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:

 Click here to purchase

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.