TheTales ofBillinTulsa (Tour Guide) in Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

November 2 though 10, 1998

Accompanied by:
LynnJohnson, my Wife and Friend.
NancyFelts, my Friend.
RickKruse, my Friend.
Bill inTulsa, is Bill Johnson

These stories are true to the best of my Memories. You know how that goes!
But I will be as accurate as possible.
I truly hope you enjoy my tales of the Magical Akumal.
(Magical Place of the Turtles). Yours truly Bill in Tulsa
 

Vacation to Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Time frame November 2, '98 to November 10, '98

Dia Ocho y Nueve

 

Wake up at dark:30 this morning, don’t want to miss that Farout and Funky sunrise.

I am getting anxiety syndrome as this is the last sunrise for us this trip! Oh no, what ever will I do. Come right back as soon as the Pesos are recovered in my pocket, that’s what. Well, enough sadness because we still have the day and that’s all that I ask for now. Enjoy the days, day by day like they will be your last. Tomorrow never comes, ever notice that? Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, yippie hurray! What a day this will be. The coffee is good one more time.

Half Moon Bay
View South from Playa Banca #4

We have enjoyed the Playa Blanca #4 very much. It is a Comfortable and Lovely Home. We thank the owners for sharing their home with us. This morning while watching the sun over the Caribe, I am writing in the guest book. They have a book with things to do and web site information and ask all visitors to add to the flair of this document. Well I can do that for sure. I have places I have been that are not in this book. I also want to add my web page URL. Get more visitors! Yep, I’d do that.

Everyone is ready for breakfast. We are going to use great imagination this morning and attend the services at (can you guess)? Well, it is a well known place. Okay, I’ll give it up to you but only because I like you and you will like this place.

Akumal
Turtle Bay Lounge

The Turtle Bay Café and Bakery! This is my favorite eating establishment for the first meal of the day and I don’t even like the first meal of the day. Desayuno, it is so nice to be there in the shade of the trees, the smiles of the girls, Sydney and Thomas.

Akumal
Lynn after Breakfast at Turtle Bay Cafe

What a wonderful bunch to share your life with. They should get the Award for the best improvement to Akumal since we started attending this great Play On Life In The Place Of The Turtles, our one and only Akumal. Bye, bye Sydney y Thomas, We Shall Return!

Forgot to tell you that yesterday that I turned my clothes into the Laundry and picked it up that afternoon.

Akumal
Laundry and Mini Super El Pueblo

Well you can’t remember everything every day, or should you? The reason for remembering is that we are passing by it this very minute. Stopping to get some Rice and Beans for my friend, Bonifacia.
Just know they could use the help of a friend. By now you know where we are headed. That’s what we do to relax and savor the time that is left.

Have to back up a couple of days. Lynn and I were driving around one day and decided to go towards Tulum. We were clipping along and out in the middle of no where there were some folks just hitching along. Being a nice guy, and not fearing for my life, I stop to see if they would like to have a ride? Of course they did. Would you be hitching if you weren’t? They had had an Natural urge that could only be satisfied by getting off the bus they were riding. Glad I’m not the only one with an urge. They introduced themselves as Lisa and Hakan from SWEDEN. We are headed for Coba. Oh boy what a great destination, we were just there the other day. We think you will have a great time. We were not going all the way to Coba or even Tulum but you know I think we can take you to the edge of Tulum where the road turns to Coba. Lisa and Hakan are on a pre-honeymoon trip for 3 months, when they get home they will marry! Pretty kewl I’d say. Lisa writes in our notebook, “Thanks You so much for being just the way you are! Bye, bye our new friends! Have a wonderful Holiday and congratulations on the marriage.

Back to the day at hand. We are traveling down the road just reflecting on what a trip and adventure this past week has been.
We have done adventures that we could not have planned ever in a lifetime of planning. This has been a Holiday Trip like none before or probably ever after. Once in a life time trip or all trips. I will have to go some to top this Baby! But being the Person I am, I will keep trying and trying, because if I don’t pursue a trip bigger and better it can never happen. Just try, try and try again. We pass lots of places that we have not been and say to ourselves, we should go there next time. Some we have said that year after year about. That’s what keeps us coming back. There is always something new to do and keeps growing all the time, some good and some bad. Progress is not always what we wish we had.

The road to , sure I know, We have already been there over and over. Well it is where we spend that last day, every year since discovering this place of Relaxation and Beauty. Some will say I am a nut and this is not that great a place but you know me, I will continue to say it is the best and most beautiful place ever.

We arrive to find the place gone! Where did it go? Oh no what will we do. Hehe, gotcha! We find it not open or anyone there.

Tankah
Casa Cenote Beach Bar and Restaurant
The Most Wonderful Place to Hang and Relax in the World

So I take the Beans and Rice to Bonifacia. As I approach the Hut I say Hola, Hola! From within I hear an Echo, Hola, Hola. Out steps Bonifacia, I carry up the goods. I hand them to Bonifacia. She says Gracias William, Muchas Gracias Amigo. I step to the door of the Hut and you guessed it, there lies, none other than Eleazar in his hammock. Men never change, women doing the chores and the men lying around! Can you believe it? Well at least he doesn’t have a remote control or a Football game on. Hehe. The boys are there and give a hearty Hola William, como esta? Bien, bien Gracias mi Amigos y usted? Bien as always. We visit in our broken Spanish, knowing that we like each other as we laugh with each other. Adios Mi Amigos. Hasta Luego. I’m off to the beach for a swim prior to the opening of the Bar. The water is as clear as Vodka or was it Gin? The day is fresh and the water is cool and wonderful.
Swimming here, one needs booties. The floor of the bay is full of coral and rock! That is not bad as the fish love it and snorkeling is really different here. We love it. Snorkel, Swim, Cerveza, Visit, Cerveza, Foooood, Langosta al mojo de ajo, Camarones al mojo de ajo, Pescado al mojo de ajo, Palapa Papas, Conversation, Quesadillas de Camarones, Nachos, Hamburgers (yep, burgers and hot dogs), Margaritas,Cheladas [limon (lime juice) about ½ an inch in the bottom, salt on the rim as in Margaritas, ice cubes and then Cerveza of your choice]. Lynn chooses Dos Equis! Oh my word desecration of a good Dos Equis. These are part of the reason for coming to this place. Our little bit of Heaven on Earth as I call it. Gary serves  Cranberry Margaritas that will Knock your Socks off. If you like Cranberries and Margaritas they are a must try!

Hi there Rubin and Wilberth! Hola William y Lynn y Nancy y Rick! Hola Sus Amigos! William there are 4 Sols that are cold, the Dos Equis will be cold in 30 minutes.

Bring on the Sol, beggars cannot be choosers. Rubin brings them with Gusto. Wilberth is readying his kitchen. Rubin goes back to icing down the beer. Remember that there is no electricity in this area, they ice down everything and are very careful about it, no food poisoning here! This is still a very safe place to eat and drink. Drink that beer and decide to walk the beach and just relax and think of a way to return to the QRoo as soon as possible. Hummmm, what ever will I do to get back soon? The beach is quiet this morning, no waves to speak of.
The Caribe smells so clean and fresh, Awww what a day we have before us. There could not be anything better than this, could there be? I will think not at least for now. Probably for a long time. Remembering that tomorrow never comes.

What early maps looked like about when Michel Peissel started his Adventure

I take a seat on the Throne of Life and dream of the days when Michel Peissel made his walking journey down the coast of QRoo. His book is the Lost World of Quintana Roo. It is out of print but I was able to procure a used copy by searching the net for it. It was very reasonable. I recommend this book to anyone that loves the Cancun~Tulum corridor. This is a story of a remarkable true adventure. Michel Peissel, a young Frenchman with an international background, was stranded on the coast of QRoo, in the Yucatan, abandoned by boatmen he had engaged on Isla Cozumel to take him southward. Not realizing what obstacles he would have to overcome, or the foolhardiness of his plan, he decided to continue his journey on foot.

Weeks later, quite miraculously, Michel Peissel completed the long and unprecedented journey through dense jungle, mangrove swamps, and along desolate beaches, down probably the most savage coast of Central America, a coast which over five hundred years ago was the scene of flourishing cities and ports of the Ancient Mayan Civilization. His trek was an adventure not only in survival but also in exploration and discovery. In the course of his lonely and hazardous trip through the bandit-haunted jungles he was to come upon many sites of ruined pyramids, temples, oratories, and other archaeological remains of the ancient Mayas which had lain hidden for centuries under the thick jungle vegetation.

Vividly and with good humor Michel Peissel tells the story of his adventures on this daring one-man expedition. Ill-equipped, wearing only sandals to protect his feet against rocks, roots, snakes, and scorpions, he could only with difficulty find Indians to guide him on his way, and only for short stretches. Plagued by hunger and thirst, hunted by murderous outlaws, his route led through jungle so thick that the way had to be hacked out by machete. It was an ordeal—but an ordeal that was to lead him to lost temples by the blue sea, Tulum as we know it today or buried in mysterious marshes and jungle, to lofty pyramids rising over the endless expanse of trees, to a village of the jealously independent Chan Santa Cruz Indians, to the fabulous ruined city of Chunyaxche (Muyil), and to other temples and ruins at the lonely sites of Chamax, San Miguel de Ruz, Tupak, Rio Indio, and elsewhere, a large number of them previously unknown to the outside world.

In 1961 Michel Peissel returned again to QRoo for further investigations that form the final chapter of this unusual book. The LOST WORLD of QUINTANA ROO is a fascinating true story of exploration in the land of the MAYAS. Oh my word did I get caught up in this MAGICAL MUNDO MAYA or what. Hope you didn’t mind but I could have been Michel, I think. Jungle Bill Lord of the Monkeys!

Boy, am I still here?? Am I lost? Is there still Cerveza in the world? How about Langosta al mojo de ajo? Whew, that was a really hard trip down the coast! I better check on reality. Yep, the rest of the gang are still lying on the beach and getting some last day Sol. I check in with Rubin about the coldness of the Cerveza. He replies that it is ready for you Guillo. That’s the first time I think he didn’t call me William. Kewl, now we are friends for sure, we are down to nick names. It takes a while down here to get personal. Cerveza for everyone!

Tankah
Casa Cenote Beach Bar & Restaurant
Lynn, Bill, Nancy and Rick

Hey, Wilberth, you got any Langosta today? Sorry William, but the divers have not been by today. Oh, oh, I have confidence in the divers and I know they have heard the Mayan prayer that I have given to the Langosta God! They will bring me Langosta for sure. Wilberth, if the divers come with Langosta, please save two orders for William and please Amigo call me Guillo or Bill, only my mother calls me William and then when she is angry with me! Hehe, I’ll bet that is common in all places of the world. He agrees to all.

We have met many people here at  and find it hard to remember everyone. People can be so nice if you talk to them. I always break the ice, as I am a loner and don’t take to strangers as a rule except in the QRoo that is probably why I love it so much. I think I can just be plain Ol Bill here and don’t feel that way at home. Seems that I always have to look like something or some body, that I am not. Oh, what a realization. Have another Cerveza Bill and warm up to the world.

Before I forget for all you that may want a private driver for the day or week or a lifetime, I met a couple of guys that their charges seemed to be enjoying there tour. One is called Jose Luis Reyna, taxi #106, cell phone 747856, bilingual, out of Cancun. He has 24-hour service. The other guy is nickname “Webster”, Cecilio Cabreva Salazar, cell phone 747718, based out of Royal Mayan resorts, Cancun. Both were very nice and informative to their clients. The clients when I asked had only great things to say about them.

We are hungry and order food of all sorts to fill that desire. No Langosta yet! I still have confidence, I believe that I will get that last Langosta before I have to return to Oklahoma land of the Old Lobster (not fresh at all, left over from the Civil War I think). Chips and Salsa come to the table begging to be eaten by Pale Face Gringos. Rubin, how about some Habanero Salsa? I haven’t mentioned that I have to have Habanero Salsa to enjoy that robust taste, any good Maya would have Habanero with his meal. I love it so much, the way the chop it up and put on that Limon (lime) juice, boy is it good. I also like the Ugly Green Stuff in the Bottle, also Habanero Sauce. Not all restaurants have it and I have to take my own because Gringos are not supposed to like it. I love it and always take 6 bottle (large) home with me. Enjoy the food and another beer. Margaritas Por Favor, Gracias.

Oh, William says Wilberth, there he goes again, must think he is my mother. Yes, Wilberth! I have your Langosta in the cooler! Thanks friend. See, I knew it all the time. Save it for later Amigo. Gracias for the notice. We will try those babies after a swim in the River Water in front of the Restaurant. It is fun to swim from Salt to Fresh and back again.

I look out and there is a Mayan family heading up the beach for a secluded spot away from the restaurant. Remember that all beaches in Mexico are public. Two of their children are Armed. That is with Spear Guns,Masks and Snorkels. They start Hunting for the Pez Grande de la Caribe. I am fascinated where they’re hunting. They are close to the shore where the salt and fresh are mixing. I see them putting something in the bag tied to one of their belts. Again they sorta disappear into the water only to surface and once again place something in the bag.

Tankah
Casa Cenote Beach Bar and Restaurant
Phyllis and Joe from Indiana

A couple from Indiana, Phyllis and Joe Harris distracts me. They own a condo down here. Lucky people, someday I too may own a place down here. They are fun and we have Margaritas together. Phyllis is getting really funny; we are all Laughing our heads off. What fun we are having.

Tankah
Casa Cenote
Young Spear Fishermen

Hey, look those boys have gotten out of the water to warm up, yes that fresh water is kind of cold after awhile. Hey, while they’re out of the water I’ll go see what they have Shot! Hola, Amigos. Como estas Ustedes? Bien, Bien. Mucho Pez Grande? Si, mucho Grandito or something like that. Hummm, that’s a new one. I motion for a look. They are proud Pescador. They retrieve one of those fish to show me, it is about 4 inches long and it is the biggest one. I think, boy can I remember being proud of fish the same size myself in years past. I tell them Bueno! Gracias Senor. I ask them if they would like a Coca. Si Senor. I walk up to the restaurant and ask Rubin to pour up Dos Cocas for the Pescaderos. He always smiles when I buy a drink for the kids. I take the Cokes to the Muchachos. They enjoy their drink and head down the beach towards their parent’s position around the bend. I go back and drink some more of my Margaritas. When it is gone I become nosey and walk down the beach towards the family. When I get close they say Hola, Senor. I reply with Hola, Como esta Ustedes? Bien, muy bien. They have a little girl about 3 and a little boy about 2. I say hi to the 2-year-old and he hides behind his father. They laugh out loud at him. He acts like he has never seen a Gringo with a beard. I slowly reach out a hand in a friendly gesture. He backs up and his Dad just roars with laughter. He prods him to reach out to me, hesitantly he does so and touches my hand yanking his back very quickly. Now his Mother, Father and his brothers are just falling apart. What fun that was. The family was here for the afternoon for a picnic. They had brought themselves, one-two litter of warm Coca and that was it. They had a small fire going. The boys are cleaning those small fish. They say they will cook the fish on a stick for lunch. Boy, are we ever-spoiled dumb Gringos. That does make me reflect on what a life I lead as a Gringo from the USA. We are truly out of touch with life, as they know it. I bid them Hasta Luego, Amigos. I then walk away smiling with my newfound joys of the moment.

Hey, Lynn, Nancy, and Rick, you ready for that Langosta I promised you? Yes, William. You can’t call me that! Only my Mother and Wilberth can call me that! Hehe, God I love the Magic of QRoo and Casa Cenote. Wilberth, please make that Langosta al mojo de ajo Por Favor. He nods his approval and starts the preparation of our last Langosta de Caribe for this trip. There will be others I can assure you. That is God willing!

That Langosta arrives with all the trimmings and tortillas. We just look for a moment and dive right in. When we are finished with it, I realize that I should have gotten a photo of them. Well since it is gone, I decide to photo the Shell or what ever it is called. I will remember this Lobster for a long time.

      
Tankah
Casa Cenote Restaurant and Beach Bar
Leftovers from Langosta al Mojo de Ajo by Wilberth and a local Diver

It is getting late and the guys are cleaning up and we are just tired out from all the joy and loving fun that we have had. We pay the bill. Hasta Luego, we have enjoyed sharing our vacation with you and will see you next time. Bye Lynn, Nancy, Rick, and William. Boy that does it. Everyone can call me William now. So there. Hehe. We jump in the car and then I jump out because Lynn has taken the keys away. That means I have had enough to sink a Battle Ship. She will drive us home. We have that rule, and we respect that rule. I personally want to Live to Return another Day. Akumal here we come. I may have had to much but still enjoy the drive home and reflect on all the places we will go next year.
We arrive at Playa Blanca #4 with out incident.

Half Moon Bay (North Akumal)
Playa Blanca Condo #4 middle right

We get cleaned up for dinner. Sitting around feeling blue already because we have to hit the road at 4 am, boy, what an hour to leave Paradise! We are flying stand by and must get to the airport a long time before our flight. We have to pack and all that kind of stuff. We let Rick talk us into having dinner at Home. He goes to Lol-Ha for Pizza, I hate pizza, but when he returns and we sit down and wipe that pizza out, I exclaim, good pizza. Don’t really know how we could have been hungry after the day at Casa Cenote, but I’m always hungry in the QRoo.

Now we start packing and all that stuff. Rick returns our beach towels to the office, tells Nan that we will be leaving at 4 am. She say thanks for staying with us, please don’t wake me and don’t forget to call next time. We will for sure or maybe we won’t. June has these Cabanas you know and Gary of Casa Cenote will have Casitas. I could enjoy that I know. Everything fits and we are prepared to leave, darn, if only I could figure out a way to stay. Nah, go home and write this trip report and enjoy it all over again. Good night all. Have anxiety dreams all night, can’t sleep worth a diddly. Keep looking at the clock. I keep thinking about all the good times we have had and know we will return, again and again.

Just about the time I get to sleep the alarm goes off for the girls to do their hair and put on their face. You know they have been hairless and faceless ever since we arrived. Heheheheheh!!
It is 2 am, can you believe it 2 am in the morning and we are on vacation. Well I guess the vacation is over. I lie there and toss and turn for another hour and half. Boy, I’m glad it’s time to get up, I was getting tired of all the hard work trying to sleep. I’m not going I proclaim! You send money and I will stay and eat Langosta until you return. No way Jose (joke), if you stay we will stay. Hummm. Sounds good to me. Guess we’ll eat 3 or 4-inch fish for the rest of our lives. Everyone roars with the thought of those fish.

I start loading up the bags of what feel like rocks by now. I am indeed tired and wish for that nights sleep. We are ready (at least that what they tell me) to go. I go to the kitchen and place a Propina on the counter for the Camber Maid, yes and she will be happy.

Half Moon Bay
Playa Blanca #4
Art by our Faithful CamberMaid

We enjoyed her work very much. We head over the Topes onward through the Half Moon Bay area headed for the Arches of Akumal (Magical Place of the Turtles) and onward to Cancun International Airport. We make it to the highway and I look over my shoulder to get that final glimpse of Akumal the place of Magical Vacations in the Life of Bill In Tulsa. Away we go in a tear smeared face. I do not like leaving this place.  The road is quiet and that is good. The lanes are all the same, no lines and the shoulder is the same color. And by the way about 8 or 10 inch down, that would ruin your day.

It is darker than the bowels of the earth. Even the brightest of lights could not cut this darkness. We carefully drive along in the dark wondering if we will find any rocks or people or cars or trucks on the road. We arrive at the turn off to Puerto Morelos and stop at the Pemex station for a fill up prior to the airport. Don’t forget this event or you will find yourself spending about three or four time the price for Gas. We make it on in to the Airport area, passing Budget Rental Office; it is barricaded with a car to prevent other cars from being driven away. We proceed directly to the Airlines departure area to drop off out bags. Get a Sky Cap and send money with Lynn and Nancy for a tip.

Rick and I return to the  place, pulling right up to the car barricade. I decide to honk the horn as I know someone is some where in there. A head pops up from the drivers seat in the barricade. He backs up the car and let’s us enter. Hola, lo siento Senor. No problemo. He checks the cars and once again we get a clean bill of health. They return one credit card slip to be torn up. The other is filled in with the correct amount as reserved in Tulsa using the 800 number and international reservations. I have become very proficient at making all my own arrangements. I like the process and may try to do something like this when I can’t stand Electronic Design any longer. Who knows? We catch a ride to the departure area and find the girls. They are about crashed on the bags. There are bodies of local help asleep every where. Humm, must be nighttime. We are very early and can only wait the arrival of the airline counter people. I suggest a little food, yes Mr. Bill we would like that. It’s still my responsibility to see to their needs. How about Café and Bagels? Sounds good they say and away I go to find the goods. We slowly eat our breakfast snack and wait, wait and wait. Hey, look here comes the counter persons. We will be back in 15 minutes. Okay and thank you. Straight up 15 minutes later they are asking for all those Documents and immigration papers and tickets. First question is, are you on the list. I really don’t know. Okay, I’ll check, yep, you’re on the list and all is well. She get us set up for the stand-by operation and sends us up to the departure gate. It is still a long wait. We pass all kinds of shops. I need to get one bottle of Mexican Vodka for our hosts that couldn’t make the trip and I say I’ll wait until we get up stairs. We arrive with contest at the security entrance. When we get up there, not one thing is open. Oh no! She asks for one little thing and I may have blown it. She uses it to make home made Kahlua and Mexican is all that will work. Woe is me. Ok, Bill it will be all right. You surmounted worse than this and persevered. I’m still kicking myself. I go down stairs to go back to the one that was open and I’m informed that I am not allowed to leave the area. Oh gee, now what. No Vodka, that’s what. Now my stomach is starting to get acid and I ask Lynn if she has seen a place to eat open. Well, yes I have but it will have to be a Ham and Cheese sandwich. Ok, let’s go. I order a sandwich and Cerveza for me and ask Lynn what do you want? I’ll have a bite of yours and a drink of your beer. Are you sure. I have the sandwich heated and begin to chow down. Lynn says I better have my own. Thank God, I am just famished. When I finished my sandwich, I noticed a small shop opening. I went over and guess what? I just got saved by a nice Senorita with Osho Vodka, now I can relax for the trip home. Thank you, thank you as I will want another trip on stand-by in the future and now I may get it. Whew that was close.

We are back at the gate waiting for people to show. Here they come. We are first in line before anyone knows they are there. We talk to the guy and he says flying first today Uh? Yep, if there is room. Ok we will call you. The plane is loading and we wait and wait. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson your seats are ready. Hot dog, here we go. Then we hear Nancy Felts and Rick Kruse your seats are ready. First Class and what a deal. Thanks Dale and Pat, with out you we would not be here and we would not be Flying First Class. We board the plane. They asked if we want a drink prior to take off? A Bloody Mary would be nice. Ok, Sir! We enjoy our drink and the Pilot tells them to prepare for take off. Up, up and away!
I’m sitting in a window seat and have film to burn. I take all kinds of pictures as we taxi and take off. There are other shots of Cancun and the coastline and the highway to my favorite Dream Akumal.

         
Taken from American Airlines Flight from Cancun to Dallas/Ft.Worth
Isla Cancun in upper right                               Road 307 to Akumal

We level out at many thousands of feet and they offer Breakfast. Omelete or Cold Cereal? Omelete please.

Amerian Airlines First Class Breakfast

It arrives looking like a nice bouquet of flowers. This is just what I need to make my day. We arrive in DFW airport and pass though immigration and customs with out event. Put bags back on plane and go to counter to see if we fly. We are early and there are extra seats on the flight and away we go with out waiting. We arrive in Tulsa long before our schedule. We try to remember where we have been. Seems like a dream.

Dream Clouds

I am sorry to say but this concludes the ADVENTURES of Bill in Tulsa and his charges, wife and friend, Lynn and Nancy and Rick Todo Amigos Muy Especial! If it were not for you I might not have this wonderful keep sake of our Vacation in the Mundo Maya and Akumal (Place of the Turtles) and for that I thank you for all the prodding to get it complete. Thanks to all of you that have endured the writing of this OL HIPPIE! Bill Johnson, Tulsa, Oklahoma USA bill@BIG-Z.com

If you would like to see more before my next trip, just send lots of money and I will go back to vacation just so I can write a report just for you! heheheheh

tHIS completes my trip RePoRt I'll miss writing it! Bill in Tulsa. I thank you for your LOVE of QUINTANA ROO! See you in the MAGICAL AKUMAL (MAGICAL PLACE OF THE TURTLES). BYE, BYE AND HASTA PRONTO!

 November 29, 1998 Tulsa, Oklahoma by Bill Johnson

there is never an End so until we Meet again I Bid You Hasta Pronto Mi Amigos!

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