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| Here's the webcam LINK, which also has time lapse of the past 24 hours. |
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Unfortunately, today the municipality of Isla Mujeres reports another death for a total of 15, with 194 positives and 141 recovered.
The state geoportal for 9/26 reports 10 active cases by colonia as La Gloria-7, Salina Chica-1, Aeropuerto-1, Salina Grande-1, and none on the mainland.
On the national map for 9/26, the municipality of Isla Mujeres reports 9 suspicious and 83 negatives (and 194 confirmed with 14 deaths).
There's no other news today, so here's some history instead....
Isla Mujeres, Texas? Yucatan, USA? Almost, sort of...
True Tales From the Mid-1800's
I. Texas Navy "Claims" Cozumel & Isla Mujeres-1837
In 1821, Mexico won independence from Spain, and fifteen years later, Texas declared itself independent from Mexico, starting a war between the two countries. Texas President Houston lacked control over his four-ship Navy, who sailed off to the Yucatan without his permission, capturing enemy ships and claiming territory. By July 1837, the fleet was reduced to two ships, who both slipped off to meet up at Isla Mujeres, claiming it for Texas. The island was uninhabited, except for seasonal fishermen who camped in shacks.
The "Invincible" and "Brutus" anchored offshore & their crews spent three days traveling to the isle and the mainland in small boats, replenishing their water supplies. They also "collected" a large number of turtles, emptying the pens without paying the fishermen. Turtles were in great demand on ships because they could be kept alive for months below deck as a source of fresh meat.
The Texans sailed south to Cozumel, claiming possession in a ceremony that included a 23-gun salute. They wrote enthusiastic reports about the island's deep harbor, healthy trade winds, good soil, and abundant supply of water and trees. One of the captains described it as "one of the most desirable places in all the circle of my travels", adding, "I am convinced that the island will be one of the greatest acquisitions to our beloved country that the Admiral aloft could ever have bestowed on us. Translation: "Cozumel is one of the best things God, aka "The Admiral Aloft", gave The Republic of Texas" (!)
They raised their flag above the island, and Captain Boylan reported that the residents of the island welcomed them and sworn allegiance to their cause. They sailed north past Isla Mujeres to Isla Contoy, where they found domestic animals & evidence that there had been people in the huts recently. They also found several pens of turtles, which they took.
They sailed to Cabo Catoche, looking for Boca Iglesia, but they didn't find anyone, so they took some clay images, noting they had seen similar images at the Mayan temple on Isla Mujeres. They continued up the coast, engaging with Mexican ships and cavalry, and burning two villages. After capturing six boats, they sailed back to Texas, where their luck ran out when they encountered superior Mexican ships and ran aground, putting an end to the First Texas Navy. Needless to say, nothing came of their "claiming" the Mexican islands.
II. "Navy For Hire": Texas-Yucatan Alliance-1841
A few years later, in 1841, Yucatan followed Texas's lead and seceded from Mexico, striking a deal with Texas President Lamar and forming an Alliance. Yucatán agreed to pay Texas $8000 a month for three ships to defend its coast against Mexican blockades and raids, with the two upstart Republics splitting the proceeds from any seized prizes. The Texans' stance was that as long as Yucatán remained in rebellion, Mexico would be busy there and unable to mount a fresh invasion of Texas. The agreement also promised an infusion of badly needed capital for the Republic of Texas.
The Texas Navy patrolled off Yucatan, capturing several commercial Mexican ships, until April 1842, when Yucatan negotiated a temporary truce with Mexico and suspended payments. The Texas-Yucatan Alliance continued, with embassies in Merida and Austin. A year later, two Texas Naval ships returned to the Yucatan, battling with various Mexican vessels. However, Texas President Houston proclaimed the Texas Navy to be pirates & requested any friendly country to capture them and return the ships to him in Galveston. Upon hearing this, the Navy returned to Texas in July, 1843, which was the end of its operations.
III. Yucatan Nearly Joins US-1847
In 1845, the Republic of Texas joined the United States, sparking a war between Mexico & the US the following year. When the US Navy blockaded the Yucatan coast, the President of Yucatan sent a delegation to Washington to remind the US of Yucatan's neutrality in the war between Mexico & the US. Meanwhile, the "Caste War" broke out on the Yucatan Peninsula with Mayan rebels taking up arms against the outnumbered whites and mestizos. In desperation, Yucatan's President Mendez offered sovereignty to the US, Cuba, Jamaica, Spain, and the United Kingdom in exchange for military assistance.
In Washington DC, the formal offer of Annexation from the Yucatan delegation was supported by US President Polk, and Congress passed a bill to provide the requested military assistance & pave the way for Annexation, but it was defeated in the Senate.
Yucatan turned to Mexico for assistance with the Caste War, rejoining the country in 1848. This is also when the Treaty of Hidalgo ended the US-Mexican War, with the US paying 15 million pesos and Mexico ceding 55% of its territory. Yucatan received 150,000 pesos from Mexico's President, along with arms and ammunition. Isla Mujeres was settled by refugees from the Caste War and founded in August, 1850 as "Dolores".
#1 is 1847 and #2 is after the Hidalgo Treaty in 1848. Written by Ronda Winn-Roberts.
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MaraVilla Caribe Bed & Beach
Four rentals with large glass doors overlooking our white
sand beach and
the beautiful Caribbean sea, with
kitchenettes & fast WIFI. In the upscale
neighborhood of Bachilleres,
convenient to downtown
or
the colonias, yet
separate. Quiet & Private.
Free
amenities include hammocks,
portable beach
chairs, beach towels,
washer & dryer, loungers, shared bikes, BBQ grill, and safes. Panoramic
views from the
rooftop terrace. Large sliding doors open to a patio &
the white sand backyard-beach, overlooking the Caribbean sea. Downtown
is ~ a mile away; we're on
all four bus routes or flag a $3 taxi. Off street parking. In the quiet
neighborhood of Bachilleres, sleep to the sounds of the sea.. $275/$325/$425 wk $40/50/$65nt
Monthly Discounts
Fine dining a few steps away at Da Luisa or try the neighborhood eateries a couple blocks farther. We provide a list of links & direction to over 20 eateries within ten minutes walk, including Mango Cafe, Mike's Pizza, Brisas, Rosa Sirena, Coco Jaguar, Manolitos, La Chatita, Green Verde, Kash Kechen Chuc, and the large department store-grocery Chedraui & the local craft brewery. Visit marinas, bars, & beach clubs that are minutes away by bike or on foot. Attend Yoga classes a couple villas away at Casa Ixchel. Fresh juice, produce & tortillas a few blocks away in the village, as well as a variety of other stores.
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| After Sunset--Sept 2 at 7:42
Sept 3 8:15
Sept 4 8:48
Sept 5 9:21
Sept 6 9:54
Sept 7 10:30 Sunset 7:02-6:35pm (beginning vs end of month) Sunrise 6:31-6:38am Painting by Pamela Haase at MVC |
Turtles continue nesting in September. They nest along the eastern beaches. Tortugranja staff and
volunteers gather the eggs and incubate them in the sand in a pen
outside the facility. Three species nest annually in Isla Mujeres, Greens, Loggerheads,
and Hawksbills.Swimming with the whale sharks ends Sept. 17 They congregate and feed on a 'buffet' of plankton and fish eggs from a type of tuna. Rays are also attracted to the feeding areas. Photo by Tony Garcia
Wednesday, Sept. 16--Independence Day (The Grito is read by the Mayor each year on the night of the 15th, which will presumably be done virtually this year.)
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
LINK to GOES East Band 16 GIF (animation)
LINK to a private weather station on Isla Mujeres
LINK to NHC
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