Accompanied by:

Lynn Johnson, my Wife and Friend.
Nancy Felts, my Friend.
Rick Kruse, my Friend.
Bill in Tulsa, 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
 

 THIS REPORT STARTS AROUND OCTOBER 2, ‘98

Vacation to Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

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

DIA UNO NOVEMBER 2:

So we are up and at them before any other sane persons, the streets are void of traffic at this unGodly hour, but we are off to the magic of Akumal so it didn’t seem quite so bad. Of course we were so excited that we arrived at the Fine Airport Parking at 5:30am. Park the car and catch the shuttle to the airport departure gate, so much for the tiny reprieve. We sit and await the coming of the airline personnel. The time comes and we check in and check baggage to Cancun. Oh boy, we are on our way. Well almost, now we go to Tulsa’s very own standby departure waiting room to await word as to whether or not we will have seats. It looked really good until another airline cancelled a flight. Oh no! The time came and Nancy was called to get on board. We waited. Next Lynn and I were called to get on board. Looked as though that was going to leave Rick behind. That’s the way standby works. We are on board and looked like we were separated from the start. Just then I looked up and there was Rick with a big grin on his face getting into the last seat. What luck we had. We had a Bloody Mary to celebrate our first flight success and breakfast. Arrived at DFW in Dallas with no upsets.

Check in for Cancun flight and found that we had been bumped for our first Class Seats by some big wig. Oh well, but will we get to go? Everyone was called to get on board. Thrill of thrills we are on the way to Cancun airport. The pilot comes on the air and gives the weather in Cancun, partly cloudy and 82 degrees F. What else could you want? Flight time so short that we hardly noticed the time. Arrive at the Cancun airport without any trouble. The flight is Kewl. It is cloudy in Cancun. We step off the plane (being from Oklahoma, the humidity does not affect us), there are people looking dumbfounded as to what to do. Being the Tour Guide for our Party, I start directing folks to follow the Yellow signs to the Immigration Station. Everyone is relieved now and off they go. We arrive at immigration, anxiously waiting our turn to immigrate. It’s my turn and I say Hola Senior. Como esta Ud.? He responds with Bien, Bien y Ud.? I return a hearty Muy Bien Gracias. He stamps my passport. He says enjoy your stay and I say Hasta Luego Senior y Gracias. Off to find our bags and head for the customs Stop and Go light. Press that button and get the Verde Luz and away we go. Stopping to move bags from a cart onto a two wheeler pushed by an Hombre that needed some pesos before proceeding. They are very adamant about how far you take the carts. Take us to Budget Rental Car counter. Go through the process of renting two cars as we had too many bags for one car and we wanted to have the ability to go our own way once in Akumal. You fill out all the papers and credit card information at the airport counter and then they shuttle you over to the lot where the cars are. We make it a point to tip very one well (don’t forget the $1 bills as they make great tipping funds). That way the guys will treat us right (sort of like buying insurance in my mind and I like to help them as most persons in QRoo don’ t make much per day and need the tips to survive. Finish the paper work. Renting a car in Mexico is not so different than the US except they speak Spanish and Mi Espanol es muy malo. We do the very necessary check for every scratch, ding, dent, bend, cigarette burn, spare tire, tools, floor mats, license plates, and every other thing that one can think of.

 Finally off to Akumal. Where is the Cerveza? Well our spot to stop is closed do to lack of interest. Well we can wait.
We find that since May they have made great strides in the new highway down the Cancun to Tulum Corridor. We are happy for this, as it will make the trip more fun. We start reflecting on our past adventures and start getting excited about seeing our friends and enjoying the Magic of Akumal. We pass the Pemex at Puerto Morelos turn off. Here comes Playa Del Carmen. We’re cooking now. It won’t belong now. The vegetation is lush and beautiful. Love this place. There is nothing like it for us. We are hoping that Nancy will feel the same. It’s her first time. Rick went with us October ’95 so he knows what to expect. Akumal next left, I can feel it up the road. Yep right where we left it in May. What a relief it is to see that all is well. It’s raining and we are in dress clothes as to fly standby one must dress business casual, so we cancel our stop at the Lol-Ha beach bar for a Cerveza. We wave as we pass through the arches of the entrance to the Akumal area.

Making a sharp left upon entering we head for Vista Del Mar to check into Playa Blanca #4. Nan meets us at the door with a great big smile. Hola everyone, glad you could find us still here! We introduce ourselves, as Nan is new to Vista Del Mar since May. She gets the key and leads us to the Condo. In we go. Perfecto! The view of Half Moon Bay and the Caribe is magnifico.  The palms outside are swaying in a stiff wind like I have never seen in Akumal. The clouds and the sea look rough like they want to fight. We don’t think much about this and start to get unpacked and into some beach clothes.

Next we’re off to La Buena Vida Beach Bar http://www.mexico-vacation.com/descript.html for that long awaited Cerveza. Sol for everyone (new for us by recommendation of a cyber friend on cancunmx) Por Favor. We celebrate our good fortune and that of our friends in Akumal and area. Hey there’s Benito, he has a big smile on his face as he recognizes us and comes over to say Hi. Such a good friend. We’re home at last. We catch up on his family news and find that he is now in charge of the whole place, Bar and Restaurant. Congratulations, Benito we always knew you would do well for yourself in this world. We found Sol good. Sorry but us Oki’s like our Dos Equis. Dos Equis Rules. Here’s to XX. Hip Hip Hurray. Just kidding. We did find Sol to be a good beer along with Modelo (sp). We continue to enjoy the sandy floor beach bar for next hour or two and decide that we should probably eat something.

Upstairs is the Restaurant. Up we go. Yep they are the same waiters that we knew in May. They have that warm Mayan smile of recognition that I love so well. Old home week is how it feels to be there. The guys ask how we have been and are happy we choose to visit them.  I ask for La Carta Por Favor. I know that in some areas this is incorrect and should be Menu but here it seems to prevail.  I can’t wait to order Camarones al mojo de ajo (Shrimp in garlic butter). Benito has started adding a Mayan flair to the meal by adding a Mayan appetizer to the plate; tonight it is Mayan tamale (muxubbak in Mayan) in a banana leaf, great change as I enjoy the Mayan tamale (different from the standard Tamale like John likes but similar). Lynn orders Pollo Parmesan (chicken Parmesan). Nancy has Poc Chuc (Mayan style pork strip). Rick tries the Camarones jengibre
(Ginger shrimp). Margaritas for everyone prior to dinner and red wine for dinner (ya I know red wine instead of white wine, that’s an OLE hippie for you, no protocol) and at least it’s not Cerveza. Tostadas y Salsa accompanies every meal that you have as well as warm French bread and garlic butter at La Buena Vida. We are finishing up our Margaritas and like Magic the wine appears and next all those lovely plates of food artistically arranged to delight the eyes as well as the palette. The conversation ends and the taste buds relish the treats that have been bestowed them. Finally words of Yum, Oh Boy that’s fine, Magnifico and such start to appear as if floating on the wind. Margaritas for everyone! I ask one couple that is leaving the restaurant if they are Rob and Tina and they look at me like what the hell is the matter with you. I get a little paranoid after that and am afraid to ask anyone else. A group of 4 come in a sit down next to us and I eye ball them trying to figure out if they look like a Rob and Tina. I’m still feeling like an idiot from before and Nancy say hey Bill I’ll ask for you and boy I jump on that idea. Nancy says hey there are you by chance Rob and Tina? They grin really big and say who is Bill from Tulsa? What a trip that was hugs and handshakes and giggles and smiles and what a deal. They reconfirm the wedding invitation and we toast a good time. By now I’m ready for dessert and order Flan (like custard), it’s a favorite of mine when I’m in the area. We ask for La Cuenta and wait to pay the tab, leaving a generous tip as the service Es Muy Perfecto. Buenos Noches Amigos.

Off we go for a good night sleep as some have been up since 2am this morning. We arrive at the condo and take one last look at the Caribe just before retiring to the evening and counting our blessing for the ability to be here safe and sound. Good night all and see ya in the morning. Turning the ceiling fan on low as it is a cool evening and turning off the lamp we fall into a peaceful sleep. Being in a strange bed with the wind blowing swiftly I awaken several time to evaluate the situation, I remember where I am and drift off once again.

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Copyright November 29, 1998 Tulsa, Oklahoma by Bill Johnson (Bill in Tulsa) bill.in.tulsa@webzone.net

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