cont'd

view from our bungalow

nauseating turbulence on the plane

nausea lasted through the non-ac-ed ac-ed bus to Playa. 1st thing i see is the jovial evil face of ronald mcdonald in mexican attire

taxi and tip (first of many) to the beach bungalow

manager sports the disgusted look when he takes a glimpse at the amount of luggage we've been dragging (and that his employee will now have to drag)

tip tip tip

i realize that 'beach bungalow' is so on the beach that the only way to reach it is to wade in sand with no solid ground in sight

an image of my signature sandals swimming in the sand starts to trouble me

image forgotten as pungent smell of beach bungalow greets us(el bano no fonctiona ahorita pero manana reparado)

fortunately there were two bathrooms and the shower hence known as 'sprinkler'

otherwise the place had a sunny tangy flavor to it mixed with infestation of insect repellent fumes that i can still smell here in farmland

i revert to childish enthusiasm upon sighting the orange hammock slung on the balcony
and the palm trees
and the Sea with the dinghies docked away

plop on the hammock, balance and swing to the melodies of a wind touching water that glints with emerald splendour

perfect picture postcard with no need for photo-chop

i hear my friend struggling with the windows, then with the flush, then with the window again

rouba they don't close

oh well it's not the ritz i smart-ass

down on the beach i walk around among german/italian/american turistas sprawled on the beach like jellyfish melting away in the torrid sun

and dive into deliciously blue waters to swim with a school of mexican teenagers probably skipping school

drying in the sun a shadow materializes

i can tell he's trying to decide if i'm mexican or turista
-what do you want
-photograph senorita polaroid, cheap no expensive, muy buenita
-he looks like those actors in the old french 'polar' movies with curly hair tied back, brandishing his camera
-grathias i mean grasias; no thank you; no; oufff no

and the sun reappears behind his back

i close my eyes and inhale the fine grains of sand (with the spanish version of copa cabana floating around me)