As you can see my “making it up for sunrise” streak was going quite well.

Bow-thank you very much.

As I strolled right down to the beach I noticed this native plant growing from a crack in the sidewalk up against a stucco wall. It occurred to me that determined plant was like many islanders that I have known over the years. Their beginnings are simple and their life is hard but still they persevere and in fact grow to be something quite beautiful.

We missed seeing Lori from Chaya and Cacao this year but I have noticed that she is renting out a couple of rooms in the building where her restaurant is on the main floor. With the proximity to both the beach and Hidalgo, I for one would love to stay there and may get the chance in the seasons ahead.

I was early enough to secure a palapa for the gang. Here’s a pic of it in the shade from my vantage in the water.

I love the early morning on the beach when the shadows from the palm trees are stretching out to the edge of the water. The air is cool and refreshing.

I really enjoyed being in the ocean when there were so few people around.

I don’t swim per se, because I don’t want to have to redo my beautiful coiffed hair again (jk).

As the morning stretches on more and more boats arrive and drop anchor on the other side of the buoys.

Staff at Na Balaam were very accommodating when I purchased a “to go” mug of coffee. Drinking coffee on the beach was one of my fondest memories of visiting Veradero Beach in Cuba, eons ago.

I am always very empathetic with the Mayan girls who sell their wares on the beach. Covid note: I am particularly concerned about them and their livelihood right now with no tourists on the beach or along Hidalgo.

I made the mistake of checking my cell phone (because I own a business, I check my phone once or twice a day when on the island). It was an error to check it because the bubble that I had been living in, safe from Covid was about to burst. At home fellow Winnipeggers were hoarding toilet paper and the rumours of lock downs were swirling.

I met Brother #3 and my sister-in-law for sunset. You may know them as they have been coming to Isla almost as long as me. They always stay on Hidalgo and go to the beach most days. That is why they are so beautifully tanned as compared to my freckled face. We tease Kelly that he is the mayor of Isla Mujeres because he looks like a local with that tan and never forgets a name or a face. When he walks anywhere he greets just about 75% of people and calls out their name (hence the “mayor”). I am so blessed to have both he and my sister-in-law Lorraine in my life.

As the sun was sinking I noticed something really fascinating. When you looked in the direction of the sunset it was all golden

but when you turned the camera away from the sun, the light was soft and pastel.

Gold…

and pastel.

The sunset itself was stunning

but so was the sky even 10 minutes later as we made our way to Sardinian Smile for dinner.

I love this picture of Sylvia’s restaurant. It reminds me of a Parisian café painted by an impressionist. We enjoyed an amazing dinner that evening, but once again I am not going to share it until Covid is over and the restaurants are open again.

Aren’t these local kids’ faces shining? They were collecting for their soccer team and we were happy to help them out. Who knew that Covid was just around the corner and they wouldn’t be out enjoying a game of soccer for a very long time.

Kath’s quote: “Siblings-the definition that compromises love, strife, competition and forever friends”. – Bryan Pulsifer

Love never fails.

A beautiful sunrise!

Joined the gang who were having bacon, eggs and pancakes for breakfast. I had yoghurt and mango and peanut butter and jelly on toast! The gang including Bro #3 and L, went to LYSH for a visit. I was eagerly anticipating my plans to meet Peggy and Linda for lunch, so I declined.

Yes this is a tree that is growing in the middle of a building. It has been here for at least the 15 years that I have travelled to the island.

I ambled to a new location on the beach with some different sights on my walk for a change.

I headed to the beach for some shade and a breeze, to no avail. I figured if I planted myself right on the corner of Playa Norte and Playa Sol, I would be bound to feel the air stir in one direction or another, but I was wrong.

I walked over to Jax at about 11:30 for the bano and wifi. This was the view from the open patio on the second floor.

Peggy and Linda are seated to the left. On the right are my long time neighbours from Luna d’Miel. In fact we all met at Luna d’ Miel as well as many more good friends over the years.

Most of the gang ordered salads and were pleased with them I think.

I wanted to try the soup which was ok. (Jax is not my favourite place).

Home for a rest and then to meet Sister #3 to check out the opening of Pizza and A More on their first evening at their new location on Hidalgo.

Mateo asked us to come back in an hour so we went and visited Fredy.

Sister #3 with Fredy who has been a long time friend of ours.

We ran into another old Isla friend who was at Fredy’s too. We met Linda a long time ago when I use to arrange island meet ups.

To say that we enjoyed our pizza and pasta would be a massive understatement. Pizza and a More is sensational, click the link here to read more!

Then I headed back to the hotel to join up with my gang and head to Snappers for a Jets game. Donna and I stayed until the end to watch the 3rd period win! Covid note: Little did I know that I was watching my last Jets game for the season. The next day the NHL was cancelled until further notice.

Kath’s quote: “There are only three things women need in life…food, water and compliments.” – Chris Rock

Love never fails.

Up with the sun or in this case the sun and the moon.

I took a circuitous way home.

I love my cozy little room at XBulu Ha.

I headed to the beach early so I would get some book reading in and then I  had a long and lovely visit with Jan and Bruce on the beach.

I was starting to try and use up my groceries so I had a 1st lunch of yoghurt that day and then my fav cucumber and cilantro sandwich for 2nd lunch.

I saw R & M off at the ferry. I started missing them immediately. We had such a lovely time together. They are good, good friends to both D and I.

I found some shade on the malecon and tried to read some more. But instead I took a nap. On this day I really felt as if I lived on the island.

We stayed in for supper. I joined the gang for Sister #3’s bean soup and chicken enchiladas left over from the cooking class that she took that afternoon.

Donna and I walked to take in the sunset. Another beautiful one.

I went home to read in my lovely breezy room.

Later though I went out again with Sister #3 and Donna for an ice cream. Mine was hazelnut in a chocolate cone-yum. We were surprised that Bro #3 and L were there too. My brother was sure entertaining. He accidently drank a frozen coffee and thought that he would be awake all night!

Kath’s quote: “How lucky am I to have someone that makes saying good-bye so hard.” -Winnie the Pooh

Love never fails.

Up for sunrise but it was so windy that I thought the coffee would jump right out of my coffee cup.

Typically on my last days on the island I take a whack of pictures. I think that I store up images in my head during a vacation and on my fading days I say to myself “boy I better take that now or never”. I stuck pretty close to home that morning.

Guess where I am?

I thought that I was making breakfast for the gang at the hotel but instead I shared a shrimp omelette with Sister #3 at Rubens. Nice how that worked out. I love every excuse to visit Ruben’s. I dream about this shrimp omelette when I am home.

Then it was straight to the beach. Michelle had already reserved a palapa so I joined she and Jan (friends from PEI via Luna D’Miel).

Then Bro #3 & L, Sue and Donna all came down.

As I walked back to the hotel I realised I hadn’t eaten lunch so I stopped at Pizza and a More’s beach location. After much deliberation, I had a thick crust Matteo cheese pizza for lunch. Afterwards I walked to the bank to withdraw some money and then got my 2021 dates figured out with XBulu Ha. I was happy to take it easy and I hung around the room all afternoon. At about 5, I headed to the beach again.

I spent a lovely long time on the beach at twilight. I think that this is my favourite time of the day. Covid note: This must be what all the beach restaurants look like right now. Hoping this is soon over for all my islander friends.

The long wait for sunset was worth it. Wouldn’t you agree?

Our dinner at Xontolo was lovely but you will have to wait until after Covid to read all about it.

Kath’s quote: “Today I will be as useless as the “g” in lasagna.”-Unknown

Love never fails.

I woke up before the alarm that I set so that I did not miss the sunrise. But it was too cloudy for a sunrise anyway.

Besides, I was happy to just get my bearings again back at XBulu Ha. I love that I can see a little patch of the ocean from my room on the front street.

These little guys are on our beach on Lake Winnipeg in the summer. I am amazed that they migrate so far north.

I was wanting to attend “Church on the Beach” so I strolled down to North Beach to check out the wind. By that time the clouds had cleared and it was glorious on the beach.

The service itself was beautiful and it was a joy to be worshipping with so many in such an amazing setting.

Since I hadn’t eaten breakfast, I stopped at North Garden’s Bakery for a cinnamon bun. I prefer the style we make back in central Canada, but it was pretty good.

It was another hot one so I met up with the extended gang for time on the beach. With the wind, the beach was enormous that day.

How windy was it? Well there certainly was no use putting my hair into a ponytail.

I took this photo for the middle Wee One who is crazy about unicorns especially rainbow ones!

It was a hot walk home so I ducked into a little gallery en route.

The sculptor there was showing some fabulous work.

Yes I am a goofball.

Just before sunset that same evening, I was in for another special experience. In this case, I was very disappointed that D wasn’t still on the island because the evening was especially romantic.

M and I met in university when our lives were very different from our lives now but still our friendship has remained true. Perhaps it is because of all the sorrows (and joys) we have weathered together over the years.

Her fella R has been in my life almost as long as M. There was a time when out of kindness, the three of us were almost inseparable.

We sat with our feet in the sand at The Mayan Beach Club on the perfect spot to soak up the lowering sun.

The setting sun was very beautiful.

Almost as beautiful as when it had completely disappeared.

Even though the wind was still high and a bit nasty elsewhere on the island, it was perfect in this little paradise.

What did we eat that memorable evening? Well that story deserves a post of its own (after Covid).

Kath’s quote: “Things end but memories last forever”. -Unknown

Love never fails.