Walls of contention
No, not the wall of sand that has preoccupied my posts recently, but the proposed 700-mile, $2.2 billion wall in the sand along a stretch of the US-Mexico border.
This thorny topic will no doubt find its way onto the agenda as President Fox prepares to host President Bush and Canadian Premier Stephen Harper for two days of talks in Cancún starting Thursday.
Guessing game
The venue of the talks remains a closely guarded secret, and as I reported last week, security has gradually ratcheted up.
The swanky Le Blanc Spa Resort looks likely to either host one of the leaders (most probably President Fox) or stage the summit itself.
Bush and Harper may stay at the JW Marriot, Le Meridien or Fiesta Americana Coral Beach, although the former remains closed following Wilma last October.
Security wall
I also understand that access to the entire Hotel Zone may be restricted for the duration of the talks, and perhaps from as early as Wednesday.
Guests may be asked to remain at their hotels or arrange to take out-of-town excursions. If you’re due in the resort later this week, expect very tight security and some inconvenience. Try not to lug too much stuff around with you, as there will almost certainly be rigorous checks in place.
Edited by 
March 28th, 2006 at 2:19 am
The beach restoration was at the Avalon Grand at 5:30 p.m. today (March 26). We walked there from Villas Marlin to see what we could see. From our hotel (Royal Sunset) we can watch the dredgers coming and going.
Looks like they will get there before the end of the week. They are way ahead of your schedule at this point. The new beach is about 160 feet wide. There is a slight wall at the edge, but that will even out with time.
As far as the big summit, we have heard that we are going to be advised to stay at the resort on Thursday or take our passports with us. What a pain. We don’t do AI, so I guess we will grab the passports and go where we want.
March 28th, 2006 at 7:04 am
This talk about building walls is ridiculous. For the GOP, there always has to be a boogeyman in order to get people out to the polls on election day. It appears that immigration will be the rallying call this year.
The way the country is going, I don’t think a wall is needed. If we keep on the path we are headed towards, in 20 years no one will want to come here anyway.
March 28th, 2006 at 9:22 am
Thanks a lot for the timely update, Nancy. They seem to have speeded up once again. I’ve updated the timeline.
March 28th, 2006 at 12:55 pm
The Chichén Itzá archaeological site will be closed to everyone - including all who work there - from Weds pm (29th) until 13:00 on Thursday 31st.
Fox, Bush & Harper will have the place to themselves… apart from the iguanas.
March 29th, 2006 at 3:17 am
The federales have set up a perimeter around the LeBlanc. We have been advised to stay at the Royal Sunset on Thursday and Friday.
They were out in boats with machine guns and frogmen doing drills this afternoon. It’s interesting, but sure puts a damper on getting out and about our last two days.
The dredger is oh so close now, but I’m guessing it will come to a screeching halt while Bush and company visit.
March 29th, 2006 at 9:11 am
Thanks, Nancy. I think you’re right about the beach recovery work coming to a halt over the next two days. For a start they wouldn’t want the continual beep beep beep of the bulldozers backing up to interfere with matters of state…
March 29th, 2006 at 11:44 am
The Diario de Yucatán is reporting that it’ll be Bush most likely staying at Le Blanc, while Fox and Harper will crash out in the Fiesta Americana Condesa, where the summit will also take place.
March 29th, 2006 at 5:13 pm
Nancy, thanks for the updates.
I don’t want to interfere with your vacation time. However if your posting. I would be curious to know if the summit actually does stop the beach restoration work, or of any progress they make.
I will be arriving at the Leblanc April 5th. Looks like its going to be a close call.
Steve, I’m a regular reader. Great blog, thanks for all you do.
March 29th, 2006 at 8:08 pm
Today the dredger appears to be finishing in front of the Gran Caribe Real and moving on to the Hyatt Cancun Caribe. We can see the new beach from the pool deck at the Royal Sunset. They are still working like crazy - both ships moving back and forth constantly. I was up at 3:30 a.m. (another story) and the dredger was all lit up and working then. There is a plume of sand following the waves and floating up to the Sunset and beyond.
The federales are patrolling the waters in front of the LeBlanc and the beach at the BVG condos. So far only press corps at the LeBlanc. But the middle suite on the top floor has had the window blocked by large plants. No view in or out there. I will let you know what is going on.
The Sunset provides free wireless internet in the lobby. Gotta love that place. We are still being told the summit is at the LeBlanc.
Doesn’t much matter to me so long as I can get out and about the next couple of days.
March 29th, 2006 at 9:30 pm
“…the middle suite on the top floor has had the window blocked by large plants.” :)
You have an eagle eye, Nancy. Thanks!
March 30th, 2006 at 12:54 am
Hi Nancy,
I was wondering if you could tell me if they have completed the beach in front of the Flamingo Hotel? (very small hotel directly across from the Flamingo Plaza) I will be arriving this coming Monday and want to prepare myself for the noise!! (Ha)
Thanks for any information and have a great time!
Dawn
March 30th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
Hi Dawn, Yes, they have just passed the Flamingo. The beach will still have the piping across it, but by next Monday you should be smiling.
Dawn can confirm (if she’s allowed out of her hotel room because of the summit)
March 30th, 2006 at 9:26 pm
Hello, Does anyone have any pictures or updates of the beach in front of Flamingo?? Is it completed? Pipes still there?
I will be going in 2 weeks! So excited! Thanks for any info!!
March 30th, 2006 at 9:37 pm
Sorry, the wireless was out yesterday. Hmmm, George arrived and our internet went down.
Anyhow, the dredgers are making four to five trips back and forth daily. They have been working along the Gran Caribe Real / Hyatt Cancun Caribe for about three days.
I don’t have a way to post pictures yet, but will do so once I get home (darn card reader on the ‘puter isn’t working).
The beach at the Flamingo is about 150 feet wide and very, very nice. There was a minimal wall along there that will be disappearing with wave action.
The pipes will be long past the Flamingo in two weeks. More likely someplace between the former Miramar and the Forum.
March 31st, 2006 at 1:37 am
Thanks for the updates Nancy. Sounds like there may be a beach at the Le Blanc by Wed. after all.
Hope it hasn’t been to inconvenient hosting George. You’re having an interesting vacation, if nothing else.
March 31st, 2006 at 2:03 am
Thanks Steve and Nancy for the information on the beachfront!
I apologize if you have to repeat info… but what is the latest on the Summit meeting? Are you joking when you say we would not be able to go at will where we want to go? And how long is this Summit?
Thanks in advance for any info!!
March 31st, 2006 at 9:15 am
Dawn… no, we weren’t joking, but the summit will all be over by later today (Friday). You’ve nothing to worry about for Monday at all; wide beach + access to all areas!! Enjoy :)
March 31st, 2006 at 2:49 pm
Does anyone have any recent pictures of the beach at the Park Royal Piramides?
March 31st, 2006 at 11:26 pm
Can anyone tell me if they have actually started fixing the beach at the Le Blanc yet?
Do you think it will still be going on when we arrive on April 9, or do you think they will be done by then?
If they will be done, will there still be pipes on the beach?
Thanks!
April 1st, 2006 at 7:21 pm
Jenny - they’re in the vicinity of Le Blanc right now and will be finished there by the 9th. As for the steel delivery pipes, difficult to say whether they’ll still be there, or not. They get dragged up the beach every few days. Watch this space.
April 4th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
Does anyone know if the beach restoration is at Le Blanc yet? I arrive tomorrow April 5th. Getting curious. Guess I’ll know soon enough.
April 4th, 2006 at 2:46 pm
Yes, Gary… this photo was taken about an hour ago.
April 4th, 2006 at 5:27 pm
Thanks Steve. Looks like I got lucky this time.
April 5th, 2006 at 2:13 am
Any thoughts on Club Maeva Tulum? Going as a couple. want peace and quiet, beach focus but with stuff to do (any nightlife?).
What is the condition of the resort and the beach?
April 15th, 2006 at 1:16 am
I just recently returned form Cancun and WOW….what a beautiful job they have done on the beach!!! I witnessed some of the reconstruction and it is better than ever. I hope this year’s hurricane season is kind to Cancun.