Sunday, September 30, 2018

It’s a sweet, sweet life living by the salty sea – unless it’s metal!!

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

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.

Friday, September 7, 2018

Paradise Lost - Lawrie Lock March 3rd 1942 - September 3rd 2018


Lawrie and I smooching at Sergio's
Lawrie discovered as a teenager that dancing was the best way to make a girl fall in love!
Anne Murray: Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
We danced to this song on our wedding day

I'll always remember, the song they were playing
The first time we danced, and I knew
As we swayed to the music, and held to each other
I fell in love with you

Could I have this dance, for the rest of my life
Could you be my partner, every night
When we're together, it feels so right
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life

I'll always remember, that magic moment
When I held you close, to me
As we moved together, I knew forever
You're all I'll ever need

Could I have this dance, for the rest of my life
Could you be my partner, every night
When we're together, it feels so right
Could I have this dance, for the rest of my life



Lawrie dancing with the carnival troupe
Elmo-Lawrie dancing and waving at local kids





Lawrie and daughter-in-law Maia


Michelle Wright - another favourite

I just realized tonight
You're not like all the others
Till now I never wanted love I only wanted lovers
Now me and you have things to do
And no time to be wrong
'cause life is just a circle and the circle ain't that long

You get one time around
One roll of the dice
One walk through the garden
One quick look at life
The time that you lose
Can never be found
The world keeps turning
You get one time around
You get one time around


Lawrie and his sister Linda Grierson
Brother in law Richard and Lawrie
John (Travolta) Lawrie Lock 

Dance on my love, dance on!



Peddling my butt around town!

              Yesterday I bought my 5 th bicycle, a fancy e-bike that will transport me to new adventures. Its less expensive predecessors ...