Today the daily report for the municipality of Isla Mujeres is
unchanged with a total of 224 cases, with 20 deaths and 189 recovered.
The state geoportal for 11/25 now reports 2 active cases by colonia,
with one each in Caridad del Cobre and El Canotal. On the national map
for 11/24, the municipality continues to report 152 suspicious and
another negative for 118 negatives.
Yesterday....
Our state was established as a Federal Territory on this date in 1902, named for a hero of Mexican Independence. This year was dedicated to his wife...a very important heroine in the War for Independence from Spain.
Last December, before any of us had an inkling of how this year would turn out, the President of Mexico declared 2020 as "The Year of Leona Vicario -- Honored Mother of our Homeland", who was a major heroine in the War for Independence. It was 118 years ago today that the Territory of Quintana Roo was officially created & named for her husband, after they'd both been dead for half a century.
Leona Vicario was a spy & beloved heroine in the Mexican War for Independence, one of Mexico's first female journalists, and wife of Andres Quintana Roo. She collaborated with one of the earliest Independence organizations, informing the insurgents about Spanish strategies in Mexico City, capital of the Vice-royalty. She had been born there in the spring of 1789, an only child whose father was a wealthy merchant from Spain and whose mother was a creole from a distinguished family in Toluca, Mexico. Taught at home, Leona acquired an extensive education in literature, religion, history, the sciences, Spanish & French, music, sketching and painting, which was uncommon among women of her era. She was well-read and articulate, known for speaking with grace and eloquence.
Orphaned by 18 and heiress to a considerable fortune, Leona was left in the guardianship of her uncle Augustin, a well-known, pro-Royalist lawyer. He conceded to her independent will by providing her with a mansion of her own, and moving his family into the adjoining property.
Leona was 21 in 1810 when the War for Independence began. The following year she fell in love with young Andrés who was working as a legal assistant in her uncle's office. A gifted poet and writer from Merida, Yucatan, he was finishing up his studies and about to start his professional practice as a lawyer. Andres' liberal politics met with disapproval from Leona's uncle, who tried unsuccessfully to marry her off to man from a higher-class family, who was loyal to Spain.
These were tumultuous times for the Spanish colonies because Napoleon Bonaparte had occupied Spain, deposing its King. Here in New Spain, the Creoles (native-born Mexicans of Spanish descent) saw this as an opportunity to seize power. Creoles were systematically excluded from all but the lower to middling positions in Spanish colonial government, although there were only ~70,000 Spaniards of a total population of ~7 million.
By early 1812, Leona was secretly corresponding with rebel leaders and providing the insurgents with funds for badly needed food, clothing, arms and ammunition. She gave financial aid to the wives and children of captured or deceased insurgents. She created codes, sent messages, assisted refugees and worked to counter Royalist propaganda, helping to obtain a printing press. Andres joined the insurgents and left Mexico City with Augustin's oldest son, Leona's cousin Manuel, and they were soon under the command of Jose Maria Morelos himself.
Leona remained in Mexico City collecting information and purchasing weapons, ammunition and other supplies for the insurgents. In 1813, she fled the city after she was detected, enduring the first physical hardships of her life. After ten days, when she was sick from exposure, lack of food, and polluted water, her uncle persuaded her to return and accept a royal pardon. The Royalists had promised she could return to her house and wouldn't be harassed, but she was taken away and interrogated relentlessly for weeks by the dreaded Junta of Security & Order. She steadfastly refused to implicate anyone except herself.
Her properties were confiscated and she passed her 24th birthday in a convent-prison. She was smuggled out by insurgents, who dressed the once-elegant heiress in rags, blackened her face with coal, and helped her travel hundreds of miles to insurgent-held territory to the west. There she joined her cousin and her beloved Andres, who she married. They spent the next four years traveling from place to place, living a life of poverty and sacrifice, working for independence from Spain.
She wrote political pamphlets, helped nurse the wounded, and suffered incredible hardships while eluding the enemy. In 1817, their first child, a daughter, was born in a damp cave, and Leona and the infant were captured by Royalist troops a few months later. Andres made a plea for clemency in favor of his wife, promising he would turn himself in, which was accepted by the Viceroy. For the next two years, they were confined in the city of Toluca, some 80 miles from Mexico City.
In 1820, they returned to Mexico City, where Leona gave birth to their other child, a second daughter, and Andres received his law degree. After independence was achieved in 1821, Andres served successively as an undersecretary of State, a member of Congress, a government mediator, and finally Justice of the Supreme Court, while Leona retired to private life. The Mexican Congress rewarded her many personal sacrifices and the total loss of her fortune by providing her with urban and rural properties and a cash settlement.
When she passed away at the age of 53 in August 1842, Leona Vicario was widely revered for the important role she'd played in Mexican Independence. She was given an enormous State Funeral and named "Benemerita y Dulcisima Madre de la Patria"- Honored Sweet Mother of the Homeland. Her profile appears on a bicentennial version of the 5 peso coin and her name is inscribed in gold in the Mural of Honor in the lower house of Congress. Her remains were relocated half a dozen times before settling down in 2011 with her husband and other Mexican heroes in the Independence Column in Mexico City. Last year, Mexico City authorities placed a commemorative plaque at the house where she died, for the 177th anniversary of her death.
Regarding Q Roo's anniversary today-- The Federal Territory of
Quintana Roo had less than 13,000 inhabitants scattered across more
19,000 square miles when it was created from the eastern part of Yucatan
on November 24, 1902. Political prisoners were brought in to build a
railroad connecting the two military camps, and efforts were made to
silence voices opposing President Porfirio's dictatorial regime,
creating Q Roo's early reputation as a place of banishment and death.
The first "Governor" (Jefe Politico) described the Territory as "a great
forest crossed by some paths, with few centers of population." The
Territory was incorporated back into Yucatan a couple of times in the
first half of the century, finally becoming the youngest free and
sovereign state of the Estados Unidos Mexicanos (United States of
Mexico) on Oct. 8, 1974.
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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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| Full moon rose Oct. 31-6:30p |
Nov 1-Sunday at 7:07p
Nov 2-Monday at 7:46p
Nov 3 Tuesday at 8:30p
Nov 4 Wednesday at 9:18p
Nov 5 Thursday at 10:10p
Sunrise 6:50-7:07 (beginning vs end of month)
Sunset 6:10-6:04
Turtles continue hatching out at the Tortugranja in November
The mamas
nest along the eastern beaches from May thru October. 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. Photos of nest hatching out at
MaraVilla Caribe Bed & Beach, that was missed by the Tortugranja
patrols, by Bruce. 
Public events have been suspended due to C-19. Holidays have featured online competitions and events.
Nov. 1-2--Dia de los Muertos/ Day of the Dead
Nov. 9-20--Buen Fin (Sales)
Thursday, Nov. 12--Postal Workers Day El Día del Cartero y del Empleado Postal
Monday, Nov. 16-- Día de la Revolución Day off (Long weekend) Offices close.
Friday, Nov. 20--Día de la Revolución
Nov. 16-17--Leonid meteor shower, without moon interference this year. Beginning after midnight and peaking before dawn.
Thursday, Nov. 26--Normally celebrations for Isla's Patron Saint would begin and continue thru her day, December 8, but this year public celebrations have been suspended due to C-19.
Monday, Nov. 30--Official end of Hurricane season
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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