What I always seem to ask myself at these times is what will I say?

Well on this occasion I will just ramble a bit about a few places that I like to visit in México. For those of you that like tropical climates with lots of water to be found, you are in luck.

The mar muerto is located on the Pacific side of the Istmo de Tehuantepec in Oaxaca. Before you get your map out that means that it is to be located on the Pacific side of the isthmus of México at the most eastern edge of the state of Oaxaca near Guatemala.

Now you can get your maps. Not exactly known for its great tourist trade, as a matter of fact, this particular area is rather devoid of large populations. The mar muerto is a body of water that is aproximately 22 miles in length and only 2 or 3 in width. It only has a small opening to the ocean, so the water tends to be rather saltier than the rest of the ocean. Strange lifeforms abound in, on, and around this body of water.

The immediate vegetation is rather sparce, but that is probably due to the salt and lack of rain. Most of the rain in the area falls on the slopes of the mountains just inland. This is where you can find the jungle. Jaguars, parrots, ocelots, four-eyed fish, and pythons can be found.

Yes, you read correctly. Four-eyed fish. These creatures are surface dweling fish, so they have developed the unique ability to see both above and below the waters surface. Neat trick. The largest one I have seen was about two feet long.

What are even odder, are the people that live in the imediate vicinity. They have built several small towns on what can only be described as sand spits reaching out into the body of water. This is not remarkable until you notice that you are standing only six or ten inches above water level. They seem to take flooding as a normal event in their life.

Enough rambling, on to the next card.