Another beautiful morning.

We decided to make it a pool day as the opportunities to do so were fading away. Sue joined us for water time and visits with her Minnesota friends.

We were visited by the resident Iguana, that one of the guests decided to feed.

I love being this close to accessing the Caribbean!

We stayed pool side until there was just this little crack of sunshine on the shore.

Sue treated us to dinner at Rosa Sirena’s. It is lovely being up in the trees with a light breeze (but the spiral staircase to get up there was a bit tough).

We started with beautifully crafted cocktails!

There were beautiful views from our table.

And equally beautiful food. We ended dinner with this gorgeous coconut cheese cake.

Owners Debbie and Willy are wonderful hosts and it was so lovely to finally meet them. We arrived home to share some night time wine with Deb and Joe.

Kath’s quote: “I’m going to soak up the sun…”- Sheryl Crowe

Love never fails.

Woke up to another amazing day in paradise.

Deb and Joe made breakfast at the house.

We sent my brother Kelly, Lorraine and our friend Donna home that day. I had already taken pics of their sad faces. These were their happy ones.

We shopped at Hortencia’s and then had a tall cool one at Marea. I was happy to meet the owners there. Did you read that Restaurant Feature by sister Sue? https://foodmusings.ca/uncategorized/isla-mujeres-2024-restaurant-features-marea-located-in-selina-poc-na/

After a snack at home we left to meet Deb and Joe’s friends and take a dip in their pool. What a beautiful house and setting!

We cabbed down to Centro to join a sunset cruise. After the cruise we were peckish so we headed to Sonnys for amazing pizza. It was a late night for us old folks.

Kath’s quote: “You are my anchor in life’s unpredictable sea.” – Unknown

Love never fails.

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.