My photos got scrambled when I watermarked them and as a result, I cannot find the sunrise pics from this particular morning. I do know that I started the day with some beachcombing and this was my haul.

Doug and Don (our daughter in law’s father) were determined to play tennis in spite of them both having chest colds. D anticipated Don’s arrival from Roca Mar at about 8 am. At some point D started walking into town. In the mean time, Don had walked on the incorrect airport road and could see our place across the runway but could not figure out how he was going to walk across. Luckily he hailed a cab and the guys were reunited. They had a great/sweaty time and vowed to do it again the next day. Meanwhile Don’s spouse Victoria walked to our place and then we cabbed to meet the guys at Bahama Mamas where we all chose a $5 breakfasts. D and I both had the potato omelet, Don pancakes & fruit and Victoria the mushroom omelet. After brekkie we decided that it would be fun to split a golf cart for the day.

Our first stop was at Casa de la Suenos which was an enormous hit with their gorgeous setting and what we thought were the most amazing nachos ever. We split them for a late lunch. D & V had a cheese & bean fajitas which were deemed less spectacular.

We walked out to the end of their dock for photos. This one of Don and Victoria.

We stopped for a look at La Joya as D & V had almost booked there and never seen it.

We tootled around the island including stops at Hortenzia’s to get some work done for me and North Beach for a swim. Actually only V & D swam as my D had already showered and I had a bit of a headache.

That evening after sunset on our front porch, we picked them up for supper where we had arranged with BoBo’s to watch a Jets game.

We were upstairs which was stiffling hot but we had so much fun watching a great game even though Winnipeg lost in a shoot out. We met a guy from Liverpool /Winnipeg who’s wife worked with my sister! My friend Jackie from Winnipeg came by & we visited through the 2nd period. We had tried to meet up with Brother #2 but he and his wife were meeting friends who had come over from Puerto Moreles for the evening. We enjoyed a nap cap under the stars. Another wonderful day.

We are not sure if D is going to be packing his tennis racket in 2016. We are staying at Villas San Miguel and the plan is to enjoy their lovely courtyard, walks on the malecon and the proximity to North Beach. We are also looking forward to cooking in their full kitchen. With their convenient proximity to the grocery store and market, this should be a breeze.

Kath’s quote: “We have the most beautiful planet – the Rockies, the purple fields of the United States, the Lake District, the Pyrenees, the turquoise seas of the tropics.”-Dan Aykroyd

Live simply, laugh often, love deeply.

We all our have favourite views from Isla Mujeres. I personally love the crashing waves on the Caribbean side, but my first stay on Isla, many years ago now, was within walking distance of Casa de los Suenos and I love to return there to eat up the view and recently (I am happy to say), the food!

These were the chicken nachos that we ordered when we stopped for a snack on what we call “golf cart day”.  They were nothing short of sensational; in fact the best chicken nachos that the four of us had eaten anytime, any where!

Just in case you needed another perspective on the nachos…..

V & D selected the cheese and bean barritos which were pretty darned good, but the nachos….did I mention we loved the nachos?!

I have never had a full meal at this restaurant. Chime in if you have. We typically go after snorkelling at Garrafon or for Happy Hour but based on this recent experience, we cant wait to go again when next on the island.

Kath’s quote: I have a chip on my shoulder. It’s a nacho, not a sense of bitterness.” ― Jarod Kintz

Live simply, laugh often, love deeply.

After loving our dinner the evening before with friends Jan and Bruce, I was right back at Bahama Mama’s to introduce it to V and D. The guys joined us once they had finished their tennis match as the courts were in the vicinity. We are all food lovers but even more so when every breakfast offering has a five buck cost. D and I each selected potato omelets. We love fluffy egg cakes filled with potatoes at one particular restaurant back home and we sometimes try to find a place that replicates the taste  when we travel.

V selected the Mushroom omelet and was well pleased.

Don chose the pancakes and fruit.

We all loved the cheery ambience of the family owned restaurant.

The husband and wife team are passionate about their food, including the fresh ingredients, the preparation techniques and the final picture on the plate.

So much time has past since they shared their story with us but I think that at least one of them is originally from Isla, the other from Cuba and one or both have spent time in the Bahamas, hence the name. We had a hunch that it was not our last visit and that proved to be true.

Kath’s quote: “Hand go, hand come.” interpreted as: As you give, so shall you receive. -Bahamian saying

Live simply, laugh often, love deeply.

As the sun rose on this morning, we visited our Luna neighbours who had arrived from the Canadian province next to us, the evening before. We have stayed next to them at Luna D’Miel for a number of years and had a lot of catching up to do.

Eventually, we made our way into Centro and to Ruben’s for breakfast. See the blog post here for all of those details.

We strolled to Playa Norte for a swim. We love the beach in the morning when we have it virtually to ourselves.

I love the Islander women, like the fruit lady who we often see by the market in Centro. I asked if I could take her picture and she proudly agreed.

At lunch time I made up our favourite Isla sandwich-cucumber, cilantro, manchego cheese and lime mayo on a freshly baked torta. I spent some lovely time shelling and then the rest of the afternoon at “home”.

We shared happy hour and sunset from our own front terrace. We were walking into Colonias when our old friends (we met on Isla) acknowledged us as the went by on their golf cart. They offered us a ride as they were heading to Bastos. We told them about Bahama Mamas (blog post here) and they decided to join us. They were so ecstatic about their dinner that they were going to return the next morning for an early breakfast before they had too return their golf cart. Jan and Bruce joined us for a night cab under the stars at Luna D’Miel.

We love our stays at Luna D’Miel but in 2016 we are going mix things up a little. We have a week booked at Oceanside Villas San Miguel. This property combines the best of both Isla worlds for us-private views of the Caribbean and the convenience of Centro. On days that are too breezy on Playa Norte, we can hang around the enclosed pool. We’ll also be close to Isla friends and two sets of family members who always stay in Centro. Now that you can access the water’s edge on the Caribbean side I can search for beach glass right in front of the villas. We are so excited!

Kath’s quote: “Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly”. –MFK Fischer

Live simply, laugh often, love deeply.

We were walking to the Colonia’s to visit Bahama Mama’s when friends of ours drove by on their golf cart en route to Basto’s. When they heard that we were off to try Bahama Mama’s they decided to join us. Bahama Mama’s was another new place which had opened on Isla in our absence and we were excited to give it a try.

Our friend and chauffeur for the evening ordered this hearty soup, chock full of a variety of seafood.

D tried the stuffed fish and couldn’t believe all of the food on his plate-Mexican rice, rice and black beans AND a baked potato! He loved that he had enough forkfuls of carbs to go with the huge portion of the stuffed fish.

When I dine at a new spot on Isla, I often order the Coconut Shrimp, so that I can compare and contrast and then make special note of my favourite place so that I can recommend it to the many, many people that asked me for dining suggestions. Bahama Mama’s was plentiful, lightly battered and greaseless. Was it my favourite? Ten more days of trip reports will tell the tale.

Our other friend chose the Cuban Meatballs which was hearty and savoury. I don’t often order beef on Isla. Do you?

Jan and Bruce really enjoyed the restaurant and they should know. They have been visiting Isla for years and stay an extended length of time each visit which means they have eaten many places on the island, many times. They got a chance to look over the $5.00 breakfast menu and knew that they would still have their golf cart in the morning so they headed back to Bahama Mama’s for their very next meal. We would return (a couple of times) for breakfast, tempting other people to sample it with us. It was a hit for everyone!

Kath’s quote: “Food is a central activity of mankind and one of the single most significant trademarks of a culture.” –Mark Kurlansky

Live simply, laugh often, love deeply.