what is left of cozumel

Our last stop on this trip was to Cozumel, Mexico.

On October 22, Wilma made landfall on Cozumel as a category 4 hurricane and ripped it to shreads. The island was closed to tourists and visitors until Monday - so we were some of the first to see it upon our arrival on Thursday.

I was astounded at the devistation. I've been to Cozumel 3 times before and it's always one of my favorite places to visit in the Caribbean thus far because we usually rent a car and drive to the far end of the island to this secret beach that looks like the backdrop for a Corona commercial - paradise it is!! Also, the locals always seemed to hassel you a lot less than those in the Bahamas, Jamaica, etc...

Well, it had only been 2 years since I last visited, but the island was truly unrecognizable. All of the regular places were gone. The beautiful Puerta Maya had been reduced to a sign - the rest of the pier had just been ripped from the sea! Carlos and Charlies no longer exists. Hard Rock cafe wasn't even open. All of the buildings looked like a bomb went off inside. The trees grew sideways and looked burnt, bare, torn.

We ended up renting this converted-golf-cart-thingy and explored the ruins up and down the major calle and playas (what was left of them).





VIEW SLIDESHOW of what is left of COZUMEL
(all pics from my point-and-shoot mini-canon)

It was really sad but there was an atmosphere of hope for the rebuilding of the island (by Summer 2006). They've already made significant progress. I can't wait to go back in January 2007 for a cruise a bunch of us photographers are planning!