A corner of heaven

There's a very special place we like to go, usually on a Sunday afternoon. It's called Rincon del Cielo -- Corner of Heaven. The turnoff to get to it is only ten minutes down the road from Guayabitos. You go through a little town called El Monteon and then up and over a short mountain. Ascending on the inland side of the hill, you have fantastic views of the agricultural fields spread out over the valley. The descent on the ocean side is pure jungle, where you may startle a flock of brilliant yellow and black birds that flutter around your car like Monarch butterflies.

Juan and Maria live there all the time. That's Maria in her jungle kitchen. There is no electricity and no menu, but she does magical things with the two entrees that are offered: shrimp or dorado. Fresh. Go for the dorado. It's got some kind of fresh ginger/garlic glaze and comes with little fresh veggies on the side sprinkled with sesame seeds. Wash it down with deep red agua de jamaica, which Juan brings to the table in a big pitcher.

It takes a while to prepare the meal, so poke around the grounds, graze on some guacamole, read the prayer flags they have hanging around, talk to other guests, relax in a rocking chair, read a book, or go down and explore the beach. It's worth the wait, and the wait is most of the fun.

But don't wait. Come down and enjoy this place soon. That shot I took from the beach, looking back at the restaurant.....just to the left there's a new cyclone fence with a security guard installed. Fonatur (the same government agency responsible for Cancun, Ixtapa, and Los Cabos) is poised to open a mega-resort there within the next four years. This corner of heaven is getting smaller and smaller and smaller.