Dirty clothes and forbidden activities

"The dirty laundry" became the whispered subject of ridicule among the local businessmen and their wives in the late 1800s.

The Dirty Laundry Vineyards is a short drive from the original laundry business, which was located near the steamship wharf in Summerland. The back story is so intriguing that no one cares that wine and wine touring were not a 'thing' a hundred or more years ago.

Brought with thousands of his countrymen from China to Canada to do the back-breaking labour of laying the CPR railroad tracks, one man soon realized the work was akin to forced labour. He left to start his own business, a laundry service for the many single men working in the area.

Some would agree he catered to a niche market.

The upstairs waiting room at the laundry in Summerland, BC, was a place where the working men could get their clothes cleaned and enjoy an illicit drink, play a game of cards, or spend time in the company of a woman. 

The consumption of alcohol was frowned upon by the upstanding citizens of the day and had to be purchased from the Hudson's Bay Company in Vernon, then shipped 60 miles south to Summerland on the lake steamers. The trade supplied the local men, plus the fur traders, cattlemen, goldminers, and railway labourers. The Sunday-school children of the time were taught to recite this odd little ditty;

"We don't like tobacco, and surely we think that all those who use it are more apt to drink." 

My friend Sharon Hickey and I popped up to the Dirty Laundry Vineyards on a warm Friday afternoon for pizza and wine on their outdoor patio. With the COVID-19 protocols enforcing social distancing between tables, the restaurant was busy and had a waitlist of guests. We didn't have to wait too long, just enough time to browse the fun merchandise in the company store. 

The restaurant concept is self-serve, with one kiosk for ordering freshly made pizza, another for beer, and a third for wine to enjoy with the food. The view from the patio overlooks the vineyards, the remnants of the Kettle Valley Railway, and Okanagan Lake. The food was great, the atmosphere relaxing, and the wine good. 

My semi-famous pooch, Sparky, had to stay home and sulk in the cool comfort of our air-conditioned apartment. 

The YouTube video posted on The Dirty Laundry Vineyards' webpage has a fun mention of the morals of the late 1800s. 

Have a look!  https://www.dirtylaundry.ca/our-story

An afternoon at the Dirty Laundry is a pleasant way to spend a few hours chatting and sipping wine. We didn't see any women of ill repute, but we did notice a suspicious amount of lacy lingerie hung out to dry.

Cheers, Lynda & The Sparkinator

Murder and mayhem. Revenge and romance. 

Available in online book stores

Isla Mujeres, Mexico’s luckiest island!

Sunset looking towards Cancun.   

Luckiest island? Just because we are blessed with amazing beaches, fabulous restaurants, and gracious people?

Yes, but also because this year we dodged several natural disasters that devastated our surrounding neighbours. 2017 has been a hyperactive hurricane season in the Caribbean Sea with seventeen named storms, including Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irma, Jose, Katia, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, and Rina.

Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Nate were projected to ride right over our little sandbar of an island. Thankfully, both storms changed their travel plans, leaving us in peace. Our neighbours in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Cuba, Belize, Guatemala, and Puerto Rico were unfortunately subjected to the wrath of several big storms this year.

Earthquakes in September 2017

In September, Mexico suffered a series of devastating earthquakes on the Pacific coast and in central Mexico. Hundreds of people died in the huge quakes. The communities are still in recovery mode, with unstable buildings and damaged infrastructure. 

Thankfully, we don’t seem to be in an earthquake zone here on the Caribbean side of Mexico. 

Most of the quakes are concentrated further out where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, near Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and the Virgin Islands.

Local policewoman and her daughter

On the more personal side of living on Isla Mujeres, we have a very low crime rate. Most of the problems are crimes of opportunity. A purse snatched. A pocket picked. A camera or electronic device taken from tourists in a rental property. With 16,000 residents and two million visitors a year, the opportunities abound for thieves. They prey on people who assume that since this is a small island, they do not have to worry about any crime. Well, you do have to take precautions. Keep track of your valuables. Use the safes supplied in your accommodation for your passports, extra cash, and electronic devices. Lock your doors when leaving your lodging, even if you are just going out for a few minutes. Don’t leave any small electronic devices out on display. Someone will take them.

Sunrise on the eastern side of the island

And sadly, you should be aware of the possibility of sexual assault. Twice in recent weeks, a young woman has successfully fought off an attacker.

But on the upside of living here, the weather is nearly-perfect, the environment is healthy, and the municipality tries to provide a variety of cultural experiences for everyone. 

There is an abundance of beaches, restaurants, and bars, plus ethnic activities on most weekends in Centro. The Artist Fairs, located at the Casa de Cultura, are back in operation starting this week. The plan is for every second Thursday, but will likely change to weekly as the high-season tourist traffic increases.

Folk Dancers in Centro

We have a reasonably good police force, and the large comforting presence of the huge navy base across from the passenger ferries. 

It’s nice to know those folks live here year-round, providing extra security, search and rescue for lost boats, and occasionally emergency medical evacuations. 

The two navy drug-sniffing dogs and their handlers frequently greet the passenger boats or car ferries, checking for contraband. We enjoy watching the dogs work.

Navy dogs and handlers at the ferry terminal

So yes, we think Isla Mujeres is the luckiest island in Mexico. 

It’s a beautiful island with friendly locals and resident foreigners. 

(That’s us! Resident foreigners.)

Cheers from paradise

Lynda, Lawrie, Sparky, and Max

Isla Mujeres Mystery Series

Here's the link to Mujeres Mystery Series - L. L. Lock