News Cozumel: June 2014

Welcome to News Cozumel June, 2014. News Cozumel is the Island’s first column in English started in Tiempo de Cozumel, Cozumel’s first newspaper!

AIRPLANE LIBRARY INAUGURATED

The Airplane Library is next to “Juan Pablo II” Park on 130 Avenue between Miguel Hidalgo and 7 south in Colonia San Gervasio. It was inaugurated on Thursday May 21, 2014. The event was officiated by Governor Roberto Borge Angulo who was accompanied by Mayor Fredy Efren Marrufo Martin.

Eduardo Novelo, President of the Foundation of Parks and Museums Cozumel Island (FPMC), announced that the “Biblioavión” has 20 computers with free internet service for students to research projects and school assignments. The library has software that includes materials for elementary, middle, and high school-based programs of the Ministry of Public Education. The media room has capacity for 30 people. The library is available for all children, adolescents, and youth, of the island not only for this colony.

(The library Airplane photograph was taken last month when it was nearing completion).

PUERTA MAYA EXPANSION

The work of extending the third arm of the Puerta Maya pier was also officially started on May 21^st. The Governor Roberto Borge Angulo and Mayor Fredy Efren Marrufo Martin were on hand for the ceremony along with the bigwigs of the cruise lines. The picture is of laying of the foundation stone for this construction, which is scheduled to be completed before the winter of 2015.

Once this is completed at Puerta Maya in Cozumel, it will be the only shipping port or tourist destination that can house three transatlantic cruisers at once. I am assuming by that statement they are speaking of the giant cruise ships that now exists with the capacity of over three thousand tourists each. This is part of the plan to expand the cruise activity up to 23 percent by 2015.

PLAYA AZUL COZUMEL BEACH CLUB

Last month we rounded up our family of nine and headed out to Playa Azur for a few hours of fun. Yes, I said family of nine! The family is made up of husband Charles and I, our adopted sister Sharon, my adopted son Bartolo, his wife Gelmy, grandchildren Julian (11) and Gigi (2) along with Gelmy’s sister Athena and her husband Jimmy. Our unique family dynamics makes us the perfect group to review a location for accessibility, entertainment and value. After feeding our group, there is not much left for an entertainment budget!

 Playa Azul Hotel and Beach Club is not far past Buccanos. The hotel is a golf and beach resort, the rates include complimentary golf at Cozumel’s famous golf course. The hotel is absolutely beautiful and has everything right on site to make it a vacation haven for the entire family. There is a dock so guests can be picked up by boats to fish, snorkel or scuba. There is a full service Spa as well as a dive shop where you can rent snorkel equipment or learn how to scuba dive. It is a tropical haven of lush green foliage in the front and beautiful blue sea, sky, and sand in the back. At a glance you can see it was designed with the family in mind, an ideal atmosphere for swimming (pool or sea), snorkeling to enjoy the tropical fish, playing, eating, dancing, and having fun at the beach! There is easy access to the tranquil sea and plenty of sun chairs and sunshade for everyone’s comfort. There is even a sand volleyball court.

 To the right of the hotel is the beach club with its own entrance. I was not certain about the accessibility so we brought along both my husband’s wheelchair and walker. Neither the walker nor the wheel chair worked on the main path to the beach, as the stone path is uneven and not accessible. There is a service path on the far right hand side that is a perfect alternative to access the beach club.

Once settled, we had the time of our life! There is no cover charge to get into the beach club. They only require that you purchase food or beverage. We sat in the pavilion since Charles cannot maneuver in the sand and we wanted shade. However, there was a wooden deck extending from this area, had we wanted the sun. There were plenty of sun chairs and chairs with umbrellas to go around. The beach was sandy and beautiful. THE SAND IS RETURNING! The sea is graciously returning the sand it stole during hurricane Wilma and slowly covering up the rocks once again.

It was a beautiful afternoon; the weather was perfect as was the company. The guests consisted of a few local families and some hotel guests. The staff was very personable and attentive and the food was very reasonable. Between us, Charles and I had four rum and cokes, the rest of the family had numerous soft drinks each. In addition, the nine of us shared chips and salsa, two orders of guacamole and two orders of mixed ceviche. Our bill was $72 U.S. without the tip.

I inquired about the Sunday Salsa that Playa Azul used to be famous for. Sadly, they had to stop the Sunday Salsas. Plenty of people showed up to dance for four hours, but there was not enough sales of food and beverage to even pay for the live music. What a Shame! Sundays are now Rock Sundays with a live band called CAOBA. They play Rock in English & Spanish from 2:30 p.m.to 5 p.m.       I plan on returning with just the adults in the near future to enjoy a Sunday afternoon.

It is difficult for local families on limited income to have access to affordable beaches close to home. The Playa Azul family welcomes local residents with open arms. Playa Azul Beach Club is close, is affordable and it is beautiful! I encourage everyone to stop by and support this beach club so it can remain accessible to the community.

Playa Azul Cozumel Beach Club is Open every day:

Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sundays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Check The Cozumel Sun for MONTHLY Specials at the beach club & Spa! Locals received a 10% discount; seniors received an EXTRA 15% discount just by presenting your INAPAM card!

COZUMEL EVENTS & ACTIVITIES 2014

Sea Turtle Workshop May 15th - August 31st

San Pedro y San Pablo festival June 19th - June 29th

Divers week June 23rd – 29th

The Cozumel Sun

The Cozumel Sun is the island's first full electronic Newspaper in English. Along with the latest news, you will find a current l "Living in Cozumel Guide", a “Listing of Service Providers and professionals” in Cozumel, and special offers! Stay connected daily through Facebook and if you have not already done so, visits us at: http://www.thecozumelsun.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TheCozumelSun

Contact us for more information at:

auraholguin@thecozumelsun.com

Take a Vacation Day!

Contact Cozumel Tours by Cab and schedule a personalized tour by cab. Plan your day and let our experienced Cab driver chauffer you in comfort.                                                                        Visit: https://www.facebook.com/CozumelToursbyCab 

Red Cross Services

Cozumel Cruz Roja's most active job is to serve as the island’s designated first responder to accidents and other emergencies.  In addition we offer the following low-cost medical services: General Medicine, Pediatric, Dentistry, Nutrition, Injections,  Nebulizer Treatments, Blood Pressure Measurement, Clinical Laboratory, 24 HRS Emergency Service -   Dial 065

English Language Worship Services

 Ebenezer Presbyterian Church

30th Ave. at 10th Street North

Services in English every Sundays at    9 a.m.

Jesus es Rey Bible Church

Corner of Ave. 95 y Calle 39.

Services in English will be at 10 a.m.

CHABAD of Cozumel

5th Avenue between Juarez and 1st

 2nd Floor PLAZA DEL SOL close to the  San Miguel Pier

US Phone: +1 (305) 432-2406 or +1 (770) 666-5428

Mexico Cell Phone: +521 (987) 111-9715 or +521 (987) 117-9518

Kabbalat Shabbat Friday night: Sunset

Emergency Numbers

Emergency                           066

24 Hour Doctor                    872-0103

Dentist                                   872-0808 Hyperbaric Chamber    872-0103

Police                                               872-0092

Red Cross                           872-1058

Taxi Cab                               872-0236

Taxi Cab                               872-0041

U.S. Consulate                    872-4574

U.S Consulate                     872-6152

U.S. Consulate 044- 987-121-0323

Contact Me!

Please send your feedback, questions, and suggestions to me at auraholguin@thecozumelsun.com or call at cell # 987-119-4956 Casa 987-120-5903 or United States Number 386-445-8702.

Our Sponsors:

FOTOS

COZUMEL TODAY MAGAZINE

BUCCANOS BEACH

BLUE ANGEL RESORT

PLAYA AZUL

NEW SPECIAS

FOGO DO BRAZIL

LA RUMBA COZUMEL

MEDITUR

COZUMEL HEALTH

COSTA BRAVA

COZUMEL TODAY

Contact Me!

Please send your feedback, questions, and suggestions to me at auritaholguin@msn.com or call at cell # 987-119-4956 Casa 987-120-5903 or United States Number 386-445-8702.

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News Cozumel: May 2014

MODERNIZING THE COZUMEL MUSEUM

Museum board President, Eduardo Novelo López and the members of the Foundation Board of Parks and Museums of Cozumel have come together to work on the first draft of a proposal to modernize Cozumel’s Museum. In their proposal, they agreed that they must keep the identity of the island, but must modernize the information services offered. Their plan is to preserve the building as it is on the outside, but to renew and modernize the inside. The cost of the renovation to be funded by the Federal Government is estimated at 40 Million pesos.

COZUMEL PLANETARIUM CONFIRMED

As we reported last year, Cozumel is next in line to have a planetarium. The Council for Science and Technology (Coqcyt) confirmed that they will invest 59.7 million pesos this year for the construction of a new planetarium on the island of Cozumel. According to the director of that department, Víctor Sánchez Alcérreca, they are only waiting for a change in the permit for the use of the land to start building. “We have the resources, the project is approved, and we have the land in Cozumel. The work begins during the month of May,” said Sanchez Alcérreca. The Cozumel planetarium would be unique with the only system of 3D technology, in Latin America. Quintana Roo will then have three planetariums, with the two already in Chetumal and Cancun. They are also working on a fourth project, whose location would be in Playa del Carmen or Tulum. The projection for the current state administration is six properties of this type.

RECOVERY OF SEAWALL BEACHES!

The City of Cozumel has entered the final design of extraction and dumping of sand to restore one kilometer of beach on the boardwalk in Cozumel. It is estimated that the plan will cost 150 million pesos and will be completed in 2014. David Viana Alfonso Martinez, Director of Coastal Planning and Federal Maritime and Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat), made the announcement of this project that has been in the works since 2010. The plan, which was submitted to the Ministry of Tourism (Federal Tourism Ministry), contemplates pouring 35 cubic meters of sand in the area spanning from Rafael E. Melgar Avenue and 2nd Street North to the public beach “Las Casitas.” The material will be removed from the sandbar located in the northern side of the island. The 35 thousand cubic meters of sand will be distributed in a strip 40 meters from the sea shore to create the beach. Beach clubs, bath areas, changing rooms and showers will be built. This will all be run by the City, not the private sector. To avoid erosion, a containment system will be installed.

COZUMEL EVENTS & ACTIVITIES 2014

6TH INTERNATIONAL COZUMEL ISLAND GOLF TOURNAMENT

MAY 3RD

TASTE OF COZUMEL – SWIM, BIKE AND RUN FESTIVAL 2014

MAY 9TH, 10TH, & 11TH

SEA TURTLE WORKSHOP

MAY 15TH - AUGUST 31ST

CRUZ ROJA COZUMEL BAZAAR

MAY 16 & 17TH

COZUMEL FISHING TOURNAMENT

MAY 16TH, 17TH, & 18TH

COZUMEL AERO SHOW 2014

MAY 17TH & 18TH

MAYAN JOURNEY

MAY 22ND, 23RD, &24TH

SAN PEDRO Y SAN PABLO FESTIVAL JUNE 19TH - JUNE 29TH

DIVERS WEEK J

UNE 23RD – 29TH

Contact Me!

Please send your feedback, questions, and suggestions to me at auritaholguin@msn.com or call at cell # 987-119-4956 Casa 987-120-5903 or United States Number 386-445-8702.

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News Cozumel: March 2014

SAN JOSÉ DEL MAR CHURCH PREPARES FOR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
The San José Del Mar Church will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a series of popular festivals from March 7th through March 19th. Civic, sporting, cultural and religious events will commemorate the patron saint of the church, located in San Miguel II colony.
The program of the celebration was presented during a press conference held in the chapel of San José Del Mar church, on Avenida 50, between Calles 29 and 31 south. Pastor Luis Felipe Trujillo River and Vicar Martagon Mario Andrés Mendoza were in charge of publicizing the celebrations that will begin on March 7, at 6 a.m. with a Mass for the descent of the Holy Patron. Activities such as cultural events and theater will be held daily through March 19th. On March 15th, at 10:30 p.m. there will be a wrestling match, where Atlantis and Rey Bucanero, members of the World Wrestling Commission, will take part. Healing Masses are scheduled for March 10 and 18. There will be performances by the group ANGELUIS, Thomas Aviles, Tony Graniel, and local artists.
The sale of tickets for the arts and sports activities will be in the parish facilities.

ARE WE DRILLING FOR OIL?
On Sunday morning we treated our family of seven to breakfast at Primas after attending Church. To our astonishment, right outside of the breathtaking floor to ceiling glass view, there appeared to be anoil rig platform, smack in the middle of the channel! What fun we all had trying to guess what it was and what it was doing there.

“which measures 89.96 meters long and weighs four thousand 362 ton appeared to be tied to the” platform Floatel Victory “that has a weight of 18 000 995 tons and has a length of 98.2 meters. The platform was fascinating; it had four huge pillars and a crane of some sort on top. One article noted that each of the pillars was controlled by four motors each. It was also a self contained, “live aboard” structure. Initially speculation was that the platform would be used to perform the job of extending a cruise ship dock. We later learned that the structure being towed by the boat stopped at the island to change crew and continue their journey to the Gulf of Mexico.
Maritime authorities allowed them to remain for 12 hours, two miles (3.2 kilometers) off the coast of Cozumel. Both vessels are from the Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The reason for their arrival was to have a crew change before continuing their journey to the port of Veracruz. One newspaper reported four Europeans, seven technicians and 29 crew members spent the night at casa Del Mar before boarding flights back to their base in the United States on Monday.
The presence of the platform that was anchored at Caletitas provoked astonishment among the people who passed by Rafael E. Melgar Avenue, some people took the opportunity to take pictures of the team and shared in social networks.
According to Internet portal http://www.floatel.se/ the property of the company Floatel International platform, was delivered in November 2013.

AN URGENT NEED TO REVISIT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DEATH WHILE ABROAD
I reported in our last issue that the United States Consulate Office has closed in Cozumel and all non-emergency matters will be handled in the future by the consulate office in Playa Del Carmen. It was also announced that they were taking applications for a part time employee that would handle emergencies, such as death, medical emergency, and imprisonment. I assumed Anne Harris would be handling these emergencies until the new person arrived; I was wrong. We must call the Playa Del Carmen office at 984-873-0303 or Vonage (US): 202-370-6708. The emergency number 01-999-942-5700 directs us to follow directions to connect to the duty officer.
In the worse possible way, I discovered I have not provided enough information on the matter; a dear friend of the family passed away Saturday afternoon while vacationing in the island. No one saw this coming, of course, when something like this happens, you just do not think properly. Everyone vacationing should know if your insurance is accepted at any of the local hospitals. Ambulances are privately run, and get paid by taking you to certain clinics. Have a name of a hospital or clinic available and demand to be taken there. Have enough funds in your credit and debit cards to cover medical expenses, and funeral expenses, including returning the remains home. Consider purchasing fight insurance. Changing a flight departure date due to illness or death can cost up to $400! Flight insurance can cover medical expenses not covered by your regular insurance company.
Have these instructions and numbers written on a card that you carry with you at all times. In emergency situations you do not think clearly enough to remember who to call. Our friends did not contact us until they had already been charged and paid $2,000 in medical bills, and $4,640 for funeral and cremation services.
Be prepared, read the Death abroad section of the Cozumel Sun at: http://www.thecozumelsun.com/living-in-cozumel-guide-2/u-s-consular-news-information/death-abroad/.

COZUMEL EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Municipal Discount on Taxes and Garbage Collection 10% through February 28th! (50% Discount if you have INAPM)

The Cozumel Sun
-http://www.thecozumelsun.com
-facebook.com/TheCozumelSun
-auraholguin@thecozumelsun.com

Take a Vacation Day!
Contact Cozumel Tours by Cab and schedule a personalized tour by cab. Plan your day and let our experienced Cab driver chauffer you in comfort. Visit: facebook.com/CozumelToursbyCab

Red Cross Services
Cozumel Cruz Roja’s most active job is to serve as the island’s designated first responder to accidents and other emergencies. In addition we offer the following low-cost medical services:
General Medicine, Pediatric, Dentistry, Nutrition, Injections, Nebulizer Treatments, Blood Pressure Measurement, Clinical Laboratory. 24 HRS Emergency Service - Dial 065

English Language Church Services
Ebenezer Presbyterian Church
30th Ave. at 10th Street North
Services in English every Sundays at 9 am
Jesus es Rey Bible Church
Corner of Ave. 95 y Calle 39.
Services in English will be at 10 a.m.

Emergency Numbers
Emergency 066
24 Hour Doctor 872-0103
Dentist 872-0808
Hyperbaric Chamber 872-0103
Police 872-0092
Red Cross 872-1058
Taxi Cab 872-0236
Taxi Cab 872-0041
U.S. Consulate 872-4574
U.S Consulate 872-6152
U.S. Consulate 044- 987-121-0323

Contact Me!
Please send your feedback, questions, and suggestions to me at auritaholguin@msn.com or call at cell # 987-119-4956 Casa 987-120-5903 or United States Number 386-445-8702.

Leer nota...

News Cozumel: February 2014

Welcome to News Cozumel!
An exciting month to be in Cozumel! Cozumel will be hosting the Magno Air Festival commemorating the Mexican Air Force’s 70th Anniversary and it is Carnival Time!

Cozumel Magno Air Festival

On February 10th, the Magno Air Festival (Magno Festival Aereo) will be held in Cozumel. This will be one of the largest air shows ever held on the island. An official bulletin from Mayor Fredy Marrufo Martín, confirmed that Cozumel will host the celebration commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Mexican Air Force. The Mexican Air Force became an official branch of the Armed Forces on February 10, 1944.
The President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, will be leading the ceremony. This will be the first time in the history of Mexico that the high command of the Mexican Air Force will meet at Cozumel’s Air Force base. The celebration will also unveil the Memorial built to honor the Historic 201 Squadron which fought in the Second World War.

The Festival will include troops dropping from helicopters and the flying of various types of aircraft, both current and historic. The Supersonic Northrop F-S Tiger Air crafts that bear the insignia of the Mexican Air Force will be displayed. The Air show and ceremony will be a momentous day for both the Mexican Air Force and the Island. Cozumel will be in the National and International lime light.

Carnaval 2014

Thursday morning the official poster was announced, a promotional video was introduced, and the presentation was made of the candidates for kings and queens in different categories.
For the first time in the history of the Cozumel Carnival, the festival will feature special kings. At a press conference the President of the System for Integral Family Development (DIF) Cozumel, Georgina Ruiz de Marrufo, introduced Coral Sergio Burgos and Leslie Villanueva Noelia Salinas.
Both young people with Down syndrome will be crowned as special rulers and make history as the first people with disabilities to take part in this celebration that dates back to 1874.
Arminda Villanueva Cárdenas, Director of Special Events announced that it is a fact that these days Cozumeleños personally know the candidates of this traditional festival with over 130 years of existence on the island.

Pre carnival activities officially begin on February 1 and end on 22. The strong program of festivals that include music concerts, fairs, dances, and parade of floats, will start February 26 and end March 4. A statement was issue by City Hall announcing that a module will be operating effective Monday January 13 for the reservation of tables.

He presented the candidates as follows: Candidates “King Ugly” Carnival Mayor are: Ricardo Gamboa, Adrian Chan and Miguel Angel Alvarado Esquivel, while the queen candidates are: Nadia Alonzo Martin, Reyna Meneses and Leslie Can.
Candidates “Reyes Juveniles” are Estefany Canché Herrera, Diana Chan Noemy Cruz, Luis Miguel Angel Mendoza and “Mikee” Ángel González Góngora.

He added that the high Cozumeleño party will begin the Pre Carnival starting on Saturday, February 1. Pre-Carnival activities will continue through Saturday February 22, and Cozumel Carnival 2014 will run from Wednesday February 26 through Tuesday March 04. The Parades will be on Saturday 1, Sunday 2 and Tuesday, March 4.

Increase at Grocery Store

I have found that the price of all products have increased at the grocery stores effective the first of the year. I was braced for a 5% increase to match the tax reform, but have found some prices to be much higher. I found this information in an article about the pork and beef increase:
Luis Gómez Cab, Secretary General of The Meat Union reported the Union voted a mandatory increase in the price of Pork and beef effective January 16. Industry leaders explained due to the economic situation, higher costs in the freight of live animals, as well as other factors, have forced them to make the increase.
Cab Gómez explained that as a result of the vote, a kilogram of pork, that was offered at 90 pesos, has been increased 10 percent, and rounded off to the price of 100 pesos, and that beef, which was offered at 100 pesos a Kilogram, has been increased 20 percent and the new cost to the public is now 120 pesos. He+++ stated the latter was also derived from the shortage of this product in the southern state of Yucatán. For readers that like to compare prices, a kilogram equals 2 lb 3.2740 oz.

COZUMEL EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
*MUNICIPAL TAX DISCOUNT PROGRAM 10 % - JANUARY 1ST – FEBRUARY 28TH
*MAGNO AIR FESTIVAL (MAGNO FESTIVAL AEREO) FEBRUARY 10TH
*COZUMEL CARNIVAL 2014 FEBRUARY 26TH – MARCH 5TH

Red Cross Services
Cozumel Cruz Roja’s most active job is to serve as the island’s designated first responder to accidents and other emergencies. In addition we offer the following low-cost medical services:
General Medicine, Pediatric, Dentistry, Nutrition, Injections, Nebulizer Treatments, Blood Pressure Measurement, Clinical Laboratory. 24 HRS Emergency Service - Dial 065

English Language Church Services
Ebenezer Presbyterian Church
30th Ave. at 10th Street North
Services in English every Sundays at 9 am
Jesus es Rey Bible Church
Corner of Ave. 95 y Calle 39.
Services in English will be at 10 a.m.

Emergency Numbers
Emergency 066
24 Hour Doctor 872-0103
Dentist 872-0808
Hyperbaric Chamber 872-0103
Police 872-0092
Red Cross 872-1058
Taxi Cab 872-0236
Taxi Cab 872-0041
U.S. Consulate 872-4574
U.S Consulate 872-6152
U.S. Consulate 044- 987-121-0323

Contact Me!
Please send your feedback, questions, and suggestions to me at auritaholguin@msn.com or call at cell # 987-119-4956 Casa 987-120-5903 or United States Number 386-445-8702.

Leer nota...

News Cozumel, January 2014

WELCOME TO NEWS COZUMEL!

Happy New Years Cozumel! In this issue we feature: A Bronze Statue of Jacques-Yves Cousteau Submerged, Cozumel Firefighters on Facebook, Motorcycle Problem on the boardwalk in Cozumel, Vehicle Testing Coming to Cozumel, A Report on Tourism in Cozumel, and An Elevator to be installed in City Hall. Have a wonderful month!

BRONZE STATUE OF JACQUES-YVES COUSTEAU SUBMERGED

As part of Scuba Fest 2013, a bronze statue of renowned researcher Jacques-Yves Cousteau was submerged into the sea in front of Villa Blanca this past Sunday. In the presence of his son Jean-Michel Cousteau, the statue honors Cmdr Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s memory, the man who opened our eyes to discover the sea underwater, and having realized the beauties of the Cozumel coral reefs declared “Cozumel is one of the best diving sites in the world, thanks to the visibility and its marine life proficiency.”
He was the co-inventor of the autonomous breathing regulator system, and with this device allowed the world to discover the underwater side of the sea, starting with the amazing movie “The World of Silence”. Aboard the legendary Calypso, CDR Jacques-Yves Cousteau, his wife Simone and his sons Jean-Michel and Philippe dove all around the world, and made Cozumel famous in America as well as in Europe.


COZUMEL FIREFIGHTERS ON FACEBOOK

The Cozumel Fire Department has entered age of Social Network to raise public awareness for prevention of accidents in the home. Alberto Borges May, commander of Firemen, acknowledged the importance of e-tool s to reach the Cozumel population. The Fire fan page Cozumel / Cozumel Fire Department was established on October 31, 2012 and has 231 members.
Since joining the Facebook the account had been used only on rare occasions. However, on December 8 they started to publicize fire prevention and awareness to reduce fire hazards in homes. Among the first images are an electric current that is connected to 18 sets of Christmas lights, which could cause a domestic fire by the power surge.

MOTORCYCLE PROBLEM ON THE BOARDWALK IN COZUMEL

 
Illegally parked Motorcycles are creating a problem on the boardwalk in Cozumel. The problem has been identified as the inability of Olympus Meters SA de CV, to prevent motorcyclist from evading paying the parking meters along the boardwalk in Cozumel. Victor Manuel Villalobos Negrete, CEO of the dealership, planned to install spaces for motorcycles parked on Avenida Rafael E. Melgar, where you would have a meter to regulate their stay, but has not complied with this provision.
The government and business have begun a campaign to prevent these vehicles from parking in the area to prevent congestion. Baduy Antonio Moscoso, Municipal Treasurer, said “The main problem (on the boardwalk) is motorcycles that are parked in prohibited places.” He stated that they will be enforcing parking regulations by fining violators starting in January of 2014. Details of the plan will be released in the next few days.

VEHICLE TESTING COMING TO COZUMEL

 
Everything seems to indicate that an operation called “Vereficentros in Quintana Roo” is coming to Cozumel in 2014. There will be two modules located in the Lopez Mateos colony.
The state congress authorized the operation of verification centers in the state, which have claimed to reduce the levels of pollution in different cities.
It was reported that the cost for the service review and hologram for vehicles will ranges from 200 to 600 pesos, depending on model, type and year of the car. Motorcycles rates have not been set yet.
Vehicles from model year 2005 and earlier will pay about 200 pesos every six months. New cars will be paying 600 pesos every two years. The inspection will be a requirement of attaining legal vehicle documentation.
It was also leaked that the companies that will operate this service in Cozumel, are Environmental Projects Ltd. and Vereficentros Arena Blanca SA de CV, both in Mexico City.

TOURISM IN COZUMEL
 

It was reported that more than 2 million 400 thousand tourists have come to Cozumel by cruise ship in the past eleven months of this year. These visitors have an average nine-hour stay on the island.
Cruise tourists in Cozumel form 80 percent of all tourists who come to the island each year, but they represent only half of the total economic activity generated by tourism, and do not spend much money.
This means that the remaining 20 percent of tourists that come to the island are staying in hotels and to a lesser extent, those coming from the Riviera Maya are responsible for the other 50 percent of the economic activity.
Two tourists staying at a hotel spend in a day the same amount as eight visitors on a cruise. Non-cruise tourists average 2.5 days on the island, compared to eight to nine hours that cruise visitors remain ashore.
Cruise ships arriving in Cozumel come from the ports of Mobile, Alabama, New Orleans, Louisiana, Miami Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Galveston, Texas.
Once on the island, about half of the cruise visitors take part in preplanned activities, among which include tours in jeeps caravans to the beach, and guided tours to places like the Benito Juarez Municipal Market, where the curious tourists come to see the shops and enjoy regional cuisine.
Those who do not take part in such activities and disembark to explore the island on their own are usually tourists on a budget that already know where to go and have their favorite places. Many of these tourists are repeat visitors to the island. They tend to shop at local supermarkets and the Municipal Market.
Around the docks there are businesses dedicated to their exclusive service with signs and menus, not only in English but in Filipino, Pakistani and other languages spoken by the crew.
While the average stay of Cruise tourists and crew on the island is eight to nine hours, the estimated spending per person ranges from $120 to $80 U.S.D. The ‘popular consensus between vendors, employees and business owners of the tourist areas is that tourists only spend about $ 50 each on their visit to the port . The real amount is unknown and the only authority that has a method of measuring the money spent is a voluntary survey handed to ship passengers.
However much the amount may be, it is less than local entrepreneurs would like, this is supported by the number of people walking around the stores and the number of closed businesses in areas that were once coveted by tourists.

AN ELEVATOR TO BE INSTALLED IN CITY HALL

An elevator is to be installed in City Hall in 2014 to comply with new regulations. Article 36 stipulates that local authorities must provide facilities for free movement and transportation to persons with disabilities, among which include sidewalks, ramps, public telephones, stairs or bridges and parking.
The regulation was published in the Official Gazette of the State in January 2013, and four months later, passed in the Cozumel City Council. The purpose of the local law is to prevent discrimination, and create access to public places, workplaces and shops for people with disabilities.
Novelo Aurora Miranda, chairman of the Committee on Social Assistance, announced that an elevator will be installed in City Hall on the west side of the building so that people with disabilities can access the second floor. Aurora Miranda recognized the need for the Municipality to take the lead on this issue and stated that ramps will also be installed for easier access.
The council does not know the details of penalties for not respecting the regulation that ensures the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Cozumel. They also have not announced where the funding will be coming from for the elevator.

AN URGENT REQUEST FROM A VISITOR TO COZUMEL

We recently visited your city on a Royal Caribbean Cruise and lost an Olympus camera while there. This was our first cruise and my wife has been very ill and the photos that are on it are very important to us. Please let me know how to place an ad in your paper.
Upon our arrival we took a Taxi to the Forum Shops. We then walked back toward the Royal Caribbean docks and stopped in several shops. We ate at a corner restaurant past Del Sol. We then took a taxi to Mr. Sancho’s beach club. We left the beach club in a taxi van and were dropped off at the Taxi terminal where we stopped at a few shops on our way back to the dock to board the ship. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Billy Goodin

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