January 28, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Palapa 509.

On the beach in front of Playa Royale are multiple little thatch roof huts with a small table in the center. They are called a palapa. There are five rows with at least 25 columns. Each palapa comes with two lounge chairs and two regular chairs. Obviously, the best palapas are closest to the water which is row 5. Ken is in charge of securing a palapa. Right after breakfast, Ken takes his book and towel and heads to the beach. Wendy joins him after a second cup of coffee with me. His favorite is palapa 509. It is close to the water. Plus the roof is low which provides more shade. During the day, in order to stay in the shade you must move the chairs. Mostly, Ken is able to secure 509 but this morning we went to the market so he was only able to secure 409, one row back. Yesterday Ken was steps away from his favorite palapa when another couple beat him by a second. He was relegated to 409. The rule is that if you leave your palapa for over an hour, the staff is supposed to move your stuff so someone else can use the palapa. Wendy and Ken watched when the folks in 509 went for a walk. But they returned in just over an hour. In truth, the staff does not enforce the rules anyway. After fifteen minutes, the folks in 509 got up to leave so Wendy and Ken were about to take over 509 but someone else swooped down and claimed it. Dissed again. We call it the palapa war. Fortunately, there are lots of them both on the beach and by the pool. We have fun every morning as Ken heads to the beach to claim their favorite palapa. I want him to send up a war chant of success whenever he has claimed 509 which they both call "our palapa". But so far no war chant. But most of the time he its successful. And everyone is happy at palapa 509.