Isla Mujeres Daily News & Events Friday, Dec. 15

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CHECK OUT THE NEW DECEMBER EVENTS SCHEDULE!  (scroll down)

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


There is a video & article about opening a multi-use sports area on the mainland part of the municipality.


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From Tvisla Mujeres ( link to photos & articles)



Boxing Event Sunday at 7pm at El Pescador. LINK 

The Mayor reports that the year will close with an isle full of tourists and completion of public works such as streetlights and remodeling of the Bicentennial dome. He said the hoteliers report their reservation books are nearly full for the end of the year dates. He said, "In terms of security, we have the full support and collaboration of the Navy, the Red Cross, the Harbor Master, and all areas of municipal government." He said that Isla Mujeres is a clean, safe and comfortable destination for family vacations, especially at the New Year's party, which, as is tradition, features a big celebration and dance on the Town Square. LINK  
 
"The delegation of SINTRA in Isla Mujeres is an open door delegation," said the delegate of the agency, Jorge Martín, adding that all the requests and petitions made by citizens are addressed in a prompt and satisfactory manner. He was interviewed at the "Talk with the Governor" event and said that citizens submit applications constantly, and during this campaign more than 60 were received during the morning. He said all applications are processed immediately, from procedures to permits to the concerns of concession holders, and personal attention is provided, according to the instructions of the Director of the agency, Jorge Portilla. (SINTRA is the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and among their responsibilities is overseeing that the taxis and golf cart rentals have correct and current registrations, plates, concessions, insurance, etc.) LINK 

In the upcoming year, modifications will be made at the schools including flexibility regarding determining the schedule for arrival of the students, and the schools can decide to set that at 7am or 7:30am or 8am. LINK  


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From  por esto Link to their Isla Mujeres articles & photos

Propane tank inspections 
Inspeccionan tanques de gas.. [+] Ver masFull article at this link
 Dec. 14. Today the Civil Protection Agency started a review of all the stationary propane tanks on Hidalgo Avenue, following a restaurant fire that was caused by a leak in an LP gas tank, according to the head of the agency, Ulises Berman. This will include an inspecion of each of the ~100 tanks on the pedestrian street.
   Once that is completed, the campaign will be extended to the other streets and avenues of downtown. All propane gas installations are required to meet criteria and conditions, according to protocol, and authorizations are given out when the restaurant license is renewed. All entrepreneurs are encouraged to use specialists to perform frequent inspections, and those who have any questions about the procedures are contact the Civil Protection agency for more information.


Isla Mujeres News Briefs   

Breves de Isla Mujeres [+] Ver mas
   
  The taxi driver union election is scheduled for Saturday, and campaigning ends today (Friday).
There is an announcement about the boxing match (see TVIM) It is noted that there is agym on the island owned by Guillermo Bracamonte where he frequently trains young fighters.
  It is noted that about 240 agents and officers of the three levels of government will be providing security for thousands of vacationers during the Guadalupe-Reyes holiday period. Islanders are asked to cooperate by obeying traffic laws including not driving under the influence of alcohol and not using their cell phones while driving.

 New trash collection schedule   
 Nuevo horario para recolección de basura.. [+] Ver mas
    Everything is ready for the start of the new trash collection schedule downtown on Dec 15th (today). Trash will be collected downtown from 5am to 11am and should not be set out after that hour. A second collection will be made starting at 7pm. An awareness campaign was conducted from Dec 4 to 14th with officials personally visiting each establishment. This change was initiated after officials met with business leaders to hear their concerns. The entrepreneurs started an initiative to clean up Hidalgo and other streets, and officials of the municipal agencies of Urban Development, Ecology, Enforcement, Public Works, and Public Services came together to address a variety of issues, including trash collection. 

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 Noticias de  Diario de Quintana Roo's Isla articles & photos LINK
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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. Within ten minutes walk are the restaurants Mango Cafe, Brisas, Manolitos,  Green Verde, Kash Kechen Chuc, and the large department store-grocery Chedraui. Visit marinas, bars, & beach clubs that are minutes away by bike or on foot. Attend 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. It takes 20-30  minutes to walk downtown.

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December Events
Provided by MaraVilla Caribe & Isla Mujeres Daily News & Events

Nov. 28-Dec. 8 Annual Festivities honoring the Patron Saint: Our Lady of Immaculate Conception
  Which include a small carnival, a bullring, nightly performances on the Town Square (which start at 8p), and a boat procession on Dec. 8th, as well as private celebrations by the 20+ groups involved in the festivities.  The horse procession is scheduled for Dec. 2, starting at 1p going to the colonias & the Sacred Heart Church, and finishing at the ring at the north end of the runway, where there will be cowboy-horse performances. Events at the ring begin at 6:30 except Nani Namu.

 
 The comic bullfights with matadors of diminutive stature are Tues. 5th & Tues. 12th. There's a Lasso tournament on Sun, Dec.10th. All events at the ring at the north end of the runway start at 6:30p, except Nani Namu & the horse procession.

Fri & Sat. Dec 1 & 2  M.C. Mala Noche will celebrate their first anniversary this weekend at the Casa de la Cultura starting at 11 am on Saturday and at Playa Centro on Sunday with live music, competitions, and other fun activities.

Sun. Dec. 3 Noches Magicas 8p Town Square with the DIF Senior Citizen Dance Troupe and singers Rebens Garcia and Aldahir Davila

You can drop off donations of toys at Rueben's restaurant, across from the Mercado on Guerrero. Kids in Mexico receive presents on King's Day/Dia de los Reyes on Jan. 6

Full moon Sun. Dec. 3

                                                                    Sunset ~6p

Dec. 3  6:30
Dec. 4  7:30
Dec. 5   8:33
Dec. 6   9:37
Dec. 7  10:39
Dec. 8  11:39

 Wed, Dec 6 at 5:00 p.m. Casa de la Cultura   Zumba class for 1 Billion Rising to Prevent Violence Against Women

 Thurs. Dec. 7 Artist Fair Casa de la Cultura 3-8p

Fri. Dec. 8 at 4:30pm Christmas Youth Lightning Tournament on the Comex soccer court for Futbol Rapido soccer, in colonia Salina Chica.

 

Thurs. Dec. 14  at 9am Public Audience with the Governor at the El Pescador baseball field

 Sun. Dec.10 Noches Magicas 8p Town Square

Mon. Dec.11  There will be a gathering in the evening at the coastal chapel dedicated to Guadalupe in Salina Chica, probably with Mariachis, to sing Las Mañanitas and honor her. 

Mon. Dec. 11 Town Square 6p. Lighting of the Christmas Lights and performance by the Academy of Jazz, Passion, & Dance

Tues. Dec. 12 Dia de Guadalupe, the Patron Saint of Mexico.There is usually a run in the morning from the downtown church to Punta Sur to the Guadalupe Chapel.There is usually a procession in the afternoon with children dressed up as Juan Diego, shepherds, and shepherdesses, probably between the Chapel Guadalupana and the downtown church,

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). 

Thurs. Dec.14 Artist Fair Casa de la Cultura  3-8p

Dec, 16-24 Posadas Navidenas
During the Posadas, there is usually a dance on the 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'.
 
Sun. Dec.17 Noches Magicas 8p Town Square
 
Thurs. Dec. 21 Artist Fair Casa de la Cultura 3-8p

Thurs. Dec. 21 Winter Solstice  

Sat. Dec. 23 5:30p - 8:30p Golf Cart Parade with residents tossing toys & treats to children

Sun. Dec. 24  Christmas Eve  Usually the last ferry is cancelled and some businesses may be closed, especially in the evening, while families celebrate together.Noches Magicas will probably be suspended.

Mon. Dec. 25 Christmas Usually the first ferry is cancelled.

Thurs. Dec.28 Artist Fair Casa de la Cultura 3-8p

Thurs. Dec. 28 Wednesday  Dia de los Santos Innocentes A day of practical jokes, similar to "April Fool's Day"

Sun. Dec.31 New Year's Eve celebration on the Town Square. Tables can be purchased in advance, details TBA. The last ferry is usually cancelled.Noches Magicas will probably be suspended.

Jan. 1 New Year's Day People observe the sunrise at Punta Sur The first ferries are usually suspended.

 Celebrating New Year's in Isla Mujeres
   To celebrate New Year's Eve, some 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.
  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 (Yucatan peninsula is under Satellite GOES Este, I recommend "Animacion" (it used to be in my blog margin, until Blogger became incompatible with it).
LINK to a private weather station on Isla Mujeres