If you’re like us, the phrase “the perfect storm” conjures up giant rogue waves and a tiny boat thrashing about on a wild, dangerous ocean. Tropical Storm Ida, which passed this area last night on her path up north, is our version of the perfect storm…one that never even occurred!
Despite all the preparations for a good sized tropical storm (our first of the season) Ida veered east at the last moment–as storms sometimes do–and managed to have very little impact on Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya last night. There was barely any rain, and certainly no high winds to speak of. It was never going to be a huge storm, but nevertheless people here prepared for it, just in case. But in the end nothing happened. It passed peacefully between the Yucatan peninsula and Cuba…probably the best place a storm can go to avoid impact on human lives.
Even though there was barely any rain or wind, for some reason at least one airline, Jet Blue, cancelled their flights for today. We know this because some guests called last night saying their flights had been cancelled for today and they wouldn’t be arriving until Tuesday. We have NO idea why this would be. Surely Jet Blue had the same information we all had, and we knew by early last evening that this entire area–including Cancun–was completely out of Ida’s projected path. It’s hard to avoid mass panic when even the airlines make decisions like this.
Ida was a relatively late season storm, since hurricane season officially ends December 1. It has been an extremely slow season for us. We’ve had no hurricanes, no tropical storms and barely any rain. We figure it’s about time we got a break down here. 
We’re looking forward to the beautiful, balmy sunshiny weather that our winter brings, and the huge influx of tourists it brings with it.
In any event, we’re expecting another overcast day or so and then hopefully back to the warm sunshine and gorgeous waters of this magical place we call home, Playa del Carmen. Come and visit, if you can. You won’t regret it.
