Final update

After nearly causing a riot near the ferry with taxi drivers, we were on our way home. I flagged down the nearest cab after getting off the ferry and thought there was going to be a brawl! There is apparently a process for the drivers to get fares. The guy I flagged down did not follow the rules and I thought they were gonna kick his butt. El jefe (the boss) finally settled it and we were on our way.



Anyway....we made it to Cancun International Airport where we took the longest flight home. We arrived at home an hour late and there was a 50 degree temp difference.

Home safe and sound.

I thought I would summarize the good eats and attractions on Isla Mujeres and point out the things and places not to go.

Where to stay: Hotel Maria Kankin (http://www.mariaskankin.com)

Where NOT to stay: Hotel Avalon (Here is a posted review of the hotel....www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g150810-d259074-r24670944-Avalon_Reef_Club_Isla_Mujeres-Isla_Mujeres_Yucatan_Peninsula.html)

Where to eat: In town - Angelo's, Bamboo, Fayne's, Momma Rosa, Los Amigos. Out of town - The Lighthouse (at the Mayan ruins on the south end), Playa Lancheros, and Hotel Maria.

What to do: rent a scooter or golf cart, take the ferry to the mainland and go to Playa del Carmen.

What not to do: Go to Cancun. The drug wars are out of control and the military has check points all over. The gang graffiti will surely turn you off.

What to eat: They have great ceviche on the island. You can have shrimp, conch, snapper, or octopus added. Yummy. Stick to the beer. I was not impressed with the traditional drinks other than the Banana Margarita (banana, controy, liquid sugar and tequila).



What not to eat: stay away from the street vendors. Like drinking the water...you're not sure what you are gonna get.

Isla Mujeres is a great destination if you want to take a vacation where you bury your feet in the warm white sand and drink a Sol beer. It takes you down a notch in the stress category. Well worth the trip. Just do your homework on accommodations.

Day 6

Today was the moped adventure! This was a lot of fun and we should have done it sooner. We zipped all over the island and saw some of the same plus new sites. We were headed for lunch at a recommended location but found a gem instead. We had lunch at Hotel Maria Kankin (west side of the island).


This was a great place to chill and watch the surf. It is a hotel of 9 rooms, private beach and a charming little restaurant. Alberto, our waiter, was happy to let me practice my Spanish and gave us good advice about the area. If I could do it all over, I would stay at this place and rent scooters to get into town. Check out the blog photos for view of the gardens. Someone took a lot of care to make this place look and feel awesome.

http://www.mariaskankin.com/

We then zipped back towards town and stopped on the east side of the island to do some shell "shopping". We ran into our old friend Wilson, but he looks a littled unkept and needs a shave. ;-)



Dinner was at the recommended restaurant of Los Amigos on the main drag. Good food, good wine, good service and great people watching!

Tomorrow it is back to reality.

Day 5

We just decided to chill for the day and swim. We enjoyed the beach here. The employees are nice here and we have made some good acquintances. The hotel is not a place I would stay again. The service or the chain has some problems. The basics are overlooked and little things that make people happy are lacking.

We have checked out some other hotels and it sounds like things are in trouble at Avalon Reef at Isla Mujeres.

The swimming is excellent and beautiful.

Day 4

We ventured off our little island of tranquility to go to Playe del Carmen (a ferry, taxi and bus ride away). After passing through two police check points in Cancun, we enjoyed a wonderful bus ride to Playa. The bus is the nicest thing I have ever been on. Too bad Alaska Airlines can't take notes from ADO bus lines.



The bus took us to downtown Playa del Carmen, a modest city of 135,000. You can buy a Corona across the street from buying your ROLEX.



It is a beautiful city but much too busy for my taste. We hurried back on our bus, taxi and ferry to enjoy USA spank Mexico in soccer.

Besides the cocaine fest at the restaurant (Bamboo) we enjoyed a good game and good food (Thai theme).

Here are the photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/marcia.harnden/IslaMujeresAdventure?authkey=Z3QNSw7rJqg&feat=directlink

Day 3

Spent the day swimming and snorkling. Dinner at Angelos again. More on Day 4...off to Playa del Carmen.

Day 2

Day 2 started with renting a golf cart to see the recommended sights of one of the time share sharks. We found that most were right on the mark. We first went to Punta Sur (South Point) and saw the only Mayan ruin on the island. It was well worth the three bucks to see.

The point and eroded rocks were specactular!



We then went to Garafon Park where a local recommended we go to another location. It sucked. Enough said. We then went to lunch recommendation number one: Playa Lancheros. The food was excellent and we found out how it is better to have pesos in hand than try to do the math in our head. It is worth the visit and we sat enjoying the breeze and a good book for two hours.



Then it was back to town to return the golf cart so I could get my license back. If you did not turn the cart in time, they kept your license. Scary!

Dinner was at Momma Rosa's (Italian). Very good. Service was a bit slow, but they had good wine, good pasta and awesome desert (tiramusu and pear / ricotta). Yummy!

Day 2 photos:

Day 1

We enjoyed ceviche and Sol beer at Playa Norte. The place is far more liberal with clothing requirements than Belize was. Even to down to wearing tighty whity underwear on the beach. It was just nice to sit in the sun and put my pretty toes in the sand. Thanks for the pedi Jaimee!


After arriving well after dark on Saturday and getting a good night sleep, it was off to get acquainted with the town on Isla Mujeres. The photo below is from the hotel looking north. It has been very windy and in the mid 70’s. Warm enough to get a sunburn though.



Attached is a photo gallery from the day. The night concluded with a nice dinner in town at Angelo's (Italian). Good food. Good prices. Thanks Lisa.