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.

An even lazier day today!

Back home our summer place is called “Life is Good”. The simple saying speaks volumes for me!

This was our little stove top at our rental. Amazing breakfasts were prepared here over the course of our stay. It made me wonder why my stove top at home was so vast and complicated?

Wrote and posted on the blog while D was out playing tennis.

Coffee and yoghurt got us through until lunch. I LOVE these yoghurts even though I know that they are full of sugar and artificial ingredients!

For lunch we had cucumber, manchego, lime mayo and cilantro sandwiches! They are my favourite but I only eat them on the island.

D reading and napping in the hammock. We headed down to the pool but went back and forth when the sun got too high.

D decided to head into Centro and came home with supplies for Monkey Lunches (kahlua, pineapple juice and banana)! He delivered them to us pool side. We did some beachcombing but were not hauling in very much.

We went out for another fabulous dinner. This time at Greenverde! Check out all the delicious details at: https://foodmusings.ca/isla-mujeres/isla-mujeres-2024-restaurant-features-greenverde/

We could walk both to and from our place to the restaurant. D greeted all the locals as they congregated outside their homes.

We had indulged too much that day so it was drinks of water under the stars to savour the end of our day.

Kath’s quote: “Life is good, It’s as simple as that.”

Love never fails.