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Dinner was over and everyone had left the restaurant to relax in their rooms or on the patio. I heard screams coming from the water. "Mal Agua, Mal Agua." Apparently, 2 people had gone out to catch lobster at night and one had run into a Portuguese Man O War. They made it up to the patio. By this time, everyone was down and gathered around. The person had sting marks all over and a few tentacles still hanging on. We managed to get him to a bed to lie down. I thought he was going to die. His respiration was down and he was in terrific pain. We did what we could but nothing seemed to work. We had to resort to the old standby. Urine. Andy grabbed a bucket and wanted everyone to pee in it only no one had to go. Andy came back a few minutes later with lots of cold beer. We all stood around this bucket drinking beer and trying to piss in it. As you look back now, you can appreciate how funny we looked. Well, the urine didn't work either. He did finally recover but was still in major pain. I now bring sting kits with me. You never know when you might need it.

I just spent a few days in Tulum. Had some problems with my Jeep and thought they were fixed. It seemed like I was using a lot of gas. I stopped in Felipe Carrillo Puerto for lunch, a few beers, and to fill up with gas. I reached the turnoff to Majuhaul with less than a half a tank and still had about another 50 kilometers to go. Something wasn't right. I forgot about the problem when I reached the intersection. My eyes lit up. There on the corner, in the middle of nowhere, was a beer vault. I love Mexico. They have priorities. I had to stop and buy a couple of cases. I think the girl that ran the place lived there also. There were hammocks set up inside and a small living area. They sold ice also. That was a plus. I was now set for the rest of the drive.

You wake up early when in Xcalak. The sun is just starting to come up. The aroma of the coffee invites you to pour yourself a cup. You walk out the sliding glass doors onto the beach. Only a pair of shorts on. You can feel the warm moist breeze on your body and the damp sand between your toes. All you can hear is the sound of the surf and a few birds. You look out across the water. It's beautiful. There is the cleaning table you used the day before to clean the Conch. You also dug some mussels out of the sand to be used with dinner. You reflect back on last nights dinner in the communal restaurant. There were two other couples staying here along with Andy and Ruth (the owners). Everyone ate together at a large table. All shared their stories of the days activities. A glass of wine and a few beers. Everyone became friends.

The drive into Xcalak wasn't bad. I was going to be staying at Sandwood Villas. The directions I had were great. I came up over the bridge and into town. Turned at the soccer field and found my way to the beach. 8 kilometers farther North and I would be at my destination. I was not, however, prepared for the journey down this road. The road was terrible. The road to Punta Allen is wonderful compared to this road. Huge pothole everywhere. One small dirt lane. There were wide spots every so often so you could pull over or back up to in case another vehicle was coming the other way. I was actually having a good time trying to maneuver around all the holes and still maintain a decent speed of 10 kph. My girlfriend was not impressed. She actually got pissed at me and wouldn't talk to me for the rest of the day. She had her bikini top on under a tee shirt. She was bouncing around and really got sore. I recommend for all women to at least wear a sports bra on that road. It took almost 45 minutes to go 8 kilometers.

I didn't stop in town. From the research I did, I knew that Andy and Ruth would have food and beverages there and the grocery truck came down twice a week I bought snacks in Felipe Carrillo and wanted to get on the beach. I think it was about 2:00pm. When I arrived. The Military check point where you turn to get to Xcalak wasn't bad and neither was the one near Sandwood. I had about a 1/4 tank of gas when I arrived. I was a little worried. There are no gas stations around in this area of Mexico. The closest ones were in Felipe Carrillo or Chetumal. I didn't have enough to make it to either one. Andy said that he always had extra gas. I met Andy and Ruth when I pulled in. They were expecting us . I got settled into into the room, grabbed a beer, changed, and headed out to the beach. The view was great. The beaches leave a lot to be desired. It is hard to find a sandy spot to get out to deeper water. Lots of coral to walk over first. The snorkeling is good. You can see from the photo on the right where the sandy spots are.

I was looking at a map one day and found Xcalak. It looked like one of the remotest spots I could find in Mexico. I couldn't even pronounce the name. It was also close to Banco Chinchorro where I had heard the diving was great. That was enough for me. I had to go. I did a little research and here I am. I had Ruth radio the Maya Ha Hotel in Majuhaul to make diving arrangements. The wind was still blowing so no boats going out today. This is my third day here and not able to get out. I have been into town a few times but the trip down the road makes it a long journey. I love sitting on the beach and exploring. Ruth told me of a spot where I could probably find pieces of ancient Mayan pottery. I went down the beach and after a little digging, found many pieces. Some were old fishing weights carved out of stone. That was very exciting.

The grocery truck was great. The schedule had changed and they were coming down more than twice a week. It is amazing what they carry. I purchased what I needed to cook breakfast each morning and ate lunch in town a couple of times. Dinner was with Andy and Ruth and who ever else was staying here. Dinner was always excellent and the conversation better.

I spent a half day driving North with Andy on the beach road to Majuhaul. You can't get through all the way but it was interesting. We were looking at property and stopped at many different parcels. Most were good size. I believe 30 meters wide by 180 to 300 meters deep. The asking price was $65,000 to $85,000 per lot. I thought that was a little high but paradise doesn't come cheap. No electricity, no phones, not even a decent road. We are talking remote but it won't be long before it is built up. I could definitely live here.

I did finally get to dive Banco Chinchorro but that is another story. Xcalak is a wonderful place. I have already made plans to come back. Lots of history and many fascinating stories about the drug runners and what people have found washed up on the beach. The stories of the clean up after the hurricane and some of the photos I saw were equally impressive. Millions of conch shells washed up and on the road. You couldn't drive because of flat tires. Sand 4 feet high in the buildings. Trying to evacuate and the problems getting through the military check point. Anyway, Xcalak is very laid back and very relaxing. It's not for everyone but to me it is paradise.