When we were nearing the check out time, we had to get packed and load the SUV for our next destination, Playa Azul. We started off following the gps and it led us out of town and down a road and then we were prompted to turn left down a rough patch of road that looked more like a farm pasture access than the Highway 160. When we decided to not take the route, the gps kept suggesting a u-turn to rectify our error in navigation. I bowed to the gos gods and did the u-turn as prompted and returned to the cow pasture access road. Well, it was a rough road and we passed an older man on the corner near the river harvesting deadfall and burning some brush. When we rounded the corner, we could see no more road and only a river to cross, suggesting that if we needed to go further, this river was the way to go. The gps concurred.
Well Correen would have none of it. She demanded to go back to the civilized road and we backed out of the access road back to the main road. We only managed to make our way down that road about 1-2 kms before reaching another river crossing. We stopped to question the reality of the situation and during this time, 2 big trucks and a couple of smaller SUVs crossed the stream, the last one being a group of tourist like us. We shared the same humour on the event and then we actually went for it. Correen none to optimistic or approving of the idea.
We made it!
As we continued on with our trip we made an additional 3 river crossings. At Ostonal we stopped to look for a nature conservancy center that was suppose to be open to the public and sharing information on sea turtles; however, we did not locate it. We ended up at some kind of university research center instead and they were not helpful. The place we were aiming for in Playa Azul ended up being very difficult to locate. We staggered up and down the road slowly honing in the location. You would think if you wanted people to find you, that you would put up a sign on the highway and further more not advertise that you are established on one beach, when truly you are located on another! An hour wasted and there wasn't even a sole there and plus we would have had to pay high season rates for a facility with none of their amenities even opened yet. We stopped at another resort down the road and it looked just as deserted and expensive.
So on to Plan B: Playa Negra. By the way this Highway 160 is all gravel with tons of mini SUV swallowing holes. Hopefully the kids aren't experiencing any kidney bruising. We arrived at Playa Negra and were looking for a place to stay. We found a place. It was a little pricey for a Cabana with only a private washroom and shower, but no hot water or A/C. We ate a meal that was a little disappointing, meat was rare for Correen and sending it back twice did little to improve it. My hamburger was on the pinkish side even though I asked for "cocinar bien". The beer was 150% what we usually paid and I kind of felt we might of entered a twilight zone episode. I can't imagine any of the guest were enjoying the food there... but there they were eating the rubbish.
We went down to the beach so I could get some sunset photos and the kids played a little on the beach. The waves were the best I had seen and the surfers were riding them for a period of at least 30 seconds each ride. After the beach the kids wanted at the pool; so in they went swimming after dark. Back at the cabana and readying for bed, Correen was loathing the place she was in. Sure there were ants, dogs, a cockroach, some dead spiders, probably some live ones too, a door of wood that was weather shrunk and provided a loosely secure fit to its frame and finally the noises that happened throughout the night. It was much like sleeping in a tent, except I think on this night, Correen would have preferred the tent.
