Sometimes an overcast day can deliver the most glorious sunrise. It was my last full day on Isla and the island blessed me with this blazing heart in the sky.

I was enamoured by this turquoise fence and then found out that my friend Jackie was renting the apartment just through the gate. We enjoyed breakfast together at Ruben’s so that I could hear first hand what living on Isla was all about.

I obviously love the colour turquoise and the hammock guy must too, as he even painted his tree the colour of the Caribbean sea.

Abuelo’s love the colour too.

Hearts are everywhere!

The murals have been a beautiful addition to the Isla experience.

My eyes are always drawn to the kookiest little things in Centro.

I made one last walk to north beach to say my good-byes.

Kath’s quote: “Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.”  ― William Shakespeare

Love never fails.

The houses which surround Luna d’Miel are about as different as you can get.

This morning’s sunrise was an especially sweet one as it was D’s departure day and my last morning at Luna d’Miel.

We took some photos with new Canadian friends from PEI.

Kelly (another neighbour) drove D and I into town so he could catch the ferry. And then all of a sudden, he was gone…

I cleaned out the fridge and threw everything together into an omelet with a salsa to treat my new friends Peggy and Kelly and thank them for letting us use their golf cart. We had a lovely visit and I look forward to seeing them again very soon.

I enjoyed some last moments by the sea on the terrace at Luna d’Miel, then showered, packed up and made my way to my new home for a couple of nights. I strolled around Centro for a bit and then checked into Hotel Isleno. When I am not with D, I feel safer staying right in Centro.

The hotel had a very different feel from our little apartment by the sea but was satisfactory for a short stay. I included a couple of room photos in case you are interested in checking out the hotel.

This was my view to the west.

The internet signal was iffy in my room but worked fairly well from this floor lounge with windows that opened to the east.

That evening was the meet up that I had arranged at Barlito’s.

We were a compact group but more and more Islaholics came to meet up and we had so much fun visiting with old and new friends.

Barlito’s is located on a channel where many yachts tie up making it a beautiful site. I walked home with Dona and Sister #3 and called it an early night.

In one week from right now (eek!) we will be on Isla and checking into our new home away from home Villas San Miguel. There are 6 suites in three buildings clustered in a walled compound. We are looking forward to so many things about the villas but especially their prime location. We will be in Centro but will still be by the sea with the privacy that we sometimes seek.

Kath’s quote: “Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them“. -Francesco Guicciardini

Love never fails.

I hosted a meet up at Barlitos in March 2015. The gang was a compact one but we had a lovely time visiting with old friends and new acquaintances.

Barlito’s is located in a beautiful setting next to the channel where beautiful yachts are docked.

Check out these nachos!

Fish and chips.

Poutine.

Wings.

Cob Salad.

Chicken nachos.

Some of the food like the supreme nachos was deemed exceptional, where other choices were just okay. Our server was not very well equipped to deal with us seamlessly. From all of the subsequent reports that I have seen, service is much improved.

Kath’s quote: “Every new friend is a new adventure… the start of more memories”.-Patrick Lindsay

Love never fails.

After one of our last beautiful sunsets we headed for Centro with our neighbours’ golf cart. We dropped them off to meet their boat destined for Isla Contoy.

We grabbed coffees at Café Cito and scouted around Centro until it was time to pick up Sister #3 and Dona.

They had not yet had a chance to try Bahama Mama’s so we stopped for Breakfast.

The three ladies enjoyed three different omelettes

and D opted for the fruit pancakes.

Then it was off to Chedrui for supplies for the dinner that we were making to host our friend Hortenzia and her family. Because we still had the golf cart we then drove them home and stopped at Q Bravos to pick up lunch that we would eat later around the pool.

These enormous chicken tortas were fabulous and so affordable.

That afternoon we packed up for D’s departure and my move to Centro. I did manage to do one last little bit of beachcombing before I said good-bye to the lovely beach in front of Luna D’Miel.

Sister #3, Dona and D in the Luna d’Miel kitchen where we cooked up a fabulous feast for Hortenzia’s family.

Hortenzia insisted on helping by serving up the dinner plates.

We love getting together with this family each year; sometimes at their home, sometimes we host. An extended visit is always a part of our Isla vacation.

We have known the grandkids since they were babies being cared for in Hortenzia’s shop. Another was born soon after our time together last spring and we look forward to meeting them.

We packed up all the leftovers to send home with Hortenzia for her family and we still had these four desserts left to share with our Luna d’Miel neighbours.

We love this wonderful woman and are so proud of the life she has provided for her family from her talent and her enterprising spirit. We do all of our shopping at her store or when she takes us to meet her friends that run the other market stalls. She has made countless dresses for all of us sisters, our kids and even my granddaughter. if you have never been to her shop you must go. The last stall to the north when your back is facing the front door of the Poc Na Hostel. Tell her Kelly, Susan or Kathy sent you…..

In exactly one week we will be checking into Villas San Miquel! I am really looking forward to the fully equipped kitchen in each of the villas because although we love Isla’s many restaurants, we also love to cook and entertain when we are on vacation.

Kath’s quote: “The perfect woman, you see, is a working woman; not an idle, not a fine lady, but one who uses her hands and her head and her heart for the good”.-Thomas Hardy

Love never fails.

Another beautiful sunrise.

This one with a full house to savour it.

After some beachcombing I made these amazing grilled cheese sandwiches (if I do say so myself) and we enjoyed them by the pool.

We also had some left over sopa di limon that was just as good as the first day we had it at La Lomita.

It was D’s last leisurely day as we were entertaining a gang the next day. He spent the afternoon in the hammock and loved every lazy minute.

Every year on Isla, D and I have a date night where we have a progressive dinner-sharing plates and tastes of our favourite things and then making our way to another stop.

We started at Picus for shrimp ceviche and the amazing sunset.

Our blessed life is a series of these wonderful moments.

These fishermen were anxious to show off their catch to a woman that we met for our sunset treat.

Our next stop was La Lomita’s for their fabulous papas fritas.

Our main course was an “Isla Mujeres” pizza at Angelo’s.

We visited Jose in hopes of having pineapple pie for dessert but he was sold out.

We didn’t really have any shopping to do but we love wandering Hidalgo and taking in the colours, aromas and sounds.

Pistachio and coconut gelato was a delicious substitute for the pie and the bonus was a lovely visit with friends Jean and Rich.

These posts are helping me pass the last days until our 2016 visit. We are excited to be staying at Villas San Miguel for a portion of the time. We are thinking that we could enjoy every dinner as a progressive one if we wanted to!

Kath’s quote: “I’m into all that sappy stuff – a surprise picnic, nice dinner, or traveling. I’m kind of an old romantic”.– Will Estes

Love never fails.