 |
| This is the live webcam at North Beach / Playa Norte. HERE is a timelapse version, that you can set to slow or fast (fps-frames per second). It takes a few seconds to load. |
Follow Isla Mujeres News & Events on Facebook for highlights of news & events, and more photos & videos
Both issues of The Isla Mujeres Magazine are here,
featuring a variety of talented writers and photographers!
featuring a variety of talented writers and photographers!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Noticias de Diario de Quintana Roo ....
link to their Isla articles & photos
Sports: High priority
Mayor participates in race at Punta Sur
El deporte, alta prioridad
Destaca Juan Carrillo al participar en carrera en Punta Sur
Lanrry PARRA
ISLA MUJERES, BJ, 4 de diciembre.-
ISLA MUJERES, BJ, 4 de diciembre.-
The mayor said sports is a way of life and contributes to a healthy lifestyle for members of the community. The mayor recognized the Grupo Quequi for promoting sports on the island and said that events like this attract athletes from all parts of the country and promotes the island. He said, "Hopefully this is the first of many races to be held in the municipality."
After completing the race, the Mayor accompanied the organizers of the event to the awards ceremony, where certificates and medals were given to the first place winner of the 10km race, Erick Jesus Mayo with a time of 36 minutes and 20 seconds, and to the first place winner of the 5km race, Daniel Coral, with a time of 15 minutes and 57 seconds.
Opening new hotels brings more jobs
Se congratula Edil por más inversiones
Apertura de nuevos hoteles trae más empleos
Lanrry PARRA
ISLA MUJERES, 4 de diciembre.-
ISLA MUJERES, 4 de diciembre.-
It is noted that there are currently about 4000 rooms under construction, at various hotel developments, which will add to the nearly 2000 rooms (1857) that are already in operation, which will make a total of 6000 rooms available. These ~500 rooms of the Hotel Dreams, were built with an investment of 165 million dollars. In addition, the Majestic Group intends to build 2000 rooms in Playa Mujeres, and construction on the first 500 rooms will start in five months.
It was pointed out that investors are attracted to this development because it is orderly, which adds to the natural beauty, for those seeking a place with sustainable development.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the Municipal Facebook site..... ( FB page link)
Mayor Juan Carillo participated in a ride with various groups of motorcyclists, both local and guests, to celebrate Day of the Motorcyclist.
Asiste el presidente Juan Carrillo a la rodada en la que participaron diversas agrupaciones de motociclistas locales e invitados en el marco del #DíaDelMotociclista.
The Mayor supporting the Pescadors of Isla Mujeres in the third game of the competition, against the Ejidatarios of Bonfil on Sunday.
Es domingo de béisbol para apoyar a los #Pescadores de #IslaMujeres que disputan el tercer encuentro decisivo contra los #EjidatariosDeBonfil. #ConTodoPescadores
This morning the first race of the Run Series 5K & 10K took place along the Caribbean Sea. We will continue to promote the sport and sports tourism in our municipality with these types of events.
Esta mañana se llevó a cabo en nuestra #IslaMujeres la primera carrera Run Series 5K y 10k teniendo como marco el Mar Caribe. Continuaremos promoviendo el deporte y el turismo deportivo en nuestro municipio a través de este tipo de eventos.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Tvisla Mujeres ( link to photos & articles)
Official inauguration of the Municipal Basketball Tournament of Isla Mujeres
Oficialmente inaugurado el Torneo Municipal de Basquetbol de Isla Mujeres - http://www.tvislamujeres.com.mx/oficialmente-inaugurado-el…/
Isla Mujeres bets on Sports Tourism (photo of start of marathon and the article says there were more than 500 participants.).
Isla Mujeres le apuesta al Turismo Deportivo - http://www.tvislamujeres.com.mx/isla-mujeres-le-apuesta-al…/
The new hotel Dreams opens its doors Sunday at Playa Mujeres (on the mainland part of the municipality).
Este domingo abre sus puertas el nuevo hotel Dreams en Playa Mujeres - http://www.tvislamujeres.com.mx/este-domingo-abre-sus-puer…/
There is a collection of photos from the marathon, Quequi Run Series
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From por esto Link to their Isla Mujeres articles & photos
Contoy plan of operations review
Revisan plan de operaciones en Contoy [+] Ver masFull article at this link
The specialists who have monitored controlled tourism at Isla Contoy National Park (PNIC) during the past two decades say studies are needed to prevent damage to the environment, which includes the corals of Ixlache. One of the concerns is the load capacity because there can be as many as 100 people in the water at the same time, during the peak months of July and August, according to the Management Program for the park. In the section "Public Use, Tourism, and Open Air Recreation it says, "Therefore, it is a priority to conduct studies concerning possibly changing the acceptable limit and establishing a load capacity specifically for the reef. "
Tourism is the main economic activity at PNIC, where there are 12 tourism permit holders, who visit the site approximately 300 days a year. According to the censuses of the past ten years, about 20,000 people visit the park annually. In regard to income, under Article 198 of the Federal Rights Law, the park occupies the fifth place in terms of revenues in the Yucatan Peninsula and the Mexican Caribbean.
Since the beginning of the 1980's, the area has had a museum onsite which shows the aspects of the island that are areas of tourist use, a dock with space for 14 boats, informational trails, an observation tower, and an observation platform at the lagoon.
Weak Tower
The tower has been weakened by an overload of visitors and several hurricanes, including two very strong ones; Gilberto in 88 and Wilma in 2005. At this time, no more than 10 people are allowed to ascend the tower at one time.
Several studies that contributed to the Management Program for the PNIC make reference to the fact that the greatest restriction for the realization of tourism is the availability of fresh water for both consumption and cleaning services, as well as the limited recreational space (el espacio de esparcimiento) at each site which restricts the number of tourists who can comfortably enjoy visiting.
The Program seeks to promote the careful use of the Protected Natural Area (ANP), through tourism with low environmental impact, via sustainable management and alternative usage, which can provide a real option for regional development.
The specific objective is to "control and mitigate the negative impacts of tourism on this natural heritage site, through the management and control of visitors, and via measures that favor conservation." As a goal and expected result, it establishes a short term management program of public use of the site, in relation to the activities of the visitors.
Actions
A subprogram of restoration is planned at Isla Contoy, and the document notes, "It is necessary to have the right conditions to conserve natural resources, such as wild flora and fauna; as well as non living resources such as water and soil. Conservation activities are necessary in order to reduce the number, intensity, and size of negative impacts, and good planning is needed to provide stability to the system and improvements in habitat quality. "
For this reason, this subprogram is directed towards a plan of rehabilitation, recovery, and restoration of ecosystems which have been altered or impacted. Being an island in the Caribbean, its ecosystems are affected by the hurricanes that cross thru this area. The reef is the most impacted by these storms, since it receives and absorbs the force of the sea, causing breakage to structures that had grown slowly and consolidated over hundreds of years.
The mangroves and the systems related to their dynamics undergo small but continuous changes. The mangrove plants affect the azolvamiento (situation) of the lagoons and their wetlands. In this case, it will be necessary to define whether they will require human intervention or should be allowed to go thru transformation as a natural environmental process.
Regarding the aforementioned coconut palm issue, (in yesterday's news) it will be necessary to determine whether the best response is elimination, or control of the amount of occupied space, and where appropriate, restoration of the biological elements that have been replaced.
The species present in the PNIC that are considered At Risk by national determination have an action program for their conservation. These include the sea turtles and the American or River crocodile (Crocodrilo acutus), as well as the gecko pestañudo (Aristelliger Georgeensis). These species subject to special protection and are included in the " List Of species At Risk" in the "NOM-059-Semarnat-2010, Environmental Protection-Native species of Mexico of wild flora and fauna-Categories of risk and specifications for inclusion, exclusion or change."
The sea cacerolita (Limulus polyphemus), is designated as "in danger of extinction". The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) and the chit palm (Thrinax radiata), species are in the "threatened" category. Elk horn corals (Acropora palmata) and Deer horn corals (Acropora cervicornis) are subject to special protection. The emblematic species of the park is the frigate (Fregata magnificens). They have the largest populations of the region in the reserve, and now are apparently occupying previously unused niches, affecting the nests other birds and their success at feeding and reproduction.
500 new rooms added on mainland
Se suman 500 nuevas habitaciones[+] Ver masFull article at this link
As winter season is about to begin, the Dreams Hotel put 500 new rooms into operation at their Playa Mujeres complex in Punta Sam, breaking the barrier of over 2000 rooms on the mainland part of the municipality.
With the addition of these rooms, the municipality has more than 4000 rooms, including the 1580 on the island, which are available for vacationers in high season, who will soon be arriving from the coldest parts of the United States and Canada.
There are currently about 4000 rooms under construction at different hotel developments on the mainland, and when this is added to the nearly 2000 in operation, there will soon be 6000 hotel rooms. These ~500 rooms of the Hotel Dreams, were built with an investment of 165 million dollars. In addition, the Magestic Group intends to build 2000 rooms in Playa Mujeres, and construction on the first 500 rooms will start in five months.
The development on the beautiful beach sites will attract vacationers with high purchasing power, who enjoy coming in contact with nature. According to the PDU (Continental Urban Development Program) there are projections for construction of 30,000 rooms at Punta Sam and Isla Blanca.
Municipal Basketball Tournament begins with more than 30 teams
Con más de 30 equipos inició el Torneo de Baloncesto Municipal[+] Ver masFull article at this link
The Municipal Basketball Tournament was launched this weekend at the downtown court "Jose del Carmen Pastrana", with more than 30 teams in the "Open" and "Children's" categories. There has never been a tournament with this many teams, and athletes of all ages are participating.
There are 14 men's teams, 7 women's teams, and a dozen children's teams, who filled the court on Friday night. The event was also attended by governmental representatives who pledged to support this effort. The event took place during a game between two teams in the women's league, which was suspended for the opening ceremony, and then the game resumed afterwards.
During the event, the winners of the previous men's tournament were given their awards. The three time winners "Sharks" received the trophy and the cash prize, while "Seduction-Kala" took second place and "Dameros" won cash for third place. It is noted that the Sharks won the most games in the tournament, taking 13, while the "Seduction-Kala" were behind them with five wins in that tournament.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |
| 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. |
.jpg) |
| 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.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
The holiday period in Mexico from Dec. 12 to Jan. 6 is called Guadalupe-Reyes (from Dia de Guadalupe to Dia de los Reyes/King's Day). In Isla Mujeres, this is preceded by patron saint festivities Nov. 28-Dec. 8.
Festivities for the Patron Saint the Virgin of Immaculate Conception
On the Town Square
 |
| Nov. 28 Opening at 8p with the band Los Marlins . Nov. 28, The Mestizas de Agua Salada; Nov. 29, Folkloric dance troupe: Son del Caribe at 7:30p; Nov. 30th, Academy La Isleña; Dec. 1 Cavalcade (Horse procession) in Honor of the Virgin, noon; Dec. 2, Dance group Añoranzas; Dec. 3, Dance group Entorno and musical group Mar & Arena Dec. 4, Dance Studio Renatta and Academia La Isleña; Dec. 5, Mestizas de Agua Salada; Dec. 5, Dance group Entorno; Dec. 6 Caravan procession at 6:30, Dec. 7 Yucatan band Picante Plus will perform and “Las Mañanitas” will be sung to the Virgin Dec. 8 Boat Procession of the Virgin in the Bay 3pm Dec. 8 Day of the Virgin of Immaculate Conception |
 |
| Thursday, Dec. 1 Horse procession (12p), and a performance by horses & a band (4p). Friday, Dec. 2 Bullfight (4:30) Saturday, Dec. 3 Rodeo with a band (4:30). Sunday, Dec. 4 Bullfight (4:30) Thursday, Dec. 8 Bullfight with dwarfs (8p). |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December Events
Provided by MaraVilla Caribe & Isla Mujeres Daily News & Events
Dec. 1 Thursday
12p Horse procession
4-9p Artist Fair at Casa Cultura w live music, craft beer, food, & art.
5p Anti-AIDS/HIV march & Health Fair at Bicentennial Dome La Gloria
6p Horse performance & live music 6p North end of runway.
Dec. 2 Friday
4:30p Bullfight at North end of runway
7:30p Dance group Añoranzas at Town Square
Dec. 3 Saturday
4:30p Rodeo & live music at North end of runway
7:30p Dance troupe Entorno and band Mar & Arena at Town Square
Dec. 4 Sunday
7:30a Charlie & Friends Marathon 5 & 10km Garrafon/P.Sur along Caribbean coast
4:30p Bullfight at North end of runway
7:30p Dance Studio Renatta and Academia La Isleña at Town Square
Dec. 5 Monday
7:30p Mestizas de Agua Salada dance troupe at Town Square
Entorno dance troupe at Town Square
Dec. 6 Tuesday 6:30p Caravan procession for Patron Saint
Dec. 7 Wednesday 8p Yucatan band Picante Plus at Town Square
“Las Mañanitas” will be sung to the Virgin at Town Square
Dec. 8 Thursday Day of the Virgin of Immaculate Conception
3pm Boat Procession of the Virgin in the Bay
8p Bullfight with Dwarfs North end of runway
Dec. 11 Sunday Celebration in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe at the Chapel Guadalupana in Meteorolgocia (which overlooks the Caribbean, across from Mango cafe), with singing of Las Mananitas before midnight, possibly with Mariachis.
Dec 12 Monday Day of Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron Saint.
People honor her with pilgrimages and efforts of endurance, such as the annual run around the island, which will probably be held in the morning
There is a procession in the afternoon with children dressed up as Juan Diego, shepherds, and shepherdesses usually between the Chapel Guadalupana and the downtown church, and sometimes there are horses. Juan Diego saw the vision of the Virgin of Guadalupe on the hill at Tepeyac, 485 years ago. See article below. I will update this info when it is available.
Sunset ~6:05p
Moon rise over the Caribbean
 |
| Dec. 13 6:12 Full Moon Dec. 14 7:13 Dec. 15 8:15 Dec. 16 9:16 Dec. 17 10:14 Dec. 18 11:10 Painting by Pam Haase |
Dec. 15, Thursday
4-9 Artist Fair Casa de la Cultura Art, music, food, craft beer
Dec, 16-24 Posadas Navidenas.
During the Posadas, there is usually a dance on the t\Town Square, featuring regional dances & costumes from different states of Mexico. The schools may have Posada plays, which are reenactments of Mary & Joseph being refused shelter. Posada means 'inn'.
Dec. 21 Wednesday Solstice
Just before Christmas, the government has a procession of decorated carts and vehicles with a Santa, which goes thru the colonias playing music tossing candy and small toys, There is also one by the residents, foreign & local, that is planned again this year. Dates TBA. There is a decorated boat parade annually at Cancun.
The DIF (social service organization) collects toy donations for a big give away, as does Rueben's restaurant, where you can drop off donations now. Dates TBA. Kids in Mexico receive presents on King's Day/Dia de los Reyes on Jan. 6.
Dec. 24 Saturday Noche Buena / Christmas Eve
Ultramar ferry is usually cancelled after ~11p, as well as the first crossing Christmas morn. Some businesses are not open in the evening, because families are celebrating together.
Dec. 25 Sunday Dia de Navidad / Christmas Day The first ferries may be suspended.
Usually around this time the annual Quinceaneras event and Mass are held at the Church of Immaculate Conception for young women who turned 15 during 2015 and who wear beautiful gowns. More info TBA when available
Dec. 28 Dia de los Santos Innocentes A day of practical jokes, similar to "April Fool's Day"
Dec. 31 New Year's Eve Festival on the Town Square with live music and fireworks. Tables can be reserved in advance, with information TBA. The last ferries are usually suspended.
Jan. 1 New Year's Day People observe the sunrise at Punta Sur The first ferries are usually suspended.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Día de Guadalupe is an important holiday in Mexico
According to accounts published in both Nahuatl and Spanish in the 1600s, the image of the Virgin Mary appeared to the indigenous peasant, Juan Diego, in the hills of Tepeyac in the outskirts of Mexico City on December 9, 1531, when he was on his way to the city from his village. (Later she appeared to his sick uncle also.) The dark-skinned young woman was surrounded by light & spoke in Nahuatl, telling Juan Diego that a church should be built in her honor at the top of Tepeyac hill, where there had once been an Aztec Temple to the goddess Tonantzin.
But when Juan Diego related this to the Spanish archbishop, the cleric didn’t believe him and told him to go back to Tepeyac and ask the Virgin for a miracle. The Virgin told Juan Diego to gather roses from the top of the hill (unseasonably and in an area of cactus & scrub). She helped arrange the flowers in Juan Diego’s tilmátli (cloak), and he carried them back to Mexico City.
When he arrived on December 12 and opened his tilmátli in front of the archbishop, the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe had been imprinted onto the cloak. The tilmátli with the imprint is still on display at the Basilica de Guadalupe, one of the most visited shrines in the world.
Celebrating New Year's in Isla Mujeres
To celebrate New Year's Eve, some Isleno families set up tables in the side streets with pinatas strung overhead, and dine on turkey stuffed with seasoned ground meat, while others crowd the Town Square for live music, dancing, and fireworks. Each neighborhood brings in the New Year with a bang, and the skies explode with color in all directions.
During the NYE countdown, there is a tradition of eating twelve uvas de buenas suerte (grapes of good luck), each representing a month, with a toast of champagne or cider. The party on the town square continues all night long. At the other end of the isle, people gather at Punta Sur to greet the first rays of the sun at the eastern-most point in Mexico.
Other customs include cleaning your house on New Year's Eve & sweeping out bad luck. Wearing red underwear could bring you love in the New Year, or your white undies may bring you peace, while yellow represents wealth. Those who hope to travel should grab an empty suitcase and carry it around the room or the block, and set it by the door. If you drop a shoe on New Year's morn and it lands "boca arriba" (face up) you will enjoy good luck in the upcoming year.
The old year is represented by a life sized character called El Viejo, The Old Man, who is later filled with fireworks and set ablaze. He may resemble a politician, and he is usually holding cigars & tequila. Fireworks are everywhere, and their names are metralletas (literally "machine guns" – but it means fire crackers), cañones (larger fire crackers), voladores (rockets in many different sizes), chifladores (whistlers), and barre pies ("foot sweepers", that spin on the ground & shoot sparks).
Kids receive toys on Dia de los Reyes, January 6, when families, friends, and coworkers share rosca de reyes. King's cake, usually with hot chocolate. If you get the Baby Jesus,it means you'll be hosting a party & providing the tamales on Candlemas Day, Feb. 2.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Artist's Fairs are scheduled twice a month, on the First and Third Thursdays, at the Casa de Cultura, 4-9.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.