Log Updates from Valentina



	April 28, 2006 Isla Mujeres	Crossing the Yucatan Channel with the very strong north current is very challenging. As you leave Cuba, it progressively gets stronger until you reach the Yucatan. At the strongest current, the wind had dropped to 5 knots. Normally we can motor 6 knots, but in this strong current, we were motor/sailing and could not make but between .7 to 2 knots progress for about 20 miles. We arrived at Isla Mujeres around 10 a.m. this morning. It was such a welcome sight after three days at sea. We checked into Customs and Immigration. We ate some flautas and a taco at the vendor on the square. It was very spicy, but good.
	April 29, 2006	We ran around town today and bought a few groceries at the local market. We ate fajitas at a local restaurant. It was very good. We ate in the evening with Roberto and Ane on their boat. Ane had prepared some of the fish they had caught along the way. It was very nice. The anchorage here is the best we have had so far. Nice, consistent wind, not crowded, and easy access to dinghy docks.
	April 30, 2006	We rented a golf cart today with Roberto and Ane. It was 450 pesos, or $45 for all day. We went all over the island on it. Here is a family we passed along the way. No car seats? We snorkeled at one stop and Kay got stung by a Portuguese-man-of-war on her lip close to her snorkel mask and also on her arms. It hurt.......her lip was still numb at night. We put vinegar on it, which helps, but it still stung. The snorkeling was in rough water and good, but, not the best we have seen. Communicating with our new Argentina buddies is challenging, but rewarding. Roberto was telling a story of when they were in Cuba and had Annie's "doctor" come visit them. Sonny asked, "You had Annie's doctor come visit you in Cuba?" Roberto said, "Oh, No, No.....not Doctor, it was her daaaaughter!"...... They are attempting to help us learn Spanish, and we are attempting to teach them "Texan". They said they can speak three languages now, Spanish, English, and Texan. We met two other couples on S/V Valhalla from Fort Meyers, Jim and Connie, and crew members Jay and Kathy. Connie reminds us a lot of Donna Bartley on "S/V Breaking Wind". See what you think. Connie of S/V Valhalla is talking to Roberto on S/V Deux Pieds, Rob and Donna Bartley are below. At 5 p.m., our buddies wanted to go to mass at the Catholic Church on the square. There was a wedding before the mass, so we all went to the wedding and mass. We sat on the back row in our shorts and t-shirts. The wedding was a high society family and lots of very beautiful Mexican women in attendance. It was fun to be a part of it.
	May 1, 2006	We caught a taxi early this morning and went to the Avalon Hotel with Roberto and Ana. It is the one in the photo at the top of this page. We went to hear the time-share spill to receive a free day on the golf cart to cruise around the island, t-shirts and breakfast. Normally, we would not even consider it, but, hey, we are retired and have time to say "no" and get the goodies.. So, we did. The resort is very nice, but not an option for us. We went to the end of the island to the Mayan ruins and lighthouse and to eat at a restaurant we found yesterday where they grill these huge fish on an open fire. I must say, it looked better than it actually tasted. There were lots of bones in the fish.
	May 2, 2006	We took the ferry to Cancun today to pay our customs fees. You have to go to 3 different places in Isla, then to the Bank here, then to the Bank in Cancun to clear in. Today, we just found out you have to import your boat for more paperwork, but, you have to do that 15 miles south of Cancun.........what an ordeal..........we waited in line at the bank in Cancun today for 2 hours. Crazy...........we still do not like Cancun.
	May 4, 2006	We have dinghied into town to have our clothes washed and update the internet. Here is a couple that are in the same place everyday on our way. They are nephew/aunt. She has diabetes and cannot see. Later we went to a restaurant for lunch. Of course, Kay had guacamole.....and every day meal since w/e have been here. After leaving the restaurant, we had 2 hours to wait for our clothes to be ready, so we just walked around, went to the grocery store and then realized, "We do not have our laptop!" So, we rushed back to the restaurant where we ate, and just knew our waiter would say, "No....no, senór, no bag at your table....." but, he just smiled and said, "Se, se......" Whew! We were so lucky and thankful. Needless to say, he received a great tip! And we received a great lesson!
	May 5, 2006	Cinco de Mayo in Mexico...........we will go to town to see the festivities. Before we leave here, we are going to get some of the Nexium (purple) pills for Sonny. We can get the Nexium for $1 per pill. That is cheaper than we could get it with insurance in the states. It is a generic brand, but, works for him just as good, or better. We are going to prepare to head down the coast pretty quick.
	May 6, 2006	We attended Larry "Nexus" 47th birthday party on their beautiful power boat, along with all of the other cruisers in the anchorage. Larry and DeeDee have a gorgeous four year old girl, Isabella and have been cruising for several years and plan to go through the Panama and to the Pacific.
	May 7, 2006 Puerto Morelos, MX	After the morning net, we prepared the boat to go to Puerto Morelos, about 20 miles south of Cancun. We went to the gas dock in a whirling wind and topped off the diesel and water and headed south at about 10:30 a.m. We had 20 knot winds and 4-5' seas. South of Cancun, the seas and swells became much bigger and we were cruising at about 6 knots. We arrived at Puerto Morelos and anchored by 5:30 p.m. A good sail...but, we were pooped.
	May 8, 2006	We got on the list to talk to Customs to get the "Importado" for the boat. We were number three, so it did not take us that long. We received the papers so we will be clear for the boat to be in Mexico for the next 10 years. Paperwork....When we got back to town, we saw "Valhalla" coming into the harbor, so we met them and showed them how to get to the Customs office. Then, we saw "Deux Pieds" on the horizon and they made it in. We went to snorkel on the reef. Lots of pretty fish.....great snorkeling! We walked about the shops and met this lady sewing with a pedal machine. We all met in town for dinner for the evening. It was a nice, local restaurant. Jim and Connie (S/V Valhalla), Sonny and Kay, Jim and Kathy (S/V Alborada) and Anne and Roberto (S/V Deux Pieds)
	May 9, 2006	We woke up this morning and waved goodbye to "Valhalla" on their way south. Hopefully, we will see them again in Cozumel. We went ashore and ate breakfast with Roberto and Anne "Deux Pieds" and then they went snorkeling and Sonny and I walked the beach. We saw these two guys kite surfing and happened to get a photo of one jumping in the air. We walked several miles, until we came to a resort. We walked in and it was just beautiful. We saw a wedding, swam in the swimming pool, ate a hamburger and had a drink. What a fun afternoon. We acted like we were guests there. It was fun.
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