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| This is the live webcam at North Beach / Playa Norte. |
Follow Isla Mujeres News & Events on Facebook for highlights of news & events, and more photos & videos
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News from the Municipal Facebook site..... ( FB page link)
This administration is committed to keeping Isla Clean
Video about the new trash schedule, picking up at night 8p to 10p throughout the island, and asking residents to separate trash into organic and inorganic.
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FB News Sites about Isla Mujeres
Tvisla Mujeres
Although the company hasn't confirmed it, Naveganto could launch new ferries in March, according to sources close to the company, and remove their large boats from service, in time for the Easter holiday season. The characteristics of the boats are unknown, since the company has been secretive about this.
Isla Mujeres Al Dia
Around midday today, an accident occurred when the driver of a golf cart rented from the Gomar agency was going north to south on Rueda Medina and turned left without yielding right of way, hitting a scooter traveling from south to north (oncoming). The cart driver was a foreign tourist and the injured scooter driver was given medical attention by the Red Cross motorcycle paramedic and transported to the hospital for further medical attention. Traffic police were on the scene, gathering information. (In the photos, the paramedic is treating the woman's foot, as she sits on the floor of the golf cart, then her foot is resting on a helmet, presumably while she is awaiting transport to the hospital.)
There is a graphic saying "Happy Return to Classes", which resumed today.
Noti Isla Mujeres
IM Noticias
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Link to Por Esto's Isla Mujeres section
Click on Spanish headline for the original article & photos
Many lobster fishermen suffer decompression
Muchos pescadores descompresionados
This lobster catching season (July 1-February 28) could be the worst yet for cases of decompression, which has exceeded 60, and could reach 80 over the next ~50 days. In the first five days of January, there were three cases, one on Friday and two on Saturday. According to the weather forecasts, the fishermen should be able to continue working this week.The consequences of decompression have put many in wheelchairs, and causes death to others for not receiving rapid treatment, since the time factor can mean the difference between life and death.
Half Moon Beach: Tempting but dangerous
Tentadora pero peligrosa, la playa “Media Luna”
People are tempted to swim at this beautiful beach, which has claimed at least half a dozen lives over the past two decades, due to its strong currents and whirlpool. There are warnings, in several foreign languages (English, Portuguese, French, Italian, and Japanese),a Red Flag, and tour guides warn visitors not to swim there. There little surveillance by the lifeguards, and the lifeguard stand has deteriorated and is unusable. Last summer a visitor was rescued by a member of the Navy.Isla Mujeres has two great beaches that are very safe where the sea, sun and sand can be enjoyed, North Beach and Playa Centro. The lifeguards focus their efforts in these areas, where thousands of visitors gather, and the lifeguards must ensure they don't leave the boundary of the buoys because they could be hurt by the boats that cross thru those waters.
According to preliminary data, now that the Guadalupe-Reyes holiday period operation has concluded, it is reported that there have been minimal incidents. Yesterday a tourist was injured at Playa Norte when they slipped on one of the "whales". (These are "geotube" barriers filled with sand and covered in plastic that jut out into the water from the beach, whose purpose is to prevent beach erosion.)
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Los Cabañuelas: DIY Forecasting for the Upcoming Year
This traditional system of weather prediction records the weather in January to predict the weather for the rest of the year. Since there are 18 months in the Mayan calendar, the first 18 days of the year predicted the weather for the rest of the year. The 19th and 20th days predicted the weather for the summer and winter solstices. (Their months are 20 days long, plus 5 extra days)
Nowadays, each of the first twelve days of January represents a month, so Jan 2 indicates the weather in February, Jan. 3 is March, thru Jan 12 is December. Then it gets complicated and you count the months backward, so Jan 13 predicts December, Jan 14 is November thru Jan. 24 represents January. Then it gets trickier because you start using half days for each month, so Jan 25 represents January-February, Jan 26 is March-April thru January 30th is November-December. On January 31st, each hour represents a month and for this final prediction, 12 gourds may be filled with salt, one per hour, to predict moisture.
For April's weather, you'd review the weather from Jan. 4th & 21st; and from Jan 26th between noon & midnight; and finally from Jan. 31st at the appropriate hour.
Mayan farmers also make predictions based on animal and plant behavior in other months, particularly concerning when the rainy season will begin, how long it will last, and if there will be droughts. In late March, when the yuya, aka Calandria bird, begins nesting, forecasts of rain or drought are based on the types of material used and its size. The characteristics of the flowers of the "Jabin" tree (Piscidia piscipula), which blooms from February to March, indicate whether the rains will come early or late. The third indicator is more short term; when the ants begin moving and carrying their eggs to higher ground, this indicates intense rainfall within 48 hours. Also, if the "Chachalaca" birds (Ortalis vetula) are singing in the afternoon between 2 and 4, rather than their usual hours of 6a to 9a, heavy rains are expected.
It's said that if it weren't for flying ants predicting the weather in late May 1848, the Mayan rebels might have won the Caste War (which went on for another fifty years.) More than 100,000 thousand refugees from across the Peninsula were huddled in Merida, awaiting attack. Two months earlier, 10,000 refugees had abandoned Valladolid, and then everything south of Campeche was lost. (Thousands of desperate refugees escaped via the sea, including many who fled via Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, arriving in canoes and leaving in boats and ships, while others stayed and established Isla's first town of Dolores.)
When the early days of June passed without an attack, scouts left Merida to discover that the Mayan forces had departed. One of the rebel leaders later explained that they left because clouds of flying ants appeared from every direction while they were preparing to attack Merida, indicating it was time to return to plant their milpas, so their children wouldn't go hungry. Historians explain that these men were peasant farmers, not soldiers, who had already beaten the enemy and captured vast quantities of loot, so the choice between finishing the war and leaving their children in hunger was clear. Mérida and Campeche could wait, it was time to go home to their cornfields. This is generally considered to be an oversimplification of a complex situation, but it's a very popular story in the history of the Yucatan peninsula.
In addition to forecasting weather with their annual mating swarms, these leaf-cutter ants have been a popular food source since ancient times. They have a nutty, smoky flavor after they are fried or grilled on a comal, seasoned with salt and chile, and consumed as a snack or taco filling, or ground with various spices to make salsas. They aren't commonly eaten in Isla Mujeres, but are popular in Oaxaca.
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| 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 & fast WIFI. In the coastal neighborhood of Bachilleres, among upscale villas & boutique hotelitos, convenient to downtown or the colonias, yet separate. Quiet & Private.
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| Kitchen in a large studio. (Sur & Norte are identical) |
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| Kitchenette in small room, Medio. There's a table & chairs across from it & a double bed. |
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| 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. |
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| Large studio (Norte), I'm standing in the kitchen. A queen & single bed. |
Free amenities such as hammocks,bikes, BBQ grills, safes, 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
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| 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
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Jan. 21 7:17 Jan. 22 8:24 Jan. 23 9:29 Jan. 24 10:30 Jan. 25 11:30 Painting by Pamela Haase Sunset ~6:17 to ~6:37p Sunrise ~7:24 |
January Events
Provided by MaraVilla Caribe & Isla Mujeres Daily News & Events
Plogging events to clean up the island are held on Saturdays LINK and here's the Accion Isla LINK
Monday, Dec.31 New Year's Eve celebration on the Town Square.(See article below) The NYE party continues until dawn, at least.
Tuesday, Jan. 1 New Year's Day Many people observe the sunrise at Punta Sur.
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| Ultramar passenger ferries |
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| The Mass schedule for Immaculate Conception (downtown), Sacred Heart in La Gloria, and the Capilla de Guadalupe in Salina Chica, as well as a Caribbean sunrise Mass. |
Saturday, Jan 5 Plogging volunteers cleanup 8a-10a. Meeting at gas station on prolongacion Aeropuerto/Caribbean coastal road. Gloves & equipment supplied. The Plogging crew, who removed seven and a half TONS of trash from Isla's coasts, mangroves, and seabed in 2018. (See link above)
Sunday, Jan. 6 Día de Reyes/ King's Day This day commemorates when the three kings or Magi visited Jesus & is the culmination of the twelve days of Christmas. Traditionally this is the day when Mexican children receive gifts. It is customary to eat Rosca de reyes, a sweet bread that represents King Herod's crown with figurines of baby Jesus hidden inside. Whoever finds the token in their piece is obligated to host a party on Candlemas Day (Dia de la Candelaria), Feb. 2, which usually includes tamales.
At
10am, at Ruben's Restaurant there will be a giveaway of toys and snacks
for thousands of islander children, with los Tres Reyes in costume.. On
the back street Guerrero, across from the Post Office and Mercado
The Cockteleros baseball team have been collecting toy donations for a Three Kings Day giveaway.
Sunday, Jan. 6 Noches Magicas performances on the Town Square at 8p featuring dance troupes & singers.
Jan. 6 is also Día de la Enfermera/Nurse's Day in Mexico. This special day was established in 1931, when Dr. Jose Villagrana said nurses were like a "regalo de reyes"...a gift from the Magi. (International Nurse's Day is celebrated on May 12th, the birthday of Florence Nightingale).
Sunday, Jan. 6 at 1p at the Pescador baseball field in front of Chedraui, the Cocteleros of Isla Mujeres will play their first game of the new year against the Old Boys of Cancun, & there will be a toy giveaway in honor of 3 Kings Day (Donations are encouraged). Entrance is 20 pesos, merchandise is available & thanks to Joseph R Walsdorf for the update!
Thursday, Jan. 10 Artist Fair 4p-8p in front of the Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero, at the cross street Abasolo.
Thursday, Jan. 10 Three King's Festival by the DIF for islander kids & their families at the Bicentennial Dome starting at 4pm, with entertainment, raffles, and prizes.
Saturday, Jan 12 Plogging volunteers cleanup 8a-10a. Meeting location TBA. Gloves & equipment supplied. (See link above)
Sunday, Jan. 13 Noches Magicas performances on the Town Square at 8p featuring dance troupes & singers.
Thursday, Jan. 17 Artist Fair 4p-8p in front of the Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero, at the cross street Abasolo.
Friday, Jan 18-Sunday Jan. 20 Oasis Fest Vol. 2: Pirate's Paradise with 22 musical acts, surprise prizes, and these events. Organized by Barracuda Board Co. LINK
Friday: Urban Culture with a Hip Hop Concert, Workshops & Expositions of Breakdance, Rap, Graffiti, & Musical Production and an Artist Fair
Saturday: Street Culture with Pirate Plog (Beach Cleanup), Ska, Punk, Rock Concert, Workshops, Games, & Get Together of Skate, Longboard, Parkour, Roller, Circus Arts, Murals
Sunday: Caribbean Culture with Reggae & Ska Concert, Workshops in Skimboard, Palm Weaving, and Ancestral Vibrations with Conch Shells, Paddleboard Games, Live Painting, Raffle.
Saturday, Jan 19 Plogging volunteers cleanup 8a-10a. Meeting location TBA. Gloves & equipment supplied. (See link above)
Sunday, Jan. 20 Noches Magicas performances on the Town Square at 8p featuring dance troupes & singers.
Sunday, Jan 20 Lunar Eclipse begins at 9:36 pm, Maximum at 12:12am (Jan 21) and ends at 2:48am.
Thursday, Jan. 24 Artist Fair 4p-8p in front of the Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero, at the cross street Abasolo.
Saturday, Jan 26 Plogging volunteers cleanup 8a-10a. Meeting location TBA. Gloves & equipment supplied. (See link above)
Saturday, Jan. 26 Ultramarathon 24 hours LINK
Sunday, Jan. 27 Noches Magicas performances on the Town Square at 8p featuring dance troupes & singers.
Thursday, Jan. 31 Artist Fair 4p-8p in front of the Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero, at the cross street Abasolo.
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