Traveling Twosome
  • Traveling Twosome Blog
  • BeBelize - Our life in Belize (2011-2013)
  • Earlier adventures (2003-2010)
    • First Belize Trip 2010
    • Fall Sail Cruise Aboard Logos 2009
    • Conch Key 2007
    • Charleston Sailing School 2007
    • Biscayne Bay Sailing School 2007
    • Key Lime Sailing Club 2006
    • Southwest Parks 2006
    • BEYC/Jost van Dyke, BVI 2005
    • Offshore Sailing School 2004
    • Annapolis Sailboat Show 2004
    • Finger Lakes 2004
    • NY State Bike Tour 2004
    • Biras Creek, BVI 2003
Picture
"Pearl" in Winter Garden, Florida
Picture
Long shadows in Wyoming

A day trip to Isla Mujeres and meeting new friends (Part 2)

2/3/2015

3 Comments

 
I finished up Part 1 of this post as we were approaching Jax Bar & Grill on Isla Mujeres.  I had sent Cara a text from the ferry terminal telling her that we would indeed be on the 11:00 ferry as I'd estimated, so sure enough, she and Mary were sitting at Jax waiting for us when we walked up!  

Even though this was the first time I'd met Cara in person, I felt like I knew her already from all the emails and photos we'd exchanged.  It was great to finally meet!  She lives in Rhode Island so was missing the huge blizzard from winter storm Juno by being in Mexico.  GOOD TIMING!
Picture
After a drink and some good conversation at Jax, the four of us took off on foot to see Playa Norte, the popular north beach.  
Picture
Walking 'round the round-about
Now THIS is a beach!  Wide, white sugar sand, palm trees, aquamarine water...ahhhhhhh!
Picture
There are several beach clubs on Playa Norte, and they were packing in the people on this perfect Wednesday as we continued walking.  We had to weave our way among all the sun worshippers.
Picture
Leaving Playa Norte, we saw the Corona sign.  If a Corona commercial hasn't already been filmed here, one certainly could (and should) be!  I mean, just look at this BEACH!
Picture
Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres
After leaving the beautiful beach behind, we paid a quick visit to the Isla cemetery.  As we've seen before in Latin America, many of the graves are decorated elaborately and colorfully.
Picture
Picture
Next we walked around downtown, looking for a lunch spot as we chatted.  The place Cara and Mary wanted to go was closed for lunch, but there were plenty of other choices.
Picture
Picture
I love the bright colors of Mexico. So charming!
We ended up at Mamacita.  We had a good waiter and had the place to ourselves.  Most everyone else on the island was at the beach!
Picture
We had an adorable visitor when we first arrived.  The island dogs here are quite a bit smaller than the strays in Playa del Carmen.  You can see how tiny she was next to my size 7.5 shoe!
Picture
Wish I had some dog biscuits for this one!
Picture
Picture
Cara and Mary, traveling buddies
Picture
Barry and me
We tried to get all four of us in one photo with Cara's "selfie stick".  The table was pretty wide, so the attempt was not the most successful, but I guess we're all there, barely!  
Picture
The food was yummy.  I had shrimp tacos; Barry and Mary both had a chicken burrito that was loaded!
Picture
Shrimp Tacos
Picture
Chicken Burrito
Cara had some good looking shrimp ceviche.
Picture
After a good lunch and a lot more chatting, the four of us continued down colorful Hildago Street, looking at a few souvenirs.  Barry and I had thought we might buy a refrigerator magnet but couldn't agree on one so ended up not buying anything.  
Picture
Hildago Street
Picture
Yo quiero Taco Bell?
Picture
Picture
Picture
Cara with a new friend
Picture
Some nice murals on this large building
When we reached the end of the street, we were back at the ferry terminal area.  After bidding our new friends goodbye, Barry and I were able to hop onto the 3:30 pm Ultramar ferry just moments before it departed Isla.  I forgot to mention in Part 1 that our round-trip tickets on the Ultramar cost $146 MXN each, or around $10 USD.

Here are a few parting shots of the island.  The low, puffy clouds were gorgeous!  It really was a perfect day.  A cool front ("Norte") kept the temperatures and humidity moderate -- oh so pleasant.
Picture
Picture
Picture
The on-board musician played some fine tunes on our return trip.  Very enjoyable!
Picture
Isla Mujeres faded away behind us as we approached Cancún....
Picture
Isla Mujeres just barely visible on the horizon
Picture
I'm enjoying the sunshine on the ferry
After the ferry ride, we ended up walking a good part of the way back to the ADO bus terminal as we couldn't find a local bus stop heading back that way.  We finally did catch a bus, only to get off it a couple of blocks too early for the ADO bus.  I was really glad I'd worn my clunky but sensible trail shoes instead of sandals with all the walking we ended up doing.  

The return trip on the ADO bus took us to the 5th Avenue station in Playa, not the 20th Street terminal we'd left from.  That meant a longer walk back to our place and back to Paisley.  It was pitch dark when we arrived home a bit after 6 pm, and I am sure Paisley was wondering where the heck we were!  Too bad the Quintana Roo time change came just a few days later; it still would have been light if our excursion had occurred after the change.

After finally getting to go out to do her doggie business and receiving a new chew bone Cara had brought down (thanks Cara!), Paisley seemed to forgive us for being gone all day.  Here she is a few days later enjoying one of the new bones for her seventh birthday (February 2 -- Groundhog's Day!)
Picture
We had such a great time visiting Isla Mujeres, and it was delightful meeting Cara and Mary.  Maybe we'll have the chance to meet up with them again here in Mexico one day!
3 Comments
Cara
2/3/2015 01:17:45 am

It was the perfect day to meet new/old friends and catch up. Thanks so much for making the trip to Isla and for treating us to lunch! We will for sure get together again, when and if the fates align our paths to cross once more. So glad this time it was near the beach in Mexico. :)

Reply
Emily
2/3/2015 02:16:42 am

We thoroughly enjoyed it, Cara! Thanks so much for suggesting we come up. And thanks for being a "mule" for us as well. I can't wait to use my little MP3 player if I can ever shake this awful cough and get back to the track. And Paisley loves her bones! It was so nice to finally meet in person.

Reply
Mike
2/8/2015 01:50:03 am

Ahhh... we stayed at the Corona sign, on the west side of the street. Really enjoyed the beach. Thanks for the reminder!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    ©2018 by Barry & Emily Smith .All rights reserved.
    Picture

    Emily & Barry

    We're a long-married, early-retired couple who are currently traveling as nomads with no fixed home base.  After years of living in North Carolina (Emily's home state), we spent 18 months living oceanfront on Ambergris Caye, Belize, a year road-tripping the US in a Honda CR-V, a year in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and are now roaming North America in our 32' motorhome, Pearl, following warm weather whenever possible.

    Our passions are bicycling, walking and hiking, birding, continuing our midlife struggles to learn Spanish, enjoying healthy food (and the occasional donuts & pie!), traveling (duh!)  We travel with a fleet of bicycles and Paisley, our 10-year old Boston Terrier. 

    Picture
    Paisley, May 2016
    Picture
    States visited (pre-RV)
    Picture
    Pearl, a 2007 Newmar Bay Star
    Picture
    States visited in "Pearl"

    Archives

    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    September 2012

    Favorite Travel Blogs

    Wheeling It
    Technomadia
    Travel with Kevin & Ruth
    San Pedro Scoop
    Metamorphosis Road
    Allison's Post-Work Thinking
    Life's a Beach!
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Traveling Twosome Blog
  • BeBelize - Our life in Belize (2011-2013)
  • Earlier adventures (2003-2010)
    • First Belize Trip 2010
    • Fall Sail Cruise Aboard Logos 2009
    • Conch Key 2007
    • Charleston Sailing School 2007
    • Biscayne Bay Sailing School 2007
    • Key Lime Sailing Club 2006
    • Southwest Parks 2006
    • BEYC/Jost van Dyke, BVI 2005
    • Offshore Sailing School 2004
    • Annapolis Sailboat Show 2004
    • Finger Lakes 2004
    • NY State Bike Tour 2004
    • Biras Creek, BVI 2003