Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Isla Mujeres Daily News & Events Wednesday, July 18



This is the live webcam at North Beach / Playa Norte. 
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CHECK OUT THE JULY EVENTS SCHEDULE!  (scroll down)
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News from the Municipal Facebook site.....  (  FB page link)

The City of Isla Mujeres invites all families to enjoy and take care of public spaces such as parks, sports areas, and beaches.  VIDEO  

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 FB News Sites about Isla Mujeres

  Tvisla Mujeres    


The US Department of State, through the Office of Consular Affairs, did not included Quintana Roo among the Mexican states with travel restrictions. Tourist areas such as Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and the Riviera Maya (and Isla Mujeres) are safe for American travelers and employees. LINK  
      Quintana Roo is among the safest states to travel to during this summer vacation period and there are no restrictions for US employees and citizens to visit the main destinations of the state, after the State Department of United States, through its Office of Consular Affairs, issued travel alerts for five Mexican states. 
     According to the statement issued by the US Department of State-Office of Consular Affairs, last Monday, there are no restrictions for US governmental employees traveling to Quintana Roo, which includes tourist areas such as Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and the Mayan Riviera (and Isla Mujeres). 
      However, warnings were issued for the states of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas, due to the increase of various violent crimes such as homicides, kidnappings, car thefts and thefts. 
      Quintana Roo, according to the US Department of State, is currently located at level two of four, which indicates that it is safe for citizens and employees of the US government to visit the main tourist destinations of the Mexican Caribbean, while the states with restriction are at levels three and four.


Advisory about the "Canícula" (Dog Days of Summer)
Mérida, Yucatán.- CONAGUA reports that the Yucatan Peninsula is entering the initial phase of the Canícula. 

         Each year various meteorological conditions are combined in a phenomenon called Canícula or Veranillo, during which high temperatures and a decrease in rainfall occur. According to information from the National Meteorological Service (SMN), an agency of the the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), the Yucatan Peninsula is in the beginning phase of the Canícula. ("Dog Days")
       This phenomenon begins a few weeks after the start of summer, usually in the second half of July and lasts approximately 40 days, according to the SMN.  It is important to clarify that there is no specific date or day for the beginning of this phenomenon. 
      According to information from the Regional Hydrometeorological Center of Merida (CHRM) of the SMN, the three states of the Yucatan Peninsula are considered among those that could be most affected by the Canicula for 2018, whose main characteristics are temperatures above 37.0 Celsius degrees, decrease in precipitation, air heating and clear sky conditions. 
      This phenomenon is caused by the presence and influence of an anticyclonic system that, generally, after the month of June spreads to the Gulf of Mexico and even extends to a part of the Pacific Ocean in the form of a "dorsal" (trough) (zone of warm air a great height). 
      In this sense, the presence of hot air over the area works as a kind of barrier or wall that inhibits the formation of clouds in the region, so it reduces rainfall and increases temperatures. 
     Therefore, according to data from the meteorological forecast area of ​​the CHRM, this week maximum temperatures are expected to range between 37.0 and 40.0 degrees Celsius in Campeche, between 37.0 and 39.0 degrees in Yucatan and from 35.0 to 37.0 degrees in Quintana Roo. 
        Therefore, it is recommended that the population be aware of the official notices and recommendations that may be issued by authorities such as CONAGUA, Civil Protection and Health Services.

NOTE:  The term canícula is derived from canes/canines. Canis Majoris, the Dog Star, is also called "Sirius" which means 'scorcher' in Greek. It is called the Dog star because of the way it follows the constellation of Orion (the Hunter). (according to Wikipecia LINK)

The graphic says: Why Canicula? (Why "Dog Days"?)
In the summer, the star Sirius (the brightest star in the night sky) is positioned on the opposite side of the Sun, so it was once thought that the heat of the sun was coupled with the heat of Sirius and caused the temperature increase. This is in the constellation of Canis Majoris or "Canicula" to the Romans.


Wikipedia in Spanish gives a second theory, in regard to our region:  "On the other hand, country people, especially older people who were accustomed to starting to plant their crops looking at the stars in the countries of Central America, noticed that around July 15 the weather dried up and it was not convenient to plant. This dry weather ended around August 15, at which time planting resumed. This time seemed to coincide with the position of the "Canter" constellation in the zenith at midnight , approximately from 15 degrees to -15 degrees from the zenith (directly overhead). At this time it was called canicula (lesser dog), referring to to Canis Menor." (vs Canis Major "greater dog", which contains Sirius...both follow the constellation of Orion the hunter.)

The Cuban fishing boats had left the area where the fishermen, mostly from Isla Mujeres, held a protest demonstration about 12 nautical miles from Isla Mujeres LINK   VIDEO  VIDEO 

From June to date, about two tons of sargassum have been removed from the 13 public beaches of Cancun, as a result of instructions from the mayor, Remberto Estrada Barba, to maintain the sandy areas in optimum condition for the residents and tourists.  LINK 

Isla Mujeres Al Dia    

NAUTICAL TOURISM IS AT 90 PERCENT AT THE START OF THE SUMMER HIGH SEASON 
          "I inform you that capacity is at 90 percent, and the tours most in demand are those to Isla Mujeres, snorkeling on the reefs, whale sharks, and the catamaran rides," said Iván Ferrat, president of Asociados Náuticos de Quintana Roo. (Photo of a group of kayakers)

There is a copy of yesterday's Por Esto article about the lighthouse, with a photo of the lighthouse.

Free medical services for the community June 16-19 provided by the municipal and state DIF social service agencies   
       In support of island families, the DIF of Quintana Roo, in coordination with the DIF of Isla Mujeres, is providing free medical services through a mobile unit at different parts of the municipality from July 16 to 19, from 9 am to 5 pm, providing free preventative care and medical consultations. 
           The services being offered include general consultations, nutrition, glucose testing, measuring eye pressure (for preventive diagnosis of glaucoma), pulmonary function tests and mammograms. 
        An invitation is made to the community in general so that anyone interested can visit the mobile unit from the DIF from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Wednesday, July 18, in the IEEA park and on July 19, at the Casa de la Culture. Previously services were offered on July 16, in the green dome of colonia Salina Chica and on July 17, in the dome at the Hormiguitas park.

 Whale Shark Festival July 20-22 

 VIDEO of ferries and tourists arriving and the caption says "Welcome!

There are photos of men doing road repairs, and the caption notes they are being done at various parts of the island.

There is a photo of the taxi stand and a line of waiting tourists with a captions saying the hotel occupancy is at 67%

There are photos of the Isla Mujeres fishermen's protest demonstration against the Cuban fishermen catching fish in the waters of the Mexican Caribbean.  

An aerial photograph of the National Aquatic Park "El Farito" in Isla Mujeres was selected as one of the 50 best for a competition and exhibition called "Mexico in an Image" portraying moments, places, gastronomy, people and nature in Mexico. It was taken by photojournalist Alfredo Maya Rodríguez and the article includes background.
        Thousands of members of the general public competed in this contest as well as professional photographers, and only the best 50 photographs were printed to be part of the tour of a collective exhibition in various venues such as Museums, Cultural Centers and Universities.

Noti Isla Mujeres   

A tourist was transferred in a private boat to a hospital in Cancún, due to a disease that caused bleeding. VIDEO   

About ten boats and thirty fishermen conducted a peaceful protest at the facilities of the cooperative Patria & Progreso, before departing to continue the demonstration 12.5 nautical miles from Isla Mujeres against Cuban boats fishing in the area where the Isla Mujeres fishermen work. (photos)

IM Noticias   

VIDEO of fishermen's protest at sea 
    


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From  por esto Link to their Isla Mujeres articles & photos

Summer season at 75% 
Temporada de verano al 75 %. [+] Ver masFull article at this link

   Hotel occupancy is at an average of 75% with some hoteliers saying they are expecting rates of nearly 100% from July 20 to August 15, based on their reservation books. However, owners of small family hotels say these statistics are inflated, and that occupancy is less than the official reports. The Tourism Department asy it is even higher because the statistics don't include the tourists who stay in houses and apartments not registered with the treasury and therefore who don't contribute to the corresponding 3% lodging tax, much less provide the municipal office with their occupancy rate.
  On Tuesday, many tourists were arriving, filling the streets, beaches, and shops, and security operations were in place.

Municipal slaughterhouse: Source of pollution
Rastro Municipal, foco de contaminación +] Ver masFull article at this link
   Slaughter of pigs is mostly carried out on the weekends, and the odors and squealing are causing complaints from the neighbors, which do not cease in the wee hours of the night, and make it hard to sleep until the last pig is killed. Occasionally slaughtering occurs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and is more bothersome when there is a lack of wind, according to nearby residents.
     A neighbor said he doesn't understand how this is authorized because the facility lacks a system to eliminate the blood and other waste, which goes into a septic tank located inside the slaughterhouse. He said he doesn't know how or when they empty it, but that there is a terrible stench, especially when the sun is strong. Another resident is concerned because the door is always unlocked and drunks go in there to drink without being disturbed, but could cause problems in the neighborhood. She said that since it is a municipal building, the authorities should take action.

Protest by island fishermen  
Pescadores isleños se manifiestan . [+] Ver masFull article at this link


Seeking supervision of Cuban fishing activities  
Urge supervisar actividad pesquera cubana [+] Ver masFull article at this link
      In a press release prepared by directors of island cooperatives and the director of Fishing Promotion of the municipality, it is stated that in July 1976 a fishing agreement was signed between Mexico and Cuba through which the government of Mexico gave access to the Exclusive Economic Zone to the vessels of the Republic of Cuba to fish in the areas determined by the Government of Mexico, as long as they were species that exceeded the capture capacity of Mexican vessels. 
     But, 42 years later, the fishing cooperatives of Quintana Roo have strong reasons for the treaty to be reviewed by the authorities, since the fishing activities of the Cubans are not only affecting fishing in the area, but also tourism activities.  
       The agreement signed in 1976 only referred to giving access to foreign vessels to harvest in case there were surpluses that Mexican vessels could not capture and, according to the fishermen, no relevant assessments or continuous monitoring has been done, which makes it difficult for them to understand how the catches by the Cubans are considered as surplus. 
        The island fishermen have registered complaints for more than ten years about the presence of Cuban boats in waters off the northeast coast of Quintana Roo, in the so-called Isla Mujeres fishing grounds, in an area where local shark fishermen catch species used as bait, mainly bonito, whose population has declined significantly in recent years. Based on what they have observed, they attribute the decline to the presence of the Cuban boats, who fil their holds without any control or any reviews. 
        The communiqué states that to capture bonito, Cubans place bait together with straps in which several sharks are trapped that carry the restraints until they die or are captured. ( "los cubanoscolocan carnada unida con flejes en la cual quedan entrampados varios tiburones que acarrean las sujeciones hasta que mueren o son capturados.") 
       As if that were not enough, the bonito that are found in these areas have come there to spawn and this spawning is very important because this is why there is an aggregation of whale sharks and stingrays, allowing the tourist industry to observe and swim with these fish. 
       The press release also states that the Cuban boats have been observed emptying their bilges into the sea, failing to meet agreements and breaking with the administrative rules established in the Decree of the Caribbean Biosphere Reserve of the Mexican Caribbean of December 7, 2016, as well as in the Law of Vertimientos in the Mexican Marine Zones (DOF, 17/01 / 2014). 
      For the reasons stated in the communiqué, the fishermen of Isla Mujeres and of the north of Quintana Roo, demand a detailed explanation about the state of the permits granted to the Republic of Cuba to capture fishing resources in the waters of the Yucatán Peninsula, including which studies these are based on and the evaluations that have been carried out to presume that there are surpluses, given that they have not observed any investigations, and they dout that there are surpluses since most fishing resources are not in good condition, much less having surpluses.   
      "We ask that a talk be coordinated so that both CONAPESCA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explain why, despite the fact that  resources are not evaluated and are not in good condition, permits are still given to foreign fleets to capture the resources that are of the fishing communities of the populations of the Yucatan Peninsula and about decisions in which we believe we should be included. 
       After 42 years, we consider it fair to hold a meeting to review the agreement and determine if there really are surpluses and to check if the capture is adequate, and that the capturing vessels are no longer allowed to pollute our seas and impact the marine fauna with their methods of fishing. 
        The statement was signed by Raziel Rivero Coba, president of the cooperative Pesquera Patria y Progreso, one of the most affected by the indiscriminate capture of tuna (Bonito), who have permits for shark fishing; as well as by Baltazar Gómez Catzin, president of Cooperativas; Policarpo Pastrana Portillo, director of Fishing Promotion of the municipality; Raúl González Cámara, president of the Isla Blanca cooperative; Juan Badillo Méndez, president of Surveillance of the Social Justice cooperative; Felipe Trejo Avalos, President Cooperativa Caribe and Jesús Ariel González Pérez, of the Laguna Macax fishing cooperative.

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This graphic is about a recycling project for paper where students can exchange kilos of paper (all types, magazines, newspapers, school papers, etc) for points which can be redeemed for school supplies such as notebooks, colored pencils, etc. It will take place in August.
There have been a great deal of educational efforts in recent years teaching students and residents about recycling. The state government had a program for residents to exchange recyclables for food and other goods, that included education aimed at both adults and children. The schools have frequent programs & the government includes it in events, contests, workshops, day camps, etc.
Aluminum is recycled because it is easily redeemable for cash that makes the effort worthwhile. The trash collection workers separate it out, as do individuals who sort thru downtown trash bins.
There was an excellent contest last year between the schools that recycled tons ( really, tons!) of plastic bottles & earned 10k & 5k peso prizes for the winning schools, by two individuals, who presumably recycled the PET in Cancun to cover the cost of the prizes.
The facility on the mainland that receives our trash was originally designed for sorting and recycling, but that doesn't seem to be happening. Therefore, sorted trash here would need to be recycled from the island to the recycling facilities. Foreign entrepreneurs have visited the isle to consider installing a 'for profit' recycling center at the isle's Trash Transfer Facility, but nothing has come of that.
The Mayor has said he would have money to improve the trash collection fleet and to facilitate implementing recycling on the isle if Cancun would pay its debt to Isla Mujeres for use of the mainland landfill, which was 17 million pesos at the end of last year & remains unpaid.

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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, BBQ grills, outdoor shower, portable beach chairs & beach towels, washer & dryer, loungers. Breathtaking panoramic views from the rooftop terrace. Large sliding doors open to a patio & our backyard-beach, overlooking the Caribbean sea. Upstairs room also available. Downtown is  ~ a mile away; if you don't feel like walking,  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 neighborhood eateries a couple blocks farther. Within ten minutes walk are a variety of restaurants including Mango Cafe, Brisas, Manolitos, La Chatita, 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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Full moon rising over the Caribbean 
July  1  10:14
July  2  10:53
July  3  11:31

July 27   7:32
July 28   8:14
July 29   8:54
July 30   9:32
July 31  10:09
Painting by Pamela Haase
Sunset  ~7:25
Sunrise ~6:05

July Events
Provided by MaraVilla Caribe & Isla Mujeres Daily News & Events
 It's whale shark tour season (thru mid September) and turtle nesting season (thru mid October).

Sunday, July 1 Election Day Polls open 7a-6p Alcohol will only be sold to foreigners with food purchase at businesses with a food license, until the 48 "Dry Law" expires at midnight. Mexico will electsa president for a single six-year term, and 628 members of the national congress, who for the first time in nearly a century can be reelected. Voters are also choosing nine governors, ~1600 mayors, and thousands of state and local lawmakers. 

Monday, July 2 Mexico vs Brazil 9a  World Cup  Islanders can watch at the large screen on Playa Centro provided by the Posada, or at a variety of bars.

Wednesday, July 4  US Independence Day, may be celebrated in some bars

Friday, July 6th at 8pm at the Convention Center. Renatta Dance Studio would like to invite you to our 6th annual end of school year show!
The theme is ‘Mexico Without Borders’ and the show includes more than 50 dancers and special performers. Join us for this wonderful dance and musical tribute to Mexico! Local island children from 4 years up to their teens will be performing, as well as professional dancers and special performers from the island and Cancun.
Tickets are $50 pesos for adults and $30 for children in advance. And $70 pesos and $50 pesos at the door.













 July 20 & 21 Friday & Saturday  Barracuda Fishing Tournament

July 20-22  Fri, Sat, Sun. 11th Annual Whale Shark Festival  Schedule TBA


  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")
 LINK to GOES East Band 16 GIF (animation)
LINK to a private weather station on Isla Mujeres     
LINK to Tropic Watch (in English)
LINK to NHC in US (in English)
LINK to Tropical Tidbits (in English)

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