IN THE WORDS OF THE BEATLES…

IT’S BEEN A LONG COLD LONELY WINTER, NOW HERE COMES THE SUN.

I wasn’t able to visit last year. I was undergoing chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant for recurring lymphoma, a blood cancer. When I was very sick from the treatment, I dreamed of jumping into the clear blue water of the Caribbean. It always helped get me through a bad moment.

Now I’m back to my favorite place, Puerto Morelos, Mexico. It’s located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

Its wonderful to be back at Casa Velero. They redecorated the inner courtyard with colorful murals of the sea.

One reason I love Casa Velero is its steps away from everything. The pier, above, and excellent restaurants and the town square.

My friend, Angelina or Ace, as we call her is relaxing in the pool after arrival. We met as KSYM radio station and had radio shows. We bonded over, that her father comes to Puerto Morelos (PM). He rents an apartment here and stays 6 mo of the year. She’s visited several times when I am in PM. She stayed the first week. We’re going snorkeling tomorrow!

These fish were huge. Hard to tell from picture

Barracuda

I do have some bad news to report about the state of the reef. They had a very hot summer and the temperature of the water rose. It had the effect of killing some of the big hard corals. The soft corals, the things that look like underwater trees above, did OK. For example, the brain coral in the picture, the top layer of the coral is living and it covers the skeleton. When the coral dies, it leaves the skeleton behind. Eventually with out the living structure the coral skeleton crumbles.

It’s heartbreaking! Ive traveled all over the Caribbean, often returning places and Islands where the coral was beautiful but now dead….such as the Florida Keys. I love Puerto Morelos because, until this year, the coral was vibrant and beautiful. Its a warning to our planet, that many people ignore.