*** Cozumel Capers...
Other Hurricane preparations........
As Ivan approached, everyone on the island prepared for it. Here is just a couple of interesting
tidbits as to what was going on during that time.
Ferry Service - Saturday night, as the wind started picking up, the ferry service was limited. And
then by Sunday at 9 am, the Mexico boats left to go to their safe marina and by 12 noon, the new
Ultramar boats terminated their ferry service as well.
The Dolphins - Dolphin Discovery, located in Chankanaab Park, moved their dolphins to the pool of
the Hotel Cozumel (previously the Fiesta Inn as well as Las Brisas) - all 17 of them !! I am not sure
where the sea lions were taken though, but they were supposed to have been evacuated as well. The
new Atlantida which opened about a month or so ago built a pool in the convention center and moved
all of their dolphins in there.
Grocery Stores - they never closed!! All of them boarded up but they were still open for business.
Traffic Lights - With strong winds, all of the traffic lights needed to be tied down. For 2 days we
were without traffic lights (memories of a time forgotten!! HA! HA!) and they were all rotated and
tied to neighboring trees or buildings, etc.
Coconuts - Do you know what a great projectile that coconuts make with hurricane force winds??
The city had to come around and cut down all of the coconuts of the trees before the storm hit !
PLG is closed and being redone........
Plaza Las Glorias has now been closed for about 1 month and there is some serious remodeling
going on there. They have taken out one of the ground floor shops and created a passage way
through to the beach for all of the workers to use. Tons of stuff has been coming out. I hope
that soon we will get a glimpse of what will be going in !
The new bowling alley........
It's true, really. The bowling alley is almost open. Yes, this has been the talk of the town for
almost a year now - "the bowling alley is going to be open in just a couple of more months." Well,
the day has finally come. Stacey, the owner, confirmed for me that the lanes were actually being
laid into place these last 2 weeks, and testing should have started.... oh, about 2 days before Ivan
came by. There may be a couple of days delay, but by the end of the month, the grand opening for
Cozumel's newest activity will happen. This is a big plus for us divers on days when the weather is
just not cooperating with the diving, or when it is raining, there is now another activity that we can
do here in Cozumel.
*** 
Whale Sharks...
Most of you already have heard about this magnificent phenomena, the whale sharks that come
and feed or of the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. During this past season (Jun 15 -
Sept 10), Scuba Shack organized 8 trips to go and snorkel these magnificent animals. Most of the
trips were day trips from Cozumel to Isla Mujeres and back (a very long but doable day) and the
last trip was an over night trip to Holbox - a tiny island located along the northern tip of the
peninsula. I personally went on all 8 of the trips, and this last trip was really great because
we were very lucky. In additional to snorkeling with the whale sharks, we also saw manta rays !!!
And they were gorgeous. There were big ones that usually swam individually - huge with about
a 10 foot wing span, and there were schools of small ones, around 25 - 30 young with about a 3 foot
wing span. In addition, there were schools, huge schools of millions of bonito 
fish. It was very easy to see where the schools were located because they are all jumping out of
the water - just short jumps right at the surface. And if you were quiet, it sounded like a downpour
of rain. And when you jumped in the water, they swam by you - millions and millions. It was truly an
amazing experience. And combined with the whale sharks, a truly memorable experience. Ask
Carmen - she came down to get certified and before we even got her in the water, Izzy whisked her
away to see the oceans biggest fish !!!!!
*** CARNIVAL 2005
Just another reminder for everyone since we are welcoming all of the newcomers, the official dates
for Carnival this year are NOT going to correspond with the actual dates. Yes, it is election year
again, and during elections, it is prohibited the sell of alcohol (who ever heard of a carnival without
beer ?!?!?!). So, Carnival dates are being adjusted, and will be the week after Ash Wednesday, or the
first week of Lent. Feb 9 with be the first official day of the Carnival party week, with the parades
being held the following Sat, Sun and Tues., Feb 12, 13 and 15 !!!!! Mark your calendars so that you
can plan accordingly - YEAH BABY !!!
*** Restaurant Reviews:
Here are some new restaurants that we have tried lately. You may already know them
but we think they are so good that they are worth mentioning.
Casa Mission - Located on Juarez (the street that runs to the other side of
the island) somewhere around 50 (the taxi will know which street exactly). The setting
is a Hacienda style house with the huge veranda - really nicely decorated. And the
food, well, I have to admit, it was really good. I have never been a fan of the Mission
restaurants, but the food was great. Filet Mignon - excellent, really great chile relleno,
superb fish. And the grounds are beautiful (although I am still against the fact that
they have caged lions !). But the restaurant was really good and it should be
recommended. And the prices are reasonable, not overly inflated but not local prices
either. This one gets - 5 
Miss Dollar 
- Located on 20th Ave, between 3rd Street and Salas.
From the waterfront, that would be the block between Pepe's Grill and the Calling Station.
This is a fantastic comida corrida restaurant, which is the Mexican form of fast food.
Meals are served from 12 till 11 PM, much later than any of the other comida corrida places,
and the food is great and the prices are very affordable. Every meal begins with soup, and
there are usually 2 types: 1 cream based and 1 broth based. Their cream of broccoli is
superb. And all meals are served with the something to drink. They have prepared jamaica,
or iced tea, or lemonade, etc. soft drinks are extra. They have very good shrimp fajitas,
or more traditional mexican dishes as well. Good food, nice prices - we give this one 4
*** September 16...Viva Mexico! 
The Story of Hidalgo’s Call for Mexican Independence
Shortly before dawn on September 16, 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo made a monumentous
decision that revolutionized the course of Mexican history. Within hours, Hidalgo, a Catholic
priest in the village of Dolores, ordered the arrest of Dolores’ native Spaniards. Then Hidalgo
rang the church bell as he customarily did to call the Indians to mass. The message that Hidalgo gave
to the Indians called them to retaliate against the hated native Spaniards who had exploited and
oppressed Mexicans for ten generations. Although a movement toward Mexican Independence
had already been in progress since Napoleon's conquest of Spain, Hidalgo's passionate declaration
was a swift, unpremeditated decision. "Mexicanos, VIVA MEXICO !!" Hidalgo told the Mexicans
who were the members of New Spain's lowest caste. He urged the exploited and embittered Mexicans
to recover the lands that were stolen from their forefathers.
The plan for revolution did not originally focus on the manpower of the Mexicans. Rather, they
sought to avoid military confrontation by convincing army officers to sever their allegiance to the
Spaniards. By claiming loyalty to the defeated King Ferdinand, the Indians aimed to establish
Mexico as an independent nation within King Ferdinand's Spanish empire. The Spaniards who
claimed authority under Bonaparte's rule would be driven out of Mexico. Hidalgo had close ties
with this revolutionary group. Approaching sixty years of age, Hidalgo was a well-educated and
courageous humanitarian who was beloved and greatly respected by Mexicans. He was sympathetic
to the Indians, which was unusual amongst Mexican clergymen. Hidalgo taught Indians to plant
olives, mulberries and grapevines and to manufacture pottery and leather. His actions irritated the
Spanish viceroy who, as a punitive measure, cut down Hidalgo's trees and vines.
His decision to call the exploited groups to revolution completely changed the character of
the revolution. The movement became a bloody class struggle instead of a shrewd political maneuver.
When Hidalgo called the Indians to action, he tapped into powerful forces that had been simmering
for over three hundred years. With clubs, slings, axes, knives , machetes and intense hatred, the
Indians took on the challenge of the Spanish artillery. When the Indian and mestizo forces, reached
the next village en route to Mexico city, they acquired a picture of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the
patron saint whose image was of a woman of color. The Virgin of Guadalupe, who was indigenous to
Mexico, became the banner of the revolutionary forces on their path toward Mexico City and the
expulsion of the Spaniards.
Hidalgo later regretted the bloodbath he had incited with his fateful cry of Dolores. When he made
his hasty decision in the pre-dawn hours of Sept, 16, he had not foreseen the mass slaughter
of Spaniards. Before the revolutionary troops descended upon Mexico City, Hidalgo retreated with
only a few associates to Dolores, where he would be executed by the Spaniards only a year later.
Despite his ambiguity toward the violent class struggle that was the Mexican revolution, Hidalgo is
still revered as the father of Mexican independence.
Every September 15 at 11pm in Mexico City, the President rings the historic liberty bell that Father
Hidalgo rang to call the people the people to revolution, then gives the "El Grito" (The Cry). He
shouts "Mexicanos, Viva Mexico" and the crowd echoes back, establishing the tradition which has been
solemnly followed every year thereafter. And it is echoed by the governor of each state throughout
the country. After the last "Viva Mexico" is cried, the president waves the flag, rings the bell, and
the National Anthem is sung. The next day, there is a civic ceremony, and a military parade. Here in
Cozumel, we have parades and shows on the 16th in the main square, and an impressive fireworks display
the night of EL GRITO in front of the Municipal Palace.
So, now you know a very brief history of Mexico's struggle for independence and how they celebrate it.
Viva Mexico!
*** Travel Deals
Check out this website TODAY if you are from Dallas or St. Louis. They are offering specials for
air-only to Cancun. Dallas - $139 RT and $199 RT from St. Louis. This is a midsize charter company
that services the Midwest, Minneapolis-St. Paul, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, as well as Denver.
VILLAGE TAN KAH Fall Packages
7 Nights hotel with 5 2-tank dives each person
Deluxe - regularly $ 435
Standard - regularly $ 399
Prices are per person based on double occupancy !
Finding cheap airfare is almost full-time job. If YOU find a new site for
cheap airfare...please share it with us...THANKS!
for all of your concerns with our big friend, Hurricane Ivan.
They are a welcome addition to our operations because of the 
Hurricane Ivan...
convinced that this island is truly blessed.
-mail & 
ebpages & the 
ozumel 
rift:
Hasta Luego, Amigos!!!! 
CUBA 
IVE 
CO-COZUMEL (011-52-987) 872-4187
LUE 
ILLAGE 
AN 
AH (011-52-987) 872-4240