Costa Maya and Hurricane Dean discussion (merged)

[Starz723]

Hi Everyone:

The owner of Chac Chi, the eco resort next to the pier wrote back to me.

Cut and Paste the link to see the damage to the resort, its awful and look at the beach, its all rubble!!..It was a gorgeous sandy crescent shaped beach with gorgeous palm trees...all gone now.. Its so sad

The good news his family is safe and he is not going to sell out to any developers and he will rebuild.

Hi,

As you know hurricane Dean entered on Mahahual the 21th of August. My self and my family would like to thank you for all your prayers and good thoughts for our family, workers and Chac-Chi. We appreciate the time you took to write us to ask about our status. When Dean arrived, Chac-Chi was empty, we all left several days in advance to a safer place and we are all fine.

Dean strike Mahahual with a huge force and the results were not good for us and for most of the inhabitants of Mahahual. Most of the touristic infrastructure was severely damaged, buildings that were not of concrete were almost completely destroyed.

Unfortunately Chac-Chi was strongly damaged, our main structure, a big palapa which holds the restaurant, had lost it's roof and several of or cabañas were also damaged. You can see a picture by Reuters of our place at the following link.
http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070822/i...r582010275.jpg

Another bad news was the lost of almost half the Costa Maya pier and they estimate that it will be repair in about 6 to 8 months (http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=2162).

We are still evaluating the extensive damage that our place received, and we estimate a long recovery time. We hope to be open around the same time that the cruise ship pier is repaired and will be open as long as you or people as your self are willing to come to our place to have a good time. All changes are for good and life give us new opportunities to improve, we will try to make a better place were you can enjoy and relax on your vacations.

Once again I would like to thank you for all your support this years and we hope to see you again when we are up and running again.

Joaquin R.

[texreno]

I believe this is a before photo of one of the devastated Mahahual Restaurants in one of the post above. It is from our Grand Princess Cruise, April, 2007. So sad.

[texreno]

SORRY, DOUBLE POST

I believe this is a before photo of one of the devastated Mahahual Restaurants in one of the post above. It is from our Grand Princess Cruise, April, 2007. So sad.


SORRY DOUBLE POST.

[agrigar]

I think a memorial of some type would be a wonderful idea. Something that would give the locals hope. My only fear is wondering how the locals would be able to see it. They have nothing, how would they be able to get internet access?

[Arubalisa]

Originally Posted by agrigar

They have nothing, how would they be able to get internet access?

I had the exact same thought! Aren't they lucky IF they have electric power or generators for everyday use, nevermind internet?

IMHO, nothing would help these people more than cold hard cash. #1 to buy food to get them through until they can get their businesses up and running again, or until they return to work, #2 to buy building supplies and necessities to repair their businesses.

[cruzegirl]

Originally Posted by ACruiseGuy

Maybe the cruise lines should collect relief money.......

They build a port and a pier, and all their ships benefit.

It would be great if they focus some funds to the people who lived there....as well as reconstruction efforts.

Can you imagine visiting Costa Maya in the future, and not being able to visit the fishing village? Its the real reason the port has any substance....

ACruiseGuy,
I'm curious.... Did Julie Minter email you??? Just wondering!!!!

[cruzegirl]

Ok, Julie was able to email me again. She's in another town as they have no power. She said Frank and Enrique are ok. I don't know who they are, but apparently well known in town and by tourists. She also sent me photos from today that Frank took..... I will post several here. I am also posting some of Julie's email. But first, let's start with a photo I took of Costa Maya as were leaving on our cruise. I forgot I took until I was looking back through my photos.....

















In a message dated 8/22/2007 8:08:15 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, julie@blueoceansafari.com writes
thank God that Frank and Enrique are ok, attached is what he saw today,and pictures of mahahaul., and our house, sorry, I don't know what to think... or say, as far as where to send stuff, if you would think about sending it to Continental Airlines in Cancun, we are in the midst of setting up a tatastrophy area, to help EVRYONE, not just a few, so please believe me when I say that I and everyone in Mahahual thanks you for anything you can do. we have all lost everything, but we are very greatful to have people care about our little paradise, yes it is a village, and we will grow again, of course if you have any pictures of Mahahual, from before, remember it, now is just rocks and debri everywhere. I'm in mexico now. the only gas station was whiped out, so we need containers to put gasoline in, if you could send 10gls or 5lgs.. anyway we will have a real assestment by tomorrow evening... God Bless.

with the outmost regard

Julie Minter


In a message dated 8/22/2007 8:08:15 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, julie@blueoceansafari.com writes
Praise be to the Lord Jesus for sparing your home. mine was not as fortunate, but we are confident it will get rebuild some day.
I know you won´t mind me sending your email to our friends at cruise critics, they are very interested in helping our community, our little paradise, and there is lots of people who are concerned, I am so humble by all of the outpour of support, we need to come up with a commity to insure that the people of mahahual get assistance, we all needed.

Dan, and Debbie, and Kat, please forward this email to all who are interested in helping, and God Bless you..

Julie

[vacruizer]

Originally Posted by Retired not Expired

The pier comes straight into that red building on the right. It would be to the right of that photo.

Oops - sorry guys - my perspective was off.

[jamiski]

Here is a good 'before' picture of the resort next to the pier to compare to the Reuter's photo.

It was good to hear no one was hurt from the resort. I definately found spirt and hope in the letter that was posted from the resort owner. Costa Maya is battered and bruised, but it will be back.

[Cozumel_Tom]

I taped tonight's newscast with my digital camera a few hours ago...really bad quality images but you can see the pier in about 7 or 8 pieces in the 2nd video. Also....not on the videos, but an earlier piece with the Gov. of the State had him saying 6-12 months before recuperation and most interestingly that they hoped to put in a tender pier to service the cruise ships while the reconstruction of the main pier was going on...

http://www.dropshots.com/tomjensen#d...08-23/00:24:34

[idlewood4]

This may be further in the thread, but I'm currently on AOS, and have the dial up cybercabin. It is soooooooo slow, it takes about 3 minutes to load a cruise critic page. Has anyone heard from David or Ivan? How did they and their families fare?

What a tragedy for the Costa Mayan area, it was our favorite port to date, and our David and Ivan tour was the best ever. We had the Mayan lunch option with a Mayan family, and it was unforgettable. I'll post my pics of Cats Meow and the port once we are home and I have normal computer service.

[hightownCO]

Haven't posted on this thread before but reading with great interest and saddness. Visited Costa Maya and Majahual in 2006 and it was a wonderful place, the village.

Just wanted to say that I did e mail Carival Media yesterday to ask if they were undertaking any relief or humanitarian efforts for the people there. I would like to find some agency to donate to who would make sure that funds and supplies actually get to the people who have come to rely on the cruise industry so much. They are the ones who have made our vists there so wonderful.

If there is any reply, will post.

Sharon

[CAC104]

The pictures have just been heartbreaking, and I feel so sorry for the people who have just lost their homes and sources of income....

I had been all ready to book a 6 night cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale for next March going to Belize, Costa Maya, Cozumel and Key West....we decided to wait and see what happened with the storm approaching. Now, Belize and Costa Maya have terrible damage and I wonder if they will change the ports for this cruise...

[1mdrealtor]

the 1st time my parents went to Costa Maya they had to be tendered in as there was not yet a dock,,, Frank and I went a few years later and the dock was in but nothing much else... we did the trip to Kohulnich on an un AC buss while the road was under construction.. What a wonderful time we had this is so sad for all of them who worked so hard to make this lovely port... I will watch for upcoming information for disaster relief funds.

[DBXX]

Originally Posted by jetskier

Aerial photo of Costa Maya. This is the first photo I have seen of the port buildings.

Jetskier,

Can you post the link where you got this pic? Or PM it to me please?

I want to blow it up and check it out better.

Thanks so much,

Danielle

[DBXX]

Originally Posted by jetskier

Aerial photo of Costa Maya. This is the first photo I have seen of the port buildings.

http://costamayacruiseexcursions.com/Costa_Maya_Port_22.jpg

Here is my beautiful areal shot BEFORE, look to compare.

Hope the link works.
Danielle

[choozin' cruzin']

Originally Posted by Paradise_Beach_Tom

I taped tonight's newscast with my digital camera a few hours ago...really bad quality images but you can see the pier in about 7 or 8 pieces in the 2nd video. Also....not on the videos, but an earlier piece with the Gov. of the State had him saying 6-12 months before recuperation and most interestingly that they hoped to put in a tender pier to service the cruise ships while the reconstruction of the main pier was going on...

http://www.dropshots.com/tomjensen#d...08-23/00:24:34

PB Tom, thank you so much for posting those videos. We appreciate the update. Such a tragedy as you well know from personal experience.

[usacol]

We visited Costa Maya in May 2006, the port was so wonderful that we never went into town. It is definitely marked as one of our favorite ports. We tried to find the hole in the fence for Chai Chi but never did, it is good to see the pictures that someone posted with the pathway - when we come back we will try again, maybe they will take the fence down! Our hearts go out to Chai Chi and his family.

Anyway I wanted to share our pictures of Costa Maya, enjoy.....

http://gilandpatsy.myphotoalbum.com/...album02&page=1

I also will be looking for relief efforts focused on this area.

[KJPG]

I am a member of the hole in the fence gang. The link in my signature provided step by step info on how to get to Chac-Chi. I have edited it now to cover the damage they have sustained.

I am so happy that these people were able to get out OK. There tiny resort has brought much happiness to many people.

[jetskier]

Originally Posted by DBXX

Jetskier,

Can you post the link where you got this pic? Or PM it to me please?

I want to blow it up and check it out better.

Thanks so much,

Danielle

Danielle,
It was off the Yahoo News website. You will have to right click on it to get the full link as CC trunicates it.
Here is the link below.
Dave
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids...7BvmrNkJEj3g--