The plane skimmed just above the dark green carpet of lush treetops and I stared out the window. The jungle goes all the way to the horizon when you’re at such a low altitude. Telephone poles appear. Soon, a few dirt streets showed up on the scene, papayas, mango trees…a whitewashed plywood sign advertised Pepsi from where they’d gotten it propped up against a gray cinderblock wall in the tan dust. The plane released it’s landing gear and then the wheels touched down on the quote runway, if you could call it that…funny what passes in other countries, we wouldn’t even think about permitting…it was just a broken up concrete strip with grass growing up through the cracks that you might do a better job of making on a Saturday morning with a trip to Lowe’s and a garden hose in the back yard. I mean you wouldn’t want to drive your pick-up truck on it, let alone land a plane…and yet land we did…you could hear the ‘Captain’ stomping on the brakes and spitting out Spanish expletives. It was a pretty fine piece of airline pilotry, really… 

K. and I got out and wandered downstairs through the cement interior of the tiny Mexican airport. It was under construction at the time. We walked out into the sun and within seconds we had a local quote tour guide. He said where you going? Are you going across to the island? I get you tickets.
Thanks but we have tickets.
For when? How long do you want to wait here? I can get you there right now. A plane is leaving in like ten minutes.
Yes, but I’m not in any hurry. Are we in any hurry, K.?
No.
How long you two wanna hang out here to get bothered by guys like me? Come on give me 20 bucks each and you be on a plane over to the island in like fifteen minutes.
Well, how do I know you’ll come back? I stupidly asked.
Come on man, what are we talking about? 40 bucks? You a rich guy.
I gave him 40 bucks.
K. says what are you doing?
I go why not?
The ’guide’ said follow me, so we did. We never even put down our bags or took off our backpacks. We just followed him. Next thing you know, we’re in a plane that’s skimming over the sea to the island. The water goes all the way to the horizon at those low altitudes…we haven’t eaten anything that didn’t come out of a Mexican vending machine for days.