Back in March of 2007 we stayed on the island of Isla Mujeres which is a small island 1/2 mile wide x 5 miles long, for one week. Isla lies off the coast of Cancun and is a 20 min. ferry boat ride. We stayed at the Posada del Mar which is one of the oldest hotels on the island. It has since been substantially rebuilt. We enjoyed our stay there and especially the beach which was directly across the street.
The following is a video I made starting just outside the lobby and then up the stairs and down the hall and finally into our rooms. The rooms are basic, but clean and provided everything we needed for a relaxing stay on the island.
A LITTLE MUSIC TO PUT YOU IN THE ITALIANO FRAME OF MINE WHILE YOU READ MY REVIEW:
This little Bistro is across and down the street from the Bull Ring on Bonampak. It is on the ground floor of the Hotel Bonampak. It has 8 tables and is popular among the local businessmen at lunch time. Be prepared to wait for a table. It offers good food, excellent service and reasonable prices. The salads and pastas are huge portions. You can order “medias” (half) portions, which is what we did. We had decided that since it was lunch, we would pass on a salad. I had to try the Spaghetti Bolognesa (140 pesos full/80 pesos medias) since it had been strongly recommended by an Italian friend of mine. He promised that it was the best in Cancun and even better than his own version. I was not disappointed, it was fantastic. Suzie ordered the medias Fusilli Primavera but changed the type of pasta to fettuccine. She was equally happy with her choice. We recommend that a couple order one full order of pasta and one salad and share. The full portions can easily feed 2 hungry people.
This is the doorway…..
Ambiance is plain and dignified and w/ a low noise and soft appropriate music playing in the background…..
The menu was clear and well done…….
and had several pages of selections…………..
including desserts……..
Fresh hot garlic bread baskets were served and replenished often……
Suzie’s order, the Fusilli Primavera…………..made with fettuccine pasta
my Spaghetti Bolognesa…………….
I loved these napkin holders…………..we could really use one out on our patio table……..
We were experiencing a torrential downpour that lasted over an hour, and the streets flood here very quickly…..
You can see the bull ring across the street in the background, we waited it out at the table closest to the door while enjoying a couple more glasses of wine.
After the water level subsided we were able to get to our car and head on home. We will definitely return to El Principio.
Our bill came to 330 pesos ( $26.40 USD ) which included our 2 pasta dishes, a diet coke, a beer, and 2 glasses of red wine.
Address: Ave. Bonampak 227, Sm 4, El Centro, Cancún, Quintana Roo, 77500
Phone: 998/892-8499
Cuisine: Italian
Location: El Centro/ across from the Bull Ring
Many people we have met come to this island which time after time for a relaxing time to get away from the daily grind and adjust their mental attitude. They come back so often that many of them think of Isla Mujeres as “HOME”
On Friday morning we wandered over to the craft area. We both picked out a piece to hand paint. Suzie choose a snail and I choose a sun god plaque to add to my collection. We worked on them for over two hours. We could hardly wait to pick them up the next day after they had been shellacked and fired in their oven. This is how they came out…………….we’re so proud.
This is Suzie’s snail, which she named “Escargot”………..
and this is the one that I did………….to add to my collection decorating our home which is: “Casa del Sol”….
As you can see the Caribbean was a little too rough to try swimming today…….
The happy couple on the beach …….but not in the water
The Veranda Restaurant put up the plastic owls to keep the birds away from the outdoor tables……..
See how the red flag is pointed……….that wind was strong and coming right off the Caribbean……..Thanks so much TS Alex!
The waves pounded the beach until Friday morning when they finally put the yellow flags up………
The beach palapa’s……..red flag means DON”T GO IN!!!
A look at the pool…….
The entrance way to a great place to spend your vacation……
Saturday came and we packed up, paid our bill, and said goodbye to the Royal Sands until next time????
We had a great week away from the daily grind of retired life in paradise.
Thanks to our friends Juni & Mina in San Francisco for renting us their beautiful villa.
For your listening pleasure while you view this post………….
Our Villa and balcony………
These are some shots I took of selections offered in the Sands Gift Boutique………….
souvenirs……….
plates painted by local artisans……….
interesting knick-knacks………
the perfect platter for that special fish you always wanted to serve to your guests…..
The Sands Jewelery Store…………..
Rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more……
The Royal Market…………..well stocked, with many choices………
The weather was………………..not so nice………
The wind was even stronger today blowing sand from the beach across the pool stinging our faces while we tried to swim against the whitecaps. (yes mini white caps in the pool)
Today (Thursday) was what this trip was all about………..our 4th wedding anniversary!
We started early for our big day. After having our coffee and pop tarts out on the balcony, Suzie went down to the pool for her 9:30 am water aerobics. I joined her afterward and we went for a walk on the beach looking for seashells. The waves and wind were still too high to risk going into the ocean.
Conch shell on we found on the beach
At 3pm we went to the Sands Spa for our “Couples Ritual” package which included Body Exfoliation, a 20 min. Hydrotherapy session in a private Jacuzzi, a 50-min. Swedish Massage, combined with a Hot Stones Massage.
In a private darkened room with sensual mood music and decor. The motif is like one would expect to have found in a Roman Pompeii Spa before Vesuvius erupted. This couples package cost $4,080 pesos ($340 USD) Don’t pass this up while staying at one of the Royals in Cancun.
At 8PM we drove to HabichuelaSunset Restaurant for our anniversary dinner.
Suzie and I ordered their signature bean and vegetable soup and then I had a Fillet Mignon and Lobster tail while Suz had the Duck breast in Pear sauce. They surprised us with vanilla ice cream on a plate with “Happy Anniversary” written on it by the pastry chef.
When we got back to our villa we opened our bottle of 2004 Santa Barbara Pinot Noir Cork Dancer 4.1 wine from the famous Hitching Post Restaurant. The restaurant and this wine were made very famous in the movie “Sideways” a couple of years ago. I’ve been saving it since my birthday in 2006 when my co-workers gifted me with it at my place of employment. So it’s been a very well traveled bottle of wine from Santa Barbara County California to Chicago and finally to Cancun. It did not disappoint and we enjoyed it tremendously.
(Today’s wine lesson)
The term ” Cork Dancer 4.1″ is a name that was given the salmon that jumped out of the water looking for a way through the corkline of the commercial fishing boat captained by the former fisherman Gary Hartley. Now winemakers, Gary Hartley and Frank Ostini fancy that when you pull the cork the wine will dance for you.
The “4″ refers to the 2004 vintage and the “.1″ to the first bottling of this wine. It is a blend of 88% Santa Maria Valley vineyards, including Blen Nacido and Solomon Hills, with 12% Rio Vista Vineyard from the Santa Rita Hills. It’s was a delicious Pinot Noir.
The greatest wife in the world…………..my Suzie, Happy Anniversary honey!
Stay tuned for the final episode in a few more days……………
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