Cozumel Sea Walls by Flow Serfati Photography

This was such a crossover blog post, I decided to copy it from my Design in Cozumel blog ...

Jason Botkin painting Cozumel sea wall photo by Florent Serfati

This photo is so powerful in so many ways. It is a great shot by Florent Serfati, who has done a magnificent job of compiling all the sea wall photos he shot recently. The artist, Jason Botkin, is shown in a Michaelangelo concentration doing what he does best. There is so much passion in this photo.

Jason Botkin mural complete by Florent Serfati

I have been following Florent Serfati's photography for a while, admiring his skills and loving what I got to follow on Facebook. But he has really outdone himself with the murals that have gone up all around Cozumel in the last month. People came from all over the world to promote our oceans and leave us these wonderful treasures. Flow has captured these moments magnificently.

Another awesome photo by Flow Serfati Photography

Due to some health issues, I haven't been out and about to take my own photos of these sea murals. Luckily I didn't have to, I have been able to enjoy them from in front of my computer. The above is by Kaulukuku and references the sponsor, Pangeaseed and of course taken on Cozumel, Mexico 2015.

It you loved these sea mural photos, please visit Flow Serfati's Photography page here on Facebook. You will see the sea murals and a whole lot of other wonderful photographs. Thanks, Flow!!

Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans on Cozumel Island

Really psyched about the sea walls, murals for oceans that is being sponsored by Pangeaseed here on Cozumel Island for the next ten days. Murals are being painted by some pretty famous street artists "to save our seas by public art and activism."

I already know a few places they have started and plan to stop and photograph them. I did notice one artist has started and appears to have the name of a restaurant in his wall art. I really hope it isn't so, as that seems like such a sell out. Will let you know tomorrow when I go by. We already have enough advertisements here. Hoping for something new and fresh.

Living Vicariously: Guanajuato Through the Eyes of Kristina Rodriguez

Dolores Hidalgo photo by Kristian Rodriguez

Sometimes I get to travel, like in one month I will be in England to attend my niece's wedding and go on a cruise to Greece and Turkey. Other time, I live vicariously through somebody else's photos - in this case the photos of our one and only Kristina Rodriguez. (Note the photo above is a double winner. It has a great door and graffiti.)

Now Kristina is just talented. Along with being a fabulous photographer, she is also an amazing chef and has a lovely restaurant on Cozumel named Cha Cha's Kitchen with her mom, Kathy. Their Facebook page can be found here.

More great doors by Kristina Rodriguez

But while Cha Cha's is closed for their vacation, Kristina and mom Kathy are traveling around Guanajuato, and I am enjoying their travels almost as much as they are!

Divine view by Kristina Rodriguez

Fred Boehm & His Amazing Photos

Photo by Fred Boehm of Cozumel beach

I have known Fred Boehm for years. He is our client and friend. He is our neighbor. I know where he works at his day job, but what I didn't know until recently is that he is also an amazing photographer. His work just blows me away. The photo above is so crisp and three dimensional. I just want to jump in and lie down on that hammock!

Fred Boehm sunrise by Mezcalito's

Another amazing shot above. Here are a few more for our enjoyment. And if you want to view his wonderful shots more often, like his Facebook page and get a little shot of wonder everyday at Fred Boehm Photographer.

Black and white by Fred Boem of San Gervasio ruins

One of my all time favorites is below. It is just simply stunning! Like Fred's new Facebook page. We are so lucky to have such a talented guy on Cozumel (and he and Lily are great people!)

Photo by Fred Boehm

Reflections and Resolutions

One thing I am certain of is I am not perfect. We all know that none of us are. But the one New Year's resolution I want to make this year is to be more clear of my intentions and hope others can do the same. I will try my best to approach each new hurdle or situation with an open mind. Really a tough one for me.

I never really understand where somebody else is coming from at any given moment. I have unkind words or a horrible email from family, and immediately I get angry. But after a few days revisiting the issue over and over again, I realize that most of what makes me upset or hurt is not really about me, but more about them. This is the kind of stuff I know but seldom practice.

So I approach this new year with a new lesson. Take what I can get and leave the rest. Enjoy my friends and my accomplishments. Take it one day at a time and don't take life so seriously. All the crap will still he here tomorrow. Relax, enjoy and understand that we all have problems. Often when another person is unkind or judgmental, the best thing to do is to let go and let God.

That is my wisdom for 2015! Happy New Year. Feliz 2015!

Graffiti: Playa del Carmen Street Art Part 2

Street art photos courtesy of India Lee

India Lee is a woman I know from Cozumel. She was living here when I arrived in 1999-2000. I think she had already lived in Cozumel a while. She and a friend moved to the Riviera Maya area to sell at one of the hotel resorts being built and we lost track of each other. I was happy to find her again on Facebook. Thanks again, India Lee, for the great photos of the new street art at Playa!

These were my favorites. Enjoy!

Graffiti: Street Art Playa del Carmen Part 1

Street Art Playa del Carmen courtesy of India Lee

Very rarely do I like to double post on both my blog Design in Cozumel and here on Gargoyles & Graffiti, but I think this is such an important phonomenon I wanted to report on both. In the process of cleaning up Playa del Carmen, in anticipation of all the new shops, plazas, hotels, and condos ... the city decided to embrace street art. Instead of trying to cover it up, they are having young people all over the city making fabulous graffiti or street art. I love it. Graffiti is a popular form of expression since Roman times, even before. Look at cave paintings.

more street art at Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Notice that the pieces are signed and adorn many of the blah or ugly concrete block walls around town. Bravo to Playa del Carmen to come up with such a colorful and fun solution.

Courtesy of India Lee

India Lee, thanks for posting on Facebook!

HAL Nieuw Amsterdam on Cozumel Island

So our cruise is all set, and we are psyched. We are going on a transatlantic cruise on Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam. My husband and our niece are going too, with stops in Horta, Portugal, Gibraltar and Motril, Alicante and Palma de Mallorca, Spain ... before arriving at Barcelona! 

So to my utter surprise and delight, what sat docked in Cozumel when we went to lunch at Chi downtown today, but our ship ... the Nieuw Amsterdam. I love Holland America, and one of the main reasons is the awesome crew. Hailing mostly from Indonesia and the Philippines, the crew are just amazing ... warm and well-trained, always with a smile and a kind word.

I introduced myself to a few of the guys off the Nieuw Amsterdam shown above. Can't wait to see them again in April! Thanks for being so awesome even off-duty. You should be proud, Holland America!

Giglio Island: Costa Concordia Update

Costa Concordia January 2012

It is hard to believe it has already been one year and eight months since the horrific accident, where the Costa Concordia cruise ship went down on the Giglio Island reef. Finally this past Tuesday, the company in charge of moving the ship was able to get it upright, in preparation of moving it.

The technique used to turn the ship upright was accomplished by an operation called parbuckling. It was the largest ship to ever have this technique done, and the company who did it must be applauded, as they did a super job. More information on this operation can be found here.

Photo of Giglio Island  before the Costa Concordia accident

I just wonder how and when Giglio Island can return to normal. Maybe normal will be completely different than it was before. Having lived on Cozumel Island for the last thirteen years, I understand that small changes really effect the dynamics of an island, and having a monster cruise ship shipwrecked right off shore is a significant change, not a small one. 

This youtube video starts out showing how really beautiful the ship was. It is kind of frightening that they tell the cruisers that the ship is experiencing electrical problems and all will be well soon. Then the tragedy follows.

God bless those who lost their lives. I only hope for Giglio Island's sake, they can get the ship out of there soon.

Viva Mexico: Independence Day 2013

Happy Independence Day, Mexico! The theme this year is rain, rain, rain. We never made it down to the main street to see the fireworks last night. But one of our clients and a friend, Bill Bryan, took some amazing photos.

Enjoy!

Photo by Bill Bryan

Bill Bryan captured this photo on Sept. 15, 2013

My favorite from Bill Bryan from Independence Day 2013

Which is your favorite?

You Can Go Home Again

Me on Cozumel Island right before my trip

I have spent the better part of the last seven years dreading returning to my home town. It is the place of much happiness, but also unbelievable sadness. My mom is gone, dad too. Grandma died in 1995. Both my uncles and now my aunt have passed too. So much is due to the dreaded family disease, of which I was spared. It is a mixed blessing. Just the thought of Cincinnati brings back such bittersweet memories.

Mariemont Inn lobby

When I realized there was a good chance I wasn't going to see my niece Sarah unless I went to Cincinnati, I decided to take the plunge and go back to the place of my birth. I found an incredible place to stay, the Mariemont Inn, which made the visit very pleasant. 

Mariemont Inn lobby

I also realized what a beautiful city Cincinnati is, so steeped in hundreds of years in history. I enjoyed seeing my family again. Sometimes I stay away because the pain of leaving them again is not worth it. It is easier to stay here on Cozumel Island and pretend that I don't miss them. Seeing them almost made me realize how much I do miss everybody and wish we could see each other more often.

Mariemont Inn restored to 1923 standards

Amanda at Front Desk of the Mariemont Inn

I visited my parents' graves and tried to find Little Grandma's (that is the name my nieces gave my grandmother on my mom's side) grave. I was unsuccessful in finding it, but I will find it next time. I finally stopped to say a little prayer at my brother's grave. He died when he was 15. I still love you, Mike. I wrote a poem about you, remember?

My mom's grave stone

My dad's grave stone

Michael McDevitt 1960 to 1975

Believe it or not, I think there will be a next time in my very near future. I want my husband to return with me. I actually miss the place I was born and feel somewhat as if I have finally come full circle.

As Cruise Ships Age

Photo courtesy or US Coast Guard/Reuters

I apologize that this post is neither gargoyle nor graffiti, but the Fire on the Carnival Triumph has really dampened many cruisers' plans. How much is true and how much false will be sorted out over the next few days, but the bottom line is that things cannot be fun on one of the fun ships! The stench is supposedly awful from rotting food and the bathrooms are backing up, leaving a horrible mess.

It is hard to understand why they can't somehow get these people off the ship before Thursday. As the cruise ships begin to age, I wonder if this is going to become more and more common. I remember being on a cruise ship in 2008 when a small fire broke out. I had heard a weird noise at dinner, and I commented about it to my niece. Our cabin steward said that was the location of the fire, under the main dining room, but it was put out quickly and caused no damage to the ship. 

My niece and I stood at our cabin door with our life jackets on. I had our passports and money securely stowed on me, and we had our cabin steward take a photo. Luckily for us, that was as bad as it got. With about fifteen minutes of alarms going off and some simple instructions, we were sent back to our cabin to sleep.

I wish all the cruisers on the Carnival Triumph prayers, positive thoughts and well wishes. Having survived on the island of Cozumel after Hurricane Wilma, I know how inconvenient and messy things can get. We had no electric and no running water for weeks, so trying to keep the house clean and bathing were really challenging. We'd been stuck inside with four dogs through the 63 hours of the storm, also a nightmare. So again, my best wishes. Carnival Cruise Line, do your best to get these people off the ship please!

Costa Concordia Update: One Year Later

Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

It has now been a year since the Costa Concordia sunk off the coast of Giglio. It has made this small island of Italy a household name and not in a good way. The cruise liner is still there, not having been floated away yet. Living on the island of Cozumel, I just cannot imagine how our lives would change if one of these giant cruise ships that visit us everyday fell over on its side so close to shore and was still there after a year.

Back in November, a passenger's luggage washed to shore on another island. The crew working to right the ship so they can float it away thinks the piece of luggage had worked free of the ship a bit before it was found. An article about the luggage can be found here.

The good news is that as early as June of 2012, things were returning to normal on the island of Giglio. I have to believe it wasn't really life as they knew it before, but loving and admiring Italy and its people, I am sure they take it in stride and learn to embrace it as they do with everything, both life's tragedies and life's triumphs. If you would like to read more information on Giglio returning to normal, click here.

The projected date for floating away the Costa Concorida wreckage is now scheduled for summer 2013.

Christmas Charity from Dive Choice Mexico

I realize this post is neither gargoyle nor graffiti, but I couldn't help posting for a worthy cause here in Cozumel where I live. Spread the word please. This is what the Christmas season is all about! 

 

 

 

Karen Bloemhoff and Ricardo Garcia buy new toys all year from the money they make from selling donated items. They work tirelessly so the less fortunate children of Cozumel each have a new toy for the holiday season. From the above You Tube video, you can see just how appreciative the children are. Karen and Ricardo run Dive Choice Mexico, a dive operation. For more information on their personalized dive services, click on Dive Choice Mexico.

Karen also runs a very successful property management service and works for one of the local real estate companies. They are married and also have a baby. Just thinking of all they do makes me tired! They are an inspiration to us all here. Hailing from The Netherlands, Karen is a warm and kind hardworking entrepreneur. For all our readers from The Netherlands, Dive Choice Mexico provides service in Dutch!  

Thanks, Karen and Ricardo, for all you do for these children.

Happy New Year! We know a bunch of children in Cozumel will be celebrating 2013 with their spanking new toys!

Viva Mexico: Happy Independence Day

Fireworks in Cozumel night of Sept. 15th for Independence Day

Desiree Duncan of Cozumel: manicure in honor of Mexican Independence Day

Happy Independence Day, Mexico! It has now become a gargoyles & graffiti tradition with the feet, so here we go again. Desiree was kind enough to allow us to post her beautiful Mexican Independence Day manicure. Viva Mexico!

The festivities start tonight and go through tomorrow. 

If you want to know more about Mexican Independence ... the scream of Dolores, click here or Mexican War of Independence

Last but definitely not least, I am making this a graffiti post ... my favorite graffiti in Cozumel ... across the street from the plaza where our store is at 2 and 30th

Graffiti in Cozumel

Ces53: A Great Graffiti Artist

Graffit by Ces53 in Cholula, Mexico

I stumbled across a great graffiti artist from The Netherlands. He goes by the name of Ces53. He now does a lot more than graffiti, but his graffiti is great and can even be found in Mexico.

Graffiti by Ces53 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Check out his website at www.ces53.com

Carnaval in Cozumel

Crowning of the Cozumel Carnaval new King and Queen will take place February 15th, but already the town is gearing up. Deanna Campbell of Two D's Diving and Tour Adventures took a slew of great photos along what is known as the malecon of Cozumel ... the main beach street downtown. Here are some of my favorites.

Festivities will run through Feb 22nd. For a full schedule, please click here.

And if you would like more information on Two D's Diving and Tour Adventures, feel free to contact them. There was a great article written up about them on Dive News Network's Cozumel, Mexico: A Holiday on Holiday.

Costa Concordia Accident

Bench from Costa Concordia on Giglio beach (Paul Hanna/Reuters)

I would like to extend my heartfelt sympathies to the families of the people who died from the Costa Concordia accident. I also want to express hope and prayers for those still missing. I could not imagine how hard it would be to be torn away from the ones you love to be put in a life boat, not knowing if or when you will see them again. Thankfully we are now down to 17 unaccounted for.

My prayers and thoughts are with you. I hope the stranded get back home safely.


Update January 20th ... we have heard all kinds of things by now. Costa and Carnival Cruises claim they are not responsible as the Captain made the decision to enter the water by Giglio Island on his own. The Captain appears to have abandoned his ship. I truly believe this accident will change cruising. I know my sense of safety and security is shaken. Never again can we say the Titanic can never happen again. If this accident had occurred in colder waters and further out to sea, I think we would see way more deaths. All of us wait to see what is going to happen. I think all the cruise lines will be forced to keep further away from vulnerable areas like Giglio, which is basically a marine park like Cozumel. Our hearts go out to the families still searching for their missing. 


We had our own tragedy this week in Cozumel. 

Our installer/drapery/upholstery guy lost his wife. She was 26 years old. She got sick and was gone in a month. Our heart goes out to our worker. Sad week all around. Lots of prayers needed.

Satellite image of the Costa Concordia

Now a guy has fallen or jumped and been killed on the Carnival Fantasy. Not a good month for the Carnival Corp.
http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4731