================================================================================================================================================================================================================================ The rental house in the village of Douglas had no indoor plumbing, just a rainwater cistern that supplied drinking & wash water....sparingly. The $30 a month rental was allen lutins' idea and it proved to be a strategic location that allowed more time to investigate the nearby raised fields in this little village. Less time was spent on the trek from the base camp at Nohmul each day A 'tienda basado en casa' was across the street. If the 2 wooden blinds were up in the awning position, it meant the store was open. This seemed to happen in late afternoon 4-5pm. The tiny home-shop satisfied most of our grocery needs. Ground beef or chicken were usually available if ordered early in the day. These friendly neighbors also had tomatoes, limes, tortillas and a variety of soft drinks, chips and candy. Our next door neighbors' kids would offer us freshly cut coconuts and gave personal Spanish-English language lessons on body parts....Ojos, nariz y boca. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Douglas is becoming known as a jumping-on or off point along the Rio Hondo for smugglers of both humans (Chinese Nationals!) and drugs, due to its river border with Chetumal, Mexico and eventually the USA.