There was a cloudy sunrise with a strong south wind.

We knew that our time at the wonderful Villas San Miguel was coming to an end and so I kept taking pictures of it, to permanently remember how great our time had been.

We made cucumber, cheese, mayo and cilantro on tortas for breakfast. We use fresh tortas from the super market, lime mayo, manchego cheese and lots of salt and pepper on the cucumbers. It is one of my favourite things to eat on the island. When I walked out our second floor door, the wind caught the cilantro and it landed in the swimming pool!

We had a visit with new neighbours from Alberta before they left. They loved Fredy’s pork chop and special shrimp. Then we read for a while around the pool

and then off to my little spot for sea glass. D joined me and we walked home for Tino’s ribs for lunch.

Afterward we researched a place for 2017 and ended up at the beach for a visit with the gang.

We rarely make it to Playa Norte without first stopping in on our dear friend Hortenzia. Sometimes we just wave “hola” but typically we have a play with whichever grandkids she is watching over. She does so and runs her successful business at the same time-all with grace and patience.

Then it was home to Villas San Miguel for a shower and drinks out by the seawall.

We went shopping for supper ingredients and saw a partial sunset by the old Brisa Grill docks. We cooked fish, eggplant and rice at home and then went out to Pita Amore for flan.

Kath’s quote: “…vicinity to the sea is desirable, because it is easier to do nothing by the sea than anywhere else, and because bathing and basking on the shore cannot be considered an employment but only an apotheosis of loafing”. ― E.F. Benso

Love never fails.

This cozy scene drew me as soon as my eyes were open. I had to put on a hoodie and warm my hands by gripping to my coffee cup, but it was perfect none the less.

There was only a mini sunrise from our beautiful balcony. But it was still lovely.

Before we knew it, this was the view from our bedroom window at Villas San Miguel. We have learned to enjoy every moment on Isla because you never know when the sky will change. I think that is a good life lesson too.

S & D came to see our second suite at Villas San Miguel-they were very, very impressed!

We had breakfast with the gang at Bally Hoo with the gang including Margaret & Andy who were leaving with Dona and Sister #3.

I enjoyed an amazing Italian omelette with cheese, sausage, ham inside.

One of our many traditions on Isla is taking pouty pictures of people (and ourselves) as they are waiting to leave on a departing ferry.

And just like that…they were off.

We joined Jean and Rich for church and then went to see a house by Medina Luna.

They told us to come back in an hour so we visited with Bro #3 & L on the beach.

That afternoon we joined them (and eventually Jean and Rich) at the baseball game.

The Isla team had already played and were enjoying lunch in the stands.

They insisted upon sharing their simple meal with us. Another of thousands of reasons why I love the Islanders.

Since it was in the vicinity we walked over to see our friend Hortenzia’s house being built. Then we went and saw Sandra & Tim’s rental. I am not sure that I got the name of it but it was the complex owned by the Gomar family. They loved their stay there.

We arrived home for a Happy Hour coconut/kahlua/banana shake with Bro #3 & L. I walked to the shore for sunset and met Gloria and Huw. They told us that we weren’t expected at Luna d’ Miel until Tuesday and they were right. Keith of Villas San Miguel generously made arrangements for us to stay one more evening .

That evening we were out for dinner at Jardin de Maya with Jan and Bruce. I enjoyed the garlic fish.

I think D ordered the Mole.

Jan or Bruce chose the pulled pork.

A wonderful way to spend a Sunday, feeling more and more like I live on the island.

Kath’s quote: “Sunday is the golden clasp that binds together the volume of the week.” ― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Love never fails.

The biggest and most pleasant surprise while enjoying all the amazing food that Isla Mujeres has to offer was eating at Sardinian Smile Restaurant. We had walked past it on the south end of Hidalgo numerous times and rarely saw a full restaurant. This absolutely mystified us, as the food was nothing short of sensational, equal to the dinners we enjoyed while traveling through Tuscany!

On the evening we dined, delicious bruschetta arrived as one starter and then a basket of homemade bread served with olive and parmesan for dipping.

Our first course was Octopus & Beef Carpaccio with truffle oil! I can imagine the taste right now…..

Our pasta course was artichoke ravioli with tomatoes, lobster ravioli, mushroom ravioli and four cheese ravioli (the latter being the traditional Sardinian version). All these delectable packets had been pinched by hand.

We can’t remember the name of this dish but it was as sensational as the rest of our meal.

Dessert was absolutely not necessary, but we enjoyed it nonetheless.

Sylvia the owner of Sardinian Smile was so passionate about the ingredients she brings over from Italy, the dishes they serve and food in general. We hit it off immediately and I would love to spend more time with her. Her staff, many of whom are her relations, share her passion and their service is warm and efficient.

We are planning a very special dinner at Sardinian Smile in 2017 when we are next on the island.

Kath’s quote: “Cooking is at once one of the simplest and most gratifying of the arts, but to cook well one must love and respect food”. –Craig Claiborne

Love never fails.

It was an overcast morning and there was no sunrise. Friend Peggy that we had the pleasure of meeting at Luna D’Miel a previous year, knocked on our door and we invited her for breakfast.

After a scrumptious breakfast, we went walking and shelling together.

When I got home, D had moved us to an upstairs unit at Villas San Miguel for the rest of our stay. The suite had a smaller footprint but we loved the second floor balcony which overlooked the Caribe.

It was cloudy and slightly rainy so we stayed put that afternoon. D did venture out to get rib man ribs for future consumption. The rain continued and the streets were quite wet.

Dinner was at Muelle 7 (see link of our visit here) after a famous restaurant with the same name in Veracruz.

We saw a partial sunset from the vicinity. We walked down Hidalgo and spotted the Jets game on at Nash’s. We stayed for one period and visited with Brother #3 & L. We enjoyed a glass of wine alone on our balcony and then slept that evening to the sound of the waves.

Kath’s quote: “The waves broke and spread their waters swiftly over the shore. One after another they massed themselves and fell; the spray tossed itself back with the energy of their fall. The waves were steeped deep-blue save for a pattern of diamond-pointed light on their backs which rippled as the backs of great horses ripple with muscles as they move. The waves fell; withdrew and fell again, like the thud of a great beast stamping.”  ― Virginia Woolf

Love never fails.

Another beautiful rooftop sunrise. There was a big bank of cloud on the horizon which made it an unusual ½ sunrise. I have decided that sunrise is my favourite time on the island.

Another batch of seaglass.

I was content to just hang out but was able to contact Ruben (see full restaurant feature here) so went to his place for breakfast. He had not been well and it was his first day back at work. You would never tell he had been sick as he zoomed around the restaurant, stopping to chat at every table. We saw Sister #3 & Dona there who were splitting the shrimp omelette and eggs bennie. Ruben suggested the classic bennie and the special lobster bennie with poblano sauce. Both were sensational! Ruben’s also has good coffee and excellent oj.

After breakfast we cut across the street to our favourite market stall to buy fresh fixings for our dinner with Hortenzia’s family.

The Madonna and bird was spotted as we made our way across the square.

We finished our shopping at the Supermercado and then got ice and ice cream. D hit the kitchen right after and Sister #3 & Dona arrived in short order.

We spent the afternoon prepping for dinner and then Dona and I went out to order chickens and check out the Artist Fair. We much preferred when the fair was held in the square.

We returned to Villas San Miquel for nachos and cervesa. Hortenzia (the local dress-maker) invites us to their place on a regular basis for dinner with her family. We try to reciprocate on an annual basis. She and her family got lost trying to find us at Villas San Miguel, but Sister #3 & Dona found them out by the basketball court.

We had a fabulous dinner of chicken, pasta salad, cole slaw & D’s hot fudge sundaes for dessert.

D entertained the kids with tricks on his I-Pad.

When they left, we sat outside around the pool for a night cap.

Kath’s quote: “Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly”.- M F K Fisher

Love never fails.