Isla Mujeres Daily News & Events Sunday, August 21

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  Both issues of The Isla Mujeres Magazine are here, 
featuring  a variety of talented writers and photographers! 

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  From  Noticias de Diario de Quintana Roo ....

link to their Isla articles & photos

Whale shark licensees want new rules for operation 

Fijan nuevas reglas de operación

Permisionarios de tiburón ballena

Lanrry PARRA

ISLA MUJERES, 20 de agosto.-

Leer más..photo and full article at this link.    Whale shark tour licensees have unveiled new rules for swimming with the whale sharks, in response to a controversial video showing a 'siege' of tourists mobbing a single whale shark. The rules include the use of a cell phone for the anonymous reporting of boats who are not following the rules, to advise the authorities who are responsible for approving their permits.
    This effort is being made by the Committee for Participatory Monitoring, which is made up of licensees who want to correct these bad practices among themselves. The most common problem is the allowing of more than two people to enter the water at the same time.
   The form of reporting would be with videos of the boat and the number of people (less than ten), with videos & reports being sent to the WhatsApp number of the association, to avoid misunderstandings and useless reports. Boats who do not respect the rules, and are reported anonymously to the cell phone number of the association, will be reviewed by the Committee of Honor and Justice, and reported to the authorities.
   They also agreed to use use channel 11 for certain communications and to have a change of channel for other situations that do not involve all the permit holders, to avoid saturation of channel 11. They also agreed upon random drug testing, and to involve the Harbor Master with this reporting.
   It was agreed that in regards to the weather, it is the Harbor Master who determines if they may go out on tours, and the port will be closed when the wind speeds are up to 25-30 kilometers per hour, with penalties for those who go out when the port is closed.
   Regarding safety, all licensees will cooperate with assisting other boats with problems. When this occurs, two boats will transport the tourists to land, and two other boats will remain with the boat having problems, until help has arrived.
     The Eco Tourism Association is in the process of designing and printing an informational sticker/decal, (una calcomanía informativa) which the crew and travel agents agree will be very helpful.
       It was also agreed that the boats will decrease their speeds when they are 800 meters from the areas where the boats and whale shark activities are taking place, and will continue moving very slowly while reaching the area where the whale sharks have been sighted.
     Regarding sanctions, the Harbor Master said a fine of 70,000 pesos can be levied by the SCT (Ministry of Communication and Transport) against crews who do not respect the rules, and they can lose their seabook (Libreta del Mar), and boat owners are also responsible for their personnel following the rules.
     Prior to making these agreements, the members of the group met with the heads of the state agencies which are involved, including SEMARNAT, CONANP, the Biosphere of the Whale Shark, the Regional Port Authority-Harbor Master, and the Isla Mujeres Harbor Master-Port Authority. This meeting was attended by 231 people who listened attentively, understood the problems, and pledged to carry out the activity in the correct manner.


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From the Municipal Facebook site.....  (  FB page link)







The public enjoyed the singer Nicho Hinojosa at Isla Fest celebrating the 166th Anniversary of the Founding of Isla Mujeres.
Total comunión entre el público y el trovador Nicho Hinojosa en el Isla Fest en las festividades del 166 Aniversario de la Fundación de Isla Mujeres.

This weekend there was a memorable, well attended concert with Miguel Inzuna & Nicho Hinojosa, on the esplanade of the Casa de Cultura, with the Caribbean Sea in the background, with help from the Ministry of Education & Culture.
Con el invaluable apoyo de la Secretaría de Educación y Cultura, este fin de semana en la explanada de la Casa de la Cultura, con el Mar Caribe de fondo, tuvo lugar un memorable concierto de Miguel Inzunza y Nicho Hinojosa; la entrega del público fue plena.

Start of the race for the 166th Anniversary of the Foundation of Isla Mujeres, with excellent participation.
Disparo de salida de la nutrida participación en la carrera deportiva con motivo del 166 Aniversario de la Fundación de Isla Mujeres.

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From Tvisla Mujeres ( link to photos & articles)









Staff with PROFEPA are responsible for transporting the crocodile that was captured in Isla Mujeres.
Personal de la PROFEPA se encarga del traslado del Cocodrilo capturado en Isla Mujeres https://t.co/FZxrMdnKqh

This TVIM article reports that the crocodile is in the care of the municipal Civil Protection agency, according to the director of Ecology, Carlos Barranco. He explained that PROFEPA (a federal environmental agency) is responsible for transporting the crocodile and they were taking it to CrocoCun, to set it free there. He notes that it could not be kept in the cages at Mundaca hacienda because they are no longer secure, and it is probable that the animal would escape and return to the streets again.

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From  por esto Link to their Isla Mujeres articles & photos

Seeking protection for the whale sharks 
Buscan proteger al tiburón ballena[+] Ver mas Ful article and photo at this link
  This has the same information that was translated above, and also notes that the Harbor Master said everyone must wear life jackets during the navigation of the boat, but while swimming with the whale sharks they may wear a life jacket or a wet suit. Travel agencies are reminded that there no guarantees of swimming with the whale shark on each tour. Drug testing and breathalyzer tests will be done randomly prior to departure, after the supplies are obtained and provided to the Harbor Master.

Record flow of passengers 
Récord de flujo de pasajeros. [+] Ver mas
       Aug. 20. With one day left before the end of the summer vacation season, the two terminals of APIQRoo (Port Authority of Quintana Roo) report a large number of passengers. The highest number  occurred on July 31, when 21,256 passengers were transported, while last year the highest number last year was 13,500 on August 8. (sic This report from last year says there were 19,300 passengers on Sunday, Aug 9, 2015.)
    Sunday will be the last day of the season and is expected to have the highest number of passengers. As of Friday, there had been no mishaps at the terminals, and  expects the season to end uneventfully. (There was an elderly man with Alzheimer's disease who wandered off from his family while waiting at the terminal and was later found drowned.).
     Massive numbers of visitors are being transported by the ferries from the Hotel Zone of Cancun, Puerto Juarez, and Punta Sam, while there are also many trimarans bringing people from private docks and marinas. Tourists are attracted by marketing by travel agencies and online promotions to enjoy the beautiful beaches, swim with the whale sharks or tour the isle in golf carts.  For this reason, a drastic drop off is not expected this year during the difficult months of September and October, according to a travel agency representative.
    So far during this summer vacation period, as of midday on Saturday, only four suitcases have gone missing, of which one was found. Usually, the visitors are not sure whether their items were lost in the Terminal or elsewhere, and their reports have contradictions about where the articles might have been left behind, according to an official from the Tourism office.

Boat crews working normally
Náuticos trabajan con normalidad[+] Ver mas

This article reports that the boat crews were offering their usual tours & working as usual on Saturday, with the arrival of Tropical Wave 23 expected in the next few hours, in the evening, according to the SCT. The weather remains sunny at midday on Sunday.

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  This blog is brought to you by....

View from the rooms.

MaraVilla Caribe   Bed & Beach    Three rentals with large glass doors overlooking our white sand beach and the beautiful Caribbean sea, with  kitchenettes & free WIFI. In the coastal neighborhood of  Bachilleres, among upscale villas & boutique hotelitos, convenient to downtown or the colonias, yet separate.  Quiet & Private.   

 Kitchen in a large studio. (Sur & Norte are identical)

Kitchenette in small room, Medio. There's a table & chairs across from it & a double bed.

A large slider opens from each of the 3 rooms onto the patio where each has a table & chairs, hammock & clotheslines. The BBQ is behind the pole, and the outdoor shower is outa the pic at left.

Large studio (Norte), I'm standing in the kitchen. A queen & single bed.

Free amenities such as hammocks, bikes, outdoor shower, portable beach chairs & beach towels, washer, loungers. Breathtaking panoramic views from the rooftop terrace. Upstairs room also available.   Downtown is  ~ a mile away; if you don't feel like walking or biking, flag a $2 taxi. Parking. You can enjoy the music & crowds downtown, then come home our quiet neighborhood of Bachilleres where you'll  sleep to the sounds of the sea..  $275/$325/$425 wk   $40/50/$65nt  Monthly Discounts

Large studio (Sur) with Queen & Single bed. Slider door & view are behind me.

Fine dining a few steps away at Da Luisa or try the traditional neighborhood eateries a couple blocks farther. Stroll five minutes southward down the coastal sidewalk to Mango Cafe, Bahama Mama, Brisas, or Manolitos. Walk less than 10 minutes southwest to shop at Chedraui or to dine at Green Verde, Kash Kechen Chuc, or other options. Visit marinas, bars, & beach clubs that are minutes away by bike or on foot. Our guests recommend the Yoga classes a couple villas away at hotelito Casa Ixchel. Fresh juice, produce & tortillas a few blocks away in the village, as well as a variety of other stores and small local restaurants.

August events

Sunset ~7:10p
Moon rise over the Caribbean
August 18    7:36p  Full moon
August 19    8:22
August 20    9:07
August 21    9:52
August 22   10:39
August 23   11:26
  

Every Tuesday & Thursday at 10am: Sergio's Batik class. ~3 hours long. 400p includes materials.
Kid's classes every other Saturday at 12:30.
 
The Delta Aquarid meteor showers continue into early August. http://earthsky.org/astronom…/earthskys-meteor-shower-guide…

Thur. Aug 4 Artist Fair at the Casa de Cultura 4-9

Monday Aug 8: It's time for the annual Perseid meteor shower (eastward-over the Caribbean) & there may be twice as many this year.  LINK 

It peaks Thurs night/Fri morn & is best viewed after moon-set at 1:20am.
Moon-set tonight (Monday) is 11:20, and it's 40 mins later nightly. Hoping for clear skies!

Aug. 10-21 Five food trucks from Merida will visit Isla Mujeres as part of  Isla Fest

August 17-21 Taste of Isla Mujeres Artist Fair  at the Casa de Cultura 4pm 

 Friday August 19 & Saturday August 20   Isla Fest at the Casa de Cultura Free

Isla Fest

Conferences, expositions, exhibitions, shows, demonstrations

166th Anniversary of the Foundation of the town

Monday August 15, at the Casa de Cultura 11am

Photographic exhibition of the Art of Fishing

Exhibition from the Municipal Archives

Photographic and artistic exhibition 'Pinceladas Caribenas" (Caribbean brushstrokes)

Wednesday August 17

10am Placing of a wreath to commemorate the anniversary of the Cross in the Bay, from the ferry pier

7pm Formal City Council session to commemorate the 166th & coronation of the Queen of the Foundation Festivities of 2016, at the Casa de Cultura

Thursday August 18 as the Casa de Cultura

11am Isla Mujeres Historical Conference

7pm Poetry Recital: "Poesia Que Vino del Mar" (Poetry the comes from the sea)

Friday August 19 at the Casa de Cultura

8am Oratory Contest about the Foundation of the Town of Dolores

7pm Gastronomic Demonstration of Tiknxik

8pm Musical performances by Nicho Hinojosa and Miguel Inzunza

Saturday August 20

7am 1st Foundation 15 km Race at Playa Centro (Posada beach) Free Registration

8pm Performance by Astrid Hadad at the Casa de Cultura

Sunday August 21 at the Casa de Cultura

8pm Festival of the Dances of the Caribbean in my Land with Trova Islena

Aug. 21: The Festival of the Caribbean in My Land, with troupes of Mexican folk dancers performing dances with Caribbean rhythms. .

August 26 Friday 7pm on the Town Square 4th Lion Fish Gastronomic Contest

Sources for Storm Information:
Wunderground
Tropical Tidbits
NOAA


The Artist's Fairs are scheduled twice a month, on the First and Third Thursdays, at the Casa de Cultura, 4-9.