……a potential place to live someday that is (at least part time). We’re only here twenty four hours and already we find it amazingly comfortable. Zach lived two winters in Quepos, Costa Rica and we fell in love with its small, friendly and seaside allure. Isla Mujeres reminds us very much of Quepos. Like there, the people here are extraordinarily friendly, the weather perfect, water of azure blues, unbelievably inexpensive, fabulous sailing, snorkeling and fishing and downright, well how do you say it? “Comfortable”!

We’ve taken a slip for one week, at Marina Paraiso, to settle into the pace here. We are paying the same slip rental price here for one week that we paid for one night in Key West. The marina folks go way out of their way to insure a pleasant stay. As example they have an outdoor BBQ area with a refer full of cold beer and water. Each boat has an “index card” with boat name on it. You take what you want and write it on the card. Then, upon our departure (if we ever leave), you pay for your beer. Gotta love it!

Today Pat and I hitched a ride to town (about a mile) with Jose’ on his golf cart (this and scooters being the main form of transportation). We wondered the streets and nosed around myriad little shops full of every conceivable “do dad”, trinkets, ceramics, jewelry, woven textiles, food, drink etc. etc.. Yes; this aspect is much like other areas of Mexico but the big difference, again, is the people. Did I mention there is NO crime here!

On the language front it always amazes me how quickly those three years of high school Spanish classes come back into focus. When you’re immersed into it you find it necessary to shorten the learning curve. Beside it’s a hoot to carry on a conversation with a total stranger in an foreign language. I try to “Spanglish” a word if I don’t know it. Something such as “cartoonay” for carton or “pencilita” for pencil. It always brings a laugh as I (or more frequently Pat) make fun of it. It almost always helps the process along.

Last night (our first night here) we met up with friends on SV Rachel (Julie and Mark). They introduced us to Debbie and Carl on SV Diva. Both of them sailed here from Key West, two weeks before we did. We had a “potluck” at the marina with BBQd chicken, cole slaw, baked potato casserole, rice etc. etc. Boy was it good! We were also joined by five or six other folks. This is how it works in this cruising community. Makes for wonderful memories!

Well that’s it for now. We are off to Cancun (via ferry) tomorrow to finish up our “clearing in” procedure. It’s only six miles away. We will also buy a new phone which will work for the time we are here in Mexico. I think tonight will be a quiet one…………..yeah right! 

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