| Isla Mujeres The Perks of Civilization |
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| Thursday, 27 May 2004 | |
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Isla Mujeres: The Perks of Civilization International Living / Mexico Ron Brown, real estate agent on Isla Mujeres off the northeast coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, tells us there are pros and cons to island living….mostly pros, of course. In addition to the beautiful weather, warm, clear Caribbean water, delicious seafood and political stability of Mexico, Ron says his favorite thing about living on Isla Mujeres is the lifestyle. Ron calls it ‘laid back’ and attributes it to the agreeable (usually) mañana attitude enjoyed by Mexicans. They’ll be there in an emergency, but if it’s something that can wait until tomorrow, why not? Ron plays tennis every morning, and he says the camaraderie and fellowship between locals and foreigners alike on the island is a huge plus in his mind. Recently, fundraisers for the local humane society and island medical clinic have brought folks together to eat, drink and make merry. No matter how good…or bad…a musician you are, Ron says, your efforts are appreciated by the island’s small community. So what are the cons? According to Ron, the biggest downsides to island living are that Isla Mujeres is a very small community…just 15,000 inhabitants…so, of course, everyone knows your business. Like many places in Latin America, it is difficult, but not impossible to get landline telephone service and therefore, an Internet connection. (This is true for new homes. If you buy an existing home, chances are it will come with phone service.) And because the island is small, sometimes you get tired of sunning, snorkeling, diving, playing tennis or socializing with your friends. That’s when you head for Cancun and turn that con into a pro. Every two weeks, Ron and his wife, Gwen, hop on the local ferry and in about 30 minutes, they are in the world-class tourist destination of Cancun. No, they don’t go there to do touristy things. But to visit the local Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club for supplies not available on the island. They also have an Italian deli that they frequent. But their favorite stop in Cancun is at the VIP Cinemas in Plaza las Americas. Ron tells us the theatres feature blue leather Lazy-Boy recliners, and…best of all...a concession stand that offers sandwiches, sushi, crepes and cocktails. Too lazy to get out of your recliner? If so, there’s waiter service. On Wednesdays, a movie for two costs 50 pesos…less than $5.
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Note: Suzan Haskins and Dan Prescher write about living in Mexico – with a focus on real estate and investment opportunities – for International Living magazine and for their subscription-based web site, 
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