Back at the Merida Segundo Classe bus station, the disrespectful attendant informs that the bus was cancelled; next one is another 2 hour wait.

I am upset by now, as the hotel office in Celestun closes at 10PM and that will put me in town about 10:30 after the 2.5 hour bus ride from Merida that now leaves at 8PM.

So I take a "hit" and absorb a $55 cab ride instead of the $4 bus ticket I normally purchase.

The pain from the deep-pocket peso dive finally eases. I roll down the window, enjoy the "at last" cooling night air along with the scenery. We won't quite make it by sunset but still ahead of when the bus would have arrived.

Of course, the entrapment of being on a bus always makes one realize how good real food will taste when the next opportunity to escape arrives. So after a quick check-in at the Maria Carmen I head to the small downtown square for a beer and tacos.

I am the only gringo in town (again!) so this is certainly fine by me. People stare for a while but then they get back to business. I mind my place and sit quietly while enjoy the local fare with a Negra Modelo on the side.

Next morning, I notice a new sign posted on the beach. No taking a dump beyond this point! You OR the horse!

It's always frightening to anticipate each new wave of the unfortunate rapid Americanization of Mexico. Modernization homogenizes culture at the speed of light. But luckily the new beach sign was the only change here since my last visit.

Yes, the only change! Still nothing going on here but teh sea. Wonderful! Time to settle in!

My hotel, the Maria Carmen, looking backward from the beach.

Looking down the street from the entry way of my favorite restaurant, .Casa Peon

Casa Peon sadly has new narrowed hours of service, reduced from my last visit which was at the peak of tourist season.