Playa del Carmen Real Estate Blog - Observations on Life and Real Estate in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

As requested by "Life's a Beach" Readers...... 

Far and away our most popular and fastest selling investment property of the year, The Fives is teaming with activity as the enormous free-form pool that meanders throughout the property gets dug in and poured. Many of the towers have been completed and are getting a fresh coat of paint and windows fitted. We spent several hours onsite today with buyers looking to snap up the few remaining units. Due to the recent purchase of a neighboring parcel, The Fives beach frontage has been dramatically increased and is, as always, spectacular.

In Playacar Phase 2, a large swath of land has been selectively cleared and dug in preparation for the new project from Origo, Vaiven del Viento. This is the first phase of the ambitious Vaiven project consisting of 149 2 and 3 bedroom luxury condominium residences set on over 9000 square meters of property. Features of this project include underground parking facilities, a cinema lounge, a fully equipped gym, Yoga, dance and Tai Chi Solariums, an onsite infirmary and a children's playground. A majority of the mature tropical trees have been preserved on the property and the developers plan to make use of sustainable resources for their building materials and impliment a rainwater catch system to irrigate the massive gardens and green spaces on the property. Delivery is scheduled for Fall 2009.

Playacar Phase 1 has quite a bit of construction going on including this enormous 2 villa project going up quickly next to Casa Vista. Reported to boast a whopping 8 bedrooms each, these new ocean-view homes will certainly be a great vacation rental option for large groups or families traveling together. I should mention that this is the most professional and well managed worksite we have ever seen in Mexico. Notice the hard hats and reflective vests. The clean and orderly appearance of the jobsite, the covered lunch area and laundry facilities make the standards of this builder unique in this region. Bravo. We look forward to seeing the final results!

Back in downtown Playa del Carmen, just one block from the beach, Acanto Condominiums are ready to begin construction. The lot, located next to the popular Acanto Hotel on calle 16, has already been cleared. These luxury 1, 2 and 3 bedroom condominiums have been designed by the same award winning architect who created the Villas Sacbe, Porto Playa, El Taj and most recently, Maya Villas. In keeping with the design of the hotel, these condos will have a romantic appeal with influences from the far East. Prices for full ownership include gym menbership and start in the low $300,000s.

Just next door on Avenida 1, the construction of Maya Villas is progressing rapidly. Today, the crews were putting a smooth finish on the exterior and painting. Some palapa is already in place over the spacious terraces. Delivery of these units in time to capture high season rentals seems very likely. This is a beautiful project with just a few units left to sell.

The construction of El Faro Residences is moving along quickly with its well funded crew. The model unit is ready to show and several of the buildings have been completed. The interiors remain to be finished but it appears that this controversial project will successfully reach completion and delivery.

OK, that's all for this month. Feel free to contact me and let me know if you would like a photo update of a particular property added to June's roster.

Aptly named for the Mayan tree of life, Parque La Ceiba is breathing new life into our community. Inaugurated officially in mid-March yet still a work in progress, Parque La Ceiba is a refreshing oasis in a city that seems bound and determined to cover every square foot of its municipality with luxury condominiums and shopping malls. Our two week trek through Belize kept us from attending the grand opening, so I was very excited to hear that the children of El Papalote School would be treated to a day in the park in celebration of "Dia de los Ninos".

The park is located in the "ejido", on the west side of 307 and encompasses an entire city block. (see map at the bottom of the page) The area is completely fenced with only one point of entry, off of calle 1 sur, making it difficult for a child to leave the grounds unattended. Inside, natural trails, ampitheatres, classrooms and creative play areas have been carved into the jungle. There are spacious clean bathroom facilities, a small restaurant, a recycling center and even a nursery onsite used to propagate the many species of indigenous plants covering the park.

One of the various "salons" where classes and workshops are held throughout the week.

Inside, Papalote Pre-1st Students with Miss Kim

A stunning piece sculpted of colorful tile and glass was donated by a local artist to decorate the park.

Convenient reycling stations onsite.

In the quiet shade of the trees. it's easy to forget that you are in the middle of the city.

The nursery.

An old Mayan dugout canoe, perfect to spark young imaginations.

One of the many areas for children to climb, building strength and coordination.

A challenging "balance beam" . Whenever possible, natural or recycled materials have been used to create interesting play areas for the children

The open air restaurant and snack bar is a nice break from the heat.

One of two open air ampitheatres.

Multi-talented teachers and master face painters, Miss Kim and Miss Anna.

Dozens of activities and workshops are offered 7 days a week at La Ceiba. A full schedule is posted at the entrance to the park. There are organized activities for children, teens and adults. Everything from belly dancing, sushi preparation and candle making workshops to poetry, dramatic arts and painting classes are offered. Something for everyone!

So, for the children of El Papalote School, it was a wonderful "Dia de los Ninos" spent in the new heart of Playa, Parque La Ceiba. For those of us who live here, this park is a wonderful enhancement to our quality of life. For families visiting Playa, a trip to the park would make a nice afternoon activity for kids who have had too much time in the hot sun or are a bit tired of the beach. Do try to schedule some family time in the new park and make note of the local businesses whose efforts and generous monetary donations supported the development and construction of this tranquil urban refuge.

Parque La Ceiba is located at Avenida 60 and calle 1 south, just one block off of Juarez, two blocks west from the carratera 307. The park is open 7 days a week from 9am to 9pm. Admission to the park is free.

Lovely Tara turned the big 4-0 on Sunday and her better half (don't they all think that anyway), Steve, threw her a terrific pool party! The sun was hot, the water was cool, the food was delicious and everyone had a great time. Lots of familiar friendly faces in the photos below!

The birthday girl.

Tyra and Jurgen

Jana and Mary

J.J. and baby Kaj

Ki ke

Sherry

Rob and Deb

Steve and Morgan

J.J.

Cherie, Bill and Amy - and I very well have everyone of these names wrong.

Rob, Steve and J.J.

Claire

Mickey in love!

Kim and baby Kaj

Birdie and Daddy

Cole

Tara

Cake!!

Happy Birthday Tara and welcome to Mexico.

Tucked away at the southern end of Tulum's world famous beaches, perched on the edge of the Sian Kaan biosphere, the more intrepid traveler will find Hechizo, a restaurant certain to cast a powerful spell on even the most discriminating diner. On a lush oceanfront parcel known as Rancho San Eric, Chef Stefan Schober and his wife and pastry chef, H ui have created out of their collective imaginations a remarkable dining experience unparalleled in all the Riviera Maya. Stefan, born to Austrian parents and raised in Mexico City, met H ui while they were both working in the world class kitchen of the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Singapore and, eventually, brought her back to Mexico, to the beaches of his childhood. The restaurant is of their own design and sits amidst tropical palms and flowering plants on the property owned by Stefan's parents. Although, on good advisement from local message boards, we scouted out the location in advance in the light of day, our 8:30pm reservation would still bring us crawling at a snail's pace down the dusty Boca Paila road in the pitch blackness, eyes pealed for the small sign marking the entrance. Under a blanket of a billion stars, a long winding path, dimly lit by conch shell luminaries, brings you to a small walkover bridge spanning a delightful man-made pond and its colorful aquatic inhabitants. The dining room itself, punctuated by an enormous fresh water aquarium, is rather sparse in appearance. The table arrangements are all different but each has a distinct asian influence, perhaps a reflection of H ui's heritage or of the couple's time spent together in the East. Each element of the decor has been carefully selected and the tables set well apart from one another to ensure an intimate experience for each party.

There are no printed menus, save one, a list of available wines and spirits. Instead, Chef Stefan kneels at each table and regales his guests with his offerings for the evening. Although, it is clear given Stefan's extensive training at the Culinary Institute of Austria, that each dish has been masterfully orchestrated, he will let you know that ingredients and preparation can be "open for negotiation". I was disappointed when the young chef rebuffed my invitation to simply present us whatever dishes were to his particular liking but we had no trouble making our selections from the 5 or 6 starters and entrees prepared for this evening's guests.

An "amuse bouche" of fresh mozzarella dressed with extra virgin olive oil and cracked black pepper, topped with a marinated tomato and basil salad.

Mild Mexican goat cheese served atop a crisp, juicy rectangle of seedless watermelon on a lightly dressed bed of watercress and sprinkled with toasted pine nuts and a sweet balsamic reduction. This is Chef Stefan's signature appetizer and with good reason. The creaminess of the goat cheese, the crisp sweetness of the watermelon and the peppery bite of the watercress all playfully meld together without losing their individual attributes. It's a remarkable combination.

Sweet and savory. Oven roasted beets topped with supremes of fresh manadarin orange, watercress and a generous slice of Danish blue cheese all drizzled with the sweet balsamic reduction. This is where Stefan shows his maturity as a chef. Rather than preparing dozens of sauces in an effort to dazzle diners with an extensive repertoire, he focuses on using the finest, freshest local ingredients, presenting them simply in a variety of settings, each meticulously designed to show off both flavors and textures.

Seated within view of the kitchen, we could observe the chef in his natural habitat, testing temperatures, tasting and re-tasting every sauce, every dressing before it went in front of the guests. This attention to detail and relentless pursuit of perfection seems certainly a result of his strict European culinary training and his Austrian heritage. I would be remiss if I did not call attention to the servers who are among the best I have ever seen and inarguably complete the most professional restaurant staff in this region. The timing from the kitchen was impeccable and the waiters worked together seamlessly, each movement deliberate and purposeful yet unobtrusive.

Roasted sea bass perched on a bed of wilted chaya and oven roasted potato all dressed with a dollop of truffle cream was my entree of choice. The silky smoothness of the truffle cream was a perfect enhancement for the mild, moist sea bass. The sauteed chaya, a spinach-like green had just the slightest twang of acidity, perfect to cut through the fatty goodness of the fish. My husband chose the lamb osso buco which was cooked to perfection and slid off the bone with just the slightest prodding. Full of flavor from a braising liquid made of only the finest ingredients, the lamb was succulent and tender and served with simple elegance in a large white ceramic bowl with creamy mashed potatoes laced with nutmeg as an accompaniment.

Out on a brief leave, celebrating the recent birth of their second child, H ui was not in the restaurant on this evening to present her dessert creations. Chef Stefan graciously filled in and our selection, a cracked black pepper cheesecake with macerated strawberries, was the perfect finale to this extraordinary meal. We paired the dessert with a 10 year old port and a late harvest gewurtztraminer, each bringing forward different nuances in flavor from both the creamy cheesecake and the fruit.

Dinner for two, with martinis before, wine by the glass and after-dinner drinks totaled $150 usd before adding gratuity. My only recommendation: Provide a greater selection of premium spirits. The only vodka available to us this evening was Absolut. A restaurant of this caliber should have an equally distinctive list of cocktails, wines and cordials.

Hechizo, Spanish for spell, enchantment or charm, lives up to its name and all the fine press it has received to this point. Impressed by the simplicity of the decor, the lack of pretense from either the young chef or his cuisine and the noteworthy level of service, we highly recommend Hechizo as a premier destination dining experience on the Riviera Maya. We too have been charmed and look forward to sharing this magical place with family and friends.

I don't think it's any kind of secret that my husband loves monkeys. I mean really, really loves them. For some kids, the wish every year at Christmas is for a puppy. Others, like myself become obsessed with horses. For Rob, it was all about the monkeys and it's an interest he has held onto even into adulthood. You can imagine my delight when, in the process of planning a spectacular weekend to celebrate my sweetie's 40th, I stumbled upon some interesting comments on the web about a spider monkey sanctuary just down the road in Chemuyil! This mysterious habitat, The Jungle Place, sounded like just the right kind of unforgetable destination for Rob and the kids to enjoy together on his birthday.

I had made previous arrangements with the owners, via email, several weeks in advance and was told the best time to interact with the monkeys would be in the late morning. So, off we went, south on 307, and just 35 minutes later made the turn into Chemuyil. The Jungle Place, or Kuxi Kaax, is easy to find just another 3 minutes or so past the puebla. We pulled in, crept down the narrow winding driveway surrounded by beautiful palms and flowering plants and quickly arrived at our destination. I couldn't help thinking how strange it was that we have lived in Playa del Carmen for nearly 4 years and I have heard barely a whisper about this amazing place. The owners, Heidi and Joel were waiting and welcomed us to their home, a home they share happily with 13 rescued spider monkeys!

We exchanged hellos with Heidi, Joel and Linda, a primatologist and educator on an extended visit from Washington State. We each shared a bit of our respective histories, where we are all originally from, how long we have lived in Mexico, what drew us here etc., all within just a few feet of an enclosure which rivals those of most modern zoos. It turns out that, at one time, Joel and Heidi had grand plans for a beach house. Then they were "bit" as they say, by the "monkey bug" and the house on the beach turned into a home on 20 acres of jungle interwoven with cages and bungalows. During this time, the monkeys are sizing us up, listening to our voices, watching our body language and becoming accustomed to our presence from the shelter of their cage.

Heidi gave me some tips on successful herb gardening.

 
Connor says "hello" to a new furry friend.

Joel introducing Cole to the group.

Birdie bottle feeding the new baby.

Finally, it was time to enter the enclosure. Joel took the lead and calmly guided Rob, Birdie and Cole into the large habitat set up for the female spider monkeys. I chose to stay outside and document the encounter and poor Connor, battling "la gripa", was not allowed prolonged close contact with the monkeys. The primates can catch whatever virus we may introduce but have no way to battle the illness and may ultimately die from a simple cold. It is also dangerous for the monkeys to come into contact with many of the chemicals used in sunscreens and insect repellents. While Heidi does provide a wonderful all-natural bug cream, she has also painstakingly planted the entire property with naturally repellent plants like lemon grass which keeps their home and the monkeys' cages mosquito free! We never saw a single bug during our visit. These monkeys are quite obviously happy and healthy. One of the females gave birth last year to their first "baby" conceived on-site. Spider monkeys, much like humans, mate by choice. The mother will tend to her off-spring diligently for the first 4 years, shunning all advances from interested males.

Birdie anticipating a "dive bomb" from above!

It amazed us all how clean the monkeys were. Even in this close proximity, they had no odor at all. Joel showed us how they "bathe" themselves using ths oils from lime leaves!

I can only hope that my pictures tell the story because to say that this experience was magical does not come close to doing it justice. Rob and the kids were in the enclosure interacting with the monkeys for over an hour! The smile on my husband's face as these playful creatures climbed him like a jungle gym, eventually falling asleep on his shoulders and in his arms, was priceless. The monkeys seemed to regard Birdie and Cole as one of their own and busied themselves trying to untie shoe laces and remove hair-ties from their new friends. The children were instructed to try not to show their teeth when they smile as this is perceived as an act of aggression (one we would see later while visiting the males). Sweet Birdie couldn't help but grin ear to ear and spent most of the time with one hand firmly clamped over her mouth!

Connor looking on with Heidi and Linda.

Peanuts, yum!

It was easy to see who was voted Mr. Popularity in the monkey set. Handsome even without the prehensile tail!

Then, just as suddenly as they had attached themselves to Rob and the kids when they entered the cage, the monkeys retreated to their respective areas in the enclosure and settled in for a mid-day siesta, leaving the humans to chat about daily life and routines at The Jungle Place, where all of these monkeys came from and how they could possibly support such a huge endeavor on donations and bungalow rentals. Heidi and Joel were thrilled to find out that we are friends and supporters of the Peanut Animal Shelter in Playa del Carmen, and we promised to put them in touch with Andy and Jen to help build their network of supporters. The lifespan of these fragile creatures is 30-40 years and they have no chance of survival outside of the care of Heidi and Joel and the security provided by The Jungle Place. This endeavor is truly a lifetime commitment.

Connor saying goodbye with the secret monkey handshake.

After a bit of conversation and exploration of their amazing palapa home we went to visit the male monkeys. Many of these poor creatures had been so abused and malnourished that they will never fully recover emotionally. It was interesting to see the vast differences in personalities and mannerisms and be able to clearly pick out which ones are "not all there", so to speak. Despite repeated warnings to stay out of the reach of long monkey arms, one of them, Chucky, managed to get ahold of my hair. Unlike the playful females who may tug at your hair out of curiousity, the males are aggressive, strong and they are playing for keeps. My scalp is still tender today!

One of the enclosures is over 30 feet tall.

More of the labyrinth of cages and chutes.

The "unfinished symphony" . A building project that took a backseat to cage repairs after hurricane Wilma. Funds raised from visitors will go a long way toward finishing this remarkable guest cottage.

We reluctantly bid our farewells, promising not only to return soon, but to get the word out, in our own way, to as many locals and visitors as possible. If you have children, this an experience not to be missed. Even if you don't have children, if you love the Riviera Maya for all of its exotic flora and fauna, this is an opportunity to preserve a small piece of that unspoiled beauty and support a worthy enterprise. Looking for a way to take in the natural resources of this region? An outing that is more authentic and economical ($15 dollars per person) than Xel Ha or Xcaret? Why not spend a morning with the spider monkeys, take a dip in the nearby cenote Xunan Ha, grab a delicious pizza to go at Leo's Pizza in Chemuyil and then spend a lazy afternoon on one of the most beautiful and remote stretches of beach in all the Riviera Maya, Xcacel. I guarantee you will come away with the feeling that you really experienced some of the best of what Quintana Roo has to offer its more inquisitive and adventurous visitors.

Last Tuesday, in celebration and appreciation of Earth Day, the students in the Pre-1st class at El Papalote, traveled 30 minutes north, via vans, for a day at La Casa de la Cultura in Puerto Morelos. I was lucky enough to be invited along as chaperone/staff photographer. This was my very first field trip as a mom and I was thrilled that Birdie wanted me to tag along with her and her classmates. I might as well take advantage of the opportunity now. In a few years, she won't want to be seen with her boring/crazy/annoying/totally un-cool mum and her darn camera ;)

In preparation for their special project of the day, Miss Kim gathered the students in one of the classrooms and introduced them to the traditional Mexican figurines sculpted of clay called "cuentacuentos", the story-tellers. These small figures can take the shape of a human or an animal and will often have smaller figures attached to it resembling offspring. The figures are often shown singing or drumming and are used to tell the story of a family or group. It is through these figures that this history is kept alive generation after generation. Miss Kim showed the children some beautiful examples of cuentacuentos and helped them think of what kind of figure might best represent them and their families.

From there, the children went to an outdoor art area where they were given their own hunk of clay or "barro" and given further instruction on how to make the various parts of the body, hollowing out the larger pieces so that the figure would not explode while baking in the kiln. They were shown the techniques for attaching one bit of clay to the next by "scoring" and using "slip" as cement. The parents and teachers on hand helped the students to realize their individual creations. It was great fun to watch all the little artists hard at work!

The moms and teachers got into the act themselves.

When the students were satisfied with their creations, we took a quick lunch break beneath some banana trees and then headed up the road to check out the mangrove and its inhabitants. Miss Kim explained to the children that the "earthy" smell and rust color of the water is perfectly normal to the mangrove and not a result of pollution. This time of year being the dry season, the water level was incredibly low and we could see millions of fish sharing a very small amount of water. In places, it looked at if the water was boiling from all the fish moving so close together. At this time of year, it is normal to see some dead fish on and near the shoreline .Miss Kim explained that in this case, there were way too many, most likely due to unchecked littering and illegal fishing in these protected areas. While it appeared to me that the mangrove was in pretty bad shape, it was certainly sustaining an enormous amount of wildlife. We saw hundreds of ducks, cranes, egrets and cormorants making a home in the mangrove.

The children made a quick stop to blow off some steam at the playground in Puerto Morelos' quiet, picturesque zocalo.

The last leg of the children's outing was a quick, age appropriate and very well presented slideshow and discussion about the mangroves, their important role in the delicate balance of the world's ecology and how each of us can play a part in making sure the mangroves are protected. The children were pleased to know that their own daily efforts in recycling and water conservation at home are essential to the preservation of the mangroves all over the world.

For the Pre-1st class at Papalote, Earth Day 2008 was a big success and a lot of fun. Thank you to Miss Kim, Miss Anna, the artists and staff of the Puerto Morelos Casa de la Cultura and all the Pre-1st moms who helped make this day enjoyable as well as educational for our children.

It's been said many times that the only thing that is consistent in Playa del Carmen is inconsistency. I find that to be be true in so many aspects of life here, particularly in my dining experiences. As this weekend my husband celebrated his 40th birthday, our regular Friday night companions treated us to dinner at Negrosal, a chic downtown restaurant we have come to jokingly refer to as "the mistress". On those select occassions that we depart from our regular favorite eateries and get all dolled up for an indulgent evening at Negrosal, it always feels a bit like we're cheating. We have dined here on several occasions with various friends and customers and, without exception, our experiences have been very positive. On this special day, we were really looking forward to more of the same.

While I can't say that the meal, overall, was bad, it just didn't quite live up to our expectations based on past performance. The service, I will say, is friendly, prompt and professional. The waiters are knowledgable about the menu and really understand some of the finer points of service. That alone is hard to come by in Playa and the management is to be commended for it. This time it was the food that, almost across the board, failed to impress. The duck tacos, really more of a spring roll in presentation, were crisp and delicious but could have been filled with any meat as the flavor of duck did not show through. The seafood soup was flavorful and certainly generous in portion but much of the shellfish was overcooked at a bit rubbery. I chose the shrimp with a saffron champagne sauce, which I have enjoyed several times in the past. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and the lovely puff pastry cap was flaky and buttery as expected. Sdaly, the sauce, a variation on the classic beurre blanc, failed to shine in this dish. It was a bit loose and starting to break and just didn't have the wonderful flavor and silky texture that I have enjoyed in the past. In the realm of starters, the fresh spinach salad and the generous smoked salmon appetizer, both artfully served in carefully layered towers, were the real standout winners. 

Moving on to the main courses, three of our merry group chose the rack of lamb served with minted peas. At our regular Friday night venue, we quite often chose lamb and found the portion size here to be rather small in comparison to what we are generally served. While the meat was cooked perfectly, the heavy, overly herbaceous crust detracted from, rather than enhanced both the texture and the flavor of the lamb. While the lightly minted green bean accompaniment is well conceived, this evening, the beans were just too mature and overcooked. Kim, keeping on the seafood theme, selected the red snapper which, of all the dishes put before us, was the biggest disappointment. The presentation was completely sub-par, lacking any imagination and the fish itself was hard and dry. It went uneaten. I chose a menu item that I have enjoyed many times in the past, the seared duck brea st with raspberry sauce. My previous experiences taught me to order this sauce on the side, lest my duck be delivered drowning in sticky sweetness. Just a few drops are all that is necessary to enhance the flavor of this delicious dish. As always, the duck was seared to perfection, fork tender and not at all gamey. My only complaint? A slightly smaller portion size than I am accustomed to and a side of roasted potato that seemed to be nothing more than an after-thought. Based on the artistry displayed in many of the appetizers, I know they can do better and they should.

In conclusion, while I wasn't unhappy with our dining experience, I certainly wasn't impressed. I have had better meals at Negrosal in the past, so I know what the kitchen is capable of putting out. Certainly, the constant stream of different diners, visiting tourists who will only experience a meal Negrosal once or twice, will not be aware of or affected by the inconsistency. In the end, it will be the locals that will mark the success or failure of this and other restaurants in Playa del Carmen when high season is over and competition for tourists is fierce. The more expensive, finer dining establishments would be wise to court the local dollars by provided us with consistently good food, excellent service and good values.

Day two of the Blogger Blowout was a hot one, much to the chagrin of us bloggers, each wearing varying shades of HUNGOVER! After a quick latte at Aluxes, we slowly piled into our carts and headed out across the island for a bit of good old-fashioned sight-seeing.

Aluxes Coffee Bar

Lisa and Heather

Mimi (who I am quite sure still could not pass a FST at this point), Jonna and our tour guide, Wayne.

Kelly "Cancun Canuck". Nice to finally meet her in person :)

Taco on the rocks.

Our next stop was the turtle breeding facility on Sac Bajo. In all of our trips to Isla with the children, this is one place we have not yet visited. Bad Parents.

Rob feeding the turtles.

As promised...bloggers with cameras.

You lookin' at me?

OK, this is going to sound horrible but all I kept thinking was "Wow, those shells would make for some stunning jewelry." I know, very bad.

Paul checking the outside holding tanks.

Lisa catches the shot.

After our brief repreave from the scorching, dehydrating sun we made a quick stop at what is surely the most beautiful overlook on the island near Garrafon Park. I'll never stop being amazed at the color of the water.

Frigates on a line.

Heather getting the view to Cancun.

Another short cart ride brought us to the southern tip of the island, the site of an old Mayan temple to the goddess Ixchel. Appropriately, it is now  the site of a real live, fake Caribbean Village with over-priced trinket shops and a modern sculpture garden. In all honesty, I love a good tourist trap like ya'll do, so we have made many stops here in the past to enjoy an afternoon cocktail and the amazing views.

The Caribbean side of Isla Mujeres at Punta Sur.

Wayne enjoying the view and a popsicle. I think that iguana was hoping for a taste.

This spot has the market cornered on iguanas. They are everywhere.

A clever shopkeeper gave me a banana from his stash to feed this big guy.

I got my close-up and the shopkeeper made a sale, a pretty handpainted bowl for my kitchen.

The rest of the merry bloggers (who got to sleep in, damn them) met us at a local waterfront cockteleria for lunch and discussion of all things blog related. Heather had found a great book, "Noone Cares What You Ate For Lunch" , chock full of interesting ideas for blog entries. We each randomly selected our assignments which are to be completed and posted simultaneously this Friday, April 25. Should be interesting to see how these entries fit into each of our blog styles.

Cockteleria Justicia Social

Kelly reading through various blogging ideas,  "The Husband" and lovely wife Teresa "What I Do All Day" in from Merida.

Lively discussion.

Heather preparing our Blogging assignments, Kelly and Teresa's husband who's name, as promised, will remain unpublished to protect his super secret identity ;)

Hair of the dog.

After a fine lunch, good conversation and a few beers to take the edge off, we all went our separate ways to enjoy the remainder of the afternoon and rest up before dinner. More Blogger Blowout shenanigans to follow!!

This weekend Rob and I and the kiddos traveled to Isla Mujeres for the very 1st Latin America Bloggers Convention or, as it has now been more appropriately dubbed, "The Blogger Blowout"!  Our fearless leader, Wayne, aka "Isla Gringo", did an amazing job organizing each aspect of the event and communicating with the attendees. Bob did his very best to tolerate our shenanigans and therefore he too is to be complimented. This year we had participants from Merida, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres and Belize. I have no doubt that once word gets out about the fun we all had together, sharing stories and experiences, bloggers will be clammering to sign up for next years event.

Here are some random photos from the first day of the 2008 Blogger Blowout.

The Kinnon clan and the Taco's, Laurie and Paul on the ferry to Isla Mujeres.

Laurie "Tacogirl" and Connor with Birdie pulling up the rear.

Meet and greet drinks and dinner at Faynes. Wayne "Isla Gringo" greeting "ChicagoTom" and Suz.

My DH, Rob and Paul "Tacoboy" - clearly up to no good......again.

Jonna "Blah, Blah, Blah Ginger" and Arturo, husband to the lovely Kim "Rivergirl".

Blogger Babes - "Heather in Paradise", "Rivergirl", "Living the Lisa Loca" and "Mexico Way". 

One of my blogger heros and friend, Heather of "Heather in Paradise".

Lipstick break with Liz "Mexico Way"

Kim "Rivergirl" and Mimi "Blah, Blah, Blah Ginger"

Lisa "Living the Lisa Loca"  and Wayne "Isla Gringo"

The famous "Fire Boy" entertains us with a rare command performance INSIDE Fayne's!!

Hot blogger chicks......you too, Wayne!

What do you get when you stuff 8 hungover bloggers into golf carts and send them on an island tour?

8 sets of pictures of other hungover bloggers taking pictures. Stay tuned for more of the 2008 Blogger Blowout action.

Yesterday evening, Rob and I were invited to the grand opening party for the offices of Origo, the prolific developers of the fabulous condominium projects "The Elements, Playa del Carmen', "Vaiven" in Playacar and coming soon...."The Elements, Puerto Aventuras". The offices are located, conveniently, just down the street from our house on 10th Avenue in the Tendenza Building. The offices, which are beautiful and completely reflect the style that these developers are knon for, have been built for the use of local Brokers and Agents working with clients and customers. Access to this chic new space is going to be another one of the great sales tools that Origo provides for us in support of our sales efforts. Bravo!

For more information about Origo and their current projects Vaiven and The Elements, contact us through our website www.BuyPlaya.com.

This week is "La Semana de Arte y Cultura" in the school my children attend, El Papalote. Last night was the Concurso del Arte, an art contest for the students of the school. Being Waldorf inspired, the curriculum and methodology of Papalote center heavily around the arts and we were all really looking forward to seeing what our children would create. Birdie was in the largest group comprised of pre-first and first grade students. Miss Kim did a terrific job wrangling all the young artists into their seats and making sure they were well stocked with paints, brushes, sponges and water.