Cozumel News August 8th, 2014: Thanks for the Memories, my goodbye to Prima Trattoria Restaurant at El Cantil – New Immigration Problem, non-resident owners Mexican vehicles and property face a big problem for the lack of a CURP – Mansion De Paz Panteón Municipal, Inpart two of my series about dying in Paradise I reveal cemetery costs – An Explosion at the Cozumel Airport and Young Paramedic loses Life, please participate in the fundraiser this Sunday to help his family and Volunteer & Donate.
Thanks for the Memories!
Prima Trattoria Restaurant at El Cantil closed its door this week. Many years ago my husband and I came to the Island of Cozumel to Scuba Dive. At least one trip per year was in the company of a large group of twenty some members organized by friend “Big Mac.” The group was made up of former sky divers that had moved on to diving as their favorite sport, Cozumel was their favorite place, and Aqua Safari, was their favorite Dive operation. The group dove all day and played all night. There was an organized assault on the town to eat, drink and be merry every evening.
That is how I was first introduced to Prima. The restaurant in those days was downtown on a second floor terrace. The room downstairs was so small that the waiting was outside and many times down the block! There was always a line to get into Prima in those days, there seemed to be one every night. I remember that even waiting out in the street for your name to be called was fun. I remember the steep, narrow, spiral staircase that we had to climb to get to the seating. The stairs were scary going up and even more so after a few drinks going down. Both the wait and the stairs were part of the Prima experience and well worth the end result of a great evening out with excellent food and service.
We always ate at Prima at the beginning of our vacation and as a group the night of our last dive to treat the Aqua Safari Dive Masters that had cared for us during the trip. There was certain “electricity” in the air, an excitement, an atmosphere that made eating there special. The staff was the same year after year. The quality of the food and service was excellent and in our experience, never faltered.
It was the end of an era when Prima moved to El Cantil. This new Prima was originally called Winston’s I think, and it was modern, classy, and top of the line “fine dining,” a totally different restaurant with a killer view of the island and sea. I was a diehard warming up to the new place. I had to take the old location out of my heart and memory in order to fully appreciate the “New” Prima. Eventually, with the help of the staff, now old friends, and Owner Albert Dannerman’s insistence on quality and service, the new Prima grew on me. I once again built good memories as I treated visiting family and friends to meals “with a view.” While many visitors and tourists still made meals at Prima part of their itinerary during their visit, a glance around the dining room let you know that it was also a favorite place for locals.
These past years, my family and friends have celebrated anniversaries, birthdays, and special events at Prima Trattoria. In my particular circle, it was many times a place for brunch after church on Sunday, and many times a meeting place of the Women’s Breakfast Group. The Men’s Breakfast Group met each and every Friday Morning at Prima without fail.
This past Sunday I went to Prima’s for breakfast for the very last time accompanied by husband Charles and friend Pat Hamp. The place was packed with locals, coming to say goodbye. It was a bitter-sweet goodbye, wishing old friends good luck in their new ventures, nervous for what the future might hold for them, and sad we would no longer have that spectacular view available to us. I saw the owner smile and laugh, obviously happy with his decision to take a well deserved absence from the restaurant business. 
Thanks for the memories, Albert Dannerman, we wish you well!
New Immigration Problem
Submitted by: Don Beto Cozumel
Current problem for Expats in Cozumel! A new law regarding registration and re-registration of motor vehicles and motorcycles has gone into effect and this is causing a major problem to expats who own property and motor vehicles here in Cozumel…. These expats who have owned homes and legally registered Mexican vehicles here for many years are now being told that they cannot register or re-register vehicles without a CURP. They are told that they cannot obtain a CURP without a Temporary or Permanent Residences Visa. One friend tried to obtain a CURP with Constancia de Residencia but was denied. This CURP problem could affect as many as 100 or more property owners here in Cozumel, who own vehicles and motorcycles, who only want to come and go on tourist visas (FMM), they own homes, pay their Predials and Fides. I have friends here now who paid for their places in February or March, but cannot pick them up because they do not have and cannot legally obtain CURPS.
Mansion De Paz Panteón Municipal
In part two of my series on dying in Paradise, I researched Cemetery prices. My Mother passed away last year here in Cozumel, so it is something I have unfortunately had firsthand experience handling. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions, or if you need my assistance. There are two main Cemeteries in Cozumel, The Municipal Cemetery downtown on 5th Avenida Sur and Calle 9 Bis, and the Mansion de Paz Cemetery. It is my understanding that the Municipal cemetery downtown is completely sold out.
The Mansion de Paz Cemetery is located on Claudio Canto Anduze. It is the same large street that you take to get to the Cozumel Humane Society and the Street the semis used to line up on to catch the vehicle Ferry before the new terminal was built. You can’t miss it, it is way down on the right about two blocks pass 65. (Further-more, it turns into a dead end street a few blocks down, right after the City Jail and the gas company.)
It isowned and operated by the Governmentunder the “ Dirección de Desarrollo Económico.” I purchased a Family Lot in 2012 and today, in 2014 the prices remain the same. I want to point out, however, that when I purchased our lot, the area around us was completely empty and for sale. Today, there are mausoleums built all around our lot. It is filling up fast. If you pay for the lot in full you receive a 20% discount. Other-wise a 50% deposit is required with the balance paid in 3 equal monthly payments.
Lot Prices August 2014 in Mexican Pesos
The Lot Sizes are as follows: COST Full -20% OR 50% Deposit & 3 Payments of:
Small up to 2 Loved Ones $ 5,566.00 $ 4,452.00 $ 2783.00 $927.66
Medium up to 4 Loved Ones $ 11, 638.00 $ 9,310.40 $5,819.00 $969.83
Family up to 6 Loved Ones $ 16,588.00 $ 13,270.40 $8,294.00 $1,382.33
Large Lot up to 12 Loved Ones $ 27,390.00 $ 21,912.00 $13,695.00 $2,282.5
At the time of purchase you will also pay for a Construction Permit:
Small $50.00
Medium $100.00
Family $200.00
Large $350.00
… And you will pay for a Burial Permit that for us was 10% of the purchased Price.
Other Options and Pricing:
Individual Vault $ 5,940.00
Community Grave: $1,430.00
Osarios: $1,650.00
Requirements:
– Two Copies of Credentials “De Elector (IFE)” – (In Our Case Immigration Documentation Card)
– Two Copies of Proof of Residency (Water, Light, or Telephone Bill)
Contact:
Sr. Jaime Humberto Yam Cetina
987-101-3183
Cozumel Airport Explosion
An explosion took place at the northern part of the Cozumel airport that caused one worker serious injury. On Wednesday, August 6th an explosion was reported in the fuel area of the airport. The accident occurred when the compressor pressured “Sand Blast”, used to clean the “jet” grit of one of the two containers of jet fuel burst. The extent of the injury differ between newspapers, one reports the worker lost his forearm, the other his right hand. The incident is said to be the responsibility of the private company contracted to perform this type of work, but because the airport is Federal Property a Federal investigation will be held to fully review the incident. There were no flights at the time, no passengers were ever in any danger, and the explosion did not affect any of the fuel tanks.
Young Cozumel Paramedic Loses Life
Luis Ángel Hernández Sandoval, the young paramedic injured last Monday August 5th, lost the battle for his life in the city of Cancun. He was on his way to work at Fiesta Americana when his motorcycle was hit by a Taxi in front of Chankanaab. Reports are that the helmet he was wearing flew off his head on impact.
The death occurred around 4 pm yesterday. Despite the pain of irreparable loss, the family could legally proceed to appeal the decision to the ministerial agency whose expertise was favorable to the driver who earned his freedom. Family and friends gave an impromptu press conference on the side of the Mexican Red Cross in Colonia Maravilla where they thanked the support of the community and said how sad that someone who devoted his life to save others, lost his life .
On Sunday friends, family and paramedics will conduct a bazaar next to the Mexican Red Cross at 65 Avenue and 25 South from 9a.m. to 1p.m. and a Cook-out at Benito Juarez Park from 7 p.m.-11 p.m. All proceeds will be deposited to the account of the family. We offer our condolences to his family.
Volunteer & Donate
Check out these wonderful Organizations & Projects: Cozumel CAM School for Disabled Children, The Cozumel Sea Turtle Rescue Program, The Humane Society of Cozumel, Rancho Universo Horse Sanctuary and Horse Therapy Centre, The Cozumel Blood Drive, and the Three Kings Day Drive.
If you are already part of one of these wonderful organizations, please proof the information that I have taken from your website and Facebook page. Please contact me with any changes and updates. I am a one-woman operation and really need your help in order to provide my readers with the most current information available. If you volunteer or donate to a Cozumel Non-Profit Organization That is not listed, please send me the information so I may add it to this section. Thank you for your assistance!
Note: If you are headed to Cozumel on vacation, or are returning to Cozumel from vacationing in the United States, check out the wish lists of the various non-profit organizations. Many of the items are not available in Cozumel and almost always, the items that are available are extremely expensive here due to the high cost of transporting goods to the island.
Our Cover Picture: Last Sunday I took this picture of the beautiful Nuns that tend to the Seniors at Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II. One more Sister joined them after I took the picture, I did not dare disrupt the service at Corpus Christi Church to take another one!
Thank you The Cozumel Sun Sponsors!
The Cozumel Sun Sponsors make this publication possible. Through their support I am able to offer our readers with Cozumel News in English. Their support has made it possible to provide and keep updated “The Living in Cozumel Guide” and Listing of Service Providers, Cozumel Events & Activities Calendar, the Volunteer & Donate Opportunities. If you live in Cozumel, show your appreciation by visiting them. If you are visiting Cozumel in the future, make it a point to stop by these wonderful establishments. Be certain to mention that you read about them in The Cozumel Sun!
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Aura Holguin-Resch 987-119-4956 Cell 120-5903 Casa 386-445-8702 USA
