 |
| Still standing 2010. |
A formerly intricate statue lay in a pile
of unrecognizable rust.
We had first seen the still upright-structure in September
2010, when we visited the sculpture garden located at the southern tip of Isla
Mujeres Mexico.
Reading the plaques at the base of each
statue we had noted the artists were from various European countries as well as
Mexico.
In 2010 many of the statues had
weathered the abuse of salt, water, and wind but two or three had already collapsed.
 |
| Same statue - September 2018 |
From what I remember, the garden was
created a few years earlier with the intention of the showcasing metal sculptures
the first year, wooden statues the second year, glass creations the third year.
But according to my local source the original artists didn’t get paid and the
entire project came to an abrupt halt.
A few weeks ago I decided to take Sparky
for a walk, and see how the sculptures were holding up. Not well in many cases.
 |
| Sparky - September 2018 |
Neither have the wooden railings that line
the pathway leading down to the famous, if somewhat battered sign declaring the
location as the most eastern point in Mexico.
This is the first place in Mexico
the rising sun strikes. The location where still-partying New Year’s Eve
revelers toast the dawn of the new-year.
I have many photographs of the railings,
painted a brilliant turquoise blue, then black, and then a muddy brown. Now the
railing are almost non-existent, broken or missing altogether.
 |
| Punta Sur railings - 2012 |
This is Mexico. You are responsible for your
own actions. You can’t sue anyone if you get hurt. I repeatedly remind visiting family members
not to lean on railings, any railings, there is no guarantee that they will hold
your weight. The inside of the wooden
railings could be hollowed out by termite infestations, but painted to look
pretty.
This country’s safety standards are
somewhere back in the 1940’s or 50’s as far as most North Americans are concerned.
In a weird way I find it refreshing as opposed to the over-protective, litigation-prone
society that we left behind.
 |
| September 2018 - statue garden |
The southern tip of the island is also
famous for two more things – it is the highest area in the exceptionally flat
State of Quintana Roo, and it has an authentic Mayan ruin probably used as a lighthouse
or watchtower structure.
The centuries old ruin has survived storms, salt, and
water far better than the modern day metal sculptures.
 |
| May 2018 - Mayan ruin in background |
~
Isla Mujeres Mystery series
A big thank you to one of my favourite authors, Jinx Schwartz for her review of
Tormenta Isla, Book #3 in the Isla Mujeres Mystery series:
Jinx Schwartz
Author @JinxSchwartz Click here to connect to Jinx
Recommended
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Action-packed Easy-to-read Entertaining Page-turner
Action-packed Easy-to-read Entertaining Page-turner
 |
| Photo credit - Linda Madden |
Tormenta Isla:
Murder and mayhem on a tiny island in paradise (Isla Mujeres Mystery Book 3)
Lynda L. Lock
.Crime Fiction, Action And Adventure
A mysterious disappearance of a local man and the looming threat of hurricanes headed towards the peaceful Caribbean island of Isla Mujeres create havoc in the lives of Jessica and her rescue mutt, Sparky.
Available on Amazon, Nook, Kobo, iBooks and paperback here on the island or via Amazon.
