Sunday Arrival

Should I even go there with the trip from the airport to the ferry? It's a been there done that sort of deal. I started plans with someone, then someone else and over the course of five months, ended up with no one.

I cannot be deterred from my island, my course has been set. I felt the need to be "womanly" this time around, not to gain attention but to feel like the Catz was clawing her way out of a bag.

This journey, I dare not call a vacation, is about self preservation and with the amount of tequila that was at my disposal, I am well preserved for the next thirty years. The plan was to take photos all day, sip tequila all night. To hide away in The Shell House and rediscover me. As you read on, you will find, I found that a certain blend of tequila makes one sexy (thank you Miguel) another makes one mean and the other five brands made me a sexy bombshell of a lunatic, privy to ups and downs to which I am proud to have survived. Thus the phrase, She Sighs.

My first sigh was noting that once I was dropped off at the airport at 10:00AM for a 1:50 flight (yeah, it was like that), I had left my cigarettes and lighter in my bathrobe pocket. Great. That ain't what I said but it'll do for now. Just thinking about not having nicotine coursing through my veins for the next seven hours was a STOOPID way to begin this adventure. I'm pretty, but I get pretty ugly without my friend "Nic". So I hightailed it to the first highway robbery store at the DFW airport. $4.00 for a lighter. Grrr...

Two choices. White with Don't Mess With Texas or Cowboy Blue with Dallas. Those lighters should have read, Don't mess with Catz in Dallas Texas without her cigarettes. I bought the Don't mess with Texas, fought with my lopsided red carry-on, which decided it would be difficult to begin with due to my four trolls, G.I. Troll, Mimi, Ba Lon Dee, Wheyda and Bert from Sesame Street Doll having a party of their own in the side pocket. Keep it down guys, stay still or you're staying here. I found the smoking section and inhaled with absolute pleasure three cigarettes. That would hold me until landing in Cancun. Whilst I was indulging in a cloud of smoke, I watched two young Asians pretending to smoke their Marlboro Reds. Don't waste your time on cigarettes oh, young ones of little lung power. Go fondle each other instead - may be more enjoyable than what you're doing now.

I knew my Isla Chica from last year, Kodi (Sista Sol) would be on the same flight. Coming with her would be (all Newbies) her sister Leslie and her son Chance, Kodi's childhood friend Hope, and Leslie's new beau Troy. It would be a different sort of vacation for that group. We were to meet up before boarding and were to spend Tuesday and Thursday together on the island. I didn't let Kodi know until three weeks ago that I was coming to Isla even though I knew I would return six months ago. I'm real good at keeping things quiet...when they need to be quieted!

As it turns out, while I enjoyed my $8.00 Asian Chicken Salad with six tomatoes mind you, sitting at a table for one reading The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, they enjoyed beers in an upstairs lounge a few yards away. After my salad which I took two hours to masticate, I took a seat by the windows to watch the planes zip to and fro and wonder what destinations were. Sitting behind me were five boys of the 18-21 age bracket. Their wide eyed, anxious looks were a dead give a way that they were headed to Spring Break in Cancun...parent-less. Have fun with that, yeah, have fun. (My son Aelias was headed to Padre Island, Texas for his first Spring Break, also parent-less. I taught him well, let's see if he loses his mind, wallet, phone, inhibitions, or all the above). One of the boys I had noted earlier had been pulled aside by the Airport Police. They were in the next aisle from me while we were getting our bags ready for screening. Why in the hell would he say loud enough for twenty folks to hear him, "Man, I hope they don't check my bag for condoms, Cocaine or Marijuana." "YOU IDIOT!!" shouted one his friends, "what did you say that for?!!!?" Well, with that commotion, it would have been negligent of the Airport Police not to search him. He was detained for two hours, found clean and told to sit down and don't move until the flight. And I had to sit right behind them. He kept carrying on, irritating me and his friends with his behavior. Thank goodness the Flight Hostesses were passing out Green Cards to be filled out. That was my cue to move. So I did, red luggage biting the back of my heels all the way. Travelling with trolls can be a nuisance at times, they party too hard and we haven't left the airport yet.

I found a spot to fill out the touristy card and saw Kodi's svelte stature meander behind a beam. I was waving to her trying to get her attention, in vain. I ended up quieting the trolls, by re-adjusted their positions in the luggage, they had been sniffing my dread lock spray. I took the road less traveled and snuck up on Kodi as she was engaging her companions with all there was to do on Isla Mujeres. I joined in with "Is that right?" I though Kodi was gonna light into me for dipping in their conversation when her eyes lit up!! Hugs all around to Kodi, Chance (15 years old now - wow how time flies), Leslie who looked a bit sleepy, it was something else, and met her boyfriend Troy, whom I liked right away with his Southern drawl and quick wit. Hope was passing in and out of consciousness. Protecting the innocent here by going no further on why two were looking sleepy... Let's just say, they needed something to calm nerves before flying.

Troy was on STAND BY and lucked out to get a seat on our flight. I'm happy about it, Troy and Leslie are swooning with passion about it. (Quiet Time).

I'm seat 30 F. They are in 31 &32 ABC. Bless the plane on the way in, shove my luggage into the overhead - poor Leslie, her bag had to be checked -thought mine was bigger, guess she didn't look like a seasoned traveler. Oh well. The next few hours, I read my H.G. Wells book while the others began enjoying libations. Just a cup of ice for me thanks.

Flying - flying - 40,000 foot speed bump - landing.

Bano please. Waiting in line - - Tinkle, tinkle,

bano conversation: oh cute shoes, Gracias and

Tinkle, Tinkle. Ahhhhhhhhhhh, that's betta!!

Gracias.Long Line, good looking Immigration Guys. I wanted to be in line 31, got line 32 with Eduardo.

Kodi and I had a $10.00 bet on who would get the RED LIGHT BAG CHECK. We broke even. It was the two people in front of our group that got checked. Good thing too. Intoxicated trolls are hard to explain. Kodi informed her group of what to expect. We are sharing a private van to the ferry. $45 US . It's always great to see your name on a billboard the size of a mouse pad. Our guide to the van was Edgar. Our van driver was Edwardo. Dealing with the second vowel by the looks of the names we've been dealing with so far...Eduardo, Edgar and Edwardo. I like the letter E don't you?

Look at 'em - taking photos of the airport parking lot. I too was a Newbie once so I just stood back and grinned. Leslie on the left, Hope in center, Kodi on the right.

Hope finally woke up and is ready for a grand time.

Kodi, Troy in center, and Chance. That's Edwardo in the background.

Catz - Troy - Leslie - Hope and Kodi in front. Glad we all got a base coat of a tan working cause the weather is gorgeous and someone is coming home burnt and it ain't gonna be me.

Our ride was very entertaining. AC not needed as it was in the mid 70’s when we arrived. Of course I jumped at the chance (not the driver) to sit up front with Edwardo – he’s from Mexico City, been in Cancun for seven years. “Izza yob!” when I asked why he came to Cancun. He gets tired of driving and walks everywhere when he’s not on duty. Luckily I knew the way and pointed out the highlights of this part of Cancun. Leslie was tickled there was a Super Wal-Mart.Chance liked the graffiti and colorful cars. Kodi was telling folks to look out the side windows cuz looking forward was sure to have you pressing your imaginary brake!! Troy was all eyes and hope was a laid back Hippie Dippie, chirping in when something BRIGHT entered her line of vision. Edwardo was talkative, a delight to the Newbies in the back.
I was looking for the blue and white tower – The Grand Dam to Isla Mujeres. I had Leslie on the lookout and she squealed when she spotted it in the distance through the streaked windshield.Only 45 minutes or less and I would be on my way to neva wanna come back land and the others were antsy for food, fun, sun and Sol’s. Coke for Chance of course.

The Crew as I have dubbed them took care of the taxi fare (sweet) and I left Edwardo with a HUGE …tip and a grin. He asked if we needed him to take us to the airport and back for another grand tip! LOL and maybe next time! Oh I was so overcome with the pull of Isla Mujeres I couldn’t stand it. So I danced instead…so did Leslie and Troy to which Chance just shook his head and took in the familiar aroma of McDonalds. Hope and Kodi went to the Bano and Cambio while we took a few shots, got our ferry tickets and had our luggage loaded on a trolley. So where was this dude when my red carry-on was misbehaving for the last 1,470 miles?
I tipped him well as our luggage sat for the 17:30 arrival. I told him there was no need for it to be pushed to the ferry as the joy is dragging forty pounds over the last hurdle.

Kodi was posing and shouting “I’M BACK BABY!!” I asked the guy in front of me if my “fumar” was irritating him – apparently so. I puffed anyway.

I saw the ferry coming as Troy and Chance came to my post with Fries and a Drink in hand.Americans to the end. Troy was amazed there wasn’t any ice in his cup – more bang for your pesos my dear. No fries for me thank you – I have Isla on my mind.

I lead us all to the TOURIST side of the cattle rope, while the locals went to their side. Chance, Hope and Leslie were curious. Locals have right of way – they sit inside most of the time.Touristas enter last, we prefer the top – gotta see that water and sunset!!

Troy asked me if we should allow the dude to take our stuff to the ferry – Not me – I keep my stuff with me – you watch they will try to take your stuff and park it for you. I’ve got too much in my bag to worry about and I prefer to stow my stuff next to my. Which is what we all did – up the stairs and plopped on the seats (we had to put them on the floor when the other dude got a bit miffed that we wanted to keep our gear close at hand).

Oh my Gawd, oh my Gawd, we’re moving!!!! Camera’s whirling, breeze fluttering the hair – I had to slow my heart rate. Isla Mujeres excites me beyond measure.

The crossing over was bliss. I closed my eyes, only for a moment and the moment’s gone (sorry)…I closed my eyes, inhaled the sea and stared at the musical waves lapping at the ferry’s base. The sunset was promising, my mind was elsewhere –tuning into the centrifugal force that is Isla. I hear you my love, momma’s coming…momma’s coming…..