Change of plans because of Hurricane Milton

I had an awful night. I didn't sleep, the pain in my ear was pulsing and excruciating.

When we had finished breakfast there was a lot of rain and a storm outside. I made my way to the dive shop to find a doctor's name to get my ear checked out. They have one they work with that is specialized in dive related injury and we make an appointment for 9:30 this morning.

While I was there, the wind picked up even more and the harbor master decided to forbid all small boats from going outside. The diving today is cancelled.

We check with the dive center team the evolution of Milton, the current hurricane circling at the top of the peninsula. As we discuss, they advise us to leave Cozumel today. The wind is planned to pick up in the late afternoon and tomorrow, they foresee that the ferries will be cancelled tomorrow too. The hurricane is already a category 4.

Because there is no activity today, the dive shop driver is driving me to the clinic and came to pick me up afterwards, that was very kind of them. The entire team of Roberta's scuba shack is a gem.

Turns out that I have a severe external otitis and I am given antibiotics, anti-inflammatory ( especially to ensure a smoother equalization for our flight tomorrow). I am given the ok to fly as we test my ear to ensure I won't get any injury during takeoff and landing.

What was interesting is that the doctor's office is in the same room as the hyperbaric chamber of the island. I had never seen one and I got to take a quick peek inside.

As we drive back to the dive shop, the weather is now all sunny and nice, but the driver says that it's the calm before the storm. In the hotel, they are preparing for the storm securing potted plans and any outdoor furniture or loose decorative frames.

As we reheat our lunch, the hurricane is now a category 5. We decide to stay in Playa Del Carmen tonight, as we will further away from it, and go to Cancun only tomorrow when the worst of the storm will have passed. I have a feeling that our flight will be delayed tomorrow evening.

The ferry crossing is uneventful and it's very windy when we arrive in Playa Del Carmen.

I have booked the same hostel where we stayed at before our Maya archeology tour, so it's easy to get situated when we arrive.

My ear is still screaming murder even with the first shot of medicine. I am tired. We spend the afternoon resting in the room.

The weather forecast predicts rain and storm from 8 pm tonight, and we go one last time at El Fogon early to be back before that time. And, I swear on the dot, the downpour starts 5min to 8pm, with the first lightning striking the hour.

It's a proper thunderstorm until 10:30pm and rain for the rest of the night. I spend it sleeping on and off because of the pulsing pain in my ear, it's impossible to find a comfortable position.