Boulder, Colorado recently teamed up with Mundaca Divers to remove six contractor bags of trash from Playa Tiburon. Thanks!


Sea turtles are born in Isla Mujeres a few hours after the passage of the Hurricane Grace. Thankfully the little ones are safe. Photo credit:

Isla Mujeres al Día


Thursday: The larger-than-usual waves from the remnants of Hurricane Grace attracted two surfers until Naval personnel advised them to stop. A third surfer arrived as they were leaving and also left. They were in the vicinity of the Aeropuerto neighborhood. Photo credit:

La Tertulia


Photos post-Grace Photo Credit:

Isla Mujeres al Momento



A look at the isle after hurricane Grace, including some decent surf along the Caribbean road. Thanks, Chris!


During the approach of Hurricane Grace-Punta Sur  Thanks, Chris Lane!


The port was closed on Thursday and the ferries resumed operations on Friday. Photo credit:

Isla Mujeres al Momento


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Civil Protection personnel were out on Thursday clearing branches and debris from the streets. The government announced a "Saldo Blanco", all's well without serious consequences. The Ultramar ferry didn't run today. We're back to status Green on the storm alert system. There were a couple electric poles blown down in Salina Chica when the wind was increasing. The electricity was off around the isle for about 12 hours, which began at 2a in our neighborhood.




Isla Mujeres fared the storm pretty well. Power was recently restored in several neighborhoods but some are still without power. Some poles came down in the Guadalupa/Mango Cafe neighborhood but other than that no real structural damage. We just got cell service back, some are still without but no reason to worry. The Ultramar will not be resuming service until tomorrow.
 
Thursday at 1:15am ... The NHC update just now at 1a says Grace is approaching the Eastern Yucatan Peninsula and expected to produce strong winds & a dangerous storm surge. The second one is the current satellite pic & the first one is from Zoom Earth storm tracker.
 


 
 Thursday 11p.... Actually that was a 3/4 moon. It's full tonight.
 

 Thursday....Photo from Akumal posted by the Governor. Credit-Erik Ruiz.
 

 
Thursday 9:30p...We are among the eight municipalities now in the Red alert stage, maximum danger. The Governor reports the 8pm forecast: Hurricane Grace is less than 400 km (250 mi) from our coasts, advancing across the Caribbean Sea, and expected to land as a Category 1. The strongest quadrant will pass over Cozumel and the Maya Riviera between Playa del Carmen and Akumal between 2am and 4am tonight.
He said that businesses should be closed and everyone should be at home in Solidaridad, Tulum, Cozumel and Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Once Hurricane Grace has left the state, they will review the conditions of the streets and roads, and begin rehabilitation activities. At the request of the Mayors of Benito Juarez (Cancun) and Puerto Morelos, he made a special announcement to the inhabitants of those municipalities to stay home to avoid accidents.
 

 Wednesday.....Noti Isla Mujeres reports a woman received three gunshot wounds last night when she and her partner were traveling in a VW "Golf" on the road to Garrafon, near the Maria Elena hotel, by the Casa del Zorro, where they encountered a parked car at the 'bocacalle' (a street-end). A man who appeared to be waiting for them exited the vehicle with a "arma corta" (pistol, lit. short gun) and fired repeatedly, injuring Yahaira N. and leaving 21 cartridges behind. Her partner Jesus N., originally from Isla Mujeres, quickly drove to the Community Hospital, where she was given preliminary treatment for the three impacts in different parts of her body, before being transported to a hospital in Cancun, where she was reportedly out of danger. The crime scene was cordoned off and the Ministerial Police began their investigation. The incident occurred shortly before midnight yesterday.
 
Wednesday 8p.. The 7p advisory from Mexico's national weather service says Hurricane Grace has sustained winds of 130 kph gusting to 155 kph (80-95 mph-Category 1). It's is located 250 km ESE of Cancun (155 mi) and 275 km east of Tulum (170 mi), traveling WNW at 26 kph (16 mph). Cancun & Isla Mujeres are located at that red dot where the line changes from Red to Blue. (Blue indicates the Tropical Storm Warning north of Cancun and Red is for the Hurricane Warning from Cancun south to Punta Herrero, south of Tulum.)
 


Wednesday 8p   The Governor says Hurricane Grace has sustained winds of 130 km gusting to 155 km (80-95mph) and its effects are starting to be felt in parts of the state. He encourages everyone to stay calm & be prepared in accordance with the "culture of hurricanes" that distinguishes residents of Q Roo.

Wednesday 7p... Our municipality is under an Orange alert, High Danger. Today, the municipal Department of Civil Protection has been clearing drainage channels, trimming trees, and other preventative works. The state Dry Law began at 5p and the Governor advised everyone to stop work by 5p, and to close businesses by 8p when everyone should be at home or in a storm refuge.


Wednesday 12:20p 

Busy night for the mama turtles, despite some showers & lightning. Laying before the storm.
                               The day before Hurricane Grace & after. Cleanup is in progress

Tuesday....Ultramar says they will begin their operations tomorrow, Wed, Aug. 18, at the usual hours for the route between Puerto Juarez and Isla Mujeres. The last crossing from Puerto Juarez will be at 6p and the last crossing from isla Mujeres will be at 6p. Then operations will be suspended until there is a new advisory.

Jetway say they will begin operations on the Puerto Juarez-Isla Mujeres route at the normal hours tomorrow, Wed, Aug. 18. During the passage of the day, they will provide information about the hour of suspension in accordance with indications on the part of the authorities.
The third graphic is tomorrow's special schedule for the vehicle ferry.


Tuesday 11p...Tonight the Governor said it will be work as usual tomorrow because no problems are expected until the early hours of Thursday, when Grace is expected to land south of Tulum, according to current forecasts.

He said Grace has remained a Tropical Storm after leaving Jamaica, but its winds have increased and pressure has lowered in the center, which means it's getting stronger. It's expected to become a Category 1 hurricane tonight as it crosses the warm, humid Caribbean Sea, which is indicated by the yellow circle. He said it is expected land several kilometers south of Tulum around 2-4am early Thursday, more or less. Updates will be provided every 3-4 hours tomorrow, monitoring its track and intensity for changes.
The 11p NHC update (10p EST) didn't change for our area, but it added Tropical Storm Watches & Warnings for the Gulf-side of the Yucatan peninsula. On the previous update, the coast north of Cancun was decreased to a Tropical Storm Warning, while Cancun and the coast to its south remain under a Hurricane Warning.
 
 
Ultramar's new schedule and their prices are the top two.
Jetway's schedule & prices are below.




The Tortugranja improvised an incubation pen for sea turtle nests near Half Moon Beach / Playa Media Luna, temporarily blocking off the area. The signs record the number & type of eggs and when & where they were laid. Photo credit:

Isla Mujeres al Momento


Tuesday...

Tuesday 2p...The Governor advises residents to avoid panic-shopping; to stay calm & prepare for strong winds & rain; to gather up articles from your yards, patios & roofs that could become projectiles; and to check the status of your doors and windows. Grace is expected to arrive at the coast of Q Roo as a Category 1 hurricane, landing south of Tulum during the wee hours of Wednesday night-Thursday morning. The main storm shelter on the island is at the southeastern part of the isle; with the taxi union lodge, municipal employees union facility and Community Center as back-up shelters. We're currently in the Green alert status, low danger. The Governor will provide an update at his 8p video tonight, and throughout the day tomorrow every three or four hours, regarding the trajectory and strength of Tropical Storm Grace.

Tuesday noon....Our area's Alert status has been moved from Blue (minimal danger) to Green (low danger). The graphic says you should continue to monitor advisories from official sources, ensure your food and water are clean, avoid walking in affected areas or on downed cables or dangerous materials, and take precautions against mudslides in you live around slopes.

Tuesday Aug 17....


Tuesday....In Q Roo, 90% of those hospitalized with C-19 are unvaccinated, according to the Governor. Of the other ten percent, 8.5% were partially vaccinated and 1.5% had both shots. Masks are mandatory by law in public places, and businesses are required to facilitate contagion prevention measures such as social distancing, use of gel/handwashing, and state-imposed capacity limits. He also advised avoiding crowds, declining invitations to gatherings & parties, and giving preference to well-ventilated & open-air spaces.


 
This week, Isla Mujeres will commemorate the 171st anniversary of it founding as the town of Dolores. This is my translation of an article about the island's early settlers written last year by Fidel Villanueva Madrid, the town historian. LINK to original post in Spanish.
On the occasion of the 170th anniversary of the Foundation of the City of Isla Mujeres, I will present below some information about that event, which is part of an extensive work that took me many years to structure, until I achieved what is considered a study on the origin of the population and the settlement of this town.
Before going fully into the subject, I will make, at the request of some readers, a clarification on two of the most important dates recorded in the History of Isla Mujeres which are the Spanish Discovery and the Foundation of the City, which are sometimes confused with one another.
A). - In the case of the Spanish Discovery, it occurred in March of the year 1517.
- The Foundation of the City of Isla Mujeres was in August 1850.
In other words: There are three hundred and thirty-three years (333), between one event and another. It is essential to be very clear about this, because for each of those dates a series of historical events was generated that all islanders should know.
Let's now read about the Foundation of the City of Isla Mujeres.
Background
As a very brief background, I will note that until 1847 Isla Mujeres was a lonely place off the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, and that no one would have supposed that a year later there would be a human settlement, where before the silence was only broken by the sound of the sea and the the murmur of the breezes in the palm trees, in a song of nature that seemed eternal.
However, political tensions among the Yucatecans of that time, whose upper class lived in opulence thanks to exploitation of the Maya, would unleash a bloody struggle that would modify the political geography of Yucatán.
The truth is that during the three centuries of Spanish colonialism the Mayans rose up several times, but they were always subdued. But on this occasion, the uprising scored resounding successes that put the Yucatecans on the run, when the wealthiest went to foreign places to take refuge, while those who did not have money to go further were left in the Mexican ports.
The unstoppable advance of the Mayans and their resounding triumphs in combat were due to the supply of arms and ammunition they received from the British in Belize. Thanks to this, by the beginning of 1848, only Campeche, Mérida and Valladolid were not in their power; and by March of that year, after almost three months of siege, Valladolid fell, the most important city in eastern Yucatan, where thousands of inhabitants had found refuge who were from other communities held by the rebels.
After Valladolid fell, the rebels turned their attention on Mérida, which they did not take for reasons attributed to the arrival of the sowing season, since they abandoned the battlefront that they had in place on the outskirts of that city.
In the case of the repopulation of Isla Mujeres, the debacle of Valladolid had a lot to do with it, since the people were unable to flee to Mérida or Chemax because the roads were busy, so they tried to escape to the north, towards the coast, doing so in chaos. At the end of that month of March, hundreds of these desperate people arrived at a place called El Cerrito, a promontory with pre-Hispanic ruins that was surrounded by water, where they defended themselves against harassment by the Mayans, who tried by day and by night to approach the raised area of land, and were repelled by the stones and sticks of the occupants, who didn't have weapons. There was no hope that troops would arrive to help them, because when Valladolid fell the soldiers of the National Guard had deserted, after months of being besieged, without water, food and salaries. Not to mention the volunteers.
Returning to the north coast of Yucatán, I will say that it was until the end of April when ships from Cuba and Campeche transferred the survivors to Isla Mujeres, which was a stopover for a majority who continued to flee south, towards Cozumel and places in Belize, where they founded new communities, such as Sarteneja.
The survivors of the odyssey lived for more than a month on El Cerrito, with an average of 30 people dying daily, as a result of the strong sun and heat, diseases, infected wounds, hunger and thirst, with the children and elderly contributing the highest number of deaths.
It is important to add that those who took refuge on the islands were mostly mestizo, as evidenced by the relations of inhabitants and censuses of that time, thus eliminating the thesis, sustained for many years, that those who settled on the islands as a result of the war they were white or Spanish.
More clearly, the conflict, which for some was not a Yucatan Caste War, but a Social War, in response to several castes led by the so-called whites or "ladinos" (European descendants), followed by the creoles, mestizos, indigenous or "macehuales", as well as the mulattoes and "pardos" (multi-racial, usually with African blood,), who were ethnic groups that were not very representative in number.
Among all these social classes, that of the mestizos was not embraced either by whites or by Mayans, for the simple reason of being the result of the mixture of both. They were therefore the ones who suffered the greatest atrocities on the part of the conflicting sides.
I reiterate then, that the founders of the City of Isla Mujeres were mestizos, and I add that they were all "Labradores de la Tierra" (cultivators of the soil), so they had to adapt to the environment.
Foundation of the Town of Dolores, in Isla Mujeres
I should also make it clear that Isla Mujeres was not founded in 1850, but rather a town on its northern part, which was given the name of Dolores to celebrate the place where the priest Miguel Hidalgo began the struggle for Independence.
The official foundation was by decree, which was granted after repeated requests made by the residents to the Yucatecan government since 1847. Those requests and pleas for help from the refugees on the island were like "screams in the desert", because the government was occupied with the war and gave them no attention.
The most relevant figure in Isla Mujeres in those years was Bartolomé Magaña, a folksy tailor-fisherman who "carried the new town on his back", supported by a group of people whom he treated as his City Council, since they were consulted about everything.
Religion is a topic which is not well-known in regard to the founding of the City of Isla Mujeres . According to documents in my files, the support of the Catholic Church was key for the decree to be issued. I cite as an example that, when the Yucatecan legislature approved the instrument of law, immediately, on August 20, 1850, the Bishopric (Diocese) of Yucatan issued a statement aimed at finding a priest willing to take charge of the island's Catholic flock.
Published on August 21, 1850, the text is as follows:
"SECRETARIAT OF THE BISHOP
The Isla Mugeres community, which is already numerous and belongs to this Diocese, asks His Excellency the Bishop, for the organ of its Justice of the Peace, a priest to administer the Holy Sacraments. The Congrua (opportunity), which is proposed is competent and apparently safe. By virtue of this, Your Illustrious Honor orders me to invite by this notice to the ecclesiastical gentlemen who want to choose the destination, so that by approaching this office, they impose the aforementioned congrue (income, economic provision), and other advantages for the immediate provision.
Mérida Yucatán August 20, 1850. - Diego Lorena. - Senior Officer of the Secretariat of the Bishopric.- "
As we know, the Catholicism was the only religion and mandatory in Mexico at that time.
On the other hand, I must add that those who founded the City of Isla Mujeres were guardians of our sovereignty on the eastern coast of Yucatán, since by 1850 the expansionist efforts of the British had already far exceeded the banks of the Río Hondo, which evoked constant complaints by the Yucatecans. As proof of the above, I point out that on Wednesday May 12, 1850, in its edition No. 271, the Official Gazette of the Government of the State of Yucatán reported that:
From 1848 the American Consul in Belize, Mr. Hempstead wrote several notes to Mr. Buchanan, Minister of State in Washington, informing him of the English aid to the Indians and expressing his opinion that they wished to establish a protectorate over those Indians as they had done it in the territory of Los Mosquitos; and he warned him that if they did, Great Britain would have full possession of the Atlantic coast from León de Nicaragua to Cape Catoche. " (Cape Catoche is about 40 miles north of the island, in our municipality.)
Under the pretext of cutting "palo de tinte" (a valuable timber-export used for dye), the British had occupied various points on the eastern coast of Yucatan, and that same year, 1850, it was reported that up to 700 cutters of the so-called Palo de Campeche were settled in Cape Catoche, and that the 'Mayan Indians' helped them in the task, in exchange for support for their cause.
It was for this reason that from Yucatan saw the benefits of "repopulation" of the islands, where the migratory phenomenon was at its highest between 1847 and 1850.
Finally, on August 17, 1850, the Congress of the State of Yucatán by decree ordered:
"Article 1. The point currently inhabited in the northern part of Isla Mujeres stands as a town with the name of Dolores and will correspond to the party of Tizimín. "
The four-page document establishes a series of concessions and exemptions that are worth analyzing separately, to understand the complex network of interests and motives that underpinned each of the provisions that were considered.
Without going into too much detail, I would point out that the settlers were left with all the responsibilities, from drawing out the lines of the town and the arrangement of public areas, in addition to constructing a public house, a school, a cemetery and a barracks, as well as placing the best possible layout of streets and "ornato publico" for the new population.
After being approved by Congress, the Decree entered into force on the 21st of that same month, when it was published by the government of Yucatán, which was under the government of Miguel Barbachano y Tarrazo.
But I will leave here the comments to the decree, making a commitment to address it in detail next time, and I will go on to record:
Who came first ... and who stayed
In my search for information about the founding of the city, I had to turn to researchers such as Michel Antochiw (RIP), who always kindly supported me, both with historical information, and opening the doors of other documentary sources, both foreign and Mexican.
Because I am one of those who has in mind that gratitude is a great human virtue, I express it to Michel Antochiw from these lines, for the many years he helped me in the difficult task of locating data about this region of the Caribbean where Isla Mujeres is located, especially because we do not have historical archives in our town.
Likewise, I have eternal gratitude for historians and researchers such as María Teresa Gamboa (RIP), archaeologists José Luis Ruz Escalante, Luis Leira Guillermo (RIP), Luis Aveleyra Arroyo-de Anda (RIP), and Enrique Terrones González, among others.
With his wisdom, and with the support of documentary sources such as the first relationships of settlers of Isla Mujeres (1850-56), of the Civil Registries of Cozumel, Valladolid, Mérida, and of Isla Mujeres itself, as well as in a Census published in 1866, I was able to define the first surnames and names that were heard after 1847 on this island, which I will relate, including in some cases their origin.
I must also say that trained people such as Leticia Rodríguez Medina and Marina Ávila Canto, helped me in the meticulous work of reviewing old records, so that after 8 years we could establish that, between 1850 and 1870, they were 468 inhabitants registered in Isla Mujeres, with only 126 different surnames.
In order to also know the ethnic ancestry of the founders of this city, I will point out that, of the 126 registered surnames, 106 are of Hispanic origin, and the other 20 Mayan; that is, only 19% of the new settlers were of the same race as the rebels, while the vast majority were of mixed descent.
I will add that of the 126 surnames, 40 are the most prolific, repeating themselves 3 or more times in the two decades, so I deduce that these families were the most numerous in Isla Mujeres at the time in question.
Of all, the surname Rodríguez is the one that appears most frequently, (13) followed by Gómez (12), Martínez (10), Perera and Ávila (, Pérez and Rivero (7), Magaña, Coral and Paz (6 ), Pastrana, Osorio, Trejo, Castilla, Díaz, Aguilar and Argüelles (5), Novelo, Allen, Chalé, Tuz, Azueta, Villanueva, Sabido and Sánchez (4), Ancona, Basto, Brito, Caamal, Castro, Escalante, Godoy, Garrido, Kumul, Maldonado, Ojeda, Povedano, Velázquez, Xooc and Cupul (3 each).
Based on the above, I was able to define surnames that have prevailed to this day as the following:
Ancona Arguelles Ávila Azueta Basto Canto Castilla Castro Celis Coral Díaz Delgado Encalada Fernández García Garrido Gasca Gómez Magaña Martín Martínez Nájera Novelo Osorio Pastrana Paz Pérez Povedano Rivero Rodríguez Rosado Sabatini Sabido Sánchez Tejero Trejo Velázquez Xooc Zetina
Some of them cease to be heard, since they are carried in our days by maternal lineage. An example of the above are the surnames Sabido and Azueta.
I include those of Delgado, Tejero and Xooc as founders, because even when they do not appear in censuses or lists, they are cited in the records of the Historical Civil Registry on several occasions as residents of the island since 1850.
As for the first to arrive between 1847 and 1850, I was able to establish that they were the following people:
Bartolomé Magaña, who was 31 years old when he came from Campeche in 1847, and who married Mrs. Carlota Novelo, originally from Valladolid.
Pedro Román Aguilar, another Valladolid native, who in 1850 had two daughters: María and Albina, aged 20 and 22, respectively.
Martín Ancona Ortiz, who, in the reference year, appears to be 28 years old. I make a parenthesis to point out that, contrary to what is believed, the Ancona surname belongs to the founders. That they had emigrated over some years to San Pedro, Belize; Cozumel, Payo Obispo and particularly Holbox does not take away that credit.
I return to the subject with Saturnino Argüelles, originally from Dzemul, who was 17 years old at the time. Also, José María Azueta, 24 on that date, of Spanish origin. Without leaving the year I will mention that these were also founders: Josefa Baeza, a native of Izamal, 28 years old; Isidra Canto, from Telchac, 16; Fernando Cetina from Valladolid, 22; Juan Coral de Dzidzantún, 14; Juan Cupul,13; Faustina Chalet, 20; Mateo Chan Salazar, 16; Secundina Franco,13; José García Moreno, 15; Silveria Garrido, 12; Gregorio Gasca, 19; and Laureana Martínez, from Dzidzantún, 16.
I will continue with Isidoro Novelo from Valladolid, 24; Isidro Novelo May, 13; Timoteo Paz, 30, who came from Dzemul; Juana Pereira,22; Tomasa Perera, 42, originally from Valladolid; Felipe Rodríguez, 16; Bartolomé Rodríguez, 15; José María Rodríguez, 14; and Pedro Povedano, whose age was close to 50 years old, and who was dedicated to fishing, who said he was a native of the Canary Islands, and liked to talk about his adventures with pirates.
I will conclude with Facundo and José Julio Rosado, 15 and 13 years old respectively; Luis Sánchez,15; María del Carmen Tah, 12; María de Jesús Trejo, 16, who came from Dzidzantún accompanied by Atilano Trejo, her brother, just 11 years old; in the same way other brothers arrived, Miguel and Manuel Tuz, 13 and 15 years old; also Marcelina Uc,13; and we close the list of the first islanders with Romualdo Velázquez, who in 1850 was 36 years old.
Later, as the conflict between the parties diminished, the founding Mayans emigrated; some to Yucatán where they earned well because henequen's golden age was beginning, and others to the continental part of our municipality, where the exploitation of palo de tinte and other forest resources gained a singular boom. An example of the above is the last name Tah, very common today in Kantunilkín, municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas (the bordering municipality that includes Holbox).
Let us not forget that, because of tinto de palo/dyewood and other precious woods first, and then the chicle gum industry later, towns such as the so-called "Rancho Islote Chacmuchuch" flourished, which came to register more than 1000 inhabitants (1896); also Punta Arenas, which reported more than 200 residents in its heyday; Vista Alegre - Punta Chen, which registered 135; Holbox with 30; Punta Alegre with 33; Chiquilá (formerly Nueva Málaga), with 6; Río Turbio with 9; the latter dated in 1866, as well as others of lesser population size. (Chacmuchuch is the swamp-lagoon by Isla Blanca/Playa Isla Mujeres on the mainland part of the municipality of Isla Mujeres, Chiquila is on the mainland by Holbox)
On the other hand, among those who arrived because of the Caste War were young men fleeing conscription; as well as orphans, invalids, widows and widowers. Even though the information on Isla Mujeres from the second half of the 19th century is quite scarce, in terms of population censuses we have the first one mentioned, which was carried out in 1850, and then another one was carried out in 1862, plus its results. which were both questioned and even dismissed. The count for that year indicated that there were 539 inhabitants on Isla Mujeres, 709 on Cozumel and 34 on Holbox.
In 1865 Salazar Ilarregui, Commissar of the Empire in Yucatan, ordered the conductin of another census, with Mr. José Eugenio Rodríguez in charge, a citizen of Merida who was appointed as Judge of the Civil Registry in this locality. The collection was reported on October 18 of that year and published in 1866. At the municipal level, Isla Mujeres registered a total of 718 inhabitants, including the neighboring towns that were:
Population-Number. Of Inhabitants
Punta Chen-135
Punta Alegre-33
Holbox-30
Rancho Lab – Cah-19
Rancho Río Turbio-9
Punta Tunich-8
Rancho Santa Fe-7
Rancho Chiquilá-6
Rancho Santa María-3
The Town of Dolores reported 468 inhabitants, of which 247 were female and 221 male. Among its final numbers, the aforementioned census reported that the population of the municipality was made up of:
White Males-199
Indian Males-59
White Females-254
Indian Females-88
Children of Both Sexes-118
Due to their mental and physical deficiencies, two crazy people and a blind man were reported.
Despite the cholera pandemic
As we can see, the founders of the city of Isla Mujeres were a heterogeneous group of people who came from various parts of the Yucatan Peninsula.
Their racial origin was mostly mestizo, so their cultural background was the same, in terms of uses and customs, which were enriched by the contributions of the Cuban-Spanish fishermen who frequented Isla Mujeres at that time.
The truth is that it is to them that we owe the arts of fishing techniques and marine knowledge, which helped so that, within a few years, despite the isolation and hostile environment, on the small island the four hundred refugees found the haven of peace they had sought when fleeing the horrors of war.
They soon became accustomed to hurricanes, which hit them twice in the 1850s and 60s.
Their stature as brave and determined human beings is gigantic when we remember that they suffered a deadly pandemic in those years, of cholera, that decimated humanity for decades, and which was only controlled when the cure for the terrible illness was found.
In short, I hope that what has been said will serve to measure, understand and recognize what the founders sacrificed to lay the foundations of the modern city where we live.
The key to their success was based on unity. This is something that we very much need now.
I close this writing here as a tribute to the 170 years of the City of Isla Mujeres. I leave it to the scrutiny of those who read it. I will appreciate knowing any omissions or unintentional errors that it may contain.
And my congratulations for the efforts made by the municipal government so that this date does not go unnoticed, thanking them once again for the support they provide to my work.
Fidel Villanueva Madrid.
Historian of Isla Mujeres.
August of 2020. -
Translation by Ronda Winn-Roberts



Sunday....Emergency personnel responded to a 911 call about a fire at Rolandi's Pizzeria located downtown on the pedestrian street Hidalgo, where employees had already suffocated the flames which were in the "chimenea"-pizza oven & its chimney. Photo credit:

Noti Isla Mujeres


Tuesday....On September 30th, Atenea Gómez Ricalde will begin her three-year term as Mayor of Isla Mujeres. In a video interview, she said her priority is the health and security of the islanders, including cleaning up the isle and the Trash Transfer facility. This week she met with officials with the municipal and state government and the CFE (Federal Electrical Commission), who announced plans to install a more modern, quieter electrical generator at the southeastern part of the isle to replace the mega-generator at the airfield. A CFE official said replacement of the underwater electrical cable will be a five-year project and they have been unsuccessful at securing a bid-contract for the job, and are launching another call this month.

 

  This blog is brought to you by....

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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, 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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Public events have been suspended due to C-19, mostly. Some holidays have featured online competitions and events. 

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

LINK to US National Hurricane Center