Mind Scraps: Powerful Women on Isla Mujeres

Cancun, a young city with just 40 years, is highly commercial. High-rise hotels, giant malls, flashy clubs and luxurious houses line the coast. More clubs, touristy restaurants and local food stands alike and lower class houses interspersed with the occasional luxury house make up the city center.

Across the sea, less than 60 minutes away, lies a bohemian escape. Isla Mujeres has its luxury, but the flashy ritz is much more subdued. Artwork and handmade goods spill from the colorful shops that line the few main streets. Restaurants boast a breezy chill atmosphere, each creatively unique and often providing tropical musical beats that swirl around the clientele. Bongos and fire dancers. Artistic expression. Balmy, salt-saturated air. Swaying palms. Serenading waves. A sea colored in at least seven shades of aqua, turquoise and blue. Paradise…

French Beauty and I were ready. Ready to completely indulge in this tropical escape. We arrived at our hostel Pocna (first hostel in Mexico… ever) vibrating with anticipation. We dropped our bags and went out to wander, bubbly greeting any new face along the way. Our hearts guided us to the beach though it was dark. We stopped to drink in the tropical bliss, feeling the fine white sand below our feet before dipping them into the cool water. ¡Que Rico!

Back at the hostel, we grabbed our complimentary piña colodas and picked our perch for enjoying the nightly entertainment. Salsa… dancing… new friends. Together, with our pure spirit for spreading fun and joy, we wooed everyone that caught but a glimpse of us. People stopped us just to say “hi” and pass on their compliments. The band began singing directly to us… calling out our names… fueling our dancing furor. Spinning… twirling… laughing… in the sand. Just a few bold men were brave enough to join us. The band invited me to dance on stage. Then one musician came down to dance with us.

When the music finished, the night was just getting started. The band invited us back to a private house on the beach. Finely constructed, yet the owners lived simply without electricity. A series of round wooden rooms topped with palm thatches, each standing apart from the other; connected by wooden walkways. We were a small gathering. Three of the band members. The owner of the house and her son. Two hostel mates and French Beauty and I…

Bongos. Men singing. Women dancing, dancing, dancing. All by the magical, flickering red light of the bonfire.

I escaped to the sea, bathing in the wake of the moon as its light shimmered off the dark waters. My moon forming the glittering runway. My sea rocking me gently back and forth, back and forth…

In the wee hours of the morning we finally fell into a light sleep, right there on the beach. A little after dawn, French Beauty and I caught a cab back to our Pocna.

We slept just a few hours more at the hostel before eagerly rising to enjoy another day in paradise. French Beauty wanted to doze under the sun. I went to meet one of the musicians – whom I’ll call Caribbean Musico – for lunch. We dined on the beach, eating fish caught and grilled that very same hour, watching vacationers, gypsies and locals alike enjoy the gem-colored waves.

French Beauty eventually joined us and the three of us decided to rent motor scooters and tour around the island. Caribbean Musico was an excellent guide, bringing us to his friend’s house for a quick dip in the pool before navigating us from one end of the island to the other. We were the three musketeers, reveling in bliss, harmoniously enjoying each other’s company. That night, back to the private house. Wiped from the nearly non-stop excitement, this time French Beauty and I relaxed, sipping wine as the men and their bongos once again joined the calmly lapping waves in a seaside night serenade.

French Beauty, Caribbean Musico and I took it easy the next day, enjoying a cruise through the island for the last few hours with our motor scooters. A dip in the sea and refreshing piña coladas. A heart to heart: each one thanking the other for sharing such magical moments. French Beauty and Caribbean Musico moving me to tears, when confessing that, for them, I am “una luce,” a light. “A joyful spirit full of energy.”

“I only reflect what I encounter before me,” I told them gratefully.

Thanks to Caribbean Musico, we indulged in a free 15-min massage on the beach before the setting sun told us it was time to go… and catch our ferry back to Cancun.

¡Hasta pronto! my magical island… see you again very soon.

View the Flickr album by clicking here.

Popularity: 6% [?]

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 at 11:58 pm. It is filed under alive, Inspirational, Latin America, Mexico, Mind Scraps, Musings, passion, Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.