Tuesday, Dec. 09, 2003 - 2:23 p.m.
Good tequila doesn't give me a hangover but it does leave me with cobwebs en la cabeza. Instead of hitting Tulum right away I hit the beach and go for a swim. Also get a wee bit burned but it's tolerable. The problem was my sunglasses left me looking kinda raccoonish. The water was warm but the occasional coral underfoot made it tough to stand when the waves hit.
I bobbed and swam in the ocean, thinking about emergency procedures should a current start pulling me away. (Swim parallel to shore until out of the current.) I promised people at home I would be careful, I was just following through on all aspects of this trip and keeping my word.
Went to Tulum around noon. Tons of buses and cars, but the place is so big it really wasn't crowded. IT was totally cool...iguanas abounded and an occasional snake as well!! What an amazing sight, overlooking the bright turquoise of the ocean. I lick my lips as they feel dry and they're salty from the ocean.
Got back form the trip and had chicken tacos yucatecos: chicken marinated in tequila with guacamole, lettuce and a squeeze of lime. Don{t know about the food in Mexico City but here limes are used everywhere. COOKS TAKE NOTE!!!
Took a nap and got up. Went to the beach again and hand wrote my diary entry. The sun was setting and the pelicans diving. I see a couple of soldiers walking along the road in the distance-not sure if it makes me feel safe or not but it doesn't surprise me at all. It'll be a cool night.... Went back to La Perla for a couple Coronas and a dynamite dinner: chips and salsa(tomato, onion, cilantro and a whole red pepper ground up) then onion soup, garlic marinated shrimp (with a squeeze of lemon), cauliflower and rice with fresh tortillas and bread. Talked with Arturo and Luis as we watched the moon rise behind an ocean bound thundercloud. The waters glistened the moon reflection and you could still make out the navy blue-grey rain falling in the distance. Arturo told me two places to go in Playa. BEEP BEEP restaurant (ask for Pedro) and Tequila Barril ask for Julia. They offered me a cig and I lit up and we listened to Mexican music (a band called Mana was really good). There's a warm breeze blowing. Storms are in the distance but don't look like they will hit us. Arturo tells me that the reason there are soldiers ere is that the Yucatan coast is a convenient dropping off point for drugs going from Colombia to the States. Wonderful.... Luis put his hand on my shoulder, "You look sad, amigo" "No Luis, just tired and sun burnt" He looked at my face and laughed. I watched a grasshopper type thing land on the wall. A gecko that was only marginally bigger appeared out of nowhere and attacked the critter. A quick battle ensued and the grasshopper escaped. I don't know how the gecko would have eaten it anyway. I finished up, said my goodbyes and went back to Zamas for a hot chocolate and a port. Everyone here greets me in Mayan. I make a few mistakes and they laugh. The moon is out from behind the clouds again and the blue color is back. I will sleep well tonight-I'm hoping for a storm. Took a pic with Adrian and his helper at the bar. (Still never got his name). "Hasta Samma!" "Samma!" Adrian then Jaime say on my way out. I'll sleep tonight. Tomorrow Playa Del Carmen!!!
