After several weeks of little interaction with other cruisers, we have been very happy to mingle!

When Lucy and John (Maraka) came by to welcome us to Isla Mujeres last week (and, we suspect, to find out who these folks were who had anchored near them!) we eagerly invited them aboard for sundowners. Good thing they accepted, because they were fountains of information and really nice folks! The VHF radio net is on channel 13 at 8:15 every morning and Captain John gives a good weather forecast. The best place to get a sim chip is from Adrian – don’t even bother trying the Telephone company or the grocery stores. The time is an hour later here (that was really good to discover!)

We knew David and Elizabeth (formerly on Patience I) were staying at El Milagro, so we popped by there to say hello. We met them 4 years ago when we stayed at there on our way down and it was great to see them again. We have since enjoyed several get togethers – mostly involving delicious food at their casita, and at Justicia Social as well as tea on Madcap. We hear that Justicia Social will be open for only another month – so disappointing because it is one of our favourites. It is part of the Fishermen’s Co-op and has very fresh seafood at good prices. We’ll have to go back lots while we are here!

When we heard James and Dee (Karma I, from Halifax) check in on the radio one morning, it rang a bell and I remembered that we had exchanged messages a few years ago when we were coming and going from the Rio Dulce. Sure enough, we found them at Marina Del Sol, and had a lovely catch-up conversation.

Zach and Mia (Agape III) are next to us on the dock at Puerto Isla Mujeres, and they came for sundowners one evening – and gifted us with some lovely mahi mahi fillets. They are from Charlottetown and I expect we will be leapfrogging with them as our boats make their way up the coast.

And in a few days, we will see Tom and Michelle at their Isla Mujeres home. We met them at El Milagro on the way down as well. They aren't cruisers but were staying at the hotel then and we have kept in touch.

We have had a couple of lunches at Bally Hoo – both good fresh grilled fish or shrimp, pizza from Oscar’s, and Caesar salad and grouper burgers at Bahia Tortuga. There is no shortage of good, affordable food here, and with lots of boats in the marinas and the anchorages, no shortage of folks to share it with either.

Can you tell we're sounding happier? maybe food, maybe friends, maybe peace of mind - maybe all of them. We are enjoying this place now!

(This photo is at Justicia Social with David - Elizabeth is the photographer)