Andromeda returned to Isla after a year's refit sojourn to Florida. A year in Florida sure makes me appreciate Isla and her gin-clear tropical waters. While in Florida, Andromeda berthed in The Harborage and St. Petersburg Municipal Marina in St. Pete., Rose Marina in Marco Island, and Burnt Store Marina in Pt. Charlotte. All nice, but none treated her with the deference she gets at Marina Mkax in Isla. upon her arrival her Isla crew immediately set to work restoring the polish, and varnish; restoring Andromeda to her bristol yacht condition.
Just one year has passed since she was here last, but Isla's development is marked. A very pleasant surprise is the improved wifi service at the marina and the AT&T broadband service over iPhone. When I returned to Florida last year I expected to enjoy an improvement in marina wifi. Not! Every Florida marina Andromeda visited had poor, slow, intermittent wifi service. Here in the Marina Mkax I smoothly stream sling box. and, everywhere I go, my Phone accesses my data service just like I am home in Dallas, included in my existing AT&T plan. Anytime, anywhere, I am aided by my internet Spanish translator instantly interpreting what I hear and what I want to say. I stream my XM radio through my IPhone, stick in my AirPods, and listen to my favorite cable TV while riding my moto all over the island.
The increase in activity on the water is mind-boggling. The number of booze-cruise catamarans churning up the bay waters is disturbing. The Laguna Mkax, once a quiet, undeveloped refuge is now lined with little marinas and full of boats. The once quiet anchorage of Bahia de Isla is rocking in the wakes of passing vessels.
Still, I anticipate increased enjoyment from the new infrastructure, like cruising to Cozumel and berthing at its new modern marina.
