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In this issue: Bookstore is Closing for the Season May 29!
We'll be closing the store on May 29 and heading back North. This enables us to go back to Calgary and visit family & friends, and most importantly, collect some more books for the 2004/05 season! This is a good opportunity for area residents to make any special orders that we can bring back from Canada & the US. You can also request that we look out for certain books for you, no deposit or obligation required. It's a good time as well to stock up for those long, hot, lazy days of summer. Books seem to read quicker in a hammock! Please note our hours have changed. We are now closed Sundays & Mondays. Our hours are now Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. If these hours do not work for you, please contact us and we'll try to work something out. Joanne & I would like to thank you for a fun second year. We have learned a lot from you and we can't wait to come back for another busy winter. Special thanks to those of you who have written to us with compliments and suggestions for this newsletter. We are now sending this to more than 500 email addresses around the world and we know it gets forwarded to many more mailboxes. Drop us a line! Hasta Pronto! Rob & Joanne
For those of you still stuck up North, bring a small piece of Puerto Morelos to your home or office with our new Puerto Morelos Wallpaper. Beautiful of course and practical too with a May and June Calendar built right in. This month's wallpaper is a view of the beach near Villas Playasol. We'll have new pictures available for download every month! Pick your wallpaper size: CLICK HERE FOR WALLPAPER INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Fishing Tournament The Port Captain slowly raises his starter’s pistol over his head, high into the air. He squeezes the trigger and the gun sounds. Suddenly over 100 hundred fishing boats roar to life as they throttle forward for the start of the “Torneo de Pesca Deportiva”, the annual fishing tournament held the last weekend of May in Puerto Morelos.
We sat down with Emilio Munoz Rodrigo the Vice President of the tournament to learn more about the competition. Competitors vie for cash and trophies while trying to catch Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Pez Vela, Dorado, Wahoo, Tuna, Carito, Sierra and Barracuda. After the fish are caught they are weighed back at the dock and awarded points based on the type of fish and its weight. Totals are then given to each boat. The boat with the most points after two days of competition wins. Emilio points out that the tournament is not about winning, but more of a social event for the whole community. Emilio tells us that there have only been two Blue Marlins caught in the history of the tournament. The largest caught by Elizabeth Rosado the 1st woman to ever win the tournament. She fought for more than 6 hours to land a 105kg Blue Marlin.
Last year we were lucky enough to observe the tournament first hand. It was truly amazing to see the hundreds of boats speed out into the water at the start of the day. The normally quiet Puerto Morelos was filled with excitement the whole weekend. Even if you are not a fisherman make the trip to Puerto Morelos the last weekend in May for this annual event.  Another newsletter issue and
yet another new restaurant in Puerto Morelos. This one is a "Cocina Economica". Concina Economicas are inexpensive restaurants with tasty local food. It's
located on Avenue Ninos Heroes, just north of the police station, beside the
little blue house. It's called "Loncheria Mimi"
We have a doctor's office now
in Puerto Morelos. Dr. Carlos Taboada has opened up an office in Hostel Valsa, that's
across the street from the Hotel Inglaterra. Dr. Carlos speaks English very
well.
Also across from the hotel is a new
garden centre. A good place to see the plants that grow inside your house up North
growing outside.
Speaking of Hotel Inglaterra,
it's sporting a smart new lobby, a new sign, new furniture and new staff.
Change of plans: the new restaurant beside Cafe
de Amancia will now be a Mexican restaurant, not a Lebanese restaurant as we
reported last month.
Check out this month's SAC-BE
newspaper for more about the Puerto Morelos Fishing Tournament and other
fishing opportunities on the Mayan Riviera. As usual it has great maps of Akumal, Puerto Adventuras and the coast.
Go Flames Go! You can
take the kids out of Calgary, but you can't take the Calgary out of the kids.
We've been glued to our internet radio or spending late nights at Loco's Bar
watching our Calgary Flames on the big screen. Hockey and palm trees can go together!
Current Exchange Rates
(In Puerto Morelos)
USA Dollar 11.10
CDN Dollar 8.00
This Just In! New Books & Products at Alma Libre Books! Know Your Mexican Wildlife.
Snorkeling Guide to Marine Life by Paul Humann & Ned DeLoach The best guide to identify what lives in the Caribbean Sea. Features 280 colour photographs of everything you might see on your next snorkeling trip including fish, coral and plants. Also includes valuable tips about which plants and animals should be approached with caution, how to treat stings, and other interesting facts.
Postcards! We have the largest selection of postcards of Puerto Morelos, and they are all exclusive to Alma Libre. We know because we make 'em! Some photos for you this month...
Cactus Flower The cactus near the square is covered with blooms! Unfortunately for us, it only blooms at night so it is difficult to get a good picture, but it is just spectacular.
Old Meets New Here we see a classic Mariachi, with a twist. It's difficult to spot in the picture, but he's showing off his tongue stud! Pictured with the Mariachi is our friend Victor, who runs the helpful Cancun Valet company, which can deliver groceries, cell phones, liquor, sports equipment and more to your condo, saving you from having to spend any of your precious vacation in the supermarket. www.cancunvalet.com
In Memory
Every morning we would wake to the sound of his joyful whistling and the sound of his blender as he worked to perfect the tropical smoothie. All this took place after he took his long morning walk on the beach, according to him this was to make sure that the sand and the ocean were still meeting properly. He cheerily greeted us every morning by declaring "it's another beautiful morning in Puerto Morelos." We admired Gene's love of life and his sense of fun. We'll miss our neighbour and friend.
Our hours are always posted on the front page of our website at www.almalibrebooks.com. We will close the store May 29th, returning in October. We take trades every day, so our selection is constantly changing. If you are planning a trip down, why not bring some recent bestsellers to trade and check out our store. We look forward to seeing you in Puerto Morelos!
This is Year #2, Issue #6. May 2004. If you have any comments or suggestions, please Contact Us Retransmission & Redistribution of this newsletter without express written consent is just fine by us! Send this newsletter to a friend! ©2004 Alma Libre Bookstore |
Winter may have seemed
long where you were, but in Puerto Morelos the season just zipped by! What a
great time we had. A lot more people discovered the quiet charm of beauty of
Puerto Morelos this year, and we were happy to see a lot of new and familiar faces in
the bookstore. 
Free Gift
From Alma Libre
Heading into its 15th year, the
tournament is held in honour of Ceasar Martin Rosado, Mayor of Puerto Morelos
during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. He was one of the founders of the town
and his passion for fishing was so great that he became the best fisherman in
the area. He was happily shared his gift, spending many hours teaching the young
people of the town how to fish. Unfortunately he passed away just before the
first tournament was held, but this annual event lives on in his honour.
If you’re interested in
participating in this years “Torneo de Pesca Deportiva” it will take place May
28th, 29th and 30th. Registration begins two
weeks prior at Pelicanos Restaurant located in the main town square in Puerto
Morelos. To enter you need a boat, Boat Captain and crew. Events begin Friday
the 29th with the Captains meeting; fishing begins Saturday morning
at 8:00am, with all boats back by the deadline of 5:00pm. Saturday night there
is a dance in the main town square. Sunday’s fishing begins at 7:00am with
boats back at 3:00pm. The points are then tabulated and prizes are awarded.
But no one goes home empty handed; all participants receive two cases of beer
per boat and dinner for them and their families. 
Maya
Nature:
An Introduction to the Ecosystems, Plants and Animals of the Mayan World
On April 28, 2004 our friend Eugene Hannon
passed away in Great Barrington, MA. Gene was our next-door neighbour in Puerto Morelos.
