MapChick's travel tips

Link to a great review of Hotel La Joya on Isla Mujeres

After watching the magnificent sunrise and feeling giddy with happiness, or is that the feeling you have when you  only sleep 4 out of the past 24 hours?
We start out walking with Kathryn thinking we’ll walk a little and then grab a taxi, first stop to take a few pictures at Garrafon

We get to talking and walking and before we know it, we’ve walked back to her house! Perry & I decide to head over to Mango cafe to see if they’re open, we get almost there and are so pooped, and a nice blister was starting to form on my foot from high heels the night before… we need a taxi.
When we arrive they are not open yet, we’re too early..we line up with other anxious diners.

I took a walk across the street and peeked in at the little church and sat out behind on the wall watching the ocean for awhile, I was really hoping to see some dolphins swimming by, that would  have made my day.

After breakfast we make our way back to the hotel…I’m thinking a nap might be nice, but know if I lay down, I won’t get up and we have plans to golf cart around today finding street names south of town.

This is a mess, there are several different streets with the same names! Our guess is that they seperately named streets in each colonia but used the same set of names? For this reason, only main roads will have street names on the map, because it’s so confusing.

Some familiar places we drove by,

Crayola house, I’m not sure who gave this house this name, was it Doris? Anyway the name fits!

La Bruja

A new outdoor gym being built. There is one of these in Tulum, it looks nice all finished.

Back to town to pack up and head to Puerto Morelos, first a stop for lunch at Mocambo, this a fish & shrimp with melted cheese, yum.

with full tummys and a head full of wonderful memories we sadly board the ferry, and head for the mainland. Our time on Isla was way too short,  but there is work to be done! I’ll be back

Little did these happy feet on their way to Isla Mujeres know that this is all the relaxing they would get to do this week in Mexico!

This is a special trip, we are updating Riviera Maya and Playa maps with a quick stop on the island of Isla Mujeres to celebrate new Year’s Eve with friends. This trip is also Perry & I’s first trip together  without the kids since they were born. (Our oldest is 19!) Kelsey was home from college on her winter break so I figured it would be a perfect time for her to have some quality time with her little brother. They did great without us, so much so, that I think we’ll do it again!

Off the plane, through immigration and customs then to ADO for our bus tickets to centro. 40 pesos each.

A quick stop at terminal 2 to pick up more passengers and we’re off. The bus ride was about 20 minutes, then taxi to the ferry, 50 pesos.

Finally, my feet hit that dock on Isla and I am “home” So, Perry, let me show you my island   I’ve been updating Isla for the last 2 years and Perry hasn’t spent as much time here. I take the lead to our hotel. We’re staying at Kinich above the El Sol golfcart shop. Capitan Tony reserved this for us becasue he didn’t want us sleeping in our tent..he takes such good care of us The rooms here are very nice, much nicer than we are used to. we enjoyed being pampered for one night! Here are a few pics of the room.

new fridge and microwave

Free wifi, Perry skyping kids

We’ve been up now since 3:30 AM and no real food to speak of, Perry requests a good fish fillet, guacamole and a cold Sol so  I lead him directly to Velazquez, feet in sand and relax! Sorry I have no pictures, I was so happy to be there and couldn’t stop pinching myself , are we really here?!

Tummys full we stroll down to Sergio’s Playa Sol where we run into Wanda and  Drew!

We also see Jeri, Steve, Al & Marylee, “Pirate” Scott and his gang and Capitan Tony. We have a drink and head back to our room to get in a little nap before the big party in the square tonight. Tony comes along to see our room, as he leaves he says I’ll be back at 8, I’m making you lobster…and he did!

It was delicious and I loved his salad with bits of fresh pineapple.

On to the party! Bands, lots of food, (I wish I hadn’t have eaten so much at Tony’s!) friends and of course, beverages

I had to get a group shot of some of my friends attending(wish you all had been there!) We’re really not hurting Tony!

I think Brenda is suggesting we jump in the fountain for a picture, fear of the policia and electrocution stopped me. But it looks like I liked the idea.

Tony & Perry

One of the best New year’s I’ve ever had….Feliz Ano nuevo!

During the night, I did wander to Miguel’s Moonlight a couple of times looking for the illusive Carl-Debbie from the myisla board. I never did find them.

It’s customary on Isla Mujeres to go to the south point to watch the first sunrise of the new year, and I want to do this, so home for another nap at around 3:30, I haven’t stayed up this late in years! Perry sets the alarm on his phone to wake us at 5. I am so tired, I can barely open my eyes, but I have wanted to do this for years, I knew if I missed it, I would be so mad at myself.  so, out of bed, quick teeth brush and get the contacts back in the eyes. We start walking towards the square and are really surprised at all of the people still out, little kids, everybody. As we get to the square there is a band still playing and people still dancing! So, naturally, we danced! just as the sky was beginning to light up, we grabbed a taxi to Punta Sur.

There were crowds of people there waiting for the sunrise, all with cameras ready

The first sunrise of 2010 from the south point of Isla Mujeres. I wouldn’t have wanted to start the new year any other way, it was magical.