“Long live Art, Love and Freedom!” Muralist, Barbara Siebenlist

Mural across from Casa Sirena Hotel 

Barbara describes herself as a nomad, a self-taught painter, a tattoo artist, and a muralist. 

Her creations on Isla Mujeres are all vastly different and stunningly beautiful pieces of art, many containing a message from the artist to the viewer.

Photo provided by Barbara Siebenlist 

One painting is splashed across the white, curved building that overlooks the malécon, across the street from Casa Sirena Hotel. It is an eye-catching collage of underwater creatures, land inhabitants, and two dark-skinned beauties. To my eye, the partially submerged goddess on the right represents Mother Earth, with fish swimming around her shoulders and lizards adorning her hair. 

Mural on Poc Na Hostel - L. Lock photo

Another mural with a diving theme flows along the street-side wall of Poc Na Hostel. 

Fish, jellyfish, and sharks float past the divers. The ocean inhabitants swim among discarded plastic bottles, aluminum beer cans, and plastic bags. 

Poc Na mural Photo from Barbara Siebenlist

In the centre of one diver’s regulator is the green-arrowed symbol for recycling. Clever!

Two other murals decorate the inside refuge for stray kittens and the main entrance at Clinica Veterinaria, locally known as Delfino’s.  Grinning cats, big-eared pups, and wide-eyed kittens play amongst colourful wildflowers and butterflies. Their expressions seem to say, “Please give me a home and love me forever.”

Clinica Veterinaria - L. Lock photo

Born in the city of Viale, Entre Ríos, Argentina, Barbara’s passion for art began as a young child; it was her form of refuge, her secret obsession. 

After finishing her high school education, Barbara went on to study medicine. 

With little time for anything but studying and classes, Barbara let her artistic talents lie dormant for a number of years. 

In 2008, around the time that she first discovered Isla Mujeres, she created her first island mural for the Poc Na Hostel.

Clinica Veterinaria - L. Lock photo

For Barbara, capturing images on murals allows her to convey her message to the public. Her creations are not locked inside museums or art galleries for a few people to enjoy. They are outside, available to all who pass by. Her paintings help her to continue traveling, discovering new stories, and ideas for future murals.

In a month, she will be leaving Isla again, going on a trip.  But as she says, “I never go, I always come back.”

We’ll be waiting to see what’s next from Barbara Siebenlist and her dazzling creations.

Hasta Luego  

Lynda, Lawrie, & Sparky

Death in the Vineyards

or

Isla Mujeres Mystery series

Grab your copies today!

The evolution of Bobo’s almost gourmet Bar & Grill

Bobo's Bar & Grill on Matamoras in Centro

Bobo’s Bar & Grill started as a pocket-sized, take-out location on Isla Mujeres; a place with fish so fresh it was swimming an hour before it hit the plate, and chips so yummy we couldn’t stay on our diets.

Now it’s a two-level eatery that spills out onto the street, with a quirky wooden sign ‘torn’ in half. 

On one building, the sign reads Bo, and on the adjacent building, Bo’s. The sign is a humorous improvisation to placate a neighbour.

Cocktail time with friends

In the summer of 2009, Brian Kerr leased the former location of Lolo Rapido on Matamoras Avenue in Centro. Employed as a wine sommelier at Sutton Place in Vancouver, BC, Brian discovered this little piece of paradise while on vacation. He decided to take the plunge, to be an entrepreneur. Isn’t that every man’s fantasy? To be self-employed on a tropical island in the Caribbean Sea?

In the beginning, the business was primarily take-out, until Brian managed to squeeze a couple of tables and eight chairs along the edge of the narrow, busy street.  Then he expanded to a neighbouring property to add a bar and additional seating, and the two-part Bobo’s sign. 

The newest expansion upper level

A year later, Ben Coleman and his partner, Vicki Dupuy, became entwined with island life. The boy from Birmingham, Alabama, and the girl from New Orleans had originally met at a Saints football game in her hometown.  

Both worked for AT&T, Ben in outside sales and Vicki as a manager. Frequent visitors to Isla Mujeres and regular patrons at Bobo’s, they struck up a friendship with Brian Kerr.

One Sunday afternoon, while immersed in the warm Caribbean water at Playa Norte, near Fenix Restaurante, Vicki asked Ben that life-changing question.

“Why can’t we live here six months a year?”

Almost gourmet!

Becoming partners with Brian Kerr in 2013, Ben and Vicki moved to Isla Mujeres and became full-time islanders. Bobo’s Bar & Grill went through another transformation. 

The rooftop junk-collecting, storage area was converted into comfortable open-air seating. More stools were added along the upper edge, giving patrons a view of the action on Matamoras Avenue.  The kitchen was re-done, and the downstairs bar was enlarged.

Next, mixologist Lory Manzo was hired to update the beverage menu and train the bar staff. Bright and bold murals were painted by islander Barbara Siebenlist Palomar.  

Summertime special drink

And on Wednesdays and Fridays, live music is provided by The Caribbean Beats Band. With the recent addition of Chef Nick Altringer from Minneapolis, the modest little fish and chip take-out has become, in Ben’s words, almost gourmet, and a very happening place. 

Check out their signature drinks and their tasty new menu. We’re still fans of the fresh fish and chips.

Hasta Luego

Lynda, Lawrie, and Sparky

Isla Mujeres Mystery series

Grab your copy today!