REVOLUTION-AIRY

November 20 was a major commemoration throughout Mexico, the 509^th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution. At one end of the main street, the navy went for pomp and circumstance.

At the other end most of the island gathered to cheer the displays put on by every schoolkid on the island. Paraders from kindergarten to high school. Lots of red-white-green. Lots of hoops-la. Lots of energy!

Drums, bugles, uniforms streamed by in the sun. Behind us the eternal search for the right flavour of popsicle.

The day also seemed to be the start of the Christmas and main tourist seasons. A plastic pine went up in the zocalo with the help of two tree-huggers. Festive dishes now on offer --- poc-chuc for him and a supremo plate of chilaquiles for her! Tastes better than it looks....

A nearby cove is absolutely ideal for snorkelers of all levels. Ocean currents and reef formations bring in a panorama of fish from tiny tropicals to 3-foot barracudas. It’s like you’re being escorted by an underwater rainbow.

This island can still be magico and love is in the air, like this couple from Japan married at sunset. But tonight we’ll be in the air too. Next destination? North, and up…

BACK TO THE FUTURE

We're back on Isla Mujeres, me many times since 1979 and us since 1996. First night was a power outage, talk about Candles in the Wind! Second night was full moon. First several days, pouring rain. (No complaints --- back home was snow and record cold...) Eventually the big Caribbean sky appeared.

It's still possible to find some Mexico in Mexico, if you stay in a colonia (neighbourhood). Look at the picture ---- which one is The Blue House, and which is The Crayon Castle?? Duh. The kitchen is workable, the tv shows dozens of soccer games. The terrace is pleasant with breezes and a dipping pool.

The fridge gets loaded in with a trip to the newish mega store. You can get everything from donuts to motorcycles under one roof. No, I didn't get either   :(   Good news --- the island has banned plastic bags. Bad news --- we forgot to bring our reusables the first time; that was a pile!

It's great to be taking long hikes in the morning again. The wild east side is pounding surf and winds. No blazing sunsets on the calm west side yet, humid clouds always build up by then. Night walks are cooler and the locals live al fresco.

Sights along the 5-mile length of Isla include a bigger cemetery, a renewed acknowledgement of indigenous history, rainbow steps of diversity, and a sleepy military presence.

Much of the charm of the early visits is gone, overwhelmed by day trippers and the shops devoted to taking their dollars. Out-of-scale hotels and condos are going up in bland "international style". For me, a blatant symbol of the devolution is the three generations of ferry lined up together. That's my iconic and classic ride in the middle, like a DeSoto sandwiched between a Suburban and a Hummer. We're back, but what's the future...

WHAT'S NU??

This week's post is a day early --- who knows where next week's will be from...

It's Canada's Remembrance Day at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Lots of red-and-white images up here on the hill: symbols of blood on the snowy battlefields and/or Canada coming of age? Lest we forget.

Another blast of snow --- from dawn's early light, along Grey Road #1, and frosting the finally fallen fruit.

In town, everybody's detouring for a year or more as the main bridge is being replaced. Too bad that a historic building beside it is going down too. For a turn-off lane.

Nature is coping OK with this early winter. Squirrels dig deep for another sunflower morsel. A milkweed pod bursts into seed: better late than never but the monarchs left weeks ago!

But we don't cope with winter as well as they do. The fridge has been emptied, the power and water closed down, and stuff is packed for three different directions. Tonight we're near the airport, at somewhere NU.