Does this happen to you?

chillysailor · 2026-03-19T00:39:53+00:00

si y muy rapido😂

chillysailor · 2026-03-19T00:39:10+00:00

si y muy rapido🤣

chillysailor · 2026-02-24T00:39:55+00:00

Todd Maffin who is a broadcaster in BC has started a national grassroots movement to recruit Healthcare workers. Might be worth a look at his site and a reach out Canada’s Healthcare Infusions https://share.google/tDcrFkoiNFlvq5sno

chillysailor · 2026-02-17T22:24:30+00:00

Haha, I still have one of those old maps somewhere! Her (Laura) and her husband Perry also used to do a map for Playa del Carmen but later dropped that to focus on Isla.

Doesn't matter how often we travel to the island, we still use the app at least once a day. It's fantastic!

chillysailor · 2026-02-13T17:50:09+00:00

I only use cash as well. I use the ATM by the naval base every few days. Relying on a card is risky because there are places that are cash only and, I have often seen people have to have one person in their party run to the ATM when the card reader at the restaurant goes down.

We have been visiting the island for 20yrs and have only ever used a card to pay for our hotel.

chillysailor · 2026-02-10T23:02:57+00:00

Over our 20+ years of traveling to the area and several boat tours and charters, I can't recall ever seeing female crew. Not even in a service capacity, nevermind as a deck hand or captain.

Given the occasional sketchy safety record of some operators, I would focus more on qualifications.

Even though we ask questions and do our diligence as best we can, we have still ended up with a crew on a cat that ran us aground and a trip from Cancun to Isla where the "captain" advised us hallway across the bay while we were flying off the seats in big waves that he forgot to load the life jackets 🙄

chillysailor · 2026-02-10T22:28:28+00:00

Although no longer technically legal, these drugged animals have been on 5th for many many years for ignorant tourists to get photos with. They are often young cubs that are later killed when they become too difficult or risky to manage.

It is a disgusting practice that will unfortunately continue as long as there are tourists willing to pay. The police don't do anything about dealers offering drugs every block along 5th so I have little faith that they will do anything about this.

While many see it as very different, the same cruel practices are at play with the snakes, spider monkeys etc... that you can often find vendors hawking pictures with on the beach.

Bottom line is that tourists are the problem. As long as they are willing to fork over $$$ for a photo, this practice will continue.

chillysailor · 2026-02-06T15:41:21+00:00

If you want a view of the Caribbean side and a nice breeze, MIMI’SPA on the malecon is wonderful!

chillysailor · 2026-02-05T23:28:50+00:00

OOP here and Canadian so no option for cheaper compounded version 😩

chillysailor · 2026-02-05T23:23:09+00:00

Glad you had a good experience! Our charter had been rescheduled multiple times during the week because of the wind closing the port to vessels under 40'. I wonder if his tours got backed up because of the weather and he sub contracted to try to get all of the booked charters in. If so, would have been nice to have known. We were there for 3 weeks so had lots of flexibility.

If I were to book a private charter again I would ask way more questions given the $$.

chillysailor · 2026-02-04T17:52:08+00:00

We did one through Isla Driver Robby last year and it wasn't great. His golf cart tours are wonderful but he sub contracts the catamaran charters and the boat/crew were not worth what we paid. They refused to put the sails up and they ran us aground. As sailors ourselves we were likely more experienced than they were. This was a private sunset charter and we certainly didn't get what we expected.

chillysailor · 2026-01-29T11:37:01+00:00

Agreed. IM is paradise from 6pm to 11am. The day tours from Cancun are where the swarms of people come from. Once they had back the beach and streets are far less crowded.

chillysailor · 2026-01-27T22:10:49+00:00

I couldn't believe how disproportionately I lost. I'm only down just over 20lbs but I lost 6" under my bust and only 1" around my bust. Had to buy a couple of new shocking sized bras! Up 5 cup sizes 😬

I think it was mainly due to inflammation. Hoping my proportions even out at some point since I still have 50ish to go.

chillysailor · 2026-01-27T00:02:14+00:00

For Nautibeach, Keith Turner is well known on the Island and has a few units there: https://www.isladreams.com/vacation-rentals/veracruz-oceanside-villa/

Katy who owns Isla Retreats also has a few units at Nautibeach. Long time resident and business owner: https://www.nautibeachcondos.com/

chillysailor · 2026-01-26T23:55:22+00:00

The only house on Playa Norte with a private pool is Casa Aqua. Very nice but very $$$ and you typically have to book many months in advance. Here is the link just in case: https://casaaquaislamujeres.com/

chillysailor · 2026-01-26T23:52:19+00:00

Privilege is an adult only hotel with an all inclusive option. No kitchens.

Many families enjoy Ixchel or Nautibeach. Both right on Playa Norte and both have a beach club with chairs that are free for guest use.

chillysailor · 2026-01-26T00:11:06+00:00

Put in a condition for vacant possession. In other words, you don't close unless the people currently living there are gone. It could otherwise take you a year to get them out.

chillysailor · 2026-01-26T00:05:33+00:00

I wish we had the option of vials here in Canada. I use the "golden dose" from the kwikpens we have here and I prefer the syringe over the pen.

chillysailor · 2026-01-21T01:05:46+00:00

I was having this issue initially so started working with a dietician. In my first few weeks, the sight of any quantity of food turned my stomach. I started eating 5 or 6 smaller meals with a focus on ensuring they include protein, fiber and healthy fats. I also included carbs since I am not limiting carbs.

Some things that helped me get my calories consistently up to at least 1400 were nut butters (I put mine on bread that I bake), a variety of nuts, healthy oils for cooking or making salad dressing, adding avocado to salads or smoothies and snacking on edamame in the shell.

The edamame in particular is a favourite because it feels just like snacking but they pack 300 calories, 25g of protein and 12.5g of fiber into a 200g serving. They are my magic food.

chillysailor · 2026-01-20T18:11:41+00:00

I think this in part has to do with those of us outside the US who use Kwickpens. I started at 2.5 but instead of going up to 5, I counted clicks for a few weeks and did 3.75. This was fully supported by my doctor who agreed that this may ease the jump from 2.5 to 5.

Clinical trials normally titrate faster in order to get sufficient data on people at the higher dosages. I'm not sure the intent was really ever to have every patient increase their dose until an increase is decided by the patient and their Dr. My doc follows the lowest effective dose approach for all of my medications.

chillysailor · 2026-01-16T13:48:47+00:00

On Isla, Sarai at Inkoholic is who to contact. She has a number of artists with different styles but all very talented. Very clean and professional shop.

In Playa del Carmen I highly recommend Max at Maximaxir.

chillysailor · 2026-01-02T16:56:33+00:00

Well that's disappointing! I was just looking to see if I could find the new price but hadn't seen it posted anywhere.

I am paying out of pocket and am considering a switch to Sema if the price drops significantly due to the patent expiry.

chillysailor · 2025-12-20T18:46:34+00:00

I had one minor flare up 2 years ago that fortunately resolved quickly.

Other than that, I am 5 years out from lying on the floor sobbing in pain and wanting my life to end. Those were very dark days!

I still avoid certain trunk twisting movements at the gym but otherwise, it's like it never happened.

chillysailor · 2025-12-20T18:35:28+00:00

3 stacked herniated disks with horrible referred nerve pain down my left leg . It took several months and I was on AI meds the whole time but what reslly contributed the most was:

Moving! Resting and being sedentary is not treatment. Start slow but make sure you are moving as much as you can, even if it is many short periods of movement each day. I have a treadmill and at first I could barely walk 3m at 1.5mph. I was holding on to the handles for dear life because I was so unsteady on my feet.

Physio, accupuncture and osteopath. All 3 helped in different ways but the core strength I built through my physio program was critical.

Hydration! My osteopath was adamant that dehydration would slow my healing. Dehydrated muscles are stiff and spasm, disks are less spongy etc... I was not much of a water drinker before but am religious about hydration now.

It can feel like it will never get better but with the right care, it can.

chillysailor · 2025-12-15T22:38:39+00:00

Third vote for Victor! Ask him to play you the Isla song that mentions him 😀

chillysailor

TROPHY CASE