Polaroid of the Week: Dodging Hurricane Ernesto on Mexico's Caribbean Coast
Hurricanes have become a recurring adventure in our travels. Since hitting the road full-time in 2010, we've encountered one every summer. Two years ago, on Ambergris Caye off Belize's coast, we arrived just as Hurricane Matthew loomed. Locals boarded up windows, ferries shut down, but it weakened to a tropical depression before striking. We rode it out safely in our hotel.
Last year, en route from New York to New Orleans, Hurricane Irene forced a scenic detour through the Blue Ridge Mountains, bypassing North Carolina's coast. That twist introduced us to charming Asheville, a highlight we cherish.
This year, from our secluded beach house on Mexico's Caribbean coast, Tropical Storm Ernesto intensified into a hurricane heading straight for us. We boarded up, packed the dog, and fled as precursor thunderstorms rolled in. Five hours later, we reached Playa del Carmen—200 miles north—where fierce winds and rain still battered the streets.
Our home emerged unscathed, so we're heading back south tomorrow after two enjoyable days in 'civilization': high-speed internet, hot showers, AC, great coffee, and ice cream. With three weeks left in Mexico, we've hopefully filled our 2012 hurricane quota!
