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GoCozumel Vacation Rentals and Villas
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GoCozumel Monthly Newsletter, August 2007
Our newsletter is a personal look at the island, written by an American
who moved to Cozumel in May 2000.
Hurricane Dean did not hit Cozumel  |
When hurricane Dean headed toward the Yucatan Peninsula in late August, the U.S. media seemed to place a great deal of attention on Cozumel and Cancun (I watched the U.S. news here on Cozumel on cable). Even as it neared Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula, when all projections were for it to hit well south of this area, they continued to talk about Cozumel and Cancun. My guess is that the reason they focused on these areas is because of their tremendous popularity. These are areas in Mexico that people in the U.S. are the very familiar with. The newscasters and weathermen want to get viewers attention and to do that they kept talking about Cozumel and Cancun. |
The hurricane did hit about 140-150 miles south on the mainland of
Mexico not far from
Chetumal. We all took hurricane precautions here on Cozumel as you never know for sure what one will do, but I’m grateful to say that we had only a bit of wind and a little rain and some oceanfront areas lost a bit of sand while others gained some.
As people prepared for a possible hurricane I hear there were lines for gasoline about 3-4 days in advance but later there were no lines at all. I got gasoline on Sunday without waiting in line and they were allowing each vehicle to get 150 pesos worth of gas (a little less than $15 U.S). I could have gone back or to another gas station to get more, but that filled the tank to 3/4 full and that was plenty.
Late Monday night and Tuesday morning is did rain and the wind blew, but as far as I can tell we only got about 1-2 inches in all. I never lost electricity, phone, cable or internet service and I haven't talked to anyone that did. As far as I could tell, the only day when any businesses were closed was Tuesday, and that was only because they needed to take down their hurricane protectors, etc. I did see several restaurants open Tuesday afternoon. By Wednesday the ferry to the mainland was running again, I saw flights landing at the Cozumel airport and Wednesday the schools were back in session again. Along
with the beach photo above that I took on Wednesday, here are some of
the other photos I took Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday after
hurricane Dean missed us. There were kids playing soccer (on a
basketball court) the main square downtown and Las Palmeras restaurant
on the main waterfront street. Another beautiful day in paradise. |
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Carnaval Dates announced.
We did receive word from the American Consular office on Cozumel that the dates for Cozumel Carnaval in 2008 are from Wednesday, January 23 to Wednesday, January 30. The dates are one week earlier than originally anticipated, due to a conflict with Municipal and State elections. |
25% discount on luxury oceanfront private villa
Currently, there is a 25% discount on any weekly rentals for dates still
available in late September, October or November, 2007 at one of the
private, luxury oceanfront area villas. Currently, the dates still
available are between September 30 and October 13 and between October 20
and November 10, 2007. Please email specials@gocozumel.com for details
and ask about the oceanfront area villa with a 25% fall discount. |
Casa de Mujeres
There are plans to build a women’s shelter on Cozumel. There is a need for a safe haven for women and their children that have experienced abuse. The government of Cozumel has already given the organizing group the land, the plans have been drawn and when completed, the facility will be a large one with room for 30 women and up to 80 children. Once the shelter is built, we understand it will be the responsibility of the government of Cozumel to staff the shelter with the services needed, including doctors, counselors, job training, child care,
etc. As I learn more about the project, I will report more. |
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Local watering hole
Early in the morning I spotted this very nervous cat making a morning stop by my pool for a little sip. So far my pool has been a watering hole for cats, birds, inguanas (and who knows just what else) plus the frog that seems to think it’s his home. |
Remodeling downtown
The large building at the back of the main square that housed many stores (Plaza del Sol) is being completely remodeled. Those businesses that were in this building have been given temporary quarters in wooden building on the square, and remodeling work is proceeding.
As far as I can tell, work began in July.
As you are in the main square, facing the clock tower with your back to the ocean, this is the large 2 story building toward the left side of the back of the square. As work proceeds, I’ll get photos and add that to the September newsletter. |
Squash court
Go east on Ave. Juarez, and just past Ave. 65 (8 de Octobre) you’ll see the PemEx gas station on the left. Turn to the left on the street just before the gas station. In the next block on the left corner is the squash court. |
Mexican Independence Day
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September 16 celebrates the day in 1810 when Miguel Hidalgo, a Catholic priest in the village of Dolores delivered a speech now called El Grito de Dolores. A movement toward Mexican independence from centuries of Spanish rule had already been in progress, (particularly since Napoleon invaded Spain in 1808) but Hidalgos call to action in the pre-dawn hours of September 16, 1810 are said to be what actually began the Mexican War of Independence a war that lasted 10 years. |
Its been reported that among his words were
"Mexicanos, Viva Mexico" and "Viva la Independencia!" Independence Day celebrations all over Mexico begin at 11pm the night of September 15th and continue on September 16th.
Here on Cozumel there are usually fireworks that began late on the evening of the 15th and on the 16th there is usually a parade. Normally there are carnival rides in the evening set up in the area across from the Palacio Municipal. |
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EXCHANGE RATE
During August the exchange rate that we saw at the money exchanges and the banks when changing dollars into pesos on Cozumel varied from
10.6 to 10.65 pesos to the U.S. dollar.
Gracias y hasta luego,
Kathy at GoCozumel.com
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