At the southern end of Isla Mujeres, there is a security wall with shards of broken glass cemented into the upper edge. The wall protects an almost empty piece of land, a replica of a Mayan ruin, and a collection of derelict boats.
Recently a
squatter decided to set up housekeeping inside the windowless concrete shack. The
property owner, rightly so, had the person evicted and the street-side entrance
bricked over. Then shards of glass were added to the top of the wall as a
further deterrent to trespassers.
Mexico has been our
beautiful and charming home country for several years. Sometimes, it can be very entertaining, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.
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| Three-sided glass-topped security wall |
Because
of the sharp embedded bits, the iguanas lost a handy spot for sunbathing, and
the birds had to find other places to rest, but other than that, not much has
changed. Strangely, the wall only provides security to three sides of the
property.
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| The Tower - at the refuse transfer station |
Another source
of amusement is located inside the municipal refuse transfer station, also near
the southern end of the island.
A large concrete structure was built in the
early spring of 2013 under the direction of then Presidente Hugo Sanchez. The three-story high edifice is imposing.
It towers over the empty building located directly
behind it. We’ve never figured out the purpose of the fortification, but it now
has a veritable garden of plants sprouting on several levels.
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| Hacienda Mundaca - new, unused entrance |
Then on the
western side of the island is the beautiful new entrance to the federally
controlled Hacienda Mundaca, the historic home of the island’s most well-known
pirate, Captain Fermin Mundaca.
From the fall of 2014 to the spring of 2015, construction crews slashed a path in the jungle and erected a tall concrete
block wall to surround the estate.
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| Stone-faced sign for new entrance |
Their final job was to create the stunningly
beautiful new entrance with two soaring hacienda-style gates, a decorative iron
fence, and a stage for community performances.
Well-signed and ready to go, the new
entrance still remains closed and idle, a repository for wind-blown litter.
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| Part of the sewer line project |
And another head-shaking
bit of island trivia. In 2014, the municipality contracted to have Rueda Medina re-paved on the western side of the airport from about the naval base to the
Coca-Cola plant.
Several business owners in the area petitioned the city to
work in conjunction with the water/waste corporation, Aguakan, to install sewer
lines before paving the road. Good idea. Very forward-thinking of the business
folks who struggled in the busy tourist winter season with almost daily
pump-outs of their wastewater holding tanks. The companies ante-upped the fees to
Aguakan for the new sewer lines, and the project got underway. The road was dug
up, lines installed, and detours around the work changed daily.
It was a huge project that lasted for months, creating a financial hardship for several companies located along that piece of road. However, the consensus was that in the end it would be well worth it. Except, the sewer lines have never been connected. The school, homes, and businesses must still have their holding tanks regularly pumped.
It was a huge project that lasted for months, creating a financial hardship for several companies located along that piece of road. However, the consensus was that in the end it would be well worth it. Except, the sewer lines have never been connected. The school, homes, and businesses must still have their holding tanks regularly pumped.
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| Rueda Medina the 2010-2011 project |
But the biggest ‘oops’
that provided hours of entertaining speculation is the construction project
that began in the fall of 2010 and continued for at least eighteen months, if
not longer.
The multi-level proposal aimed to beautify Rueda Medina, the main
entrance to the island, to impress the arriving visitors. To
that end, underground wiring was planned for all of the homes and businesses
along Rueda Medina from the corner by the Aluxes Hotel to the car ferry
terminal. The existing rough pavement was to be replaced with attractive
stamped concrete. And to prevent unnecessary flooding during rainstorms, large drains
would be installed at regular intervals along the street. Well, the contractors
did lay the pretty new stamped concrete surface for the road.
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| Paradise |
Hasta luego
Lynda, Lawrie, Sparky, and Thomas
Murder and mayhem. Revenge and romance.
Join the adventure today.
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