* Record breaking weather continues
* ADO bus service to Mahahaul
* Mahahual Jazz - Wycliffe Gordon
* Cruise News
* Recycling back!
* New businesses in Mahahual
* Wildlife sightings
* Spotlight on your neighbors
* Properties for sale
Hi Neighbors,
We continue to get lots of people stopping by Mayan Beach Garden,
both as guests and as neighbors. We love this time of year since so
many of you are vacationing in the area and find the opportunity to
stop by your properties and check them out, wondering what it was
you purchased years ago, and being happy that the beach is as beautiful
as you remembered it. Many of you are curious as to how your beach
changed after Wilma. Most people have been pleased with the "reshaping"
of their beach and many say they have gained beach and some height.
Please continue to stop by and say "hi" even if we seem
to be busy, we love to meet you and introduce you to other neighbors
that may be staying with us.
You can find this newsletter and archives of past newsletters at
this
location:
http://www.mayanbeachgarden.com/PropertyOwners_Newsletter.html.
RECORD BREAKING WEATHER CONTINUES
According to the local radio stations, January, December and February
have all broken records for rain this year. Remember last year when
I commented how dry everything was? We had no rain from November to
June, while this year, it seems to rain every day or so. To give you
a perspective on the amount of rainfall, normally the month of January
has 1.8 inches. In a two day span in January we had 15. While not
quite as wet, one day in February had about 8 inches. The cold continues
as well. While many of you were being accosted on the east cost by
the Blizzard of 2006 we were shivering under double blankets. I even
wore socks to bed because Kim had to have at least one window open.
I feel sorry for all the locals who don't have windows or doors. This
is more common than you might think in the small villages and towns.
Normally it isn't a problem as they all live out doors, but when the
temperatures dip into the 50's (F) at night, there are a lot of really
cold people!
ADO BUS SERVICE TO MAHAHUAL
I just received the schedule for ADO bus service from Chetumal, Cancun
and Playa Del Carmen to Mahahual. ADO is the premier bus service in
Quintana Roo with reclining seats, air conditioning and videos. I
will be posting the schedule on the internet, but the bus will be
making three trips a day to Chetumal and three a day to Cancun. ADO
has limited stops -- only pausing in Limones and Bacalar on the way
to Chetumal and Limones, Filipe Carrillo Puerto, Tulum and Playa Del
Carmen on the way to Cancun. If you or someone you know hates driving,
this would be a good alternative. I saw the ADO bus in Mahahual this
morning, so I know that service has already commenced.
MAHAHUAL JAZZ - WYCLIFFE GORDON
If you are a jazz and blues fan you might know Wycliffe Gordon (from
Wynton Marsalis ). He has released an Album called "Dig This"
that has a cut on it called Mahajual. If you click on the link below,
you can listen to a short clip of the song. Make sure and scroll down
to the bottom of the page and click on the green arrow next to the
song. http://www.mp3.com/albums/595727/summary.html
CRUISE NEWS
January 26, 2006 - Carnival Cuts Costa Maya Call Short Due to Rough
Seas
While it's not unusual for a cruise ship to skip a scheduled port
due to inclement weather, it's less often one that's already docked
IS forced to retreat -- but that's exactly what happened to Carnival
Liberty last month in Costa Maya.
After the ship arrived -- and passengers had already set off for
a day of sun or sightseeing -- sudden swells and deteriorating weather
prompted the captain to push the departure time up by several hours
for the safety of all onboard. Carnival was actually able to get everybody
back onboard for an early getaway. A spokesman for the line says that
no passengers were left behind -- and there wasn't a need to wait
or search for stragglers, which, let's face it, often happens even
if ships are leaving on time.
RECYCLING BACK!
I went to a meeting yesterday about garbage and heard some good and
bad news. The good news is that after months of inactivity garbage
and recycling are again a focus. Everyone is concerned. This in part
is due to a minor emergency that occurred at the landfill where the
garbage truck was hijacked by the owner of the landfill. Apparently
there was a disagreement regarding the amount of money that the land
owner should receive from the city. As of yesterday, they had not
come to an agreement and the landfill that was located 10 km south
has been closed and the only way to dispose of garbage is to go all
the way to Xcalak. Not only does Xcalak not want all of Mahahual's
garbage, this is a LONG WAY to go for anyone north of Mahahual. For
us it is 100 kilometers. In Mahahual there is daily garbage pickup,
but here along the beach road there is nothing of the sort. Our only
option is to take garbage and put it into the garbage truck in the
late afternoons when it is sitting idle. The other good news is that
the pier has re-committed the land they had earlier earmarked for
a recycling center. The bad news is that until the city gets organized
and can get funds, the land just sits there. Getting organized means
setting up a non-profit corporation, signs, large containers and personnel
to work at the recycling center. This is going to take some time.
In the meantime, only plastic is being recycled and can be dropped
off at the University of Quintana Roo's extension center. So, we continue
to separate our garbage, pick up the trash along the beach and hope
that things change soon. I'm now sitting on money that many of you
have donated and I still believe that we can make a difference by
supporting these alternative programs. We'll keep you posted.
NEW BUSINESSES IN MAHAHUAL
A new Holiday Inn is about to open in Mahahual. Now you might envision
a lovely hotel on the beaches of Mahahual. NOT! This is on the road
to the pier - just outside the picturesque security gate that separates
the throngs of passengers from the rest of us -- FAR from the beach.
Most of us here are baffled by their choice of location. However,
there is a rumor that there will be an ATM there. According to the
president of the Chamber of Commerce, the location of an ATM is decided
upon by the federal government. We do know that HSBC is now interested
in putting one in.
For those of you who like a higher end gift shop, there are some
quite nice stores in the same location mentioned above -- just outside
the security gate and hidden behind a huge palapa covered bar called
the Drinking Donkey. Meanwhile, the number of shopping spaces available
for rent continues to increase along the Mahahaul beach road and the
pedestrian road has now been extended for several more blocks requiring
you to drive around.
WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
The increased rainfall may be producing an increase in wildlife sightings,
bringing animals closer to the roads. There have been several jaguar
sightings, a black panther, herds of peccaries, numerous fox sightings,
toucans, flocks of greater curassows as well as the normal coatamundi
and chacalaca sightings. All along the roads there is water, increasing
the food supply for many animals which may mean that more animals
are out and about. Whatever the reason, its been fun to see.
SPOTLIGHT ON YOUR NEIGHBORS SLAHETKAS
The last couple of months had so much information that I literally
forgot to post the Spotlight on the neighbors. I'm glad you missed
them -- I've missed doing them and getting to know you better in the
process. Well, they are back again. This month meet the Slahetkas
who own property in Sapphire beach, which is in the north end of Placer.
PROPERTIES FOR SALE
I know of several properties in the area that are for sale. All are
north of Rio Indio. Some in the Placer area and some north of Uvero.
We also know of a house and hotel for sale. Please contact me if you
are interested.
Until Next month...
Regards from your Costa Maya Neighbor
Marcia
Mayan Beach Garden, Boutique hotel on the Costa Maya www.mayanbeachgarden.com
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Until next month or until there is some new news to report....
