In Bahia Santa Maria I discover...SUN and WARMTH - whoot. Oh yes, and the Mexican Navy. About 10 of the boys board our boat complete with machine guns. They politely ask for our registration, smile a lot and then give us a survey. The survey asks were they polite, were they professional, were we frightened - mind you they still have the machine gun pointed at us. They got the best survey ever. I'm convinced this is some tourism marketers idea. The last couple of days have been spent frolicking on the beach, paddling up mangrove swamps, playing in tidal pools and hiking across cacti filled desert - blooming cacti no less. I think I'll stick to this game plan for now. My 37th birthday (yikes! how did that happen?) was celebrated in good company. I baked a triple layer chocolate cake and invited the Wyndeavor and Micu Verde crew to share in the sugar fest. I was quite taken aback when they all arrived with presents! Wow, extremely sweet. Thanks to Taryn and Bennet, the two youngest on Wyndeavor,  I now have a lovely wardrobe of shell necklaces - I am now the envy of all the other cruisers with my one pink and one blue necklace.  From Kelly I received fudge which lasted - oh - about two minutes. Warren and Stephanie gave me an elaborately weaved holder for my sunglasses.  All in all it was a lovely time with lovely people. Its amazing how resourceful people are. Its also amazing how kid they can be.