Thursday, December 14, 2017

Isla Mujeres Daily News & Events Thursday, Dec. 14



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.
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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)


The federal, state and municipal agencies will work in a coordinated manner to ensure that Isla Mujeres is kept clean and safe for islanders and visitors.We continue carrying out actions that benefit the community and make tourists feel at home. VIDEO   

Our commitment every day is that Isla Mujeres is the safest municipality of Quintana Roo. We have supplied more vehicles, surveillance equipment, and uniforms to the officers of the Police and Traffic Department of  Isla Mujeres. LINK 
     The General Secretary of the City, Antonio Coronado Rojas, representing the Mayor, said that, with an important investment, the municipal government provided the police force with approximately 200 complete uniforms, as well as two electric bicycles, which can reach speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour.

     At the beginning of the current administration, the Public Safety and Traffic Department had 66 officers, both in the island and in the Continental Zone- and few vehicles. Now the department has  tripled the number of workers and has more than 15 new vehicles, including patrols, motorcycles and bicycles.


  Authorities officially inaugurated the operating committee "Guadalupe Reyes" and the security operations     LINK    VIDEO  

Our Heroic Fire Department responded in a timely manner to the fire at the restaurant '' Rooster '' and it was contained without major incident.
 The evacuation of nearby establishments was not necessary.
 An accidental fire occurred in the kitchen area of ​​the restaurant.          The municipal Director of Civil Protection and Firefighters, Ulises Berman Graniel, explained that a gas leak coupled with a short circuit caused a strong explosion that left significant material damage and the premises are closed while the the corresponding proceedings take place. 
        Officers with the Department of Public Security and Municipal Traffic also arrived, who were in charge of controlling traffic while paramedics of the Red Cross attended to three employees of the establishment: the manager, Sandra G; the cashier, Yoni S; and the barista, Francisco C, who were transferred to the hospital with minor injuries.

NOTE: From Sergio, owner of Rooster restaurant: Thank you everyone for your concern regarding today's accident. Roosters was completely destroyed and will take time to rebuild. HOWEVER in order to continue to serve our customers, we will be re-opening 4 lots to the south of the current Roosters location (where Bertha’s is) starting Friday. We and our employees truly appreciate the community’s support during this time. We will update our customers with our plans for the rebuild soon. Meanwhile, we will be waiting for you at the new Rooster’s location on Friday morning with all your favorites!(Posted by an administrator of the Isla Mujeres Community Information Board)


The festivities for the Patron Saint of Isla Mujeres concluded successfully on Dec. 8. Last evening's (Dec. 12) the entertainment featured the Bullfighters of diminutive stature, which was the final event at the bullring

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From Tvisla Mujeres ( link to photos & articles)


TVIM asks: Did you know there's a gallery, coffee shop & souvenir stand at the Guadalupe Chapel, in addition to its spectacular views?
TVIM reports: The Chapel of Guadalupe, admired for its view of the sea, has great appeal. Do you know about it? The VIDEO captions say: The Guadalupe Chapel of Isla Mujeres has a coffee shop where you will find souvenirs and a gallery that shows the meaning of the image of the patron saint of Mexico. All this with a spectacular view of the sea of Isla Mujeres. Would you have a coffee here?

Video   Explosion & fire at Rooster's restaurant on Hidalgo VIDEO 
 
Mishandling of a cylinder of LP gas, inside a commercial premises on Hidalgo Avenue, caused considerable damage and at least three people with minor injuries.

Director of Civil Protection (& the Fire Department), Ulises Berman Ganiel explained that the fire and explosion at Rooster's restaurant on Hidalgo was apparently caused by a gas leak from portable 30 liter cylinder which resulted in strong explosion, breaking all the windows & causing considerable losses to the property. LINK  and  VIDEO of interview
       Three employees were injured and were taken to the hospital by the paramedics of the Red Cross for treatment of non-life threatening / minor injuries: the manager Sandra García; the cashier Yoni Sosa; and the barista Francisco Chacón. There were some diners affected by the incident, but they immediately left the premises.
      According to the TVIM article, is presumed that the cause was a leak from badly placed gas cylinders, coupled with a short circuit.
       The fire was quickly controlled and evacuation of primary school nearby was not required, since they were not in danger. (Tho in the comments, a mother says she was advised they were evacuated).
        Mr. Berman notes that the business was up to date with all their safety certifications & documents, and that this was apparently caused by an explosion from the gas tank, with heat from the stoves, and gas escaped from the valve of the tank, and it is unknown exactly what sparked the fire, but the basic problem was a gas leak.
The business is currently secured and the officials will be conducting an investigation. 
 

These comments were below this translation on the IM News & Events Fb page:
 
 RM:My boyfriend and I were having breakfast there at the time - he was by the window and was injured by the falling glass. He was treated by ambulance at the scene and was released. It really could have been so much worse.
 
CM: Glad you guys are okay. What time did this happen? We ate there this morning and there was no gas (so no hot food) - they were waiting for gas people to come.
 
RM: CM, we were there between 9 and 9:30 - we had a hot breakfast. We have heard they brought in small cylinders to make due but they leaked. Obviously this is all conjecture - the real story will come out I’m sure. I’m glad you left in time - it was terrifying at the time.
 
SR:  RM, we ate there about the same time! We sat inside and had just left, we were 20 yards away when we heard the explosion. It was CRAZY! So glad everyone is ok.


VIDEO   Interview with Civil Protection (and Fire Department) explaining that there was an explosion and fire at Roosters Restaurant on Hidalgo, which the firefighters extinguished. Now they are investigating possible causes such as a gas leak which may have been sparked by an electrical short. They will be investigating.

Authorities officially inaugurate the operating committee "Guadalupe Reyes" and the security operations. VIDEO  

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From Noti Isla Mujeres on FB

VIDEO     VIDEO    from the fire at Rooster Restaurant.



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From  por esto Link to their Isla Mujeres articles & photos


Ensuring security of tourists & locals 
Garantizada la seguridad de turistas y locales. [+] Ver masFull article at this link
   The breathalyzer operation, implemented for the safety of tourists and locals, will be increased during Guadalupe-Reyes, both on the island and in the Continental Zone, is focused on creating awareness among drivers about the importance of not having even a single drink before driving.Many serious accidents are caused by driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages, hence the importance of avoiding getting behind the wheel when you have had a drink, even if it is a single beer, which is enough for your reflexes and responsiveness to be less than 100 percent. 
         At an impromptu press conference about the breathalyzer operation, Jaime Ongay Ortiz, Director of the municipal Department of  head of Public Safety and Traffic, said in that vehicle accidents have decreased about 80 percent.
  He said that the breathalyzer is a preventive rather than punitive measure, whose objective is to inhibit the consumption of alcohol when driving of motor vehicles. (The rest of the information in this article has already been translated.)


No schedules or rates yet  
 Sin horarios, sin tarifas   [+] Ver mas
    The Marinsa ferry company has not released their rates or schedule yet. Harbor Master Miguel Ismael González Gil said that Marinsa has 30 days to perform docking and navigation tests of which they have used 15 so far.
      He said that tentatively the boats of Naveganto should arrive on December 18 and will have a week or a week and a half for the tests. "After doing the docking and undocking tests, they will determine if they are ready to start operations and cover route between Isla Mujeres and Puerto Juarez.  Ultramar, Naveganto and Marinsa would use the API Pier 3 and in Puerto Juarez, Ultramar will use its facilities at Gran Puerto and the other two will use the Maritime Terminal ".


 Explosion in a restaurant  
Explosión en restaurante. [+] Ver mas
 
       Yesterday morning, a  gas leak in a downtown restaurant, full of tourists, caused an explosion, which resulted in minor injuries to two tourists and three employees received medical attention for minor injuries, according to data collected and Civil Protection. 

          Shortly before 10:00 am, the incident occurred in the "Rooster" restaurant, on Hidalgo Avenue, between Matamoros and Adolfo López Mateos streets, when there were about a dozen people dining, both inside and outside the building. 
          Thanks to the prompt intervention by employees of the restaurant and from nearby businesses, they prevented the fire from growing, because some used fire extinguishers to fight the flames, while others tried to help remove the people affected by the shockwave.  
      The Red Cross rescue workers attended to two visitors who suffered minor injuries and were transported to receive care in the Community Hospital, and they were discharged shortly thereafter. Employees were also checked and, seeing that they did not have any serious injuries, they resumed their tasks due to the emergency. The Director of Civil Protection reported that  paramedics of the Red Cross assisted three employees of the establishment; the manager Sandra G., the cashier Yoni S., and the barista Francisco C. who "were transferred to a hospital with minor injuries."
     Several witnesses testified that an employee entered the premises when they were full of smoke,  to save the money from the sales. Another explosion was feared from the 20-liter gas tank in the kitchen. 
       "The walls and floors of our businesses are strong," said representatives of the nearby businesses. Fear spread throughout the block, even at the "Andrés Quintana Roo" primary school, which was located less than 100 meters away. 
        About 300 students had to be removed fpr half an hour after the explosion due to the smell of LP gas throughout in the whole environment, almost an hour later, since on the roof of the Rooster there was leakage from the stationary propane tank, according to the personnel and Civil Protection.Ulises Berman Graniel, head of this agency, reported that flame in the kitchen area of ​​the restaurant, was the main cause of this accident.
Large amount of damage 

    He said that a gas leak, coupled with a short circuit  caused a strong explosion that left significant material damage and the premises  are closed, while the corresponding procedures are carried out. Officers with the Municipal Department of Public Safety and Traffic came to the scene to direct traffic and the paramedics transported three employees with minor injuries to the hospital. 
    In the past decade, there have been two accidents in the area, both about 50 meters away. One was a restaurant on Hidalgo that caught fire but it didn't become a major fire. The other was a disco, "La Jungla", operated by the Magaña Gasca, which was a total loss after it caught fire at night.



 Nine candidates for taxi union leader  
Nueve candidatos a la dirigencia  [+] Ver mas
         The candidates are Miguel Chan Mena and José Magaña Galué,  Juan Carlos Farías, José, Porfirio Martínez Garrido, Amada Hernández Peniche, Miguel García Trujillo, Adolfo Argüelles, Julio Osorio Magaña and Darwin García Magaña, who are compaigning. The ballots have been sent to be printed for the more than 500 members who will go to the polls on Saturday, at 2:00 p.m.

Festivities end successfully   
 Termina fiesta brava.. [+] Ver mas
   The final event at the bullring was well attended and enjoyed by the audience. The buoy line was moved. This information has already been translated.


 Island celebrates Dia de Guadalupe      
.Isla guadalupana [+] Ver mas


Seamen resume operations  
 Náuticos reanudan operaciones [+] Ver mas


Great movement in the hotel industry
Gran movimiento en la hotelería.. [+] Ver mas 

     Dec. 13   Yesterday midday, there was a greater number of tourist, with the arrival of visitors from the United States, Canada and Europe, predominately, according to hotel representatives.Also some representatives of vacation homes reported that their apartments are already filled by frequent visitors from the countries in the north. This experience is not the same for the small hotels, who still do not have 30 percent occupancy, but they expect the movement to pick up before Christmas. 
     A good number of visitors were seen at Playa Centro, while Playa Norte had fewer people. The ferries had an occupancy of about 80 percent,  which connect Isla Mujeres with Puerto Juarez, Punta Sam, and the hotel zone of Cancun from eight in the mornin until sunset. 
       With regard to the new Marinsa ferry boats, they continued to provide free service for local users for the third day.


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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   

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