Gustav reaches Cat 3
Posted Saturday, August 30, 2008

The Hurricane Gustav saga continues.
We here in Cozumel seem to have lucked
out and missed the bad part.
We are getting some rain and a little
wind, but nothing big.

Ferry schedules for today, Saturday, will
stop at 2pm just as a safety measure.
Water is kicking up a bit.

If there is no change of path, Gustav will
pass us by and move out into the Gulf.

Gustav Projections
Posted Friday, August 29, 2008

Gustav is about 33 hours from us as of now, 1PM on Friday,
August 29th. We do not expect more than some rain and wind.
We are waiting to see if there is a change in direction.

We remember 2005 when a storm much like this hit New Orleans
on this day just 3 years ago.

We are getting ready just in case we are in the path.
But we do not expect to take a direct hit here in Cozumel.

Airlines are offering no-cost ticket changes to customers who
have flights in the path of the storm. Please check
with your airline representative to see if you qualify for
this no-cost change.

Gustav Getting Closer
Posted Friday, August 29, 2008

We are still in the near miss track for Gustavo.
We will still get some winds and rain.
It may take another day before we know for
sure if we are going to have any major concerns
related to this storm.

Hurricane Gustav
Posted Thursday, August 28, 2008

HERE IS THE LATEST STORM ADVISORY:

Gustav closing in on Jamaica...

a Hurricane Warning is in effect for Jamaica.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Cuban province of
Granma.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for all of the Cayman Islands.

Interests in central and western Cuba should closely monitor the
progress of Gustav.

For storm information specific to your area...including possible
inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued
by your local weather office.

At 1100 am EDT...1500z...the center of Tropical Storm Gustav was
located near latitude 17.9 north...longitude 76.1 west or about 45
miles... 75 km...east of Kingston Jamaica and about 350 miles...560
km...east-southeast of Grand Cayman.

Gustav is moving toward the west near 5 mph...7 km/hr...and a
continued westward motion with a gradual increase in forward speed
is expected today. A turn toward the west-northwest and northwest
is forecast during the next couple of days. On this track...the
center of Gustav will move near or over Jamaica today and
tonight...and near or over the Cayman Islands Friday night.
Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph...110 km/hr...with higher
gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next couple of
days. Gustav could become a hurricane before moving over Jamaica.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles...95 km
from the center.

Hurricane Gustav
Posted Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Here is the latest projection.
It looks like we might have a near miss.
Still too early to tell.

Hurricane Gustav
Posted Tuesday, August 26, 2008

It is too early to tell yet about it, but Hurricane Gustav has intensified remarkably overnight, and it is getting ready to deliver a heavy blow to Haiti early this afternoon. It will be a Category 1 or 2 hurricane by then. Gustav intensified from a tropical depression at 11 am yesterday to a Category 1 hurricane last night in just 16 hours. That is fast!

Inauguration of New Common Market Building
Posted Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Today (Wednesday) July 30 is the inaugration day for the new Common Market or "Flea Market" building located on the plaza. Many of you who have been to Cozumel will be familiar with the structure located
on the back of the downtown plaza with the huge columns. That building has been around for a very long time and had become very weather worn. Some of the roof was damaged during Hurricane Wilma.

Well we now have a new place for the shop owners to show their
goods. It is sleek, new and a whole lot bigger than the old building.
Lots of room and very well designed.

I have put together a panorama 360 for you so you can see it for
yourselves. Take it for a spin.

If the panorama does not appear, download and install the plug-in viewer for your browser. After installation is complete, refresh your Internet browser. This is a big file so give it some time. Once the image appears, you can put the mouse pointer in the image and move "left", "right", "up", "down" and even zoom in when you see a magnifying glass icon. The new building is the big yellow and dark clay colored one towards the back of the plaza. Have Fun!!

Pet Contest Part 4
Posted Thursday, February 7, 2008

Finally I have the final part done to the Cozumel
Carnival 2008 Pet Contest !!

I hope you enjoy!!

More of the Pet Costume Contest
Posted Friday, February 1, 2008

Here is Part 3 of the Pet Costume Contest.
I have a whole lot of footage of this event
so there will definitely be a Part 4!!
Be sure to check back!!

Pet Costume Contest Part 2
Posted Thursday, January 31, 2008

Here is Part 2 of the Pet Costume Contest that took part a few days ago.
There will be a Part 3 so stay tuned!!

Cozumel Carnival 2008 Pet Contest
Posted Wednesday, January 30, 2008

On Sunday morning we watched the Pet contest here on the main plaza. There were a whole lot of contestants and their owners eager to show their stuff. But rather than tell you about it, you can watch it. Here is Part 1 of the Pet Contest - Carnival 2008 in Cozumel.

ENJOY !!!

Carnival 2008 !!
Posted Saturday, January 26, 2008

In case you don't know, Carnival 2008 started yesterday! The children's parade was cancelled, but all the kids got to show off their fancy dress at Moby Dick. It was great! I took allot of pics and video and I will be posting it on our photo and video site called:

http://ultimate-insider-travel-guide.com
Be sure to check it out.

Dog Adoption Parade in the Main Plaza
Posted Monday, November 5, 2007

Dear Friends of The Humane Society,

We are proud to inform you of our new Sunday
night Dog Adoption Parade in the Main Plaza,
downtown Cozumel.
Thanks to our volunteer Andrea who started the program,
we have adopted out one dog each week from the Humane
Society over the last month.

Many thanks to Andrea, one of our volunteers
who has hand made dog vests that say "Adopt me" in
Spanish and English.
She has organized collecting the dogs and kittens,
parading them in the Plaza and returning them to the
Humane Society a couple of hours later. Any parties
interested in adopting the animals in the Parade are
told to visit the Humane Society the next day and
fill out an adoption form, make their donation and
take their new friend home.

Thanks also to Lynda McCoy and Krista Steiner,
who have kindly purchased a "cat stroller" for the
cause. The kittens and puppies will now be placed in
a stroller that has a double-decker mesh carrier so
that the public can view the animals!

Andrea needs volunteers for Sunday evenings
between 6.30pm and 8.30pm to help parade the
animals. Please contact her at 878-8502(home)
or email her ...icuchickie@hotmail.com.....
if you can help.

Thank you all for your continuing donations
and support.....


The Humane Society of Cozumel
A Non-Profit Organization
Tel: From U.S.: 011-52-987-857-0849
Within Mexico: 987-857-0849
Website: www.humanecozumel.org
Email: pets@humanecozumel.org

What Documents Do You Need To Visit Mexico?
Posted Tuesday, June 12, 2007

OK Folks, if you are traveling by air, Here is the deal. If you are a US citizen who has applied for a passport in the US, but have not yet received your new passport, you can enter Mexico with:
A CERTIFIED copy of your birth certificate.
A valid photo ID such as a state or military issued ID
and
a copy of your passport application status letter which you can print out at: http://travel.state.gov/.
Go to the link that says:
Click Here for Proof of Passport Application

Enter in your info and print out your status letter.

If you do not present these documents to imigration upon entering Mexico, you will be turned away and sent back to the US.

So get your passport. Skip all the grief.
But if you have a trip and your passport is not ready, follow these instructions. Don't ruin your vacation!

Meetings For English speaking 12 Step Groups
Posted Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Several English speaking 12 step groups are now "open groups"
and welcome both island residents as well as island visitors.

The meetings are held on Ave 10 just South of Calle 5.
Climb up the iron spiral staircase and it will be first apartment
door on the second floor.

Meeting Schedule is as follows:
AA ( alcoholics anonymous) Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun - 6 pm
NA ( narcotics anonymous) Tues & Thursday 6 pm
Alanon Saturday 4 pm
Coda (Co dependents ) Saturday 11 am.

Open membership, no dues and self help...

The Monday Night Parade
Posted Tuesday, February 20, 2007

The Monday night parade was great!
I expect the Tuesday night grand finale to be even better!!
Lots of color and music.
Carnival is always wonderful entertainment.
This is just a short clip.
We will post more on Wednesday.

The Pet Parade - Cozumel, Mexico 2007 !
Posted Sunday, February 18, 2007

The Pet Parade is a fun part of Cozumel's Carnival activities.
This is a great way for local pet owners to show off their furry family members.
This was taken today, Feb. 18th at the main stage on Cozumel Plaza.
This is our video of the day.

Children's Dance Group at Cozumel Carnival 2007!
Posted Saturday, February 17, 2007

Cozumel Carnaval 2007 is underway! The dancers are out in force and everyone is having a great time! We will post here daily so check back and see the video of the day. After Carnaval 2007 is over, we will be posting a whole bunch of pics and videos so stay tuned!!

Here is the video of the day - February 17, 2007.

Potential Trump Investment in Cozumel
Posted Monday, February 12, 2007

I have to assume that by now, most people have heard the rumors of the possibility that the Trump family has an eye on Cozumel. The word is that Ivana and the son want to invest in a major real estate project here on the island. The project would be on the other side of the island. A whole lot of people are concerned that the environmental impact would be major. But on the flip side, the popularity of Cozumel as a major tourist destination could be realized once more.

At this time, there has been no deal made. The Trumps and the land owner have not struck a deal yet. Nothing is for sure.
But this project will be very upscale. It could bring hundreds of new jobs to the island.

There was a meeting with the Cozumel Mayor on Saturday, Feb. 10 in which he addressed this exact issue. You will see below the links to some video out-takes. The audio is a bit poor, but the jest is that the long term developement of Cozumel will depend on investors. And the plan will be broader than just the Trump investment. The Mayor said that there will be a projected additional 8000 rooms added here in Cozumel within the next 18 year, (projected developement time: 2025). The developement plan is large in scope.

We will keep you posted as we learn more on this.

The Holiday Decorations in Cozumel
Posted Friday, December 29, 2006

It is that time of year when Cozumel goes all out with the holiday decorations.
The tree in the plaza center is magnificent. It is towering over everything else
including the downtown plaza clock.

If you ever get the chance to be here during the Christmas/New Years Holidays,
you will definitely be pleased with the sites and sounds.

All Saints Day/All Souls Day
Posted Wednesday, November 1, 2006

Today (Nov. 1) and tomorrow (Nov. 2), Cozumel celebrates The Day of the Dead with dancing, music and food. Festivities started last night with a dance presentation and plenty of good eats. The party will continue tonight and tomorrow night with more celebration, dance and displays of ghoulish delights. This is a three day celebration rooted in Mayan tradition.

DATES FOR COZUMEL CARNIVAL 2007 !!
Posted Saturday, October 7, 2006

Carnival dates are Feb.14-21, 2007.
Here is the schedule for Carnival activities.

Wednesday February 14 - Opening of the Carnival Festivities
Friday February 16 - Dance Groups perform
Saturday February 17 - First Nightly Parade & Fancy dress contest
Sunday February 18 - Second Nightly Parade
Monday February 19 - Third Nightly Parade
Fat Tuesday February 20 - Last Nightly Parade

NOTE: All the parades will take place on the waterfront street.

HELP CLEANUP COZUMEL'S BEACHES
Posted Saturday, October 7, 2006

In an effort to cleanup the beach on the other side of the island, Yvonne Villiger of Guido's Pizza has created 'Proyecto Hormiga'-
The Ant Project. Yvonne is providing free jumbo trash bags to anyone going to the other side of the island and can spend time picking up trash left on our beaches. Once done, we asked that the knotted trash bag be left on the side of the road where Marine Park Rangers can pick them up.

Want to participate in this project and would like trash bags for the project? Please contact Yvonne.
869-1107 (home) or 872 0946 (office).
044-987-564-0338 (cell.)
Note that the rangers will only be looking for the jumbo trash bags.
We do not want people thinking they can dispose of their personal trash in this manner.

Thanks,

HELP FEED COZUMEL'S CHILDREN
Posted Saturday, October 7, 2006

DIF - the Mexican Government's Family Support Program - invites you to participate in supporting the breakfast program for school kids. Help make a difference in a child's ability to concentrate and learn by giving them a nutritious start to their day.

If you are interested in sponsoring a child, please contact Debbie at this phone number:
phone: 01152-987-872-0330.

The cost is only $100 pesos per month. (about $10 US per month)
Help a child pay attention to learning instead of hunger.

Thanks.

CHURCH SERVICES IN ENGLISH
Posted Saturday, October 7, 2006

For those of you who plan to visit Cozumel and wish to attend church services while on the island, you will be pleased to know that services are available in English every Sunday.
Feel free to join us on any Sunday at 9:00 am.
We are located at the crossing of Ave. 30 Norte & Calle 10.
We are an Inter-denominational Protestant Church offering services in English.

We look forward to seeing you there.

RED CROSS NEEDS YOUR HELP
Posted Saturday, October 7, 2006

The Cozumel Red Cross is seeking your help in obtaining supplies. They need syringes of all sizes, latex gloves, Ace style knee and ankle braces, stethoscopes, various anti-bacterial ointments and hydrogen peroxide.
If you are able to bring any of these supplies on your trip to Cozumel, the Red Cross will very much appreciate it.

Drop in and say hello.
See what you may be able to do to help.
Ask for Martha.

NOTICE ABOUT US CAR INSURANCE
Posted Saturday, October 7, 2006

ALL Americans should be aware that when you rent a car or scooter here in Cozumel, you cannot count on your US insurance to directly pay the bills in case of an accident. If you are involved in an accident, you will probably be detained until you can pay for the damages 'IN CASH' or by credit card. That includes all medical bills for yourself and the other parties involved. No one here will accept your US insurance. You must go back to the states and seek a re-imbursement from your insurance company.
All rental agencies offer insurance on their vehicles.
It is a very smart move to take it.

TOURIST CARD EXTENSION FEES
Posted Saturday, October 7, 2006

There is now a charge for all extensions on tourist cards.
Typically a 30 day limit is set at entry to Cozumel. If you choose to stay beyond the 30 day limit, the charge is $205 pesos per month of the extended stay. To receive an extension, you may be asked to show financial means before an extension would be granted. The time limit of an extension is at the discretion of the Mexican Imigration office. The maximum a tourist may stay in Mexico on one visit is 180 days. If you desire to stay longer than your tourist document is valid, be sure to go to imigration prior to the expiration date.

And whatever you do ...