The Cozumel Sun News March 23, 2018

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In this issue of The Cozumel Sun The Top 10 Reasons to Retire in Cozumel by Karen Bloemhoff, Cozumel Events Calendar: Things to do in Cozumel everyday of the week, and in Aurita’s corner, a wonderful afternoon Mental Health Break at Buccanos, Cozumel News Updates, and Ebenezer English Speaking Church Service needs our help for their summer Community  Food Bank.

Top 10 Reasons to Retire in Cozumel

By Karen Bloemhoff

Cozumel, Mexico is on many people’s radar when they are considering where to retire, and for good reason! It’s a beautiful Caribbean island just 12 miles off the shore of Playa del Carmen and an hour South of Cancun by car. While being so close to these bigger cities, Cozumel and its population of about 100,000 people feels worlds away.

As soon as you walk along the Malecon, have a bite to eat, and chat with a few locals, I challenge you not to fall in love! We call it the “Cozumel fever” and it makes you never want to leave.
Why is this place so appealing? While there are many reasons, I have narrowed it down to these top 10:

1 – The Weather

Dreaming of a place you can wear shorts and a t-shirt all year? Cozumel is it! January is the coldest month with an average low of 66.9°F and an average high of 83.5°F. The hottest month is August when the low is 74.3°F and the high is 91.4°F. So temperatures stay pleasant and comfortable!

We do have a rainy season from May to October (precipitation levels range from 4 to 10 inches per month), which keeps the island green and lively.
But even when it rains, it’s still warm!

Source: The National Climatic Data Center

2 – Affordable Living

You can stretch your income further here than in many cities in the U.S. and Canada. While it is a town that thrives on tourism and has tourist prices for some things, you can quickly learn how and where to get local prices. Plus, local cards are available so you can get discounts on the ferry, at several parks, and at some beach clubs and restaurants.

When it comes to the cost to rent or buy a home, we can help you to find the perfect fit that matches your preferences and budget.
Further, property taxes are very low which helps to cut costs (i.e., a 3-bedroom home would have approx. $400 per year in property taxes). And services like water, gas, and electricity (if you do NOT use your air conditioner 24/7) are very affordable.

3 – Good Healthcare

The island is also home to great English-speaking hospitals, medical specialists, and dental care. Many tourists come here specifically for the affordable medical services as they can offer a comparable quality of care at a fraction of the cost.

4 – Lots of Restaurants

Cozumel is a foodie’s dream destination!! It’s hard to believe how many great restaurants are tucked into this ten by 30-mile piece of land, with most of them in the main town of San Miguel.

Expat entrepreneurs come from all over the world (Greece, India, the U.S., Italy, Indonesia, Argentina, and more) and they bring their cooking styles and flavors with them.

And then, of course, there’s the irresistible local Mexican food! From taco carts to fine dining, it’s all good in its own right and can suit any budget. Pick up an empanada, churro, or torta while driving through town, or stop in a restaurant for a hearty plate of nachos, tacos with an array of salsas, lobster tail, or chicken mole.

Is your mouth-watering yet? It will take you years to try all of the restaurant on the island, and the journey will be a tasty one! Oh, and there are delivery services so any dish you want can be brought to your doorstep.

5 – Friendly Community

How about the people? Cozumel is a very warm and friendly place where English is commonly spoken. Uncharacteristic of a tourist hotspot, it still has a small town charm to it. A large part of that comes from the locals who are very family-oriented. Further, many of the expats make lifelong friends that become like family. And everyone comes together for community events such as the IronMan triathlon, Day of the Dead, and Carnival.  There’s a feeling of looking out for each other that you don’t get in many bigger cities.

 6 – Easy Access for Family Visits

Next, Cozumel isn’t far from the U.S. or Canada, which makes family visits more convenient. That’s a good thing too because the island is great for entertaining guests! After they come once, they’ll want to come again and again. It’s also in a good location for traveling to other countries.

Note: There is an international airport on the island, small planes go between the Cancun and Cozumel airports, and a ferry goes between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen after which you can take ground transportation to the Cancun airport.

7 – Beautiful Beaches

Looking for a place to put your feet in the sand? There are many beautiful beaches to choose from!

On the West side, you’ll find a number of beach clubs where you can spend the day lounging in a chair, snorkeling, and ordering food and drinks. (See Buccanos, Mr. Sanchos or Paradise for example).
Or, if you prefer open public beaches, you can pack up your towels, snacks, drinks, and chairs and head to the East side. Be sure to check out Chen Rio and San Martin.

8 – Interesting Culture

The local culture is a mix of traditional ancient Mayan, modern Mexican, and modern Caribbean with influences from the island’s millions of yearly visitors.
You’ll experience it when tasting the local food, living amongst local families, partaking in holiday celebrations, visiting island attractions (such as the San Gervasio ruins and Kun Che park), and shopping for souvenirs (stone carvings, painted wooden masks, handmade leather bags, pottery, terracotta figurines, hammocks). Have fun learning about a different and beautiful way of life!

9 – The Arts

Something about being near the ocean seems to bring out the artistic side in people, and Cozumel is no exception. The island and its surrounding areas are home to many very talented artists; notably musicians and painters.  As you roam the streets of the island, you will come across eye-catching murals painted on the sides of walls and buildings.

There are also many amazing local artists I have featured here on my blog which you can hire to create pieces for your home such as Peter Terrin, Pedro Fonseco, and Carina Barbachano.
And keep an eye out for art exhibitions as we have those regularly!

As for the music lovers out there, you can find live music throughout town every night of the week, whether it’s at a restaurant, at a bar, or in the city square.

10 – Recreational and Sporting Activities

Lastly, how can you spend your free time here? Many people are attracted to the beautiful turquoise water surrounding the island.

With water temperatures ranging from 79°F (26°C) to 84°F (29°C), you can comfortably swim year round. And, Cozumel’s Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is the second largest coral reef in the world, so snorkeling and scuba diving are a big deal around here!

Additionally, many locals enjoy cycling, golf, tennis, cooking classes, dance classes, yoga, paddle boarding, fishing, surfing, sailing, triathlons and much more.

Enjoy Retirement in Cozumel; You Deserve It!

It’s no wonder why so many people are choosing Cozumel as their retirement landing spot. It has everything you need and more, from the must-haves like a good infrastructure, affordability, healthcare, and safety, to the fun stuff like an interesting culture, a wide range of restaurants, friendly people from all over the world, and lots to do.

Throughout all these years selling real estate here, I’ve watched a vibrant retirement community blossom; one where people are active in TONS of activities that keep them young and happy. The island is a place to truly make the most of your life and I personally hope my future retirement in Cozumel looks like what I see around me daily of the retirees already here!

To learn more about how to make this dream a reality, reach out to my team at Cedral Caribe Realtors and I.  We help people join the Cozumel community every day, and I have gone through the process of buying and building myself! I will help to answer any questions you have and can also get started on the process of finding your perfect home.

Drop me a line today to get started!

Have you felt the magic Cozumel has to offer? Share your favorite thing about the island below!

Pictures Cozumel Courtesy of Mik n Drik Photograpy

Aurita’s Cozumel Corner

Pictured today is a Picture of my husband Charlie Resch and his friend Steve Johnson at my favorite place Buccanos. I was actually able to break out of the store and house to pick up Steve and his lovely wife Sheryl at Puerta Maya pier and spend the afternoon at Buccanos. In addition to all the things that I have mentioned of Buccanos, the excellent food, great service, wonderful caring friend Ines, atmosphere, breath taking scenery and beauty I discovered I can add mental health retreat to its already long list of great attributes.

Steve and Charlie have not seen each other in some 27 years and had much to catch on. I have not seen him so happy in a very long time. Buccanos is the perfect place to meet and relax, you can converse without competing with loud music.  We enjoyed a great lunch and cocktails, Sheryl did a little shopping in their beautiful new gift shop, and I got to relax and regroup! Here is a picture of Charlie and Steve when they first worked together.

The household is slowly but surely recovering from our injuries and illnesses. Bartolo and I less so, as we find ourselves running Papeleria y Novedades Mama Lilly and a second new business that we opened last Saturday called “Arenas” on our own.  The Papeleria has a low profit margin to help the community and with the free and discounted school supplies and internet access, copies and printing we provide to those less fortunate is not making ends meet as of yet. I have combined it with the garage sale, added Avon and Mary Kay, and will be enlarging it to accommodate more economical products in the future. I know if I could clone myself do more advertising to reach businesses and the schools themselves, and do more promotions on the social media it can eventually be profitable. There are just not enough hours in the day and no one else in the house has the experience.

An opportunity came up to rent the Arenas store that I could not pass up. Food and Liquor sells in Cozumel, I think this might be what ultimately get Bartolo’s family security after I am gone. Remember, I have a family of four that I am supporting in my very home that I must have self-sufficient before Charlie and I can enjoy some quality of life before we pass on.

Bartolo and I are on day six of running both businesses alone with little or no help. (We can’t afford employees). The Papeleria is open every day from 6:30 am until ten pm Monday through Saturday and 7:00 am to 9:00 pm on Sundays. Arenas is open 9:00 am – 9:00 pm Monday – Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. to 11 pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 pm on Sundays. It is located conveniently on the corner of 35th and 17th.  It has taken me three days to get The Cozumel Sun written even with the wonderful contribution by Karen Bloemhoff. Thank you Karen!

The Cozumel news continues the same, political verbal warfare between the parties and candidates. The good news is that United States and Canada has deemed the Ferries in Playa safe that transport passengers back and forth to Cozumel safe again.

Papeleria Mama Lilly / The Cozumel Sun Headquarters

Our Neighborhood Store: Do you need Office Supplies, School supplies, copies, printing, book binding, laminating, or internet access? Give Papeleria Mama Lilly your business!  Store proceeds go towards helping a local family become self-sufficient.  Located with The Cozumel Sun Offices in my home at 35 Avenida Sur Entre Calles 17 & 15 Bis. Colonia Independencia.

In addition to gift bags, wrapping paper, novelty items and gifts, we now carry AVON and MARY KAY Products! Catalogs are in our store! Stop by browse the catalogs and order your favorite Avon or Mary Kay Products! We have started stocking MK Fragrances and cosmetics and some Avon Fragrances will be in stock this Friday.

Again, our home houses The Cozumel Sun Office, Papeleria Mama Lilly Store, our Collection Center and Garage Sales. We are located at #1081 35 Avenida Sur between Calles 17 and 15 Bis. Colonia Independencia.  Anyone outside of the island can donate to any of our projects through The Cozumel Sun via PayPal.

Ebenezer Church English Service Needs our Help!

The English Speaking Church Ebenezer (listed under places of worship in The Cozumel Sun) has a food bank. During the summer months, much of the congregation heads north to the United States or Canada and they find themselves without enough money to fund the program this summer. They provide food every month for about 35 families at the cost of $7,000 pesos per month, ($390 USD). From May through October they will need a total of $42,000 PESOS. Cash can be given at the back of the church on Sundays in a Special Container designated for the food bank. (The service is at 9 am on Sundays). They have a special free account in the US dedicated to their community work in Cozumel. They can now receive US and Canadian checks by mail to US contact Arn Vander Bok (arns60@yahoo.com)for the simple and secure process to do this. Two families in my immediate neighborhood benefit from this food bank, please consider assisting by providing any amount you can afford, it does not have to be a large donation. In my household Sharon attends Ebenezer on Sundays and has worked the food bank so you are welcome drop it off here and let us know it is designated for the food bank, and we will get it to their finance committee. THANK YOU in advance, you have never let me down!

Baldwin’s Guest House Cozumel

MARCH SPECIAL! Book this month for September or October and receive a 10% Discount!
http://baldwinsguesthousecozumel.com/
baldwinsguesthousecozumel@gmail.com
52 (987) 872-1148
USA & Canada: (770) 934-6987

Baldwin’s Guest House Cozumel is the only B & B on Cozumel with a consistent 5-star review rating on TripAdvisor. We are a small boutique hacienda with 4 suite guest rooms in the main house and a casita with living room, kitchen, bedroom and bath. Our beautiful and clean pool has a waterfall set in an oasis containing over 400 species of plants. We have free cable TV, Wi-Fi and an outdoor kitchen for guests. Manager provides Happy Hour every day with your choice of drinks. We provide a breakfast every day with fruit, yogurt and a hot entree. Cleaning service provided daily. Laundry service provided for a small fee. We are in a residential area 12 blocks from the Malecon and close to local restaurants including Casa Mission, Mr. Taco and El Sazón del Camerón. Come and see why we have been a guest favorite for over 20 years!

Things to do Every Day in Cozumel !

Live Music Cozumel  Facebook: Music Cozumel 

Mondays

Tuesdays  – Thursdays  – Saturdays

Wednesdays

Cozumel Ladies Breakfast Club

Wednesdays 9:15 am

Buccanos at Night

Multi-ethnic, multi-sensory dining experience where flavors clash on purpose. Contemporary seafood, fresh fish & premium quality ingredients that change with the season. Ocean view dining terrace with a panoramic view of the mainland skyline enhanced by torches & candlelight and a new extended upstairs Seaview Terrace and an air-conditioned dining room. A more relaxed and social approach to dining awaits you at ‘Buccanos at Night, an Enchanting Location for Fine Dining!

Thurdays

Thursdays

Thursdays

Fridays

Fridays

Saturdays – Sundays

Saturdays

Sundays

Sundays

Sundays

Sundays

Every Day Fish Snorkel Cruise or Dive!