We stayed in bed a little late but the sunrise was later too. I couldn’t believe that all three of these images were of the same sunrise. I was particularly enamored by the bottom one-there is reflection on the sea but where did the light come from?

After coffee we headed into town for Island Church at Jax and then stayed for breakfast. I love Jackie’s glassware.

D put down those overflowing breakfast burritos and I went for more traditional fare. Jackie tells us that this would be a typical breakfast back home in Texas. I loved the crispy bacon and perfect home fries.

We visited Jax on our very first trip to Isla some twenty years ago. I mourn the loss of their view, when the day tripper place was built across the street and sits virtually empty when I am in the vicinity. But it still is one of the best places to wait for sunset.

We headed home for showers and a snack, then were back in town to visit Marina Bartolome for an early dinner. We were blown away! If you follow this link you will see that my friend Valerie and I connected years ago when they had 1000 Tacos, which was my favourite taco on the island, pre-Covid. https://foodmusings.ca/isla-mujeres/isla-mujeres-2024-restaurant-features-marina-bartolome/

Valerie’s husband returned from fishing as we were eating dinner. The guys headed to the dock to see his haul.

We have on occasion watched sunset from Marina Bartolome. It was just beginning to go down that day.

I captured the end of it from our deck at home. I was excited to “try” to watch the Oscars from our place but after an extended struggle, I gave up. Oh well. I had a lot of writing to do that evening anyway.

Kath’s quote: “Every sunset is also a sunrise. It all depends on where you stand.” – Karl Schmidt

Love never fails.

“God” clouds (as my kids always called them) greeted us that morning.

I walked into Centro to put my deposit down on my apartment for 2025. I was very pleased to secure a more spacious room.

I was supposed to meet D, Deb & Joe at the beach by Mia but I hadn’t had breakfast, so I stopped at Sueno de Marfil.

I loved the tasty omelette that I invented, as an ode to my late friend Ruben (shrimp and cheese).

Wow. Their setting is gorgeous! I really enjoyed meeting the owner and we had a great chat.

It was a hot walk to the beach.

I needed to completely submerge in the ocean to come to my senses.

Hortencia’s grandkids joined us. They are such great kids and so appreciative.

That part of North Beach is sure beautiful but there is not enough shade to go around. I prefer Centro Beach my self.

Home by cab for showers and naps. We spontaneously decided on dinner at Marina Bartalome but when we arrived the dining room had already closed.

So we tried Picus and everybody loved it!

We loved having our feet in the sand and the beautiful sunset.

We visited Picus our very first time to the island and then again for D’s birthday a year later. We ordered both of these succulent dishes for D’s momentous occasion. In order to preserve D’s dignity, I am not going to share why that dinner was “momentous”.

Joe’s gang was heading to Snappers for a late Jets game so we walked them there. We stopped en route at Jax for a late night cap. Jax’s Mojito was great. D and I cabbed home and listened to Jets game on line.

Kath’s quote: “What happens on Isla, stays on Isla“.-Me

Love never fails.

We spent a wonderful day showing Deb and Joe the middle part of the island.

They ventured out on their own and then met D at the tennis court. I finished up my media work. I made avocado toast for breakfast and then we walked to Chedraui for supplies. The walk home was so hot we all got in the pool.

We all needed showers and naps before we cabbed to Queen Macabi. What a lovely surprise the restaurant was! Read all about it here: https://foodmusings.ca/isla-mujeres/isla-mujeres-2024-restaurant-queen-macabi/

We had a really tough time finding Queen Macabi so I took pictures from their roof top to give people their bearings if they wanted to visit. You will see from the bottom photo that it was across from Doro’s (another restaurant that I have been dying to visit). I understand that the owner of Queen Macabi have put up a large banner/sign recently. So hopefully the cabbies will learn the location because our driver didn’t have a clue!

We walked through La Gloria (I think) and showed Deb and Joe one of our many favourite restaurants-Basto’s Grill. We also ran into Sergio who lovingly introduced us to his son Max.

We still had some time to kill so we dropped into (or shall I say “Climbed up to”), Chile & Maiz.

We had scheduled a visit with Hortencia and the rest of our Mexican family. Marcello and Hortencia host us every year for dinner. Usually it is Hortencia’s idea but this year it was Marcello’s. We wanted to all be together to celebrate his good health! Hortencia made her amazing chicken mole. Joe is a contractor back home and has just completed a major reno of his house. Hortencia’s family has been renovating too, so Joe was showing them the construction difference when you build a house in Canada to withstand frigid temperatures.

We hopped the bus home but wouldn’t let us off at Chedrui as we had hoped, so we rode into town and attempted to connect with Joe’s friends at El Patio, to no avail. So we cabbed home and listened to a late Jets game.

Kath’s quote: “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.” – Richard Bach

Love never fails.

Today was Karen’s departure day. D was at tennis while I did some media work and Karen packed. She was a newbie to Isla Mujeres but was hooked in (I wanna say) 35 seconds! We were still on the sidewalk, making our way to her suite, when she declared as much.

Kelly and Lorraine joined D and I as we saw Karen off. As we waved her good-bye, many people waiting in line, waved back at us. I think everyone appreciates being sent off at the ferry.

Sue and Donna arrived just moments too late. Kelly and Lorraine were hitting the beach as D and I bussed to Chedraui with Sue and Donna. We walked home with groceries from there. En route, we saw the place that D loves (almost) best of all on the island.

Also on the way, I made note of this little street for the first time. I have been visiting almost 20 years and never noticed it before. Would it dead end at the school?

D and I did some beachcombing together as the water was low. But we got too hot, so we jumped in the pool.

We were feeling vegetable deprived, so we made a salad for lunch with a glass of red, to mellow out the day.

That evening Sue and I went to Xaman. I waited in the palm shadows across the road from our place, for Sue to pick me up in a cab.

I love these trees. This was in front of Xaman but there is also one where we used to stay at Luna D’ Miel and another at Isla Brewing where D spent the evening.

Xaman’s decor was beautiful and relaxed. We settled in to learn so many things about the history of Mexican food. We got adventurous and tried grasshoppers and worms. I can’t say that I enjoyed them or even that they were “good”, but I was glad to have tried them none the less. I can put them on my strange food list with crocodile and barracuda.

Their mixologist was an artist! I was very happy with the way that this picture turned out. The drink spoke to me of sunset on the Caribbean Sea. It was both beautiful and delicious. Read more about the fabulous food at: https://foodmusings.ca/isla-mujeres/isla-mujeres-2024-restaurant-features-xaman/

We enjoyed sunset from the restaurant. D’s sister Deb and her partner Joe’s arrival had been detained by 2 hours. But fear not, I had a new book to crack open!

Kath’s quote: Life’s comings and goings are like a symphony, with each person playing their part, adding depth and richness to the melody.” – Oliver Anderson 

Love never fails.

Another beautiful morning from the balcony.

My time wandering the shoreline wás disrupted by this poor turtle. At least it appeared to have lived a long life.

This morning’s reflection was of deck and the sea.

The pool was a lovely cool temperature but even that didn’t do the trick for me.

It was very humid and I felt a little off. I napped in the hammock with a fan on me. But then I had to start my day all over again with a shower and coffee!

D had a hankering for Happy Hour so we headed to Centro and our favourite spot. Can you tell where we were by this floor at its entrance?

My guy at El Patio. He fits right in on Isla because there are so many mid-westerners and he was born in Minnesota.

We love the party atmosphere at El Patio. I am sure glad that they worked through the noise issue because we have spent countless hours there over the years.

We love their HH for lots of reasons. Three are pictured here.

Had we stayed home for Happy Hour, this would have been our snack. We are crazy for these and we can’t buy them back home. Maybe I will see if we could order a case on Amazon…

We left in enough time for our other favourite Happy Hour. We love catching Ken W when he plays at Jax. It was packed, so we offered to share our table with a couple from Virginia. They are friends with my friend Mary from Cape Cod. How can this small island hold so many connections?

We met up with Karen and the rest of our gang for her last night on the island. She choose Adelita’s and we loved our dinner there!

We walked Hidalgo and then cabbed home. We were up later than usual.

Kath’s quote: In the grand tapestry of life, people are threads that weave in and out, creating a masterpiece of memories.” -Jonathon Rivers

Love never fails.