The winds picked up overnight, and the morning wasn’t looking good for diving. Nick slept in while Curtis, BRK, and I went to breakfast. We found out from a friendly couple that the port was closed, so none of the diving boats could go out. I was disappointed, mostly because my camera was all ready and raring to go.

Kristen and I decided to make the most of the blustery day and took a trip into town. We hit up some stores and ate lunch at Tiki Tok Restaurant Bar. We enjoyed fish ceviche and shrimps. And some drinks, two of which were on the house. Afterward we stopped for gelato.

It was still windy on the oceanfront when we got back to the hotel, but I wasn’t going to let that deter me from catching some rays. I lubed up with sunscreen and headed out to the pool. The sun was hot, and between that and the wind, the temperature was perfect. Not so much when the sun went behind the clouds though. Nick joined me for a little while, but it was short lived. I fell into the pleasant state of half-sleep for a while. Little did I know at the time that it was actually a dehydration coma. When there was no break in the clouds for the foreseeable future, I ventured back into the room to nap. I woke up a couple of hours later with a terrible headache. I pounded a bunch of water and mooched some drugs off of Kristen.

By the time we were ready to eat my headache was almost gone, but my stomach was a little iffy. Nick stayed back again because he had just begun a riveting game of League. The rest of us ventured to get food. We decided to eat at La Hach, a restaurant Nick and I passed on the first night. I ordered chicken quesadillas because cheese cures everything. Kristen got a burger. When Curtis ordered the sea donkey, all of us (including the waiter) had a WTF moment. The sea donkey was in fact on the menu—some sort of burrito type dish. The food and another bottle of water was just what I needed to put me back in tip top shape.

La Hach didn’t have a dessert menu, so we decided to get some at the hotel. I tried flan for the first time. Not so good. Kristen assured me there’s much better flan out there, though. Nick joined us there for dinner as well. Two musicians were there playing live music. It was very soothing and romantic, much different than the pop fest we have the pleasure of listening to during the day.

Hopefully we’ll be able to dive tomorrow. If not, we’re going to take the ferry to a nearby island and do a bit of diving elsewhere.

There’s nothing quite like getting up at 6:50 AM when you’re on vacation, but sacrifices must be made when diving is to be had. I fiddled with my camera for way too long, trying to get a red filter in the underwater casing, only to have to forfeit it for today’s dives. That’s what I get for forgetting to do it until the morning of. It was disappointing not to have it for the dives, but it’s working now, so I’m set for tomorrow.

Because we dove today, we got free breakfast and lunch at the Blue Angel restaurant. I enjoyed banana pancakes and a chimichanga, respectively. And also two banana daiquiris. For lunch of course. I’m a responsible diver, after all. And who can drink rum at seven in the morning? Okay, maybe that’s a stupid question. Disregard. The chimichanga was good, but they used a red sauce instead of whatever green, tangy sauce they used yesterday. I was kind of disappointed. Maybe next time.

After lunch I was feeling a little fatigued. Kristen and I contemplated the best napping location (room vs. ocean side) and ultimately decided the room would be the best choice because there was no shady spot outside. Unfortunately (or fortunately, because I was in the room napping), some weather rolled in and it wasn’t sunny for much longer.

When I woke up from my nap, I had a terrible case of heartburn, which has seemed to be plaguing me ever since we were on our way to the airport Saturday morning. BRK was kind enough to give me some Tums, but I mooch off her enough already, so we stopped at the pharmacy on the way to dinner so I could get my own and Curtis could get some drugs for his various ailments as well.

Town was crazy because there was an Ironman Triathlon taking place. We ate dinner at Rolandi’s Restaurant Bar and Pizzaria. I was just happy to eat something that wasn’t going to later ignite my chest into a hot, raw, all-consuming pain. I enjoyed a margarita pizza and for dessert, coconut ice cream with Kahlua.

On the (kind of long, actually) walk back to the hotel, I watched as Kristen narrowly missed stepping on a… wtf is that? ZOMG IS THAT A FUCKING WILD TARANCHULA??!?

We stopped for photos. Curtis didn’t believe it’s authenticity so he threw a stick at it. It scampered away a few feet, proving it wasn’t a fake. What did we do? Took more pictures, of course! Kristen got her foot real close to it to show the scale. Brave soul. May she rest in peace. Lollll, I kid, I kid.

After what felt like the longest line to check bags ever, we finally arrived in Cozumel! It’s hot and humid, everything Minnesota is not. Our hotel, Blue Angel Resort, is very… cozy. I got a kick out of the key (an actual key) and the locking mechanism on the door (a push button). The room is actually quite spacious. Maybe because there isn’t much in it. Like a desk or table (Nick brought in the one from the balcony). We have an adjoining room with cklahr. One door with a sliding lock on each side separates us. The view of the ocean is nice, and we are about 20 steps away from the attached, open-air restaurant. Most importantly, though, we have the free Wi-Fis.

Curtis, BRK, and I ate at the restaurant here for lunch, or whatever a four o’clock meal after a day of traveling is referred to. I enjoyed a banana daiquiri and delicious chimichanga, both of which I will be ordering again before the conclusion of this trip. The salsa was muy delicioso; very reminiscent of the ceviche in Belize. Where was Nick, you ask? He was napping. He declined an invite to eat with us, although he denies any knowledge of it. Delirious with sleep, that boy was.

After lunch, I took a nap. Nick and I ate dinner around eight. The Lahrs declined our invitation because we had to be up in 11 hours (#partypoopers). We wandered around in a straight line south and eventually came across Paprika Restaurante. We enjoyed hecho en Mexico Cokes, nachos, more ceviche-flavored salsa, and fajitas. I went with shrimp because the waiter recommended it. Best. Shrimps. Ever. I would definitely go back there, and it will probably be a good possibility because we walked for about a mile and only saw two restaurants.

Oh, and this place has the awesomest shower (which almost makes up for not being able to flush toilet paper). There’s a half-wall in the bathroom and the shower is on one side. Water gets all over the floor, but it kind of has this cool feeling of showering in an open room. I’ll post some pictures later on.

Speaking of pictures, I’m going to feel like a pro as I juggle three cameras on this trip. I’ve got my Rebel for srsbsns pics, my PowerShot for diving and quick shots, and my iPhone for posting on Instagram, Tumblr, and teasing people on the Twitter (thank gods for Wi-Fi).

I’ve created an album here where I’ll be posting all my pics. Bookmark it now for easy reference later.