Sigh of Relief

I was so happy to be able to tell all my clients that called today that their properties are safe and sound and to others that yes, they can go ahead and purchase their airline tickets. There were heavy rains and nothing more in Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

It's Back to Business!

My deepest sympathies and best wishes to neighbors in Chetumal and Belize where there is a mess. The good thing is that no lives were lost! President Calderón has sent rescue missions and will be there personally on the ground as soon as he can. He seems like a pretty good guy.

I'm Not Very Original

Here I thought Mean Dean was original...NOT! Google has tons of entries with that title to my dismay...

I am somewhat comforted that the eye of the hurricane is no longer projected to come very close to Playa del Carmen, but my heart wrenches for those in the path of the eye. I know Chetumal and the coast of Belize well. Beautiful areas, lovely people....not a lot of economic resources. These are not tourist areas that will take the brunt of it.


By 8:35 p.m. EDT (0035 GMT), Dean had become a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 160 mph (257 kph). It was centered about 210 miles (338 kilometers) south-southeast of Tulum, the National Hurricane Center said. The eye was expected to strike the Yucatan region early Tuesday.



That would be just about where you see the "Punta Herrero" on the coast just below the words "Mar Caribe" on the map. It's going to plow through to the other side....I'm so sad!

Mean Dean

I am in constant contact with my partners in Playa del Carmen. The plywood is going up on all windows, the tractor trailers have arrived with it. The shelters are ready to accept people and the tourists were flown out today. Everyone has stocked up on water and food. Flights in have been canceled until after the storm and things return to normal.

Pinche Dean is projected to plow at category 5 proportions smack between Cancun and Playa del Carmen.... Kudos to the state of Quintana Roo for their excellent planning but no matter how many resources you have on hand and how much help you extend it is sure to be ugly.

Our office, one block off the water is sure to take a major hit unless Dean decides to veer to the northeast and stay in the sea between Cuba and Cancun and die all of a sudden... doubtful. Gulf states in the US are already preparing as well.

Jesús called today. He told me he will make the trip to purchase his home until after operations are back to normal. That could be a month depending how badly the airport in Cancun is damaged. Two years ago Wilma carried away the radar... But it was so nice of him to call, he asked me to not worry too much.

Ernie called to ask that we close the hurricane shutters on his condo. Franco had already thought of it and planned on going over today to do that. Our clients have become our trusted friends. They have called and emailed and know we will look after their properties as if they were our own homes.

I wish my partners and friends in Playa del Carmen the best.