It’s an oddity. A large protrusion of compressed sand and
coral pieces jutting out into the ocean.
It was nick-named Ship Rock by
family members who moved to the neighbourhood a few years before we did.
Located just a little south of our casa the bow of the rock ship points
north east towards Cuba, resembling a small cruise ship waiting to depart on an
adventure.
When the island of Isla Mujeres was created
by the forces of nature, this piece of land was part of the island, but over
the ten or so thousands of years it has become semi-detached floating free in a
turquoise sea.
Ship Rock has become a focal point in the neighbourhood, a place to
fish, or swim. A place to plink stones into the water, while
staring in contemplation at the ocean.
It’s peaceful. And it’s hectic.
On hot summer weekends the rock is festooned
with kids who, under their parents’ loose supervision, enjoy a refreshing dip
in the ocean. We relax on our second
floor ocean-side deck, listening to the shrieks of laughter, and the excited
barking of pets – free from leashes and happily terrorizing other dogs.
Around October, a run of thin, silver, very
bony and tasty fish swim past. The many
avid fans of the Lady Fish cast hopefully with rod and reel or hand-lines,
hauling in dozens of fish.
Even the
family pets get in on the act, hauling the fish to shore as they are hooked on
the line. Dinner!
Other times the rock is inhabited with a gang
of noisy pelicans. They are also fishing
for dinner; scattered in the waves, perched on the edge of the outcropping,
feasting on a run of sardines passing through.
Then with their bellies stuffed with fish the birds rest and contemplate
life, wings tucked in while they snooze for an hour or two.
During the windy winter months a few intrepid
tourists and locals try out body-surfing at Ship
Rock.
The waves curl and crash,
tossing young bodies into the air, or stuffing them under the water.
It looks like fun, although the water is not
very deep where the waves break, and the coral rocks make a tough landing.
The comings and goings at Ship Rock provide us with a bit of amusement, a source of
entertainment on lazy afternoons, or a focal point for a winter sunrise
photo.
Just another small, but
interesting slice of island life.
Hasta Luego
Lawrie & Lynda
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