Our Story pretty much begins in the mid 1960’s.
In Valladolid Yucatan was a young man (Don Victor) with a growing family. He ended up traveling throughout the states of Yucatan and the territory of Quintana Roo looking for steady employment. He took his turn as a chiclero for several years and finally ended as a stevedore in the budding “hamlet” of Puerto Morelos. It was around this time that Cozumel emerged onto the scene as a go to destination for scuba divers. Since Cozumel is an island it depends totally on shipping for supplies. Puerto Morelos was the only port at that time that could regularly handle loading and unloading of boats with the supplies for Cozumel due to the shelter provided by the reef to the dock. You’ll have to ask me one day about stories when “living” supplies (cows and pigs) would occasionally jump ship and end up swimming to the reef. It was at that time that the dock loaders would have to do double duty as cowboys in boats
Don Victor was very charming and quickly befriended the owner of the local warehouse. Don Victor’s oldest daughter was recruited to manage the warehouse (remember the warehouse mentioned in Puerto Morelos history). Her tasks were to manage inventory of stock coming in and out, collect fees for storing goods, etc. Since the warehouse was such a “large” space, the family (finally grown to 9 children) was given permission to live on the property. The space measured maybe 18 meters by 10 meters.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the continent in northern Illinois was another young man (Matt) with his own growing family (5 children) came to the realization that life is too short to work 12 months out of the year until you retire only to risk that retirement being cut short. Since Matt was lucky to have a seasonal job (masonry repair) it was his decision to travel and see the world during his winter months. He happened to see the 1968 Olympics from Mexico city and decided where he wanted to go first.
He ended up in Puerto Morelos and it was love at first sight. Matt and his lovely wife Eleanor have been traveling every winter to stay in their paradise missing only one year 1988 and that was because of the severe damage to their home due to hurricane Gilbert.
Well, as fate would have it, the oldest son of Don Victor and the oldest daughter of Matt happened to meet. Insert floating hearts here! LOL. The son (Victor) and daughter (Laura) ended up married in 1977. Shortly after their marriage, the owner of the warehouse informed Don Victor’s family that he needed to sell the warehouse property. Matt had enough cash to be able to buy the lot. The families combined their resources to build a duplex on the property for both families to share the lovely Caribbean views.
We have now been married for 40 years and realize that we have not yet taken as much advantage of our beautiful beach as we should have. To that end, we have decided to spend our retirement sharing our home with all the people who have recently discovered our now, not so hidden gem, on the turquoise blue waters of el Caribe.