A Ride Around The Island

The Caribbean side of the island is usually quite windy and dangerous which is why you don't often see boats on that side that are at all close to the island. However we had a calm day this week and Ariel-owner of Sea Hawk Dive Shop, took us for a ride around our little 6 mile long by 1 mile wide island. It was a treat to be sure. Not only was it a wonderful ride but Ariel is a great story teller. Fore instance the island used to be (and could still be) a place for human trafficking. Now I am not clear on if we were talking Cubans being illegally taken to the US or if we were talking women sold for not so good purposes....but they would bring the folks to Isla, give them clothing and cameras so that they looked like tourists, take them to Cancun and somehow or another they would get on a plane to the states. Now the fella on Isla that 'ran' the trafficking wanted out. Rather than let him out he was killed. Ariel was kind enough to show us the house that this took place in. Interesting huh?

This however is not the house but is on of the nicer houses on the Cancun side of the island



And Bugs, this is the Crystalmar....kids this is where we all stayed when you all came with us that year.On the windy side looking at the Avalon

An abandoned ship that has been sitting there forever it seems

This is the water side of our Cuban restaurant that I posted about the other day

Punta Sur with Cancun showing in the background
Ariel rigged up two fishing poles in hopes of snagging a couple of Barracuda. Well as is usual with David it was nada...no fish not even a bite! The other fella is our Isla friend Dick
And this is his wife Jean at the helm of the boat...while Ariel makes a hat!
'That way?' Jean wonders!
Ariel baiting the hooks

And back on land. These palapas were put up especially for the new hotel on the island. One for the rich folks!
The islanders call them the privileged and by golly that is the name of the hotel!

Is this Vegas?????
Pretty fancy digs huh?
Oh well the island is still a jewel even with the privileged. Its not like they hang out with the rest of us!